HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0285.000 1998-2000 County of Hawaii April 11,1999
County Council Office
25 Aupuni Street
- Hilo, Hawaii 96720
- Pele Hanoa
President, Punalu u Preservation
P.O. Box 472
Na'alehu, Hawaii 96772
(808)929-9047
Attn: Countv Council members
The Punalu'u Preservation committee, agrass-roots organization and residents of Punalu'u
Black Sand Beach aze requesting to be on the agenda of the next County Council meeting.
We would like to bring to the attention of Council members the serious problems of erosion and
abuse of the Punalu'u Beach road that belongs to the county. This road is the primary access for
residents and property owners. Since the loss of Kaimu Beach in Kalapana, Punalu'u has been
burdened with an enormous increase in commercial tours and heavy vehicular traffic on our
beach access road. This major increase has caused extensive damage to the access road and an
accelerated erosion rate to Punalu'u's fragile shoreline. Tour buses, vans, stretch-outs, mini-
buses and inconsiderate tourists speed through the access road at alarming speeds. They are
constantly over-taking smaller vehicles, on a single lane road, endangering the lives of
pedestrians and residents accessing the beach. The road is unpaved and now full of holes caused
by inconsiderate bus tours and ignorant tourists. No speed limit signs are posted even though the
request has been made to the Public Works Dept. of the County. Tour drivers park empty buses
along roadside, leaving their engines running.
Tourists in rental cars then follow their example and proceed to park cars along roadside,
on private properties and in front of driveways. This illegal parking obstructs access to residents
and causes traffic congestion on this short strip of road. At night our beautiful beach becomes an
obstacle course for 4x4s and the beach road a drag strip for rowdy youths. All night they race up
and down the access road and sand burins, endangering lives, properties and the endangered
Hawksbill turtle that nest on Punalu'u's shores. Speeding cars have crashed into resident's stone
walls and recklessly "burning rubber" on private driveways, leaving empty beer cans, bottles and
rubbish as a reminder of their visit. The problems mentioned are daily occurrences that threaten
our quality of life. We would like to discuss these escalating problems with Council members
and offer some ideas to rectify our concerns. If not addressed, these problems could result in a
lawsuit or loss of life due to negligence and ignorance. Please accept this urgent request for the
next Council agenda, time is of the essence. The destruction to the unique coastline will be
irreversible and devastating. We will be anxiously waiting for your response.
2 Q ~ Pele Hanoa
Comm. No. _ President, Punalu u Preservation
File No. E /e O
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