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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, October 24, 2003

Transfer of Ha'iku Stairs land on hold

By Treena Shapiro
Advertiser Staff Writer

The land beneath Ha'iku Stairs will remain the Board of Water Supply's property while the City Council waits for more input from constituents before accepting the land.

The Council Executive Matters committee unanimously agreed to defer the decision on the gift. The city already owns and operates the popular hiking spot and the land transfer would give it jurisdiction and liability for the stairs and surrounding property.

State Rep. Ken Ito, D-48th (Kane'ohe), urged the council to postpone acceptance until the city figures out how to deal with criminal trespassing in the residential community near the entrance to the trail. He also submitted a petition by about 100 residents who opposed the land transfer.

"This conveyance is premature," he said. "All it does is allow the city to continue proceeding on a piecemeal basis, without being required to undertake a planning and consensus-building process."

Although Councilwoman Barbara Marshall said the Kane'ohe Neighborhood Board has been kept well informed of developments regarding the stairs, committee chair Romy Cachola recommended that the council hold off on accepting the gift until the neighborhood boards were briefed.

The city has spent $875,000 to repair the stairs, but parking and access issues remain unresolved, keeping the attraction closed a year after it was expected to reopen.

"We will not open up the stairs until we find adequate parking for users and hikers on the stairs," said city Managing Director Ben Lee.

Lee said the city is trying to trade land in Ewa Villages for Department of Hawaiian Home Lands property that could be used for a parking lot, restroom and possibly an orientation center.

Councilman Mike Gabbard, who represents the 'Ewa community, said he had not heard of the potential land swap and would like some time to look into it, as did Councilman Nestor Garcia who represents the neighboring district.

Reach Treena Shapiro at tshapiro@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8070.