Although Bob Moncrief has passed away, we can still be thankful for what he and his wife, Trudy, have stood for in the fight to preserve public beach access. The photo above of them was taken a couple of years ago in front of the L'Orange Place gate that led to the creation of Beach Access Hawaii.
The Moncriefs were the only homeowners on that street who opposed locking out neighbors and visitors from using the beach path at the end of their "private" lane. It should be noted that the residents don't mind having public services such as trash pick up, utility trucks and mail delivery using this "private" road... services their tax-paying neighbors subsidize.
One block over, Namala Place also has a gate -- and that one IS a public street, which our taxes go towards the upkeep. Yet they get away with locking out neighbors because the beach access is situated on a strip of "private" land between two houses. They also have street lights and public services paid for by the people they want to keep out. You can drive and park on the street that our tax dollars pay for, but you can't use the gate.
Meanwhile, Kalaheo Avenue continues to be dangerous for pedestrians and bike riders who must literally go out into the street to get around the dirt and debris, along the section from L'Orange to the only public access for over half a mile at that end of the beach. The City has been notified repeatedly, yet hasn't done a damn thing to rectify the situation.
I suppose we should be thankful that no one has been hit by a car... yet. Mark my words, it will happen.
