A new comfort station is being built at Hā‘ena State Park, with a nonprofit community group taking the lead in the planning and design process and fully funding the improvement project without government support. The project is supported by the Hui Makaʻāinana o Makana, the park’s nonprofit steward, as reported by the Department of Land and Natural Resources.
The comfort station planned for construction in the parking lot of Hā‘ena State Park follows the successful management of the park's parking and shuttle systems by the Hui and its nonprofit partner, the Hanalei Initiative, since the park's reopening after the lockdown. A portion of the existing parking lot will be used for the new facilities, but an updated parking plan and expanded shuttle service are expected to maintain smooth operations for both residents and visitors.
Assistant Director of the Hui, Billy Kinney, has taken steps to ensure that the cultural significance of the area is preserved, conducting a Ka Pa‘akai Analysis to assess potential cultural impacts. “While the DLNR State Historic Preservation Division (SHPD) concurred with a ʻno historic properties affected’ determination, our hui remains dedicated to the protection of wahi kūpuna (ancestral sites) in Hāʻena," Kinney said in a statement obtained by the Department of Land and Natural Resources. He assured continued vigilance with both archaeological and cultural monitoring planned during the excavation process.
The new station is expected to ease the demand on the sole existing bathroom near Kē‘ē Beach and provide an alternative to the practice of some visitors using the surrounding trees as a makeshift relief area. Pua Chin, the Hui's executive director and also a lineal descendant of the area, illuminated the vision of the Hui set nearly three decades ago and the strides they’ve made in protecting and caring for Hāʻena State Park, adding, “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,” according to DLNR's announcement.
Joel Guy, president of The Hanalei Initiative, highlighted the collaborative nature of this community-led venture. “This project represents the power of a community-led, government-supported approach to managing our precious resources," Guy told DLNR. He encourages utilizing the expanded shuttle system during construction, ensuring that access to Hā‘ena remains stress-free for all. While the immediate impact on parking is a concern, the goal is for the community to adapt to the changes in support of the park's long-term preservation.
