Posted on: Thursday, June 10, 2004

Wall hot topic in 'Ewa Beach

By Catherine E. Toth
Advertiser Staff Writer

'EWA BEACH — Celeste Lacuesta appeared to best sum up the sentiment of many 'Ewa Beach residents last night at the 'Ewa Neighborhood Board meeting about an 18-foot-high wall along Papipi Road:

"Break that wall down," she told Haseko Hawai'i Inc., the Ocean Pointe developer that's building the wall as part of a new residential project. Lacuesta's words drew cheers and applause.

More than 60 people turned out for the meeting, many to comment about the concrete-block wall that runs about 500 yards along Papipi Road and behind 'Ewa Beach Elementary School. Homes would be built from that level and higher, further obstructing views.

Haseko was ordered last week to stop construction on the wall after a Circuit Court judge issued a restraining order to keep the city from approving a building permit for the wall.

Because of the ongoing legal dispute, the 'Ewa Neighborhood Board did not take any action on the issue last night.

But that didn't matter to the dozens of residents who turned out at the 'Ewa Beach Community and School Library to voice their concerns.

"Before, I could look out and see the horizon and the mountains. I could see the sky," said Alice Aiu, who's lived in 'Ewa Beach for almost 30 years. "Now (the view) is gone. ... I'd like to see the horizon again so we don't feel so enclosed."

Some residents complained that the wall will promote flooding in an area that has poor drainage. Some argued that Haseko shouldn't be building a wall without a building permit. Others said the wall appears to segregate the more upscale planned development from the rest of the community.

"It's ugly and imposing," Ocean Pointe resident Scott Belford said. "If I lived (there), I would hate that wall. But I would blame myself. I should've seen it coming."

Sharene Saito Tam, community relations coordinator for Haseko, said she could not comment on the residents' allegations because of pending litigation. She said Haseko presented its plans to the 'Ewa Neighborhood Board in December 2002 and May 2003, and also gave an informational briefing to the community in July 2003.

"We've been talking to every resident who comes to sit down with us," Tam said.

Also last night, a state Department of Transportation official was on hand to discuss another concern of area residents: two "No Left Turn" signs on Fort Weaver Road forbidding drivers from turning left onto Kaimalie Street.

DOT spokesman Scott Ishikawa said it might be possible that the signs, first installed between 1997 and 2000 during the construction of Ocean Pointe, were placed facing the wrong way. The signs might have been meant to bar left turns from Kaimalie Street onto Fort Weaver Road, he said.

The DOT and Haseko are researching that possibility.

Reach Catherine E. Toth at ctoth@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-8103.