The Modern LineUp
World's largest deep water standing wave pool makes a ruckus on O‘ahu.
By Nicholas Fernandez and Zoe Spencer:
Ms. Spencer is an O‘ahu based writer of Hawaiian descent. Mr. Fernandez is a California native of Pacific Island descent based in O’ahu who is a writer and policy representative for Earth Guardians O‘ahu.
Just steps from Oʻahu’s coast, a chlorinated slab of water replicates one of the most sought after natural phenomena of Hawai’i. A 100-foot long standing wave rolls hour after hour being operated by buttons and switches, rather than the pull of the moon or the push of the wind. Rubber mats soften any possible fall instead of coarse sand and jagged rocks. All the while a man in shades and slippers observes, waiting to push a big red button at any sign of danger.
Hawai‘i is the surf capital world, with some of the most sought after waves. In recreating this alluring force, Tokyo-based developer Haseko has immortalized and commodified this to sell to the upper class. Haseko announced the plans to develop their wave pool in Ewa Beach, Oʻahu in early Sep. 2022 reported by KITV 4. Opposition arose from many community members as they knew Ewa Beach could not sustain such crowds. In early February of this year, the Hoakalei resort opened up their artificial wave pool. The new addition to the west side conglomerate has been dubbed Wai Kai, a double negative of a name if you break down the Hawaiian origins. Nonetheless, adjacent to the world's largest deep-water standing wave pool lies 52-acres of lagoon, three restaurants, event lawns and firepits. All together this water recreation destination is now known as the “LineUp” while achieving the absolute opposite of a traditional surf line up.
Those who are looking for a unique experience can pay upwards of the grand opening discounted price of $140 per 45 minute session on the wave. According to LineUp employee Breanna McMurray, tourist groups have slowly started to cycle in on Saturdays and spend close to $4000 in stores and average of $200 a meal at one of their few restaurants. She also said that locals tend to buy out the water activities since there is a 50% off kamaʻāina rate. “Although business is picking up with the summer season around the corner, we still see a lot of the same, wealthy customers who just shop around, spend a couple hundred dollars and then leave, not even showing interest in trying the water activities.” Breanna McMurray added.
This kama’āina discounted price is offered with proof of a Hawaiʻi state ID card. This may be a smart marketing choice on behalf of Haseko, in an attempt to appease the locals who most likely have negative outlooks on the development.
Oʻahu is also in a water crisis, one of the worst in its history. With capitalism continuously destroying the natural landscape of the islands it is the shared belief of most Oʻahu residents that the island does not need a wave pool in a water crisis. Especially due to the naturally occurring waves most locals already enjoy and have for generations. Nevertheless, the paper chasers won again.
Voices of Oʻahu residents and activists turned to shouts once the announcement of the WaiKai wave pool cracked open the land. Sen. Kurt Fevella of Ewa Beach divulged in an interview with KITV 4 that the local infrastructure cannot handle such a development. Ewa Beach is already having trouble sustaining golf tournaments. The senator worries about the potential 8,000-plus people coming to events hosted by the LineUp. Sen. Kurt Fevella and Council Member Adria Tupola started holding community meetings in September to discuss the issue.
Kūpuna (elders) were concerned as there was a belief that there were iwi kupuna–ancestral bones–located at the construction of the wave pool. Sustainability groups such as O‘ahu Water Protectors and Earth Guardians O’ahu have pleaded to legislators to take action on opposing this project. Nevertheless, as politicians do best in Hawai’i, they had given up as they felt like nothing could be done. In the beginning of the early resistance, some local government officials began their work towards discussing the plausibility of rounding up community disapproval for the project. With a large developer behind the project, with massive funds to back it, Haskeo had the advantage and broke ground before the opposition could create any road blocks. Although, during this time local sustainability groups started looking into what avenues were taken in the six months of construction.
O‘ahu Water Protector leader Tina Grandinetti and State Rep. Amy Puerruso had talks of unifying major sustainability groups on O‘ahu to further protest the project. On Nov. 10, 2022, Earth Guardians O‘ahu organizers visited legislators in order to obtain answers. After simple research and observation of the new development, there were questions about the legality of the construction of said wave pool.
The group had gone door-to-door to O‘ahu legislators hand-delivering letters outlining these questions. A testimonial written by policy representatives Leah Delos Santos and Nicholas Fernandez, pointed out the questionable logic for such a project, and laid out three demands:
Something –anything– be done to stop the construction of the Haseko Wai Kai Wave Pool and prevent the misuse of millions of gallons of Hawaiʻi’s precious fresh drinking water
It be addressed publicly how the Wai Kai Wave Pool construction and operation plans were approved in the first place (Board of Water Supply approved the mass use of its potable drinking water)
The environmental impacts of the pool – its construction and its day-to-day operation –be made clear to the general public.
“This project kind of slipped under everyone’s radar,” said Delos Santos. “It feels like there is some sort of protection for private companies solely to make money; it's almost as though the government does not want to encroach upon these happenings, allowing companies to continue in this way.”
The wave pools operations are currently in full swing and have been for about four months. The company that owns The LineUp is an international development company based in Japan. Haseko claims their mission statement is to develop Hawai‘i into better Hawai‘i. Many have debated that Haseko is not bettering Hawai‘i for anybody but themselves and their own economic status.
“Despite their mission statement, Haseko’s $40 million plan does not favor O‘ahu’s economic growth or well-being,” Delos Santos and Fernandez write in their letter “…This wave pool will not benefit the masses… There are possibilities to attract tourists, but at what cost? Are the plethora of beaches, hotels, and resorts everywhere you turn not enough? The tourism industry in Hawai‘i has been a big economic factor in the daily lives of many, but we do not see this reflected and reciprocated entirely.”
In this ever continuing urbanization the Oʻahu's aquifers cannot sustain the excessive amounts of water being demanded by the overzealous. Water sources have been damaged time and time again with the contamination of Red Hill and its effects had a great impact on the lives of many O‘ahu residents, and it can be seen that this wave pool has done more harm than good for the community rather than boost succession for Hawai’i.
For further detail on the letter given to legislators by EGO, the letter has been provided down below. Here are also the links to the O‘ahu Water Protectors and WaiKai Experience websites.
JOUR 325: Magazine Writing with Julien GorbachMay 12, 2023