Ranch owner
offers Kauai
a land deal

He would get to buy part of
Papaa Road, and the county
would get a beach easement

---

By Anthony Sommer
tsommer@starbulletin.com

LIHUE >> Former Columbia Pictures studio head Peter Guber has offered to give Kauai County an easement that will provide trail access to Papaa Bay on his estate north of Anahola.

Several months ago, Guber asked the county to sell him the unused portion of Papaa Road. Residents complained that they could not reach Papaa Bay. Now, Guber is offering the county an alternate easement if he can have the roadway.

Papaa Bay was one of a long list of Kauai County Council agenda items yesterday dealing with access to beaches, public recreation areas and cultural sites. Votes on all the issues were deferred to later meetings.

A bill that would require developers to build public trails to beaches and other public land will be considered again in two weeks.

Under current county ordinances, the county Planning Commission may require developers to build trails. The new wording would take away the Planning Commission's discretion and make trail construction mandatory.

A companion bill, which would require developers to set aside portions of their property containing significant archaeological and other cultural sites, will be the subject of a workshop, as yet unscheduled. The measure would allow public access to the sites under some conditions and prohibit access under others.

Guber is the producer of a number of major films, including "Rain Man," and headed Columbia in the period immediately after it was acquired by Sony Corp.

He owns Mandalay Ranch on Kauai's northeast shore.

Papaa Bay, one of the most scenic spots on Kauai and the setting for much of the movie "Six Days, Seven Nights," is within the ranch's boundaries.

The only legal access is along the beach from the south and includes a long trek over volcanic rock.

Graham said Guber is offering to give the county title to a strip of land linking two existing easements so there would be a shorter, legal right of way to Papaa Bay.

Graham said the route already is used by local fishermen and surfers but is not a legal easement.