Sierra Club goes 'Wild' with new campaign
By Kapono Dowson
Advertiser Staff Writer
The Sierra Club Hawai'i chapter yesterday announced the start of its Malama Kahakai — "Keep It Wild!" — campaign to encourage grass-root support for the organization's vision to protect the state's coastline.
The group said it wants to take a broader approach to preserving the environment rather than battling to save one beach at a time.
The Sierra Club said it is being assisted by the Fund for Public Interest Research, a national group that will canvass neighborhoods, handing out information to residents. The fund's members will go door to door, starting in Mililani and Kane'ohe.
Jay Griffin, Sierra Club coastal conservation organizer, said there are three components to the Malama Kahakai comprehensive coastal protection plan: a fund dedicated to purchasing and preserving land; more land turned into conservation districts; and changes in regulations to provide more scrutiny for proposed developments on agriculture land.
Griffin also said it is important for the state to have a consistent source of money for coastal purchases. He said California, Maryland, Florida and New Jersey are among the states that have established permanent pools of money to acquire coastal lands. For Hawai'i, Griffin said either special bonds could be issued or a percentage of the hotel tax could be set aside for the coastal fund.
The campaign will focus on protecting four specific coastal areas on four islands and building support for an overall coastal campaign.
According to Griffin, the four areas are:
• Maha'ulepu on Kaua'i, a coastline rich in geologic features, endangered species, fossil remains and archaeological sites
• The Kahuku shoreline adjacent to James Campbell Wildlife Refuge on O'ahu.
• The Big Island's Kealakekua Bay, which is located in a Marine Life Conservation District.
• Maui's Keone'o'io coastal area "one of the few remaining wild beaches" on the southern side of the island.
You can reach Kapono Dowson at kdowson@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8090.
