Under Bill 5 all commercial activity from Lanikai to Castle Point, which includes Kalama and Kailua beach parks, would be outlawed on Saturdays from 1 p.m. until Mondays at 6:30 a.m. Tour bus operations are included in the ban.
Local residents have been pushing for final passage of the measure ever since it was introduced by Windward Oahu Councilman Ikaika Anderson in January of last year. Supporters say the situation in Kailua has grown out of control with kayak rentals clogging beaches and tour buses taking up precious parking.
"Some days I couldn’t even get out of my driveway to go down to my neighborhood coffee place to get a cup of coffee or to take my son down to Kalama Beach to go surfing,” said Lanikai resident Elizabeth Kawananakoa.
The bill passed 9 — 0 as council members heard from supporters who packed the committee room at Kapolei Hale where Wednesday’s meeting was held.
"We’re thrilled that now we know we can call 911 if our access is blocked and that the police can come and do something about it,” said Ann Dewey, president of the Lanikai Community Association.
Anderson agreed that enforcement of the bill would be straight forward without any loopholes or grey areas.
“Makes it very easy to enforce,” the councilman told Khon2. “Any commercial activities going on during those (restricted) times the police department can come out, issue a citation, and have the offender get out of the park.”
Egmar Klemmer, co-owner of Kailua Sailboards & Kayaks, said local businesses have no choice but to adjust to the parameters of the bill. Instead of hauling kayaks down to the beach, customers will be forced to transport kayaks themselves.
“It makes it a little bit harder for our local customers who have to work during the week and can only come out on a Saturday,” said Klemmer. “They have to return it before one o’clock if they want us to bring it back, or if they want to stay out longer they have to return to the shop on their own.”
Although it’s unclear what impact the bill will have on businesses that depend on the beach for their survival, Klemmer hopes he won’t be forced to layoff any staff.
"We employ over fifty members of the community and hopefully we can continue to do that,” he said
Others are concerned about the impact restrictions may have on Oahu’s tourist industry.
“My major concern is that we might send a wrong signal to the visitors who want to come to Hawaii,” said Councilman Romy Cachola.
Cachola is also worried the bill is a slippery slope and soon other communities will demand the same restriction on businesses.
“Other communities will say don’t come to our parks or to our beaches and all that; we might end up having a negative impact.”
Anderson rejected any notion the bill is anti-business or anti-tourism. Instead, he called it a compromise. “What it’s about is finding a balance between commercial businesses need to operate and residents to access their parks.”
Mayor Carlisle has not indicated whether he supports Bill 5. He has ten working days to sign the bill into law, veto it, or allow it to take effect without his signature.
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See the original article at: KHON2 Local News
