For Immediate Release: January 24, 2006

“To be efficient and shorten the period of inconvenience to park users, we combined several construction projects to occur simultaneously. The park and beach will remain open during construction but some facilities may be temporarily closed until work is finished. We believe the public will appreciate the finished improvements,” said Peter Young, DLNR chairperson.

“Portable toilets will be provided when any comfort station is closed for renovation. The contractor has been instructed to work on one comfort station and one picnic pavilion at a time, to minimize inconvenience to park users. Appropriate safety measures will be applied during construction,” he said.

Isemoto Contracting Co. is currently renovating the park's three comfort stations (north beach, south beach, and parking area facilities); north and south picnic pavilions; A-frame rental cabin and kitchen pavilion area; maintenance base yard; and office trailer areas. Planned renovations are as follows:

-- Comfort stations will be fully renovated and made accessible. Improvements will include: new floor and wall tiles; new toilets and urinals, new lavatories, new changing benches, grab bars; signage; and connecting pathway improvements.

-- Park picnic pavilions will have new accessible picnic tables and pathway improvements.

-- Improvements to make Cabin #6 and kitchen accessible consist of: cabin entrance improvements, installation of accessible picnic table, kitchen counter, sink, and range improvements, accessible toilets, lavatories, showers and changing areas.

-- Accessible entrance, pathway and restroom improvements at the maintenance base yard.

-- Accessible parking and entry improvements at the office trailer.

Construction total cost is $669,549. Project completion date is approximately June - July 2006

Meanwhile, contractor Site Engineering, Inc. has nearly completed previously started projects including: resurfacing and striping of the upper parking lot; repaving and drainage improvements to the South Beach road, accessible parking stalls and access aisles; striping and signage and other improvements. Construction cost is $253,728.

Also, the contractor has completed construction at the Wailea section of the park. Improvements include access road paving, parking improvements, and other park improvements. Contractor: Site Engineering, Inc. Construction cost is $232,076.

Starting next month, work will begin on installation of new septic systems for the north, south, and parking area comfort stations, to replace the park’s large capacity cesspool as required by agreement with the Environmental Protection Agency. Contractor is Big Island Excavating, LLC. The project will cost $526,500 and be completed in about four months. Portable toilets will be provided if any comfort stations are closed for a prolonged period.

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