OPINION: Motocross Riders Need OHV Park

On Friday, July 8, over 60 motocross enthusiasts participated in a sign waving demonstration along Mokulele Highway. Photo: Tiare Lawrence

On Friday, July 8, over 60 motocross enthusiasts participated in a sign waving demonstration along Mokulele Highway.

This event comes days after the state Department of Land Natural Resources enforcement issued 46 criminal citations and impounded 10 off-road motorcycles at the Kula Forest Reserve on Sunday, July 3, 2016.

Among those cited was a 12-year-old boy.

His father, Dunes Auwae, stated, “Motocross is the sport he loves. He doesn’t play basketball, football, or baseball—he rides dirt bikes. We have a county dirt bike track that is very dangerous with no water, bathrooms, or lights and is not treated as any other county park. And zero legal trails.”

The president of Maui Motocross Association Nick Saussy stated yesterday, “We are sign-waving today to promote the love of motocross and the need for an OHV park for riders. Maui has no OHV parks, which forces many of our dirt bikers to ride illegally on private land.”

“We hope that our government officials will help us get a OHV park so our family have a safe environment to ride and not fear being cited or having our bikes taken away” said Auwae.

On Friday, July 8, over 60 motocross enthusiasts participated in a sign waving demonstration along Mokulele Highway. Photo: Tiare Lawrence

State House Candidate Tiare Lawrence was there to show her support of the motor cross community.

“If we can have county run golf courses, shooting ranges, mountain bike trails, then we should have an OHV park,”Lawrence said. “The motocross community has grown over the years on Maui. They are taxpayers like everyone else and they deserve to have a OHV park here on Maui.”

To learn more about Maui Motocross Association, go online.