WAILUKU >> A private landowner has reopened beach access to vehicles at Paukukalo in Central Maui, following criticism by residents. Maui landowner
reopens beach accessThe action is a response to
complaints from beach usersBy Gary T. Kubota
gkubota@starbulletin.comBut North Shore at Waiehu LLC has imposed controls to make sure people do not dump trash on the beaches.
Company partner Giovanni Rosati said the venture plans to begin installing a gate on the south side of the property today and keep it open from 5 a.m. until dusk.
Rosati said people may also obtain access after normal hours by contacting the company at 242-7710.
Company officials have already installed a similar gate on the northern section of the property.
A number of surfers and fishers were upset earlier this year when the company installed posts to block vehicular beach access.
Native Hawaiians also complained the posts prevented them from exercising their traditional cultural practices, including the gathering of cooking stones from the mouth of Iao Stream.
Residents opposed the company's request for an after-the-fact special management area permit for installing the posts without county permission.
Maui County planning commissioners indicated that before they decided whether to issue a permit, they wanted the company to meet with residents to resolve the beach access conflict.
The company agreed to the access plan after discussing ideas with residents at a public meeting in Paukukalo on Oct. 5.
Rosati said the company, which received the county permit in mid-November, plans to include beach accesses in its development design, scheduled to be completed in the second quarter of next year.
Kenneth Kekona Sr., an adjacent property owner, said residents are pleased with the reopening of the accesses.
"I'm satisfied with the temporary arrangement down there," Kekona said. "The people are pretty much happy right now."