Launiupoko Beach Park reopens after being damaged by high winds | News, Sports, Jobs

Downed trees and other debris riddle Launiupoko Beach Park after the Aug. 8 wildfire and high winds. Maui County photos

The Maui News

Popular Launiupoko Beach Park reopened Saturday thanks to efforts by county parks staff who lost homes in the Aug. 8 fire.

The opening was announced Friday at a community meeting that drew more than 600 people to the Lahaina Civic Center.

The beach park, known for its family barbecues, surfing events and keiki parties, reopened ahead of schedule after the county Department of Parks and Recreation worked to ensure the park was cleared after the fire and wind caused downed trees and other damage that riddled the park with debris. Eight staff in the parks department lost their homes to the fire but worked to ensure the beach park could reopen at 10 a.m. Saturday so families could enjoy it over the weekend, the county said.

The park resumes normal hours from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Launiupoko Beach Park is seen after the cleanup of debris that allowed the park to reopen on Saturday.

“With the help of our county Parks Department employees — whose hard work made it possible to have our Launiupoko Beach Park accessible and safe for the community’s use sooner than expected, residents can now return and enjoy the park which has been an important park of Lahaina for generations,” Mayor Richard Bissen said in a news release Saturday. 

The department said Wailea Tree Trimming and West Maui Construction were instrumental in the reopening.

Parkgoers should enter via Kai Hele Ku Street and exit via Kai Hele Ku Street to the Lahaina Bypass, or turn right out of the park to use Honoapiilani Highway toward Olowalu. 

No county water or wastewater utilities are on-site. The county deployed three portable toilets and handwashing stations. 

The beach park is located in Zone 16C under the map created for the systematic reopening of Lahaina homes and parks. For more information on the status of restricted areas, visit www.mauirecovers.org.

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