'Ewa promised new school, park
By Catherine E. Toth
Advertiser Central O'ahu Writer
A school, park and fire station will be built in the Ocean Pointe subdivision starting in 2006, bringing some relief to the fast-growing 'Ewa Beach area.
Haseko Homes Inc. will allocate land for the facilities in its subdivision to provide adequate infrastructure for growth. The developer announced its plans at a Dec. 13 'Ewa Neighborhood Board meeting.
The elementary school will be built on a 12-acre site off Keoneula Boulevard in Ocean Pointe. The state originally requested six acres.
The Legislature budgeted about $1 million last year for planning and design of the school, which most likely will house grades kindergarten through six. The Department of Education estimated the cost at $18 million to $20 million.
A three-bay fire station will be built starting in 2006 to serve the Fort Weaver Road corridor.
And a 20-acre district park off Fort Weaver Road will be completed in the next few years. Haseko already has started to prepare the site, which will be donated to the state in 2006.
Haseko plans to build 4,800 homes in Ocean Pointe in the next 15 years.
"It's just part of their overall plan," said 'Ewa Neighborhood Board chairman Jeff Alexander. "I don't like it, personally. We're already overbuilt and overdeveloped."
Haseko also is still considering barring vehicles from a dirt road off Papipi Road that leads to the coastline front-ing One'ula Beach Park.
The developer said last month it was considering restricting vehicles from the private road to the coastline to curb illegal dumping and vandalism.
"We're not closing the road to the park. We're not closing the road that goes along the shoreline to Barbers Point. We're shutting down the shortcut (dirt road) to the shoreline access road itself," said Vicki Gaynor, community and government affairs manager for Haseko.
"I don't like (the new proposal), but it's better than both roads being closed," said Alexander, who circulated a petition to keep the roads open, signed by more than 500 residents.
Alexander said the dirt road predated development, and Haseko should not be able to shut down beach access used by residents for decades.
A member of the 'Ewa Beach 'Ohana, Alexander said the community is willing to work with Haseko to keep the coastline clean. The club, along with the One'ula Surf Club, has been doing monthly cleanups for two years. Alexander is organizing another one in January.
"We've been cleaning up the coastline, so we know it's a daunting task," he said.
The area is home to several popular surf breaks, including Tree Stumps and Cove's. On weekends, more than 100 people surf, fish or swim along the coastline, using the dirt road to get there.
Despite security monitoring and monthly cleanups, illegal dumping and vandalism persist on Haseko property, costing thousands of dollars to remove and dispose of the junk. The company believes that closing the road, or banning vehicles, may help.
Haseko said toxic and hazardous materials have been dumped, including a 55-gallon metal drum of tar, since development began in 1998.
Recently vandals stole a chainlink fence surrounding the wetland, which federal and state law require the company to protect. Haseko must replace the fence at a cost of about $30,000.
"We'll just have to make sure the coastline is clean and the road (along the coastline) is better to use," Alexander said. "We're working with them."
Reach Catherine E. Toth at 535-8103 or ctoth@honoluluadvertiser.com.
