MEDIA RELEASE

The state Board of Land and Natural Resources has voted unanimously at its bi-weekly business meeting, to approve a recommendation by the Hawaii Division of State Parks to terminate the revocable permit of Hawaii Pack and Paddle LLC to conduct commercial tours via kayak to the historic Kaawaloa Flats section of Kealakekua Bay State Historical Park.

The Division of State Parks recommended revocation based on violations of permit conditions on July 4, 2012, that include the company’s exceeding the number of allowed customers per tour, exceeding the maximum allowable time period at Kaawaloa of 2 1/2 hours per tour, and not remaining within the authorized permit area between the landing site at Awili and the Captain Cook Monument.

The July 4 excursion, which included a group of teens on an adventure tour, ended with the death of a White Plains, N.Y. 15-year-old.

Tyler Madoff was in a tide pool area when he was swept away by waves. His body was never found.

The Division of State Parks will issue a letter to Hawaii Pack and Paddle that will constitute a 30 day notice that their month-to-month permit is revoked, as allowed for in the revocable permit conditions.

The company was originally issued the permit in 2008, and it was continued by the board for additional one year periods since then.

In addition the Land Board will allow the company to return to the board’s Oct. 12, 2012 meeting to request a reconsideration and further discussion of the board’s decision, per request of the company’s attorney.

Kealakekua Bay State Historic Park, Kealakekua Bay and the Captain Cook Monument are highly popular visitor destinations in Kona due to the safe waters of the marine life conservation district and historical significance in the permitted area.