WAI'ANAE COAST — Community leaders here are asking for public comment on a long-awaited, on-again-off-again ocean study that could profoundly affect how the waters off the Wai'anae Coast are used.

The $100,000 study will evaluate the impact of the tourism industry on the economic, environmental, social and cultural aspects of the coastline. In the past the study effort had stalled from lack of funding and a state decision to switch companies doing the study.

But now that the project is finally on track, it is essential that the various factions affected by the outcome express their concerns, said Jo Jordan, who chairs the Wai'anae Coast Neighborhood Board's Parks and Recreation Committee. Jordan's committee has scheduled a special Jan. 9 meeting to discuss the issue.

"This is something that has been in the works for the last six or seven years," said Jordan, who added that representatives from Tetra Tech, an environmental consulting firm conducting the research, will be at the meeting to listen to what folks have to say.

Tetra Tech has until March to deliver a draft of its Baseline Environmental Study for the Wai'anae Coast Ocean Area to the state Department of Land And Natural Resources, said Jordan. With much of preliminary research completed, Jordan said it's time to hear from those who would be most affected by the outcome.

That includes everyone from dive operators, fishing operators, dolphin tour operators, recreational users and surfers, to traditional fishers whose families have plied the costal waters for generations and who fear commercial activity could do permanent damage to their cultural heritage.

The state Legislature passed an act in 2005 requiring a baseline environmental study of the coastal waters. However, it failed to fund the work. At the same time, it established a moratorium on issuing new commercial-vessel permits between Kalaeloa and Ka'ena Point.

William Aila, Hawaiian activist and harbormaster for the Wai-'anae Boat Harbor, said the community has long hoped such a study would, first, outline the potential changes caused by the growing tourist interests and, second, produce reasonable rules that will lessen user conflicts — such as those that exist between tour boat operators and traditional fishers.

"I think that what all the sides are hoping for is a recommendation on how to balance the needs of all the ocean users on the Wai'anae Coast," said Aila.

Reach Will Hoover at whoover@honoluluadvertiser.com.

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