Mind you, the signs do not say "no parking." They say "keep out."

Who would feel comfortable walking past that sign to get to the beach? Would you take your keiki by the hand and say, "Ignore the sign, sweetheart, let's go?"

Multimillion-dollar homes line Portlock Beach. Along Portlock Road, there are 18 access ways to the beach — lanes that run between those beautiful homes. The ownership of each lane is divided among the homeowners along the lane.

Seven years ago, one property owner famously put up a locked gate in the access way next to his home. This sparked a series of altercations, including an attempt by the city to condemn the lane and an incident in which a former city councilman showed up with a locksmith, TV cameras and a couple of choice words for the homeowner (who has since moved).

In May of this year, the Portlock Community Association, a group of owners of those beachfront homes, passed a resolution reaffirming their stance on public access. The resolution reads:

"No Portlock Road owner should place any locked gate preventing beach access."

It goes on to say:

" ... the Portlock Community Association will oppose any attempt of any owner or combination of owners to obtain a building permit for a locked gate on any of these lanes, and should the city grant such a permit over the objection of the Portlock Community Association, the Portlock Community Association will support the condemnation of the lane by the City."

Which all sounds pretty friendly and pono, but it's not exactly "e komo mai" down there.

In October of last year, a Portlock Community Association member requested and received a city permit to put up a gate in the access way next to his property. The gate is not locked, but you would not know that unless you walked past the "no trespassing" signs, got all the way up to the huge, solid metal upside-down taro-leaf patina gate and tried the handle — an act that requires much daring for a laid-back, don't-want-no-hassles local family.

Another lane sports a snarky sign that informs beachgoers that they're being watched on surveillance cameras in the access way.

It's hard to feel welcome even if you're completely within your right to be there.

A new storm is churning on the little beach, one that isn't about the accessway per se but seems like further loss of public claim to the beach.

Kamehameha Schools owns a strip of land fronting six of the beachfront homes, and had discussed with the homeowners the possibility of conveying that 1.5-acre parcel to them.

The talks are on hold as they explore ways of improving public access. The proposal would not have been a sale, but a conveyance, with the only cost, estimated around $10, being for transfer fees.

The strip of land is between the private property and the sand and is a remnant from the 1980s mandatory leasehold conversion of Portlock land.

According to Kamehameha Schools spokesman Kekoa Paulson, the parcel was offered to the city on two different occasions, but the city expressed no interest. Kamehameha Schools remains willing to talk with the city about transferring the parcel.

Although the process is on hold, some of those who have been guardians of public access to Portlock Beach are circulating a petition to try to stop the transfer of the Kamehameha Schools parcel to private landowners. To them, it seems like losing more ground to

the forces that would put up "keep out" signs and foreboding unlocked gates.