Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Musings: WTF is the Problem?

After hearing a few cries of alarm about the proposed beach access through Falko Partners' Kahuaina Plantation, I decided to check it out. Because there's nothing like actually seeing something for yourself. And I took pictures, so you can see, too.

The access begins off Koolau Road, north of the dirt road that leads to the Larsen's Beach trailhead. You drive through a gate, onto a concrete driveway.
And park in a lot that will be graveled, with space for 20 cars.
Leaving your car, you take a 15-to-20-minute walk along a grassy, 10-foot-wide access. It's quite level, with lovely mauka-makai views and seabirds and nene flying overhead.
At the end of the grass, the trail goes down a gentle slope.
It stops first at a little triangle of land shaded by ironwood trees. It's an area I've walked through many times, not realizing it was privately owned. Falko is proposing to dedicate this triangle to the county.
You can walk through the triangle to reach Waipake Beach.
Or, you can go through a rock outcropping and drop onto the coastal trail that connects Waipake Beach with Larsen's (Lepeuli) Beach.

In other words, we are being given the exact same coastal trail we've been happily and safely using for years, though one alarmist termed it the "precipice of death."
Only now, we'll also have a mauka-makai access, so we can get to this beautiful beach without having to walk all the way from Larsen's.
Which means this remote, still wild beach, where monk seals pup and turtles bask, is going to get more use, a thought that gives me a little pang, because it's so special, so remarkable. And what we humans use, we tend to destroy.

So why would anyone in their right mind want to encourage even more use, by pushing for vehicular access right to the bluff and a paved trail that would funnel people into a relatively pristine area with no bathrooms, no lifeguards and dangerous ocean conditions that have already resulted in numerous drownings and near-drownings?

Which brings us to a group that is small in number, but loud in voice. It includes Richard Spacer, whose sole agenda is nude beaches; David Dinner of 1000 Friends of Kauai, a membership-less group that doesn't do anything anymore except show up to say no to perfectly reasonable proposals; and Hope and Tim Kallai, who want to also squeeze a bluff top path out of Falko, which they claim is an ancient ala loa.

But that ain't gonna happen unless the county condemns it, because the beach along here is always usable, even in big surf. Under state law, the sand is our lateral shoreline access. And while I sympathize with their desire to establish the ala loa, the route remains unresolved on the bordering properties — owned by Waioli Corp. and Pflueger — and is possibly facing litigation on the Waioli side. It's highly unlikely the state would arbitrarily assign a route through the Falko lands at this point.
As for the beach access now on the table, I thought it was wonderful, one I would love to use because it feels like old Kauai. And the dozens of local fisherman who testified in favor of keeping it a foot path at the planning commission are happy with it, too.

Which is why, at the end of our walk, I turned to Shawn Smith of Falko Properties and said, "So WTF is the problem?"

If it's unhappiness about the 375-acre "ag subdivision" that this access goes through, well, that boat has already sailed. It's been approved as a15-lot subdivision and through the CPR process, got the maximum density of 75 homes, with no guest houses or vacation rentals allowed. It is now on the market, and someone will either buy it for a private estate, or sell it off as "gentleman's estates."

That unfortunate fact isn't going to change, because the county has already approved the subdivision, and it doesn't have a history of enforcing the farm dwelling agreements required for all houses on ag land

The only question now is whether the County Council should accept the proposed beach access through the subdivision. And the answer is yes, it's a good'un.

27 comments:

Anonymous said...

we shall see…council is there on the 30th, as will i .
Been camping, fishing, savoring that stretch of heaven since kid days with my grandparents…50+ years. Same as with Kaupea beach. We who use and care for our shorelines and actively caretake(taking out task, plastic, injured birds) will have a stake in what it becomes. Access is vital and i love the rustic pohaku trail from long ago. Designated lot by Smith for select purpose. As long as it stays easement, no beef. Play with my rights, we'll dance.

islandwide said...

It can be assured that housing developments will soon occur when farming/agriculture goes over the cliff. That's the next best idea that's gonna happen since farming will be managed by ANTI's on what can be farmed!

Anonymous said...

Even if there's absolutely nothing to grumble about in a situation like this...historically on Kauai, someone will. That's the nature of this breed of zombies that want nothing but drama in their lives. Usually they are folks who have nothing better to do except thrust themselves and us into their self promotion.

Live like a jedi - be at peace with everything and everyone around you. may the force be with you

Anonymous said...

What's the problem? We need a paved road that leads to a paved parking lot and restrooms. Then we need a bike path that connects with the path in Kapaa. And lots of signs telling tourists to go swimming and nude sunbathing there. Access, access, access.

Anonymous said...

As said, the ship has sailed and the only choice is: be thankful and accept the easement as it is offered; or say no thank you. There are NO other options for this question. So, what do you think any politician in their right mind would do when faced with this question about having more beach access or not? As for the usual suspects, they're vocal and very definitely the minority.

And also with you 11:38am.

J. Tyler said...

I am sorry Joan,
Your digs at David Dinner, Tim and Hope, and Richard Spacer are really unjournalistic, biased, and even mean. I know Tim and Hope have given years to studying hula and living the culture. I doubt you have. I know David Dinner is a just man who supports just causes, and I know Richard Spacer, although very vocal, is more than just nudity. They each stand up for what they believe is in a higher good of all people, and speak truth to power. Gentrified multimillionaires knowingly buy into a corrupt real-estate system, with all the "farming" they do on the ag zoned estates and developers fostering it every step of the way for their personal profit. You know, if even a handful of the buyers actually used their land to provide heaps of produce for the farmer's markets and thereby the greater community, instead of putting up rock walls all along their property, more people would believe their community intent. Enjoy your walks with Mr. Smith, but don't label people doing service for a greater good the way you have unless down the road, you get judged as well. Do your words support a greater community or a privileged scam that beeds larger and larger unattainable gaps between haves and have nots? Your heart knows Joan, and invites a deeper truth to shine from you. Aloha, J.tyler

Anonymous said...

Thank you, Joan.
I think you are missing the point. If we, the people and the Council can tell big land owners how to farm, we can force them to give access.
There is a new day on Kauai and the Council is on the right track. There should be land condemnation for more access.
This will raise property taxes, but big land people pay the most tax anyway.

Joan Conrow said...

John Tyler,
Who are you to be presuming what my "heart knows?"

And yes, I am supporting a greater community. It's called wild nature, the animals that will be harmed by opening up that beach even more.

Oh -- and please don't sign aloha when there is absolutely no aloha in your words.

Anonymous said...

4:50 If all the gentrified grew truck crops and took them to the Farmer's Market, prices would plummet.
They can afford to grow and if forced, they will do it.
The economics of Kauai "farming" is unrealistic. It can support committed farmers, but a stable workforce, reliable market, cost of production make truck farming extremely difficult.
Even if the BS lawmakers stop every corporate farm and all Ag condo development, the big land owners will not lease to a wannabee farmer, unless there is financial where-with-all and especially money to clean up all the opala that small failed farmers inevitably leave behind.
Sheesh, y'all think like Joann and Jackpot Tim, that the Big Land guys should give long leases, when these very same politicos that push for Ag, have themselves sold their own "AG" pieces for big kala....Timmy and Joann- "Oh my people, I say unto you, do as I say, not as I do."
They may be nice people, but hypocrites when it comes to their own profit.



Anonymous said...

How is it that a landowner dedicating a beach easement and access all the sudden turns into 5:45 where the council is now forcing access. Get over yourselves.

Anonymous said...

It is not a dig if it is true. Meet Richard Spacer:

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/1508617/MeetRichardSpacer.pdf

Anonymous said...

Oh, Gross!!! He's sowing (above) his vienna sausage!!!

Anonymous said...

Right on Joan! Thank you for showing the honest facts! Ewwww Spacer-take that nasty stuff somewhere else, this is the beaches we take our kids to!

Richard Mason said...

I do not live in Hawaii, however, I do know Richard Spacer. He is a Naturist and all that infers. Naturists are stewards of the land and if government agencies or land owners next to or near a clothing-optional beach would take the time to understand Naturists, they would learn that they have a cooperating group that will help keep the beach clean and report law breakers.
Richard Mason, Naturist
Haulover Beach, Miami, Florida
www.sffb.com

Richard Mason said...

Mere nudity appears to confuse some people with inappropriate sexual behavior. Naturists are the one who run off those that commit lewd acts on beaches, usually while wearing clothes.
Seldom do the people wearing clothing speak up.
It is lewdness , a behavior, that is the problem. Not mere nudity,

Richard

Anonymous said...

Be a naturalist in the privacy of your own home.Otherwise here on Kauai, it is considered disrespectful. Your freedom to choose is selfish when it interferes with others rights not to be exposed to someones butt.

Anonymous said...

Joan, careful about your ʻstrayʻ dog there. Some mama from KHS is on a rampage to fulfill her missed opportunity to be a cop and rabidly hunting dogs that donʻt have a leash. Especially very very old dogs, puppies, small dogs, you know, the kind that wouldnʻt hurt a fly.

Was in court today witnessing the latest county SCAM slamming people with $100 1st offense criminal charge for no leash. 2nd offense, more. 3rd offense you may got to jail and then whoʻs going to take care of your dog? Not the KHS that ʻcaresʻ so much about the welfare of animals.

This one is a watch alert for a faulty law. Even if your dog is under your car (but not on a leash) it is a ʻstrayʻ and fine-able.

Top dog cop even calls KPD to pull people over.
All this from the WASPs at KHS that are so incompetent they canʻt hang on to all to the subsidizing from the county.

The transplants have ruined Kauai.

Anonymous said...

John Tyler, did you ever think that maybe learning hula and the culture is not for us haoles?
You think cause you infiltrate the cultural dance of hula spotting it with a bunch of white faces is supporting the culture?
Donʻt, you, ever speak of the Hawaiian culture while all you want is an easy life at their expense lying on a beach spoiling it with your nude body. David Dinner too and all your self righteousness. Get over your f...g selves or better yet get out.
Joan is more akamai about all things cultural and political than you could ever be in 10 lifetimes so ..careful.

Troy said...

Why wasn't my comment ever posted???

Joan Conrow said...

You mean the one where you pissed all over me and my blog and ended with, "I'm done" reading, though apparently, you aren't?

Joan Conrow said...

Troy, I do provide an email contact, under view my complete profile. Per your request I'm publishing this part of your comment:

In the days of old, the indigenous people of Hawaii, walked these beaches, many of them nude. They surfed nude, that is why the missionaries stopped it. They swam nude, both men and women. They refused to wear wet clothes after swimming for to do so was kapu. That was their culture, which was radically altered after contact.

I'm not an advocate for nudity at beaches, and I have rarely ever stripped down to my birthday suit for some sunbathing, but I think I understand the hate crusade against the quirkly looking nudist, who I don't know, fyi. It stems from a cultural conditioning of fear and embarrasment of our own naked bodies. Most inhabit a culture which has been severed and disconnected from the natural world, and I think the consequences of being embarrased by our bodies follows from that disconnection from a natural life. Why do all indigenous people run around stark naked? Why do most industrialized peoples cover up?

Anonymous said...

Cause the industrialized people got eyesore haole bodies and IF an indigenous person was running around naked it probably would not be an assault on the eyeballs.

BTW, whatʻs your source - Troy?

Troy said...

Source for the Hawaiiana??? University of Hawaii, Manoa...

http://www.hawaii.edu/PCSS/biblio/articles/2000to2004/2004-sexual-behavior-in-pre-contact-hawaii.html

Source for clothed industrialists vs. indigenous nudists...

Common knowledge! Just look at a national geographic.

Anonymous said...

As a Hawaiian Kauai born and raised, I'll agree to take my clothes off like you say my ancestors did when you give up private land ownership like in those same times.
When you refer to history, it is wrong to take one component and isolate it.

Anonymous said...

what the fuk is "hawaiiana"?
Another haole remake of the language.

And if youʻre talking about John Osorio @ UH, he doesnʻt count.

Troy said...

You know, at the Kapaa public library, the 'Hawaiiana' section. Meaning, a reference to history and various aspects of the Hawaiian culture.

I guess the Kapaa public library must be haole run, too!

Source came from 'Sexual Behavior in Pre Contact Hawai‘i: A Sexological Ethnography' by Milton Diamond. Not John Osorio, whoever that is.

Is the information wrong? Let me know so I don't go around spreading misinformation about the ancients.

These comments have been classic; racial slurs, intolerance, ignorance, etc., etc., etc.

Anonymous said...


"I guess the Kapaa public library must be haole run, too!"

I guess so. Like everything else. What do you think? Kind of a no-brainer.

I would imagine thereʻs not much authentic research material to go from since the haoles burned the archives and forbid Hawaiians to speak their own language essentially barring communication of facts and history.