By John Burnett. Hundreds showed up Saturday at the Waipi‘o Valley Lookout in the name of ocean access. Malama I Ke Kai ‘O Waipi‘o, MaKa for short, organized the rally, asking attendees to wear blue. The group, comprised of surfers, anglers and other ocean users, sued the county after Mayor Mitch Roth closed Waipi‘o Valley … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Mālama i ke Kai ʻo Waipiʻo seeks to negotiate ocean access. Invites Support. Honokaa, Hawaii- MaKa invites everyone who supports Ocean Access at Waipiʻo to meet peacefully in Kapu Aloha at the Waipiʻo Valley lookout this coming Saturday, October 1 @ 10am. We are asking attendees to wear blue to show your … Read More
Mayor Mitch Roth has signed emergency rules creating more access for residents to Waipio Valley Road. The rules, which don’t go into effect until Monday, allow all Hawaii Island residents, county-permitted tour company operators, and those seeking to practice their Native Hawaiian traditional and/or customary rights to access the WaipiʻoWaipioValley Road in covered 4-wheel drive … Read More
By John Burnett. A spokeswoman for a group that’s reached a tentative settlement in its lawsuit the Hawaii County, the mayor and former public works director over the closure of Waipi‘o Valley Road to all but a handful of people called the mediated agreement “a temporary solution.” “We’re really looking forward to long-term management with … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEWaipiʻo ocean access restored for Hawaiʻi Island residents: Mayor amends February 2022 emergency restrictions. Honokaa, Hawaii – Big Island community group Mālama i ke Kai ʻo Waipiʻo (MaKa) has reached an agreement with the County to restore ocean access to Waipiʻo Valley. Amendments to Mayor Rothʻs Emergency Proclamation now provide 4-wheel drive access … Read More
By Chris Yuen. Should the government care about facts? Hawaii County doesn’t think so. On Feb. 25, Mayor Mitch Roth closed the Waipi‘o Valley Road to the general public. The decision came with no prior public notice or input. Mayor Roth claimed emergency powers, but no recent or imminent storm, earthquake, landslide, change in the … Read More
By John Burnett. The Corporation Counsel has filed a motion seeking dismissal of a lawsuit filed last month against the county, Mayor Mitch Roth and Public Works Director Ikaika Rodenhurst over the closure of Waipi‘o Valley Road to all but a handful of people. The motion, filed May 12 by Deputy Corporation Counsel Steven Idemoto, … Read More
By Mindy Penneybacker. Waimea, Big Island resident Roland Shackelford grew up surfing in majestic Waipio Valley, where as a boy he’d get dropped off with his surfboard at the top of the cliff and run down the steep, narrow nearly a mile-long public road to the black sand beach, “after which his legs would be … Read More
By John Burnett. A community organization has filed a lawsuit against the county, Mayor Mitch Roth and Public Works Director Ikaika Rodenhurst, alleging the closure of Waipi‘o Valley Road to all but a handful of people is unlawful. The civil complaint was filed Friday in Hilo Circuit Court by Hilo attorneys Steven Strauss and Christopher … Read More
By Paula Dobbyn. A decision by the Big Island mayor to abruptly close road access to Waipio Valley for most people is causing major heartburn for various sectors of the public. One lawsuit was filed in late March. Another case is in the works. And a petition demanding that Mayor Mitch Roth lift or amend … Read More
