Posted on: Friday, October 1, 2004

EDITORIAL
Council must find way to open stairs

It is understandable that the Honolulu City Council has adopted a cautious approach to reopening the Ha'iku Stairs hiking trail, given the concerns of people who live nearby.

Nearby residents complain that hikers trespass through private property, clog streets with parked cars and disturb an otherwise peaceful neighborhood.

But doing nothing about this matter is not a permanent option. Nearly $900,000 has been spent to renovate the cliffside stairway, and a way must be found to make the hike legally available to the public.

The city had proposed a solution that involved a land swap with the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands. The city would obtain a Home Lands parcel near the stairs in exchange for a parcel of city land adjacent to an existing DHHL housing project in 'Ewa.

The former home lands parcel would then be developed into a mini nature park with parking available by permit.

The permitted parking would give authorities a tool to limit legal access to the stairs and lessen the pressure for illegal access that so bothers the nearby neighborhood.

There is talk about an alternative plan involving an access trail that cuts through state property around the State Hospital in Kane'ohe. That idea might make sense as a secondary access point to the stairs, but it is a long way off at best.

The logical decision is to proceed with the land swap and then monitor use carefully so the neighborhood can regain its privacy while enthusiasts can regain legal access to this unique hiking opportunity.