Could Makena State Park be in Line For Improvements After 35 Years?
It never dawned on me that there has been no major updating to the park’s master plan of 1977. That was when I graduated high school. There have been some port-a-potties installed and minor paving and path making, but nothing of a large scale.
Big Beach at Makena State Park is over 1 mile of white sandy beach
If you’ve been there, it’s a wonderful site with a mile long pristine white sand beach (Big Beach), however, it lacks adequate parking and some other basic amenities. The biggest hurdle, besides the lack of an updated master plan, is financing.
Our state Parks Division has a budget of $3.3 million this year to spread amongst 52 state parks, statewide. The lifeguard services cost approximately $500,000 annually. One idea floating around is to charge non-residents a parking fee. This could help take some of the cost burden off the state. I lived in Los Angeles for 25 years and found it common to pay for parking in state parks, let alone an entry fee.
Big Beach is popular with tourist and locals alike for it gentle surf (most of the year) and large, flat sand frontage perfect for skim boarding
The New Draft Plan For Makena State Park
The new draft plan will address three objectives:
- Preserve and enhance existing natural resources which are unique to the site.
- Emphasize the site as a recreational and cultural resource for visitors and residents.
- To provide site improvements. When the draft is finalized, an EIS will follow, requiring public input. The park is home to cultural and historic sites that need to be protected.
Another idea being thrown around to create funding for the construction and maintenance of the park is through charging a percentage of the sale of the resort area homes. We’ll see if that gets anywhere.
Little Beach is popular with the adult crowd. A quick hike over the ridge gets you to this “clothing optional” beach. Don’t tell anyone I told you that!
No matter what happens, all this talk is definitely creating a synergy the will undoubtedly help spur the project on.
Makena Beach Video Tour
You can see what the area is like by taking this tour with me
Maui Homes and Condos Near Makena State Park
If you’d like to see what homes and condos sell for in the area, check out these two galleries that I have compiled.
If you would like more information about the area, don’t hesitate to contact me:
Ken Molina
808.344.6421
ken@hawaiilife.com
Rustin Singleton, RS
September 10, 2012
Good stuff to know Ken. I can still remember being able to drive on Big Beach but that really dates me.
Rustin Singleton, RS
September 10, 2012
Good stuff to know Ken. I can still remember being able to drive on Big Beach but that really dates me.
Ken Molina R(S)
September 11, 2012
Well I’m going to date myself….when I was a kid, my dad would take the family camping in Makena. Wailea wasn’t even developed so we’d have to take a dirt road all the way in from the end of Kihei Road. Good times! Thanks for reading.
Ken Molina R(S)
September 11, 2012
Well I’m going to date myself….when I was a kid, my dad would take the family camping in Makena. Wailea wasn’t even developed so we’d have to take a dirt road all the way in from the end of Kihei Road. Good times! Thanks for reading.