Question: At Kailua Beach on Sept. 8, I noticed a woman vendor with a table full of articles for sale on the grassy area beachside of the parking lot across from Buzz’s. I commented that I thought all commercial activity was now banned at Kailua Beach, but she insisted that she had a permit from way back that allowed her to continue selling. Can you clarify what the ban is? If she was operating illegally, to whom do I address my concerns?
Answer: On Sept. 8, one "First Amendment group" had a permit from the city Department of Parks and Recreation to sell "message-bearing items and sanctified foods" at Kailua Beach Park, a parks official said.
Because of the First Amendment right of free speech, state and city parks cannot prohibit nonprofit organizations from selling those types of items.
The parks permit requires that such permits be displayed "in a conspicuous manner" and that there be a fact sheet with, among other information, the organization’s name, address and purpose; dates allowed for sales; and a note that the organization is not associated with the city.
The groups also are required to provide a sales receipt, if requested.
The detailed "Rules and Regulations Relating to the Sale of Message-bearing Merchandise by Nonprofit Organizations in City Parks and Facilities" can be found at goo.gl/hD4WH. The group with a permit for that day was reminded of the requirements, the official said.
Monthly permits are available for eight city parks and vary by the number of applicants, according to the parks official.
In addition to Kailua Beach, the parks are: Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve, Ala Moana, Ehukai Beach, Sandy Beach, Pupukea Beach, Sunset Beach and Waimea Bay.
The limit is one table per day at each park, except at Hanauma Bay and Ala Moana, where up to four tables per day for up to four different organizations are allowed.
For August, about 66 permits were issued for seven of the parks. No permits were issued for Ala Moana, the parks official said.
If you suspect illegal vending, you’re advised to contact the Honolulu Police Department. You can also verify permits by calling the parks permits office, 768-3440.
Otherwise, the city has banned all other commercial activity at Kailua and Kalama beach parks, including any commercial dropoffs of people or equipment.
Question: For the past few years, my co-workers and I have enjoyed "Live on the Lawn" concerts at the Hawai‘i State Art Museum. There was a concert earlier this year, then nothing. Have the concerts been discontinued or will they start again?
Answer: The Live on the Lawn concerts have "morphed" into First Friday events, said Eva Laird Smith, executive director of the Hawai‘i State Foundation on Culture and the Arts, which oversees the museum.
Basically, it was getting too expensive to put on the lawn concerts, she said. The free First Friday concerts, which take place in the museum’s second-floor courtyard, allow a more affordable way to offer concerts.
The most recent First Friday concert featured the Pacific Fleet Rock Band, as well as free admission to the museum’s galleries.
Laird Smith said the museum also offers monthly family-oriented Second Saturday events, with free access to the museum all day.
MAHALO
To a sweet angel! On Friday, Aug. 24, I was in line to purchase dim sum at the Ala Moana food court. Unbeknownst to me, the woman in front of me paid for my lunch. No one has ever done something so nice and unexpected for me. I looked around to thank her, but she was gone. May your kindness and generosity be returned to you tenfold. — Cathy M.
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