HomeMy WebLinkAboutAC-Ruderman&Hanohano Pohoiki Swimming Area FS
William P. Kenoi BJ Leithead Todd
Director
Mayor
Margaret Masunaga
Deputy Director
County of Hawai‘i
PLANNING DEPARTMENT
PUNA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN ACTION COMMITTEE
Aupuni Center 101 Pauahi Street, Suite 3 Hilo, Hawai‘i 96720
Phone (808) 961-8288 Fax (808) 961-8742
January 8, 20123
Senator Russell E. Ruderman
Hawaii State Capitol, Room 217
Representative Faye P. Hanohano
Hawaii State Capitol, Room 303
415 South Beretania St.
Honolulu, HI 96813
Aloha Senator Ruderman and Representative Hanohano,
The Puna Community Development Plan Action Committee (PCDP AC) respectfully requests funding
for a study to determine the feasibility of creating a safe and legal swimming area at Isaac Hale Beach
Park. The County of Hawaiʻi Department of Parks and Recreation has expressed support for this
project, but has indicated that they would need to work in partnership with the State and DNLR,
including a need for state funding in order for the study to move forward within the next year.
As currently envisioned, the potential swimming area might be developed by creating a man-made
lagoon on land (TMK (3) 1-4-002:008) that is currently owned by the county and within the State Land
Use Conservation district. Please see attached map for the potential location.
We estimate that not more than $100,000 will be necessary for the County of Hawaiʻi 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.
If the development of a swimming area is deemed feasible we do anticipate the need for additional
state funding for its design and construction.
Widespread community support for the development of a safe swimming/ocean access area in the
Pohoiki area is evidenced by the hundreds of residents, including swimmers, surfers, fishermen and
local landowners, who have signed a petition in support of this idea, as well as the efforts of the
Friends of Pohoiki, a community group spearheaded by Luana Jones.
Hawai‘i County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer
Senator Russell E. Ruderman
Hawaiʻi State Senate
Representative Faye P. Hanohano
Hawaiʻi State House
January 8, 2013
2
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County of Hawaiʻi Council Members, Greggor Ilagan and Zendo Kern, have also voiced their support
for this project.
As you are probably aware, the current situation at the Pohoiki boat ramp 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. Unfortunately, it also affords the easiest and most popular ocean access
for swimmers and surfers within the county park. In fact, Isaac Hale Beach Park is the only park in all
of Puna that includes facilities for ocean swimming. On a Sunday afternoon, 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 me at (808) 430-1777,
pintonian@hotmail.com or Oshi Simsarian at (808) 965-8685, oshi1950@gmail.com. You may also
contact Larry Brown in the Planning Department at 961-8135, lbrown@hawaiicounty.gov.
Sincerely,
Patti Pinto
Chair, PCDP Action Committee
Encl: Project area map
xc: William P. Kenoi, Mayor
Clayton Honma, P&R Director