Back to Hawaii News index

Posted: Thursday, October 18th, 2012 9:15 AM HST

Council members back acquisition of Papaikou trail

By Ken Hupp - 67AM KPUA News

The Papaikou Mill beach access trail is one step closer to becoming a public trail after the Council Finance Committee approved a resolution this week to acquire an easement and the road leading to the trail through eminent domain. Committee members approved the resolution authored by Council Chairman Dominic Yagong on a 6-0 vote, but also asked owners Charlene Prickett and James Waugh to continue pursuing an alternative or find a resolution with Papaikou residents frustrated by the current limits to public access. Tony Guiteras has been a vocal supporter of the resolution, but admits that the act of eminent domain is a slippery slope. “This eminent domain is wonderful because it takes all their liability away from them. They don’t have to worry anymore, which is all they were worried about,” Guiteras said. ”Now they can go into their house, maybe they can even knock down their ten foot rock wall they made, move it back and make an access right there for parking.” The owners have proposed building another route for the public, which would begin on their neighbor’s land, but does not have the support of owner Steve Shropshire. The resolution will be considered when the full council meets on November 9th and 21st. Content for this story was provided by Big Island Video News.