Gaining ground in Hanamaulu

HANAMAULU — It’s been eight months since the County of Kauai began closing Hanamaulu Beach Park at night in an effort to combat excessive vandalism, illegal activity and vagrancy.

Today, local residents and park users are reporting drastic improvements since the 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. daily closure took effect at the historic spot near Hanamaulu Town.

Lihue resident Carol McCarthy said she wouldn’t have been seen at Hanamaulu beach a decade ago. Now, she visits every day, collecting seashells as she strolls along the beach.

“The scene is better,” she said Tuesday while walking along the beach with her dog. “I don’t feel intimidated when I come down here anymore.”

Hanalei Kane has lived next to Hanamaulu Beach Park for 46 years and said it has quieted down since the nightly closure. It used to be he’d hear music most of the night, sometimes fighting, and a gunshot or two.

“It wasn’t dangerous but it got rowdy at times,” he said.

Park users aren’t alone in noticing the change. The county said it has also seen a marked improvement.

“There’s less vandalism and graffiti and also the problem with derelict vehicles seems to have stopped,” county spokeswoman Mary Daubert wrote in an email.

As for the abandoned, run-down old pavilion at the park’s north end, it remains a  graffiti-covered eyesore. Despite “Out of Order” warnings being painted in large green letters across the front, the building has clearly seen its fair share of overnighters.

The county, however, said the community won’t have to look at it much longer. It’s set to be demolished in an effort to improve the park even more.

“The demolition permit was approved last week,” Daubert wrote. “We are currently working with the consultant on doing a Hazardous Material Assessment prior to the demolition.”

While the county is focused on getting rid of the old, there are plans to replace it with a new one.

“It’s about time,” Kane said on removing the dilapidated structure. “That thing has been broken down for how long?”

Combating crime

Local residents have said the park became increasingly unsafe in the 20-plus years leading up to the closure.

Over a three-year period, crime at the park increased, from 54 reported crimes in 2010 to 82 in the first seven months of 2012, according to information provided by the county back in August.

Those crimes included the sale and use of illegal drugs, harassment and intimidation of park users, graffiti, vandalism and camping without a permit.

In response to the chronic problems, the Hanamaulu community came forward and requested the closure. With it came an end to camping.

Since the gate was installed and the closure started, county park rangers have not issued a single ticket, according to Daubert. KPD was unable to provide information about the number of reported crimes since the closure by press time Tuesday.

Meanwhile, county officials said it will continue to assess the situation and is considering other improvements, including additional lighting, that would make the facility safer at night.

“We have been in continual dialogue with the Hanamaulu Community Association on this and have had their support all along the way,” Daubert wrote. “We hope to reopen the park eventually, once appropriate improvements are made and we can ensure the public’s safety overnight.”

Director of Parks and Recreation Lenny Rapozo presented a park update during the HCA’s bi-monthly meeting last week. Eddie Sarita, president of the HCA, said about 30 people showed up and that Rapozo told the audience demolition of the old pavilion would occur within two months.

While he has seen positive changes, Sarita said some community members still don’t feel safe. A lot of that has to do with the pavilion and certain people who hang around it, he said.

“It doesn’t make a very good impression,” he said of the building.

When asked if he was happy to hear that it would soon be demolished, Sarita said he was, but that it will come with a bit of nostalgia for him.

“It was a good place to go,” he said, remembering his childhood. “We had picnics and family outings there.”

• Tom Hasslinger, managing editor, contributed to this story.