Bay needs way better protection
The path from the top of Napoopoo Road to the Captain Cook monument is used a lot lately, and I have some concerns about that.
Every day, I see 20 to 40 cars parked at the top of Napoopoo Road. That translates to maybe 100 hikers in a day going down to snorkel in the bay. We are always told not to walk on the reefs, but these hikers must be trampling the reef unless they jump into the water from the monument. I have learned that sunscreens that contain oxybenzone, which most products do, are harmful to the reefs.
I see these hikers spraying and rubbing on a lot of sunscreen, and I doubt they know of the kind that does not contain oxybenzone. And there are no facilities there. Where do these people relieve themselves?
I feel that the DLNR should do something to protect the very precious reef of Kealakekua Bay.
Kathy Sweetser
Captain Cook