Kawai Nui Marsh hearing
focuses on ranchers,
ed center

By Mary Adamski
Star-Bulletin

State planners outlined a project to open up waterways and create ponds in the 830 acres of Kawai Nui Marsh to attract waterfowl and control flooding, ideas without opposition at a public hearing on a draft environmental assessment.

The controversial portion of the assessment calling for a visitor and education center was withdrawn Wednesday, but it still drew heated testimony at the Board of Land and Natural Resources hearing last night.

The Hawaii Audubon Society and three other environmental groups had applied for a lease for a 5-acre site below Castle Hospital. Their planned center would be in the midst of the Diamond K cattle ranch operated by Martin and May Knott.

A groundswell of community support for the Knotts, who have ranched on 80 acres on the Kailua Road side of the marsh for 27 years, led the environmental groups to back off for now.

Cattle a potential hazard?

Speakers on both sides of the controversy, which has been played out in previous community meetings and is the subject of a petition drive on behalf of the Knotts, had no quarrel with the state's plan. It aims to reclaim the swampy land as a wetland habitat for endangered and migratory birds, maintain channels for flood control and make the area accessible to hikers.

"There's no question that the marsh serves as a filter for pollutants. Kailua Bay would be much worse if it wasn't for Kawai Nui Marsh," said Bill Sager of the Conservation Council for Hawaii.

Ranch attorney Michael Gibson said the Knotts "unconditionally support the habitat restoration and flood control measures. We're hoping the Knotts will be the caretakers of the marsh; they have been excellent stewards of the land for 27 years."

He said the grazing cattle help to control the grasses that are clogging waterways in the marsh, ultimately benefiting wildlife there.

Sager said the grazing is "a limited benefit." The cattle "trample and damage" stream banks and cause a potential hazard for hiking. The cattle are a pollution source, he said, describing a "mound of manure and wood chips that is leaching into the marsh."

May Knott said: "We're not destroying the marsh; we've kept it in good condition all these years. We're not selfish about the marsh," she said, describing her efforts to show visitors the unique wetland.

Educational center debated

Kailua resident Deborah Pope said the educational potential of the marsh should include "all the stories it has to tell. Ranching, with its 100-year history in the marsh, is an interesting and colorful piece of the record."

Linda Paul, president of the Hawaii Audubon Society, said the organization agreed that more dialogue and community involvement were needed before proceeding with the education center.

"The downside of putting this on hold is that without a plan, we can't raise the money for an educational center," Paul said.

Along with the Audubon Society and the Conservation Council for Hawaii, the center was backed by Kawai Nui Heritage Foundation and Ahahui Malama I Ka Lokahi.

"It's a real relief," said Martin Knott. "I don't hold a grudge. I'm gratified for community support."

But he said since the ranch is on a month-to-month lease with the state, "I'm still worried about being allowed to stay."

He said one proposal has been to move his family off the 80 acres "and squeeze me into 20 acres on the other side."

Michael Harrington of the Aloha State Radio Control Club said more than 200 model-aircraft hobbyists are concerned about whether they may keep using the Kawai Nui Model Airpark at the edge of the marsh off Kapaa Quarry Road.

Paul Conry, state wildlife program manager, said the first phase will be to construct 70 acres of shallow ponds, erect 16,000 feet of fencing, mow tall grass and remove trees that have taken hold along stream banks. "We're trying to recover and restore the bird population."