Can You Trust the Realtor Lobby?

We did a lot of grass roots awareness this past legislative session, and moved forward, albeit slowly, in fashion with the political process. Recently Pacific Business News provided a recap on Real estate-related bills must await another day.
Among those favoring the proposal was Marti Townsend, program Director for Kahea, the Hawaiian-Environmental Alliance.

"From high parking fees to no parking at all, private gates to shoreline shrubbery, poor signage to vacation rentals beachfront resorts to military installations, access to Hawaii's beaches is in serious danger."

Opponents included the Hawaii Association of Realtors.

"With regard to major developments, it is highly likely that property owners would readily agree to providing public access upon final approval of their projects," the association testified. "It is not practical to impose requirement for public access prior to the final approval on entitlements."

When I first read this comment (my emphasis in bold) I thought it was a typo! Did they mean "highly unlikely"? That has certainly been the position taken by beach front property owners in Kailua. Just drive down Kalaheo Avenue and you will see a steady stream of "Private Lane" and "No Public Access" signs posted block after block. And let's remember that it was the gating off of the traditionally shared access point on L'Orange Place that led to the formation of Beach Access Hawaii.

Here are just a few advantages for homeowners. The more access points we have:
* The less traffic impact on each individual access point.
* The faster emergency response for fire and safety officials should you or your guests be in danger on the beach.
* The more the local residents can keep the access clean and monitored for good behavior.
* The less hostility will be generated in the community; hostility can lead to vandalism.
* The more we get to share the spirit of Aloha and keep Hawaii, Hawaii, instead of becoming like the gated communities on the mainland.

I would love to see our local realtors start a public petition stating their name, company, and an affirmation that they indeed will promote beach access in every sales contract they write up, and will help us educate beach front homeowners to the many advantages of keeping more access, not less. 

Realtors, do we have any takers? Do you really believe that most homeowners that most homeowners are likely to willingly provide unfettered beach access? I'd love to hear from you.

[Rich is on vacation and he has asked me to blog in his absence.]

Got slogans?

One of our BAH members has offered to pay for bumper stickers to help publicize the need for action to protect shoreline access. If you have ideas that are short and punchy, send them to me at figeli001@hawaii.rr.com or post them here in the comments section (you need a Google account to do so).

BTW, you can also order custom air-brushed Beach Access Hawaii t-shirts from Kailua artist Ben Mon. The photo above shows some of the designs he did for the Groundhog Day 2008 rally. Call Ben at (808) 247-1310 to find out more. A portion of each shirt sale will go to BAH, so you'll be helping our organization as well!

Wear and Share the Message!

And here's the back side view of Ben Mon's colorful shirts. To have one designed just for you, please call Ben at (808) 247-1310. Besides Beach Access Hawaii shirts, he's also done some for local band Shaka-down Street. Cool stuff!

Legislative Inaction Update

When Sen. Gary Hooser (above) spoke at our Groundhog Day press conference at the State Capitol on Feb. 2, we were optimistic about some of the House and Senate beach access bills that were in play. We got hearings, and had nearly unanimous support from State Senators and House Representatives on those committees.

But the bills died anyway, because key committee heads in the House and Senate decided beach access was not a high priority. Many people are calling this a do-nothing Legislature, and I'd be hard-pressed to disagree with them.

So what does it matter? I'll give you an example: walk along Kailua Beach and you'll see a new house being constructed that is closer to the ocean than any of the surrounding houses... at the north end, another house is being rebuilt, much closer than the original structure was.

Yet studies show erosion has affected the old shoreline measurements that are still being used for setback purposes. There was a bill that would have required houses to be built further back, based on sea-level rise and annual erosion rates. However, HB1037 "Relating to Coastal Zone Management" was just one more victim of the 2008 Do-Nothing Legislative Session.

If you're upset about new construction putting houses closer to the ocean on Oahu, call Land Agent Barry Chung at 587-0430 and ask him why the setbacks have not been adjusted to take into account sea-level rise and erosion. The one being built on Laiki Place sticks out like a gigantic sore thumb. And those same homeowners will probably complain about anyone who uses "their" beach area in front of that obnoxious eyesore.

City Inaction: 4 Months and Counting...

Back on Dec. 20, 2007, we posted a photo of a dangerous section of Kalaheo Avenue where the pedestrian/bike path has narrowed down to about a foot of space. We sent pictures to City Council Chair Barbara Marshall and asked who was responsible for road maintenance. A couple of months later her assistant finally gave us an answer: the homeowners who live next to Kalaheo Avenue are supposed to take care of it!

But did the City actually do anything to address the situation? Nope. This past week I almost got hit by a car while jogging down to the public beach access next to Kailuana Place (the closest one for me now that L'Orange Place is denying access to neighbors). Another resident was trying to walk his dog down that narrow shoulder area at the same time I was running, while traffic was zooming past us. Luckily, he was able to yank his dog out of the car's path before it was too late. If I was a parent, I would NOT walk with my children to the public beach access at that end because it would put my kids at risk.

This is a fixable problem. The City should remove the dirt and accumulated soil that is taking up half the shoulder area, and if necessary, bill the adjacent homeowners for that work if the homeowners won't or can't do it themselves. So what's it going to take before something is done? A fatal traffic accident?

We need government officials and leaders who are willing to work on solutions to problems instead of making up lame excuses for doing nothing. Know anyone who wants to run for City Council? Perhaps it's time for a change.