I have been very troubled by what I witnessed at South Point, on the track to the Green Sand Beach, on my last visit just prior to Christmas. ADVERTISING I have been very troubled by what I witnessed at South
I have been very troubled by what I witnessed at South Point, on the track to the Green Sand Beach, on my last visit just prior to Christmas.
As I recall from previous trips years ago, there was a gate at the entrance of the track and no vehicles were allowed past that point. This gate is now gone. The track has been destroyed by four wheel drive vehicles driven by local people taking tourists back and forth, for a charge of $10 a person each way.
There are many new “roads” carved by the vehicles. The erosion caused by it is tremendous. When a new road no longer can be used because it becomes a deep ravine due to the erosion, the drivers of such vehicles start driving on the grass and carve a new road. The land is being completely cut into deep ravines and no one cares. Where is the malama for the aina?
I talked to a few of the drivers but they didn’t listen of course. The money comes first not the aina. At the cliff over the beach, there was lots of garbage. I couldn’t take it because it didn’t fit in my backpack. I begged two of the car drivers to take it but they refused. There are no garbage cans there. People must learn how to respect the land and take their garbage with them. I think a sign could help to make people aware.
Another huge problem I see is the number of people hiking along the cliff. Erosion will cause a problem in the future. A serious accident also. The land in that area of South Point belongs to Hawaii Homelands. I believe that the DLNR has no say there. I am surprised that no one has said or done anything about such an abuse of the land. I hope that this letter reaches the DHHL and that they take action as it is their responsibility.
Conceiçao Farias
Kailua-Kona
