MEDIA RELEASE

A new coastal community park is underway at Kohanaiki in North Kona – the result of years of collaboration between community groups, the County of Hawaii, the Kohanaiki Shores project, and lineal descendants of the area.

The Kohanaiki Coastal Community Park, situated along 1.5 miles of coastline, will provide an improved road, parking and facilities at some of North Kona’s most popular surf, dive and camping spots.

Mayor Billy Kenoi praised the stewardship agreement between the county, community and Kohanaiki Shores.

“Our shoreline areas are wonderful places to be enjoyed by residents and visitors,” Kenoi said. “But they are fragile, and it is through the cooperative efforts of the public and private sectors as well as those who swim, surf and play there that we will be able to preserve them for future generations.”

A blessing of the park grounds is 11 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 7; a brief closure of the beach access will be in effect while the blessing takes place.

Upon the park’s completion – targeted for the end of 2012 – it will be turned over to the County of Hawaii and the responsibilities for park care will be shared between Kohanaiki Shores, the County and the Big Island community.

As work gets underway, the park partners will continue their discussions on details of the beach park’s operation.

Kohanaiki Ohana, an active member of the community partnership that has worked toward establishment of the park, president Rebecca Villegas said.

“The Kohanaiki Ohana supports this collaborative effort to create a model for partnerships between government, private enterprise and the community,” Villegas said. “We are committed to ensuring the park remains the special place that families and community members have cherished for generations.”

Daily beach access will continue on its current schedule. However, the tentative camping schedule for 2012 may be adjusted as work on the park dictates and beach goers can expect some detours on the road to the beach during construction.

“We will keep the public and our regular beach goers informed of anticipated delays and detours through distribution of flyers and one-on-one contact at the beach,” said Joe Root, project director for Kohanaiki Shores.

One of the first phases of park work will focus on landscaping and will include the careful moving and transplanting of trees and other flora to make way for necessary roadways and parking.

Once completed, the park will be open daily and will include bathrooms and outdoor showers, designated camping spots, a halau for cultural practices, improved parking, and improved roadways to the shoreline and within the park.

A pedestrian trail along the length of the shoreline is already established and is part of the longer Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail. A preservation and cultural plan, guided by the lineal descendants of Kohanaiki, is in place to oversee the conservation of historic and cultural sites at the park, as well as ongoing cultural practices.

Elizabeth Maluihi Lee said, “I am very impressed with Kohanaiki Shores for providing a park for the community to enjoy. The name Kohanaiki refers to a narrowing strip, wide at one end and narrow at the other. By providing these types of amenities to the local people it represents the widening of that strip to include all who live here as beneficiaries of this land. Aloha mai oukou! Mahalo nui nei au, i na kulena waiwai no ka mahele ana ke aloha no ka lehulehu o ka aina i keia kahua hale hoolealea. O wau no me ka haahaa.”