Hawaii Tribune-Herald: Mauna Kea rec area open

Thursday, Jul 29, 2004

Mauna Kea rec area open

By DAVE SMITH
The state has reopened some of the cabins at Mauna Kea State Recreation Area on Saddle Road which were closed five years ago.

However, no water is currently available on-site for cooking and personal use -- but the state is working to correct that.

The state Board of Land and Natural Resources on Friday will take up a request from the State Parks Division to approve a $527,294 contract for construction of a new water system to provide potable water to the cabins.

The project involves installation of a "water transfer station" that includes a 25,000-gallon tank, pump and electric and water lines.

Glenn Taguchi, superintendent of state parks on the Big Island, said the system will eventually connect to the park's existing water distribution system which was found lacking five years ago, prompting the closing of the park.

At that time the spring feeding the park's tanks dried up. Although some flow has returned, the quality of the water does not meet updated federal standards for drinking water.

The new system will require that water be trucked to the park.

The parks division has completed renovations on four of the park's seven cabins which consisted of repainting and general repairs. It also included removal of all faucets and showers because under law those would require a supply of potable water.

The toilets were reopened and will be flushed with water from the existing water system but cabin patrons are being cautioned that the water is not to be used for any other purpose.

That means park patrons must bring their own water for drinking, cooking and washing.

Once the new water system is completed, existing water lines will be sanitized and the faucets reinstalled. Taguchi said a timeframe for that has not yet been established.

According to the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Isemoto Contracting was the lower of two bidders on the project. The other bid of $742,538 was submitted by RI Namba Construction.

The state's effort is similar to a proposal last year from Big Island Bird Hunters President Steve Hurt in which the club offered to provide temporary tanks to hasten the reopening of the park which is located near hunting areas.

On Wednesday Hurt said his fellow hunters are looking forward to the November opening of the bird-hunting season and the resumption of family get-togethers at the park.

"We're glad to see positive steps taken," he said, adding that not only hunters are glad to see the park reopened. He said following last year's discussions about reopening of the park he was approached by school groups and hula halau glad that such efforts were underway.

Taguchi said the park's existing three water tanks with a combined capacity of 2 million gallons will remain for non-potable uses such as fire suppression. He said the state has not ruled out the possibility of reconnecting them to the park's distribution system but that would require construction of a federally approved water purification system which may be prohibitively expensive.

The cabins, which contain cooking facilities and heaters, rent for $35 a night for up to four people. Up to two more occupants can be added at $5 apiece.

The rental cost was reduced by $10 because of a lack of potable water.

Dave Smith can be reached at dsmith@hawaiitribune-herald.com

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