POLIHALE — Surfers and fishermen who frequent Polihale State Park called off a protest slated for noon yesterday after government officials agreed to keep an access road to the Westside beach open. Residents began complaining last week that a new,
POLIHALE — Surfers and fishermen who frequent Polihale State Park called off a protest slated for noon yesterday after government officials agreed to keep an access road to the Westside beach open.
Residents began complaining last week that a new, locked gate closed off an alternate route to the remote, but popular park. The main gate has been shut due to road maintenance since November.
Department of Land and Natural Resources decided late last week to keep the new barrier unlocked, residents said.
DLNR officials declined to comment yesterday on whether an agreement had been reached. However, department Chair Laura Thielen said State Parks Administrator Dan Quinn is trying to work out an arrangement so people and public safety vehicles can maintain access.
The recently installed gate bars vehicles from entering the five-mile-long dirt road that accesses the park from Mana Village off Kaumuali‘i Highway.
Kekaha resident Bruce Pleas was one of the first to voice concern in an e-mail Tuesday to Sen. Gary Hooser, D-Kaua‘i.
Pleas said the new gate closed off the entire beach to local resident use, adding that it could have put an end to the prime surfing season at Polihale.
“The issues have been identified, some have been solved and the rest now have a definitive timetable that we will make sure is followed,” Diana Labedz, Kaua‘i Surfrider Foundation representative, said in an e-mail Thursday. “If the timetable is not followed and completed on time, then that may be the time to have a protest.”
The state Department of Land and Natural Resources closed the park Nov. 28 due to storm damage and a water system breakdown. The access road suffered flooding, and a water pump malfunction shut down all toilet and shower facilities in the park.
Officials said the new gate was installed to give the access road time to dry out and allow crews to do maintenance work.
The closed main gate will remain shut an estimated four to six weeks until water is restored to the park and the main road is improved to allow safe passage, Labedz said.
Deborah Ward, DLNR spokeswoman, said last month that at least five consecutive sunny days are typically required to properly dry the road so it can be used.
Unstable weather patterns during December postponed repair work, and access roads were closed to avoid further damage that could prevent emergency vehicles from entering the park, she said.
Another policy decision will be put in place soon, Thielen said, to provide adequate warning for tourists and others unfamiliar with the area so they don’t get in trouble driving on the rugged access road.
There is a “chronic problem” statewide regarding sign vandalism at parks, Thielen said. But signage will still likely prove the best way to advertise warnings to visitors, she added.
Camping is prohibited in the entire park until the water is restored due to health concerns, she said.
Polihale boasts the longest stretch of sandy beach in the state.
• Nathan Eagle, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 224) or neagle@kauaipubco.com.
