Vegetation Blocking Access

On Sat., April 19, KITV aired a news report about naupaka and vegetation from oceanfront homes blocking beach access in Kahala. This has become an increasing problem all over the islands. In Kailua, vegetation extends over 50 feet from some properties. But because the beach is still fairly wide in those areas, people tend not to notice this sneaky land grab.

Here's the KITV link to the video report.

But take a look at this excerpt below, and explain to me why isn't the State fining these people?

Sam Lemmo, the state's coastal land administrator, pointed out many Kahala areas where residents' bushes have pushed too far.

"What you call inducing vegetation to grow out onto the public beaches -- sometimes people are going out and planting and fertilizing and then watering. We catch them and tell them not to do that," Lemmo said.

The WKNB said it will invite beach-front landowners with overgrown hedges to its meeting in May to meet with Lemmo. "We are simply trying to raise awareness about the impact of this on our public beaches and seeking people's cooperation to cut it back," Lemmo said.

The state said it hasn't decided yet what to do if the Kahala residents refuse to cut back their overgrown beach vegetation.

Huh? If they refuse to cut back, enforce the law and FINE them. They are perfectly aware of what they are doing. Enough talk. Take action!

Liti-Gate

If the State won't pass legislation to provide better shoreline access, and the City won't enforce existing "standards" for public rights of way, that leaves us with two options: negotiate easements in perpetuity with homeowners on beach lanes, or use the courts.

We hoped we wouldn't have to lawyer up, but it's become clear that most of the gated road people would rather fight than voluntarily allow their neighbors use of their rights of way. After meeting with an attorney from the national Surfrider Foundation organization, we've decided to target specific access ways for legal challenges or condemnation.

The alliance that was formed on Groundhog Day will identify areas where additional rights of way are needed and select potential test cases based on things such as historical or customary usage of beach paths, Native Hawaiian rights to shoreline access, and public safety issues posed by locked gates.

While no decision has been made by the alliance yet, in Kailua members of our group have requested we consider taking action on Kailuana Loop and Namala Place (both are public streets that have gated private rights of way); Laiki Place, which is situated between two public rights of way that are over a half-mile apart; Kaapuni (currently still open to the neighbors, but there are concerns that might change); and the beach path at L'Orange Place, which had been used by residents and local fishermen for over 30 years.

However, it's possible the first test case may be a site somewhere else on Oahu or even outer island, depending on what our attorney and legal experts advise. We'll keep you posted!

Pay to Play and Surf

The Department of Land and Natural Resources will have three public meetings to gather input on a parking plan for the Ala Wai harbor. All meetings will be held in the Jefferson Elementary School cafeteria, 324 Kapahulu Avenue, Honolulu, from 6 to 8 p.m. as follows:

First Meeting: Wednesday, April 9
Second Meeting: Wednesday, April 16
Third Meeting: Wednesday, April 30

The original plans would have replaced free parking spaces with pay parking. Surfers who frequent Bowls and other spots near there objected to having to pay just so they could go surf. Families that also want to use the cleaned-up lagoon area in front of the Hilton Rainbow Village, would have to pay to go to that beach area as well if they parked there.

The DLNR's rationale is that someone has to pay for the upkeep of the harbor area. But are locals who use the ocean the ones who should foot that bill? What's next -- paid parking at our other public beaches? Perhaps, so.

If you can't make the meetings, you may send suggestions and comments on the Ala Wai harbor parking plan to:

Clifford Inn
DLNR Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation
333 Queen Street, Suite 300
Honolulu, Hawai‘i 96813

Or email him at: Clifford.G.Inn@hawaii.gov

Results of these meetings will be presented at a future date to the Board of Land and Natural Resources for consideration and possible adoption. The last BLNR hearing on this plan drew over a hundred protesters, forcing the BLNR to postpone a decision until more public input was gathered. So this is your last chance to speak out against the State's pay to play plan!

The Real Molokai Story

Amazingly, many people in the islands seem to be siding with Molokai Ranch and blaming the "activists" for MR shutting down its operations and laying off workers. Never mind that HUNDREDS of Molokai residents had turned out for public meetings to protest against MR's plans to build 200 luxury McMansions on pristine La'au oceanfront! It was not just a handful of "protesters" who weren't willing to sell out.

What the local media has failed to report is residents were rightly concerned about little things like, um... water. Yep, a lot of water would have been diverted to provide lush green lawns and fill swimming pools for those millionaires. And, oh yeah, there would only be two public accesses to La'au beach -- five miles apart.

In effect, the millionaire buyers would have private beaches. And now Molokai Ranch is saying it will deny access to shoreline areas that they own, which is about one third of the entire island. The people of Hawaii should be outraged. For Molokai residents, the ocean is not just a place for recreation. Many of them fish and hunt to help feed their families. It's a way of life there. They are "real" Hawaiians.

Instead of blaming "activists" for asking MR's billion-dollar parent corporation in Singapore to consider less invasive options, we should be supporting them for taking a stand against over-development. Go look at parts of Maui and Kauai that are now crowded and overbuilt. Or check out the gated luxury subdivisions for the super-wealthy on the Big Island's Kohala Coast. That's what they were opposing.

Lee Cataluna wrote a good piece for the Honolulu Advertiser. But check out the comments and you'll see a lot of misdirected anger. If you think Molokai Ranch was going to stop with 200 McMansions, I have some land in Volcano Park I'd like to sell you.

Companies like Molokai Ranch will come and go. But the land is forever. And once it's developed, there is no going back. There is only more building and developing.