Gathering Place
Jennifer Sabas
Residents unfairly scorned
for Haiku Stairs concernsHaiku Stairs is an attractive nuisance, created by the City & County of Honolulu without any comprehensive planning on how all of the hikers would be accommodated. Where would they park? How would they access the stairs? What about restroom facilities, water fountains and trash pick-up? Pretty basic stuff.
So now, we residents of Haiku Valley, Hokulele and Castle Hills are not only being terrorized and disrespected by hikers who trespass on our property, drink from our hoses, leave trash in our yards and illegally park on our streets (making it hazardous for our children to play and ride their bikes), we are being painted as whiners and complainers. Something is definitely wrong with this picture. Especially as Mayor Harris's administration now is trying to back into a plan to open the stairs before his term expires next year.
To date, the city has yet to meet with the affected residents, to hear our concerns and to work with us to find a solution that works for residents and hikers alike. Instead, it sneaks around and tries to cut deals behind closed doors in an effort to get access to the stairs.
Hope Chapel has fallen by the wayside, even after the city paid for the use of a number of its parking stalls. The city has turned its attention to the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, pushing for a land swap and right of entry so it can begin building a parking lot and comfort station behind people's homes. This the city wants to do without an environmental impact statement, even with a history of hazardous materials in the vicinity. This it wants to do without any traffic mitigation study, even though the streets are narrow and one is just a dirt path behind a row of homes.
So, what are the costs? We would like to know how much of our tax money is being spent and is projected to be spent on security, Hope Chapel signage now obsolete, more signs, a parking lot, comfort station, maintenance and exhibition facility construction. During these tough economic times the city should be placing its highest priority on providing essential services.
What is puzzling and actually quite hurtful is the aggressive position of the leadership of the Friends of Haiku Stairs in minimizing the impact on our community. The group generally has had respect for communities and a willingness to work with them toward a solution. Instead, we have been greeted by arrogance and name-calling.
While the number of illegal hikers has been lower recently because of security and closure, you would be surprised at the number that continue to trespass and brag about eluding the guards. More important, if the stairs are reopened without community input and adequate access and parking, the number of trespassers will spike into the hundreds in a given weekend, and we will once again be in a hell on Earth.
We are grateful to Rep. Ken Ito for standing with us and hearing our concerns. We are not whiners or rabble-rousers. We work hard; we pay our mortgages and our taxes. Homes being put up for sale because families no longer enjoy living here, and the thought of hikers returning has pushed several over the edge.
It is the fear of speeding cars, verbally abusive strangers and a lack of respect -- no one should have to take such abuse and then be called "crabs in the bucket" for taking a stand. Mayor Harris has prided himself as the "environmental mayor," a man who believes in community empowerment and visioning. We thank him for the many good things he has done for our Kaneohe community and our island. Unfortunately, everything his administration has done in Haiku runs counter to his achievements. Attempts to divide neighborhoods, pigeon-hole and pressure landowners, and then ram it all down our throats is the antithesis of community empowerment, and the worst of government.
Mr. Mayor, let your legacy in Haiku be positive, and not a hypocrisy.
This article was submitted by Jennifer Sabas, Bill Thomas, Celia Smith, Erle and Sandra Yamane, Sue and Gray Drewry, Susan Kopper, Gary and Elise Karr, Kevin and Marianne Nesmith and Kathy Kau.
