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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-2.1 AC-Hanohan&Ruderman Pohoiki Funding-rev Communication No. 2013-2.1 PCDP Action Committee January 8, 2013 To Faye Hanohano and Russell Ruderman, The Puna Community Development Plan Action Committee (PCDP AC) would like to request arespectfully request funding allocation and support from the State of Hawaii and DLNR for a study to determine the feasibility of creating a plan and develop a safe,and legal swimming area at Isaac Hale Beach Park. The County of Hawaii Department of Parks and ʻ Recreation has expressed their support for the project, but have statedbut has indicated that they would need to work in partnership with the State and DNLR, including and would a need a for state funding in order for the study to move forward within the next year allocation from the State. As currently envisioned, Thethe potential swimming area wouldmight be developed by creating a man-madea lagoon created on land (TMK (3) 1-4- 002:008) that is currently owned by the county butand within the State Land Use Conservation district. It could be developed as part of phase two of the Isaac Hale Beach Park. Please see attached map for the potential location. A funding allocation ofWe estimate that not more than $100,000 (or an amount the state deems appropriate) would allow the hiring of a shoreline consultant. This consultant would do a feasibility study and create a conceptual plan and design for the swimming area in consultation with the appropriate agencies and the community groups. Subcontracting could be done as needed with an engineer and/or planner. An effort would be made to go inland as much as possible for the swimming area to facilitate construction and permitting. This study would be the basis for an Environmental Assessment. Once the feasibility study is completed and the project is deemed feasible, the consultant could map out and start the permitting process and create a preliminary budget for the construction of the swimming area. At that point, further allocation from the State of Hawaii for construction of the swimming area would be needed. Will be necessary to the County of Hawaii Department of Parks and Recreation to hire a consultant to:  Determine the feasibility of creating a safe shoreline swimming area within Isaac Hale Beach Park;  Develop a conceptual plan;  Map out the necessary permitting process; and  Develop a preliminary budget. The development of the swimming area has wWidespread community support for the development of a safe swimming/ocean access area in the Pohoiki area is evidenced by the.hundreds Hundreds of residents, including swimmers, surfers, fishermen and local landowners, who have signed a petition in support of this idea, including swimmers, surfers, fishermen and local landowners. There isas well as the efforts of the Friends of Pohoiki, a community group, Friends of Pohoiki, spearheaded by Luana Jones, which has been advocating for a safe, legal swimming area for many years. County of Hawaii Council Members, Greggor Ilagan and Zendo Kern, have also voiced their support for this project. The swimming area would not encroach on any areas being used by the surfers or fishermen. As you are probably aware, the current situation is unsafe, illegal and is quite hazardous for the boaters as well as swimmers. The Pohoiki Boat Ramp, under DLNR jurisdiction, is the only boat ramp in Puna. The boat rampUnfortunately, it is also provides the easiest and most popular ocean access for swimmers and surfers within the county park. In fact, Issac Hale Beach Park it is the only park area for ocean swimming in all of Puna that is in a county park with facilitiesprovides facilities for ocean swimming. On a Sunday afternoon, there can be upwards of 100 people, most of them keiki, can be observed swimming around the boat ramp. This situation makes accessing the boat ramp extremely hazardous with an elevated potential for conflicts and accidents, for the boater, the boat and the swimmers. If you have any questions, need further support or information, please contact us.