Resolution Regarding Haiku Stairs
Approved by the Board
on a 9-0 vote with one abstention, on June 15, 2017:
SUPPORTING REOPENING THE HAIKU STAIRS TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC
UNDER A CONTROLLED AND MANAGED ACCESS PLAN
WHEREAS, removing the Ha'ikū Stairs will destroy a historic
structure, eligible for listing in the National Registry of Historic Places
because of their integral role in the defense of the Pacific during WWII; and
WHEREAS, the Ha'ikū Stairs represent one of the safest
hiking trails in Hawaii, there having been no documented serious injuries or
deaths resulting from accidents on the Stairs; and
WHEREAS, almost all reported rescues attributed to the
Ha'ikū Stairs are linked to hikers coming up from the Moanalua side or trying
to get to the Stairs by trespassing on adjoining land in adverse hiking
conditions; and
WHEREAS, a business plan drawn up by the Friends of Ha'ikū
Stairs (FHS) has demonstrated that funds raised from fees to access the Stairs
would cover expenses such as security, maintenance, insurance, and staffing; and
WHEREAS, reopening the Stairs under managed access would
provide unique educational, cultural, and recreational opportunities; and
WHEREAS, partnership with the Koolau Foundation can expand
educational and cultural opportunities to resident keiki; and
WHEREAS, partnerships with the University of Hawaii and the
Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum and their botanists provide a unique opportunity
for researchers to document and study native and invasive plant species and
their effects; and
WHEREAS, continued trespassing and disrespect for the
property privacy expectations of private residents of the Haiku neighborhood
are not acceptable and must cease sooner rather than later; and
WHEREAS, removing the Ha'ikū Stairs would destroy the
priceless opportunities for hikers to experience the multiple microclimates
they pass through as they climb to the summit; and
WHEREAS, at least two plausible access points are available
that would entirely avoid the neighborhood at the base of the Stairs; and
WHEREAS, profits from managed access could be used to restore
the land surrounding the Omega Station and support development of a Cultural
Park in Ha'ikū Valley; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED, the Kaneohe Neighborhood Board supports the option
contained in the Environmental Impact Statement Preliminary Notice (EISPN)
contracted by the Board of Water Supply to reopen the stairs under a controlled
and managed access plan that respects the privacy rights of private residents
of the Haiku neighborhood; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the Friends of Haiku Stairs submit a
formal business plan for inclusion into the EIS process and the Board of Water
Supply review that plan in a manner that supports a preservation option and
now,
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, this resolution be forwarded to the
Board of Water Supply, the Mayor of the city and county of Honolulu and all
elected officials of the Koolaupoko moku.
Resolution Regarding Extending The Community Growth Boundary
Submitted by Mahealani Cypher, Board
Member, April 4, 2017
OPPOSING EXTENDNG
THE COMMUNITY GROWTH BOUNDARY IN BILL 57, C.D.1, KO’OLAUPOKO SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES PLAN, AS IT AFFECTS KAHALU’U
WHEREAS, the Revised O’ahu General Plan,
first adopted by the Honolulu
City Council in 1977-1978, directed growth on O’ahu toward
the Primary Urban Center of Honolulu and the
Secondary Urban Center
of ’Ewa; and
WHEREAS, through much
community discussion and compromise, the City Council
agreed that growth on Windward O’ahu would restrict
urbanization and preserve
agricultural and conservation/watershed lands in Ko“ o1aupoko; and
WHEREAS, farm lands and watersheds are critical to ensure food
sustainability and drinking water resources for our island’s
future; and
WHEREAS, over the past 40 years, the people of Windward O“ahu have maintained their strong advocacy to hold the City & County of Honolulu to its commitment to preserve watersheds and agricultural lands
in the districts of Ko’o1aupoko and Ko’o1au1oa; and
WHEREAS, the Honolulu
City Council is currently engaged
in its effort
to replace the existing Ko“ olaupoko Sustainable Communities Plan
through its consideration of Bill 57, which would constitute the new SCP for Ko’o1aupoko’s future; and
WHEREAS, inserted in the Ko’olaupoko SCP is an amendment that would allow spot zoning
for one agricultural and conservation parcel in Kaha1u’u which,
if approved on final reading, could lead to urbanization of valuable farmlands and watersheds throughout the rest of the Windward coast; and
WHEREAS, this upzoning
of this parcel
could create a domino effect
that would allow
other
owners of farm and watershed lands
to seek similar
reclassification of their
properties; and
WHEREAS, this insertion of the “DeReis
Amendment” approved on second reading
by the City Council recently is an attempt
to convert farm
lands to urban
use in what appears to be land speculation, which is contrary to the purpose
of the City Council’s effort
to update the SCP;
WHEREAS, the Kaha1u’u Neighborhood Board No. 29 has voted
and expressed its strong opposition to this extension of the community growth boundary in Kahalu’u; now,
therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED
BY THE Kaneohe Neighborhood Board No. 30 that we do hereby
oppose inclusion of this insertion of the sentence, “The CGB should include 7.591 acres of a property
in ’Ahuimanu (TMK 4-7-046:006) located within the State Land Use Urban District to allow for rezoning from Agricultural Ditrict to Country
district, for the development of approximately six residential lots.”,
which is contained in Addendum A.l Community Growth
Boundary attached to Bill 57; and
BE IT FINALLY
RESOLVED that copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Chair and Members of the Honolulu
City Council, to Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell, and to the Chair of the City Planning
Commission.
Submitted by Bill Sager, Kaneohe
Neighborhood Board Vice Chair, January 21, 2016
Whereas,
the Kaneohe Neighborhood
Board finds there is a critical need for long-term care facilities both in the
Kaneohe community and at the Hawaii State Hospital; and
Whereas,
the Hawaii State Hospital Master Plan includes the construction of a long term
care facility across the section of the Great Lawn controlled by the Hawaii
State Hospital(HSH); and
Whereas,
any building on State property more than 60 years old is subject to an
historical review before it can be destroyed; and
Whereas,
any changes to the Bishop Building requires the HSH to submit historical
documentation to the Division of Historic Preservation(DHP) prior to making any
changes in the architectural features of the building; and
Whereas,
the Great Lawn is considered an important architectural feature of Windward
Community College; and
Whereas,
any changes to the Great Lawn also requires an historical review by the DHP,
and
Whereas, the HSH has not submitted the necessary historical
documentation to the DHP as of 1/20/16; and
Whereas,
construction of a two story long term care facility across the Great Lawn will
block the view of the Pali and forever change the architectural character of
the Great Lawn and of Windward Community College; and
Whereas,
Windward Community College is offering a land exchange which would preserve the
Great Lawn and the Bishop Building and will provide for logical expansion of
the WCC campus; and
Whereas, the Department
of Health has refused to even consider the possibility of a land exchange
with WCC; now therefore:
Be it
resolved that the Kaneohe Neighborhood Board requests the Department of Health
to seriously consider the impact of the planned construction of a long term
care facility on the Great Lawn and on the beauty of the Windward Community
College, and
Be it
further resolved that the Kaneohe Neighborhood Board recommends the DOH enter
into negotiations with UH to initiate a land exchange which will place the long
term care facility at the entrance to Windward Community College in the area
presently called Sherwood Forest, and
Be it
further resolved that this resolution be distributed to our local state
legislators and to Governor Ige.
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