Turn water back on at Kapa‘a Lihi
Turn water back on at Kapa‘a Lihi
The bathrooms at the Kapaa Lihi were closed and the water was shut off several years ago.
Running water is a necessity, a basic human right.
The county workers I spoke with at that time blamed homeless people and drug addicts when they removed picnic tables, closed the bathrooms and shut off the water (including the spigot at Lihi park, ocean side and shower on the side of bathrooms).
Now everyone suffers. Visitors, kupuna, residents and homeless people have no access to water or bathrooms. Lifelong residents paid taxes for years towards upkeep and maintenance of parks, for what?
The two port-a-potties by the boat harbor Lihi are filled daily, insufficient for so many people and downright nasty for visitors to use and see this is how Kaua‘i treats it’s people, with nowhere to wash hands after using them.
Boat owners have yelled at me for using the water spigot there. It is more than a mile between the one water spigot at Fuji beach area and Kapa‘a Beach Park (one water spigot) where people are often lined up and families with kids are showering after swimming at Fuji Beach.
Where can homeless people in Kapa‘a go to get water to drink, fill water bottles, wash dishes and their bodies? With COVID cases continuing to rise, the summer heat increasing and for basic human dignity it is time to turn the water back on so all people can wash their hands, stay hydrated and survive.
Carla Hart, Kapa‘a
