Mid-Pacific Institute officially opened its first on-campus track and field facility during a Saturday morning ceremony, unveiling a nearly five-acre complex on its Mānoa campus that provides a dedicated facility alongside the mix of on-campus grass-field practices and borrowed practice space used for more than a century. The $7.5 million venue includes a six-lane track, areas for other field events, and a natural grass infield used for soccer and flag football.
For the school's entire 117-year history, Mid-Pacific never owned an on-campus track facility. Athletes sometimes practiced on the school's grass field and also traveled 40 minutes each way to practice at Kaiser High School in Hawaiʻi Kai or Farrington High School in Kalihi, according to Aloha State Daily. Long-time head track coach Rick Hendrix had spent 17 years waiting for an on-campus facility, the outlet reported. As Hawaii News Now reports, the new facility now serves students in grades 7 through 12 for conditioning, physical education, and athletics, with more than 70% of Mid-Pacific students participating in at least one sport across the school's over 100 interscholastic teams.
A Donor's Own Track Roots Fueled the Gift
The project's lead donors, Mike Wood and Joanne, gave a $1.5 million gift toward the facility, per the station's report. Mike Wood, who has since died, was a former University of California, Berkeley track athlete and local businessman who co-founded Hawaii real estate firm MW Group and served as a Mid-Pacific trustee, according to MW Group.
Beyond the Wood family's contribution, the capital project drew major philanthropic support from a grant from the Atherton Family Foundation and backing from the Central Pacific Bank Foundation, part of a broader push by school administration to fund construction entirely through private donations, Aloha State Daily notes. The school broke ground on the venue on May 27, 2025, following a dedication ceremony and Hawaiian blessing; the venue opened this month.
Restoring a Spring Tied to Campus Tradition
Alongside the athletic build-out, Mid-Pacific revitalized Wailele Spring, a culturally significant freshwater spring located between Wood Hall and the athletic field on the Mānoa campus, per the same account from Hawaii News Now. The spring carries historic significance in Mānoa Valley folklore.
The five-acre complex was designed by Hawaii-based architectural firm G70, formerly known as Group 70 International, according to USModernist. Designed to host multiple sports, the venue includes dedicated field event zones for pole vault and triple jump while serving as the primary home for Mid-Pacific's varsity soccer and flag football teams, according to Athletic Business. The natural grass infield also hosts commencement ceremonies and other school events during the athletic offseason, the station's report notes.
Part of a Larger Campus Overhaul
The track complex is part of Mid-Pacific's campus.
With its own home track finally built, Mid-Pacific now has a permanent home for track and field rather than relying on someone else's field.
