Comm 25-024 re Sugg. 25-08 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Comm.25-024 Subject: FW: PONC Questions RE: Sugg 25-08 Waiakahi'ula Village Ocean Access From: 2ianmarshall@gmail.com <2lanmarshall@gmail.com> Sent: Monday,June 16, 2025 8:07 AM To: Kekai, Malia <malia.kekai@hawaiicounty.gov> Cc: eohara58@gmail.com; 'No'eau Woo-O'Brien' <noeau91@gmail.com> Subject: RE: PONC Questions RE: Sugg 25-08 Waiakahi'ula Village Ocean Access Aloha Malia, Thankyou for reaching out to us. We are happyto respond though we are a bit confused bythe reference to "Suggestion 25-08". But hopefully the information below will answer the questions: Yes,the Public has a clear right to traverse the coast laterally on Papio Street which is a public road running along the Mauka edge of the proposed area for acquisition. There is a lovely view out over the ocean and islands from Papio Street. If the proposed acquisition area lots are allowed to continue to grow up in iron wood or are developed that lovelyviewfrom busy Papio Street will be lost. Yes,there was an ancient Hawaiian trail along the coast known as the Puna Trail. It has been documented that at least part of the Puna Trail served as the generalized basis for what is now Government Beach Road and Papio Street is actually part of Government Beach Road. (The roadway is named Papio Street as it passes through the subdivisions. But it is named Government Beach Road when it exits the subdivisions both to the North and to the South.) Papio Street is within what was once a Hawaiian Village. It would be likely that Papio Street would have been used for transit along the ocean because of the topography but there is no definitive information that we can find. It would be unlikely that the transit route would be through the lots proposed for acquisition because of the topography. There is a very cliffy area all along the Southern border of the proposed acquisition area and the proposed acquisition area slopes steeply upward from Makai to Mauka after a flat area right on the oceanfront(used for fishing). Where the hillside flattens out is now Papio Street and would appear to have been the easiest way to walk roughly parallel to the ocean and still be in close proximity to the ocean. We are not aware of anyway to claim a prescriptive right over any portion of these lots. The lots were created back in the late 60s or early 70s in an area that had once been a Hawaiian village and now is modern housing. To our knowledge, no map, of what was once the village, exists. One of the subdivision roads(Wales) has an informal trail off of it that people use to get into these lots. This short trail is very actively used by the general public but that does not create a prescriptive right,from our understanding of State law. This is a chance to save the remaining chunk of undeveloped oceanfront property in what was once a Hawaiian Village,to be enjoyed, bytoday's Native Hawaiians, future Native Hawaiians and newcomers alike. We have not engaged a surveyor- but it certainly appears that the blow hole is well within the proposed area to be protected. It is a deep hole in the lava shelf that the ocean surges into and in the right conditions it can be pretty spectacular. We hope this adequately responds to the questions. If not, please let us know. 1