At a news conference yesterday, Cayetano said he is committed to a shoreline park stretching from Hanauma Bay to Makapuu. But he said there is room for compromise with Bishop Estate landowners and developers who want an 18-hole golf course along the shoreline.

"It is our feeling that that stretch of shoreline from Makapuu Point up to and including the Blow Hole should be held sacred in its entirety," said Dave Matthews of the Ka Iwi Action Council. "The fact that the governor might not recognize that it's one of the two last scenic views in all of Oahu is not understandable."

Charlie Rodgers, chairman of the Hawaii Kai Neighborhood Board, called it "sad" that Cayetano has suggested a compromise with the landowner.

"The only realistic way it can be protected is if the state is able to purchase it as part of a string of pearls coastline as the governor once proposed in his state of the state address."

Bob Fowler, another neighborhood board member, said he believes there is room for compromise on the issue. But he said a full 18-hole golf course would be unrealistic.

"It just doesn't give enough to be meaningful," he said.

Cayetano said the notion of a golf course and park on the property is "conceivable."

The governor and estate trustee Henry Peters toured the area Friday.

"Although the (entire) parcel that they're talking about is 160-something acres of land, I think you probably need about 150 or so for a golf course," Cayetano said.

He said he doubts the the parcel is worth $100 million as estimated by Bishop Estate.

But Cayetano said he feels the $17 million earmarked for the Queen's Beach purchase by the Legislature this year should be used to purchase the land.

Cayetano said he asked Peters "whether (the estate's) plans could be adjusted and some accommodation reached so that the people would have significant access to the shoreline."

Cayetano said he wants the public to be able to "fish, camp and not be worried about sitting at the edge of the ninth hole or something."

Nonetheless, he said, "certainly a golf course there would be better than housing."

City Councilman John Henry Felix, who represents the area, was taken aback by Cayetano's meeting with Peters.

"I'm rather appalled by the fact that the governor visited the site with a trustee of Bishop Estate," he said.

"We're talking about a treasured resource that we cannot compromise on. Once it's gone it can never be brought back again."

Windward Councilman Steve Holmes said he was hoping the governor would work out a land exchange.

The Council is soon to take up a proposed settlement with the landowner for the downzoning of Queen's Beach and other parcels in the 1980s. The settlement proposal, opposed by Felix and Holmes, includes massive rezoning in Hawaii Kai.