Kahala Beach Vegetation Update
The Honolulu Advertiser ran a follow-up story today about the overgrown vegetation that is impeding shoreline access along Kahala Beach. A year ago, the State DLNR notified 12 landowners that they had to cut back the naupaka and other plants that were growing right down to the high water line. To date, only one has complied.
And what's the State's response? Um, well, we don't have the time or money to do anything about it. That's according to Sam Lemmo, the same DLNR guy who opposed my proposal to create a joint State/counties task force to address issues such as this! Why? Because the State and counties both are unwilling (or unable due to jurisdiction problems) to take responsibility for management of our coastlines and beaches.
Unfortunately, the article didn't do a very good job of framing the bigger issues of shoreline management and the need for a Hawaii Coastal Commission to oversee statewide policies. The reporter also took a comment I made about vegetation speeding up erosion out of context, because it made it sound like I was saying natural vegetation increases erosion. That is NOT what I said. I was referring specifically to plantings by landowners in front of homes that were built TOO CLOSE TO THE OCEAN. Besides disturbing the natural ebb and flow of sand and water, just as seawalls do, these artificial plantings are a blatant land grab by those homeowners.
Sheesh. But it was apparent from talking to this reporter that she had no intention of going out herself to check any of the beaches or problems I was talking about. She also didn't bother to speak to Rep. Thielen about the Kailua setbacks bill defeat, which is related to shoreline conservation efforts. Nor did she bother to speak to newly-elected City Councilman Ikaika Anderson, who presumably should have something to say about shoreline setbacks and vegetation, since those matters currently fall under county jurisdiction.
Anyhow, you can read the article by clicking here. Half-assed reporting is better than no follow-up at all, I suppose.
Advertiser link:
http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20090601/NEWS01/906010331
And what's the State's response? Um, well, we don't have the time or money to do anything about it. That's according to Sam Lemmo, the same DLNR guy who opposed my proposal to create a joint State/counties task force to address issues such as this! Why? Because the State and counties both are unwilling (or unable due to jurisdiction problems) to take responsibility for management of our coastlines and beaches.
Unfortunately, the article didn't do a very good job of framing the bigger issues of shoreline management and the need for a Hawaii Coastal Commission to oversee statewide policies. The reporter also took a comment I made about vegetation speeding up erosion out of context, because it made it sound like I was saying natural vegetation increases erosion. That is NOT what I said. I was referring specifically to plantings by landowners in front of homes that were built TOO CLOSE TO THE OCEAN. Besides disturbing the natural ebb and flow of sand and water, just as seawalls do, these artificial plantings are a blatant land grab by those homeowners.
Sheesh. But it was apparent from talking to this reporter that she had no intention of going out herself to check any of the beaches or problems I was talking about. She also didn't bother to speak to Rep. Thielen about the Kailua setbacks bill defeat, which is related to shoreline conservation efforts. Nor did she bother to speak to newly-elected City Councilman Ikaika Anderson, who presumably should have something to say about shoreline setbacks and vegetation, since those matters currently fall under county jurisdiction.
Anyhow, you can read the article by clicking here. Half-assed reporting is better than no follow-up at all, I suppose.
Advertiser link:
http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20090601/NEWS01/906010331
Labels: Kahala Beach, public beach access, Rep. Cynthia Thielen, shoreline vegetation
