Hawai‘i County conducts park rules enforcement at Honl’s Beach

Earlier today, the Hawaiʻi County Department of Parks and Recreation, in coordination with the Hawaiʻi Police Department, the Office of Housing and Community Development, and various other State agencies and nongovernment service providers, conducted a park rules enforcement effort at Honl’s Beach in Kailua-Kona.

This operation, led by the directive of Hawaiʻi County Mayor Mitch Roth, aimed to address safety concerns and guarantee compliance with Parks’ rules within the beach grounds.

The Park has been the center of a number of safety complaints over the past month, with many beachgoers citing that they were harassed or attacked by illegal campers in the area. An increased police presence has been necessary as a result.

Three individuals were impacted by the enforcement effort, with two refusing assistance and the other accepting housing opportunities. All vacated the vicinity without incident.

“It is unacceptable for our residents and visitors to feel unsafe in our Parks,” said Mayor Mitch Roth.

To ensure the proper handling of all personal property, the County arranged for a secure storage facility. Personal belongings from three individuals were stored and inventoried, allowing individuals to retrieve their belongings within a 30-day period.

Similarly to prior Parks’ enforcement operations, outreach specialists from the Office of Housing and Community Development had been actively engaging with individuals in the area prior to the enforcement effort to provide support and connect them with appropriate resources.