They are truly an investment that pays off every day.  I use them and see how many kids come for the brief time they are open.  Mike, as you grow older and less mobile you will understand how important the pools are to older people too.  Use of our public pool is crucial to the health of many, many people, not all of them older folks.  The only public pool I can get to now is only open for non-lap swim use ONE and A HALF HOURS A DAY.  Manoa and Palolo pools have been closed for months and will stay closed through the summer.

And where will the children learn to swim?  The YMCA closed the Atkinson Y and it has not reopened in. 4-5 years. The Kahala area Y is far too small and the Nuuanu Y is jammed with kids, adults, and lap swimmers.  Well, use the beach, I hear people say.  Yeah a one hour bus ride each way.  Fun.  Drive a car then.  And park at Ala Moana Beach Park or Waikiki.   Howls of laughter.