A dispute over where a county road ends and private property begins will likely have no impact on a party planned at Papa’a Bay this Sunday, Dec. 28.
Kauaians including some living near Papa’a Bay are planning on having an all-day swimming, fishing, food gathering and beach party at Papa’a, while others remain locked in disagreement about where landowner Peter Guber’s land begins and county property ends along Papa’a Road.
Someone is using a fax machine in Kilauea to spread information that claims Guber’s Mandalay Properties LLC, the owners of the Papa’a Bay Ranch property, is in contempt of court for erecting a gate along the road against a judge’s wishes.
A contact number on the fax doesn’t match the name on the fax sent to The Garden Island.
“He’s wrong,” said Paul Alston, attorney for Guber and Guber’s Mandalay properties, said of the claims being made in the fax. “The government roadway ends just mauka of the gate.”
In a letter to several entities including William Young of ‘Aliomanu, Save Our Seas, Mayor Bryan J. Baptiste and county attorneys, and others, Alston makes it known in no uncertain terms that those who would trespass on Mandalay property (beyond the gate) at Papa’a will be “subject to criminal prosecution and liability in a civil lawsuit.”
Young, Alston said, has disclaimed any responsibility for Sunday’s party. But some Native Hawaiians are still planning on showing up to fish, swim and have a cookout, saying the gathering is being held to celebrate the opening of beach access at Papa’a Bay.
Baptiste, who mentioned on his weekly radio address Monday that he will be working to improve beach access at Papa’a in the near future, said through the public information office that the celebration might be premature.
“He neither condones nor condemns the celebration,” said Cyndi Mei Ozaki, county public information officer. “The county is in the process of doing a title search to indicate how to proceed.
“Until he can get clarification, he cannot take a side,” she said. “He definitely supports public access, and would like to see access improve all over the island.
“He is asking for the public’s assistance until the title search is completed,” Ozaki said.
“Citizens of Kaua’i nei, fishermen, surfers, traditional gatherers, and persons who honor and respect the ‘aina and kai of Papa’a” are invited to the celebration, according to another written statement received at The Garden Island.
The statement gives directions: “Turn onto Papa’a Road, between mile markers 15 and 16 on Kuhio Highway. When the pavement becomes dirt, follow down to Papa’a Bay. Park within the Papa’a Road right of way (30-feet-wide), which goes to sandy beach.”
Associate Editor Paul C. Curtis may be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 224) or pcurtis@pulitzer.net.
Staff Writer Tom Finnegan may be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 252) or tfinnegan@pulitzer.net.
