A proposal to stop nearly all commercial activity at Kailua Beach Park has Windward Oahu deeply divided.
Many say the proliferation of kayak rentals and other water sports business activities in recent years has ruined the once tranquil nature of Kailua Beach, long considered a Windward landmark.
Others, however, say the lure of tourists to kayaking, kite-surfing and other recreation at the beach is a vital part of the town’s economy and that a blanket ban might do more harm than good.
While the issue has been around for a long time, the latest debate is framed by a bill moving through the City Council shepherded by district’s Council member, Ikaika Anderson. The latest draft of Bill 11 calls for what amounts to a complete ban of all commercial activities at the beach.
An exception would be made for commercial filming, which is governed by other laws. But everything else, from driving a commercial tour bus through the beach parking lot to setting up kite boards for sport novices would be banned.
The original Bill 11 called for allowing two commercial watercraft companies to operate at the beach. Anderson said, however, that since he introduced the bill, a majority of the phone calls, email and testimony at hearings have called for an outright ban, persuading him to amend the bill to reflect that sentiment.
That bill was given preliminary approval by the Council Parks and Cultural Affairs Committee on April 19 and now goes to the full Council for a public hearing and the second of three required approvals at a 2 p.m. meeting Wednesday scheduled for the Pali Golf Course Clubhouse in Kaneohe.
A majority of those testifying at the April 19 meeting at Kailua High School favored a total ban.
More than 1,200 people have signed an online petition supporting a complete ban on commercial activity at Kailua and Kalama beaches.
Kepa Yuen, one of those who signed the petition, said he does not want to see Kailua turn into Waikiki.
"Already, Lanikai is getting congested from the increase in visitors. Kailua town is getting traffic like Honolulu," Yuen said. "This place is sacred. We need to preserve Kailua for (our) kids and future generations to come."
But not everyone favors a commercial ban or views the proliferation of kayaks as a bad thing.
Jeannie Wokasch Parente, who goes to the beach two to three times a week, said she gets along well with everyone at the beach and that she sees no friction between visitors and locals.
"I thank God they’re here," she said, adding that tourists bring an infusion of money into Kailua restaurants and other businesses. "What’s the problem?"
Kailua resident Stan Bain said he has seen an increase in commercial activity in the 24 years he has been going to the beach park. Bain said the ventures do not interrupt his walking or swimming there, but he does worry when he sees kite surfers get too near to kayakers.
City Parks Director Gary Cabato said that in response to the proliferation of commercial activities, he began working on rules establishing a system to allow up to two concessions there.
Vendors would be allowed to run water activities such as kayaking and snorkeling but would not be allowed to set up shop and rent on the beach itself. Those renting equipment would need to do so away from the beach, then be transported by the rental company to the beach parking lot.
Three companies at present have windsurfing permits that allow them to rent, and drop off customers at the parking lot, Cabato said. Other activities are not regulated.
Exactly what would be allowed under the proposed rules change has yet to be finalized, but the focus will be on the issues raised most by park users such as the number of paid activity users at the beach at any time, parking and traffic, Cabato said.
Anderson said foot-dragging in coming up with the rules spurred his decision to introduce legislation.
He said there is too much abuse of existing laws, including the one that allows commercial entities up to 15 minutes to drop off or pick up customers and equipment at a designated turnaround area.
It is also a difficult rule for police to enforce, he said. "In order for a person to be issued a citation, a police officer has to witness a violation."
Right now, rental operators drop off kayaks at a parking lot on the mauka side of Kawailoa Road next to the channel where the kayaks are set into the water. Anderson said that’s illegal, although operators insist they are allowed to do so.
Bob Twogood, owner of Twogood Kayaks Hawaii, has been operating at Kailua Beach since 1982. His was once one of several companies with city permits to run kayak operations there. But a spate of complaints against one of his competitors caused the city to do away with kayak-permitting altogether, he said.
TWOGOOD said eliminating vendors from even being allowed to drop off their equipment would just exacerbate the problem. Most of those who want to rent kayaks would then go almost exclusively to Kailua Sailboards and Kayaks, which has a shop a block away from the beach. People would then haul the kayaks across Kawailoa Road.
"That would put more kayaks on the beach, in the park and in the parking lot than there are now," he said.
Others renting kayaks or other watercraft could also drive them in their own rental cars to the beach, taking away more parking stalls from locals, Twogood said.
"This bill is not going to accomplish its stated purpose," he said.
Josh Seymour, co-owner of Hawaiian Watersports, also says the bill would doom his business. Seymour has his kayaking, kite-boarding and windsurfing operation away from the beach. But like Twogood, Seymour said he does not solicit business at the beach, and reservations must be made at the office on Hamakua Drive.
Seymour parks a company truck in a beach parking stall where people who have made reservations can pick up and drop off their equipment. Not being able to park there or drop off customers would end his business.
"People enjoy the service of lessons as well as equipment drop-offs," he said.
Twogood and Seymour say most of those favoring a complete ban are reacting to violations caused by unscrupulous vendors who don’t have permits or insurance and operate from the trunks of their cars.
"Others are allowed to come in and open the back of their car and offer to teach a lesson for half of what we charge but don’t have any insurance, don’t have any permits, don’t have any training," Seymour said. "They just do it with cash under the table."
While the two men are competitors and don’t see eye to eye on many Kailua Beach issues, they and a third company are part of an effort to persuade Council members that the best way to go is allowing permits for up to four commercial operators to solicit customers elsewhere and be allowed to pick up and drop off customers and equipment at the parking lot.
A lunch wagon has a food vendor concession at the Lanikai side of the beach. It would not be covered by any new law, Cabato said.
