Proposed working group to address Kailua Bay/Kailua Pier management moves forward

To cohesively address the ongoing vandalism of public bathrooms, illegal activity, safety and homeless issues at the historic Kailua Pier, Big Island lawmakers have put forward a resolution to form a working group for the pier and Kailua Bay.

Hawaiʻi Sen. Dru Kanuha introduced Senate Concurrent Resolution 119 Draft 1 that requests the Department of Land and Natural Resources to convene a Kailua Bay Advisory Working Group to foster coordinated oversight and effective management of the area with federal, private, residential and commercial partners.

Following a public hearing with the House Committee on Water and Land, the resolution passed as is on Thursday. The resolution will now be heard by the House Finance Committee.

If the measure passes, it will need a floor vote in the House for final approval.

Currently, Kailua Bay and the pier fall under the management of multiple government agencies, including the state’s Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation, Hawai‘i Island police and the U.S. Coast Guard.

The pier includes a cruise ship port, an offshore mooring area, a boat launch ramp, vessel loading/unloading areas, a vessel washdown and a comfort station. About 150 to 250 people use the pier and bay daily, with that number increasing when an anchored cruise ship shuttles people to the pier, the Department of Land and Natural Resources said in written testimony.

The state collaborates with many Kailua Pier users for management strategies, including area hotels and businesses. The state said it recognizes the public safety concerns due to the unlawful activities that take place after hours.

To address these concerns, the state implemented emergency rules in late 2024 that established closure hours for the pier from 10:30 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. The department is currently working on a permanent version of these rules.

The bay hosts paddlers from around the state during the iconic Queen Lili‘iokalani Regatta in September and has been the backdrop to the Ironman World Championship Race for decades.

Mary Beth Witzel, a Kona resident, also provided testimony in support of the resolution. She started working as a cruise ship greeter for Destination Kona Coast in 2013, where she welcomed tourists at the pier. She is now the pier coordinator for the company’s Aloha Greeting Program.

Over the years of volunteering on the pier, Witzel said she’s noticed a difficulty in determining which government entity oversees “various negative situations.”

Most recently, Witzel explained how the damaged public bathrooms with clogged drains and vandalized portable toilets resulted in complaints from a majority of the cruise ship guests.

Mike Atwood, the first Vice President of Kai ‘Opua Canoe Club, testified in person, saying having the Department of Land and Natural Resources available as an avenue to communicate needs from recreational to cultural to business is something those who use the pier “desperately need.”

Following the hearing, Atwood said it is sometimes difficult to coordinate the needs of all the users, including the swimmers, cruise ships and businesses operating in the area.

Atwood specifically recalled the cleanup over the weekend where the Ocean Defenders Alliance pulled out old tires from the bay. He didn’t know about it and thought that was something the Kai ʻOpua Canoe Club would have liked to participate in.

There needs to be a way for everyone to be aware of all activities and needs at the pier.

“As the community grows, more demands will be placed on the bay and pier,” Atwood added.

In written testimony, Hawai‘i County Mayor Kimo Alameda said the Kailua Pier is not just a structure.

“It is a vital part of our island’s identity and heritage, reflecting the rich cultural history that has shaped this region for generations,” Alameda stated. “By supporting this measure, we take a critical step toward addressing the long-term challenges and opportunities at the Kailua-Kona pier.”