Beach access, limited facilities and harassment of visitors were among the many concerns Big Islanders feel the state needs to address in its new master plan for the Kealakekua Bay State Historical Park.

"The state must control the area and its resources first," said Stathie Prattas, who also took part in a never-implemented 1997 conceptual plan for the area. "It's a wonderful idea to plan for the historical state park but the state needs to gain control before putting anything else on it ... to preserve the cultural, historical and archeological resources."

Prattas cited activities in and around the park such as kayak-rental businesses, boats entering the bay, squatters, parking and selective enforcement of rules upon certain groups as areas the state needs to gain control of before adding any amenities. Currently, there is just one caretaker assigned to the Napoopoo area of the park and no full-time security services, according to the state Department of Land and Natural Resources.

About 50 people attended the community scoping meeting held Saturday afternoon at Konawaena Elementary School to provide input on what DLNR and consultant Belt Collins need to address in an updated master plan for the 217-acre park added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1973. Although attendees were not allowed to ask questions or make verbal comments during the meeting, anonymous suggestions were requested regarding issues the state is aware of.

Ultimately, the department hopes to create a plan that will preserve the park's cultural and historic resources, protect the bay's marine resources, promote the aesthetic values of the park, increase public safety and respect the residential community in the area, said Lisa Reinke, the project's lead planner for Belt Collins.

"The plan is an update. We don't want to completely start from scratch," said Martha Yent, state parks Interpretive Program manager, explaining the update will include requirements such as a cultural impact assessment and other studies previously not required by law. A traffic study will also be conducted as part of the master plan to determine what type of traffic pattern and parking might be implemented so not to burden Kealakekua Bay-area residents.

The $561,526 contract awarded to Belt Collins will update a conceptual plan completed in 1997, also by Belt Collins, that was "shelved" when Malama Pono Kealakekua filed a lawsuit alleging DLNR did not follow the legal environmental review process in accordance with state law, Yent said.

According to the lawsuit, filed in Circuit Court in December 2000, the nonprofit organization claimed DLNR did not complete the environmental review before the Board of Land and Natural Resources approved, accepted and contracted with a construction company for work at the park. In February 2001, the case was settled, according to court records.

Belt Collins expects to have conceptual alternatives drawn by March 2010 to present to the community in order to develop a "preferred plan." An environmental impact statement and cultural impact assessment should be complete by 2011, said Yent.

For more information regarding the master plan update and how to provide comment on record, visit beltcollins.com/kealakekua.