A group of Papaikou mill beach users and their supporters stood along Highway 19 on Friday to again urge Hawaii County officials to make the only trail to the small black sand beach a public path. ADVERTISING A group of
A group of Papaikou mill beach users and their supporters stood along Highway 19 on Friday to again urge Hawaii County officials to make the only trail to the small black sand beach a public path.
The sign-waving event attracted about 50 people and was the first since the County Council passed a resolution to acquire the beach trail from its private owners more than three years ago.
Organizer Kalani Lyman said they are frustrated by the lack of progress.
“We’re getting tired of this,” he said. “We don’t want to fight this all over again.”
A dispute over the trail started several years ago after beach users complained of the property owners limiting access through their property and being less than friendly with visitors.
Reached by phone, property owner Charlene Prickett declined to comment.
Access is provided for about 12 hours a day, though users say the trail is typically closed one day a year.
The council asked the county to buy the path in addition to Mill Road, also owned by Prickett and husband Jim Waugh.
Bill Brilhante, deputy corporation counsel, said the county hasn’t forgotten about the trail. He said the issue remains parking, or lack thereof at the trailhead.
“I know we’re not dragging our feet on this,” Brilhante said.
“The only issue now is trying to determine how do we make this safe, accessible and open to all.”
So far, the options have been limited.
Brilhante said the county has reached out to the owners of the closed Pinky’s store about using their lot for public parking. But that’s not likely to occur while the property is for sale.
Designating a few stalls along the highway might also be an option, he said, if the state allows it.
Lyman said the beach is used almost entirely by Papaikou residents, and the lack of parking wasn’t a problem they were trying to fix.
“We don’t want a county park,” he said. “We just want our access the way it was before they built their home.”
Email Tom Callis at
tcallis@hawaiitribune-
herald.com.
