Ship exchange brings destroyer from San Diego

The San Diego-based destroyer USS William P. Lawrence will make Pearl Harbor its new home port Monday as part of a ship swap that sent the USS Paul Hamilton to California in April, the Navy said.

The William P. Lawrence deployed from San Diego in January and in February became the first U.S. warship to visit Fiji in almost 10 years. In May the guided missile destroyer conducted a “freedom of navigation” operation in the contested South China Sea’s Spratly Islands, sailing within 12 nautical miles of Chinese-occupied Fiery Cross Reef, Reuters reported.

The Lawrence also participated in Rim of the Pacific exercises off Hawaii in July. The ship and its more than 300 sailors returned to San Diego in mid-August following its seven-month deployment with the USS John C. Stennis carrier strike group.

It is named for the vice admiral who commanded 3rd Fleet when it was based at Pearl Harbor.

MAUI

Parking renovations may hinder traffic near reserve

The state is renovating the parking lot at the ‘Ahihi-Kina‘u Natural Area Reserve and Keone‘oi‘o (La Perouse Bay) area, warning visitors to expect limited parking and traffic delays beginning Monday.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources said in a news release the work is expected to continue through Jan. 15.

New concrete paving and drainage are expected to help prevent the introduction of pollutants from vehicles.

“Even new cars drop a little oil and fluid where they are parked, and with the next rain or high tide, those contaminants go into the ocean and onto the reef people are coming to see. That’s why we have closed parking along the road next to the ocean,” said Jeff Bagshaw, reserve manager, in the release.

There will be limited parking for up to 50 cars along the road near the ocean entrance at Ahihi-Kina‘u Natural Area Reserve, and at the La Perouse Bay parking area. Both parking areas are expected to be at capacity between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Access to the ocean at La Perouse, Kanahena Beach, and the Cove will remain open but require using temporary, unimproved trails. Closed-toe shoes with ankle support are strongly recommended, officials said.

Traffic controls will be used to accommodate heavy equipment and construction vehicles on narrow roads, and parking on the reserve road or shoulder is prohibited inside the natural area reserve.

Contact Peter Landon at the Division of Forestry and Wildlife at 873-3969 or view the full management plan for the reserve at: dlnr.hawaii.gov/ecosystems/files/2013/07/Ahihi-Kinau-NAR-Management-Plan.pdf