Āhalanui Park To Reopen October 4, 2013

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Clayton S. Honma William P. Kenoi Director Mayor Robert A. Fitzgerald Deputy Director DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION  101 Pauahi Street, Suite 6 Hilo, Hawai‘i 96720  (808) 961-8311 Fax (808) 961-8411 NEWS RELEASE October 3, 2013 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ‘Āhalanui Park will reopen Friday morning The Hawai‘i County Department of Parks and Recreation will reopen ‘Āhalanui Park after verifying that the park’s volcanically heated pond does not have unsafe levels of bacteria. Swimmers will be welcomed back into the Puna park starting at 7 a.m. Friday, October 4. The Hawai‘i Department of Health collected water samples from the hot pond and has determined the bacteria levels to be normal for safe swimming areas. The Department of Health has found no evidence to suggest that the pond water is contaminated. After learning September 26 of media reports that the swimmer was hospitalized, Department of Parks and Recreation Director Clayton Honma took immediate action to close the park to ensure the public’s safety. The Department of Parks and Recreation thanks swimmers, park users and the general public for their patience and understanding while the temporary closure was in effect. The Department of Health wishes to remind the public not to go swimming with an open cut. Signs posted in ‘ĀhalanuiPark warn against this activity. Open wounds, according to state health experts, should be kept clean, dry and covered to prevent infection, which can come from anywhere, including from bacteria that lives naturally on the human body. For more information, please contact Jason Armstrong, Public Information Officer, at 345- 9105, or jarmstrong@co.hawaii.hi.us. -30- County of Hawai‘i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.