Ah, yes. Christmas in Kailua is a magical time when people open their hearts... but not their gates. There are at least 17 beach-side lanes along Kalaheo Avenue that are gated or have "Keep Out" signs posted with threats of arrest if you try to use "their" private beach access paths. The Grinch would be proud of those folks!
There is irony in the air too surrounding the annual Obama family Christmas vacation in Kailua. The gate pictured above is on a public street at the end of the beach where the Obamas stayed in an oceanfront compound. It's ironic because the President ran as a champion of the people who was going to protect the middle class -- and yet he chose to stay in an area where only the rich can afford to live that is effectively blocked off from less wealthy Kailuans in that area.
In fact, there is only a single public beach right of way at that end and the next closest one is over a half-mile away. That makes it ideal for security purposes. The Secret Service and Honolulu police force are protecting an area that has already become a semi-private beach for the rich. Those who can't afford to live on streets with private access must either walk a long way to the public access, or drive to the main beach parking lots and hope they can find a space (on weekends the lots are full).
So to all the Grinches along Kalaheo Avenue and on Kailuana Place, who continue to lock out their neighbors, all I can say is have a Merry Gate-mas! Yes, you truly represent the aloha spirit.
