the setting Kaena is the last shoreline area on Oahu where a semi-wilderness experience is yet possible. The rugged lava coast, sparkling tide pools and drifting sand dunes are part of unique shoreline environment found nowhere else on Oahu. About three million years aga, Lava flow from the Waianae volcano created the cape which now extends into the sea. Kaena is known to scientists throughout the world for what is called the "Kaena stand of the sea". At Kaena, reef fossils are found today about 30 meters abov 1 1 fossils are clues to a "warm per history -- perhaps 500,000 year on Antarctica and Greenland had level was much higher. The area is also well-know called "Kaena Event" which occur million years ago. Evidence was Kaena Point that the earth' s magnetic field was reversed for a few tens of thousands of years' Today, Kaena is known for its exceptional climate. Tem- peratures range fram a low of 55 to a high of 90. Wind speeds up to 40 knots have been recorded. On the average, there's very little rain at Kaena -- only 38 inches a year. During an averag year, almost 90% of the days hav no rain, However, during the winter, there are very heavy rai as much as 4.3 inches in one day Despite the extreme tempera lack of rain, there are many nat which have managed to survive. plants are found only in Hawaii the ohm', is found nawhere else of the major islands. the yast "Kaeruz, ea2tp and barren, Noar throbe arith the blase of the eun; The rooks ave consumedbp the heat, Dapp>d and changedin their color..." Biiahz'e chant! Kaena is said to be named after a relative of Pele and literally means "the heat" or "red-hot". lt was at Kaena Point that the demigod Maui attempted to unite Kauai and Oahuwith his magic hook, Mana-ia-ka-le+i. WhenMaui pulled on the hook, a huge boulder, Pohakuo Xaum', the rock of Xcmai! fell at his feet. Today, Pohaku o Eauai can be seen off the point. Nearbyon the Mokuleiaside, there is a place called Leina Ra@bane,the "soul's leap" where souls were said to leave this world. Kaena is also famous for its fishing grounds. The legendary chief, Kawelo,is said to have paddledhis canoefrom Waikiki in. pursuit of a giant uhu parrot fish!. After Mauinetted the uhuat Kaena,his canoewas dragged to Niihau, where the fish was subdued. Another story involves a huge red fish which Maui dragged up from Kaena Point. It is said that menehune cut the fish into many small pieces which were thrown into the sea to become kudzu, an island delicacy. In more recent history, Benjamin F. Dillingham first openedup the area whenhe completedthe Waianae-Waialuastretch of his railroad in 1898. Until its closing in l947, the railroad carried passengersand freight between Honolulu and Kahuku. A road was first proposed in 1929 by Senator Francis H.I. Brownwho wantedto use prison labor to build a 10-mileimproved dirt road. Nothing happeneduntil 1953,when the State Legislature appropriated$150,000 to build a 9-mile dirt road using prison labor. In 1954, work started on the road at Makuaand by May 1956, muchof the roadwas completed. However, since that time, very little hasbeen done to improvethe dirt road aroundthe Point. Today,motorists can no longer go around as the road is washedout on the Waianaeside. Despite lack of easy access, Kaenais popular for campers,hikers, fishermen, divers, photographers, motorbikers, hunters, and nature walkers. People from all over Oahuenjoi the relatiVe isolation and peaceful environmentwhich Kaenaoffers. "It is hard to think of a single project that could do more for Leeward and Central tkthu than the completion of the highway around yaena Point, A round-the-point road uould drabz VIEVFPOINTS extra thousands to the area, open up attractive nsv vistas, give us a true round-the-island road for "The vegetation cover has probably never been closed, the first time, multiply the options for scenic instead it uas aluays sotmmzhat open Mith barren dune sand driving, and undoubtedly drys neu business exposed zssongthe plants. But in recent Ames, the dunes haue become to the area." A.A. Smysez; editoz, increasingly subjected to vehicle use jeeps and motorcycles! for joy Honolulu Star Bu22etin, 1966! riding. The result has been an alarming increase of vehicle tracks that ed much of the vegetat:ion couer." "The Kaena Point area, t, 1971! being viz'tua2 Ly untouched by man, is one of the last places on Oahu suitable for of highuay ui22 enhance the econanic activities travel businesses as ue22 as those cospanies in the a zzzzjor park. hhch innovative thought ui22 be tment of Transpartation, EIS, 1971! required to insure the developnmnt of a paz'k "The entire areas adjacent to this project earthy of this unique area. ars planned to be developed into parks and Iet's reverse our priorities recreation areas. This highuay an'.22 serve as and plan the park first. " access to these proposed developments, for without Vi l liam C. Hodge, Sierra this highzday, park development would not be feasibleF CLub, 1971! partment of Transportation, FIS, 1971! vould be feasible... to simply provide road access "Every person who utilizes our the beaches in the Hokuleia and Xokohama Bay can@ each year which ie located areas and Hnrit access to Raena Point to trails. in Kaena...has indicated the This mould offer a recreation opportunity for beauty of Xzsna, as ueLL as the shoreline and nature appreciation which uould be beauty of the natural surrounding un!impaired by the intrusion of motoz vehicles. untouched and unspoiled by man, There are fear, if any, shoreline areas the clean ai» free from noxious reezzining on kzhu uhers this is possible." pollutants. " e illiam S. Sus J.. Sousa, Jr,, State Parks Division/DLFH, Can@~, 1971! 1971! "The implementation of this project vi 22 actually enhance the environment. The clearing and grubb~ sin addition to my strong protest' cs necessary for highway construction ural 2 remove there, I feel that the cost of $8,4 scrub brush, haole koa, and other non-desirable for 6.06 miles of highway -- and do grmrth, as ue22 as n~rous stripped and as a taxpayer to building a road, b abandoned old vehicles. Pavements m ll sightseeing, that costs $1,390,000 replace some of this plant Life... We minor Lizabeth z arks Stu k, Lanckamer, adverse effect... this project viLL have is that there zzi22 be one less location on the island of Oahu vhere uehicles may be stripped and abandoned." DOT, EIS, 1971! ylanning The State Parks Division of the Department of Land and Natural Resources DIER! is responsible For park planning at Kaena. Recently, Me3. Kuraoka and Associates, a consultant, was given a contract to develop a master'plan for the Makua-Kaena State Park. It is expected that the plan will take a year or more to develop, The Natural Area Reserves System Commission NARSC!, created by the 1970 Legislature, is also part af DLNRand advises the Department on the preservation of unique Hawaiian ecosystems. In May, 1971, the NARSC recommended that part of Kaena Point be set aside as a Natural Area Reserve to protect a number of endangered and rare native pIants. To date, the Reserve has not yet been approved by DLNRdue to pending purchase of private lands. The Highways Division of the Department of Transportation DOT! is responsible for developing a highway system on Oahu. In 1967, DOTqualified the Kaena road for federal-aid by including it in the State's highway system. Presently, the unpaved portion is officially called Federal Aid Secondary FAS! 930, part of Farrington Highway. Recently, DOTstated that if any road is built around Kaena Point, it may be built entirely with State funds. If this is the case, DOT need not design the highway to federal highway standards -- but perhaps parks standards. In 1971, DOTproposed a two-lane 35 mphhighway 50 to 60 feet wide with a quarter-cloverleaf off-ramp and parking area at the point, Projected traffic volume was 5,000 cars per day in 1990 or about 400 cars per hour on the average. Estimated cost was $8.5 million. An environmental impact statement EIS! was completed by DU!' in September1971. There was.considerable criticism of the proposed project from the UH Environmental Center, Outdoor Circle, Sierra Club, Conservation Council for Hawaii, CampErdman, and a number of other people. As a result, a series of meetings were held. in November and December 1971 involving DVI', DLNR, and the Governor's Office of Environmental Quality Control OEQC!. It was agreed that DOTand DLNRwould jointly hire a consultant and prepare a joint EIS for the park and roadway. Mel Kuraoka and Associates now has the primary contract for park planning. Wilson Okamotoand Associates has a subcontract for designing the park as part of the overall pIan. getting involvecR There will be many ways for you to get involved in planning for Kaena. First, let the consultants know what you want for the area. If you have information which you think may be helpful, tell them now...don't wait until the public hearing. A second way to get involved is through the environmental impact statement EIS! process. You may request to be a "consulted party" during the preparation of the EIS. As a "consulted party", you can tell DLNRwhat environmental and social impacts should be considered in their studies. tell them about alternatives should be considered -- and alternatives compare with th plan.