ISLAND VOICES
Maui's North Shore is worth preserving
By Lance Holter
With pressure to develop this beautiful coastline, salvation lies in a national park
Hardly a person living on Maui has not visited the superlative and beautiful white-sand beaches of Pa'ia, Baldwin and Spreckelsville.
Last winter when the beach sands of South Maui at Keawekapu entirely washed away as a result of the big kona storms, new visitors discovered for the first time this special place on the North Shore. Just as I am continually surprised that some native-born Maui residents have not been to Haleakala, I would be even more amazed at them not walking the precious resource of a mile-long open beach with beautiful blue waters and views to the West Maui mountains and beyond for as far as the eye can see.
Having watched my three daughters grow up on beaches of Maui and as I continue to see through their eyes and the eyes of their friends the wonderful world we have here, I feel compelled to work for a way to leave forever this legacy for the generations to come.
This was part of the reasoning Congressman Ed Case used for introducing Bill 4393: "The North Maui Coastal Preservation Act of 2004."
A North Shore National Seashore or Historical Monument must meet four criteria. The following is taken from the National Park Service document, Hawai'i Area Studies: "A natural, cultural, or recreational resource will be considered nationally significant if it meets all of the following criteria:
"• It is an outstanding example of a particular type of resource.
"• It possesses exceptional value or quality in illustrating or interpreting the natural or cultural themes of our nation's heritage.
"• It offers superlative opportunities for public enjoyment or for scientific study.
"• It retains a high degree of integrity as a true, accurate and relatively unspoiled example of a resource."
Nowhere on Maui do we have such an example of a natural white-sand-dune ecosystem as on this coastline.
Whatever your "thing" is when you go to the ocean, whether it is fishing, camping, surfing, swimming, walking, spiritual communion, or "hanging" with your friends, you can do it or will be able to do it on this coastline when preservation is guaranteed.
Turtles can nest here; Monk seals haul out and rest on the white sands of this beach. The educational opportunities for our children are abundant here. The possibilities for re-establishing, preserving and restoring native species will teach us all about the nature of our environment and connect us to our host culture.
Before Western contact, the significance of this area is exemplified by the existence of three known heiau — Kailua, Poaiwa (now underwater after the tsunami of 1946) and Papanene. The area in 1738 was the site of the final battle culminating a several-years-long struggle for supremacy between the two brothers, Kamehameha-nui and Ka-uhi, after the death of their father, King Kekaulike. Significant, in that huge armies (almost 10,000 warriors) from the Islands of Hawai'i and O'ahu supported thousands of warriors allied to the two chiefs.
The war ended at Papanene Heiau with the two sons making peace, with Kamehameha-nui established as the ruling chief of Maui. The iwi of these brave and loyal souls who died in this defining battle lay buried in the white-sand dunes of the proposed 128-acre park.
At the moment, the future for this precious coastline is tenuous. Demands and pressure for development of the area are ever present as Maui's remaining white-sand beaches become an international focal point as an exploitation opportunity to build luxury resorts and trophy homes for the rich.
Meanwhile, quality of life for local residents becomes marginalized because view planes, public access and use of coastlines disappear as the newcomers and luxury resorts attempt to privatize these beaches.
Yet the opportunity now presents itself, for the present landowners realize their responsibility to stewardship for the conservation, protection, preservation and restoration of North Shore Maui's last remaining natural sand-dune ecosystem. The North Shore Coastal Park can become Alexander & Baldwin's most positive legacy to the island and community of Maui in modern times.
Mayor Alan Arakawa has supported the park concept. International visitors to the island have told me and others that the area is an outstanding world-class example of a precious resource and would be considered a national park in their country.
Do we have the collective will to make it happen? I pray we do.
Lance Holter is a long-time resident of Pa'ia and is the Hawai'i Sierra Club and Maui chapter conservation co-chair.
