A swimming pool in Mililani has become the center of conflict between its owner and a club of young swimmers.

The Aloha Aquatics Association, a competitive youth swim team, is on the verge of being ousted from the Mililani Recreation Center II pool, which has been its home base for practices for about 30 years.

The owner, the Mililani Town Association, has decided not to renew its annual contract with Aloha Aquatics, citing costs and a need to increase available pool time for homeowners. That leaves the swim club without a pool after April 30.

"Mililani is the only option for us right now," said Sandy Whang, president of Aloha Aquatics, which is made up of 60 swimmers ages 5 to 18. "We called other pools in the area. ... It's just a real sad situation."

Aloha Aquatics is appealing the decision while continuing to search for another pool, and members and parents canvassed the Mililani neighborhood last weekend with petitions. Whang said the club has collected nearly 3,000 signatures of support.

Mililani Town Association general manager Calvin Maeda said the association wants to ensure the pool is available for homeowners — who pay dues to maintain community facilities — and that Aloha Aquatics should meet the costs of using the pool exclusively during "prime" hours.

Some homeowners have complained about not being able to use the pool when Aloha Aquatics is there, Maeda said.

The team has exclusive use of the pool 12 hours a week, Monday through Friday, either from 6 to 8 p.m. or 4 to 7 p.m.

The Mililani association has five swimming pools, but the one Aloha Aquatics uses is the only pool that's heated.

But Whang said Aloha Aquatics has offered the association some concessions, including giving up two of the six lanes in the pool for other swimmers and paying higher fees to use the facility, which is $2 an hour. Most of the club's swimmers live in Mililani, she said.

"We offer something that's very valuable to the community," she said, adding that many members go on to swim for Mililani High School. "These kids are committed, and to take this away from our children, it sends the wrong message."

Maeda said the association provides and supports recreational programs for all age groups, but that it has to address the needs of the overall homeowner population first.

"I understand the parents' point of view, and I'm all for recreation, but at the same time I also have to represent the general membership," Maeda said. "The association represents all the homeowners; not any special group."

Maeda acknowledged Aloha Aquatics has made some concessions. He said Aloha Aquatics made an appeal Wednesday night to a Mililani Town Association committee, which is reviewing the club's testimony.

Reach Lynda Arakawa at larakawa@honoluluadvertiser.com.