Posted on: Thursday, July 8, 2004

BUREAUCRACY BUSTER
Kalalau upkeep difficult

By Robbie Dingeman
Advertiser Staff Writer

Q. I returned a few days ago from camping in Kalalau Valley on the Na Pali coast of Kaua'i. I paid $10 a day for my state camping permit to the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

What I found in Kalalau was compost toilets almost filled to the rim, no toilet paper and piles of trash. Other campers said they were there for longer than the five-day maximum allowed by permit and had not seen enforcement officers for almost five months. Why should I pay for my permit while others apparently camp for free?

A. You raise timely questions about camping during the peak summer season, when the Na Pali coast is accessible by boat and sees a big increase in visitors. Deborah Ward, spokeswoman for the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, said illegal campers cause problems and that the state conducts periodic sweeps, citing violators it finds. Remote Kalalau presents special challenges, she said, and also addressed these points:

• Fees: Camping permit fees go into a special fund used for staff salary, maintenance and trail repair. On Kaua'i, costs are higher due to need the need to use helicopters to reach remote areas.

• Toilets and toilet paper: During summer, DLNR staff try to check the self-composting toilets every other week, and about once a quarter during winter. A malfunctioning toilet in the milo forest has been moved and two others in the area are working. State parks officials provide a supply of paper but cannot guarantee it will always be there so they tell campers to bring their own.

• Trash: They ask campers to pack out their trash, but much gets left behind. The inaccessibility of the Na Pali Coast means that trash removal is scheduled about once a quarter. A maintenance trip by helicopter often takes two to three hours at a cost of $700 an hour. It can be a half-day operation when you include the driving and flying time for the crew to get into position and make the return trip back.

• Preservation: Ward urges those who seek out the natural beauty of Hawai'i to take personal responsibility to "malama Hawai'i"or take care of the land, by not dumping or camping illegally.

• Volunteers: Last month, some regular campers ferried about 100 bags of trash by boat to a point where crews could remove the rubbish. State crews appreciate the help but find it can be hard to coordinate a schedule with volunteers.