Stairway To Heaven
I received a very informative email from a concerned Windward resident who shared background and historical information about the importance of Haʻiku Stairs. She opened my eyes to how the stairs have always been part of our community and should remain so. There doesn't seem to be any logical reason why they are set to be torn down. Iʻll let her tell you in her own words.
"I'm a member of Friends of Haiku Stairs and very concerned about the fact the City, under the impetus of our present District III Council member, Esther Kia'āina, has decided destroying an important historical landmark on the Windward side is okay. The City is violating the Koolaupoko Sustainable Plan, the Deed Covenant protecting Haiku Stairs, the structures associated with it, and damaging an ecosystem and historical site with removal. Haiku Stairs saved lives in WW ll and we should be saving them and educating youth about why it was necessary to build them, especially at a time Democracies all over the world are under threat. The area below the stairs needs to become a public park with access management in place in order to protect the area, culture sites, historical sites, and protect the nearby neighbors. Parking, comfort stations, pathways, restoration of the native forest, nature walks, stream restoration, stewardship opportunities, access to Haiku Stairs monitored with an educational guide, and a cultural/historical/environmental education center to educate the public about this area should be established. I would like to see our taxpayer monies going toward more public work projects like this for the people, such as trails, walking paths, parks, passive and active outdoor recreational and stewardship opportunities instead of closing beach access and destroying trails. 90% of the testimony submitted to City Council regarding removing Haiku Stairs was in favor of saving them. 265 Haiku neighbors who live near the Stairs were interviewed about Haiku Stairs and 67.6% favored saving them as long as there was access management, 9.8% weren't sure, and only 22.5% wanted them torn down. Why are the people being ignored?"
Exactly! Why are the people being ignored. I know we can work out a solution where everybody will be satisfied. We just have to work together.
I donʻt like the idea that a few influential people decided that the stairs had to be demolished.
"I'm a member of Friends of Haiku Stairs and very concerned about the fact the City, under the impetus of our present District III Council member, Esther Kia'āina, has decided destroying an important historical landmark on the Windward side is okay. The City is violating the Koolaupoko Sustainable Plan, the Deed Covenant protecting Haiku Stairs, the structures associated with it, and damaging an ecosystem and historical site with removal. Haiku Stairs saved lives in WW ll and we should be saving them and educating youth about why it was necessary to build them, especially at a time Democracies all over the world are under threat. The area below the stairs needs to become a public park with access management in place in order to protect the area, culture sites, historical sites, and protect the nearby neighbors. Parking, comfort stations, pathways, restoration of the native forest, nature walks, stream restoration, stewardship opportunities, access to Haiku Stairs monitored with an educational guide, and a cultural/historical/environmental education center to educate the public about this area should be established. I would like to see our taxpayer monies going toward more public work projects like this for the people, such as trails, walking paths, parks, passive and active outdoor recreational and stewardship opportunities instead of closing beach access and destroying trails. 90% of the testimony submitted to City Council regarding removing Haiku Stairs was in favor of saving them. 265 Haiku neighbors who live near the Stairs were interviewed about Haiku Stairs and 67.6% favored saving them as long as there was access management, 9.8% weren't sure, and only 22.5% wanted them torn down. Why are the people being ignored?"
Exactly! Why are the people being ignored. I know we can work out a solution where everybody will be satisfied. We just have to work together.
I donʻt like the idea that a few influential people decided that the stairs had to be demolished.
