KAILUA-KONA — A derelict boat that’s been sitting in a lava field on the side of Queen Kaahumanu Highway for more than a month will be removed this week.
The state Department of Transportation will remove the vessel Thursday, confirmed DOT spokesperson Shelly Kunishige on Tuesday after talking with the Hawaii Island district engineer. The vessel is within the state’s right-of-way.
Kunishige was unable to provide any additional information about the planned removal.
The vessel, which has no identifying marks or names on it, was dumped without a trailer in early November on the makai side of the highway, just south of the entrances to Kua Bay and the West Hawaii Veterans Cemetery in North Kona. It’s sat there since, becoming a canvas for graffiti and an apparent dumping ground.
Police Maj. Robert Wagner said the boat’s owner is unknown because all identification was removed. He noted that officers made an abandoned vehicle report in November and forwarded it to the county Department of Environmental Management.
Tina Henline and Clark Patrick were in the process of coordinating an effort, which was to take place Dec. 30, to remove the boat. The duo was set to take the boat out in chunks using a dump truck, trailer and crew from Patrick’s landscaping company, in addition to any volunteers who wanted to help.
Though the event is no longer needed, Clark and Henline are happy to hear the abandoned boat will be removed this week.
“I’m stoked that it’s happening so quickly. Quicker than I thought,” Henline said. “I’m stoked that our community workers are getting it done. That’s awesome.”
Email Chelsea Jensen at cjensen@westhawaiitoday.com.