LIHU‘E — By county estimations, overnight camping at Lydgate Park is still around a year away, but the idea still stirs strong feelings for and against from the public, and areas of disagreement among members of the County Council and
LIHU‘E — By county estimations, overnight camping at Lydgate Park is still around a year away, but the idea still stirs strong feelings for and against from the public, and areas of disagreement among members of the County Council and administration.
“I’d like to camp there, but there are issues to address,” said Alice Parker of Lihu‘e, who was only half-joking when she suggested guard dogs might be employed to address security issues at the county park.
Certain members of the council and Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr.’s administration are at odds over the proposed fee structure for overnight camping, and members of the public expressed concerns about security at the facility.
Those differences came to light during discussion of council Bill 2149 before the council Parks/Transportation Committee Wednesday.
After several hours of discussion, the bill was deferred.
The bill proposes to add a new article to existing county law relating to Lydgate Park camping, and includes a fee structure very different from the in-place fee structure for camping at Ha‘ena, Black Pot, ‘Anini, Hanama‘ulu and Salt Pond Beach Parks.
Camping is now free for Hawai‘i residents, with minimal charges for non-residents, while the proposed Lydgate Park fee structure would charge residents per-night, per-person rates, and higher rates for non-residents.
Lenny Rapozo, director of the county Department of Parks and Recreation, said full funding for completing necessary improvements hasn’t been secured, and even if federal funds come through, it will still be nine months of construction needed to complete handicap-accessible improvements.
Rapozo also said Carvalho’s administration supports the fee structure described in the proposed ordinance.
Council Chair Kaipo Asing questioned if a separate ordinance for Lydgate camping is even necessary when there is already county law addressing camping at county parks, with an in-place fee structure with free camping for Hawai‘i residents.
“Why do we need a new ordinance for this park?” Asing asked.
Council member Tim Bynum and committee Chair Lani Kawahara both argued that because of the special place Lydgate Park is and the nature of the campsites, a separate ordinance and fee structure is warranted.
“Lydgate is different,” a high-use park with visibility, amenities and views the other county parks don’t enjoy, and that is why it needs its own ordinance and fee structure, Kawahara said.
“I’m concerned about the fee structure,” said Councilmember Derek Kawakami, agreeing with Asing about the discrepancy between the proposed Lydgate rates and rates at other county parks.
“Reopening of the camping grounds should be a no-no,” said Joe Rosa of Lihu‘e. “Even the locals were afraid to go there” for parties and camping, said Rosa, adding that the parking and restroom facilities are insufficient, and that the Kaua‘i Police Department will not be able to control crime there.
“Let your conscience be your guide,” Rosa said.
Thomas Noyes, general coordinator of the Friends of Lydgate Park and Kamalani Playground, said supervised overnight campaign is a feature of the park master plan approved in 1999, and 32 campsites were built in 2004, but there has not yet been camping allowed there.
Rapozo said the administration plan would be to open only certain portions of the campground for overnight camping, not all the sites at once, to gauge demand and make sure parking, security and sanitary facilities are adequate.
Council member Dickie Chang also has concerns about the proposed fee structure, adding that the area is dark and “spooky” at night, and that the potential of 500 people camping there on a holiday weekend is “way, way too many people.”
There will be “significant problems” with camping at Lydgate Park if the proposed fee structure is not implemented, said Bynum, adding that the fee structure is also a capacity-management tool.
Bynum also said community members working on the Lydgate master plan said they wanted camping, more picnic sites, a multi-use path and indoor showers (especially the women), and understood such improvements would mean higher fees for camping there.
Kawakami said he didn’t think the proposed fee structure would deter people from camping, but he opposes it on a philosophical level, adding that residents shouldn’t have to pay to camp in county parks.
Wailua Homesteads resident Glenn Mickens said reopening Lydgate Park to overnight camping would be asking for history to repeat itself.
Camping was allowed at Lydgate 20 years ago, then shut down by former Mayor Eduardo Malapit due to drug and alcohol use there, and a murder, Mickens said.
