Question: Auwe to a “sand thief” in Waimanalo. On two occasions, I witnessed him stealing buckets of sand from the beach, near Nalu Street and Kalanianaole Highway. The first time was a few months ago. At the time, while being angry, I let it go. It happened again on Aug. 8. By the time I saw him, he was loading his last few buckets in the same white van and headed toward Hawaii Kai. I don’t know how long this has been going on, but all this time, we blamed the loss of sand on the ocean and the waves. Now, we have a new theory. What should we do if we see this happening again?
Answer: If anyone sees someone taking sand from a beach, call the state Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement at 643-3567.
Until two months ago, it was legal for the public to take up to 1 gallon of sand per day for personal, noncommercial purposes, under Section 171.58.5 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes.
However, with no fanfare nor publicity, that law was amended, making it illegal
as of June 29 to take any amount of sand, dead coral or coral rubble, rocks, soil or other marine deposits “seaward from the shoreline,” except with certain exceptions.
Those exceptions include using the materials for traditional cultural purposes as permitted by law or prior approval; for replenishment or protection of public shoreline areas or for maintenance work; in responding to public emergencies; or for materials “inadvertently taken.”
Inadvertently would include being carried away on the body, clothes, toys, recreational equipment and bags.
Also, there’s no prohibition against taking driftwood, shells, beach glass, glass floats or seaweed from the shoreline.
In testimony submitted to lawmakers, DLNR Director William Aila said Hawaii’s sandy beaches were “diminishing daily due to erosion, inappropriate shoreline armoring, and illegal sand mining.”
If residents want sand for household uses, “they can purchase either inland sand deposits or manufactured sand from various commercial sources,” he said.
Here’s the link to the bill that became law: http://is.gd/5k9ppb.
Question: Is there a tax on newspapers? A few years ago, I got taxed, but I questioned it and the clerk took the tax off. Sometimes I still get taxed and I’ve been told that merchants are being told to tax newspapers.
Answer: Newspapers have been subject to the state’s general excise tax since 1978, but it’s up to merchants whether they want to clearly pass on that tax to their customers.
We explained previously that some merchants will opt to add the GET (a maximum of 4.712 percent on Oahu and 4.16 percent on the neighbor islands) to purchases as a separate charge, while others may just fold it into the purchase price.
But whichever way they go, retailers will have to pay the GET based on their gross receipts, a Department of Taxation spokeswoman told us previously.
MAHALO
To Michael and his friends who live in the Wilhelmina Rise area for finding and caring for my lost dog in July. They took the time to catch her, tend to her wound, feed her, then went out of their way to call the Hawaiian Humane Society to find out who she belonged to. They took very good care of her until I could get her. They also refused the reward money I offered them. I’m so happy that Shyla wandered into their path because they saved her life! Also, a big mahalo to Dr. Allen Takayama and his staff at the Aina Haina Pet Hospital, who took Shyla in right away to mend her. I’m happy to say that Shyla’s gash has healed and she has gained her weight back. — Lisa Tokunaga
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