After another afternoon of testimony from the same opponents and proponents, the Kaua’i County Council finally voted to accept the “gift” of 59 acres, including Donkey Beach, from Colorado developer Thomas McCloskey. The latest (and last) round of the battle
After another afternoon of testimony from the same opponents and proponents, the Kaua’i County Council finally voted to accept the “gift” of 59 acres, including Donkey Beach, from Colorado developer Thomas McCloskey.
The latest (and last) round of the battle of Donkey Beach started last year when council member Kaipo Asing asked for “just two weeks” to study the McCloskey proposal that was on the table then.
Since those distant days, McCloskey has dropped his demands for private security in the park, and for night-time closures of the 59 acres, two of the biggest sticking points for the public opponents of the proposal.
The 59-acre “park” sits below a high-end housing development McCloskey is putting on the bluffs above.
“I think the end result is a great thing. We now have 24-hour access, there are no security guards, no gates (on the access road to the beach), no check stands. I will be voting yes,” Council member Gary Hooser said.
After explaining why he had questioned the project earlier in the process, Council Member Kaipo Asing also went along with the majority.
“I will be supporting the project at this stage,” Asing said.
“Other developers give us half as much as this….One of the things I’ve learned from Mr. McCloskey is (about) working together…(This) is good for the people of Kaua’i,” Council member Jimmy Tokioka said.
But despite the council members all claiming the community worked together for the final result, division and accusation was the order of the day during the public testimony.
“Nice try again. (You) are bending the law every way (you) can. We threw county law out the window. Out the window. Out the window,” Richard Stauber said.
“Never has anybody given anything like this to the county. We’re getting a gift here…for the people. This is more than just getting a piece of land,” Joe Prigge, a 2000 council candidate who has worked for McCloskey, said.
“This is not a gift, but a conditional conveyance,” Ann Punohu, also a council candidate in 2000 said.
“Today’s the final hand of the poker game. You guys have one card left…the rape of the land,” Andy Parks said.
Parks also claimed the developer had gotten away with numerous violations and ended with a veiled threat.
“There’s a road where there used to be a river. If you pass this today, somebody will have to sue,” Parks concluded.
“I am Tom and Bonnie McCloskey’s next door neighbor (in Moloa’a)…they are nothing but warm-hearted….They have been great neighbors. Accept this gift and move on,” Ricardo Russell said.
The only council member not to vote to accept the deed and accompanying easements was chairman Ron Kouchi who was at a meeting in Washington D.C.
