Apart from the intense beauty and the great surf, there is a spirit here that I’ve not found anywhere else in Hawai‘i. In the last fifty years I can honestly say it is my favorite place on the Big Island. To not be allowed down in the valley is a shocking development. To not be able to watch the sunrise from the beach or paddle the coast makes me want to cry.

It’s a place my husband, our children, and myself have been going to all our lives. I was born here and raise here and the thought of never having access to it ever again is saddening. When I am down in the valley, I feel at peace, I feel grateful, I feel great love, I feel cleansed of negativity. It is a very special place…it is one on my favorite places. I had the opportunity of hiking to Hi’ilawe once with my family, and it was absolutely magical. I also had to opportunity to clean around the lo’i and look forward to working in the lo’i. My children learn about ancient Hawaii in Waipi’o in school and have a deeper appreciation for the place and all the stories that come with it. The thought of future children of hawaiian ancestry only being able to learn about Waipi’o from school (or not learning about it at all) and see and experience the valley themselves is heartbreaking.

This closure is a great thing for the valley. Too many people coming and going is what put us into this position. Unfortunately it’s the local surf community that is suffering the consequences of this closure more than anyone else. Please, we humbly ask that you restore access to the local surf community. Offer an annual pass. Weʻd pay a fee and sign a waiver. Get a sticker that allows access to the shoreline and put our entry fees towards fixing the road. Do not allow rentals to drive down ever. Limit the surf passes to around 100 vehicles. The surf community of Waipi’o is a very tight-knit family. We value our access greatly and ask that you consider options that allow our community to remain intact. Thank you for listening.