Bellows Beach Reopens Under New Rules

Reported by: Andrew Pereira
Email: apereira@khon2.com
Last Update: 7/03/2009 11:49 pm

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STORY SUMMARY>>>

After a month long hiatus that allowed the city and U.S. Marine Corps to address safety and environmental concerns at Waimanalo’s Bellows Beach, hundreds of Fourth of July revelers poured into the park Thursday ahead of the Independence Day holiday.

The popular beach park was reopened at noon, with a long line of cars and trucks waiting to get past the military guards. A lucky few like Russell Pascua of Waipahu had their vehicle’s packed to the brim with camping gear – Bellow’s, with it’s long sandy beaches and blue lapping waves is the preeminent spot on Oahu to pitch a tent.

“It’s got the perfect combination of shade, beach and sun,” said Pascua, part of a family reunion which included relatives from California, Ohio and Washington State.

“It’s the Casamina family reunion and we do it once a year."

But this year the Casamina clan and others at Bellows are being courteously but strictly supervised by MP’s, police officers and Air Force security.

The beach park was shut down for the entire month of June after drivers continued to travel on the beach, campers repeatedly placed their hot coals next to trees and others left behind their trash.

Because of the past bad behavior authority was everywhere at Bellows Thursday, which reopened under a set of new rules. Dusty Woodstock of Pearl City felt it was a bit much.

"That I think is not much fun to have the strict security but I guess it's necessary at this point in time.”

The rule change with the greatest impact for overnight campers was parking. The military has designated only one parking area for permitted vehicles.

"Parking sucks cause we gotta drop our load, park it kind of far away and then walk back,” said Pascua. “And if we need something from the truck, we gotta walk back again."

To ensure visitors to the Marine training area don’t drive onto the beach at Bellows, the military will soon place large boulders in strategic areas along the paved access road.

"They've definitely changed the way people come in.” said Woodstock. “Which is the way it should be!”

The city will issue only 50 permits for camping at Bellows every weekend. It takes wherewithal to get one. Woodstock said you had to be willing to sleep in front of a satellite city hall.

“We have a very good system,” said Woodstock. “You have to be organized!”

Another rule not sitting well with some is the beach park’s reduced hours. Bellows is still open to the public on weekends, but will now close from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.

“I used to go all the way down there by the pine trees at night to fish,” said Eddie Tabanera of Kalihi, part of the Casamina family reunion.

Tabanera hopes the military will once again open the beach at night if the problems of the past don’t resurface.

“Hopefully when all this is done they’ll relax the rules again.”

To Reach Andrew Pereira call Ph. 368-7273

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