Pilikia at Kehena

[leilaniguy]

Today's Tribune-Herald has a front page article about increasing problems with overuse and drug dealing at Kehena beach, too bad.



Edited by - leilaniguy on 07/03/2006 11:31:52

[JerryCarr]

My partner and I quit going to Kehena on weekends a long time ago due to the issues mentioned in the newspaper article. It remains enjoyable on weekdays, though, in our opinion. The people at the tables along the roadway seem to be focused on people other than us because they never seem to even notice we are there. We do, however, just head down to the beach and never hang around the road or the parking area. One important rule for us is to leave nothing valuable in the car and leave it unlocked. That way the thieves don't have to break a window to find out there is nothing to steal.

Aloha,
Jerry

[KeithLee]

Ok...I actually do not care for Kehena to begin with. I know it's blasphemy.
Kehena has a problem. I only needed to go down once to figure that out and that was during the week.
Frank B was telling me about the guys picking fights down there a few months back. Said his brother narrowly escaped being assaulted.
One person in the article said they'd hate to see the cops coming down and bothering people for smoking a joint, etc. HELLO...pot is illegal until it isn't illegal, if that ever happens. A joints ok..but the crack heads gotta go?
It's the cops job to bother people doing illegal activity.
Live and let live but I decided that scene isn't for me or my family.

“They are so perpetually alarmed with the apprehensions of these and the like impending dangers, that they can neither sleep quietly in their beds, nor have any relish for the common pleasures or amusements of life.” Gulliver’s Travels

[Lee DeJongh]

WE stayed at Kehena for a week a couple of weeks ago. I commonly walked down the road by the beach. I would make two observations. The roadside area that people sit at during the day needs some trash bins. The place is messy and there is trash scattered about. The beach itself needs some facilities or toilets. The people use one end in the bushes and it is vile.

I would blame the State itself. This is the only really public beach in Puna. There should be some provision for people. To do nothing is just to ignore a problem.

The people around the beach never bothered me and I didn't think their presence was objectionable but i was just there for a short time.

I think a periodic police presence or cruise through is not a bad idea just like at any park where people congregate. it reinforces a message that real extremes of behavior will not be tolerated.

I didn't witness any really extreme behavior tho' (unless you count the fat nude guy doing Tai Chi every morning

[Mitzi M]

I'm a newcomer and I'll have to admit that I was intimidated by the Kehena Beach scene, especially on weekends. But...as I went more often I realized that it's a lot of different things all mixed up together. On the good side, its a beatiful place, and it's kind of cool that clothing is optional there and it's not a big deal (in my limited experience). I like that people play drums and dance. Those people lighting up joints don't bother me at all. Even the guys selling herb (that I've noticed) have been pretty polite. Sometimes traffic does slow down for them but I can usually go around no problem...It's the ice, violence and petty thievery that really suck. Here's my one newcomer thought, for what it's worth... I think maybe the really negative vibe people are different folks than a lot of the regular pothead crowd. Also, I think there are some really cool people who hang out at Kehena. A friend just told me a story about how she got into trouble out in the current and a guy who hangs out there everyday (with a board for such emergencies) came out with two other guys to get her. (Pretty cool for a kinda sketchy swimmimg beach with no paid lifeguard.) I think some of the sort of "shady" looking folks are actually trying to keep a sort of order there. I wonder what their perspective on the whole thing is. I guess I hope things do change some for Kehena, but I hope it's with input from a broad spectrum of the community.

[punafish]

I've never had a bad experience at Kehena, but it's obvious there are some bad eggs in the weekend crowd. Sunday gets crowded, and with an increased number of people, the potential for trouble naturally increases. I'm more comfortable going in a beat up car or truck than something nice cuz the tourists/rent-a-cars seem to be common targets.

For me, the best time at Kehena is early morning, from 7:30 am to 9:30 or 10, preferably during a weekday. My wife and I went this morning and were rewarded with the delightful antics of at least 3 pods of dolphins who put on a beautiful show for us. I was tempted to swim out, but felt better giving them their space and just enjoying the show. Didn't have my trunks with me anyway, and wasn't ready to don my birthday suit - even to play with a pod of dolphins. They were really close to shore, closer than I've ever seen them. (Maybe 100 yards?) Some were flipping and jumping out of the water, one kept playfully splashing a lady swimmer with one of its fins (a "drive-by splashing" is the image that comes to mind).

It's these kinds of experiences that remind me how lucky I am to live in such a natural, beautiful place.

On another positive, Kehena was pristine this morning, even though there are no garbage cans in sight. We looked hard but couldn't find one piece of garbage on the beach. Kudos to everyone who's keeping it clean!

Can't think of a better way to start the week...

Aloha

Tim

Edited by - punafish on 07/10/2006 15:41:15