Guardians of the environment and cultural interests make a good case for keeping Maha’ulepu in its relatively unspoiled state. The only question is whether the area’s next owner and government officials agree.Two citizen groups are lobbying for the pristine coastline
Guardians of the environment and cultural interests make a good case for
keeping Maha’ulepu in its relatively unspoiled state. The only question is
whether the area’s next owner and government officials agree.Two citizen
groups are lobbying for the pristine coastline area of 22,000 acres to be
preserved in all of its scenic and historic glory. One group, Malama
Maha’ulepu, sees government entities potentially buying the land as one way of
making that happen.
Another way is if the reported offer of $26.6 million
for the land by Steve Case, founder and chairman of America Online, is accepted
by Grove Farm Co. Inc., the current owner of Maha’ulepu. Case’s plans for the
land aren’t known, but based on Grove Farm’s reputation as a thoughtful steward
of natural resources, it’s reasonable to think that the company would be
reluctant to sell its holdings to an interest that wants to inject them with
commercial development.
Resistance to development is what drives Malama
Maha’ulepu and Na Kupu ‘O Koloa, the other save-Maha’ulepu group. They note
that the area is important to Native Hawaiians for its sacred places, burial
sites and historic artifacts. Maha’ulepu also is valuable for public
recreation, is home to endangered wildlife, and is among the few natural areas
in Hawai’i that are accessible to visitors who want to enjoy the state’s
untouched treasures.
Options for keeping Maha’ulepu that way have drawn the
attention of Governor Ben Cayetano. Whether publicly, privately or a
combination of both, Cayetano and others should take the necessary steps to
retain Maha’ulepu’s rare combination of beauty and history for generations to
come.
