News Release

Public Input Needed for Maintenance Facilities

News Release Date: October 12, 2022

Contact: Keola Awong/PIO, [phone] ext.1220

The National Park Service (NPS) is in the early stages of project planning to remove and replace the existing maintenance facilities at Pu’uhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park. NPS is requesting your input about the park lands and its cultural resources. Planning in the National Park Service guides informed and insightful decisions that provide relevant and timely direction to park management and informs future decision making for each national park system unit in accord with its stated mission. Planning also provides methods and tools for resolving issues in ways that minimize conflicts and promotes mutually beneficial solutions – solutions that articulate how public enjoyment of the parks can be part of a strategy for ensuring that resources are protected unimpaired for future generations. 

The existing maintenance facilities were originally built in the 1960ʻs with the stated intent to be temporary structures. The facilities are inadequate to meet the needs of the Park and their location inapproprately occupies an area known to contain both historic and ancient archaeological resources. The facilities are visually intrusive to the physical and cultural landscape and are located in a coastal area subject to high waves, storm surge, tsunami inundation and anticipated sea level rise.

The purpose of this project is to remove the intrusive temporary facilities from their current location, restore the historic scene of the site and contruct replacement facilities in more suitable locations elsewhere in the park. Alternative sites for the replacement facilities are being considered based on their potential effect on park resources, benefit to park operations and their impact on visitors and community experience. New facilities will be located and designed in accordance with NPSʻs commitment to fulfil its responsibility as a steward of this special landscape and protect the wahi pana and interconnected cultural and natural resources of the Hōnaunau, Kēōkea, and Ki’ilae ahupua’a for the benefit and inspiration of all who may visit this special place. The National Park Service is seeking public input about the project and comments will be reviewed and incorporated in the upcoming Evnironmental Assessment (EA). Public input is encouraged and welcomed from October 20 to November 18, 2022 online at the National Park Serviceʻs Planning, Environment & Public Comment website. Please submit your input on the proposed plan here: 

Parkplanning - Replace Maintenance Facility and Restore Landscape (nps.gov)

Virtual Meeting Wednesday, November 9, 2022 via Microsoft Teams at 6:00 pm-7:30 pm HST. Join here:
microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_NTVmZjQzZjYtNTQ4YS00ZmRmLWE2OWEtNWQwYjM5N2YyYzhl%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b% 22Tid%22%3a%220693b5ba-4b18-4d7b-9341-f32f400a5494%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%22e4d7225c-db87-4a94-9d2e92aa3be16aa0%22%7d

Meeting ID: 221 886 462 148 Passcode: KiGNoQ

In-person Meeting Thursday, November 10, 2022 at 6:00-7:30 pm HST
Location: Amphitheater next to the Park Visitor Center at Highway 160, Hōnaunau, HI 96726.