The tide seems to have turned at Nuku o Pu'uloa.

The former Navy housing area turned beach house rental enclave was quietly but persistently becoming a members-only beach club. By citing military ownership of the land, the property developer claimed the military privilege of keeping the public off Iroquois Point beach.

But this is Hawai'i, and we in Hawai'i believe public beach access is a God-given right. The beaches here belong to no one and everyone.

Though the situation has gone on for a while — years, by some estimates — it only recently came to light in Advertiser articles. Maybe there weren't a gazillion people clamoring to get past the gate, but it doesn't sit right in the public consciousness to think of a beach where us guys can't go.

Two things happened. One, the Iroquois Point rental housing development company, Hunt Development, has taken on a more diplomatic stance, saying it's looking at ways to provide access to the public.

Two, Congressman Neil Abercrombie morphed back into a spitfire rebel (the angry guy we knew and loved before he cut his hair, got matchy suits and got too comfortable to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable), yammering about how the Navy doesn't have the right to lease out private beach privilege and "Martial law ended in the 1940s. This is Hawai'i. The public is going to have access to the beach." Go, Neil, go!

Not that Iroquois Point is all that fabulous of a beach as far as Hawai'i beaches go. White sand, the profile of Diamond Head in the distance, sure, but the sights, sounds and smells of Honolulu Airport do intrude. Frequently.

And, though it's hard to admit, restricted access can be a good thing. Bad things happen to Hawai'i beaches when it's a free-for-all. Tent cities, car break-ins, surf beefs, 'opala piles, dog poop, parking problems, on and on. Some of our most beautiful and unspoiled beaches are those under military kuleana where access by the public is monitored and controlled.

Let's hope for a compromise in this situation. It seems like Hunt Development is now in a position to play nice. It would be a laudable move for the folks there to provide access on a limited basis. It would show that they are being good neighbors, good stewards and honorable community members. They could set up a list of stringent rules for public access to the beach a couple of weekends a month: sign in, show ID, no dogs, no ATVs, no acting stupid. And the public could graciously follow those rules.

That would be everybody taking the high road.

Lee Cataluna's column runs Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Reach her at 535-8172 or lcataluna@honoluluadvertiser.com.