Native Hawaiians Divided over Artificial Surf Pool
2023-06-02
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1Brian Keaulana is a Native Hawaiian waterman famous for his understanding of the ocean.
2He is skilled in the water sport of surfing and in water rescue as a lifeguard.
3Keaulana wants to share his expertise and grow the sport of surfing.
4He is seeking to build a surfing center with a big pool that includes a wave machine.
5That way, surfers could always find waves to ride in those times nature does not provide.
6The proposed building site is close to the coast of Oahu, near the state capital, Honolulu.
7The project would be big. The pool itself would hold 26-million liters of water.
8A group opposed to the project is seeking legal action to stop it.
9It argues that the wave pool would damage coastal plants and violate ancient Hawaiian remains.
10The group hopes to cancel the project's approval by the Hawaii Community Development Authority.
11A hearing of the case in a state environmental court is set for July.
12Healani Sonoda-Pale is a plaintiff in a civil case seeking to stop the wave pool.
13She noted that it would sit about 3.2 kilometers from a long popular ocean surf place called White Plains.
14The would-be developers are "profiting off a cultural practice by controlling it by making these wave pools, which are going to destroy the actual beach that is nearby," she said.
15Also, a wave pool recently opened nearby so another is unnecessary and a waste of water, opponents say.
16But Keaulana is still pushing for the project, noting ocean conditions are not always perfect for learning how to surf or save lives.
17He has concerns that Hawaii's Olympic surfing hopefuls cannot train as well as competitors who train at one of several surf parks worldwide.
18He said a wave pool permits more time on a surfboard in an hour than most surfers get in the ocean in a week.
19"You see these surfers going to these surf parks and catching wave after wave and they are honing their skills and then they go into the ocean when there's a swell," he said.
20"Boom. They're already primed and ready."
21Keaulana said the center would create the best conditions needed to keep top surfers competitive using the latest technology.
22And he added it would serve as a "life-saving lab" for teaching safety skills in a controlled setting.
23His business partner, Keno Knieriem, said the details of a wave can be chosen on an electronic device.
24He said the electromechanical system would use devices that can create up to 1,000 waves per hour.
25And it can create swells similar to those in the ocean up to 2.4 meters high.
26Knieriem said some 80 surfers could surf on different waves, like ones for kids or very large waves, at the same time.
27Knieriem said the project would use water saving measures and its own electricity source.
28And it would use native plants around the center.
29Besides a surf pool, the 7.6-hectare site will also include areas for activities like rock climbing, beach volleyball, skateboarding, and other activities.
30The proposed center is looking at a summer 2024 opening, but it is not clear how the legal action will affect the timeline.
31Keaulana said he is hopeful differences can be worked out with ho'oponopono, a traditional, culture-based form of working out differences.
32Project opponents say they are open to such a meeting.
33Keaulana said of concerns about the project, "... I felt - and we felt - that we've pretty much tried to do everything possible."
34And he added, "I just feel to be Hawaiian is to meet up and work your differences and problems out."
35I'm Jill Robbins.
1Brian Keaulana is a Native Hawaiian waterman famous for his understanding of the ocean. He is skilled in the water sport of surfing and in water rescue as a lifeguard. 2Keaulana wants to share his expertise and grow the sport of surfing. He is seeking to build a surfing center with a big pool that includes a wave machine. That way, surfers could always find waves to ride in those times nature does not provide. 3The proposed building site is close to the coast of Oahu, near the state capital, Honolulu. The project would be big. The pool itself would hold 26-million liters of water. 4A group opposed to the project is seeking legal action to stop it. It argues that the wave pool would damage coastal plants and violate ancient Hawaiian remains. 5The group hopes to cancel the project's approval by the Hawaii Community Development Authority. 6A hearing of the case in a state environmental court is set for July. 7Healani Sonoda-Pale is a plaintiff in a civil case seeking to stop the wave pool. She noted that it would sit about 3.2 kilometers from a long popular ocean surf place called White Plains. 8The would-be developers are "profiting off a cultural practice by controlling it by making these wave pools, which are going to destroy the actual beach that is nearby," she said. 9Also, a wave pool recently opened nearby so another is unnecessary and a waste of water, opponents say. 10But Keaulana is still pushing for the project, noting ocean conditions are not always perfect for learning how to surf or save lives. 11He has concerns that Hawaii's Olympic surfing hopefuls cannot train as well as competitors who train at one of several surf parks worldwide. He said a wave pool permits more time on a surfboard in an hour than most surfers get in the ocean in a week. 12"You see these surfers going to these surf parks and catching wave after wave and they are honing their skills and then they go into the ocean when there's a swell," he said. "Boom. They're already primed and ready." 13Keaulana said the center would create the best conditions needed to keep top surfers competitive using the latest technology. And he added it would serve as a "life-saving lab" for teaching safety skills in a controlled setting. 14His business partner, Keno Knieriem, said the details of a wave can be chosen on an electronic device. He said the electromechanical system would use devices that can create up to 1,000 waves per hour. And it can create swells similar to those in the ocean up to 2.4 meters high. 15Knieriem said some 80 surfers could surf on different waves, like ones for kids or very large waves, at the same time. 16Knieriem said the project would use water saving measures and its own electricity source. And it would use native plants around the center. 17Besides a surf pool, the 7.6-hectare site will also include areas for activities like rock climbing, beach volleyball, skateboarding, and other activities. 18The proposed center is looking at a summer 2024 opening, but it is not clear how the legal action will affect the timeline. 19Keaulana said he is hopeful differences can be worked out with ho'oponopono, a traditional, culture-based form of working out differences. Project opponents say they are open to such a meeting. 20Keaulana said of concerns about the project, "... I felt - and we felt - that we've pretty much tried to do everything possible." And he added, "I just feel to be Hawaiian is to meet up and work your differences and problems out." 21I'm Jill Robbins. 22Jennifer Sinco Kelleher reported this story for The Associated Press. Gregory Stachel adapted it for VOA Learning English. 23__________________________________________________________________ 24Words in This Story 25surf - v. to ride on ocean waves using a special board (called a surfboard) 26artificial - adj. not natural or real: made, produced, or done to seem like something natural 27hone - v. to make (something, such as a skill) better or more effective 28swell - n. an upward and downward movement of the water in the sea 29prime - v. to make (someone) ready to do something 30__________________________________________________________________ 31What do you think of this story? 32We want to hear from you. We have a new comment system. Here is how it works: 33Each time you return to comment on the Learning English site, you can use your account and see your comments and replies to them. Our comment policy is here.