Central Oahu Park Cleared of Kona-Low Storm Debris

Crews worked for two weeks to remove over 2,600 tons of trash from the Patsy T. Mink Central Oahu Regional Park.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 10:05am

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A sweeping, atmospheric landscape painting in muted tones of gray, blue, and green, with a regional park barely visible in the distance, dwarfed by the dramatic, moody sky and weather conditions that recently impacted the area.The natural world's power and resilience are on full display as a regional park recovers from a recent storm's devastation.Waialua Today

After being used as a temporary disaster debris dumpsite for two weeks following last month's Kona-low storms that devastated the Waialua and Haleiwa areas, the Patsy T. Mink Central Oahu Regional Park (CORP) is now virtually cleared of the massive trash mound. City crews and contractors worked hard to remove over 2,600 tons of storm debris from the park, which was activated under city and state Health Department oversight to expedite trash removal while ensuring proper handling and environmental safeguards.

Why it matters

The Kona-low storms caused significant damage and debris buildup in the Waialua and Haleiwa communities, and the decision to use CORP as a temporary dumping site allowed for faster cleanup efforts. However, the park's normal operations were disrupted, and remediation work will be required over the next month to restore the site.

The details

More than 2,600 tons of storm debris was dumped at CORP after the site was activated to expedite trash removal in the wake of the Kona-low storms. The park operations were conducted under the oversight of the city and state Health Department to ensure proper handling and environmental safeguards were in place during the cleanup process.

  • Last month, the Kona-low storms devastated the Waialua and Haleiwa areas.
  • Two weeks ago, CORP was activated as a temporary disaster debris dumpsite.
  • Today, the park is virtually cleared of the massive trash mound.

The players

Patsy T. Mink Central Oahu Regional Park

A regional park in Central Oahu that was used as a temporary disaster debris dumpsite following the Kona-low storms.

City of Honolulu

Oversaw the cleanup operations at CORP to ensure proper handling and environmental safeguards.

Hawaii State Department of Health

Worked with the city to provide oversight and guidance for the cleanup efforts at CORP.

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What’s next

Protective fencing will remain in place at CORP while site remediation occurs over the next month or so to restore the park to its normal condition.

The takeaway

The rapid and coordinated cleanup efforts at CORP allowed for efficient removal of over 2,600 tons of storm debris, but the disruption to the park's normal operations highlights the challenges communities face in the aftermath of major natural disasters.