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DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES News Release LINDA LINGLE GOVERNOR _________________________________________________________________________________________________________
LAURA H. THIELEN, CHAIRPERSON
Phone: (808) 587-0401
Fax: (808) 587-0390
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For Immediate Release:
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DLNR TO BEGIN CONSTRUCTION OF IMPROVEMENTS LIHU‘E — The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) will start construction on a new comfort station and related improvements at Ha‘ena State Park on October 1, 2007. The new comfort station will include accessible fixtures and changing areas. The improvements will also include an accessible outdoor shower tree, new pathways and other related upgrades. “Hawai‘i state parks are some of most treasured natural resources that are enjoyed by residents and visitors,” said Laura Thielen, DLNR Chairperson. “The investment this Administration has committed to maintaining and improving Ha‘ena State Park and our entire state parks system will ensure that natural and cultural resources are preserved, and will provide a safe and comfortable experience for all park users. We appreciate the public’s patience and understanding during the construction of these improvements.” The park will remain open during construction and portable toilets will be provided. During construction, there will not be a shower or any changing facilities, and Ke‘e beach will only be accessible from the roadway. The contractor for the comfort station replacement project is Colin & Dillon Construction, and work for the project is expected to be completed by June 2008. The project will cost $432,000. Members of the Ha‘ena community provided valuable insights on cultural issues and resources in the project area, which enabled DLNR to collaborate on appropriate design changes to address these concerns. Community members and the Kaua‘i Planning Commission acknowledged DLNR's efforts to work with the community. “We appreciate the opportunity to collaborate with members of the Ha‘ena community on this project, and we look forward to working with the community on future improvement projects in the park including a master plan and new wastewater treatment system,” Thielen added. The improvements are part of the Lingle-Aiona Administration’s ongoing efforts to upgrade the 53 state parks on O‘ahu, Maui, Kaua‘i, Hawai‘i and Moloka‘i and to ensure the safety and comfort of all residents and visitors who use the parks. The multi-year park improvement plan, which DLNR started in 2005, is the first major upgrade to state parks since the parks system was established more than 40 years ago. Ha‘ena State Park is located in northwest region of Kaua‘i at the end of Kuhio Highway, also known as HWY 56. For more information, call the Kaua‘i State Parks office at (808) 274-3445 or the O‘ahu State Parks office at (808) 587-0300. # # #
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