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| Kawainui Marsh sprawls over 830 acres in Windward O‘ahu.
Advertiser library photo • Dec. 30, 1997 |
By Eloise Aguiar
Advertiser Windward Bureau
KAILUA — People have had visions for Kawainui Marsh since 1962, when plans for a housing development were quashed with the city’s purchase of the property for park use. To many, a hiking trail seemed natural.
A trail around the perimeter of the wetland would add to the cultural and natural experience, proponents say, but neighbors in the neighboring Kukanono subdivision fear a pathway would bring problems.
Kukanono subdivision is a small, relatively secluded area outside Kailua town. But the area has its share of traffic from a church, YMCA, tourists, a hospital and commuters who park there to catch the bus to work, said Virginia De Castro, representing the Pohakupu-Kukanono Community Association.
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| Ducks are among the animals living at the marsh, where wildlife observation tours are held.
Advertiser library photo • Dec. 30, 1997 |
"They are good neighbors, and they caution their members, but still the traffic goes up and down the streets," De Castro said.
With school buses bringing children to Ulupo Heiau — which residents don’t mind — and tour buses stopping on the weekends, the community of 90 homes doesn’t want any more traffic, De Castro said.
A pathway would bring cars, vandalism and people would misuse the trail, she said.
"We will be impacted," De Castro said. "They have to give the residents some consideration."
David Curry, a planner who is creating a trail master plan for the marsh, said the proposed pathway along Kukanono is 300 feet from residents’ back yards, on average. There would be no access via the subdivision, he said. Access to the trail would be at the levee or from Kapa‘a Quarry Road.
"We’ve made the recommendation that you don’t increase any parking, you don’t provide direct access through the Kukanono area," Curry said, adding that a planned fence and vegetation would further discourage people from hiking into residents’ back yards.
In creating the master plan, Curry said, he walked the marsh and worked with an archaeologist to develop an alignment that would provide hikers a view of the many historical and cultural sites there, including agricultural terraces, springs, an ancient residence and a taro lo‘i.
He also took into consideration the state’s plan to restore ponds and a bird habitat. Using a 1994 master plan for the marsh as a guide, he outlined a perimeter pathway that could be built in three segments.
The first would include a trail that starts at the levee next to Kailua Road and extends to the beginning of Kukanono subdivision, he said. The trail would connect to Ulupo Heiau. A bike path along Kapa‘a Quarry Road is also part of this segment.
Alignment of the second segment would depend on the pond project, but would generally run behind the Kukanono subdivision.
The third segment would extend from the Martin Knott’s ranch, behind Castle Medical Center, to Kapa‘a Quarry Road.
No money has been allotted for the project, Curry said. The document he’s preparing is for resource purposes. He presented a draft to the community at the request of the Kailua Vision Team.
Team member Libby Tomar said she had submitted the request on behalf of the Coconut Grove Community Association. The project has made it to a list of projects eligible for federal money, but it’s 10th on a list out of which only the top three or four will receive financing, she said.
"We could ask for (the trail) to be built with vision money or just ask DLNR (state Department of Land and Natural Resources) to build it for us," she said.
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