Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 10, Number 7, 1 July 1993 — The theft of Diamond Head beach [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

The theft of Diamond Head beach

by Moanike'ala Akaka Trustee, Hawai'i The latest failure of the Department of Land and Natural Resources to carry out its responsibilities involves the possible sale of Diamond Head beachfront to the wealthy landowners that have been illegally "squatting"

on the pubhc beach (known as Government Road) for over 25 years. In 1968 the state Supreme Court ruled that these lands are owned by the state and its residents, according to Kazuhisa Abe, who was an associate

justice when this rulling was issued. The theft of our public ceded lands and the state's failure to hold these elite lawbreakers accountable should be intolerable to "ordinary" citizens. Hawaiians should be outraged! What was onee beach and a government road has been fenced or walled up and turned into manicured

lawns and private property. When Hawaiians are considered to be trespassing on state lands we are arrested and hauled off to jail immediately (even though we are the true landowners), whether it be at Waimānalo Beach, Hilo Airport Runway, Anahola, Makapu'u, Sand Island, Kūka'ilimoku village or wherev-

er! 1 hey treat us like eommon criminals! But it's okay if these rich folks living on Diamond Head trespass illegally on our 'āina. There is a blatant double standard here — one for the rich and the powerful, and another for

"ordinary" citizens who struggle for survival. In 1987, the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) notified these landowners to cease their encroachments, remove their walls, or face imprisonment and fines of up to $500 per day. The state must vindicate public ownership of these

lands by co!lecting all appropriate back rents, fines and other penalties for past years of encroachment. Keith Ahue, the new DLNR director, stated, "This is not about allowing anyone to purchase pub-

lie beaches. We will not sell one grain of sand on the existing beach area." However, these private property owners built their walls, fences and lawns over our sandy beach! Is this not theft and loss to the people of Hawai'i? Though these landowners elaim they own this property, they are willing to pay the state millions to purchase a lot for a park and facilities farther down the coast

in trade. This sale of beachfront property to private landowners would set a dangerous precedent and adds insult to injury in this year of the commemoration of the Overthrow.

Please eall Keith Ahue at DLNR and voice your eoneem that the sale of these Diamond Head lands be halted immediately. The Supreme Court ruled in 1968 that the land belongs to the people. Ho'omaika'i to all 1993 high school and university graduates. It is hoped that you will incorporate your youthful enthusiasm

and energy into Hawaiian issues, for fresh approaches are needed to the problems facing all Hawai'i, whieh are complex and at times seem overwhelming. Those of us courageous enough to keep abreast of loeal and even world news see both splendid opportunities and disastrous pitfalls on the road ahead. None of us will escape the ramifications of what goes on in science, technology, the arts and politics. We live in exciting, tumultuous times — we are moving toward a global village on one hand and are, on the other, threatened with social instability and disintegration. As you leamed in your history courses, today is a continuation of yesterday's wars, treaties and eompromises. Be strong in your spirit of aloha, understand and appreciate aloha 'āina, and righteousness will be done. Hawai'i nei needs your intelligence, your energy, your aloha. Akua bless you all. Good luek and ho'omaika'i in your future studies and endeavors.

Hawaiians should be outraged! What was onee a beach and government road has been fenced or walled up and turned into manicured lawns and private property.