Access to Oahu's shoreline is being blocked little by little

State law dictates that Hawaii's shorelines are public and access cannot be restricted, but houses, hotels, resorts and commercial buildings effectively block wide stretches of Oahu's coasts. Except for intermittent glimpses through park areas, even views of the ocean from beachside roads are few and far between.

So the recent conflict between public entitlement and private landowners about a right-of-way to Kailua Beach is a common episode, one that will be repeated until a sensible, enforceable policy is established to support the access law and existing standards for pathways are implemented.

Political leaders have struggled to satisfy private-public demands and haven't made beach access a priority, but failing to do so erodes the objective of keeping Hawaii's shores open to all.

Read the entire article at the Star-Bulletin here.