State Seal

 

DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES

 

News Release

     LINDA LINGLE              

           GOVERNOR

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

                                                                                                                                                                                               

                                                                                                                                              PETER T. YOUNG, CHAIRPERSON

                                                                                                                                              Phone: (808) 587-0401

                                                                                                                                              Fax: (808) 587-0390

                                                                                                                                             

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

For Immediate Release: November 22, 2006

  

DLNR Reopens Sand Island State Park
For Limited Day Use

HONOLULU— The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) will reopen Sand Island State Recreation Area starting from Thursday, November 23, for day use only by the public. Park hours are from 6 a.m. to 6:45 p.m. daily.

"We know that the Thanksgiving holiday is a time when a lot of people want to enjoy Sand Island, and so we have made the effort to provide some facilities so that we can open for picnicking, fishing and beach activities," said Peter Young, DLNR chairperson.

“Unfortunately, a second break-in took place some time last night when vandals opened an electrical vault containing high-voltage wires near a different comfort station in the park, resulting in additional damage to the park’s electrical system,” said Young.

“We are working with the police and DLNR enforcement to investigate both of these incidents. We are asking for the public’s cooperation to call us at 643-DLNR if they hear or see any suspicious persons going into, or coming out of the park at night,” said Young.

Twenty portable toilets will be provided at the park’s comfort stations numbers 1 through 4 (stations 5 and 6 are currently under renovation).

Water will be available from faucets and drinking fountains at the comfort stations. However showers will not be available since these are located in the restrooms which are still closed.

On Tuesday evening, November 14, thieves broke into an electrical transformer near one of the park’s restrooms and removed all the electrical copper wiring and contacts, causing extensive damage to the transformer system that powers the park's pump station that sends all sewage to the Sand Island Wastewater Treatment Plant.

Wiring in the underground line from the transformer to the pump station as well as electrical wiring and controls in the pump station was removed and damaged.

Further inspections after the first discovered vandalism attempt have revealed that wires to many of the park’s streetlights were also cut and removed, as well as flashing around several comfort station roofs.

“We are learning that the extent of damage is greater than we first realized,” said Young.

“This latest vandalism is dangerous, and adds to the costly repair work that our contractors must make to electrical, engineering and plumbing systems to restore power to the park’s sewage pumping system,” said Young. “Camping will not be permitted until this system is operating again.”

Persons holding camping permits for the park should call the State Parks office permit line at 587-0300.

# # #

 

 

For more information, contact:
Deborah Ward
DLNR Public Information Specialist
Phone: (808) 587-0320