Editorials
Wednesday, October 9, 1996
Governor steps into
Queen's Beach issue
GOVERNOR Cayetano has gotten himself in hot water with conservationists by proposing a compromise with landowners and developers at Queen's Beach in East Honolulu who want to build a golf course. Cayetano says he is committed to a shoreline park stretching from Hanauma Bay to Makapuu, but there is room for compromise on a proposed 18-hole golf course on the 166 acres near Makapuu Point.
This has aroused the ire of Dave Matthews of the Ka Iwi Action Council and Charlie Rodgers, chairman of the Hawaii Kai Neighborhood Board. City Council members Steve Holmes and John Henry Felix are also incensed by what they consider the governor's interference. The protesters want to save Queen's Beach entirely for public use through state purchase of the property. Felix charged that it was irresponsible for Cayetano to discuss a deal with Bishop Estate trustee Henry Peters.
This is one of those issues on which city-county and state authority overlap. The Bishop Estate, Kaiser Aluminum and Chemical Corp., and other Hawaii Kai landowners are suing the city over the downzoning of land adjacent to Sandy Beach and Queen's Beach to prevent development. The City Council may ultimately have to come to terms with the litigants by granting development rights in the area, although Felix and Holmes reject the idea.
Kaiser has just filed a draft environmental impact statement for the proposed golf course, which indicates that it anticipates the project will ultimately be approved.
Meanwhile, state legislators set aside $20.4 million in state and federal funds this year to buy 350 acres at Queen's Beach. Cayetano said he's not sure federal money can be used because it's earmarked for transportation and shouldn't be spent only in one district. But he's asserting that the state should have a major voice, maybe the decisive one, in resolving the controversy.
Preserving all of Queen's Beach for public park use would be desirable but at what price? We're talking about many millions of dollars. Cayetano is seeking a solution that will save the state some money while maintaining public use of the shoreline.
That may be reasonable, particularly in view of the state's strained finances. But many people in East Honolulu don't see it that way. And the governor hasn't helped his case by outflanking the City Council and dealing directly with Bishop Estate.
Running mate debate
TONIGHT'S vice presidential debate may have less to do with the 1996 election than 2000's. Al Gore and Jack Kemp have to be considered probable contenders for their parties' presidential nominations four years hence. Bill Clinton and Bob Dole certainly won't be, and without them the field will be wide open. No matter who wins on Nov. 5, Gore and Kemp could be up there among the contenders.
Still, it seems unnecessary to pit the vice presidential candidates against each other for 90 minutes on national television. The voters are choosing between Bill Clinton and Bob Dole, and their running mates are simply expected to support the views of the head of the ticket. Whoever wins this debate is not likely to matter when people go to the polls.
Underground blasts
THE underground explosions that rocked downtown Honolulu last Friday fortunately resulted in no serious injuries or damage but could have been much worse. It's essential that the cause of the blasts be pinpointed and measures taken to prevent a recurrence.
A Hawaiian Electric Co. spokesman said the explosions were caused by the overloading of low-voltage lines, which caused the lines to heat up and ignite. However, there are devices that are supposed to prevent that from happening, and the company is trying to determine why they failed. The public's safety requires that every measure be taken to reduce the danger from such explosions.
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Rupert E. Phillips, CEO
John M. Flanagan, Editor & Publisher
David Shapiro, Managing Editor
Diane Yukihiro Chang, Senior Editor & Editorial Page Editor
Frank Bridgewater & Michael Rovner, Assistant Managing Editors
A.A. Smyser, Contributing Editor