On Thursday, February 24, all public lands north of the estuary at Honuʻapo in Kaʻū will reopen.  The area has been closed since October 7, 2021, to protect the public’s safety and welfare related to the bagasse fires that are ongoing throughout the area.

The Hawai‘i County Fire Department reports that the area has significantly cooled, and the Department of Public Works has completed a fencing project that will maintain a safe perimeter around the affected areas.

In press release Hawaiʻi County Mayor Mitch Roth said, “We understand the importance of this place for our Kaʻū community and have worked diligently to make the area safe to reopen to the public.  As we welcome back the community to a favorite fishing and lounging spot, we would like to extend a huge thanks to our Public Work’s Highways crew and our Firefighters for their work over the past few months. Reopening wouldn’t be possible without them.”

Any questions can be directed to Assistant Fire Chief Darwin Okinaka at 932-2906.