Ask the Mayor: Why is a Permit Required to Use Rainbow Park?

Rainbow Park, County of Maui photo

Mayor Alan Arakawa answers some of the questions submitted to his office staff.

Submit your own questions about County of Maui programs, services, operations or policies to Mayor Alan Arakawa via email at AskTheMayor@mauicounty.gov, call 270-7855 or send them by mail to 200 S. High St., 9th Floor, Wailuku, HI 96793. Questions submitted will be considered for inclusion in the “Ask the Mayor” column.

Aloha Mayor Arakawa,

Q: I would like to know why a permit is now required to use Rainbow Park? With the parking lot unavailable (closed gate), people park on top along the very narrow shoulder of the road and then stumble down the steep embankment to access the park.

A: A permit is not required for usage of Rainbow Park. Its usage comes under the pavilion guidelines, which include a first-come, first-served policy.

The “parking lot” you referred to will only accommodate approximately four cars, if that many. The lot has been gated for a very long time because the portable toilet, which was continually being vandalized, is placed in this area. Because the lot area is extremely small, it also caused safety concerns with park users turning from or onto Baldwin Avenue.

Due to funding restrictions, it is not currently feasible to make extensive improvements to this unique, but very small park.