HAENA — Community-led nonprofit organizations commenced construction efforts for the new comfort station at Haena State Park last week.
The project collaboration is a groundbreaking effort, in which nonprofit community organizations have not only spearheaded the design and planning phases for enhancements within a state park but also fully funded the entire capital improvement project with non-government funding.
After many years of planning, permits, and saving, The Hui Maka ainana o Makana (or the hui), the nonprofit steward at Haena State Park whose roots date back to the 1800s, along with the essential partnership of non-profit the Hanalei Initiative, has successfully commenced construction of the comfort station project on the North Shore.
Billy Kinney, lineal descendant of Hanalei and assistant director for the hui discussed current construction work and explained how this project has come to fruition.
“Currently, we just started the groundwork which means ‘peeling’ back some of the gravel portions of the parking lot to install the foundation and independent wastewater system that will effectively treat the effluent,” explained Kinney.
“This comfort station, it is important to note, is not about the norovirus. The sanitation needs of the park is paramount, and the comfort station has been in development for years. It was in the 2018 Haena State Park Master Plan,” he said.
“For the hui, however, the building of this bathroom is a priority because it aligns with the stewardship objectives of the area. The current bathroom is already overburdened and built in a culturally sensitive area. This comfort station will relieve that burden.”
The new addition to hopefully ease the congestion of the Kee Beach bathroom along with reducing the unsanitary issue of visitors relieving themselves in the trees which will also protect and keep the natural and cultural resources of Haena.
The simple one-building bathroom facility will be built with one kane bathroom with one urinal and two toilets. The wahine bathroom will have three toilets. Both will have trough sinks, along with a supply closet. Outside the facility will be a water fill station. Both bathrooms will have one stall compliant with the Americans with Disability Act (ADA).
Oklahoma hiker Darryl Wilson, who was returning from the Kalalau Trail hike, said he was worried when he arrived at Haena due to all the norovirus stories online, and said adding more facilities is a good idea.
“Being a tourist I think it’s a great idea to help improve the area. I did see the sign down at the river saying that there was a norovirus breakout but I didn’t know how old the sign was,” he said. “But if they can keep that from occurring again and provide more sanitary options, before and after hiking, I think that’s great.”
Future visitors can expect another option for using the bathroom upon arrival or before departure from Haena State Park and will not have to walk 4-8 minutes to get to the existing bathroom, from the parking lot. The comfort station’s location was also strategically decided and will not disrupt any cultural sites at the park.
Kinney explained the hui prepared a Ka Pa akai Analysis which evaluated the potential cultural impacts of the project and said, “While the Department of Land and Natural Resources State Historic Preservation Division concurred with a ʻno historic properties affected’ determination, our hui remains dedicated to the protection of wahi kupuna (ancestral sites) in Haena.”
“There will be both archaeological and cultural monitoring during the excavation of the existing parking lot,” he added. “Inadvertent discoveries are highly unlikely because the project site has been historically, and unfortunately, disturbed numerous times since the 1970s.”
While construction is underway parking will be reduced. Visitors are encouraged to make the proper arrangements preferably through the reservation system operated by the Hanalei Initiative in partnership with the hui who hold the revocable permit for the shuttle, reservation, and parking system in the park.
The shuttle revenue generated from visitors contributes to the maintenance of the park and is being used to pay for the comfort station for the stewardship and the health of the area.
“We hope both our visitors and residents will plan ahead and consider using the shuttle instead of driving down to the end of the road and trying to find a parking spot,” said Joel Guy President of the Hanalei Initiative.
Pua Chin, a lineal descendant of the area and executive director of the hui, expressed humbleness and said, “The hui’s Ohana Council (lineal families) and its founding board members set the organization’s vision and mission for us almost 30 years ago.”
“That vision, in addition to protecting, caring for, and restoring the natural and cultural resources of Haena State Park, also outlines the creation of this regenerative tourism model to curb human impacts and generate revenue that will directly contribute to the stewardship of the park and support local employment and educational opportunities.”
Kinney added that, in terms of the landscape of Hawaii and state parks, this is one of, if not the most, successful examples of regenerative tourism in Hawaii. And, in terms of the state working with communities, this is groundbreaking work that many communities have been keeping an eye on and are now hoping to replicate.
The project does not have an accurate timeline right now due to delays in shipping materials and the weather. However, Kinney hopes the parking will be available within a month or two (again, depending on the weather) and the comfort station completed well before the summer season and the rise in visitors.
