Ala Moana Beach Park paddlers are set to finally get the canoe halau they were promised five years ago.

The city said a contract for the $907,000 boathouse has been awarded and construction will start in the next several months. Work is expected to take about seven months.

For Ala Moana paddlers, it has been a long time coming.

Since clubs started launching from the park more than 30 years ago, members have kept their expensive canoes and other equipment out in the open. That has become a problem over the past decade, as clubs have had to deal with hefty losses because of vandalism and theft.

"We were hoping it would be built a long time ago," said Dave Randall, outgoing president of Koa Kai, one of three canoe clubs that are based at the park. "We've been pushing for it and pushing for it."

But other canoe club leaders shouldn't get their hopes up: city Department of Design and Construction Director Eugene Lee says there are no plans to build any more canoe halau on O'ahu.

Three years ago, Mayor Mufi Hannemann canceled construction of at least five canoe boathouses, saying the projects were not in line with his emphasis on infrastructure over "nice-to-have" projects.

The announcement followed a spate of canoe halau construction, as communities islandwide pushed for the facilities to not only protect canoes, but improve the look of launching areas.

The Ala Moana halau was spared Hannemann's ax, but the project was largely stalled until last month, when a bid was awarded.

The city first awarded a contract — for $572,000 — for the Ala Moana halau in late 2003, under Mayor Jeremy Harris.

An environmental assessment was released in late 2004.

But the city never went forward with its first contract.

It didn't have to shell out the $572,000, but did have to pay for the environmental review. To save costs the second time around, the city did not change the specifications for the halau, which means the original environmental assessment can be used for the facility.

The assessment found no significant impacts from the building.

The facility will hold about 30 six-person canoes, and will measure 61 feet-by-61 feet, and be 19 feet tall.

It will sit where some of the canoes now are stored.

The halau will be an open-air building, to allow canoes to dry, and in addition to canoes will hold equipment such as paddles and canoe covers. The existing outdoor shower in the area will be retained, but will be updated to accommodate those with disabilities.

No additional parking will be created for the facility.

And an environmental assessment said at least four trees may have to be moved to build the canoe halau.

Space in the facility will be allotted by city permits. Currently, canoe clubs apply annually for permits to store canoes at the park. It is unclear how many permits each canoe club will get, but club leaders say there is expected to be plenty of space for everyone.

There may still be a need, however, to store some six-person canoes or smaller canoes outside the boathouse.

In addition to the three canoe clubs that use the park, several schools also train at Ala Moana. But most use canoes from the existing clubs, which means they will likely not need storage space.

Randall, of Koa Kai, said Ala Moana is one of the best spots to have a club — not only because of its proximity to where people work and live, but because of the great conditions in the water.

"It's quick and easy access to the open ocean," he said.

Joe Kim, incoming president of Koa Kai, said Ala Moana also has plenty of parking.

The biggest downside has been the vulnerability of canoes and equipment to vandalism and theft. Kim said people in the park have bounced around on the canoes when club members are not around, walked off with equipment and spray-painted canoes.

"They think the canoes are a playground," he said.

Reach Mary Vorsino at mvorsino@honoluluadvertiser.com.