Mayor Concedes; Queen’s Surf to Stay

Every Sunday, “Back in the Day” looks at an article that ran on this date in the Honolulu Star-Bulletin. The items are verbatim, so don’t blame us today for yesteryear’s bad grammar.

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Mayor Neal S. Blaisdell has reluctantly approved plans for continued operation of a night club at the Queen’s Surf, and angrily criticized the City Council for forcing the decision upon him.

"I am still opposed to it," the Mayor said, "but as long as this is the position they’re taking, I have to approve the details of how it should be carried out."

Blaisdell endorsed a proposal by Parks Director Theodore Nobriga that:

» The Queen’s Surf property be incorporated into the Parks Department, then leased as a park concession.

» The Council pass ordinances approving the sale of liquor at the night club.

» The Parks Department demolish all buildings on the property not essential to the restaurant-night club operation, and remove walls that separate the Queen’s Surf from the adjacent park.

Blaisdell said, "I am opposed to the sale of liquor in public parks, but obviously you cannot continue the luau service and the night club without it."

He noted that several buildings at the Queen’s Surf are now being used for offices by the Spencecliff Corporations, which now operates the facility, and that one building is being used as an apartment house.

He advocated that they either be torn down or converted into bath houses and rest rooms for the use of park visitors.

Blaisdell said he feels the lease must be long enough to allow concessionaires to amortize their investments, so that other bidders than Spencecliff — who already owns equipment in the Queen’s Surf — can compete for the concession.

He conditioned his approval upon approval by attorneys.

The Corporation Counsel will have to approve the plan, Blaisdell said, and give the City assurances that it will not be found in violation of the law should a taxpayer bring suit against the City for granting the concession.

The Corporation Counsel is now studying the legal problems involved, he said.