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Not in my front yard. Hawaii Kai residents
decry canoe shelter planBy Leila Fujimori
Star-BulletinThat was the sentiment of about 20 Hawaii Kai residents who fear their ocean view will be obstructed by a proposed canoe halau, or shelter, to house about 24 canoes at Maunalua Bay.
"Why did I pay $50,000 more for that house? Because of the view," said Alan Birdsall, a Gateway Peninsula resident.
The residents of Gateway Peninsula and Moorings townhouse complexes off Kalanianaole Highway met with city vision team members, the halau's architect, canoe paddling club members and others on both sides of the debate over the canoe halau.
Security has been a problem with the canoes and storing 400-pound canoes off site is cumbersome.
Most residents did not oppose the 22-foot-high, 50-foot by 50-foot building design if the structure were built more in the Koko Head direction, out of their sight.
But the canoes are launched from the Ewa end of the bay, which has some sand to allow "easy access to get into the canoes and for the canoes to get into the water," explained Reney Ching, head coach of Hui Nalu, the canoe club that will primarily use the halau and has paddled in Maunalua Bay for 28 years.
Other areas along the shore are reef or mud flats that pose problems for paddlers because of poor footing. Also, the reef drops off and paddlers would be unable to get into the boats.
Nainoa Thompson, who spoke on behalf of Hui Nalu, explained that paddlers in the club range in age from 8 to 76. It would be difficult for many of them to haul a 400-pound canoe from the far end of the bay.
But after hearing Thompson for a couple of minutes, residents started firing assorted questions and the project's architect came forward to explain the design.
Cynthia Bond, facilitator for the area's vision team, said before the meeting that she thought community members would support the project once they saw the halau's attractive, culturally significant design and unobtrusive size.
The project must go before the City Council Planning and Zoning Committee on Oct. 3 and then before the City Council for approval.