Mayor Mufi Hannemann last night told a large gathering that he supports protecting scenic views on the East O'ahu coastline, but stopped short of agreeing to spend taxpayer money to acquire land proposed for a controversial "vacation cabin" development.

About 300 residents from Waimanalo to Kahala attended the meeting at Kaiser High. Most of the people wanted to hear the mayor's views on a plan by development firm QRM to build 180 vacation cabins on two parcels of land — one above the Hawai'i Kai Golf Course and another mauka of Kalaniana'ole Highway.

"It would be difficult with our current fiscal situation" to support acquiring the land via condemnation, Hannemann said. "I campaigned on a platform of fiscal accountability, to watch our money. I'd be cautious about broaching condemnation."

Residents applauded his pledge of support, but some were disappointed that he didn't vow to keep the land undeveloped.

"The mayor didn't go far enough," said Phil Estermann, a founding member of the Save Sandy Beach Coalition, a group that worked to get the city to rezone the area near Sandy Beach from residential to a passive park. "We want a commitment that we could do something permanent. He needs to make a stronger statement. He dodged the issue of permanent protection."

Each cabin would be about 800 square feet with a covered lanai. Some would have outdoor kitchens. One parcel would be called Manu'uwai on 83 acres; the other would be called Queen's Rise Recreation Center on 98 acres.

The developer would be required to obtain a conditional use permit from the city Department of Planning and Permitting. No application has been submitted, city planning director Henry Eng said. The Hawai'i Kai and Waimanalo neighborhood boards each voted recently to oppose any development in the area.

"I asked Henry (Eng) to call the developer; there has not been any application submitted," Hannemann said. "We've not been able to meet with the developer before the meeting to find out what the developer had in mind."

The proposed development is near the Ka Iwi Shoreline, a state park preserve that runs from Sandy Beach to the Makapu'u Lighthouse. The state purchased the Ka Iwi Shoreline with the help of federal money and the city bought land across from Sandy Beach after downzoning it.

"Condemnation will hit everybody's pocket," Waimanalo Neighborhood Board member Andy Jamila Jr. said. "We need to come under the same vision that we need to preserve that pristine view."

Reach Suzanne Roig at sroig@honoluluadvertiser.com.