Publicly-traded companies, developers, and hotels are diminishing shoreline access on Maui and the Big Island. Since the 1980s and accelerating into the 1990s, locals have seen some of their favorite beaches and canoe launching accesses altered and lessened in the name of development.

Let’s learn from that example and work to keep beach access open for pedestrian use as has been the custom for the past 40-50 years. Walking to Kailua Beach is a tradition and way of life for many. We will not take the lessening and diminishment of beach access lightly, for once one private access is closed, others will follow.

Kailua used to be (and I believe still is) a very different place from Malibu and Laguna Beach -- beach communities with gates, walls, and access for only the elite few. Kailua is different – yes, absolutely different, as we have come from the Hawaiian tradition of open beaches, access for all, and yes, “our aloha spirit.”

This is a time when we are being encouraged to “go green,” drive less, get cars off the road, and walk more. Taking away a beach access is taking away a resource that goes against the heightened environmental awareness we are encouraged to practice.

Gating and closing off beach access goes against the very root of Kailua.

I propose that we work as a community at a grass roots level on this vital issue. Let’s sit down with our neighbors on L’Orange, talk it out, and come to what is right, or “pono” for both sides.

Margy Grosswendt
Kailua Resident

Labels: Beach Access, Kailua, Opinions

Posted by Editor on Friday, October 5, 2007 at 1:20 PM | Permalink