During my two-week vacation trip to Australia, which I blogged about in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser (click for link) and my Career Changers TV-related site, Squashed Gecko, I received two emails that show beach access is still a confusing problem in Hawaii.
The first email came from June Watanabe, the long-time Kokua Line columnist for the daily newspaper here:
Someone sent me a question about beach access, as follows: Is there a way to find a map or list of all the beach access sites on Oahu or at least the North Shore? I recently was going to check out a fishing site I've been to a couple of years ago and found that the path I used before was blocked and had a sign that basically said that it was private property and not to trespass. This path is in between two homes with fences on each side; so, I found it hard to believe that it was not a public beach access point especially since there weren't any access points due to all the homes on this street.
I've asked the city Department of Planning and Permitting if it has anything but haven't yet gotten a response. However, I recall someone saying a few years ago that there was no such map or information.
The answer is yes, there has to be a list because the city/county unveiled a 911 emergency locator sign system a couple of years ago that was linked to the 80-some public beach rights of way on Oahu. Each sign was posted near the access with an assigned number. I'm also sure the Dept. of Land and Natural Resources has a map of the public accesses as well.
However, June tried contacting both the county and state to get the official info from them... and all she got was a runaround. A month later, she's still waiting for answers. Welcome to the world of government bureaucracy and inefficiency! I've said repeatedly the main problem is the split jurisdiction of shoreline management between the state and the counties, which uses the high water mark (or vegetation line -- it's confusing) as the line of demarcation. So neither takes responsibility for providing info to the public on things like beach access.
I also suggested June contact NOAA because I knew they have been working on a project to survey and catalog the public shoreline access points throughout Oahu. Ostensibly, it was meant to be a tool for fishermen and boaters, I believe. But they soon realized that others could benefit from their project since no such map was readily available to the general public. June says NOAA is nearing completion and will let us know when that survey and map are posted online.
As to the reader's question about the path being between two homes with fences on both sides and no other access points on that street... well, THAT is the problem throughout the islands! What he encountered is hardly new or unusual. Usually, that strip is an easement on "private" property owned by an association or the people who are flanking that piece of land. It can even connect with a public street and still be considered "private" property.
The other email I received while I was Down Under came from Scott Werny, former co-chair of the Oahu Surfrider Foundation, who was instrumental in launching Beach Access Hawaii as well. He forwarded this message and asked if I could clarify the situation:
Aloha,
This morning my family and I were told to move from the area of the beach by a Turtle Bay employee. He claimed it was "the law" and when asked if it was a public beach, he stated only to the water mark. I escalated the issue to clarify where the water mark was & where the public beach began. So far the water line is vague. It would seem logical that if Turtle Bay makes people move, they should clearly point to where the public area is.
Reviewing the Hawaii Supreme Court 2006 decision, it appears the vegetation line (more mauka) is preferred over competing debris line. This point was not acknowledged, and a 2001 date was referred to by the security director. 2001 predates the 2006 decision, and would be void.
All I'm really trying to determine is where the public has a right to be without being hassled. Would you know who I should contact?
Sincerely,
Jeanne Roberts
First, it really sucks a Turtle Bay Resort employee would ask them to leave unless they were bothering someone. Not good PR. Technically, he was wrong anyway. It's not the visible water mark, as far as I know. It's based on the high water line I believe. Regardless, the bottom line is Hawaii's beaches are open to the public... however, he could have challenged them on access to that beach if they had to cross private property to reach it.
My advice to Jeanne and others in the North Shore area who encounter this kind of attitude at Turtle Bay is to tell others of their negative experiences at the resort, and spread negative publicity about the Turtle Bay Resort. Hurt them in the wallet and they might try to be a little nicer to local folks!
Showing posts with label Turtle Bay resort. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Turtle Bay resort. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Monday, February 7, 2011
New Turtle Bay Master Plan in Works
Just got a letter from Turtle Bay Resorts, saying that Replay Resorts has been brought in to oversee the entire resort -- including hotel management and the "real estate development program." I wrote about it in my Honolulu Star-Advertiser Career Changers blog, which you can read by clicking here.
To sum up for those who aren't familiar with the Turtle Bay controversy, there were plans drawn up two decades ago that would allow for expansion of up to 3,500 new rooms. Considering there is a single two-lane highway that serves the resort and surrounding communities, some thought that might present a bit of a problem. Not only that, the plan could impact shoreline access and alter the "country" feel of that area on the North Shore. The public outcry succeeded in halting expansion until a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement could be done.
The new owners and Replay Resorts are now saying they want community input, and intend to create a new master plan that will address the concerns of residents. They seem to by backing away from the plans to add 3,500 units and say they do not want to develop gated luxury communities like you see around the Waikoloa resorts on the Big Island. That's good. Better yet, they are working with two land trusts to place a conservation easement on 469 acres of land mauka of Kamehameha Highway, which will be preserved for farming use. That's great news.
Let's hope they live up to their promise that they will be more transparent and responsive to community concerns.
To sum up for those who aren't familiar with the Turtle Bay controversy, there were plans drawn up two decades ago that would allow for expansion of up to 3,500 new rooms. Considering there is a single two-lane highway that serves the resort and surrounding communities, some thought that might present a bit of a problem. Not only that, the plan could impact shoreline access and alter the "country" feel of that area on the North Shore. The public outcry succeeded in halting expansion until a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement could be done.
The new owners and Replay Resorts are now saying they want community input, and intend to create a new master plan that will address the concerns of residents. They seem to by backing away from the plans to add 3,500 units and say they do not want to develop gated luxury communities like you see around the Waikoloa resorts on the Big Island. That's good. Better yet, they are working with two land trusts to place a conservation easement on 469 acres of land mauka of Kamehameha Highway, which will be preserved for farming use. That's great news.
Let's hope they live up to their promise that they will be more transparent and responsive to community concerns.
Monday, June 7, 2010
Access Victories Spur Fear Mongering
Wouldn't you know it -- now that Gov. Lingle has signed the vegetation legislation to help stop oceanfront property owners from obstructing lateral beach access, certain developers are trying to scare people into rebuilding their homes CLOSER to the sea as soon as possible! This, despite ample evidence that sea levels are rising and beaches are eroding at faster rates wherever homes are nearer to the ocean.
A Kailua realtor who cares about preserving our beaches and public access forwarded an email to me that was apparently written by John Michael White. In it, he claims it is likely that the State will impose new shoreline building setbacks that could be 500 feet from the high water mark. Really? Where did he get those numbers from? For starters, setbacks are established by the county councils -- not the state. Secondly, the strictest setbacks that were passed by Kauai took into account sea level rise and possible erosion. If the setbacks seem like they are far back, it's for good reason: the recommendations were based on years of data and study.
Yet John Michael White doesn't give a damn about protecting our beaches or interfering with the natural sand dunes that are necessary to maintain healthy beaches. Here's what he wrote:
"Considering the above, I again remind all shoreline landowners of
the importance to obtain permits and build, install improvements
as soon as possible, otherwise you may have a rude awakening in
the future that your opportunity to build what you once could've
built on your private property, near the shoreline, may be lost....."
Yep, his only concern is for the "opportunity to build" regardless of the impact it will have on existing homes around that property or the beach itself. We've been seeing this happen on Kailua Beach, where older homes are having their views cut off by new homes that are being rebuilt left and right.
You know what this tells me? We're winning the battle of public opinion, and making progress with both the counties and State Legislature in our efforts to preserve shoreline access. That's what is scaring developers like John Michael White.
Well, eat this JMW: the Ka Iwi shoreline has been reclassified to conservation land too, and the Turtle Bay Resort expansion plans have been stopped for now until a new environmental impact study is done.
You can help us keep up the fight for beach access by clicking on the Donate button at top (right side of page) and making a small contribution. Mahalo for your continued support!
Here's a link to the vegetation legislation article and the Ka Iwi reclassification, both courtesy of Pacific Business News... btw, you should subscribe to PBN or sign up for their free email alerts if you want to track what's happening in business here.
A Kailua realtor who cares about preserving our beaches and public access forwarded an email to me that was apparently written by John Michael White. In it, he claims it is likely that the State will impose new shoreline building setbacks that could be 500 feet from the high water mark. Really? Where did he get those numbers from? For starters, setbacks are established by the county councils -- not the state. Secondly, the strictest setbacks that were passed by Kauai took into account sea level rise and possible erosion. If the setbacks seem like they are far back, it's for good reason: the recommendations were based on years of data and study.
Yet John Michael White doesn't give a damn about protecting our beaches or interfering with the natural sand dunes that are necessary to maintain healthy beaches. Here's what he wrote:
"Considering the above, I again remind all shoreline landowners of
the importance to obtain permits and build, install improvements
as soon as possible, otherwise you may have a rude awakening in
the future that your opportunity to build what you once could've
built on your private property, near the shoreline, may be lost....."
Yep, his only concern is for the "opportunity to build" regardless of the impact it will have on existing homes around that property or the beach itself. We've been seeing this happen on Kailua Beach, where older homes are having their views cut off by new homes that are being rebuilt left and right.
You know what this tells me? We're winning the battle of public opinion, and making progress with both the counties and State Legislature in our efforts to preserve shoreline access. That's what is scaring developers like John Michael White.
Well, eat this JMW: the Ka Iwi shoreline has been reclassified to conservation land too, and the Turtle Bay Resort expansion plans have been stopped for now until a new environmental impact study is done.
You can help us keep up the fight for beach access by clicking on the Donate button at top (right side of page) and making a small contribution. Mahalo for your continued support!
Here's a link to the vegetation legislation article and the Ka Iwi reclassification, both courtesy of Pacific Business News... btw, you should subscribe to PBN or sign up for their free email alerts if you want to track what's happening in business here.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Turtle Bay forum Dec. 8
Tim Vandeveer, one of our Beach Access allies, asked me to pass this along for "Talk Story 2" on Tues., Dec. 8, (6:30 - 9 PM) at Kahuku High School Cafeteria hosted by Defend Oahu Coalition:
If you want to Keep the Country Country, this is a must attend event!
This is the second in a series of Community Forums regarding the future of Turtle Bay. The City’s Department of Permitting and Planning is reportedly very close to issuing final subdivision permits to the developer at Turtle Bay which will allow him to move ahead with the outdated plan for five additional hotels and one thousand more resort condominiums. The State Supreme Court is set to hear Oral Arguments regarding the Keep the North Shore Country case asking for a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement.
The existing property is formally changing owners this month, who are reportedly working on a new business model for the resort. This is a crucial time to get updated about the current situation. Efforts aimed at building on plans for preservation as well as sustainable land use enforcement at City and State levels will also be addressed. Notable speakers invited to attend include: Governor Lingle, Representatives Abercrombie and Hirono, Mayor Hannemann, Turtle Bay Advisory Working Group Chair Bill Paty, Senator Clayton Hee, Councilmember Donovan Dela Cruz and Interim Developer for Kuilima Resort Company Stanford Carr. The moderator for the evening will be Dee Dee Letts, a member of the Ko’olauloa Neighborhood Board and longtime community activist.
If you want to Keep the Country Country, this is a must attend event!
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
From our allies on the North Shore of Oahu, comes this urgent appeal below. Plans to develop the Turtle Bay resort could have an adverse impact on shoreline access in that area...
The Honolulu Advertiser’s wrote in today’s editorial, “Court should clarify worth of years-old EIS”
It is not right that the developers should be allowed to begin development 20 or 200 years after an EIS is accepted without having to reconsider potential impacts. Keep the North Shore Country and Sierra Club have been seeking a Supplemental EIS for the Turtle Bay Resort in the courts since 2006. If the Supreme Court does not accept the case, our challenge of the environmental review will probably be over.
Meanwhile, Stanford Carr continues to press ahead with the expansion plan and continues to seek final subdivision approval from the City and County of Honolulu. They are very close.
We are near the end of the process. Now is the time to speak up!
This editorial gives you an excellent opportunity to share your concerns about the Turtle Bay Resort Expansion Plan and the City’s refusal to order a supplemental EIS. Please take a moment to send your comments to the Letters to the Editor and also post an on-line comment. Letters to the Editor are more effective.
Advertiser Letters to the Editor Include your name and contact information so they can confirm your identity and publish your letter.
You can read all of the court filings and follow the action at www.KeepTheNorthShoreCountry.org
Mahalo,
Gil Riviere
Keep the North Shore Country
The Honolulu Advertiser’s wrote in today’s editorial, “Court should clarify worth of years-old EIS”
If the high court decides to take the appeal, as it should, the state will get clearer direction of how environmental law should apply to development that has languished on the drawing boards for years.
And although the Kuilima Resort Co. project is at the center of this case, there are other projects with environmental impact statements prepared long ago. The original proposal for Makena Resort on Maui, for example, was based on an EIS completed in 1974.
It is not right that the developers should be allowed to begin development 20 or 200 years after an EIS is accepted without having to reconsider potential impacts. Keep the North Shore Country and Sierra Club have been seeking a Supplemental EIS for the Turtle Bay Resort in the courts since 2006. If the Supreme Court does not accept the case, our challenge of the environmental review will probably be over.
Meanwhile, Stanford Carr continues to press ahead with the expansion plan and continues to seek final subdivision approval from the City and County of Honolulu. They are very close.
We are near the end of the process. Now is the time to speak up!
This editorial gives you an excellent opportunity to share your concerns about the Turtle Bay Resort Expansion Plan and the City’s refusal to order a supplemental EIS. Please take a moment to send your comments to the Letters to the Editor and also post an on-line comment. Letters to the Editor are more effective.
Advertiser Letters to the Editor
You can read all of the court filings and follow the action at www.KeepTheNorthShoreCountry.org
Mahalo,
Gil Riviere
Keep the North Shore Country
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