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Kona Stands Up For Access to Ahe‘ena Heiau!!

We just got a call from folks at Kulana Huli Honua: More than 30 people came out to educate visitors and residents at the King Kamehameha Kona Beach Hotel at their Beach Access Rally on the Big Island. They passed out flyers, spoke with visitors, and carried signs in support of cultural access rights to Ahu‘ena Heiau.

Ahu‘ena Heiau is located at Kamakahonu Bay and is the site of the first capital of the Hawaiian Kingdom. It is the personal heiau of Kamehameha the Great, who rededicated it to Lono. Today, the corporation that purchased the hotel surrounding this heiau is claiming they own the heiau.

The rally was organized by members of Kulana Huli Honua, non-profit organization founded by the late David Kahelemauna Roy, Jr., Kahu and Restorer of Ahu’ena Heiau and presently led by Roy’s daughter, Mikahala Roy. Also at the rally were Nita Pilago, wife of County Councilmember Angel Pilago (of the famous PASH case) and many friends and families connected with the Na Kokua Kaloko Honokohau, Ke Akua Hawaii Ko Aloha, Pele Defense and others such as Kanaka Council.

Kulana Huli Honua formed as a 501-C3 in 1999 and has been at their work of providing for the life and care of Ahu’ena Heiau, Kamakahonu as they advocate for the care of sacred sites throughout the Hawaiian Islands. The Roy ‘ohana has supported the work of David Roy since the initial restoration which serves to inspire all similar work in Hawaii.

Mahalo to all who came out! And thanks to Jeff Cho for the pictures!

United on the North Shore!!

40 people came out in the pouring rain on the North Shore today. They expressed their gratitude at the Governor’s offer to preserve Turtle Bay from future development. They also reiterated their long-standing call to Keep the Country, Country!!

The concerned residents, surfers, students, and families stood out in the rain along Kamehameha Hwy. in front of Turtle Bay to demonstrate that there is only one public access route for the entire 5-mile stretch of hotel property. And often the parking at this public access route is packed, forcing others who would like to go beach to pay the hotel for parking.
But the sun is out now and they are all gathered at Sunset Beach Elementary School, right across from Ehukai Beach Park to celebrate and hang out. It’s a potluck party to protect public access!! Please join them – they will be there till 4:00 or so.

KAILUA SAYS: NO MORE GATES!!

Hundreds showed up for rallies all along N. Kalaheo Ave. this morning to demonstrate just how hard it is to get to the beach these days. For that entire stretch of road, there is only one access route! The many other roads and pathways are blocked by locked gates or unwelcoming “no trespass” signs.

To learn more about the beach access issues specific to Kailua, go to www.BeachAccessHawaii.org

From Wailupe Circle to Paiko St. to the Portlock Gate, concerned residents are out on the street today to raise awareness about the lack of public rights-of-way to the beach.

Paiko St. is a perfect example. It is home to the alone public access route between Kawaikui Park and Kuliouou Beach Park. This access route was graciously donated by Dr. Flowers, who also came out today to express his support for the community’s efforts.

For the number of residents living along Maunalua Bay, there needs to be more officially public access routes… otherwise people will start to make their own, which is a risk to public safety and creates ill-will with beach-front property owners.

A better balance is possible!! To learn more, visit the Hawaii Kai Hui at www.LivableHawaiiKai.org. Information also available at www.surfrider.org/oahu, and KAHEA at www.kahea.org.

Hui! Hawaii Kai!!

People are sign-waving all along Kalanianaole Hwy. this morning with surfboards and fishing poles, kids and candy to show their support open beach access. And they are getting lots of support in return. “We’re getting lots of shakas, lots of horn-honking,” said Annmarie of the Livable Hawaii Kai Hui, “I think it is really an eye-opener for people see us standing all along the street where there’s no beach access.”

The trolley just past Wailupe Circle on Kalanianaole Hwy. where gates for residents only deny the public access to these east shore surf spots.

The gates also hide the sad reality of shoreline armament all along the coast. Beach-front property owners have amputated the shore from the ocean by building seawalls and jetties on the edge of their property line.

To learn more about the effort to save public beach access on the East Shore of Honolulu, go to: www.LivableHawaiiKai.org

Aloha Bowls!!

The trolley rounded the corner onto Ala Moana Boulevard and was greeted by whoops and calls from over 30 people–many in red shirts–waving signs in support of free and open access to Bowls!

One of the last publicly accessible surf spots on the town-side of Oahu, the Ala Wai Boat Harbor is the jump-in spot for three choice town breaks, including the Bowl.

But that could all change if the state goes through with a new parking plan that will turn the majority of parking there from free to pay-only. Going to the beach is a right that the public should not be forced to pay to enjoy.

To learn more about the effort to improve the parking proposal for Bowls, go to: www.CommonGroundHawaii.net.

Hawai’i's Statewide Beach Access Rally day began this morning with wet weather islands-wide!

The rain gently blessed our Beach Access Trolley this morning at 10:30 as it departed to raise awareness about the epidemic loss of public access routes to the beach all around the islands.

More than 40 people joined us for a rally and press conference this morning at the State Capitol that called on Hawaii’s elected leaders, beach-front property owners, and all ocean-lovers to work together to ensure our shorelines are protected, clean, and open to all.

We heard inspiring and motivating speeches from:

Rich Figel, Beach Access Hawaii

Annmarie Kirk, Living Hawaii Kai Hui

Melissa Ling-Ing, Commonground Hawaii

Suzanne Frazer, B.E.A.C.H.

Peter Cole, Surfrider Foundation

Sen. Gary Hooser, D-Kauai

Capitol protesters then packed the decorated trolley and headed to the first stop: the Ala Wai Boat Harbor… where a new parking plan will force people to pay to go beach. Auwe!

Off to save beach access!! Ding-ding!!