Kokua Line
Kokua Line
Question: I live on the North Shore and Kawela Bay is my favorite beach. The entrance to it is a mile past Turtle Bay going toward Haleiwa. There always had been a sign that said no entrance or no trespassing, but everyone just went in. Now there is a big second chain-link fence that somebody put up at the entrance, making it harder to get past. That can't be private land, can it? Is that legal to prevent access to that beach? Is it illegal to hop that fence? No public access
yet at Kawela BayAnswer: It is private property and you are trespassing if you go through the gate.
While beaches up to the high-water mark in Hawaii are considered public property, public access to them is not guaranteed, noted a staff member for Councilman Steve Holmes, who has been working on gaining public access to the beach.
In some instances, the city will condemn an easement area for public access, but, "There is no law saying that there has to be public access," she said. "You can walk along the beach, but you have to get to the beach legally."
However, there are plans for the landowner to turn over 4.8 acres of land there to the city for a public park.
City Department of Parks and Recreation chief planner Donald Griffin is working on acquiring land for a park and beach access.
Exactly when a public park might open at Kawela Bay is uncertain, although it isn't likely to be in the near future.
Some background: Local developer Bill Mills purchased the Turtle Bay Hilton Golf & Tennis Resort, two golf courses and an additional 250 acres of undeveloped land zoned for resort development from Asahi Jyuken Co. of Japan last summer.
The new fence you are referring to was erected by the new owner -- Kuilima Resort Co. -- because of vandalism and liability concerns, a spokesman said.
The vandalism was in the form of "a couple of fires" set amid the natural vegetation, he said. "We had a concern about the fire issue more than anything else, and certainly the liability that goes along with that."
As for the park, he confirmed "there is a designation for a public park that would provide legal access for Kawela Bay and we have agreed to work with the city to accelerate the implementation" of that park, he said.
The agreement for a park dates back to 1986, when the former resort owner agreed to turn over some land in return for zoning to allow a second hotel in the area.
"The owners have agreed, despite what's written in the agreement, to accelerate that time frame," the spokesman for Kuilima Resort said.
He said the matter now rests with the city. The staff member for Holmes said the Council has passed a resolution asking Mayor Jeremy Harris' administration to move forward on the Kawela Bay Park. So far, there's "nothing pending before the Council," she said.
A major issue apparently is who is responsible for the improvements.
Learn about liquor laws
Classes on liquor laws will be offered 7-8 p.m. Tuesdays, June 15-July 20, by Kaimuki Community School for Adults, 2755 Kaimuki Ave. Call 733-8460 for information and to register. Deadline to register is June 10. Conducted by James Kam. $10 lab fee.
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Are there any full-service gas stations around anymore? As an elderly person, nobody seems to look at my radiator or battery anymore when I go to the gas station. -- Doris
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