Posted on: Wednesday, May 30, 2001

Editorial
Ka Iwi plans must put open space first

State officials have demonstrated commendable willingness to respond to community concerns as they move forward on plans for the Ka Iwi shoreline recreational area.

Let's hope that what we are hearing is a genuine interest in coming up with a plan that satisfies community concerns rather than an attempt to stall while the plans move forward.

Some critics of the current plan hold that fear because officials from the state Department of Land and Natural Resources say no changes can be proposed until it completes a series of public hearings as part of a shoreline management area permit application.

That's logical enough, in the sense that everyone should have a chance to react to the same plan, the same set of ideas. But how firmly will the die be cast?

The greatest concern is over plans for two 40-stall parking lots off Kalaniana'ole Highway to serve those who hike to the Makapu'u lookout or along the coastline.

The lots are needed, state officials say, for safety reasons. Today, people park along the shoulder of a narrow, heavily traveled road.

Safety is surely important. But so is preserving this last bit of undeveloped coastline. It has taken years to fight off proposals for any number of developments here, ranging from hotels to golf courses. In increasingly urbanized O'ahu, this is one of the few remaining spots where Islanders or visitors can enjoy a completely underveloped, unlighted, unmanicured environment.

Ultimately, preservation of the stretch of undeveloped open space must become the primary objective. If that means a smaller, or more distant parking lot, that is a trade-off well worth making. It would be pointless to make it easy and safe for people to get to the Ka Iwi coastline if the reason for being there in the first place is lost in the process.