NOMINAL FEES FOR CAMPING PERMITS AT CITY PARKS TAKE EFFECT MARCH 1

Waimanalo – At a press conference today at Bellows Field Beach Park, Mayor Kirk Caldwell and his Director of Parks and Recreation Toni Robinson announced that the city will begin charging a nominal fee to reserve camping permits for city parks around the island in order to raise revenues and make permits available to more residents.

Beginning March 1^st, permits will cost $10 a night for a minimum of three or five nights depending on the location, plus a two dollar reservation fee. Each permit allows up to 10 people to camp.

“I want more Oahu families to have an opportunity to camp at our beautiful city parks," said Mayor Caldwell. “Under the old reservation system, for a three day weekend like this, all of the permits for the entire island would be snapped up in less than an hour. This way, more families will have a chance. At 50 percent occupancy, this fee would bring in more than $180,000 a year. We hope to use these revenues to hire more enforcement officers and improve facilities and park maintenance.”

“The Honolulu City Council passed an ordinance in 2011 allowing for charges to be applied to camping,” said Robinson. “I thank Mayor Caldwell for authorizing the Department of Parks and Recreation to move forward and begin collecting this revenue.”

Three day camping ($32 dollars total for three nights)

Bellows Field Beach Park

Ho'omaluhia Botanical Gardens

Kalaeloa Beach Park

Kualoa A Regional Park

Maili Beach Park

Swanzy Beach Park

Five day camping ($52 dollars total for three nights)

Hau'ula Beach Park

Kaiaka Bay (Waialua River)

Kokololio Beach Park

Kualoa B Regional Park

Lualualei Beach Park

Nanakuli Beach Park

Waimanalo Bay Beach Park

Waimanalo Beach Park

MORE INFO:

·        Camping permits in city campgrounds are issued for three (3) days or five (5) days only, depending on the park. Not all parks have campgrounds.

·        Camping always begins on Friday and extends through the weekend ending on either Monday at 8am (3 days) or Wednesday at 8am (5 days). There is no camping on Wednesday or Thursday in any park.

·        A camping permit for a three (3) day campground, Friday through Monday, will cost thirty two (32) dollars. A camping permit for a five (5) day campground, Friday through Wednesday, will cost fifty two (52) dollars. Note: None of these fees will be refunded.

·        Camping is available for permitting two(2) Fridays prior to the Friday that you plan to camp beginning at 5pm HST. Camping permits may be obtained at that time by accessing our online camping program at https://camping.honolulu.gov.

·        Online payment for your camping permit is handled through our website via PAYPAL. The city accepts online payment by Visa and Master Card only. When complete you can print your camping permit from your home computer. Note: None of these fees will be refunded.

·        Camping permits may also be obtained at the DPR Permits Section located on the ground floor of the Fasi Municipal Building, 650 South King Street from 8am to 4pm, Monday through Friday. DPR Permits will not have access to new permit releases until the next working day following the Friday permit release. Note: None of these fees will be refunded.

·        Application by mail or telephone will not be accepted.

·        Wheelchair accessible campsites are available at Kea’au Beach Park, Kualoa Regional Park, Swanzy Beach Park, Waimanalo Beach Park, and Waimanalo Bay Beach Park.

For further information: https://camping.honolulu.gov/faqs.

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Jesse Broder Van Dyke

Communications Director

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell

Direct: (808) 768-6928

Cell: (808) 489-0341

jbrodervandyke@honolulu.gov