Bellows Beach Closure Plan Upsets Neighbors
By Gary T. Kubota
POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Jun 02, 2009
The Marine Corps has decided to close its beaches at Bellows Air
Force Station to the public starting this weekend and through June
due to what it called "persistent unsafe and environmentally
destructive activities."
But at least a couple of Waimanalo Neighborhood Board members said
they feel the closure is "unfair."
"Basically this is just a few people spoiling it for everybody," said
board member Andrew Jamila Jr. "We don't want this to be mass
punishment for people."
Jamila said he did not know until a few days ago that the beach area
was experiencing problems, including illicit drug use and drunkenness.
The Marines, which use Bellows as a training area for amphibious
landings, open a portion of the beach area for public use on weekends.
The corps said the closure is due to unsafe activities, including
drug use, fights, large campfires, trash dumping, off-roading on the
beach, alcohol use and vehicle break-ins.
The Marines said the area would be cleaned and reopened in time for
the Fourth of July weekend.
The military, retirees and guests may continue to use the Air Force
cabins on the beach in a restricted area.
Board Chairman Wilson Kekoa Ho said many Waimanalo students are out
of school in June and July, and the decision eliminates 50 percent of
their camping time.
Ho said Bellows attracts people islandwide on weekends, and he felt
thousands of residents were being punished for the conduct of a small
minority.
The Marine Corps has decided to close its beaches at Bellows Air
Force Station to the public starting this weekend and through June
due to what it called "persistent unsafe and environmentally
destructive activities."
But at least a couple of Waimanalo Neighborhood Board members said
they feel the closure is "unfair."
"Basically this is just a few people spoiling it for everybody," said
board member Andrew Jamila Jr. "We don't want this to be mass
punishment for people."
Jamila said he did not know until a few days ago that the beach area
was experiencing problems, including illicit drug use and drunkenness.
The Marines, which use Bellows as a training area for amphibious
landings, open a portion of the beach area for public use on weekends.
The corps said the closure is due to unsafe activities, including
drug use, fights, large campfires, trash dumping, off-roading on the
beach, alcohol use and vehicle break-ins.
The Marines said the area would be cleaned and reopened in time for
the Fourth of July weekend.
The military, retirees and guests may continue to use the Air Force
cabins on the beach in a restricted area.
Board Chairman Wilson Kekoa Ho said many Waimanalo students are out
of school in June and July, and the decision eliminates 50 percent of
their camping time.
Ho said Bellows attracts people islandwide on weekends, and he felt
thousands of residents were being punished for the conduct of a small
minority.
Source: http://www.starbulletin.com/news/hawaiinews/
20090602_Bellows_beach_closure_plan_upsets_neighbors.html
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the closure is due to unsafe activities, including
drug use, fights, large campfires, trash dumping, off-roading on the
beach, alcohol use and vehicle break-ins.
Ho said Bellows attracts people islandwide on weekends, and he felt
thousands of residents were being punished for the conduct of a small
minority.
I'm not surprised that they make some innocent people pay for what the few guilty have done. Always ruining it for the rest! It's more than that though... some people want to totally control the aina and suck the life out of her.
Replies
drug use, fights, large campfires, trash dumping, off-roading on the
beach, alcohol use and vehicle break-ins.
Ho said Bellows attracts people islandwide on weekends, and he felt
thousands of residents were being punished for the conduct of a small
minority.
I'm not surprised that they make some innocent people pay for what the few guilty have done. Always ruining it for the rest! It's more than that though... some people want to totally control the aina and suck the life out of her.
Malama, Lana