HILO — A bill which could boost safety at a popular swim spot in Puna is moving through the Legislature.
HILO — A bill which could boost safety at a popular swim spot in Puna is moving through the Legislature.
House Bill 1200, introduced by state Rep. Joy San Buenaventura, D-Puna, would fund a feasibility study to determine the best way to establish a designated swimming area at Pohoiki. The measure passed its first Senate reading Tuesday.
Bill supporters say Puna lacks a safe swimming area due to lava inundation at Kalapana. They say Pohoiki also contains the only boat ramp in Puna and becomes dangerous when swimmers and boaters mix.
Pohoiki is a longtime, popular swimming spot and, according to the bill, more than 100 people can be seen in the water some weekends while boats are entering and exiting.
“We’re all thrilled about (the proposal moving forward),” San Buenaventura said Thursday. “It’s been generations of people who’ve been using the boat ramp as a swim area.”