On Tuesday, February 7, there will be a blessing to get work underway at a new coastal community park at Kohanaiki in North Kona. The blessing will be at 11 a.m.; during that time there will be a brief closure of beach access.
The new community park is the result of years of collaboration between community groups, the County of Hawai`i, the Kohanaiki Shores project, and lineal descendants of the area. The park is along 1.5 miles of coastline, and will provide an improved road, parking and facilities at some of North Kona’s most popular surf, dive and camping spots.
Hawai`i County Mayor Billy Kenoi praised the stewardship agreement between the county, community and Kohanaiki Shores. “Our shoreline areas are wonderful places to be enjoyed by residents and visitors,” said Kenoi. “But they are fragile, and it is through the cooperative efforts of the public and private sectors as well as those who swim, surf and play there that we will be able to preserve them for future generations.”
Upon the park’s completion – targeted for the end of 2012 – it will be turned over to the County of Hawai`i and the responsibilities for park care will be shared between Kohanaiki Shores, the County and the Big Island community. As work gets underway, the park partners will continue their discussions on details of the beach park’s operation.
Kohanaiki `Ohana, an active member of the community partnership that has worked toward establishment of the park, offered this comment from its president, Rebecca Villegas. “The Kohanaiki `Ohana supports this collaborative effort to create a model for partnerships between government, private enterprise and the community. We are committed to ensuring the park remains the special place that families and community members have cherished for generations.”
Daily beach access will continue on its current schedule. However, the tentative camping schedule for 2012 may be adjusted as work on the park dictates and beach goers can expect some detours on the road to the beach during construction. “We will keep the public and our regular beach goers informed of anticipated delays and detours through distribution of flyers and one-on-one contact at the beach,” stated Joe Root, project director for Kohanaiki Shores.
One of the first phases of park work will focus on landscaping and will include the careful moving and transplanting of trees and other flora to make way for necessary roadways and parking.
Once completed, the park will be open daily and will include bathrooms and outdoor showers, designated camping spots, a halau for cultural practices, improved parking, and improved roadways to the shoreline and within the park. A pedestrian trail along the length of the shoreline is already established and is part of the longer Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail. A preservation and cultural plan, guided by the lineal descendants of Kohanaiki, is in place to oversee the conservation of historic and cultural sites at the park, as well as ongoing cultural practices.
Aunty Elizabeth Maluihi Lee commented, “I am very impressed with Kohanaiki Shores for providing a park for the community to enjoy. The name Kohanaiki refers to a narrowing strip, wide at one end and narrow at the other. By providing these types of amenities to the local people it represents the widening of that strip to include all who live here as beneficiaries of this land. Aloha mai ‘oukou! Mahalo nui nei au, i na kulena waiwai no ka mahele `ana ke aloha no ka lehulehu o ka ‘aina i keia kahua hale ho’ole’ale’a. `O wau no me ka ha’aha’a.”
A park website is being worked on that will include more information about park partners, park work and activities, and opportunities for the community to volunteer, said Root. “We are very happy to begin the work of building the park to which so many have contributed their efforts,” he said. “We look forward to continuing the partnership and to contributing our part to the responsibility of caring for the park.”
