Navy plan restricts access to shoreline
By Jan TenBruggencate
Advertiser Kaua'i Bureau
WAIMEA, Kaua'i — Navy officials are planning permanent restrictions to public shoreline access at the Pacific Missile Range Facility, to the dismay of residents and in apparent violation of the agreement under which the military got the land.
A Navy spokeswoman said the service has no intention of re-establishing the kind of wide-open access that has been in place for most of the past 50 years for fishing, camping, surfing and other beach activities.
"I don't think we're ever going back to what we had at Sept. 10," Lt. Cmdr. Jane Campbell said. "There are a couple of plans in review right now to try to do the best that we can to do a workable, feasible" solution.
While the Navy will not release complete plan details until it has met privately with the mayor and County Council on Tuesday evening, she said one plan goes this way: The beaches would be entirely closed on weekdays. On weekends and holidays, people who have passed background checks would be able to arrive at the front gate, and take a county bus — if the county agrees to provide it — to specific shoreline areas.
There would be quotas for "safe and allowable numbers for being on the beach at any one time," Campbell said.
She said the Navy does not foresee opening lateral beach access — that is, letting people gain access from the beaches on both sides of the base, without needing to cross base property.
The proposed restrictions may violate the agreements under which the military gained access to the land from the Territory of Hawai'i. One requirement, dating back to the 1940s, is that fishing access could only be restricted when bombing was under way or about to commence, said Debbie Ward, of the state Department of Land and Natural Resources.
All of this disturbs both area residents and former commanders of the missile range.
"If this is their complete solution, I don't think they've heard the community," said County Council chairman Ron Kouchi.
The missile range, started as an Army airfield in 1940, later became Bonham Air Force Base. The Navy became a joint tenant in 1956 and took over control in 1964. The base fronts 7.5 miles of coastline, almost all of which is white sand beach.
The area includes a range of fishing areas, camping areas, and very popular surf breaks. It is also a popular spot for four-wheeling, although it is illegal under state law to drive on the beach.
Except during periods when military or missile firing exercises were underway, residents have had ready access through the base to the coastline. Normally, there has just been an identification check, and the requirement that personal vehicles be registered and insured.
The base has had strong community support for its activities. West-side leaders have lined up at public hearings to support controversial missile programs at the base, such as the STARS rocket program.
Navy Capt. Brian Moss, who left his position as commander at the base Friday and is retiring from the Navy, said he fears that a nationwide Navy "regionalization" program, which removes considerable local authority from base commanders, will hurt the Navy and the community.
Base security officers personally knew almost all the surfers, anglers and campers who arrived for access to the shoreline, he said. That has prevented security problems.
"We know everybody. There are decades of families associated with the base," Moss said.
Retired Navy Capt. Bob Mullins, a former base commander, said that "even during the Gulf War, we never denied access."
Mullins said he fears that restrictions will damage the close ties between the base and West Kaua'i's tight-knit community.
The links work both ways, he said. The Navy depends on the community for a stable work force, for a safe and supportive atmosphere for base personnel, and for housing and recreation and even shopping.
In turn, the community has received support in various ways, including food, shelter, emergency power, and potable water supplies after the destruction of Hurricane 'Iniki in 1992.
Campbell said the Navy recognizes how much the public wants access to the shoreline.
"Most of the folks that want access are ready to do about anything," she said.
"I've given up surfing on the west side because they won't let you in," said surfer Ted Chihara, of Lihu'e.
Local surfers cherish surf breaks like Navy Housing, Kinikinis, Rocket Reef and Major's Bay. During the right conditions, some surfers who have boats are gaining access to surf breaks by anchoring offshore, and never touching the beach.
Kouchi said security issues may require access adjustments, but that an outright ban on access most of the time may be inappropriate.
"We acknowledge the security issues, but with other military institutions like Kane'ohe (Marine base on O'ahu) finding ways to help the communities that have supported them, this is what we hope for here as well," he said.
The Marines have already established a new identification program that allows fishing access to coastlines.
Campbell said the Navy must be cautious.
"It is a different situation. We can't do anything that would not be prudent," she said.
