Residents of Laie, Hawaii, are expressing anger and dismay after developers allegedly began unauthorized construction for a large zipline project through a popular mountain hiking trail. Photos surfaced this week showing the trail converted into an access road for construction vehicles, leading to accusations that the work is proceeding without necessary approvals.
The zipline project, proposed by operator Climb Works in 2020, has faced opposition from local residents concerned about increased tourism and noise. The US Army also previously raised concerns about the potential disruption of air traffic by zipline towers.
City of Honolulu officials have stated that no building permits have been issued for the site development. Davis Pitner, a spokesperson for the Department of Planning and Permitting, confirmed to SF Gate that the construction violates city ordinances. "No building permits have been granted, and site development has not been approved," Pitner said. The department reviewed the photos and identified apparent "grading and building violations."
Climb Works leases the 464 acres for the project from Property Reserve, a real estate company associated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which owns over 6,000 acres in Hawaii, much of it in Laie.
Aaron Campbell, a partner with Climb Works Adventure Co. Laie, stated that the company is committed to working with the department and following permit requirements. "We're committed to following the applicable permit requirements and working cooperatively with the appropriate agencies," Campbell told SF Gate. "We know there are people in the community who have different views about the project, and we respect that."
However, the planning department challenged Climb Works' assertion of compliance. According to the department, a conditional use permit granted in 2020 required at least 50 percent of the property to be in active agricultural use before development could commence. "Agricultural activities such as goat and sheep ranching, crop production, and forestry do not require a CUP [Conditional Use Permit] or MOD [modification to an existing CUP]," Pitner explained. "However, construction of agribusiness-related structures is not currently allowed because the property has not yet met the CUP conditions."
Honolulu officials are preparing a notice of violation for Climb Works. The department indicated that the property owner would need to obtain a building permit to rectify the violation or remove the unpermitted structure. Additionally, permit fees are expected to be tripled due to the unapproved work. Local resident Kamalani Keliikuli described the situation as "heartbreaking," expressing concern that community members are being left with insufficient time to respond to developments.