TGI STAFF – Meeting will focus on support for open shorelines Someone had the foresight to establish public beach parks for current generations to enjoy, and someone must do the same for future generations, says Beryl Blaich, who lives in
TGI STAFF –
Meeting will focus on support for open shorelines
Someone had the foresight to establish public beach parks for current generations to enjoy, and someone must do the same for future generations, says Beryl Blaich, who lives in Kaua’i’s North Shore area.
Blaich, also the former Sierra Club coastal lands project coordinator, remains active with Malama Maha’ulepu, a group a group trying to preserve one of only a few remaining undeveloped shoreline areas in Hawai’i.
Statewide, the Sierra Club remains involved in building public awareness for preserving shoreline areas for future generations. That will be the subject of a public meeting next Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at the Koloa Public/School Library.
Jay Griffin, who heads the Sierra Club’s Malama Kahakai Keep Our Coastlands Wild campaign, is the scheduled guest speaker. Malama Kahakai is a statewide campaign to encourage grassroots support for protection of Hawaii’s wild and scenic shorelines.
Hawai’i and beaches are synonymous, said Griffin.
“We all know of the magic that occurs where the ocean crashes into Hawai’i’s wild coastlines. It’s where we swim, surf, fish, walk, relax, get inspired, or just experience the beauty that makes the islands so special,” he said. “We also know that more of our undeveloped coastline is vanishing to make room for luxury subdivisions, new resorts, golf courses and second (or third) homes.”
Blaich said it’s also “what defines us as island people. It’s what we all have in common: going to the ocean, and going to the beach, to be rejuvenated.”
“It’s going to take political will, and it’s going to take public spiritedness and philanthropy and charity to save these places,” she said.
Blaich said the Tuesday meeting will include a discussion of efforts by Malama Maha’ulepu to preserve Maha’ulepu. The area of Kaua’i’s south shore is owned by Grove Farm, part of the business empire headed by Steve Case, chairman of AOL Time Warner.
At one time, company plans called for up to three hotels along the coastline. Grove Farm president David Pratt said at the time Case acquired neighboring Amfac Sugar Kaua’i property, formerly known as Lihu’e Plantation, that Grove Farm still has ideas for resort development in the Maha’ulepu area.
No more definitive information has been made available.
But it is more than just Kaua’i, or Maha’ulepu, where coastal areas are being eyed by the Sierra Club and others for preservation, Griffin said. Each island in Hawai’i has coastal areas with different land forms, cultural sites and stories, food gathering and recreational opportunities, he said. They include Kealakekua Bay and Kohanaiki on Big Island, Keone’o’io on Maui, and Kahuku on O’ahu.
Each area also has residents working to to preserve it, he saidd.
Despite the importance of wild coasts to residents and visitors, Hawai’i has no program to protect these areas. Griffin’s presentation Tuesday will describe what other coastal states, such as California, Maryland and New Jersey, do to protect and acquire coastal lands.
Malama Maha’ulepu, in an informal poll, recently asked people why they go to Maha’ulepu. Fishing and diving for food were the most frequent reasons, followed by hiking and walking, then water sports (swimming, windsurfing, body boarding), fishing and diving for recreation, camping, and whale and bird watching.
Additional information is available from Blaich at 828-1438.
Staff writer Paul C. Curtis contributed to this report.
