Popular ocean-access ladder restored

By Suzanne Roig
Advertiser Staff Writer

Within five minutes of the return of a popular sea ladder yesterday, two surfers were using it to get to a surfing spot called Tonggs.

The reinstallation ended 17 months of arguing over a stainless-steel ladder that for 30 years had been a fixture in the Gold Coast community, used by lifeguards, swimmers and surfers — hundreds of people daily — for easy access to the ocean.

It was removed more than a year ago after a member of the Diamond Head Ambassador cooperative board of directors, thinking the ladder was on their property, expressed concerns about liability, vandalism and noise from people walking along the seawall to get to the steps.

After determining that there was no permit allowing the ladder, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources required its removal.

During the reinstallation at low tide yesterday morning, a group of residents stood expectantly as welders lowered the original ladder into the ocean and connected it to the rocks with 3 1/2-foot-long pins.

Among them was Bob Gentry, who spearheaded the effort to reinstall the ladder.

"I thought it was the right thing to do," Gentry said. "Ocean access in Hawai'i is like breathing. It's a good finish for us. The people won, and when they win, it's always good."

Gentry and the Gold Coast Neighborhood Association, a nonprofit, tax-exempt corporation devoted to neighborhood issues, fought to bring back the ladder. The group spent about $30,000 for attorneys, easement fees, reinstallation, maintenance and liability insurance. Donations have come in, from $5 to several thousand, Gentry said.

This year, the Board of Land and Natural Resources cleared the way for legal return of the ladder, granting the group a 37-square-foot easement for 55 years. The state charged the association $2,600 for the period.

The ladder provides the only easy ocean access from the Elks Club, in the 2900 block of Kalakaua Avenue, to the Diamond Head end of the street. There are two other accessways about a quarter-mile away, but they require walking on coral and rocks to reach the ocean.

Marcus Edel, a Kahala resident who surfs regularly, was stunned to see the ladder yesterday, and used it to get out of the ocean.

"When they took the ladder away, it was a shock," Edel said. "It's great to have it back."

Reach Suzanne Roig at sroig@honoluluadvertiser.com or 395-8831.