Question: What is the status of the public boat ramp at Ko Olina? The state had an agreement with Ko Olina for a boat ramp to be open to the public in exchange for a permit to build a resort. But Ko Olina closed the ramp, then tore it down. A while back, Ko Olina said it would take three months to perform a study before rebuilding the boat ramp. It has been more than three months. What gives?

Answer: Another three years.

That is, the state Land Use Commission has given Ko Olina Development until 2013 to build a new public boat ramp inside Ko Olina Marina, replacing the old one that was closed in 2005.

More specifically, in a ruling in July 2009, the commission gave the developer 43 months from that date to complete and open the public boat ramp, according to a staff member.

Last year, "Kokua Line" outlined the history of the boat ramp, noting that the Land Use Commission ordered Ko Olina Development in November 2008 to build a public boat ramp inside the marina (see hsblinks.com/2ki).

The commission rejected Ko Olina’s assertion that a smaller ramp at Kalaeloa, known as Phoenician’s, was a suitable replacement.

However, at that time the commission did not set a deadline for building the ramp.

Instead, it required Ko Olina to return with information on where the new ramp would be located, what it would take to rebuild it and a time line for the work.

Creighton Chang, a vocal advocate for the public ramp representing about 300 other fishermen and boaters, told us last year that "we finally got the commissioners to see our way" after 3 1/2 years of testimony.

Last week, however, Chang told us the victory rings a little hollow.

"Even though the fishermen won the battle (for public access rights), we lost the war," he said.

"Yes, we’re going to get the boat ramp," but it will be eight years, from 2005 to 2013, that public access to a ramp will be denied, he said.

"That’s the sad part," Chang said. "Many of us may not be around then."

Question: The Diamond Head end of the Ala Wai bike path continues to be blocked off for what initially seemed a temporary staging area for some sewage-related work/construction. It is now being used for storage or some such use, while the bike path is not accessible to the public. When is the bike path going to be reopened, and why doesn’t that seem of any priority when the voters made it clear that such bike/pedestrian paths should be made a priority in the 2006 City Charter vote?

Answer: The city Wastewater Construction Branch’s sewage bypass line continues to obstruct the Ala Wai bike path mauka of the canal, between University Avenue and the ball field in Ala Wai Park.

According to the branch’s project schedule, the bypass line will remain until the end of 2011, said spokesman Bill Brennan. That means the bike path will not be usable at least through 2011, he said.

AUWE

To the person ringing the cowbell during the Tinman Triathlon in Hawaii Kai on Sunday morning, July 25. Even though I live more than two blocks away from the area around Kamiloiki Park, I could tell when each athlete passed by beginning at 6:30 a.m. I could not hear any cheering or cars, just your cowbell. What a great way to wake up on a Sunday morning. Save your bell for the farm or ski races in Europe. — Anonymous