DLNR News Release – ALA WAI SMALL BOAT HARBOR RECREATIONAL USER PARKING LOT REOPENED AFTER REPAIRS FROM HURRICANE LOWELL

STATE OF HAWAIʻI

KA MOKU ʻĀINA O HAWAIʻI

JOSH GREEN, M.D.

GOVERNOR

KE KIAʻĀINA

DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES

KA 'OIHANA KUMUWAIWAI 'ĀINA

RYAN K.P. KANAKAʻOLE

CHAIRPERSON

KA LUNA HOʻOKELE

DAVID D. DAY

DEPUTY DIRECTOR

KA HOPE LUNA HOʻOKELE

ALA WAI SMALL BOAT HARBOR RECREATIONAL USER PARKING LOT REOPENED AFTER REPAIRS FROM HURRICANE LOWELL

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 11, 2026

HONOLULU - The Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor recreational user parking lot on Oʻahu reopened today at 2 p.m. following clean-up and repairs to areas damaged by Hurricane Lowell. The parking lot had been closed since Tuesday while the heavy machinery and crews performed the necessary restoration work.

In the pre-dawn hours of September 08, 2026, as Lowell was passing to the north of the state, Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation (DOBOR) staff discovered the parking lot had been filled with boulders, sand and water - and that parts of the asphalt were damaged, creating safety hazards.

DOBOR moved quickly to remove all debris while engineers conducted safety inspections and organized repair of hazard areas. They also used this opportunity to apply fresh paint to the parking lines throughout the lot.

"I want to acknowledge the hard work of our staff and contractors that made this reopening happen so quickly," said DOBOR Administrator Meghan Statts. "We know this is a popular area for accessing the ocean and are pleased to welcome parking lot users back."

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