(BIVN) – Two options for proposed ocean access in lower Puna are being considered by the Hawaiʻi County Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources Preservation Commission.

On February 28, the commission received a suggestion from John Carse concerning Kaimū Ocean Access. Communication 19-022 pointed the commission to two parcels, TMK No. (3) 1-2-017:045 and (3) 1-2-018:006.

Commissioners Wayne Frank and Shellie Naungayan accompanied PONC Commission Secretary Maxine Cutler to visit the locations on March 21, and filed a site visit report afterwards.

On the first location, they reported:

The location of the one site listed in the Communication was located within Kaimu Puna was a parcel of land of .02 acres located on Kalapana Beach Haven Road which is a narrow access roadway about 200 meters long and leads to the proposed path which is about 100 feet long.

The proposed site is a narrow pathway (10 foot wide) and 100 feet long. This path leads to an undeveloped winding pathway through a milo grove and terminates near the ocean about 1/4 mile away. The pathway through the milo grove was so undeveloped, winding and long (we could not hear or detect the ocean) that it was determined not to engage in the hike to the ocean.

Upon studying the markers and borders of the adjacent property at the roadside end of the 100-foot path, it appears that the egress to the proposed access path will have to also be through one of the adjacent properties, requiring further permissions and requests. Furthermore, as stated in the proposal, there is considerable confusion regarding ownership of property of the path and property next to the proposed ocean access.

Other than property ownership, another concern during the visit was the lack of space for parking to gain access the ocean from this site. The Cul-de-sac is very small and the narrow roadway is designed for one car egress only, and does not provide space for automotive parking beyond that of those whom are renting the unit.

courtesy PONC site visit report

The commissioners then went to visit the second location in the Kaimū Ocean Access suggestion. They wrote:

The second Ocean access site proposed in Communication 19-022 was a parcel of land (1.01 acres) located on Likoliko loop in Kaimu Puna.

The Likoliko loop is a privately owned undeveloped roadway, which runs through and services residents of the Kalapana Beach Haven subdivision. The subdivision does not have designated ocean access.

If PONC were to purchase, the parcel (house lot) presented in Comm. 19-022 there would be a need to improve the access roadway through the Likoliko loop. Presently many residents who own property in the subdivision are utilizing the Likoliko loop for their personal agendas, such as stonewalls, fencing and portable water pipes, thus making egress through the loop very narrow.

During the site visit, one of the local residents spoke to the site visitors and indicated that the loop was actually owned jointly by all of the subdivision residents (about 33) with no resident owning any particular portion. Considerable confusion and disorder have resulted as the resident also indicated that there were and are no Community meetings in which to address the issue and the prospects of road improvement were not good.

The suggested property could provide ocean access, but the narrow, undeveloped Likoliko Loop subdivision access is not conducive to public access.

courtesy PONC site visit report

The Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources Preservation Commission is currently reviewing multiple suggestions for acquisition, submitted by the public. The commission’s duty is to prioritize those lands and submit a list to the County administration as recommendations for purchase using the 2% land fund.