The closure of Polihale State Park due to damage caused by flooding has irked some Westside residents who want access to the remote beach and surf spot. The state Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of State Parks said
The closure of Polihale State Park due to damage caused by flooding has irked some Westside residents who want access to the remote beach and surf spot.
The state Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of State Parks said in a statement on Friday that it is closing Polihale State Park “indefinitely until significant repairs are made to areas of the park that were damaged by recent heavy rains.”
“We are asking for the public’s patience and cooperation during this closure,” said Laura Thielen, DLNR chair, in a release. “It is necessary for all vehicles to stay off the roadway to Polihale State Park in order to protect public safety. The park itself is closed and no camping permits are being issued due to the washed out roads.”
Kekaha resident Bruce Pleas said yesterday that there is a viable alternative.
“Instead of DLNR sending people out there to make sure you don’t use the park, the solution is to post one personnel at the gate and make sure only residents with four-wheel drive are allowed to pass,” he said.
Pleas, an avid surfer, said those familiar with such conditions should be granted access.
“Even after the flood we recently had, the road is still in far better condition than it was before the 2006 flooding,” he said. “It’s even in as good of condition as it was when the sugar cane production company was there. So, my main gripe is why can’t local residents who are familiar with these conditions and who have a specific purpose get out there?”
State Sen. Gary Hooser, D-Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau, said he plans to meet with Thielen tomorrow to learn more about the department’s budget.
“I know that budgets are in very bad condition, but I am hopeful and optimistic that the road will be re-opened soon,” he said yesterday. “I met with the Kaua‘i delegation — Reps. Tokioka, Sagum and Morita — and we briefly discussed the situation and we agreed to work together to support the re-construction that will be involved in the process.”
Heavy rains last month caused significant damage to the park’s main entrance road including damage to one of the bridges. Continued use of the road before it dried caused it to further deteriorate, according to the DLNR.
Additionally, the park’s new water system and restroom facilities remain inoperable due to damages sustained by the heavy rains.
“Certainly, local residents should be allowed to access their state parks and I think visitors not familiar with the roads or without the proper vehicles, it would be appropriate to discourage them from going down there,” Hooser said. “It could be just a matter of moving boulders and letting local residents through or it could require something greater. DLNR is simply concerned about people’s safety.”
With the temporary lack of infrastructure and limited emergency access, the area will remain closed until repairs are made, a DLNR news release states.
There were no estimates of when the park might reopen or how much the work might cost, but the DLNR said it will issue regular updates as repairs proceed.
“There are many issues regarding management of the state park system here and we’ll be speaking about that this Monday, all the way from Polihale to Koke‘e to the Napali Coast,” Hooser said. “Even though the budget situation is very distressing right now, we’re going to push as hard as we can to get funds that are available.”
• Nathan Eagle, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 224) or neagle@kauaipubco.com
• Coco Zickos, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 251) or czickos@kauaipubco.com
