LIHU‘E — Saying he was taking another step in protecting public access, Mayor Bryan Baptiste said Friday his administration is looking into an “access issue” at Kauapea Beach in Kilauea, a beach also known as Secret Beach. During a meeting
LIHU‘E — Saying he was taking another step in protecting public access, Mayor Bryan Baptiste said Friday his administration is looking into an “access issue” at Kauapea Beach in Kilauea, a beach also known as Secret Beach.
During a meeting with reporters at his office at the Lihu‘e Civic Center, Baptiste said a development condition set 20 years ago for the Kilauea Gardens Investment Hui subdivision stipulated the county would be provided an easement to Kauapea Beach.
The condition exists, Baptiste said, but was never enforced. One access point to the beach has been gated, he added.
Baptiste said he has asked the Kaua‘i County Attorney’s Office to begin researching the easement issue, “to determine what can be done.”
Baptiste said administration officials and county attorneys will study “variables first” before considering any legal action, if need be.
“The county wants to test the concept of fulfillment of conditions,” Baptiste said.
Questions have been raised about the access because of “the lack of recordation of beach access,” Baptiste said. The confusion may rest partly with the county, or it may be something that has “fallen through the crack,” Baptiste said.
“This is access that should have been opened to the public long ago,” Baptiste said. “It is our responsibility to the community to determine the facts of this case and move forward.”
Lester Chang, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 225) and lchang@pulitzer.net
