Fred Pereira has been offering free boxing lessons at the Waianae District Park gymnasium for more than 40 years, but he’s been losing students since the city closed the building’s second floor more than two years ago due to the roof leaking and other issues.

Pereira, known as “Papa Fred,” says he has taken in kids who are homeless and those with nowhere else to go after school as founder and head coach of the Waianae Boxing Club. But Pereira, 83, says he has lost about 45 students.

Pereira now shares first-floor space with groups that had been on the second floor, and isn’t able to offer his usual classes. He’s no longer able to hold night classes, and lost many of the students who are not able to make it to the gym during the day.

“I go to church every Sunday, and I pray to Jesus that I get it back,” said Pereira, who has also had to cut his classes about three hours short every day. “I will not quit. I just love working with kids.”

The city Department of Parks and Recreation said officials closed the gym’s second floor when it was discovered that the roof leaked. Upon further inspection, asbestos was found in the floor.

Two projects are needed: one to seal or remove the asbestos and another to fix the roof and damaged lights, said Nate Serota, the department’s spokesman, in an email. Serota said there are no health hazards to the first floor, which has remained open, and that the department has “made efforts to accommodate those programs impacted by the closure.”

Parks and Recreation Director Michele Nekota apologized for the delay but said in a statement, “We must consider several procurement, safety and renovation requirements before proceeding with the repairs. We would certainly like all of our facilities to be open, available and properly used by the public as much as possible.”

But the delays have prompted frustration and concern among residents.

JoAnna Ramos, Waianae Tae Kwon Do Club’s martial arts instructor, questioned why the city has not moved faster on the repairs. Ramos said she had used the second floor for more than 20 years but now has to hold classes in a space that is about an eighth of the size, making it difficult to practice.

“I’m just so frustrated. I just want to scream at the top of my lungs,” Ramos said. “The gym keeps the kids occupied. It gives them something to do. We’re doing the best we can do with the resources we have.”

At a City Council Budget Committee meeting on Tuesday, Robert Kroning, director of the city Department of Design and Construction, said officials plan to issue a bid for work in May and start in October; the repairs would take about six to seven months. There is no cost estimate at this time for the repairs, the city said.

But Councilwoman Kymberly Pine, who represents the Leeward Coast, grilled city officials at the meeting, questioning the delays and detailing the impacts to residents. Pine said she has met with several city officials over the past few years and received so many different project updates that “I just don’t believe them anymore.”

Pine added, “If the administration wants to make it a priority, they’ll get it done now. But they’re not. I’m just very frustrated and upset.”