RICHARD WALKER / RWALKER@STARBULLETIN.COM P. Young of Kailua headed down Kailuana public right of way near the tennis club on Thursday, a path that leads to the north end of the Kailua Bay beach area where the issue of inadequate access has been raised.

Kailua access debate is sidelined

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By Diana Leone
dleone@starbulletin.com

The Kailua Neighborhood Board backed away from naming a specific piece of land to acquire for public access to Castles Beach at its meeting Thursday.

Several members expressed regret at the way a board committee had listed the property of Chris Castle at 59 Kailuana Pl. as the site for a public access. The board removed the $150,000 earmarked for beach access acquisition from its $1 million list of suggested fiscal year 2003 capital improvements that it plans to submit to the city early next year.

A motion to leave the money for beach access on the list while removing reference to a particular parcel of land failed.

Board Chairwoman Faith Evans scolded the board for putting the matter back into the city's hands, noting that the city has not acquired property for beach access since the board asked it to two years ago.

"We should very firmly say to the city, 'Do your job,'" Evans said.

Several residents suggested that perhaps the city could negotiate taking over the private access on Kailuana Loop, which is controlled by the Kainalu Park Association of area homeowners. The board split 9-9, which Evans said was a "no" vote, on whether to officially ask the city to pursue that option.

More than a dozen residents testified that they want public access to the beach because of its traditional use as a surfing spot for Kailua youngsters.

Opinions differed, however, on whether a current public access just north of the Hale Kai Surf and Racquet Club on North Kalaheo Avenue was adequate.