While I'm glad the issue of oceanfront property owners using plants to grab more beach land is getting attention, I wish the State Legislature would address a bigger matter: we still do NOT have any state law for public beach access minimum standards. All we have for Oahu are "suggested guidelines" by the City Council, which are unenforceable.

Anyhow, if you want to put a stop to overgrown beachfront vegetation by homeowners, there is a bill you can submit testimony in support of: HB1808.

Date/Time/Place: Thursday, Feb. 4th, 2:20 PM, State Capitol Room 325

Please submit testimony online at: http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/emailtestimony

Type in HB1808 where you're asked to enter the measure for the latest hearing info. If the bill advances there will be more hearings, so save your testimony to resend later!

Also, you can view an Olelo program about this subject or watch it on YouTube. Here's more info below:

Rep. Barbara Marumoto discusses Kahala Beach with long-time resident Lucinda Pyles and Dolan Eversole, Coastal Geology Extension Agent, UH Sea Grant College Program. The show identifies the problem of obstruction of lateral access, recreational use and natural beach processes. It provides a historical reference as to why this needs to be addressed now -- before more beaches are lost forever.

Part 1 Click here.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqerUoevrrw

Part 2 Click here.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WP7fL9ghBHc

Part 3 Click here.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTDvb1QRlas

The program will also run on Channel 54:
2/28/10 Sun. 7:00 pm
3/1/10 Mon. 9:00 am
3/2/10 Tue. 8:30 am
3/3/10 Wed. 6:00 pm

Labels: Dolan Eversole, Hawaii shoreline access, HB 1808, HB1808, Kahala Beach, Kailua Beach, kauai public beach access, Lucinda Pyles, Olelo, Rep. Barbara Marumoto, shoreline vegetation

Posted by richfigel on Wednesday, February 3, 2010 at 3:22 PM | Permalink