Maui Camping In Hawaii:
More Rules, Fewer Parks,
Less Camping



BY BUCK QUAYLE
Maui Camping

A new ordinance cuts in half the number of County camping parks on Maui, increases regulations, and provides stricter penalties.

The new law passed final reading by the County Council May 7 and was approved the same day by Maui Mayor Elmer Cravalho.

Under the new ordinance, staying overnight no longer is permitted at Hana, Kamaole or Waiehu County parks.

Limitations have been put on the number of tents and trailers permitted at the remaining three camping parks: Baldwin, 10 tents and 8 trailers; Hookipa, seven tents and five trailers, and Kalama, 10 tents and 18 trailers.

People are now required to use a tent (or tarpaulins rigged like tents), or "commercially constructed" camping vehicles or trailers. Sleeping bags alone are not allowed for Maui camping.

A permit must be obtained two days prior to use, as before, but is only good for three days instead of the previous four. No renewals are granted. Only one permit may be issued at a time, and "satisfactory identification" must be shown.

In most cases, a person must be over 18 to get a Maui camping permit. Adults will pay $1 a day to camp. The charge for persons under 18 is fifty cents.

Violators of the ordinance may be fined $250 and jailed for 60 days. Formally, there was a $100 fine.

According to a letter written by Cravalho, which accompanied the proposal to the County Council last Dec. 4, the proposed ordinance was drafted by the County Attorney's office following the recomendations of the Dept. of Parks and Recreation.

However, Parks Director Ichiro Maehara-five days after the law passed-said he had not yet read the Maui camping document.

Maehara said he took office last January. The Maui camping proposal was issued from the Mayor's office in January 1970.

Maehara said he believed Alfred Deloso of the Parks Dept. was instrumental in formulating the ordinance. Deloso was reported sick for most of last week and unavailable for comment.

Lanny Morisaki, chairman of the County Council's Parks and Recreation committee, said:

"I am ashamed to admit that I don't know what the ordinance contains. I've been sick, had two major operations in March, and had to be excused from the first reading of the ordinance.

"Because of the urgency of the situation, with the Parks Dept. requesting immediate passage, and the approval of the Mayor, I just glanced at it quickly."

County Attorney Kase Higa said three of the parks were closed to such outdoor activity because of overuse, lack of adequate facilities, and what he termed "abuse".

Higa said the matter of a three- or four-day permit was arbitrary. "We want some limitation," he said. "Because of the heavy use, this gives everyone a chance."

Tents are required, he said, so officials can "make sure these people are really campers".

The requirement of what the law terms a "commercially constructed" camper was added, Higa said, so persons "can't drive up in a pickup truck and say this is a camper."

Higa said the major suggestions for the ordinance came from Mayor Cravalho. The actual drafting of the bill was carried out by Higa and Deputy Attorney Arthur Ueoka.

Cravalho left for three weeks in Japan after approving the ordinance, and was not available for comment.

Police Chief Abraham Aiona said neither he nor his department had been consulted on the new ordinance. He said he had not requested stronger laws in this area.

County camping laws are now considerably more restrictive than either State or Federal laws on Maui.






Call To Action:
Send Your Ships Out-So They May Come In!!!



The Maui Lahaina Sun:
News, Alerts and Offers

Sign up now! Why? Discount Vacations and Cruises! That's why!

With your name on the "Alert" list-you're ready to go. Even though you don't know when that may be!

I've been offered several Discount Vacations and Cruises and am trying to provide the same for you.

You also receive Old and New News from Maui, Hawaii. If you enjoy reading this site-you'll get more.

And we have Surprises!!! Everyone likes nice Surprises. Especially when least expected!

Enjoy!

E-mail
Name
Then

Don't worry — your e-mail address is totally secure.
I promise to use it only to send you The Maui Lahaina Sun: News, Alerts and Offers.

We hate spam as much as you do.

So please confirm your participation-when we E-mail you to check.

Our heartfelt Thank You E-mail will follow.

Thanks. See you.






To Return From Maui Camping To The Maui Of Yore-Click Here


From Maui Camping To Banana Patch-Click Here


To Go To Lahaina Orchid Exhibit-Click Here


To Go To Maui Beaches-Click Here


To Go To Sierra Club-Click Here


To Go To Haleakala-Click Here


To Go To Rodeo-Click Here






Maui Lahaina Sun

Buck Quayle at The Lahaina Sun

Buck Quayle at the Maui Lahaina Sun bureau circa 1970

Buck Quayle

Reporter/Photographer Buck Quayle in 1971 in Maui with the Cartagenian in the background

Buck Quayle, 2011


Hawaii

Haleakala Park On Maui

Another Day At The Office Haleakala National Park

Tiki at Maui School

Tiki

Whale watching

Whale tail

My Other Office-On The Beach At Lahaina
Maui Girl On Bike