‘Nothing to hide’: Laie zip line project partner addresses violations, concerns

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - For the first time, leaders of a controversial zip line project in Laie invited media to the attraction’s construction site to address its building violations with the city, as well as concerns from the community.

Earlier this month, the Department of Planning and Permitting (DPP) confirmed tour company CLIMB Works did not have a grading permit and building violations needed to be corrected.

The company plans to build nine zip line segments in the mountains above the Polynesian Cultural Center.

During an exclusive site visit and interview with Hawaii News Now Monday, project partner Aaron Campbell said of the building infractions, “We take responsibility for that, and we learn from it.”

Campbell showed the HNN crew two wooden decks that were built along a ridge with benches and a grass platform on top of it. The zip line tower that could stand at the site was not yet constructed.

Campbell got emotional during the interview, saying, “I’m doing the best I can to defend Hawaii in a way I think and believe is the right thing to do. I’m happy to take arrows if it means there’s a better future for our children....and as long as my kupuna are okay, I’m going to move forward accordingly.”

Kela Miller and Cy Bridges are two kupuna, and kumu hula, Campbell and CLIMB Works asked to help advise the project.

Bridges sees the attraction as an opportunity to educate others about the land and the project’s efforts to reforest native plants using revenue from the tours.

“You’re not just going up, you are getting inducted with ike, with information about the place, the history, before you get up there,” Bridges said.

To get up to the site, guests will be driven in these custom-made UTVs.

Campbell said the vehicles are environmentally friendly because they’re electric, and quieter than ATVs, so as to not disturb others on nearby trails.

“I’m not going to please everybody, and I’m trying to find the balance,” Campbell said.

Area resident Rebekah Strain is one of many who have been voicing opposition to the project for years.

“Knowing that they didn’t have permission to do that is really frustrating because it’s important and we want to have things done right, through the proper channels, legally, properly... ”Act now, repent later, type thing," Strain said.

Strain worries the tours could harm the environment and limit access for hunters and hikers, which Campbell has denied.

“The damage is already done though, they’ve already done all of the grading, all of the moving of the earth,” Strain argued. “I am happy that we do have them complying with permitting now, it is frustrating that they didn’t do it properly from the get go.”

There is no clear timeline for the project as the company address the violations with DPP.

The department provided HNN the following update on the project’s violations and permits:

“As mentioned in our previous response, the applicant submitted materials intended to address the CUP’s conditions, including the requirement that at least 50% of the property be in active agricultural use before any development could proceed. DPP has since completed its review and determined that the agricultural activities currently on the site now satisfy the conditions of the CUP that are required prior to commencing the use and ground breaking work. DPP has notified the owner that they may now submit the appropriate building permit applications. No minor modifications to the CUP or additional zoning permits are required. Although the CUP’s conditions have been met, the building permit applications must still undergo a full review. Because the work was performed without the required permits, the applications will be processed as after-the-fact permits and will be subject to a triple-fee penalty.”