Kahana Bay condominium owners seek state help to move long-stalled shoreline mitigation; committee urges interagency talks

Owners and residents from Kahana Bay urged the House Committee on Water & Land to pass SCR 76, a resolution requesting state consultation to help advance a regional shoreline mitigation plan for Kahana Bay. The committee heard extensive public testimony, asked DLNR about legal and permitting roles, and approved the resolution during the April 10, 2025 hearing at the State Capitol.

What residents and owners said

- Mihoko Ito, representing the Ho'olani AOAO (an owners association), said the Kahana Bay steering committee has funded a draft environmental assessment and asked the Office of Planning to consult with the stakeholders to help find a way forward.

- Multiple residents and condo owners described long-term erosion, failing sandbags and public-safety risks from broken sandbags floating into the ocean. Testimony from Lenore Houston, Jesse Opindo, Julie Brockman, Robert Shaw and others emphasized that private owners have invested time and money on designs and engineering but face delays in getting county or state help to move to construction. Several speakers said community financing options such as a community facilities district (CFD) were available but ownership, liability and county participation remain unresolved.

What DLNR and committee members said

- Rebecca Anderson of DLNR answered numerous questions about the agency's role and the limits of state authority. She explained the state generally regulates shoreline questions parcel by parcel and noted counties handle many development permits in the special management area under Chapter 205A, Hawaii Revised Statutes. Anderson said there has been positive engagement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on a possible coordination role, and that past hardening (harbors, breakwaters) has affected sand movement at some localities.

- Committee members pressed DLNR on the distinction between allowing routine maintenance of existing structures (which DLNR may permit) and approving replacement or expanded hardened structures (which the department has declined in past, site-specific cases). DLNR said the current statutory framework is parcel-based and that a broader policy change would require legislative action.

Why it matters

Residential owners said sandbags installed as temporary emergency protection have deteriorated and created hazards for people and marine life; multiple speakers said the erosion has left little or no beach in front of several condos. Owners said they are prepared to pay fair market value for state submerged-land leases and to provide improved public stairs as part of a mitigation plan.

Points of disagreement and constraints

- Ownership, liability and funding were recurring concerns: property owners believe financing mechanisms (such as a CFD) could cover costs, but county and state roles on ownership and long-term maintenance were unresolved.

- DLNR stressed the necessity of county permits and coordination: county permitting authority and special-management-area rules often control development approvals, and DLNR does not unilaterally authorize construction on county-managed areas.

Committee action

After public testimony and questioning, the committee voted to pass SCR 76 as written. Members recorded some reservations during voting; the resolution urges state agency consultation and interagency coordination but does not mandate funding or authorize construction.

Next steps

SCR 76 will move forward with the committee's approval. The Kahana Bay steering committee and county officials will likely continue to negotiate funding, ownership and permitting options as they pursue environmental assessment finalization and potential implementation.

Direct quotes from testimony are drawn from registered testifiers and DLNR staff who spoke at the hearing.