LIHU‘E — Department of Land and Natural Resources officials did not mince words Wednesday, when asking residents and visitors to behave responsibly at state parks this Labor Day weekend.
The advisement came days after DLNR and Honolulu Police Department officers broke up an illegal gathering of up to 400 people at Kaiwi State Scenic Shoreline on O‘ahu on Saturday, Aug. 28.
“It is clearly unfair and wrong to have a large group of people literally take the park over, fill all of the available parking spots and impact the enjoyment and experience of legitimate park users,” Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement Chief Jason Redulla said. “… It’s unbelievable that anyone, at this time in the pandemic, believes it’s a good idea to promote a gathering like this.”
Now, Redulla and State Parks Administrator Curt Cottrell want to prevent similar incidents from occurring this holiday weekend across the state.
Cottrell said Hawai‘i’s state parks have witnessed numerous large gatherings of all ages, mostly on remote or secluded beaches, during the coronavirus pandemic.
“We get it. We understand the need to get out,” he said. “We have awesome resources and environment, but public land is not a free venue for inviting crowds and partying.”
Kaua‘i’s own Polihale State Park, which was temporarily shut down in July 2020 due to illegal gatherings, will be on DLNR’s radar this weekend. However, Cottrell claimed unacceptable behavior at Polihale has lessened after it reopened last December.
“I’m optimistic that the local residents, particularly on the West Side, will respect the need to not congregate and not gather out there in the large numbers that they’ve historically done in the past,” he said.
The state park on Kaua‘i will remain closed to overnight camping in the short-term, Cottrell added, although the state will initiate a dialogue with local cultural practitioners, fishers and surfers to “reimagine how Polihale is going to work” in the future.
Redulla is urging residents to report illegal Labor Day gatherings in state parks through the DLNR tip line at 643-DLNR or the DLNRTip smartphone app.
“Please remember, DOCARE has limited resources and cannot be everywhere all the time. This is why we rely on tips from the public to report illegal gatherings such as the one this last Saturday,” Redulla said. “DOCARE’s primary duty is the protection of natural and cultural resources on Hawai‘i, and dispatching the few officers that we have on duty to break up an illegal party simply distracts from that mission.”
Witnesses should call 911 in any situation where lives or property are in danger, he added.
Redulla and Cottrell were joined by University of Hawai‘i President David Lassner during the virtual press conference Wednesday. Lassner addressed the presence of UH students at the Kaiwi party, noting his institution is cooperating with DLNR and law enforcement officials, as well as conducting its own investigation.
“These are potential super-spreader events,” the university president said. “We have urged any students who did attend this or any other unsanctioned, large gathering, to get tested, monitor their symptoms, and potentially isolate, learn from a distance for 10 days for their own health, that of their families, our campus and the community.”
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Scott Yunker, general assignment reporter, can be reached at 245-0437 or syunker@thegardenisland.com.
“Reimagine”
“Breakthrough”
“Lockdown”
“Circle-back”
“Social Distancing”
“New Normal”
“Folks”
Eerie nomenclature.
Can’t blame this one on the tourist!
Well, DLNR, guess who just got UNINVITED to my party this weekend???