MAKAPU'U — A controversial proposal to build vacation cabins across from the Ka Iwi Coast is spurring legislative measures designed to preserve the land from development.

The bills target two parcels: a valley behind the Hawai'i Kai Golf Course and the land across from the entrance to the Makapu'u Lighthouse trail. Developer QRM LLC wants to build 180 cabins on the parcels, which are across from the Ka Iwi Scenic Wilderness area.

Measures introduced this session in the state House include a bill that asks the state Land Use Commission to reclassify the area from urban to conservation land. Another measure would set aside money to purchase the remaining undeveloped land in Hawai'i Kai and preserve it as open space.

Hearings have not been set yet on any of the measures before the House and Senate.

The legislation is part of a "multipronged approach" to prevent East O'ahu from becoming "a tourist attraction," said state Rep. Gene Ward, R-17th (Kalama Valley, Queen's Gate, Hawai'i Kai), who introduced several bills to stop the Ka Iwi development.

"Nobody wants this, and there's no reason this should be a reality," said Ward.

State Sen. Clayton Hee, D-23rd (Kane'ohe, Kahuku), chairman of the Senate Water and Land Committee, introduced a measure to extend the park boundaries to include the two pieces of land by using the Legacy Lands fund or public-private partnerships.

"When you look at the exponential development on O'ahu, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that people will cherish open spaces," Hee said. "On an island like O'ahu, open space is becoming so much more of a precious commodity."

OTHER LAND BUYS

Buying land and preserving it as open space is not without precedent along East Honolulu, the only open and accessible coastline except for Ka'ena Point on O'ahu. The city in 2003 paid $5.4 million in cash and a land swap for two parcels, totaling 32 acres, across from Sandy Beach.

And after disputes dating back to the 1970s, the state paid $12.8 million to Kamehameha Schools to purchase 600 acres along the south shore at Queen's Beach.

Dollar figures were not included in the current Ka Iwi bills. But QRM's attorney, Bill McCorriston, said the land is worth about $20 million.

McCorriston, reacting to the legislative proposals, said, "It seems like everyone's against something without any concrete proposal to work something out."

QRM Inc. wants to build 181 800-square-foot vacation cabins with lanai, recreational centers, pools and tennis courts. All would be secondary use to recreation, the primary land use allowed on preservation-zoned land.

FIRST PLAN REJECTED

This is the second time the developer has put forth plans for 181 acres, called Queen's Rise and Manu'uwai.

The first plans were rejected by the city in 2006. The developer plans to reapply with the city after the Hawai'i Kai Neighborhood Board discusses the issue at 7 tonight at the Haha'ione Elementary School cafeteria.

Several residents and visitors said they support preserving the area.

"I've lived here all my life and I've seen so many changes, just in Hawai'i Kai alone," said Rielle Rasmussen, a Hawai'i Kai resident. "It's enough. This is the last bit of open space."

Eve Anderson, a member of the Save Queen's Beach and Save Sandy Beach groups, said: "We have to protect it somehow. We need to preserve natural open space."

David Burns, a Boston resident on vacation here, was walking up to the trail head at the Makapu'u Lighthouse yesterday. He said he would like to see the area across from the trail head preserved.

"I would prefer it be left as it is," he said. "But the landowner has rights. It sounds to me that it's like closing the barn door after the horse is outside."

Looking at the view, Liz Watson, who was on vacation from Lake Tahoe, said any development in the area would mar the scenic beauty.

"It would be a shame to have something like vacation cabins on this side of the island," Watson said.

"It's quiet, pristine and beautiful. It's so important to preserve open space for hiking and biking and just for fun."

House Finance Chair Marcus Oshiro said his committee will need to weigh the request against others, including Gov. Linda Lingle's proposed purchase of Turtle Bay on the North Shore, where five hotels are being planned with 3,500 rooms and condominium units and four public parks.

SCALED-BACK PLAN

Earlier this month, QRM offered to scale back its plan to build on 181 acres and build on only one of the parcels, Manu'uwai, an 83-acre parcel. The other parcel, the 98-acre Queen's Rise, would be turned over to a nonprofit or other group for the purpose of preserving the land.

"I think we've been very generous in what we've offered," McCorriston said. "It's unprecedented to offer somebody 100 acres in Urban and East O'ahu for nothing."

In the new proposal, the cabins are also grouped in clusters of eight or 12 and take up less total space on the hillside than in the original plan, he said.

McCorriston said the developer would wait until after today's meeting to submit a proposal to the city Department of Planning and Permitting.

Reach Suzanne Roig at sroig@honoluluadvertiser.com.