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Preserving Pūpūkea-Paumalū - A North Shore Icon

Photo: Sean Davey - seandavey.com

by Catharine Lo

In a reflection of his desire to share the nature beauty of Pupukea-Paumalu, North Shore Community Land Trust president Blake McElheny would rather meet at a picnic table at Sunset Beach Elementary School than inside a building.

Along with other community leaders including his father, Larry, Blake McElheny has led the charge to protect the 1,129-acre swath of green that sits 400 feet above Sunset Beach and Pipeline on O'ahu's famed North Shore. Pupukea-Paumalu, which borders the Pupukea Boy Scouts Camp and the Pumalu- Girl Scouts Camp, extends a mile along the Sunset Beach coast, creating a beautiful backdrop and a defining feature of the surfing culture.

In the late 1980s, however, a new landowner, Obayashi Corporation, announced plans to develop Pupukea-Paumalu. Since then, the North Shore community has not wavered in its devotion to permanently protect the land.

Over the last few years, the North Shore Community Land Trust has raised more than $1,000,000 for acquisition and stewardship, and supporters have sent more than 1,000 letters to government leaders. Surfer-musician Jack Johnson, eight-time world surfing champion Kelly Slater, and Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder bring even more momentum to the campaign.

For Johnson-who grew up in the area-preserving the North Shore's rural character goes beyond taking care of his own backyard: "If the whole island turns into Waikīkī, nobody's going to want to come here," he says. "The country is the country for everybody."

But even with the support of the community, government leaders, a willing landowner, and vast sums of money, McElheny needed help to pull together the necessary state and federal funding (the land's appraised value is more than $14 million) and to resolve some incredibly complex real estate issues to protect Pupukea-Paumalu.

Photo: Sean Davey - seandavey.com

That's where The Trust for Public Land stepped in. For five years, TPL has worked with the landowner and the state to resolve legal issues and raise the remainder of the funds. Overwhelming community support and leadership from U.S. Senator Daniel K. Inouye has helped TPL leverage nearly $8 million. Says Senator Inouye: "I am pleased to have secured the federal funds to protect Pupukea-Paumalu. It is most fulfilling when federal funds can galvanize contributions from the state and county governments."

Funding to purchase the land has come from the U.S. Army (more than $3.3 million), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program ($1,978,955), the state of Hawai'i ($1 million), the City and County of Honolulu ($1 million), and private donations. In addition, as a goodwill gesture, Obayashi is working with TPL to donate more than $6 million worth of land for protection.

"Hawai'i is one of the most unique places in the world, and the preservation of this land on the North Shore will ensure that future generations will be able to enjoy the special beauty of another island treasure," says Inouye.

"This shows what can be accomplished when shared values mobilize support for projects that protect our unique and fragile environment and benefit all the people of Hawai'i," adds Governor Linda Lingle.

Once the land is protected, the state will own and manage 1,104 acres-in partnership with the North Shore Community Land Trust-as part of the state park reserve. The City and County of Honolulu will assume ownership of about 25 acres below the bluff. And Pupukea-Paumalu will continue to define the landscape of the North Shore.

Posted 8/2007