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April 19, 2012

Business ban sought for beaches

Keep commercial activity off our sand, residents tell Council regarding Kailua
by Gordon Y.K. Pang

Members of a City Council committee voted unanimously Wednesday night to support a bill that would impose a blanket ban of all commercial activity at the popular Kailua and Kalama beach parks.

The vote came after a majority of an estimated 200 people at a meeting at Kailua High School the Council Parks and Cultural Affairs Committee that they support such a ban.

Everything from water sports instructional classes to recreational stops by commercial tourist companies would be prohibited by the ban. The only exception would be commercial filming activities.

The vote was 5-0, although committee members Romy Cachola and Breene Harimoto voted "with reservations." The bill now goes to the full Council on May 9 for the second of three required votes.

Enchanted Lake resident Lisa Cates, a lifelong Kailua resident, told the Council's Parks and Cultural Affairs Committee that the influx of commercial activity at Kailua Beach Park has reached a tipping point. "The vendors and tour bus activity are incompatible with our infrastructure, our neighborhoods and the true character of our village community," she said.

Many people feel a spiritual connection with Kailua Beach, Cates said. "To see it exploited for monetary gain is hurtful, it's degrading, and it's pushed everybody together to unite and ask for this legislation."

Lanikai resident Laurie Lindsay said, "I love tourists." However, she said, "There's a place for them. It's called Waikiki."

Chris Delaunay, a Kailua attorney, said that nearly 1,000 people have put their names to an online petition supporting an outright ban on all commercial activity at the two beaches.

"The beaches are for recreation, not for profit," Delaunay said.

Not everyone was for a complete ban at Kailua Beach. People who rely on the beach for their jobs said they think there's room for some business.

Bob Twogood, owner of Twogood Kayaks, said an outright ban would destroy his business, which operates out of Hamakua Drive in Kailua but drops off kayaks and visitors at a parking lot next to the main portion of Kailua Beach.

What's needed is better regulation of existing laws as it pertains to water sports activities on the beach and permits for a few businesses, Twogood said, adding that he also supports banning commercial buses from entering the parking lot.

A complete ban is just the latest attempt at curtailing commercial activity at the two beach parks.

In February, the Council passed Bill 5 (2011) prohibiting commercial activity at the two beach parks from 1 p.m. Saturdays until 6:30 a.m. on Mondays. Mayor Peter Carlisle signed that bill into law on March 1.

The strong community response to Bill 5 prompted Councilman Ikaika Anderson, the Windward representative, to introduce the original language in Bill 11 (2012), which further limited what was allowed for commercial watercraft and tour bus activities.

Specifically, it calls for:

» A limit of two commercial activities each permitted at Kailua and Kalama. There are currently three commercial permits issued, but only for windsurfing and kite-surfing activities, and none at Kalama, according to Anderson's staff. There are no limits now on how many permits the city can issue at each facility.

» Curtailing the types of commercial watercraft activities allowed at each park to storing, setting up and launching in areas designated by the state Department of Land and Natural Resources.

» Restricting recreational stops by tour buses, vans and other vehicles to a turnaround area next to the main restroom facility in the Kailua Beach Park parking lot.

Anderson said the reaction from the community to Bill 11 has been a call for a complete ban on all activity.