Waiʻānapanapa Cabins to Close for a Year for Renovations

By Wendy Osher

The cabins at Waiʻānapanapa State Park will close for approximately a year beginning today as a $2.3 million cabin renovation and wastewater treatment project gets underway.

The project contractor, Central Construction, Inc., is expected to complete work by December 2015, according to an announcement issued by the state Department of Land and Natural Resources.

The improvements are part of a 20-year master plan document prepared in 2007 to addresses aging facilities and infrastructure, public demands and protection of natural and cultural resources.

Wai‘ānapanapa State Park, encompasses an estimated 110 acres of land in the Hāna district of East Maui.

Department officials with the Division of State Parks say cabin rentals will not be available during the construction period; however, camping by permit in tents will be allowed.

As part of the project, the interior of cabins will be refurbished with new flooring, bathroom and kitchen fixtures, kitchen cabinets and counters, bunk beds and new window jalousies.  Work will also include plumbing repairs and related accessibility improvements.

Work on the exterior of the cabins will involve the installation of new patio decking, repairs to the patio posts and walls, painting; and new handrails, entry stairs and water heaters.

“A key improvement is the upgrade of the wastewater systems with new sewer improvements including new septic tank treatment and disposal units approved by the State Department of Health,” DLNR officials said in a department press release announcement.

According to a Final Environmental Impact Statement filed eight years ago, major improvements proposed in the 20-year Master Plan included construction of a new access road, comfort station, interpretive center and parking lots; renovating and expanding the existing comfort station; relocating the campground; replacing the cabins; replacing cesspools with septic systems; and upgrading the park’s water system.

The proposed Master Plan improvements were targeted for completion over a 20 year time frame.

Haili land formation at Waiʻānapanapa State Park. File photo by Wendy Osher.

Waiʻānapanapa. Photo by Wendy Osher.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of State Parks will close the rental cabins at Waianapanapa State Park, effective April 1, 2015, for approximately a year as construction begins on renovations, and new wastewater treatment systems will be under construction. Cabins will not be available for rental during this time, although camping in tents will still be allowed by permit. Photos by Division of State Parks.

Exterior improvements include new patio decking, repairs to the patio posts and walls, new patio handrails, new entry stairs and handrails, new water heaters, and painting. Photo by Division of State Parks.

The renovation work includes refurbishing the interior areas of the cabins, including new flooring, plumbing replacement and repairs, new fixtures in the bathrooms and kitchens, new kitchen cabinets and counters, new bunk beds, new window jalousies, and related improvements for accessibility requirements. Photo by Division of State Parks.

A key improvement is the upgrade of the wastewater systems with new sewer improvements including new septic tank treatment and disposal units approved by the State Department of Health. Photo by Division of State Parks.