North Hawaii parks leave much to be desired
The Big Island and Hawaii in general have, as their biggest economic engine, tourist dollars.
Some of the parks on our side of this island stink. And I do mean stink! Mahukona and Kapaa parks are heading to a health department shutdown. Come see and smell what is needed. Try to walk the Mahukona trail to Kapaa, you will have a few locked portable toilets. The porta-potties at Mahukona (both locations) are always in need of changing out.
But the Kapaa open-air pavilion is even more in need of cleaning! Terrible. We were there this past April and again last week. No running water again so the two building toilets are still locked due to no water. The portable toilet can be smelled from the parking lot. One time there was a hornets’ nest on the edge of the toilet seat! The county worker with whom we spoke earlier this week said that Parks &Rec was looking for a plumber. Really? How long does it take to find a plumber? Years?
The condition of the Kapaa park pavilion is beyond dirty. It has not been power-washed in years. The scum on the concrete and walls and picnic tables attracts many bugs and more flies than anyone should allow.
It is an embarrassment to all Hawaii and a real health issue.
The view from Kapaa especially during whale watch season attracts many visitors and what are they left with? A view, yes, but a putrid disgusting smell, hordes of flies and no sensible facilities. Word gets around — fast.
Kathy and John Arroyo
Kailua-Kona
Police should lead by example on window tints
Police should not be empowered to tow a car because of dark tinted windows. The seat belt issue has police doing roadside checks. This would work for dark tinted windows as well except for police officers’ personal vehicles. They are above the law and other drivers see that and figure they can do it as well.
If a law does not apply to everyone equally, then it should not be a law. Each checkpoint should have three meters, one on each end and a spare. Each ticket issued should be a $102 fine and a requirement that safety check be redone at a different licensed safety check location within 10 days.
David Robinson
Honokaa
Bathroom blockade lacks good judgment
This summer my 4-year-old, 6-year-old and 10-year-old are participating in a Challenger Sport Soccer camp at Kona Old Airport with two amazing young coaches visiting from Scotland.
The coaches work hard with Kona’s athletic youth teaching them the fundamentals of soccer all day next to the Old Airport Gymnasium. It was not a very nice welcome to them and our soccer campers who, when they went to take the children to the gym for a bathroom break, were told by the staff running a community Summer Fun Camp that the public restrooms in the Kona Gymnasium are closed to the public.
Well, we, too, are taxpayers paying for the facility but my 4-year-old will have to use the unlocked, unmaintained facilities at the other end of the baseball fields? Because, according to the director Tim, mysterious permits allow the camp to close the entire facility — even the bathrooms in the front hall — so that no one else can use them. There are only two camps and yet they could not see how we could work out a bathroom arrangement?
It was selfish and I was saddened by the lack of good judgment. The Summer Fun Camp staff stated it was for security and safety purposes but, as a parent myself, I have the same concerns as they do in the restroom area. So we can’t even make an arrangement to use the restrooms that are possibly cleaner, as they are locked at night and have hand soap?
I was confused by this mysterious permit rule and the lack of response or concern from Kona Parks and Recreation about this treatment when I called to ask about it. If we are not allowed to use the restrooms in the gym during open hours, can the county at least provide suitable alternatives that are equally serviced and maintained?
Heather Hamilton
Kona