Hawaii Kai rejects
locked gate at Portlock

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By Rosemarie Bernardo
rbernardo@starbulletin.com

Members of the Hawaii Kai Neighborhood board voted unanimously against a proposed settlement that would restrict public access to Portlock Road.

Board member Robert Clark said, "There should be no gate to keep people from public beaches. It's outrageous."

About 15 residents applauded the board's decision at a meeting held last night at Hahaione Elementary School.

The proposed settlement would restrict public beach access with a gate and a lock between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. at 379 Portlock Road.

Controversy over the gate stemmed from property owner Bert Dohmen-Ramirez, who built the gate to prevent beach-goers from using one of the private lanes. The lane leads to a beach that is popular among local fishermen and surfers.

Dohmen-Ramirez could not be reached for comment.

In 1998, the city began condemnation proceedings after an agreement could not be reached between three landowners.

City attorneys resolved the situation by agreeing to lock the gate for 12 hours while Dohmen-Ramirez agreed not to pursue legal action against the city and to terminate an $800,000 request for his share of the land.

Residents who live in the area testified against the restriction to community and tourists.

Paige Altonn, who has lived on Portlock Road for 35 years, said, "I don't remember a time where there was ever a locked gate at any beach."

Hawaii Kai resident Wayne Fujihara and member of the Maunalua Bay Surf Club has used the access lane since 1979 to surf at a break called Seconds.

Though Fujihara said he was happy with the board's decision, he wondered what further steps city attorneys plan to take on the proposed settlemenet.

At the meeting, Fujihara said, "If this is not resolved, this is going to go statewide."

In a written statement, Hawaii's Sierra Club members said the proposed settlement was a poor compromise for the community and would set a bad precedent for other areas statewide.

Jay Griffin, coastal conservation organizer for the Sierra Club, said, "Imagine if you went to the North Shore or a neighbor island and when you went to the beach to watch the sunset, you were prohibited by a locked gate. Is this the Hawaii we want for our children or the type of destination that visitors will return to?"