02-08-2008, 06:10 PM
LIHU"˜E -- The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) is preparing to begin repairs to the access road to Polihale State Park as well as replace a pump to operate the park's water system.
The park entry road has been closed since November 28, 2007, when heavy rains that continued into December caused flooding of the five-mile-long unimproved dirt access road. It took weeks for the road to dry out sufficiently for road repairs to begin. Signs have been posted alerting the public to the road closure.
Also due to a failure of the park's water system, the campground is closed and no camping permits will be issued until the water is restored. Illegal campers have been cited.
"We ask for the public's continued patience while we work to complete the road repairs," said Laura H. Thielen, DLNR chairperson. "The continued use of the park road before it dried out caused the condition of the road to further deteriorate, and delayed the reopening of the park," she said.
DLNR will continue to provide the community, including the Garden Island and Kaua"˜i Visitors Bureau, with updates on the road closure and status of repairs. The department will also continue to post status updates on the State Parks' website at http://www.hawaiistateparks.org/ .
"We understand that people want to get to the beach and that some four-wheel-drive vehicles have been coming in on a rough side road through an adjacent state parcel," Thielen said.
"We are concerned that people are putting themselves at risk because the condition of both roads inhibits the ability for emergency response vehicles to effectively respond if someone were to be injured in a surfing or fishing accident," she said.
A new gate was installed this week by the parks division where a rough four-wheel-drive road crosses state agricultural leased land to access the park near the back dune area. Although the gate will be left open at this time, it will be closed in the event of an emergency such as a tsunami warning.
The Division of State Parks has purchased cobble-sized stones and has made arrangements for them to be hauled to Polihale next week Thursday, Feb. 7 or soon after. Workers will be backfilling the low spots and potholes in the road. This work is expected to take two to three weeks.
State Parks will also install a new water pump for the park's water system. The old pump system failed last September, causing the camping areas at the park to be closed on September 10.
A new pump was ordered and just arrived. Installation of the pump will begin once all approvals are received. The contractor will take two weeks to mobilize and another week to complete the job. Once the water system is operational, the park camping areas will be reopened.
SIDEBAR
DLNR's Division of State Parks is welcoming "˜Operation Polihale,' a community service partnership, starting in February, with Leadership Kaua"˜i, a private non-profit organization established to educate and inspire future leaders on Kaua"˜i.
According to Mason Chock, executive director of Leadership Kaua"˜i, "Since, 2004, we have graduated 60 adult and 20 youth committed to serving the needs of our island. Every year our participants undergo community projects to embrace the process of planning and implementing successful community initiatives."
Members of the Pi"˜ina Hoku (rising stars)Youth Program have committed to "˜Operation Polihale,' a project that comes at a much needed time and will include cleaning the campground and bathroom areas. The youth group consists of 20 high school juniors representing high schools from across the island. They will be joined by a group of adult program participants.
The community service schedule is as follows:
Saturday, February 9, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.: General clean up.
Saturday, March 8, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Trimming vegetation and shrubbery cleaning, and repair of park facility fixtures.
Saturday, April 12, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Painting and repair of fixtures, placement of vehicle barriers to protect coastal vegetation and prevent erosion of sand dunes Interested community members who also wish to participate in these service days may contact Leadership Kaua"˜i at (808) 246-8727.
The park entry road has been closed since November 28, 2007, when heavy rains that continued into December caused flooding of the five-mile-long unimproved dirt access road. It took weeks for the road to dry out sufficiently for road repairs to begin. Signs have been posted alerting the public to the road closure.
Also due to a failure of the park's water system, the campground is closed and no camping permits will be issued until the water is restored. Illegal campers have been cited.
"We ask for the public's continued patience while we work to complete the road repairs," said Laura H. Thielen, DLNR chairperson. "The continued use of the park road before it dried out caused the condition of the road to further deteriorate, and delayed the reopening of the park," she said.
DLNR will continue to provide the community, including the Garden Island and Kaua"˜i Visitors Bureau, with updates on the road closure and status of repairs. The department will also continue to post status updates on the State Parks' website at http://www.hawaiistateparks.org/ .
"We understand that people want to get to the beach and that some four-wheel-drive vehicles have been coming in on a rough side road through an adjacent state parcel," Thielen said.
"We are concerned that people are putting themselves at risk because the condition of both roads inhibits the ability for emergency response vehicles to effectively respond if someone were to be injured in a surfing or fishing accident," she said.
A new gate was installed this week by the parks division where a rough four-wheel-drive road crosses state agricultural leased land to access the park near the back dune area. Although the gate will be left open at this time, it will be closed in the event of an emergency such as a tsunami warning.
The Division of State Parks has purchased cobble-sized stones and has made arrangements for them to be hauled to Polihale next week Thursday, Feb. 7 or soon after. Workers will be backfilling the low spots and potholes in the road. This work is expected to take two to three weeks.
State Parks will also install a new water pump for the park's water system. The old pump system failed last September, causing the camping areas at the park to be closed on September 10.
A new pump was ordered and just arrived. Installation of the pump will begin once all approvals are received. The contractor will take two weeks to mobilize and another week to complete the job. Once the water system is operational, the park camping areas will be reopened.
SIDEBAR
DLNR's Division of State Parks is welcoming "˜Operation Polihale,' a community service partnership, starting in February, with Leadership Kaua"˜i, a private non-profit organization established to educate and inspire future leaders on Kaua"˜i.
According to Mason Chock, executive director of Leadership Kaua"˜i, "Since, 2004, we have graduated 60 adult and 20 youth committed to serving the needs of our island. Every year our participants undergo community projects to embrace the process of planning and implementing successful community initiatives."
Members of the Pi"˜ina Hoku (rising stars)Youth Program have committed to "˜Operation Polihale,' a project that comes at a much needed time and will include cleaning the campground and bathroom areas. The youth group consists of 20 high school juniors representing high schools from across the island. They will be joined by a group of adult program participants.
The community service schedule is as follows:
Saturday, February 9, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.: General clean up.
Saturday, March 8, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Trimming vegetation and shrubbery cleaning, and repair of park facility fixtures.
Saturday, April 12, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Painting and repair of fixtures, placement of vehicle barriers to protect coastal vegetation and prevent erosion of sand dunes Interested community members who also wish to participate in these service days may contact Leadership Kaua"˜i at (808) 246-8727.