State forest and wildlife technician Joe FellMcDonald (right in first photo) gives Idaho visitor Bob Sojka the latest information on plans to improve a parking lot at the ‘Ahihi-Kina’u Natural Area Reserve on Wednesday morning. Although a flashing sign says that the current rough gravel lot will be closed for construction from September through October, the project is running behind schedule. FellMcDonald said now that all the paperwork has been approved, the job has been turned over to the contractor, and work may start soon. FellMcDonald said the lot averages 1,000 visitors a day, as does the reserve’s other lot at the end of Makena Road. When the lot is closed to be graded, filled and covered with concrete, an alternate parking site will be opened on the other side of Waiala Cove. That lot is expected to accommodate about 20 vehicles. Work to upgrade this parking lot (bottom photo) at ‘Ahihi-Kina’u is expected to start soon. The state Department of Land and Natural Resources will hold a public hearing next month in Kihei on proposed natural area reserve rule amendments, including parking fees for visitors and lot hours at ‘Ahihi-Kina’u.