Big Island Beach Access Blocked

The Star-Bulletin reports another case in which landowners have restricted access because of idiots who trash the beach and have no regard for others.

Although they placed boulders on the road to stop vehicles, people can still walk down to the shoreline. Here's an excerpt, followed by the article link:

... Shipman, which owns more than 17,000 acres in the area, placed the boulders on June 6 at its boundary with Hawaiian Paradise Park subdivision, where the road widens to 50 feet.

Walters is clear about why he took action. It was in response to complaints about trash, abandoned cars, wild parties, gunshots and drug use spilling off the road onto Shipman property, he said...

Sad, huh? And these are locals who are ruining it for everyone. Here's the link to the entire article.

Written Comments Needed by Aug. 15!

Although the State Legislature has adjourned until next year, we still may be able to get state action on public beach access, according to Mike Lameier of the National Marine Fisheries Service.

He said the upcoming review of the State's Coastal Zone Management Program is an opportunity for the public to influence how the State CZM Program in Hawaii is spending their money and tax dollars.

A team of federal reviewers will meet with government and non-government organizations in Hawaii, and have a public meeting on the Big Island, July 30, to review how our State CZM Program is doing.

The review team must then write a report, which will include "program suggestions" and "necessary action." Program actions are non-binding recommendations for the State CZM to focus more attention on specific issues raised by the public. Necessary actions are binding. If there is enough public interest and comments about a particular issue, the federal reviewers can restrict or even deny state funding, until the state program has improved the situation regarding those issues.

Mike wrote: "As you can see, this is a great opportunity to influence our State CZM Program to give more attention and funding to public beach access issues or other issues, which you feel are important."

We need your emails and letters asking the State to step in and establish uniform guidelines for shoreline access throughout Hawaii. Point out that we need to know where additional public access ways are needed on all the islands, and explain that many residents no longer can walk easily be beaches because of gates on private and public roads.

If you have questions, contact Rich Figel via email: figeli001@hawaii.rr.com

Please email your comments to Ms. Carrie Hall at carrie.hall@noaa.gov

Or snail mail letters to:
Ms. Carrie Hall, NOAA/NOS/OCRM
1305 East-West Highway, N/ORM7
Silver Spring, Maryland, 20910

Post-Fourth of July Kailua Fireworks!

Good letter in today's Star-Bulletin (July 9) related to the Fourth of July:

Allow access to beach at least 1 day a year

Land of the free? Apparently not in Kailua. Yes, the signs said "Private Road, NO Beach Access," but surely on this one night of the year when Kailua Beach is the gathering place to view fireworks, "outsiders" who do not actually live on that lane would be allowed to pass by as we have done for more than 20 years. But no -- a gate that we did not know existed stood locked. Fortunately we were allowed to enter with the privileged ones who had the gate code.

Yes, it is your right to close your private road. But how hard would it have been to prop the gate open for one hour on this special night? How offensive is it to have strangers walking in front of your homes anyway? News flash -- we all have strangers walking and driving by -- sometimes speeding, if you live on a shortcut used by all to avoid the traffic on Oneawa. We have had litter, noisy kids, loud thumping radios, vandalism and car theft because everyone is allowed on our road. We have also made friends with those who pass. So "land of the free" seems to depend on your address.

Maryalice Woody
Kailua

Hana Hou: More Parade Pictures...

You can see additional Fourth of July photos on our Flickr page by clicking here...

Happy Fourth of July!

Mahalo to everyone who helped make the Beach Access Hawaii entry a big hit with the throngs of people who lined the parade route Friday morning! We had over 30 participants on the float, marching or riding bikes -- plus members of Surfrider, and a strong contingent from the Defend Oahu Coaliton in their green "Keep the Country Country" shirts right behind us.

KGMB News had a brief shot of our truck with the "Save Beach Access" sign on the front, and we got a lot of spectators talking about the issue of locked gates in Kailua. Hmm, does that fake gate on the back of our truck look familiar?

Marching Orders for the 4th...

The official staging area for Beach Access Hawaii and Shoreline Access Coalition will be at Pukoa Street at the N. Kainalu Drive intersection. If coming from Kainui Drive, going south on Kainalu it's the second left (after Kaha Street).

Word has been spreading, and our ranks are growing! We're expecting a good turnout for Friday morning, so don't be shy about joining us at any point along the parade route. Just keep your ears open for the, "Get up, stand up -- don't give up the fight!" chant, accompanied by 25 kazoos.

And dig Ben Mon's awesome "Free Beach Access" shirt design he did for the parade on the right! Let me know if you want a custom shirt of your own.