APEC security rules tighten hold on Waikiki

Police announced new details Wednesday on park restrictions tied to next week’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meetings as some Waikiki residents made plans to leave the island and others stocked up on provisions to hunker down during APEC.

Carl Geringer lives on a boat moored at the Hawaii Yacht Club in the Ala Wai Boat Harbor and works as a tax specialist at the Pan Am Building across from the Hawai‘i Convention Center. Both areas will be under tight security during APEC, so Geringer would rather leave Oahu than navigate through security blockades to get to and from work.

"I’m going to enjoy some days with friends over on Maui and I probably know six other people that are leaving the island because of APEC," Geringer said. "I’m leaving specifically because I don’t want to deal with getting from Point A to Point B — essentially from one end of Waikiki to the other."

Les Among, a Waikiki musician and Waikiki Neighborhood Board member, normally loads his band equipment on a truck to perform at a bar on Lewers Street. During APEC, Among plans to leave his gear at the bar and walk to his gigs rather than risk alerting Secret Service agents to the sight of him loading and offloading large speakers and stands in the middle of the night after his performances.

While many of Among’s friends plan to decamp from Waikiki during APEC, many of his neighbors are buying food, toilet paper and just enough gas to get them around Waikiki on mo-peds.

"A lot of my friends are planning to stay away but others don’t plan on driving anywhere," Among said. "They’re buying a week’s supply of food and all kine guys are telling me they’re loading up gas cans for their mo-peds. You would think a tsunami or hurricane’s coming. Nobody wants to battle with the parking and traffic during APEC."

The logistical concerns of Waikiki residents were heightened Wednesday when police announced security restrictions that affect portions of Kapiolani, Ala Moana and Ala Wai Community parks, the Ala Wai Golf Course ballroom and Kamokila Community Park in Kapolei.

"The HPD thanks the public in advance for its patience and cooperation during this time," police said in a statement.

» Kapiolani Park has had restricted access since Monday. All parking lots on Monsarrat Avenue, including Waikiki Shell lots 1, 2, 3 and 4 and the Paki-Monsarrat lot, are closed to the public through Nov. 14. Soccer fields 4 and 5, along with picnic area 3, also are closed.

All other areas of Kapiolani Park will be open, police said.

» Magic Island parking lot and Ewa portion of Ala Moana Park will be closed from 10 p.m. Sunday through Nov. 14.

Civilian vehicles will not be allowed to enter the area, police said. Public parking also will be prohibited along Ala Moana Boulevard fronting the park. Pedestrians will be allowed to use the park and beach.

» Ala Wai Community Park’s community center will be closed, along with the parking lot, restrooms, canoe hale and the areas up to the baseball field fence. The baseball and soccer fields will be open from the Koko Head end of the park.

» The Ala Wai Golf Course ballroom will be closed to the public from Wednesday through 10 p.m. Nov. 15, police said.

The golf course and clubhouse will remain open.

» Kapolei’s Kamokila Community Park will be closed from midnight Saturday through midnight Nov. 14.

Security restrictions previously were announced along Ala Moana Boulevard, Kalakaua Avenue, Saratoga Road, Kalia Road, Lewers Street and Beachwalk Road.

Kapiolani Boulevard and Atkinson Drive around the convention center also will be closed to general traffic from 6 a.m. to about 7 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday and will affect bus routes around the convention center and through Waikiki.

Affected routes can be found online at www.thebus.org.

With more security restrictions for Waikiki announced Wednesday, Geringer booked his flight to Maui.

"It’s just going to be a mess," Geringer said. "So I figured it’s a good time to go visit friends."