Question: There was a lot of discussion last year about Maunalua Bay being overused and degraded, followed by a backlash from commercial interests (and others) who don’t want new limits on usage imposed. … I haven’t heard much about this lately. Did they settle the dispute?
Answer: No, but there has been progress, including the creation of an advisory committee that will hold its first official public meeting later this month.
The Maunalua Bay Recreation Advisory Committee includes representatives of six groups — surfers (including SUP), divers, fishers, paddlers, thrill-craft users and community residents — who will help establish rules to ease conflicts at the East Oahu bay, according to the Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation.
MRAC will hold its first official meeting on Aug. 18 (a Thursday) from 6 to 8 p.m. at Koko Head Elementary School, 189 Lunalilo Home Road. The meeting will be in the cafeteria.
Members will be introduced (you can see the roster at 808ne.ws/2aZ8O5h), DLNR staff will discuss the effects of recreational use of Maunalua Bay and the panel will discuss its immediate, midrange and long-term goals, according to the agenda.
The committee does not have the power to change state rules governing the bay on its own. DOBOR may seek its advice on specific issues, including regarding commercial permits, and will consider its suggestions when deciding whether to modify existing bay rules or to enact new ones.
“However, the MRAC acts only in an advisory capacity and DOBOR is not obligated to follow MRAC recommendations. DOBOR is first and foremost required to consider safety and equity for all ocean users as well as the minimization of user conflicts,” according to DOBOR.
The panel’s members are to reach out to their respective user groups to gauge public sentiment before making recommendations, and all proposed recommendations will be made available for public comment before being submitted to DOBOR.
If you can’t attend MRAC’s meetings but want to be informed of its activities and recommendations, sign up for emailed updates at 808ne.ws/2aBEv5F.
Mahalo
A big mahalo to Jim and John of the Honolulu City and County Department of Facilities and Maintenance for their outstanding work during the tropical storm last weekend. My neighbor’s 50-foot-long wooden picket fence all came down in one piece from a strong gust of wind Sunday, right into the storm drain in Niu Valley — which could have caused a blockage and overflow had it flooded. Jim and John responded on scene right away in the heavy rain and were happy to help out without any complaints, chain-sawing the heavy pieces of wood into smaller pieces in order to get it out of the tall, slippery storm drain. Thanks again for all their hard work and for responding at a moment’s notice to prevent a bad situation from becoming worse. Jim and John: You both are fine examples of our government city workers. Mahalo for a job well done! — Grateful resident
Mahalo
A huge mahalo to all the state and city workers who were out during the worst of the rain and lightning last weekend, helping to divert traffic off the closed H-1 freeway, assisting stranded motorists, dealing with flooding and more. We saw many of you out again the next day cleaning up. Thank you so much! You are really appreciated! — A reader
Mahalo
Mahalo nui loa to Chris at Makiki Longs for going the extra mile to help this senior citizen on July 17 at about 7 a.m. … Thanks again for the can-do spirit. — Alan C.
Auwe
Auwe to the driver on Liholiho Street near the Makiki Inn on June 19 at about 6:45 p.m. who maneuvered her white BMW into the wrong lane to turn left onto Wilder Avenue: Were you aware that Liholiho is a two-way street and that you were in a lane for oncoming traffic? Were you aware of the yellow line in the center of that portion of Liholiho? Or were you just too impatient to wait behind the car that was already in front of you also waiting to make a left turn? You could have caused an accident. — Anonymous
Write to “Kokua Line” at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu 96813; call 529-4773; fax 529-4750; or email kokualine@staradvertiser.com.
