Landscape Architect Articles

LASN Letters/News/Commetary March 2011: Paradise Lost: The Curious Case of Kaupo Beach Park03-03-11 | News

Paradise Lost
The Curious Case of Kaupo Beach Park

By Stephen Kelly, editor

The eastern end of Kaupo Beach Park has a steady stream of polluted runoff coming down from the Oceanic Institute?EUR??,,????'?????< Photos: Andrew Pereira of KHON 2, Oahu

Two Waimanalo, O?EUR??,,????'?????<

The story began three years ago when ?EUR??,,????'?????<

Kaahawai and Jamila were directed by park officials not to build anything in the park, but they built a rock wall terrace, a concrete walkway, installed concrete picnic tables and landscaping, including $30,000 worth of donated sod. No cost to parks and rec, nor to taxpayers.

Kaahawai and Jamila dubbed the park ?EUR??,,????'?????<

The cement tables and stools came from Jamila?EUR??,,????'?????<

???????(R)?EUR??,,????'?EUR??,,?EUR

Kaupo Beach Park on Oahu was overgrown and a dumping ground until two local residents organized a clean-up, built a rock wall terrace and concrete walkway, placed 11 concrete picnic tables with matching seats and thousands of dollars in landscaping. Unofficially called ?EUR??,,????'?????<

The park department is pleased and grateful. Just kidding. Officials declared it an ?EUR??,,????'?????<

KHON 2 in Honolulu reports city?EUR??,,????'?????<

Returned to its prior state!? Fines of $150 a day against the two men are set to begin March 2.

The city says the men failed to get proper permits and the illegal park poses an environmental hazard because of runoff entering the ocean. The city is also worried about the safety of drivers and pedestrians because of the close proximity of the highway.

Ah, now we see. Instead of dealing with the polluted runoff and safety issues, the parks dept. just decided to ignore the park and let it become a dumping ground that no one would want to visit. Problem solved.

Andrew Pereira of KHON 2 has been following this story for some time, and provided a few images of the improved park to LASN he?EUR??,,????'?????<

On Feb. 3, Pereira updated the story. City spokeswoman Louise Kim-McCoy told him there was no compromise now, but the men ?EUR??,,????'?????<

Wouldn?EUR??,,????'?????<

Jamila and Kaahawai say they?EUR??,,????'?????<

Meanwhile, state Rep. Chris Lee is working with the University of Hawaii School of Architecture on how to stabilize the soil surrounding Kupuna Terrace.