HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0853.024 2010-2012 Page 1 of 1
Pire/
Murashige, Laura
From: Cory (Martha) Harden [mh @interpac.net]
Sent: Sunday, October 14, 2012 8:15 PM 5 ;I; E: 13
To: counciltestimony @co.hawaii.hi.us
Subject: support Res. 308 Papa'ikou/ Finance 10-16-12
comments in support of Comm. 853 (Res. 308-12) re. access to Papa'ikou Beach
for Hawai'i County Finance Committee, 1 PM Tuesday, October 16, 2012, Kona
Cory Harden, Sierra Club, Moku Loa Group, PO Box 1137, Hilo, Hawai'i 96721
mhpinterpac.net 808-968-8965
This is not just about Papa'ikou Mill Beach. It's about what's happening worldwide--
privatizing of the commons. On all Hawaiian islands, that causes an ongoing struggle
for public access to the shoreline as buildings and fences move into remote areas.
Hawai'i County needs to set the precedent of using eminent domain to preserve the
commons and shoreline access.
We commend Ms. Prickett and Mr. Waugh for offering to finance a new trail on Steve
Shropshire's property, demolish the old mill, and clean up hazards. But we are
concerned that the Shropshire route may require bulldozing that brings erosion, with
runoff that impacts nearshore waters and reefs.
We also commend Ms. Prickett and Mr. Waugh for building a safe route to the beach at
their own expense, opening it to the public most days, and trying to keep the beach
clean and safe. They also considered letting the County take over Mill Road in 2000,
they try to keep the road passable for emergency vehicles, and they offered to do
mediation in 2010.
But Mill Beach is closed at some of the best times for subsistence fishing, surfing, or
just being on a Hawaiian beach. And it can be closed, by decision of one or two people,
for a day -- or forever -- though families have been going there for generations. Some
people, sadly, don't go any more because they feel unwelcome.
Support for access is tremendous. 275 people were counted at the October 10 hearing.
Many wore red palaka armbands in support of access. Out of 40-odd testifiers, only
three supported the status quo. And there's the big binder with 5,000 petition signatures
supporting access.
It seems that moving this resolution forward today will not eliminate the Shropshire
option, should that start looking feasible.
Please move forward today on the precedent of using eminent domain to preserve the
commons and shoreline access for our community.
Comm. No. 8r C3, __
Ref. To: FC. -
Ref. Date
10/15/2012