KAPAAU — Adding a new parking area to the often-crowded Pololu Valley Lookout remains in the hands of agencies, politicians, businesses and residents.
But things are moving ahead, one step at a time.
Over the past year, community groups and representatives from the Department of Land and Natural Resources’ (DLNR) Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW), Hawaii State Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Highways Division and Surety Kohala Corporation have met repeatedly to find a solution to ongoing parking issues and other problems at the popular tourist destination.
Bill Shontell, executive vice president of Surety Kohala, a private landowner, has seen progress in the joint efforts.
“In April, DLNR-DOFAW administrator David Smith sent me a letter of interest as official notification of the state’s intent to work on improving the Pololu situation,” he said.
A year earlier, in April 2017, Shontell first offered to donate several acres 75 yards from the lookout area on the mauka side of the road, where additional parking and restroom facilities could also be added.
In follow-up letters to DLNR this past spring, he stated that “inadequate parking, traffic congestion, non-existent ADA access, lack of toilet facilities, vehicle break-ins, trash and squatting have all grown to the point where we welcome this positive action by the state.”
As a result of their discussions, Shontell said it’s likely that “Surety may also donate oceanfront property on the floor of Pololu Valley to allow the state to deal with overcrowding issues.”
Always a popular spot, Pololu Valley Lookout has been busier than ever since early May, when tourists could no longer visit most of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park due to Kilauea’s ongoing eruptions.
“For the last couple of months the traffic at (Pololu Valley Lookout) has been steady and heavy. In the past it would slow down then pick up then slow down, but now it’s constant,” Shontell said. “My guess is it’s due to tourists looking for things to do. Also, more folks — not from Kohala — are sleeping in cars there.”
Rep. Cindy Evans has also been a part of the discussion for more than a year. In her February “Legislatively Speaking” column in West Hawaii Today, she stated, “Gov. Ige is asking for “$1,000,000 to renovate the Pololu Valley Lookout – $500,000 for the parking area to accommodate the ever-increasing daily influx of traffic and an additional $500,000 for amenities such as a bathroom to help eliminate health concerns.”
The requested funding did not survive bills approved by the state House and Senate earlier this year.
“The department is still actively in discussions,” Rep. Evans said in an email Thursday. “It is important the Senate Chair of Ways and Means and House Chair of Finance get briefed during budget hearings prior to the session starting in January on any progress by DLNR.
“I am hopeful the department will be prepared to ask for funds this coming legislative session, assuming the department has made progress with Surety Kohala,” she added.
Joint efforts will continue, according to Shontell.
“This project, spearheaded by the state and supported by area stakeholders, is a rare and wonderful opportunity to ‘do it right’ and create a proud and lasting legacy for Kohala, our fellow island residents and our guests,” he said Thursday.
“Meetings are currently ongoing between Surety, DLNR-DOFAW and Na Ala Hele’s Trail and Access Program staff, as well as Hawaii County Planning Department and administration officials to determine the affected parcels, entitlement actions, responsible parties and approving agencies to be coordinated to move this state project forward. Public meetings will be part of the planning process.”
He continued, “Right now, most of the work is in the hands of the agencies: DLNR for the moment, but Hawaii County Planning is up on deck. The iffy part is the election and not knowing which way the chips will fall.”
An initial proposal to address the Pololu Valley Lookout parking need was created some 50 years ago.