‘No’ should be the final answer to Ka Iwi plans

THE ISSUE The Hawaii Kai Neighborhood Board has voted against a plan for 181 vacation cabins near the Ka Iwi coast.

An attorney for a proposed resort development near the Ka Iwi coast chided the Hawaii Kai community for opposing his client's project, telling residents that they "can't just say no."

In a 13-0 vote, however, the neighborhood board did just that, as it did two years before. Though the vote has no weight of law, it reflects the resolve of thousands of people across the island who for decades have fought to preserve one of the last open shorelines on Oahu.

Some state legislators also are saying no, introducing a half-dozen bills that would prevent development across from the scenic ridge above Makapuu Beach.

With this level of opposition, city officials, who ultimately will decide whether to give QRM LLC a necessary permit, might be in a tough spot. But because of the land's preservation zoning, the city has leeway to say no, too.

It did in 2006, rejecting the claim that the 181 cabins the resort developer planned were an "accessory" to primary use for recreational activities, as the zoning requires. Since then, the City Council has raised the standard for such permits, directing that hearings be conducted before they are issued.

Should QRM resubmit its request for a permit, the community will again say no and city officials should listen.