Save Sunset Beach

[After I gave Cheyne Horan’s Speech, for winning the QuikSilver ASP Masters (under 40) in France; because Cheyne asked me to and he couldn’t be there. I started my Save Sunset Beach speech, that I couldn’t finish at the 1999 ASP Party in Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii. It was my fault they cut me off, because Rabbit Bartholomew said, I could say something short for Surfrider (but he stressed that it had to be short). Ever since I knew Rabbit (for over 15 years) he was Always into Helping Surfrider. John Shimooka also said it had to be short. I should of said, this speech aint that short, but it aint that long, but I think it’s Very Important and Worth Hearing. I got to about: Can you guys imagine, Giant Bulldozers etc., before John stopped me and turned off my mic. I had two papers, so I guess he thought it was really long; and they had a long ways to go, before everybody finished talking. John Shimooka was just doing his job as MC. It’s probably better this way anyhow, if you guys print it. Alot more people will probably hear it].

I want to also Congratulate Slater, Layne, Occy, Sonny and all the Winners here tonight; including Cheyne and Rabbit and I want to thank Rabbit for letting me talk for Cheyne. Rabbit also said I could say something short for Surfrider and Save Sunset Beach, about the Obayashi project. I apologize for just coming up and talking (at the ASP Party) unscheduled, last year. People were talking about how much they donated to different causes and No One mentioned, Helping fight the Obayashi project, which could devastate the North Shore. I just couldn’t help it. It Feels a lot Better to get permission (to speak. I have been working with Peter Cole, Doug Rodman, Larry McElheny and some other people (Surfrider & the Sunset Beach Coalition), for many years, trying to rise money through Music, like at the Blue Water Bashes, to fight the Obayashi project. I think it should be of Great Concern to the Whole Pro Surfing trip; because it will Greatly affect
you. The Obayashi Corporation already won the right to build 340 Luxurious homes on 2 acre parcels, a YMCA with 80 elderly apartments and 50 more low income apartments. The Only Reason He’s Not building right now, is Surfrider and the Save Sunset Beach Coalition is appealing their verdict, on a violation of zoning. We’re taking this case to the Supreme Court. If we lose, we all will see Big Changes Soon, probably by the end of two years. Obayashi spent over 10 Million Dollars to get about 1,140 acres that they bought about 25 years ago. I Don’t think they’re planning to give up, their project.

North Shore Residents, Environmental groups and Professional Surfers are among those who propose a Park at this site. We Envision the Land as an “ Open Space Recreation Area”, closely related to all the nearby Ocean Activities and emphasizing, Hawaiian Culture. The “Park” concept fits perfectly with the objectives stated in The Development Plan of The City and County of Honolulu which says: “The role of the North Shore Development Plan area is to retain O’ahu’s rural character, Open space, Natural recreational resources, Scenic Beauty, and Agricultural Lands, in Contrast to the more urbanized Development Plan areas of O’ahu”. Every other Official Planning Policy document for O’ahu, echoes this Philosophy.

Can you guys imagine, Giant bulldozers tearing apart the mountain above Sunset Beach through Pipe and almost to Pupukea. If we have Heavy Rains like we normally have some times. You guys will all be Surfing in Chocolate Waves for awhile. And can you imagine over a thousand more people and about a thousand more cars, right around this area? All these people wash their cars and clothes like most people do. And I think most people Don’t use or Care to use biodegradable products; and most of these detergents will work their way back into our Ocean (I Believe). In about the last year, I’ve seen two turtles beach them selves on the North Shore, because of Tumors. One was completely blinded by tumors and had about ten tumors on him; the other was blinded by a tumor in one eye, but had a whole bunch of tumors on him and they both were Very Sick. It was a Very, Very, Sad, site. I’ve dove and speared fish for a living for over 20 years. A little over 20 years ago, I never saw turtles with tumors and I saw Many turtles. In the last about 15 years, I started seeing a lot of turtles with Tumors on the North Shore. If you would like to see some turtles with tumors, just go to the right side of Laniakea, where people feed the turtles; that’s where we saw the turtle with the tumor on one eye. I’m Sure there’s more. We Don’t Need any Extra Pollution, or Traffic on the North shore; there’s enough already.

When I was a kid growing up Surfing with Reno, the Downings, Blairs family, Gerry Lopez, we had lots of friends living in regular houses by Waikiki Beach.Then they let people build Lots of Hotels in Waikiki and All Our Friends Had to Move. I Believe the Obayashi project is the Start of Big Buildings on the North Shore. As the Save Sunset Beach Coalition would say: The North Shore of O’ahu is a Global Treasure, “Save It, Don’t Pave It”. We (Surfrider and the Sunset Beach Coalition) owe about $5,000.00 in lawyer’s fee; even though the lawyers are working for Free.They have to pay the people working for them and other legal cost. If anyone could donate $10,000.00, it would pay to Help fight the Obayashi project for about another year. If you guys want to Help a Good Cause, which is just letting the Mountain (from Sunset, Pipeline to Pupukea) be a Natural Public Open Space or a Public Park. Please support the Save Sunset Beach Coalition and Surfrider Foundation (Oahu) and Contact Peter Cole, his number is (808)-638-7341. It’s also a tax write off. All you Surfer’s that come to the North Shore to Surf and Everyone in the Surf Trip, should Really Get Behind This.

Mahalo & Aloha, John Orr

Update: 9/2003 The Obayashi Project is Still in the Supreme Court; basically not much
is changed. For more Information contact Peter Cole or Larry McElheny-(808)-638-8484