About Beach Access Hawaii
Who We Are
BAH is a volunteer group, whose mission is:
- To ensure that City and State standards for protecting public beach access are being complied
with.
- To have gates removed from non-private roads leading to the beach.
- To ask homeowners on private lanes to keep gates open during daylight hours.
- To improve beach accessibility for the elderly and disabled.
Although the group began in Kailua where private gated roads greatly outnumber public rights-of way, it is an island-wide issue that needs to be addressed by the City and State.
Why It Matters
Take a walk along Kalaheo Avenue in Kailua and you’ll see NO TRESSPASSING or PRIVATE PROPERTY signs on nearly every beachside road. These gated enclaves are forcing residents to walk several blocks to public accesses, or to drive to the main beach parks. Some rights-of-way are over half a mile apart. Emergency responders have also said locked gates could prevent them from reaching people on the beach who need help. And this sad trend goes against the aloha spirit.
What You Can Do
Register with Beach Access Hawaii. Write letters and make phone calls to our elected officials. Get better acquainted with your beachside neighbors, and let them know we’re their friends -- not the enemy! Their concerns about crime, litter and noise, should be our concerns too. This is our kuleana.
BAH is a volunteer group, whose mission is:
- To ensure that City and State standards for protecting public beach access are being complied
with.
- To have gates removed from non-private roads leading to the beach.
- To ask homeowners on private lanes to keep gates open during daylight hours.
- To improve beach accessibility for the elderly and disabled.
Although the group began in Kailua where private gated roads greatly outnumber public rights-of way, it is an island-wide issue that needs to be addressed by the City and State.
Why It Matters
Take a walk along Kalaheo Avenue in Kailua and you’ll see NO TRESSPASSING or PRIVATE PROPERTY signs on nearly every beachside road. These gated enclaves are forcing residents to walk several blocks to public accesses, or to drive to the main beach parks. Some rights-of-way are over half a mile apart. Emergency responders have also said locked gates could prevent them from reaching people on the beach who need help. And this sad trend goes against the aloha spirit.
What You Can Do
Register with Beach Access Hawaii. Write letters and make phone calls to our elected officials. Get better acquainted with your beachside neighbors, and let them know we’re their friends -- not the enemy! Their concerns about crime, litter and noise, should be our concerns too. This is our kuleana.
Labels: Beach Access
