PEARL CITY, ISLAND OF OAHU, Hawaii -- PEARL CITY, Hawaii -- Manana Housing Area in Pearl City is a little far from the MCB Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay, base flagpole, but that doesn't mean residents there are forgotten when improvement projects are considered and funded.
Recent improvements that help to improve the quality of service for the Marines, Sailors and families at Manana include resurfacing of the basketball and tennis courts, and excavation work around the courts to improve the flow of runoff away from the courts.
A new fence was also installed around the pool recently, and it helps keep the water and patio area clean and free of debris.
"These improvements increase the quality of life for the Manana residents by providing high-quality recreation areas for children and other family members," said Capt. Michael Lorence, Camp Smith's Facilities officer. "These improvements provide added security and aesthetic value to the Manana area."
The project to install the fence around the pool area was more than $32,000, and the tennis courts and basketball court resurfacing was $21,000 and $76,000 respectively.
Flooding at the courts was common prior to the $32,000 project to fix the runoff problems, and was stopped to protect the investments made in the new court surfaces.
While these projects are focused on improving the recreational facilities aboard Manana, MCB Hawaii's Facilities department concentrates a majority of its efforts on maintaining the housing facilities for the safety and security of the residents.
Irrigation systems are keeping the grass greener and the dust lower, and Marine Corps Community Services recently installed a large new playground.
"They're doing a lot of repairs around here, and the place looks a lot better," said Melissa Agostini, a family member and Manana resident. "The temporary Self Help Store is a great benefit, and we can't wait until there is some type of permanent facility for that."
The Facilities department continues to help keep Manana residents comfortable, and Manana residents are noticing the difference.
"It's really a nice place to live," Agostini said.