Joan Conrow has a good cover story in the Honolulu Weekly about an issue I've been harping on for the past year. However, nowhere in the article does it ask WHY nothing is being done about the situation!
It's pretty simple really: as long as we have split jurisdiction between the State and the counties, there will never be a comprehensive long-term shoreline management plan. We need a Hawaii Coastal Commission that has the authority to enact statewide standards and the ability to ENFORCE those rules.
But we can't get there without interim steps, such as a joint State-counties task force to lay the foundation for such a commission. State Rep. Chris Lee introduced a bill that would have done just that. But Sam Lemmo, who works for the State DLNR, actually spoke out AGAINST the bill! And we didn't get any support from the UH Sea Grant people either... the same guys who have complained about the split jurisdiction problem. So what's their solution? More of the same: do studies and hope something changes...
Anyhow, here's the link to the Weekly article. At least the issue is getting more attention.
http://honoluluweekly.com/cover/2009/12/shrinking-beaches/
Showing posts with label shoreline setbacks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label shoreline setbacks. Show all posts
Monday, December 7, 2009
Monday, November 30, 2009
Beach Land Grab Article
Today's Star-Bulletin ran a good article about the continuing problem of oceanfront property owners making claims on the beach where it has naturally expanded, or by simply growing out vegetation to grab more land (as in the photo above, which was taken last year at Kailua Beach -- note the SPRINKLER HEADS in the plantings).
We have laws saying the beach belongs to the public up to the high water wash, but vegetation is also used to mark boundaries. We have State laws that say one thing, while the individual counties make their own shoreline setback rules. Meanwhile, due to State and county budget shortfalls, personnel are being laid off which means we have less enforcement of existing laws. And no one is really responsible for overseeing our shorelines and beaches -- the State and counties just pass the buck!
Here's the article link.
My wife and I took a walk along Kailua Beach this Thanksgiving weekend. Besides the five houses that are already being rebuilt closer to the water, there are at least two vacant lots where you can be sure new owners will also build right up to the legal setback because others have already done it, and they don't want their views blocked by neighbors who will rebuild closer to the ocean.
Say goodbye to the Kailua Beach we used to love. It's well on the way to becoming another narrow stretch of sand just like Lanikai or Kahala Beach thanks to selfish, short-sighted beachfront property owners who don't give a damn about their impact on Hawaii's beaches. And thank our State and county officials too for not doing anything about it.
Friday, June 12, 2009
Yet ANOTHER Study and No Action
The Honolulu Advertiser ran another cursory article about the latest beach erosion study, without questioning whatever happened with prior studies or asking why different agencies and counties don't share information they already have!
For what it's worth, click here for the story link and reader comments.
Meanwhile, UH Sea Grant and the State DLNR are doing a separate study of Kailua Beach, which will cover similar ground. In recent years, both Kauai and Maui also commissioned studies pertaining to erosion and setbacks. Each time they develop their own criteria and pay someone to create reports that could have been standardized and used as templates for all islands and beaches. Instead, they reinvent the wheel over and over. So there goes another $100,000 of taxpayer money down the drain for a report that will probably be put on a shelf with all the other studies done over the past 10-20 years.
But according to the same people who get hired to do these studies, we don't need a joint State/Counties task force or coastal commission to coordinate this stuff. Well, I guess if your main concern is job security, that makes perfect sense. At the rate they're going, by the time their studies are complete, many of our beaches will be severely diminished due to inaction. And they'll all be retired with generous civil servant benefits.
We don't need more studies to confirm what our eyes tell us is happening right NOW. Just walk along Kailua Beach and count the number of houses being rebuilt closer to the ocean! In five years or less, those parts of the beach will begin to look just like the shrunken shoreline along Lanikai and Kahala Beach.
BREAKING NEWS: Rep. Cynthia Thielen says she's working on another angle to halt "seaward creep" since the State Legislature failed to pass her bill to freeze setbacks on Kailua Beach. New City Councilman Ikaika Anderson says he will bring up the subject this year, but was vague as to when. I'll believe it when I see it.
For what it's worth, click here for the story link and reader comments.
Meanwhile, UH Sea Grant and the State DLNR are doing a separate study of Kailua Beach, which will cover similar ground. In recent years, both Kauai and Maui also commissioned studies pertaining to erosion and setbacks. Each time they develop their own criteria and pay someone to create reports that could have been standardized and used as templates for all islands and beaches. Instead, they reinvent the wheel over and over. So there goes another $100,000 of taxpayer money down the drain for a report that will probably be put on a shelf with all the other studies done over the past 10-20 years.
But according to the same people who get hired to do these studies, we don't need a joint State/Counties task force or coastal commission to coordinate this stuff. Well, I guess if your main concern is job security, that makes perfect sense. At the rate they're going, by the time their studies are complete, many of our beaches will be severely diminished due to inaction. And they'll all be retired with generous civil servant benefits.
We don't need more studies to confirm what our eyes tell us is happening right NOW. Just walk along Kailua Beach and count the number of houses being rebuilt closer to the ocean! In five years or less, those parts of the beach will begin to look just like the shrunken shoreline along Lanikai and Kahala Beach.
BREAKING NEWS: Rep. Cynthia Thielen says she's working on another angle to halt "seaward creep" since the State Legislature failed to pass her bill to freeze setbacks on Kailua Beach. New City Councilman Ikaika Anderson says he will bring up the subject this year, but was vague as to when. I'll believe it when I see it.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
State Legislature Fails Again
Thought we had a chance to get bills passed that would protect beach access and shoreline setbacks. I was wrong... bills we supported died in committee the final week, or were amended in such a way that they could actually weaken existing setback standards!
Why? Frankly, it's because we didn't have enough public support. Our politicians kowtow to business interests and individuals who pony up the biggest campaign contributions, or pander to factions that are organized enough to make the loudest noise.
For instance, State Legislators caved in on equal rights for gays because the religious right mobilized their forces and turned civil unions into a referendum on traditional marriage. It made me ashamed of my upbringing as a Christian to see these red-shirted church-goers say gay people were somehow "defective" and didn't deserve the same legal rights as straights.
I once thought Hawaii took pride in our culture of "aloha" and tolerance. The beaches symbolized the open nature of people here... but now it's a place where people put up walls, fences and gates to keep anyone out that is "different" or not as wealthy as they are.
These are sad times, and I'm not willing to fight for any cause, unless it's for the benefit of ALL people in Hawaii -- regardless of race, religious views, income level, place of origin, and yes, sexual orientation. As long as we let differences divide us, nothing positive can be achieved on bigger issues that affect everyone.
End of rant. Don't know when I'll be back. It's up to YOU to do something if you want to see real change.
Why? Frankly, it's because we didn't have enough public support. Our politicians kowtow to business interests and individuals who pony up the biggest campaign contributions, or pander to factions that are organized enough to make the loudest noise.
For instance, State Legislators caved in on equal rights for gays because the religious right mobilized their forces and turned civil unions into a referendum on traditional marriage. It made me ashamed of my upbringing as a Christian to see these red-shirted church-goers say gay people were somehow "defective" and didn't deserve the same legal rights as straights.
I once thought Hawaii took pride in our culture of "aloha" and tolerance. The beaches symbolized the open nature of people here... but now it's a place where people put up walls, fences and gates to keep anyone out that is "different" or not as wealthy as they are.
These are sad times, and I'm not willing to fight for any cause, unless it's for the benefit of ALL people in Hawaii -- regardless of race, religious views, income level, place of origin, and yes, sexual orientation. As long as we let differences divide us, nothing positive can be achieved on bigger issues that affect everyone.
End of rant. Don't know when I'll be back. It's up to YOU to do something if you want to see real change.
Monday, March 23, 2009
More Good News!
We're on a roll... HB 593, Rep. Thielen's setbacks moratorium bill for Kailua Beach cleared the State Senate WTL committee on Fri., March 20. Then today (March 23), Sen. Hooser's bill, SB 1088, which re-defines obstructions to public access and gives citizens more ammunition to file lawsuits if access is blocked, also was approved on the House side by the WLO committee.
What's more, a bill many groups opposed that would have put Coastal Zone Management under the DBEDT as a cost-cutting measure, was gutted and replaced with language from HB 593 to give the DLNR authority to implement shoreline setback moratoriums throughout the entire state! So instead of a potential step backwards with SB 1318, the House WLO committee actually took the initiative in doing something to protect our beaches.
In other political news, Honolulu City Council candidate Steve Holmes emailed our group and wants you to know he would do all he can to support public beach access if elected. Candidate John Felix has said public access is one of his top concerns as well. The fact that they are discussing this issue shows how far we've come in the past year. Keep up the pressure, and we WILL see more positive changes in the near future!
What's more, a bill many groups opposed that would have put Coastal Zone Management under the DBEDT as a cost-cutting measure, was gutted and replaced with language from HB 593 to give the DLNR authority to implement shoreline setback moratoriums throughout the entire state! So instead of a potential step backwards with SB 1318, the House WLO committee actually took the initiative in doing something to protect our beaches.
In other political news, Honolulu City Council candidate Steve Holmes emailed our group and wants you to know he would do all he can to support public beach access if elected. Candidate John Felix has said public access is one of his top concerns as well. The fact that they are discussing this issue shows how far we've come in the past year. Keep up the pressure, and we WILL see more positive changes in the near future!
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Update on State Legislation
HB593, which would give the State DLNR the authority to implement a 2-year moratorium on Kailua Beach shoreline building setbacks, will be heard by the Senate Water, Land, Ag committee on Friday, March 20 at 3 pm. You can submit testimony online by going to this link: http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/emailtestimony/
We've also received word that SB1088 should be getting a hearing date by next week. That's the bill our alliance helped draft to re-define obstructions to public access, and make it more feasible for citizens to file lawsuit to stop gates from going up in areas with limited beach access for residents.
I'll be sending out a group email as soon as we get confirmation on the hearing dates. Mahalo to all who submitted testimony these past couple of weeks! Your emails and letters made a difference, and will continue to do so. Keep up the good work, folks.
We've also received word that SB1088 should be getting a hearing date by next week. That's the bill our alliance helped draft to re-define obstructions to public access, and make it more feasible for citizens to file lawsuit to stop gates from going up in areas with limited beach access for residents.
I'll be sending out a group email as soon as we get confirmation on the hearing dates. Mahalo to all who submitted testimony these past couple of weeks! Your emails and letters made a difference, and will continue to do so. Keep up the good work, folks.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
New Year, New Faces in Government
On Sat., Jan. 10, freshman State Rep. Chris Lee (Lanikai,Waimanalo district) became the first elected official to take me up on my offer to walk the walk, instead of just talking the talk...
I had emailed him last week about our frustrations with lack of action by the City Council and State on beach access and shoreline management issues. Rather than meet at his office in the State Capitol building, I suggested we stroll down Kalaheo Avenue from the Kailuana beach access to the next closest public right of way, which is over a half mile away. Chris said yes.
We also walked along the beach where I was able to show him four new houses that are being re-built CLOSER to the ocean -- despite evidence of beach erosion and projected sea level rise. Seeing is believing, and I think it made an impact on Chris when a Kailua resident came up to us and pointed at the "monstrosity" on Namala Place that is being built directly in front of an older home, cutting off their ocean view. Nice.
Coincidentally, on the front page of the Sunday Star-Bulletin there's a big story about "Saving Kailua Beach"...
The rapid erosion of one of Oahu's most popular beaches spurs multiagency action
STORY SUMMARY
The city, state and federal government are taking steps that could eventually counteract the erosion of Kailua Beach.
The Army Corps of Engineers, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources and the state Department of Health are working together to get needed permits and clearances to allow sand from Kaelepulu Stream to be used to replenish the rapidly disappearing beach. A public meeting was held last summer.
The state also hired a consultant to examine the problem and come up with options by 2010. Beach users say something needs to be done soon.
"In the last two to three years, the shoreline has dramatically eroded," said Chip Fletcher, a professor in the Geology and Geophysics Department at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.
Read the rest of the Star-Bulletin article by clicking here.
While I'm glad Chip and others are on the case, the question remains: why has it taken this long? Why isn't there a State coastal commission or task force that is looking at both short term and long term steps that should be taken to protect our beaches?
Meanwhile, since the Honolulu City Council has failed to act on shoreline setbacks, you can be sure other new beachfront homeowners will re-build closer to the ocean, which is likely to hasten beach erosion in the near future.
Friday, November 21, 2008
Setbacks Hot Topic at Beach Seminar
The State Department of Land and Natural Resources and Office of Conservation and Coastal Lands held an informative session Nov. 20 to discuss sea-level rise, erosion and other issues related to "Conserving Hawaii's Beaches for the 21st Century." The word they repeatedly used to describe the present situation is "triage."
Some beaches are already too far gone to save in their opinion. So they are focusing on shorelines that stand a better chance of being preserved if beach management plans are implemented in the near future. A pilot program is being planned for Kailua Beach, according to Dolan Eversole of the UH Sea Grant program, who is "on loan" to the DLNR.
I asked him if beach access would be part of the plan. He says that is really up to the community. However, he did say their priority is dealing with beach conservation. And that means doing something about the existing setbacks.
As I have posted here before, there are at least two houses being built closer to the ocean than the older existing homes around them. My concern is this will set off a race for other homeowners to rebuild closer to the shoreline in an effort to prevent their views from being blocked -- which is already happening.
At the seminar, Chip Fletcher, Chair of the UH Geology and Geophysics Dept., and Sam Lemmo, DLNR-OCCL Administrator, both said when houses are allowed to be built closer to the sea, there is more erosion in that area because it interferes with the natural sand dunes that help stabilize the beach. You can see that just by walking along Kailua Beach. Then go to Lanikai and see what the future holds if setbacks aren't moved back NOW.
Fletcher says that new beachfront house on Namala Place was built partially on State conservation land, and the DLNR is looking into it. But why did the City grant a permit for building so close to the ocean? Did they even go out and look at the site?
This City/State split jurisdiction is part of the problem. Fletcher, Lemmo and Eversole (sounds like a law firm, huh?) all said the current State/county division of responsibility at the high water line results in poor management of our shorelines. I think they're right. We need a Hawaii Coastal Commission that will provide uniform standards and guidance. And that applies to shoreline access as well.
We'll let you know when there will be public hearings on the Kailua Beach Management Plan. It's up to YOU to tell them beach access must be part of that plan.
Some beaches are already too far gone to save in their opinion. So they are focusing on shorelines that stand a better chance of being preserved if beach management plans are implemented in the near future. A pilot program is being planned for Kailua Beach, according to Dolan Eversole of the UH Sea Grant program, who is "on loan" to the DLNR.
I asked him if beach access would be part of the plan. He says that is really up to the community. However, he did say their priority is dealing with beach conservation. And that means doing something about the existing setbacks.
As I have posted here before, there are at least two houses being built closer to the ocean than the older existing homes around them. My concern is this will set off a race for other homeowners to rebuild closer to the shoreline in an effort to prevent their views from being blocked -- which is already happening.
At the seminar, Chip Fletcher, Chair of the UH Geology and Geophysics Dept., and Sam Lemmo, DLNR-OCCL Administrator, both said when houses are allowed to be built closer to the sea, there is more erosion in that area because it interferes with the natural sand dunes that help stabilize the beach. You can see that just by walking along Kailua Beach. Then go to Lanikai and see what the future holds if setbacks aren't moved back NOW.
Fletcher says that new beachfront house on Namala Place was built partially on State conservation land, and the DLNR is looking into it. But why did the City grant a permit for building so close to the ocean? Did they even go out and look at the site?
This City/State split jurisdiction is part of the problem. Fletcher, Lemmo and Eversole (sounds like a law firm, huh?) all said the current State/county division of responsibility at the high water line results in poor management of our shorelines. I think they're right. We need a Hawaii Coastal Commission that will provide uniform standards and guidance. And that applies to shoreline access as well.
We'll let you know when there will be public hearings on the Kailua Beach Management Plan. It's up to YOU to tell them beach access must be part of that plan.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Coastal Zone Management Report: Ain't Our Job!
Guess what? The State Department of Land and Natural Resources, Deputy Attorney General Linda Chow, county planning directors and Coastal Zone Management got together to discuss public beach access issues at a June meeting... without informing the public or any of the organizations that have been involved with this!
So they recognize shoreline access has become a major problem in Hawaii, but they feel it's just a "private property rights issue" because of where the gates are situated. Hello, some of these gates are on PUBLIC streets such as Namala Place and Kailuana Loop in Kailua. True, the easements themselves are on strips of land that are privately owned. But if the homeowners want to make that "private" land claim, they should also pay for the upkeep on those streets and for private trash pick up. Those properties should also be taxed at the higher rate that homes on "private" lanes are supposedly charged, since they want to deny public access to the beach.
The report also acknowledges that climate change and rising sea levels are major concerns for the future. Yet if you walk along Kailua Beach, you'll see homes are being built even CLOSER to the ocean -- and no one in the City Council or State government is doing anything about shoreline setbacks on Oahu. We've seen what happens when homes are allowed to be built closer to the ocean in Lanikai and Kahala, where it has accelerated shoreline erosion and beach loss.
But, as with most things, people don't know what they have until it's gone. If you don't make your concerns known to our elected officials, you can say goodbye to free beach access -- and the beaches themselves. Meanwhile, one wonders what the State DLNR and CZM are actually doing with our tax dollars. Oh, that's right -- they're protecting "private property" rights while our rights to public shoreline access are ignored.
You can download the CZM report by clicking here...
CZM%20report.pdf
So they recognize shoreline access has become a major problem in Hawaii, but they feel it's just a "private property rights issue" because of where the gates are situated. Hello, some of these gates are on PUBLIC streets such as Namala Place and Kailuana Loop in Kailua. True, the easements themselves are on strips of land that are privately owned. But if the homeowners want to make that "private" land claim, they should also pay for the upkeep on those streets and for private trash pick up. Those properties should also be taxed at the higher rate that homes on "private" lanes are supposedly charged, since they want to deny public access to the beach.
The report also acknowledges that climate change and rising sea levels are major concerns for the future. Yet if you walk along Kailua Beach, you'll see homes are being built even CLOSER to the ocean -- and no one in the City Council or State government is doing anything about shoreline setbacks on Oahu. We've seen what happens when homes are allowed to be built closer to the ocean in Lanikai and Kahala, where it has accelerated shoreline erosion and beach loss.
But, as with most things, people don't know what they have until it's gone. If you don't make your concerns known to our elected officials, you can say goodbye to free beach access -- and the beaches themselves. Meanwhile, one wonders what the State DLNR and CZM are actually doing with our tax dollars. Oh, that's right -- they're protecting "private property" rights while our rights to public shoreline access are ignored.
You can download the CZM report by clicking here...
CZM%20report.pdf
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