11-17-2007, 06:36 AM
Aloha all,
I trust that those who attended Thursday's meeting enjoyed it. I want to re-state what I said for those who did not, and hope that there is support to relocate the ramp elsewhere.
I have been involved in boating activities since I was 10 years old, and here in Hawaii since 1982. I have been a State Boating Enforcement Officer since 1992, first with the now-defunct Marine Patrol, and now with DOCARE. I just want you all to know that I speak from a standpoint of experience.
When the Pohoiki Ramp was built there was no Hawaiian Beaches, Nanawale Estates, Leilani Estates, Ainaloa Subdivision, or HPP as we know them today. There were no Radon, Force, Boston Whaler, or 30'+ outboard powered tour boats, or outboard motors above 75 horsepower in existance. The only boats in common use back then that would have been available were small skiffs, runabouts, and canoes. Pohoiki Ramp was and is entirely adequate for those type boats. MY, HOW THINGS HAVE CHANGED!!! We now see the normal use as a 24'+ fishing boat with two 100+ horsepower motors that displace 2500+ lbs. Pohoiki Ramp is not safe nor adequate for this type of use. Ask some of the folks who have been boating in East Hawaii for 10 plus years how many accidents they know of and how many boats have been lost at Pohoiki.
1. Pohoiki is statistically the MOST DANGEROUS ramp in the state, and probably one of the most dangerous in the country. This is WITHOUT any swimming in the mix.
2. The county has obviously decided to promote the area as a beach park. People that go to the park are going to be attracted to the ramp as the easiest access to the water, especially for keiki.
3. The beach park with a boat ramp located in the best/most convenient swimming access is a major conflict and a accident waiting to happen.
4. With the rapid growth of the Puna Area and the limited number of accessible ocean recreational areas, the number of boats and park users is going to continue to increase as well.
5. The DLNR Boating division has no rules in place to limit the number or size of vessels that use their facilities, and the likelihood of them implementing or changing existing rules is practically nil. I speak from long experience working with these folks. Unfortunately, as I stated with all due respect to Lava Ocean and Mr. Turpin, even though folks (and not only Mr. Turpin, id don't want to pick on any one individual here)may be in compliance with all existing laws and have all the needed permits and licenses that does not mean they are operating safely,responsibly, or that they have FULL KNOWLEDGE of the hazards inherent with operating out of a place like Pohoiki.
6. THE RAMP NEEDS TO BE RE-LOCATED!!!!!!
There are areas nearby where this could be done, but things need to begin asap as this would be a long project to get accomplished. If you are in agreement please contact Rep. Faye Hanohano and Councilwoman Emily Naole to get this underway. Hopefully the money that the DLNR Boating division wants to waste on ramp improvements could be diverted to ramp re-location instead.
Please feel free to contact me if you have constructive comments at andrew.e.ford@hawaii.gov
Mahalo, Andy Ford
I trust that those who attended Thursday's meeting enjoyed it. I want to re-state what I said for those who did not, and hope that there is support to relocate the ramp elsewhere.
I have been involved in boating activities since I was 10 years old, and here in Hawaii since 1982. I have been a State Boating Enforcement Officer since 1992, first with the now-defunct Marine Patrol, and now with DOCARE. I just want you all to know that I speak from a standpoint of experience.
When the Pohoiki Ramp was built there was no Hawaiian Beaches, Nanawale Estates, Leilani Estates, Ainaloa Subdivision, or HPP as we know them today. There were no Radon, Force, Boston Whaler, or 30'+ outboard powered tour boats, or outboard motors above 75 horsepower in existance. The only boats in common use back then that would have been available were small skiffs, runabouts, and canoes. Pohoiki Ramp was and is entirely adequate for those type boats. MY, HOW THINGS HAVE CHANGED!!! We now see the normal use as a 24'+ fishing boat with two 100+ horsepower motors that displace 2500+ lbs. Pohoiki Ramp is not safe nor adequate for this type of use. Ask some of the folks who have been boating in East Hawaii for 10 plus years how many accidents they know of and how many boats have been lost at Pohoiki.
1. Pohoiki is statistically the MOST DANGEROUS ramp in the state, and probably one of the most dangerous in the country. This is WITHOUT any swimming in the mix.
2. The county has obviously decided to promote the area as a beach park. People that go to the park are going to be attracted to the ramp as the easiest access to the water, especially for keiki.
3. The beach park with a boat ramp located in the best/most convenient swimming access is a major conflict and a accident waiting to happen.
4. With the rapid growth of the Puna Area and the limited number of accessible ocean recreational areas, the number of boats and park users is going to continue to increase as well.
5. The DLNR Boating division has no rules in place to limit the number or size of vessels that use their facilities, and the likelihood of them implementing or changing existing rules is practically nil. I speak from long experience working with these folks. Unfortunately, as I stated with all due respect to Lava Ocean and Mr. Turpin, even though folks (and not only Mr. Turpin, id don't want to pick on any one individual here)may be in compliance with all existing laws and have all the needed permits and licenses that does not mean they are operating safely,responsibly, or that they have FULL KNOWLEDGE of the hazards inherent with operating out of a place like Pohoiki.
6. THE RAMP NEEDS TO BE RE-LOCATED!!!!!!
There are areas nearby where this could be done, but things need to begin asap as this would be a long project to get accomplished. If you are in agreement please contact Rep. Faye Hanohano and Councilwoman Emily Naole to get this underway. Hopefully the money that the DLNR Boating division wants to waste on ramp improvements could be diverted to ramp re-location instead.
Please feel free to contact me if you have constructive comments at andrew.e.ford@hawaii.gov
Mahalo, Andy Ford