Land Board to consider closing Ala Wai Canal during conservation summit
DENNIS ODA / NOV. 28, 2015
A kayaker paddles on the Ala Wai Canal near the Hawaii Convention Center.
The state land board will decide next week whether to close the temporarily the Ala Wai Canal from the Ala Moana Boulevard Bridge to the Kalakaua Avenue Bridge for security reasons during the IUCN World Conservation Congress in September.
About 10,000 dignitaries and government officials are expected to attend the event, which will be held from Sept. 1 to 10 at the Hawaii Convention Center.
The Board of Land and Natural Resources will take up the proposal to close the canal next Thursday at its regular meeting.
The state Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement has asked for the closure from the Ala Moana Boulevard bridge to the Kalakaua Avenue bridge.
The bridges at Ala Moana Boulevard and Kalakaua Avenue are closest to the Hawaii Convention Center. They provide transportation routes that the public and attendees will use to access the convention center and area hotels.
During the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Conference (APEC) held in Honolulu in November 2011, the U.S. Coast Guard established security zones that included the entire Ala Wai Canal.
The land department, working with State Harbor Police, will be responsible for the physical closure of the canal and will use vessels and floating booms to accomplish the task.
20 responses to “Land Board to consider closing Ala Wai Canal during conservation summit”
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Yeah, right. It’s just to get the homeless out of there while the vacationing politicians have their festivities.
Want to cause an outcry from the participants?
Close Club Rockza while the “summit” is going on.
You got it!
Idiots, cars and trucks moving in front of the convention center are more of threat.
*like*
That’s one their favorite destinations!
The other would Hulas on Kapahulu.
yikes! I was offered a job there last year! It is a real zoo I fear.
WHAT POSITION AT WHICH CLUB?
Very little homeless in that area. they were cleared out a long time ago.
WHAT? They did Not learn anything from the 2011 Fiasco. Repeating the HORRID Mess. Local people are supposed to go thru INSANITY AGAIN.
Put a tent over that circus !
Termite kine
Because this is such a high level, critical gathering? Who’s the US sending to represent? Deputy Under Secretary for Sub Section Basement GS-7 Level Department of Can Collections?
This is getting ridiculous. The Asian Development Bank meeting in 2001 was a much more controversial meeting. The Ala Wai wasn’t closed and there were no problems. There is no need to close the Ala Wai since this is a much less controversial conference. There is no need to shut down the City for these meetings. Closing down the portion of the promenade behind the Convention Center should be more than enough for security.
Are you referring to APEC?
Oh I agree with this plan a thousand percent, we can’t be too careful!
A Daesh submarine might penetrate the canal and launch a North Korean nuke at the World Conservation Congress. Better safe than sorry!
Maybe the Feds should CLEAN the Ala Wai so it looks nice and pretty and smells good for the visiting dignitaries.
Instead of fishing for overtime put that money towards cleaning and beautifying the area.
How ridiculous is it? “Welcome to Hawaii” – please stay away from this outdoor area….
After APEC, I cannot believe we are allowing this security nonsense to disrupt our lives again! I will never forget the tanks in Waikiki and the arrogant G-Men on every corner ready to shoot anyone who walks by or starts a fight in McDonald’s! I also was not happy having my cel signal blocked. We have to pay more attention to what they intend to do and make more noise this time.
Geez give it a rest. The only guy who got really inconvenienced by APEC was drunk Tom Berg when he tried to get into an APEC event without a credential. Everyone else just sort of took it in stride, even the protesters were orderly.
Agree, this is a big over reaction. No super security needed for this type of conference. Who is going to pay for it? Why Hawaiians of course.