New law seeks middle ground (and quick solutions) in erosion conflict

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - After years of fighting between beachfront homeowners on Oahu’s North Shore and the state over worsening erosion, a measure signed into law Monday has offered a temporary truce — and a potential pathway to a solution.

Homeowners protecting their property and environmental advocates who want the houses off the shrinking beach seem to have reached common ground in the law, which would pay scientists to find solutions quickly.

Among those attending a bill signing ceremony Monday were attorneys on both sides, environmental law Professor Emeritus Denise Antolini and property owners’ attorney Bernard “Bernie” Bays. “We’ve often been at odds about what the solution is and enforcement actions, but on this bill, we all came together,” Antolini said.

Bays said his clients and the beach advocates had something crucial in common.

“We need to preserve that beach, and we need to figure out a way to do it,” he said.

Both sides in the erosion debate agreed on the need for science, instead of unproven and damaging tactics like seawalls and fabric wraps, to determine the best way to retain beaches.

House Bill 2248 gives the UH Sea Grant College $1 million o come up with recommendations in a year and a half. Bill sponsor state Rep. Sean Quinlan represents the North Shore district where erosion around Rocky Point and Ke Iki beach has already undermined multiple homes.

“It’s my hope that it would be a really comprehensive dune and sand management plan for that incredibly important, vital area, not just for the homeowners, not just for the community, but also for the health of our economy,” Quinlan said.

It’s unclear what the researchers will come up with.

A plan could combine bulldozing sand, planting vegetation and moving houses.

“An example might be, what can we speed up the process for homeowners moving their houses back on their lots off the beach?” Antolini.

“Some of them are willing to do that, but it’s an arduous process.”

Bays said some of the homeowners are prepared to leave the beach completely, for a price.

“We don’t think that’s necessary right away, but in the future, it might be necessary to condemn and compensate all the homeowners makai of Kamehameha Highway,” he said.

This scientific approach could be used on other high risk shorelines, but solutions like condemning homes or moving structures and roads could be costly. Gov. Josh Green said his proposed Green Climate fee on tourists would be one way to raise the money.