WAIANAE, Hawaii — The Pokai Bay Beach Park comfort station has reopened to the public following a six-month closure for security improvements and renovation.

What You Need To Know

  • The high-use facility was closed in February for an initial security improvement project, but completion was delayed by supply issues

  • The second phase involved specialized maintenance personnel from the Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation that included installing new fixtures, improving the stalls and painting base coats for a community mural

  • Members of the Waianae Moku Kupuna Council and Puu Honua O Waianae painted flowers and birds in the women’s bathroom and demigod Maui’s hook and island fish in the men’s room

  • Last week, DPR began installation of signage indicating the site of the Kuilioloa Heiau, located in Kaneilio Point on the Ewa side of the beach park

The high-use facility was closed in February for an initial security improvement project, but supply issues delayed completion. The second phase involved specialized maintenance personnel from the Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation installing new fixtures, building new stall doors, performing masonry work to raise the height of the bathroom stalls, painting the floors and painting base coats for a community mural.

Members of the Waianae Moku Kupuna Council and Puu Honua O Waianae painted the murals: flowers and birds for the women’s bathroom and Maui’s hook and island fish in the men’s room.

Last week, DPR began installing signage indicating the Kuilioloa Heiau site, located in Kaneilio Point on the Ewa side of the beach park. The community requested the signage, which was approved by legislation introduced by Honolulu City Council member Andria Tupola. 

Complementing this signage and heiau recognition effort, the installation of community-donated sculpture near the entrance of the heiau is expected this fall. Entitled “Nā Ho’okele (Many Navigators)” by Hanalei Kila Hopfe, the piece is described as a five-foot-tall lava stone sculpture depicting a male figure wearing a malo and holding a nautical chart of the north star. The installation is pending the Honolulu City Council's approval of a Gift Resolution.

“We appreciate the patience and understanding of the public while special coordination was required for the completion of the comfort station renovations, heiau signage, and a future community sculpture,” the department stated in a release issued on Tuesday. “Proper consideration and approval were necessary for excavation work, particularly to install the signs, which required additional time and coordination to ensure the work would not negatively impact any of the cultural aspects of the heiau or the surrounding area.”

Michael Tsai covers local and state politics for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at michael.tsai@charter.com.