HONOLULU — The public’s constant disregard of state park camping rules, reckless nighttime behavior, and leaving campsites littered with trash and used camping gear has led the Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of State Parks to suspend camping at Sand Island State Recreation Area as of Aug. 23.

“This behavior is overwhelming the park caretaker and maintenance crew who clean up the campsites and park. It is jeopardizing public safety and diminishing the quality of the park,” stated DSP Administrator Curt Cottrell.

The violations at Sand Island include:

• People attempting to camp without a permit.
• Staying at a campsite after a permit expires which creates a challenge for staff who is responsible for preparing the site for the next group.
• Consuming alcohol and being disruptive and noisy throughout the night into daylight hours.
• Ignoring the 10-person limit per campsite and having over 30 people stay overnight. Officials say this includes people waiting outside the gate who are drinking, being raucous and noisy while waiting to be picked up to enter the park after closing hours.
• Leaving rubbish at campsites, ignoring rubbish cans next to each site and littering the park throughout the night.
• Lighting illegal fires, including children starting fires in areas outside the campground.

Once a new Civil Resource Violations System is up and running, DLNR Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement officers will issue citations for illegal behavior and levy fines on the spot. The goal of CRVS is to modify behaviors, according to DSP. Until the system is running, camping at DSP will be suspended indefinitely.