Court to allow Haseko wall

By Rod Ohira
Advertiser Staff Writer

A state judge yesterday cleared the way for Haseko Hawai'i Inc. to modify a controversial keystone wall on Papipi Road in 'Ewa Beach that had been challenged by a resident.

Circuit Judge Victoria Marks found Haseko had given proper public notification about the wall and followed proper permit application procedures. She denied a motion by Papipi Road resident Craig Smallwood for a permanent injunction to prevent the city from issuing permits to Haseko for further construction.

Marks also denied his request to have the wall demolished.

The ruling allows Haseko to get permits to modify the 18-foot-high wall along its Ocean Pointe development.

Sharene Saito Tom, Haseko's community relations coordinator for Ocean Pointe, said the developer plans to remove the top two tiers, put in landscaping and install a drainage system to address flooding concerns.

"It means we can go back to work," said Kenneth Choate, Haseko's executive vice president for construction.

The developer has laid off 150 workers since late May because of a temporary injunction issued by Marks, which also was dissolved yesterday.

Workers will not return immediately, however. Planning, designing and permitting is expected to take several months before construction can begin, Choate said.

Smallwood, who represented himself in court, was not surprised by the ruling.

"I don't feel like I lost — it's the state that lost," he said. "The wall is not coming down, but this is causing them to redesign it.

"It was worth it," Smallwood concluded. "The bottom line is I've made it that much harder for companies to try this again."

Reach Rod Ohira at 535-8181 or rohira@honoluluadvertiser.com