Protesters against the county’s construction of a multi-use path along Wailua Beach stage a ‘Friday pau hana’ rally along Kuhio Highway and Kuamo‘o Road. Demonstrator Wendy Raebeck said, ‘They say the path is ready to go and people haven’t been
Protesters against the county’s construction of a multi-use path along Wailua Beach stage a ‘Friday pau hana’ rally along Kuhio Highway and Kuamo‘o Road. Demonstrator Wendy Raebeck said, ‘They say the path is ready to go and people haven’t been heard. They’re not ready to go. It’s the sentiment of a lot of people. It needs to go on the other side of the highway, behind Coco Palms.’ She said many community members welcome the path, but they don’t want it on the beach because it’s sacred land and because it’s too close to the ocean, which would make it vulnerable to high tides, storms and woody debris. ‘The beach is really tiny and there’s a small row of greenery. By putting in the bike path, the beauty of it would be ruined,’ she said. ‘I’m an avid cycler, but I don’t need to do it on the beach. Why do we have to sacrifice one resource for the sake of another?’ Demonstrators were to include Houselots Neighborhood Association, Surfrider, Sierra Club and Kaua‘i Alliance for Peace and Justice, according to Raebeck.
