September 2, 2022

 

Hawaii Attorney General

 

 

Re: Shoreline Access Violations by Lānaʻi Resorts, LLC at Hulopoʻe Bay   

 

Dear Hawaii Attorney General Holly T. Shikada,

 

On the island of Lānaʻi, tech billionaire Larry Ellisonʻs company, Lānaʻi Resorts, LLC operating under the Trade Name Pūlama Lānaʻi, has installed and placed human-induced obstructions within a public right of way through a shoreline transit corridor to Hulopoʻe Bay. Within the last two years, Maui County approved a permit to install an access gate within this corridor, which goes directly against HRS §115-9 (b). Physical impediments that may prevent traversing include but are not limited to the following: Gates; Fences; Walls; Constructed barriers; Rubbish; Security guards; Guard dogs or animals; and A landownerʻs human-induced, enhanced, or unmaintained vegetation that interferes or encroaches within beach transit corridors; Obstructing access to public property. 

 

The gate in question was placed 1,400 feet away from the shoreline to Hulopoʻe Bay and limits access to the public when closed. Physical impediments, such as the boulders that line the corridor and surrounding gate, interfere with access to the shoreline for those with disabilities when the gate is closed. 

 

Today, the gate is open, and the public can access Hulopoʻe Bay; however, the landowner closed the access gate during the covid-19 pandemic and recent surf that flooded the park. It was anticipated that the park would close because of flooding, but access to Hulopoʻe Bay must be maintained at all times.

 

I ask that you take action under HRS §115-10, requiring the landowner to remove these physical impediments that prevent access to Hulopoʻe Bay, such as the gate in question. 

 

Your attention to this matter would be greatly appreciated.

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                                                Sincerely,