HA‘ENA — The County Council will discuss renewed state funding of the Ke‘e Beach lifeguard tower at today’s meeting.
HA‘ENA — The County Council will discuss renewed state funding of the Ke‘e Beach lifeguard tower at today’s meeting.
The state defunded the tower last year due to COVID-19-related budget cuts, and the county has maintained service at the tower ever since, according to Dr. Monty Downs of the Kaua‘i Lifeguard Association.
Now, $344,962 in state money is on the table.
Kaua‘i Fire Department Chief Steven R. Goble requested the council accept the new Ke‘e Beach funding in a July 28 memo, which states the money will pay for lifeguard services from July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022.
The county must submit quarterly reports of Ke‘e Beach rescues as a condition of the appropriation, according to the memo.
“Due to availability of funds, it is important to submit the quarterly invoice and reports in a timely manner,” Goble wrote.
Downs emphasized the need for lifeguards at Ke‘e Beach in a letter published in The Garden Island this past spring.
“This is a beach where prior to lifeguards we had drownings take place regularly — due to very heavy usage in an often-placid-appearing lagoon, but a lagoon which harbors a subtle rip current that pulls unsuspecting visitors and snorkelers to their death in the open ocean,” he wrote.
The county council meeting will be streamed online beginning at 8:30 a.m., at kauai.gov/Webcast-Meetings.
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Scott Yunker, general assignment reporter, can be reached at 245-0437 or syunker@thegardenisland.com.
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This is the very first beach I was ever on on the hawaiian islands in the 70’s. It was absolutely pure hawaii, pure natural environment. 4 of us were backpacking and at dusk, jumped in and just stood around lookin in awe that we were all in beautiful, natural hawaii. We never knew of any risks and guess we were very lucky. the water was calm, felt safe and beautiful. I am saddened that this area has been abused by overuse and hope things are better now with reservation system. It must be so very popular to ave to have lifeguards. There would be at best 5 people on the beach in the 70’s. I wish everyone well on the islands. I also worry that local hawaiians will begin to take tourists into their own hands. I respect the lands and its people so it saddens me that the locals want to hurt us not even knowing if we are the disrespectful ones. I donate regularly to many organizations to help out these islands. Now, feeling unsafe to return, am rethinking where my monies will go.
Please don’t support this negative thinking by a few locals. And make sure exactly how your donations are being used.