Sixteen people were cited for trespassing and violating Gov. David Ige’s stay-at-home order on Saturday after police busted a party at Pohue Bay in Ka‘u.
Police were sent to the area shortly after 2 p.m. following a report from a Ka‘u land manager that there were approximately 10 to 15 people trespassing at Pohue Bay, which is located several miles south of the Ocean View Ranchos subdivision.
To access the area, trespassers had to drive around a wooden gate, dismantle two lava rock barricades, and park their vehicles fronting the third lava rock barricade before heading to the bay, according to the Hawaii Police Department. The barricades, erected by Nani Kahuku Aina LLC, were put in place to prevent access following the completion of a new access road off Highway 11.
In addition to the area containing barricades designed to prevent trespassing, the people also disregarded a posted “No Trespassing” sign, police said.
Further, all of the people were reported to have been congregating at Pohue Bay while laying/sitting on the beach and consuming alcoholic beverages, according to police. These “nonessential” activities were witnessed and video recorded by a land manager.
The 10 men and six women, all adults, were contacted by police and each cited for second-degree criminal trespassing and prohibited acts during Gov. David Ige’s stay-at-home order. Their ages ranged from 20 to 47.
Five were from Kailua-Kona; three from Ocean View; two from Captain Cook; two from Pahoa; one from Hilo; one from Naalehu; one from Keaau; and one from California.
Police said the 33-year-old man from California was not listed on the 14-day mandatory quarantine list.