HomeMy WebLinkAboutComm 25-024 re Sugg. 25-08 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.
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Comm.25-024
On a related topic-PONC and subsequently the Council approved the acquisition of nearby Honolulu
Landing(in 2018/2019?). That area which would have also been part of the same Hawaiian village in historic
times. It is now actively for sale!!!! The area approved for acquisition and with stewardship available is full of
Hawaiian artifacts that are very important to protect before they are lost to development. We are hoping that the
County will move forward expeditiously on acquiring this property before a developer buys it. We had been
talking with Hamana Ventura about the situation earlier in the year. With many people interested in knowing what
is happening on this and concerned about its possible loss to development-would it be possible for you to bring
us up to date on the County's efforts? If you need more background on Honolulu Landing, we would be happyto
work on bringing people together who could brief you on it. We believe that the County needs to move on
this now!!!!
Sincerely, Janet Marshall and David (Kawika)Young
From: Kekai, Malia <malia.kekai@hawaiicounty.gov>
Sent: Friday,June 13, 2025 8:22 AM
To: 2ianmarshall@gmail.com
Subject: PONC Questions RE: Sugg 25-08 Waiakahi'ula Village Ocean Access
Aloha,
Please answer the following questions from the Commission by or before July 1, 2025.
• Can it be established that the public has the right to traverse the coast laterally along the top of
cliff in Suggestion 25-08? Is there an ancient Hawaiian trail along that coast? If not an ancient
Hawaiian trail, can a prescriptive right be claimed?The state's Na Ala Hele program may be able
to advise on how to establish that a traditional right to lateral coastal access exists.
• Is the blowhole location confirmed to be on the property?
Mahalo,
Malia
Malia Kekai
Deputy Finance Director
County of Hawai'i
`O ke kahua ma mua, ma hope ke kukulu
"First set the foundation, then build."
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