'A'ali'i is a reporter with KITV. He was born and raised on the island of Maui and graduated from the University of Southern California with a bachelor's degree in Journalism.
A new measure in the state legislature could lead to more protections for e beach located on the Makapu'u side of Sandy Beach. Bill 2799, introduced by Sen. Chris Lee, aims to designate the area as the Kaiwi Coast State Park under the Department of Land and Natural Resources.
HONOLULU (KITV4) -- A new measure in the state legislature could lead to more protections for a beach located on the Makapu'u side of Sandy Beach.
Bill 2799, introduced by Sen. Chris Lee, aims to designate the area as the Kaiwi Coast State Park under the Department of Land and Natural Resources.
The bill, which lawmakers advanced Monday, also proposes to allot funds for full-time positions to monitor the area.
The enforcement would "prevent situations that are going to impact the area negatively that are going to overcrowd it," Lee said.
"During COVID, we had parties of hundreds of people coming out, building bonfires on the beach, cars stacked up down the length of the highway, and even going out on the beach dunes," he added.
A blessing was held at the site Tuesday to recognize the milestones already achieved to protect the area.
Over the past year, state and city officials, as well as a host of volunteers, created a parking lot and installed a barrier of boulders to prevent cars from trolling along the beach.
"The seals were in danger, the beach was black from the rubber," said Reese Liggett, one of the volunteers at the forefront of the effort.
According to Liggett, the area is deemed culturally significant because of its sand dunes, which are full of iwi kupuna, or human remains.
Coming together to protect the Kaiwi Coast! Today a blessing marked the collaborative efforts to continue conserving this pristine coastline. Particularly at Wāwāmalu Beach where last year we placed boulders to further restrict illegal off-roading which was destroying the beach. pic.twitter.com/810p8EQhVb
'A'ali'i is a reporter with KITV. He was born and raised on the island of Maui and graduated from the University of Southern California with a bachelor's degree in Journalism.
