Sheraton's Shoddy Shoreline Sham

Beach access advocate Mark Dougherty sent these photos of the walkway in front of the Sheraton Waikiki, which clearly shows how vegetation from the resort property makes it even more narrow than it already is. He says the Sheraton is basically ignoring their responsibility to maintain the walkway because they'd rather dissuade the general public from passing in front of their property than improve access. He's probably right.

Mark writes:

" Improved shoreline access across Hawaii received a boost in 2010 when Act 160 (HRS 115-5) was passed. Unfortunately the prescription for 6-feet wide 'beach transit corridors' is not applicable in some places. This coast fronting the Sheraton Waikiki -- one of the more prominent shorelines in Hawaii -- must make due with a 4-foot walkway. The walkway, an easement that dates back years before Sheraton was built in 1971, was considered for expansion during the Sheraton renovation, completed around 2011. But no action was taken. Hawaii's coastal planners apparently regard this access way as sufficient for all pedestrian traffic between main Waikiki Beach and Ft. DeRussy. With the constraining naupaka hedge and railing, the public has only 3 ½ feet to pass."

I asked him what he would like to see happen in regards to the situation. Here's his response:

 " Re your question, I would like to see walkway widened or naupaka removed. But I doubt the hotel will do that now. The time to do that was during the renovation, at coastal planners' prompting. (Several months ago I communicated with Bob Kelly, Sheraton GM. He said the walkway is just fine.) At this point, it would probably take a land acquisition. That would be a big deal. And the related issue is Gray's Beach restoration is still pending. There is a lot going on here....
   I am interested in a public airing of this issue. Attention is warranted by both media and community organizations. Here are my 3 key topics:
   1) The Sheraton walkway situation helps erode respect for the 6-feet-wide standard of HRS 115-5. If coastal planners deem a 3 ½ feet width is good enough for the busy Waikiki shore, that sends a poor message.
   2) There is highly credible information that not only that some hotels seek to limit pedestrian traffic along the Waikiki shore, but that top coastal planners are tacitly agreeing to go along with this scheme. This is bad policy and should be investigated. Of course planners will deny this, but a close look at at the Sheraton situation is warranted.
   3) A new law is needed to require upgrading of substandard easements fronting resort properties when those properties engage in major coastal renovations. HRS 115-5's 6-feet standard should be the new code, at least. Sheraton built a new pool within 10 feet of the water's edge. Apparently there is no policy basis to conduct such an easement review during major coastal modifications.
   What happened at the Sheraton is important; it provides the basis to debate new legislation that would prevent this situation from happening again."

Although Mark has tried contacting government officials and people in organizations such as Surfrider and KAHEA, so far no one seems to want to make waves over the issue. If you'd like to help Mark in this cause, please contact him via email at markdd8@gmail.com.

May 7 Rally to Preserve Waikiki Beach

Sorry for such short notice, but just got this info from our allies at Surfrider and KAHEA. They will help lead a rally to protest the proposed plan by Kyo-Ya Resort and Hotels to build a new massive tower next to the historic Moana Hotel on Waikiki Beach.

A LINE IN THE SAND: RALLY TO PROTEST
KYO-YA’S NEW TOWER IN WAIKIKI

Concerned citizens are invited to meet at the zoo at 9:30 AM to walk down Kalakaua Ave. to the proposed site at 10:00 a.m. Participants are asked to wear blue. Bring your families and friends. Members from environmental groups like KAHEA, Surfrider Foundation, Hawaii’s Thousand Friends and the Ka Iwi Coalition will also be in attendance.

As part of the Waikiki Special District, zoning laws were passed decades ago to protect the beaches of Waikiki and to limit shoreline development -- and the coastal erosion that comes with it. Existing hotels were allowed to remain as they were. The understanding was that subsequent developments had to follow the new zoning codes. But Kyo-ya and its corporate partners in New York want special exemptions to tear down an existing 8-story building and create a new 26-story tower. The Dept. of Planning and Permitting granted them variances to violate the existing height and shoreline setback requirements, but a coalition of petitioners is seeking to appeal this decision.

“We’re asking people to draw a line in the sand against Kyo-Ya’s plans,” says Tim Tybuszewski, Surfrider’s Oahu Chapter Co-Chair, “because their new development will create a dangerous precedent for other developers to ask for similar exemptions from the zoning code so they too can start building taller towers closer to the water. While other high-end hotels such as the Hale Kulani have successfully abided by the rules, Kyo-Ya asserts they shouldn’t have to adhere to the zoning code.”

According to the zoning laws, beachfront buildings in Waikiki must be built 100-feet inland of the vegetation line. Shoreline setbacks were designed to protect our beaches and public safety, but Kyo-Ya wants to build new structures closer to the water and to harden the shoreline with a higher seawall. This is likely to cause more beach erosion. No amount of sand replenishment will be able to restore Waikiki’s shrinking beaches in the face of more construction, storms, hurricanes, tsunamis and sea level rise. Kyo-ya asserts that beach sand replenishment, paid for mostly by the taxpayers, will restore the beach in front of their new tower and wall... but for how long? As other walls on the Waikiki shoreline demonstrate, where the shoreline has been hardened, the beach washes away -- and with it goes beach access.

The new tower will also contribute to the canyon effect, dwarfing the historic Moana Hotel and further destroying Waikiki’s unique sense of place. If approved, Kyo-ya’s plans could motivate a new wave of developers to seek the same exemptions and build more towers and walls on the Waikiki shoreline. Rally organizers invite other groups and citizens to join their protest to see where the proposed new tower will be built, and learn more about how this development will affect Waikiki.

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Please attend the rally if you can on Saturday. I'll be updating the BAH site and sending another group email soon about other beach access matters that have come up in the past couple of months... not much happening though on the State level due to the budget crunch. More to follow!

Aloha,
Rich Figel