The fight over Haiku Stairs went back into a Honolulu courtroom as part of a last-ditch effort to stop the stairs from being dismantled, a group is asking the court to intervene but the City and State lawyers are pushing back.
The actual removal of the Haiku Stairs remains at a halt. A ruling by Judge Cataldo is expected soon on a temporary restraining order and injunction against the City and County of Honolulu by the Friends of Haiku Stairs.
The group alleges “deficiencies” by the state’s Office of Conservation and Coastal Lands and the State Historic Preservation Division by permitting the City to remove the stairs.
The plaintiff’s motion also adds that there’s a Historic Preservation Covenant protecting the structure.
Tim Vandeveer is representing the Friends of Haiku Stairs in the case.
“The Friends of Haiku Stairs is absolutely within their rights to ask this court for an injunction,” Vandeveer said. “This was obviously a political decision on the part of the City with the concurrence of the state agencies.”
The defense argues the City’s plans to remove the stairway were surveyed and permitted, and that the City and County is within its right to remove the stairs that sit on its own property.
State Deputy Attorney General Miranda Steed said the plaintiff had not exhausted all administrative actions to prevent the demolition.
Steed told the judge, “Again we don’t dispute that they are passionate about stairs but that by itself doesn’t provide a cognizable injury to come to court.”
The Friends of Haiku Stairs Vice President Daniel Scorza said they are also taking their battle outside the courtroom. The group is appealing the permit from the State Historic Preservation Division with its review board.
Scorza said, “They have jurisdiction to approve or deny removal of any property that’s over 50 years old in the state by law.”
A closed-door hearing with the Hawaii Historic Places Review Board is scheduled on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson with Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s office said the contractor continues to prepare the stairs for removal, and said if the judge rules in the City’s favor, the work will continue as planned.