Hawai'i Community Development Authority
Kolowalu Playground opened back in 2024 as a playground inclusive to children of all ages and abilities.
Lawmakers want school playgrounds to include equipment accessible to children with disabilities, but disability rights advocates say that Hawaiʻi needs safer playgrounds first.
A bill to implement accessible recreational playground equipment in state parks and Department of Education playgrounds, House Bill 867 introduced by Rep. Terez Amato, failed to move forward this session, but the state Department of Health has asked for a comprehensive report and recommendations so the issue can be raised again during next year’s legislative session.
The idea of the bill was to create an environment where all kids can play together.
In 2024, the first inclusive children’s playground at Kolowalu Park in Ward Village contracted by Inspired Play Hawai‘i and developed by the Hawai‘i Community Development Authority (HCDA) opened to make the playground inclusive to children of all ages and abilities.
The playground features inclusive elements that accommodate a wide range of needs—from mobility support to sensory, communication, and emotional regulation challenges.
“Imagine being a kid with a disability at recess—everyone else is playing, but you’re in a wheelchair, stuck in the corner because the playground isn’t accessible,” said Louis Erteschik, executive director of the Hawaiʻi Disability Rights Center. “That’s traumatizing. The disability movement is about inclusion, making sure people with disabilities can live like everyone else.”
Disability advocates argue while HB 867 was a step in the right direction, the bill would have required further refinement to ensure playgrounds are inclusive, safe and beneficial for all children.
Mara Kaplan is the founder of Let Kids Play!, a consulting business that helps communities design and improve accessible playgrounds.
When she toured playgrounds in Honolulu, she was surprised to see no fences around some of the play areas.
“In most states, schools are fenced for safety, especially for children with autism who may wander.”
Another concern is whether the playground surfaces are strong and secure enough to support wheelchairs as mobility devices can weigh several hundred pounds. Additionally, the swing set itself must be built heavier to safely accommodate this weight.
“There was some concern that the actual surfacing of the playgrounds might not be sufficient to support the weight of the wheelchairs,” said Brian Mick, a program specialist at the Disability and Communication Access Board (DCAB). “So they might even need to do some upgrades to the surface.”
Addressing these concerns could help ensure that all playgrounds are designed with both accessibility and safety in mind. Compliance with ADA guidelines should be the minimum standard, advocates said, with further enhancements tailored to meet the needs of children with diverse abilities.
“An inclusive playground enables children with and without disabilities to have fun, be challenged, and engage in physical, social, and sensory activities in the same space,” said Kaplan.
From her expertise, in order for a playground to be considered ideally inclusive, it must incorporate:
Unitary surfacing (poured rubber flooring or turf instead of wood fiber) for wheelchair navigation.
Fencing for safety, especially for autistic children prone to wandering.
Graduated physical challenges for children with varying mobility levels.
In 2023, Superintendent of the Department of Education Keith T. Hayashi said in a testimony and reported that the department has 545 playground units throughout the State with plans to replace 100 playground units due to the condition and age. Additionally, the Department of Education (DOE) aimed to remove the 30 remaining non-compliant playground units.
DOE Communications Specialist Kimi Takazawa stated through an email that 522 playgrounds currently have safety surfacing at public schools.
“Currently, there are 522 playground equipment with safety surfacing at public schools throughout Hawaiʻi,” said Takazawa. “All playground equipment and safety surfacing throughout the HIDOE is assessed and maintained on a regular basis until the end of their life cycles. The Department continues to improve playground equipment designs to provide an enriching experience for all students including those with special needs.”
The bill would have mandated at least one wheelchair-accessible swing. However, most require someone to physically transfer a child from a wheelchair to the swing, which could make it difficult for children wanting to play with each other. Kaplan suggests alternatives like inclusive merry-go-rounds, allowing children of all abilities to play together.
“An inclusive merry-go-round allows all children—regardless of ability—to participate together, fostering cooperative play and providing essential vestibular experiences that benefit balance and development for all kids, including those with learning disabilities,” said Kaplan.
One of the primary obstacles to implementing a bill like HB 867 is the funding required to build or improve the playgrounds with accessible features.
The total cost of improving school playgrounds under the bill is unknown.
In a written testimony by Kirby Shaw, the executive director of DCAB, states “while the addition of a wheelchair swing may increase costs by $20,000 to $30,000 per playground due to necessary modifications like accessible pathways, this investment will significantly improve accessibility and inclusion for children of all abilities.”
Rodney Kanno, facility access coordinator at DCAB, further explained that “Unitary surfacing, such as poured rubber flooring, is likely the most durable and safest option for playgrounds, but it is also one of the most expensive.”
He noted that if an existing playground were to be expanded to include a wheelchair swing, the cost would depend on various factors, including materials, equipment, and labor. Kanno also stated that the estimated $20,000 to $30,000 cost from 2023 “may still be applicable today.”
According to Bryan Mick, a program specialist at DCAB, there has been some debate over the total cost of installing wheelchair-accessible swings.
“While the base price of the equipment might seem straightforward, additional expenses quickly add up. Shipping to Hawaiʻi, installation, and long-term maintenance all contribute to the final cost. More time is needed to consult with manufacturers and determine the best approach.”
For Catherine Orlans who is a mother of a 9-year-old son with autism, this bill should ensure that funding supports people with disabilities and residents of Oʻahu.
“I know that our state taxes are generated by our hotel accommodations tax, and I know on Oʻahu we generate a majority of it for the entire state, ” said Orlans in an interview. “So I’d love to see and make sure that some of this revenue that we’re generating goes back to support people with disabilities to use in their day to day life.”
Orlans, who wrote her testimony in favor of HB 867, recommended broadening the bill’s scope to include and address sensory-friendly elements for children with other invisible disabilities. Elements such as tactile play structures, sound-sensitive zones, and cooperative play activities will allow playgrounds to be more inclusive.
“It is a positive bill overall. My testimony supported it. I’m trying to be a voice for my son and help create a better future for other children. We should also consider people with invisible disabilities when passing legislation like this.”
Orlans also pointed out that inclusive playgrounds should account for older youth and young adults with disabilities, as some receive support services into their 20s. Expanding the definition of “youth” in the bill could ensure that play spaces remain accessible to a broader age group.
“Sometimes these equipment are still meant for them [older youth/young adults] to still use. So I would also challenge the definition of youth in the bill language too. If you’re trying to make an inclusive bill, the bill language should also be inclusive,” said Orlans.