Kauai County Council Chair Mel Rapoza emphasized public access rights, saying, 'It's our right as residents and even visitors of this place to be able to use the public access.' He noted that landowners cannot legally restrict access to the beaches.
Rapoza criticized landowner actions at Anini Beach, recalling a case where a security guard removed a Native Hawaiian elder from the beach, asserting, 'A huge pet peeve of mine is when private landowners take over public access. That just drives me nuts.'
The Kauai County Council passed Resolution 2024-26 urging the state to survey the shoreline at Anini Beach to clarify public access boundaries, prompted by landowner obstruction.
Despite the landowner moving beach amenities off the public space, Rapoza expressed concern, stating, 'There's no guarantee that he won't do it again,' indicating ongoing tensions regarding access.
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