DENNIS ODA/ STAR-BULLETIN
Kim Enriques surveys the waves at the surfing area known
as "Hau Bush" at Oneula Beach. She said it's usually more
crowded, but the waves were poor so she had the area to herself.

City wants to
clean up Oneula

Isolation makes the beach a
popular place for crime

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By Nelson Daranciang
Star-Bulletin

Oneula Beach Park is riddled with drug dealing and junked cars.

To combat the problem, the city is proposing $7 million in improvements to make the park more attractive to families than criminals.

What makes Oneula attractive as a place to dump cars and deal drugs is its isolation. The park is at the end of Papipi road in Ewa, and there are few homes on the way in.

"There was a gate at one time, torn down by users. That is how powerful the isolation is, they don't feel threatened tearing it down," said Pam Smith, who lives near the park entrance on Pupu Place.

Beyond the park is an area used by surfers and fishermen known as Hau Bush. A dirt road with many spurs winds through keawe trees and the hau bushes which give the area its name. The road also makes the park attractive to drug dealers.

"Easy for them to hide. If you find them you're pretty good," said Willie Brown, a retired Honolulu Police sergeant. When he was a patrol officer, Oneula was on his beat.

"People in the community feel if there is a park there with lights, that will cut down on that type of activity," said Carol Costa, Mayor Jeremy Harris' spokeswoman.

The city will hold a public hearing July 2 on its master plan to expand the park.

Phase I of the master plan realigns the access road, relocates the multipurpose field, replaces the existing comfort station with one that has showers, makes the beach accessible to wheelchairs and adds landscaping and more parking. Phase I is expected to cost $2.5 million.

Work on the roadway will begin sometime this year, said Rae Loui, director of the city Department of Design and Construction. The rest of construction is scheduled to start at the beginning of next year, she said.

DENNIS ODA/ STAR-BULLETIN
One of the abandoned cars left at the park.

Phase II adds 9.365 acres of beachfront property to the park for a multipurpose center, picnic and camping sites, two comfort stations, parking and landscaping. The expected price tag for Phase II is $4.5 million.

"The multipurpose center is the major component. There is a community desire for ocean education classes there," Loui said.

The beachfront property for Phase II belongs to Haseko, which is excavating land mauka of the park for a marina. In a 1993 agreement with the city, the developer will give up the property when it obtains zoning necessary for it to build a private golf course next to the marina.

Haseko also plans to build homes around the marina.

"We're hoping that with development, it will be less isolated and less desirable as a dump. Hopefully all of that will change when the marina is developed," Loui said.

Hau Bush will become the entrance to the marina.

"Oh that's quite a bit away," said Vicki Gaynor, Haseko spokeswoman, "Possibly by 2010."

The pace of Haseko's marina development is being guided by the rate in which it builds homes, since the material it excavates is being used as fill for its housing development.

"As we build the houses, we're actually building the marina," said Gaynor.

Haseko is still building townhouses at its Ke Aina Kai at Ocean Pointe development next to Fort Weaver Road. It expects to complete Ocean Pointe this year. Then it will begin development toward the marina, Gaynor said.

"That's why we're skeptical about improvements," said Smith. "One, it's a flood plain. And also Haseko will be building right down to the park. With houses overlooking the park we feel it will be a lot safer. Until that happens the place is isolated," she said.

"Even if they fix it up I wouldn't bring my family there," Brown said. "Still get lolos. Groups go there drinking, throwing things around, trash."