Restrictions at Ala Wai, crater draw complaints

Some boaters and others who use the Diamond Head and Ala Wai areas for recreation are unhappy with restrictions that will be in place for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meetings, while still others say they understand the need for security.

The state Friday announced details for limiting public access to Diamond Head crater and Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor, a week after the Secret Service, the State Department and the city announced road closings and security zones for the conference that begins in two weeks.

Makiki resident Alan Tucker, who has a yacht in a slip at Dock F of the harbor, said he doesn’t understand the reason for restricting boat movement and limiting parking for residents during the APEC conference.

"It’s really a stupid rule. This is supposed to be good for the state, but it’s hurting some businesses in a big way," said Tucker. "It’s a little hard to understand where they (officials) are coming from."

Public access to the crater, including the summit trail, will not be allowed from 6 p.m. Nov. 11 to 6 a.m. Nov. 14, the Hawaii National Guard announced Friday.

The National Guard will be using portions of the crater for training and staging equipment during meetings.

"We apologize in advance for any inconvenience this may cause those who had planned to hike the Diamond Head trail during that weekend.However, the Hawaii National Guard requires a secure area near Waikiki in order to prepare for its missions in support of civil authorities," Maj. Gen. Darryll D.M. Wong, state adjutant general, said in a news release.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources announced restrictions at the boat harbor and adjacent old helipad parking lot from 6 p.m. Nov. 6 to an undetermined time on Nov. 14.

Other details:

» Parking and vehicular access. Paid public and free public parking spaces at the harbor will be closed. This includes all the free public parking at the helipad area, along the Hilton lagoon and along rows 600 and 700 within the facility.

Vehicles left in any public parking stall during the period will be towed at the owner’s expense.

Only vehicles owned and operated by legitimate harbor tenants, and bearing a valid harbor decal, will be allowed to enter the harbor parking area via Holomoana Street and may park in permit stalls that are not marked as restricted. Vehicles may exit only through Kahanamoku Street.

There will be no access to or from the harbor from Ala Moana Boulevard, Kalia Road or Paoa Place.

» Boat operations: The Ala Wai Yacht Harbor and Canal Security Zone consists of the first two boat rows at the harbor (Front Row, Work Dock, Loading Dock, Docks G and F, northeast face of D dock, the cross dock, Row 400) and the Ala Wai Canal from the Ala Wai Harbor to the McCully Street bridge. No vessels will be allowed to travel in these areas.

All other vessel traffic will be permitted in and out of the remaining unrestricted zone. Should a vessel normally moored in the restricted zone return to Ala Wai from the sea during the restricted period, the operator of the vessel should contact the Coast Guard for permission to enter.

Boat-trailer parking stalls and the harbor boat launch ramp will also be closed.

» Pedestrians: Pedestrian traffic inside the restricted areas will be limited to residents and owners and employees of businesses in the secure area. Government-issued photo identification, such as a driver’s license, non-driver photo identification or passport will be required to gain access.

The public will be allowed to go to beaches near the Outrigger Reef Hotel by using Public Beach Path 141-A on Kalia Road and the Hilton Hawaiian Village via Kahanamoku Street.

» Ocean areas off-limits: The Coast Guard will be implementing ocean security zones. These areas are seaward of the Hilton Hawaiian Village, Hale Koa Hotel, Fort DeRussy Park and the Sheraton Waikiki for a distance of about 2,000 yards. For more information, contact the Coast Guard 24-hour Sector Command Center line at 842-2600.

» Harbor tenants seeking clarification on access procedures may contact the Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor Office at 973-9727 during regular business hours to speak to a harbor agent.

HARBOR AND ocean users said eliminating parking and restricting boat movement amount to a major inconvenience.

Yacht owner Tucker said a number of restaurants rely on harbor users and other residents for their business.

He said the state has made no provision for where boats might relocate during APEC.

Brandon Yadao said he and his son park near the Hilton lagoon to go diving and picnicking at least once a week, and he thinks the parking ban will affect most residents who go surfing at Kaiser’s.

"If you can’t park here, there’s really no place to park," Yadao said.

Retired construction worker Clarence Kaili said the area is where he and many others spend their recreational time.

"It’s going to be frustrating and irritating for a lot of people," Kaili said.

But Babe Bell, a paddler with Anuenue Canoe Club, said he was willing to live with the temporary inconvenience to maintain public safety.

"The main thing is we safe. It’s only one week," Bell said.

Dean Ekman, evening manager of Harbor Pub & Pizza Inc., said the restrictions will affect the business, whose customers are largely harbor and ocean users, and its employees, who will have to park their vehicles elsewhere.

But Ekman said hopefully, the number of APEC-related visitors will make up for the inconvenience.

"All we can do is hope," he said.