On Sat., Jan. 10, freshman State Rep. Chris Lee (Lanikai,Waimanalo district) became the first elected official to take me up on my offer to walk the walk, instead of just talking the talk...
I had emailed him last week about our frustrations with lack of action by the City Council and State on beach access and shoreline management issues. Rather than meet at his office in the State Capitol building, I suggested we stroll down Kalaheo Avenue from the Kailuana beach access to the next closest public right of way, which is over a half mile away. Chris said yes.
We also walked along the beach where I was able to show him four new houses that are being re-built CLOSER to the ocean -- despite evidence of beach erosion and projected sea level rise. Seeing is believing, and I think it made an impact on Chris when a Kailua resident came up to us and pointed at the "monstrosity" on Namala Place that is being built directly in front of an older home, cutting off their ocean view. Nice.
Coincidentally, on the front page of the Sunday Star-Bulletin there's a big story about "Saving Kailua Beach"...
The rapid erosion of one of Oahu's most popular beaches spurs multiagency action
STORY SUMMARY
The city, state and federal government are taking steps that could eventually counteract the erosion of Kailua Beach.
The Army Corps of Engineers, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources and the state Department of Health are working together to get needed permits and clearances to allow sand from Kaelepulu Stream to be used to replenish the rapidly disappearing beach. A public meeting was held last summer.
The state also hired a consultant to examine the problem and come up with options by 2010. Beach users say something needs to be done soon.
"In the last two to three years, the shoreline has dramatically eroded," said Chip Fletcher, a professor in the Geology and Geophysics Department at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.
Read the rest of the Star-Bulletin article by clicking here.
While I'm glad Chip and others are on the case, the question remains: why has it taken this long? Why isn't there a State coastal commission or task force that is looking at both short term and long term steps that should be taken to protect our beaches?
Meanwhile, since the Honolulu City Council has failed to act on shoreline setbacks, you can be sure other new beachfront homeowners will re-build closer to the ocean, which is likely to hasten beach erosion in the near future.
1 comment:
Build them a beach and the gadzillionaires will come and build on it and expect everyone else to keep a beach for them in front of their new mansions. This is how it works.
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