State must control commercial uses of public beaches

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Dec 31, 2012

~~<p>A kayak tour company was found to have violated conditions of its permit at the time that a 15-year-old New York state boy was swept to his Fourth of July death in Hawaii island's Kealakekua Bay, and the state has responded as necessary by temporarily closing operations in the heavily used bay at the start of the new year. The state should make the ban as brief as possible to consider the plight of other tour companies that have been complying with the rules.</p>
<p>The state Department of Land and Natural Resources explains that concerns have resulted from "the proliferation and use of unpermitted kayak rentals." However, Aloha Kalua owner Iwa Kalua has expressed concern that those violations could trigger a crackdown on companies that have adhered to permit requirements while serving as "extended eyes and ears" for people kayaking nearby independently without permits. He has a point, but that should not deter an improving of permit requirements and enforcement.</p>
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A kayak tour company was found to have violated conditions of its permit at the time that a 15-year-old New York state boy was swept to his Fourth of July death in Hawaii island's Kealakekua Bay, and the state has responded as necessary by temporarily closing operations in the heavily used bay at the start of the new year. The state should make the ban as brief as possible to consider the plight of other tour companies that have been complying with the rules.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources explains that concerns have resulted from "the proliferation and use of unpermitted kayak rentals." However, Aloha Kalua owner Iwa Kalua has expressed concern that those violations could trigger a crackdown on companies that have adhered to permit requirements while serving as "extended eyes and ears" for people kayaking nearby independently without permits. He has a point, but that should not deter an improving of permit requirements and enforcement. Login for more...