Waianae community members are calling on state legislators to finally put in place a new management system at Makua Beach, Keawaula Beach and Kaena Point.

These areas, typically used for Hawaiian cultural activities and recreation, have suffered from heavy usage by locals and visitors alike, leading to broken facilities as well as pollution in the water and brush.

“There are people that are doing pono stuff, fishing, stargazing and just spending time with their ohanas,” said Micah Doane, founder of the local volunteer group Protectors of Paradise. “But then you have the people that just are totally being … abusive and ruining it for everyone.”

Senate Bill 1258 is one of many bills introduced last year and carried over to the 2024 legislative session aimed at addressing these issues. Measures that didn’t pass during the first session of the biennium last year are technically still alive, but aren’t guaranteed to get another hearing during the current session, which began Wednesday.

Written by Doane and his wife, Stacie Sakauye, and introduced into legislation by state Sen. Maile Shimabukuro, this bill would require the Department of Land and Natural Resources to develop and implement a management system for these three locations in West Oahu.

“I just thought it was timely and things are just getting out of control. We continue to see tons of litter and just horrible treatment of these places,” Shimabukuro said. “We want everyone to enjoy these beautiful places, but we want to manage it in a way that it doesn’t get abused.”

Miscommunication about the specifics of this management plan, though, has posed an obstacle to pushing the bill forward, supporters say.

“One person was upset about the bill because they thought it meant we wanted more control and power,” said Doane. “But we’re really looking at creating a management plan that would be like the ahupua‘a system plan and getting everyone’s views on what would work best for the Makua, Keawaula area.”

While the specifics of this management plan will ultimately be up to DLNR, Shimabukuro is looking to Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve as a possible example for this new plan. The popular park and snorkeling destination has implemented a reservation- and fee-based system.

“We don’t have the mass of people that go, compared to Hanauma Bay, but something along the lines of that,” said Shimabukuro. “Definitely if you’re kamaaina, there won’t be any charge, but maybe, possibly, if you’re not, then there could be a small fee or something. I think that could really help.”

The state has developed policies and installed physical barriers to try to preserve the pristine makeup of the land, its cultural history and its geological resources of Kaena Point. The federal government is also considering the designation of Kaena Point as a national heritage area.

But advocates say the issue needs to be addressed more urgently.

“As long as we abide by the laws of nature and community, we will be guided in the right direction where we can put things into place where the future generations are going to benefit from it,” Doane said.