The state Department of Land and Natural Resources will conduct a public meeting Thursday to discuss problems and concerns brought on by unregulated use of water-propelled jet packs around Oahu.
The department has received complaints about aquatic thrill-seekers splashing dangerously close to shore on devices called the JetLev and Flyboard, which use a powerful stream of water to shoot users into the air and hold them up over the ocean much like a hovercraft, Deputy Director Esther Kia‘aina said Monday.
"We were alerted by our enforcement agency that they had been receiving complaints from the public and have witnessed activities in areas that were of concern," such as in Haleiwa’s nearshore waters and at Kahana Bay, Kia‘aina said.
The floating power source that pumps water by way of a hose into the jet pack — worn on a rider’s back in the case of the JetLev and strapped to a person’s feet in the case of the Flyboard — is defined under federal law as a watercraft.
Kia‘aina said the department intends to use information gathered at the meeting to start an internal rule-making process through which the power source could be redefined as a thrill craft, thereby allowing the department to regulate its use.
"If they meet the definition of a vessel under federal law, they’re able to launch off of any ramp, and that’s clearly something we don’t want," she said. "Right now it’s not clear what they are, and as a result a lot of people have been skirting the rules and using these units wherever they want, and that’s wrong."
Dean O’Malley, president of JetLev America, said there are only six JetLev units in the U.S., five in California and one in Hawaii. The unit in Hawaii is owned and operated commercially by SeaBreeze Water Sports in Hawaii Kai.
O’Malley said the JetLev, in many cases, is safer than other water sports, such as riding on personal watercraft, surfing, parasailing and scuba diving.
"We actually have a lower injury rate than most of those because of the fact that we have an instructor that’s with the person from start to finish" and can control the throttle remotely, he said.
Jeff Krantz, owner and operator of SeaBreeze, said he hopes that discussions at the meeting will be based on facts. He said the department’s claim that the JetLev can propel users at top speeds of about 32 mph is not true.
"I think there’s a big misconception on what the speeds and/or dangers are associated with this type of activity, and I’m sure that since it’s new everybody always has an opinion," Krantz said. "I don’t know what the outcome will be, but hopefully it’s a thoughtful process."
Since its operation began about two years ago, SeaBreeze has not had an injury or incident, Krantz said. Noting that he can’t see the jet pack fitting into a thrill-craft category, Krantz said if its definition is changed, the department would have to also redefine its thrill-craft zones to include deeper water.
Kia‘aina said the department is not targeting a single operator and that its main objective is to gauge the extent to which private users are on the water using the devices without being subject to state oversight or regulation.
"The complaints are not only coming from the public, but internal staff" concerned about potentially dangerous behavior, she said. "That’s why were trying to get to the bottom of this."
A master instructor with Rocky Mountain Flyboard, Hawaii’s authorized distributor of Zapata Racing’s Flyboard devices, said no Flyboards have been sold yet in Hawaii, but the Utah-based company has been here to film a promotional video.
"We just barely got the rights to sell there," Jordan Wayment said.
Kia‘aina said the state "can see the writing on the wall" regarding the devices and has decided to take a proactive approach "to ensure that should this action move forward, we want it done in a fashion that is safe for the users as well as safe for the public."
