BY Suzanne Roig Advertiser Staff Writer Its A beach area was blocked by an access gate. Bravo! Dohmen-Ramirez did not respond to HNNs request for comment, but had earlier emailed the city council, complaining of crime and vandalism due to trespassers. 20, 2021 at 1:00 AM PDT Sparks flew in more ways than one as city crews removed a gate that blocked a private path to the beach. Find access between the million dollar beach properties to get to the sand and water. While the amount of compensation is yet to be decided, the city was permitted to remove the gate and give the public another walkway to Maunalua Bay. You Copyright 2023 StarAdvertiser.com. It's an easy paddle straight out to the popular surf break, "Seconds." A pair of black tights are a necessity, rather than just an accessory, to stay stylish and comfortable when temperatures drop. Just because someone wants money, they want something their way, said surfer John Collen, who came to see for himself. Honolulu) since 2004. Among the others: 379 Portlock Rd, Honolulu, HI is a single family home that contains 6,058 sq ft and was built in 1984. shoreline. HANAPEPE PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY THAT HAS BEEN RESTORED TO EAST OAHU! Suggestions for signs are The three bedrooms are accessed off a covered walkway. 11, Issue 298 - Wednesday, October 25, 2006, BEACH WARS Residents are fighting to keep open the public's access to East Oahu shores. The narrow strip of sand makes the beach feel secluded and small, separated from the neighborhood by rock walls and bushes. of the lack of completing the condemnation of the lane by the City. The dismantling of the gate and the restoration of public access signifies a win for the community, said Tommy Waters, chairman of the council. The people of Hawai'i have a legal and historical claim to I dont like to leave my community, Wong said. The second home is a three bedroom single-story, with everything organized around an enclosed courtyard. Parks and Recreation communicated to the City Council that "there is a particular urgency for beachfront lands because it is a limited and disappearing resource." demand government action to acquire more Public Rights of Way statewide. The original cottage was restored in 2017 as well. The dismantling of the gate and the restoration of public access signifies a win for the community, said Tommy Waters, chairman of the Honolulu City Council, in a statement. It also allows, as is required by law, beach access for all Oahu residents and beach-goers. The city identified many of East Oahu's beach access problems years ago, but failed to solve them, she noted. Submit your coronavirus news tip. Mahalo for your consideration. active in preserving beach access. Lately hes turned into a community activist working with other residents to keep development at bay and to preserve the farming community in Kamilo Nui Valley. Public testimony on behalf of beach access and public rights of way. In October of 2006 a protest was held to draw attention to the lack of Public Rights of Way in East Oahu. Click here to see our full coverage of the coronavirus outbreak. narrowed due to beach lost by sea walls in the past 70 years? Portlock unethically intimidate our community with walls, gates, keep out signs, video cameras, dogs and an overall unwelcoming attitude to the shoreline that these homeowners think they own. "This is the only beach here that has sand. On the eastern side of Black Point, there are various access points alongKahalaAvenue, however we do not recommend the ones at the end ofElepaioStreet andKalaPlace for sunbathing. A retired Hawaii architect has a new art exhibit. Your email address will not be published. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________, 11-1-2008 - RECENT UPDATE ON BEACH ACCESS, Thanks to efforts from community members It's time we Public Right of Way a realityfor the community. I'm not, Hi5's Food & Waterfall Tour is a great way to sample the Islands best food's and best, Amy O. said: Okay people book this tour!! recommended that the city acquire at least three public access points on Portlock Road to meet its standard of public shoreline access at about one-quarter-mile intervals. latest effort by state agencies and other proponents to deal with a problem of homeowners primarily in coastal East Honolulu but in scattered spots statewide who have propagated plantings that The Department of Parks and Recreation says the City filed a lawsuit to acquire the BROW through eminent domain. , Keep the North Shore Country, Livable Hawaii Kai Subscribe to our newsletter to learn more about upcoming events and specials in the area. In many areas the community cannot access the shoreline because the lack of enforcing the law for the creation of Public Rights of Following the adoption of a Honolulu City Council resolution in March 2019, the city filed a lawsuit in Circuit Court to acquire the beach path through eminent domain. Send flowers or a gift to a service or family's home. Welcome. Honolulu Star-Bulletin -- http://starbulletin.com, GET INVOLVED - East Honolulu Sustainable Communities Plan, Volunteer & Community Service School Credit, photo by: Annmarie Kirk - Portlock, Maunalua, Oahu, We encourage you to send your concerns to, Portlock gate re-ignites debate over beach access, Today, the City Parks Committee The Port of Cascade Locks is a separate entity from the City of Cascade Locks, although the two agencies do work together closely.. Mahalo! August 28, 2018 The recreational objective of the Oahu General Plan is to provide convenient access to all beaches and inland recreation areas and one of the visions of the If you require a reasonable accommodation to access our services, please contact us at (808) 732-3000 or email hbradmin@hicentral.com so we may better assist you. I live on a fishpond, so its my life. The city moved in 1998 to condemn four beach pathways on the road and convert them to The spacious compound is surrounded by a high wall made up of coral, lava rock and painted hollow brick tile for privacy. the application lacked a flood variance. He also pointed out that there are other public access points nearby. The principle of public shoreline access may be sacrosanct, dating back to Hawaiian kingdom law, but the 21st-century Hui, , and the Windward Ahupua'a Alliance, Niu Valley now has an official public right of way sign next to our access at Niu Valley stream bridge along Kalanianaole Highway and West Sha H. said: **long review alert*** This is a super overdue review. All rights reserved. hard to, ol. It recommended that private pathways that plaintiffs can prove they had unimpeded access to for at least 20 years. Its a peaceful stretch, but good for dogs, too, since the water is neither deep nor rough. Juanita A Portlock was born on April 24, 1932 and passed away on August 25, 2016 You may leave a message for the family by clicking here. Unlike previous times that the gate has come down, Kirk believes this time, the access will remain open for the community. There is also snorkeling and surfing beyond the reef. #7-500 Honolulu Department of Parks & Recreation. the site of a future "luxury home development" by owner Kauilani LCC. Its unfortunate I continue to get harassed by a homeowner, and its unnerving, its unsettling and its unfair to the community, Kirk said afterward. For example, the East Honolulu Sustainable Communities Plan, published in 1999, Art Challacombe, chief of customer service for the city Department of Planning and Permitting, said the public has two main ways to gain shoreline access. The other is for the City Council to condemn and purchase private property and dedicate it as a public Way. "Otherwise, the community's use of the public beach is clearly at the whim Of the current versions of the bill, the best is Better enforcement of access laws urgedBarriers that speed up beach erosion rank among the problemsBy Christine Donnelly Sort:Default. The state A privately-owned gate blocking a now public beach right of way in the Portlock area was removed Wednesday after a court ruled in the city's favor. right of way. It is a great day when the rights of our community are upheld.. grew up in Waimanalo, and rarely went past Sandy Beach preferring the Windward area to East Oahu. President Elizabeth Reilly was on hand to make the formal gift on behalf of the Hui and Ann Marie Kirk who was applauded for her tireless efforts. At the end of Hanapepe Place, you'll find Koko Kai Beach Park, also called China Walls. Join us on Groundhog Day February 2nd and be a part of a historic island wide protest. Maui County hospital workers on strike enter week 2, negotiations set for Monday, Hawaii News Now - Meteorologist Jen Robbins, Couple killed in house fire remembered as high school sweethearts enjoying their golden years, Mayor throws his weight behind big tax break for company proposing film studio on Oahu, Lawmakers debate funding demands for safety net hospitals as one facility issues stark warning. Thursday, May 4th 2017, 5:12 pm HST InKahala, a short road calledKulamanuPlace ends in a few concrete steps leading down toKaalawaiBeach. At the Disney California Adventure Food and Wine Festival, you will find a palate-dazzling smorgasbord of cuisines and cocktails in which to indulge. by the state Department of Land and Natural Resources. Homeowners nearby had previously complained of theft, drug use, trespassing, urination and littering when the beach path was open to the public. Write a review. Print subscriber but without online access? COMMITTEE ON WATER, LAND, AGRICULTURE, AND HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION, INTERNATIONAL AND INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS HB Public testimony on behalf of beach access and public rights of way.May 30, 2017 meeting of the Hawaii Kai Neighborhood Board.Full coverage of HKNB meetings . #7-500 Passed by the council in March 2019, former Mayor Kirk Caldwell allowed the resolution to go into effect without his signature, according to city documents. The Hawaii Kai Marina is owned by residents and an association that collects annual dues. Phone: (562) 464-0039 Fax: (562) 464-0049. EAST HONOLULU, OAHU (HawaiiNewsNow) - A gate blocking public access to the ocean in East Oahu continues to be a hot topic issue for area residents and . Kai Neighborhood Board. Lateral access along the shore has been affected by beach erosion exacerbated by seawalls, vegetation and other barriers put in by landowners, according to an analysis done for the state Legislature ocean. The property owner had no comment about the new gate. An accompanying sign said "'no trespassing" and "private lane.". hard tomiss Kekoa Wong. HONOLULU (KHON2) A new Beach Right of Way (BROW) opened to the public in Portlock on Wednesday, May 19. Section, 2.2.4 of the EHSCP recommends pursuing Nobody can deny other people to be able to go into the water., The ocean is there for everybodys use, keiki, kupuna and everybody in between, said Waters. 62. unanimously voted in support of RESOLUTION 13- 155 - GIFT FROM LIVABLE HAWAII KAI HUI, relating to the acceptance of a gift to the City from Livable Hawaii Kai Hui for ocean access/public right of New Condo Development in Honolulu An exciting new condominium opportunity is now unfolding in the Moiliili neighborhood of urban Honolulu. However, while the City Kirk, who has lived in the Maunalua area for more than 50 years, said the gate, which has been installed and removed a number of times over the last two decades, has been up for the last two or three years. adjacent Niu Valley stream, which in turn provides beach access. administration recognized the pressing need to acquire beachfront lands and established a policy and developed a plan for the acquisition of such property, only a marginal amount of beachfront community members cannot walk along the shoreline because the beach is heavily overgrown with naupaka foliage. He and his family later moved and the Portlock Community Association publicly declared its intent to allow unimpeded access Sparks flew in more ways than one as city crews removed a gate that blocked a private path to the beach in Portlock. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________, Thanks to efforts from community members On Wednesday afternoon, a homeowner of one of the nearby properties along the now-public beach path filmed and yelled at some people who were walking toward the beach, saying they were not allowed on the driveway leading to the path. I took a private, Kyle A. said: Have to start my review by shouting out Sophia in particular. Ann Marie Kirk Cultural and Natural Resource Committee | Livable Hawaii Kai Hui | www.hawaiikaihui.org Livable Hawaii Kai Hui is a non profit (501c3) community organization EAST OAHU residents, fed up with diminishing beach access, are banding together to pressure the state and city to preserve and improve public pathways to the Secretary, Niu Valley Community Association, Posted February 1st- http://starbulletin.com/2008/02/01/news/story12.html. of Maui and should not be relied upon without independent verification. 31, 2017 at 2:21 AM PDT. Because it is within a residential neighborhood, street parking can be limited and the beach is not very large. Longtime residents will remember the issue was already handled 20 years ago, and yet today we find ourselves back in this predicament. consideration. made a difference! General Contractors Steel Erectors Sheet Metal Equipment & Supplies. Public access through the corridor has been a source of concern to the public. They swim, surf and dive. These homeowners should be held accountable to established penalties, fines and should also pay for the removal of The bill represents the p.m., Friday, December 8, 2006, Kekoa Wong with his sons Koanui, 3 and Kamakoa, 7 at the ocean near their Kuliouou home. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. The area, which used to be a dock for Dukes husbands yacht, is nicknamed Cromwells after him and provides a jump-off into clear water with a sandy bottom. Your Email address will be kept private, this form is secure and we never spam you. Plus, the unobstructed view of Diamond Head is even better at sunset withSUPersgliding by, and you dont have to fight over parking down the road atMaunaluaBay to see it. You're reading a premium story. their properties to increase security and reduce traffic noise and risks. BROW 122A is located near 379 Portlock Rd. As for walls and fences, he said, property owners who have built barriers 30 inches tall or higher without a permit could be fined $50 a day until the obstruction is removed or a permit is granted. All Rights Reserved. Beachfront owners contend they "pay" for this safety, security and privacy. quarter-mile. Waters. An accompanying sign said "'no trespassing" and "private lane." Surfers were looking at the gate Thursday when police were called, spurring a debate over who can use a private beach access lane that has a long history of legal entanglements. rights of way, or into and along shorelines, thus infringing on a public resource. It's defined by the highest wash of the waves under non-storm conditions, a variable line Story submitted by Advertiser Staff Posted at 1:29 below PUBLIC NOT PRIVATE BEACHES ~ WHERE'S THE BEACH? Wong attended Kailua High School and graduated in 1987. protect the land in its natural state, means protecting the spirit of the place. The Hawaii Third Circuit Court also found that the right to access is a necessary adjunct to the right to use and enjoy public trust Updated: May. Today is a day of celebration for the community. Make your sign on a surfboard, inner tube or boogie board. Activate your Digital Account now. Wong began dancing hula in 1992, and seven years later, he began to grow his hair. However, while the City So the city sent the crew out there today with HPD, and they took it down, said Honolulu City Council Chair Tommy Waters, who represents the area. In 1984, a plan for the acquisition of beachfront lands on Oahu including the identification of specific sites for City acquisition was formulated and in 1986 the City Department of In another area of East O'ahu, at Even though the gate has been removed, there are still some remaining legal issues, including how much the city will pay to compensate the property owner. "This access way had long been a source of community concern following the private restriction of public access through the corridor," the Department of Parks and Recreation said. Total number of people we saw at Kahala beaches: 6 adults, two kids. "This access way had long been a source of community concern following the private restriction of public access through the corridor," the Department of Parks and Recreation said. Contact her at news@hawaiipublicradio.org. Heres everything you need to know about The Grinch sequel, plus the best books your kid can check out now. City. A recent court ruling allows the city to take possession of the easement and allow the public to use it. For those who To suggest a person to profile, contact Roig at sroig@honoluluadvertiser.com or 395-8831. About Search Results. There has been one victory. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor . AND HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS Aloha Senator J. Kalani English, Chair and Senator Mike Gabbard, Vice Chair and Honorable Committee Members, COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION, INTERNATIONAL AND INTERGOVERNMENTAL Video released by the city this morning shows employees cutting down a privately owned gate used to block access to the easement near 379 Portlock Road. Leave your opinion here. A new beach right of way on Portlock Road in Hawaii Kai was officially opened to the public Wednesday. He understands what it means to The beach access, near 379 Portlock Rd., was the focus of a lawsuit filed in Circuit Court by the City and County of Honolulu following the approval ofResolution 18-263. Wednesday was her first time using the beach access in years. The access is a win for the community, said City Council Chairman Tommy Halemaumau Street. Weve done everything were supposed to, and we still have to put up with this on a day of celebration.. Portlock, vintage, All the others have concrete stairways that have to go down," added Portlock neighbor Lee Taylor. condition.. 7-16-13 - Today, the City Parks Committee Parking: Lots of street parking on Portlock Road. All rights reserved. Note: Honolulu Board of REALTORS receives inquiries seeking professional advice; however the Honolulu Board of REALTORS staff is not qualified, nor licensed, by the state of Hawaii to properly address real estate or legal issues. We are doing our Center, and the Windward Ahupua'a Alliance, Niu Valley now has an official public right of way sign next to our access at Niu Valley stream bridge along Kalanianaole Highway and West City opens long-blocked beach access in Portlock Updated: May. We're all being denied free and easy access to our shorelines on every island. The best place to park to access Portlock Beach is at the end of Portlock Road. Easy Beach and Ocean Access. Revenue shortages and priorities clearly prohibit new land acquisitions. stay open. Mahalo for supporting Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Your email address will not be published. The effort brings together neighborhood associations, surfers, fishermen and families, some of whom will sign-wave during the evening rush hour Friday to focus attention on the issue. Did you know that one-fourth (25%) of Oahus beachfront has been lost or 301. Mahalo. Way. Report comments if you believe they do not follow our guidelines. in a recent editorial stated that gated subdivisions near Velzyland, boarder. access. Honolulu, When it comes to construction, the state certifies the shoreline, but the city grants building permits. Default; Distance; Rating; Name (A - Z) Ad UDC Corporation. Its a very surreal moment, said Kirk. working for over 10 years to acquire Public Rights of Way. At high tide, the plants largely the salt-tolerant naupaka can block the only footpath along the beach. access point have made it unsafe. Each cottage also has its own large lawn and garden, great for kids, dogs and even room for a pool. This information is believed to be accurate. The resident, who declined to comment for this report, filmed and yelled at Kirk as well. "The problems are clear, and so are the solutions. They also passed laws to make sure the community has access to those shorelines. p.m., Friday, December 8, 2006. Find 90 listings related to Portlock Builders Son in Whittier on YP.com. Two lives lost in Makiki fire, a Vietnam War Veteran and an entertainer who raised a family together. A new beach right of way in Portlock officially opened to the public on May 19 after city crews removed a privately owned gate. City cuts down gate to open beach access to public in Portlock 3,930 views May 19, 2021 A new beach right of way in Portlock officially opened to the public on May 19 after city crews. Challacombe said government regulations must balance the rights of property owners and the need for public access. the shoreline that's rock-solid in statute and case law.The shoreline itself, though, is a bit more mobile. as well as many organizations including the Niu Valley Community Association, Beach Access Hawaii, Kahea, Surfrider Foundation, Keep the North Shore Country, Livable Hawaii Kai Oahu, One is to sue for "prescriptive rights" to Halemaumau Street. We encourage you to send your concerns to State Senator Stanley Chang (senchang@capitol.hawaii.gov / 808-586-8420) and State Senator Laura Thielen (senthielen@capitol.hawaii.gov / "Both sides have rights, and sometimes they are at odds," he said. 1995-2016 Honolulu Board of REALTORS. Public testimony on behalf of beach access and public rights of way.May 30, 2017 meeting of the Hawaii Kai Neighborhood Board.Full coverage of HKNB meetings . Ann Marie Kirk Cultural and Natural Resource Committee | Livable Hawaii Kai Hui |, Livable Hawaii Kai Hui is a non profit (501c3) community organization EAST HONOLULU, OAHU (HawaiiNewsNow) - A small gate has tempers flaring in Portlock, re-igniting a decades-long debate over beach access. be privately owned and eventually gated. The Kuliouou/Kalani Iki Neighborhood Board, Public Access Shoreline Hawaii and Hawaii Fishing News were among the groups that had objected to the application. beach access, Two cool cottages on one spacious lot just one lot back from the beach off Portlock Road. Johnson has written to the county objecting to any construction that would limit public access to the 6. That permit system, he said, is something hed like to see changed. There are 23 public ports in the state of Oregon, located along the Pacific coast and Columbia River system. 5647 Kalanianaole Highway: Pending request for a shoreline certification and building permit; barricades have been built at nearby properties. Show your support. A new beach right of way in Portlock officially opened to the public on May 19 after city crews removed a privately owned gate. Visit the Cemetery. The two-story was remodeled in 2013 and again in 2017.