FRIENDS OF HAIKU STAIRS
NOVEMBER 2003
Dear Friends of Haiku Stairs,
We need your help!
The Resolution for the City’s Dept. of Parks & Recreation to acquire
the Haiku Valley land from Board of Water Supply was deferred in Councilmember
Romy Cachola's Executive Matters Committee. Also, according to the Honolulu
Advertiser, Rep. Ken Ito has called for a delay in transferring the BWS land
to the City.
The difficulties suffered by some residents of the nearby neighborhoods due
to the rogue (trespassing) climbers have, until recently, been serious indeed
and have given rise to a concerted effort by some of these residents to destroy
the Stairs and prevent the City from creating a Cultural Park in Haiku Valley.
While this viewpoint is not held by a majority of residents, the minority
is extremely vocal and active.
At a meeting called especially for the purpose by Rep. Ito last month, several
members of those neighborhoods expressed emotional complaints about what they
see as the City's lack of planning and consideration of their neighborhoods.
Some of the speakers called for tearing the Stairs out, although most indicated
that they were willing to go along with opening the Stairs if only their problem
were solved. (Rep. Ito spoke in favor of the same thing in a TV interview
a few nights earlier.)
At two recent Kaneohe Neighborhood Board meetings the comments have been harsher
and more emotional. The objectors are organized. They have placed a representative
on the Neighborhood Board; they have enlisted Rep. Ito's and, apparently,
Councilmember Cachola's support.
As we understand the position of those speaking against the Stairs and Cultural
Park:
--They think the City has done a poor job of communicating their plans to
the community, did not respond to their problem in a timely manner, and has
not met with the residents to discuss the matter.
--They don't believe the City will produce a management plan that will keep
rogue climbers away from their properties.
--They argue that opening the Stairs will increase the number of people climbing
the fences. (This is hard to understand at all, since it's the closure that
caused that problem in the first place.)
--They argue that the potential good to the community does not justify the
harm that they believe they will suffer. We understand their concerns, given
the invasion of rogue climbers they once suffered, but we believe that their
anticipated indispositions can be minimized and hold that the value to the
community from Haiku Stairs and a Cultural Preserve and Park in Haiku Valley
warrants a determined effort to find a reasonable resolution of the issues.
A hopeful sentence in a recent Star-Bulletin op-ed: "To date, the city
has yet to meet with the affected residents, to hear our concerns and to work
with us to find a solution that works for residents and hikers alike."
It’s time for that to happen.
The Board and the City Councilmembers have been hearing mostly from those
who are upset and want the Stairs gone. It's hard for them not to sympathize
when they are hearing only that side of the issue. But we know there are thousands
who want the Stairs available to them for the recreational, historical, educational,
scientific value they offer. We are confident that with adequate planning
and supervision it can be done with minimal impact on the neighborhoods.
We need to document that support.
We hope that we can show the Councilmembers and others that there is a real
worth to the project, a groundswell of support for this matchless asset, and
that it is worth digging in and figuring out a way to make it work to everyone's
benefit.
It would be helpful if everyone who recognizes the value of the Haiku Stairs
would, in a positive, non-accusative way, write letters urging support for
the resolution of the neighborhood problem and the opening of Haiku Stairs.
Write letters to the editor:
letters@starbulletin.com
letters@honoluluadvertiser.com
editorial@honoluluweekly.com
hawaiimarine@mcbh.usmc.mil
Write letters to your City Councilmember. Councilmembers’ e-addresses are at:
PLEASE WRITE NOW – HELP US SAVE HAIKU STAIRS!
JULY 2003
Dear Friends,
Latest happenings:
The Haiku Stairs are about to undergo a transition in use that no one can
fully anticipate. After a summer of suffering trespassing hikers in ever growing
numbers, antagonism in the communities through which hikers passed finally
caused the city to post police security guards at the foot of the Stairs to
turn them away. On the positive side, this uncomfortable situation also brought
about renewed vigor in the City's efforts to quickly install the required
signage, so that the Stairs may be opened with reasonable assurance that would-be
climbers have received sufficient warning about the nature of the undertaking.
Possible August opening:
At a meeting in the Mayor's conference room on Monday, discussion took place
regarding a possible opening of the Stairs in mid-August, with interim parking
and restroom facilities at Hope Chapel. The Friends of Haiku Stairs has been
asked to help with both maintenance and a bit of management activity in the
initial stages of legal use, at least until the Department of Parks and Recreation
gets a better handle on the requirements.
Work to be done:
We will schedule another work day as soon as it can be arranged. Primary focus
will be determined by the Work Day Committee (Jane, Eileen, Bill G, Maura,
Patrick, Naomi), but preliminary evaluation indicates a growing problem with
erosion along side and under certain stair sections where people stepping
onto the ground (to allow passing) have killed the ground cover and allowed
gullies to form. There are also a few loose steps and rails that need tightening,
as well as the continuing work on alien plants. DPR has no one assigned to
do the job; although its just nuts and bolts, one has to climb to get to the
job site and it takes a pretty good size crew to do the work. So, if we don't
do it, it won't get done. Once we hear back from the City on how to proceed
with planning this maintenance, we'll pass that on to the committee and begin
planning.
We've been asked to help:
A second need will occur on the two weekends on and following the opening.
As no one really has a good handle on expected use, and how people will be
behaving on the stairs, Friends of Haiku Stairs will provide a few folks to
act as Mountain Hosts. The Hosts will be available to answer questions, to
keep a count of the number of climbers and what they do, and to provide a
visible presence to discourage misbehavior. These data, when compiled at several
points along the Stairs over a couple of weekends, will help provide a comprehensive
picture of busy-day use, and aid in developing appropriate management policies.
Please consider volunteering for either or both endeavors. They should be
fun, and you couldn't ask for a better job site.(FHS will provide identifying
hats and t-shirts). More to come on both issues shortly.
Board meeting:
At the Friends of Haiku Stairs Board and Steering Committee meeting in July,
Jane Beachy and Eileen Helmstetter were elected to the board of directors.
Both ladies have put in many hours of work on the stairs and surrounding environment,
and both are skilled in natural resources protection. We are fortunate to
have the benefit of their energy, knowledge, and judgment as we move forward
in this critical transitional period for Haiku Stairs. The Board also accepted
the resignation of our Treasurer, George Price, approved a "thank you"
letter to George, and elected a new Treasurer, Randy Ching.
New Lifetime Member:
Lastly, our congratulations and thanks to David Jessup, newest lifetime member
of Friends of Haiku Stairs. Mr. Jessup was a naval radioman who was stationed
at the Kaneohe Radio Station in 1946 and served much of his duty time by riding
the cable car up to the Upper Hoist House, then climbing on up to the CCL
hut at the top of the Stairs and providing maintenance on the HF radio equipment
housed there. (That was the only part of the Stairs he ever climbed, he admitted.)
He also authored the memoires we posted on the fhs-l list a few months ago,
and is the source of many of the historical pictures of the site.
Thanks to all of you for your continuing support and interest in Haiku
Stairs.
John Goody, President
JANUARY 2003
Dear Friends:
You may have noticed that, despite the completion of repairs to Haiku Stairs, they remain closed to the public. Here is the scoop:
The repairs were completed last summer, with portions re-leveled, new steps installed where needed, and lots of new railings that now glisten in the morning sunlight on the eastern ridge. Plans were under way for an opening of the Stairs to the public, with a target date in September or early October. A volunteer work-day cleared overgrowth, began the task of removing alien species of trees, and constructed a good approach trail (thanks to the work crew from Hawaii Trail and Mountain Club, Sierra Club, and the firm of Belt Collins).
When the Sacred Falls law suit verdict was announced, which assigned liability to the State for having inadequate warning signs of the hazards to which Sacred Falls hikers would be exposed, a halt was put on opening Haiku Stairs pending a review of necessary warning signs. This evaluation has taken months, since the ruling was ambiguous as to what is considered adequate warnings of obvious (and apparently to some, not so obvious) perils. The City has hired consultants to assist with the signage; FHS has provided its input as to the actual hazards as we know them; and now we are waiting for the City's attorneys to complete their staffing and review of the results.
Interim access to the Stairs has been negotiated with Hope Chapel, but public use of this access is waiting for resolution of the warning sign issue. The prospect for long-term use of Haiku Valley, including permanent access to the Stairs through the valley, is improving, as there has been progress in the negotiations between the City and DHHL (which owns the valley) for such use. The City's planning effort for a preserve and park in the valley has been suspended pending completion of the negotiations.
In the meantime, a barrier fence has been constructed across the front of the Stairs, to discourage trespassing. And, as we wait, plants are continuing to grow, with alien species crowding in both on Stair climbers and on native species of plants that naturally belong there. We will need to address that problem in the near future.
Please stay tuned. We will be asking for volunteers to help with alien plant removal, and for some volunteer leaders to help organize volunteer work parties. The volunteer leaders will be trained in plant recognition, management techniques, and safety. Anyone interested? We will let you know when we schedule a volunteer meeting, and as soon as we get word on an official opening.
Thank you for your continuing interest and support.
Friends of Haiku Stairs,
John Goody
SEPTEMBER, 2002
Dear Friends:
It is with great pleasure that we announce that the Stairs are about to be opened to the public 'officially,' for the first time since 1987. The official opening will appear in the newspapers, but is currently targeted for sometime in October. We will let you know as soon as the date is firmly set.
The City's negotiations for use of Haiku Valley are likely to be prolonged, perhaps taking up to several years, because of the complicated nature of the land exchange. Therefore, interim access to the Stairs is being negotiated through the Hope Chapel, where parking, rest rooms, and access to the H-3 service road will be leased by the City.
From Hope Chapel, the route to the Stairs by way of the H-3 Service Road is about 3/4 mile. This is a well-needed warm up for those knee joints before the unremitting climb of 2,500 feet.
FHS has been working with the City Department of Parks and Recreation in preparing the trail to the Stairs, developing an informational brochure, preparing appropriate signage, planning emergency procedures, and beginning the long and arduous task of removing aggressive alien plants from along the way. Our thanks go out to volunteers from the Sierra Club, Hawaii Trail and Mountain Club, and the Planning, Environmental, Engineering firm of Belt Collins for their help with our August volunteer work day. Perhaps our biggest challenge for the near future will be to regain control of the alien plants overgrowing portions of the Stairs, choking out native species that are one of the great enjoyments of the climb. We will be asking your help with this continuing problem in the near future.
If you haven't renewed your membership in FHS for this year, please do. We are much in need of your help as a volunteer, and whatever contribution you can make to help us fund the upcoming work. That work will include educational materials and beginning the long task of environmental restoration.
Mahalo,
John Goody
President, Friends of Haiku Stairs
NEWS UPDATE 14 November, 2001
Dear Friends:
With repairs of the Stairs to be completed in the coming year, a critical time is approaching for the future of Haiku Stairs and Haiku Valley. There are two ways in the next few weeks that you can help.
First, the planning team for a Nature and Cultural Preserve and Park in Haiku Valley will be holding a public meeting on 29 November, 2001. This Thursday evening meeting will convene at 6:30 P.M. at Windward Community College, Hale Kuhina Room 115. Hale Kuhina is the adult education building located just to the left of the administration building at the top of the circle. Among the discussion points will be access to the valley and Haiku Stairs, future park plans, and related measures. Please plan on attending to offer your support for the Stairs and valley as a preserve, and to provide your thoughts on a variety of matters of mutual concern to local residents and potential preserve users.
Second, we have initiated a Kaneohe-Kahaluu Vison Team project to construct a comfort station and make basic infrastructure repairs at the Haiku Stairs trail head, the former Quarantine Station. This will enable us to get hikers' cars out of community streets and to provide basic sanitation services for Stairs users and for volunteers working in the valley. This improvement is consistent with the master plan under development, but needs your support to be approved, as it is competing with numerous other projects for limited funds. Deadline for comments is 20 November.
Please, right now, email a short statement of support for funding this project, Haiku Stairs Trail Head Comfort Station, to:
Mr. Danny Smith dsmith@co.honolulu.hi.us
Subject line: Kaneohe-Kahaluu Vision Team