LIHU‘E — Residents are urging the state to scrap its plans to develop a popular Westside state park and implement entrance fees for visitors. The Koke‘e State Park Advisory Council met for the third time Tuesday at the Lihu’e Neighborhood
LIHU‘E — Residents are urging the state to scrap its plans to develop a popular Westside state park and implement entrance fees for visitors.
The Koke‘e State Park Advisory Council met for the third time Tuesday at the Lihu’e Neighborhood Center. The council members, along with Department of Land and Natural Resources representatives Daniel Quinn and Lauren Tanaka, were flanked by about 35 concerned citizens.
The council is charged with reviewing the Koke‘e State Park Master Plan, a nearly 300-page document which intends to guide the development and management of the park until 2025. The plan proposes several developments, including a park entry station, parking lots and new visitor facilities.
After Chair Canen Ho‘okano called the meeting to order, the council introduced two new members appointed by Gov. Linda Lingle — Marsha Erickson and Noreen Ohai-Daniels. Erickson noted the privilege of working together to create public policy and encouraged everyone present to focus on their shared love of Koke‘e.
Councilwoman Nancy Budd presented a summary of the 776 public comments received so far. Several themes emerged, including a desire to maintain existing facilities, to leave the park “as is,” to protect and preserve Koke‘e, and to dismiss the developments proposed in the master plan. The members of the public who commented during the meeting echoed these recommendations.
The Permitted Interaction Group, or “Pua‘a,” comprised of Ho’okano, Budd and Randy Wichman, reported that they met via videoconference with Jim Niermann from R.M. Towill, the consulting firm hired to prepare the master plan. The small group also conducted a close reading of the master plan and submitted their recommendations for the larger council to discuss at its next meeting, which is slated for July 2.
The small group’s recommendations emphasize preserving and protecting Koke‘e State Park by maintaining the current infrastructure and resisting new development. They also reject introducing a park entry station which would charge visitors $2 per person or $5 per vehicle, generating an estimated $750,000 in net revenue which would be distributed statewide by the DLNR.
In their response document, the group concludes that since the contract with the consultant is finished, it seems that few significant changes can be made to the master plan. However, they advocate for reconsideration of the proposed park developments in light of public comments.
The council intends to post more information on its Web site at www.kokeeadvisory.org. Public testimony can still be submitted via e-mail to kokeeadvisory@gmail.com.
For more information, visit hawaii.gov/dlnr.
