New Hope groups continue to violate state law on signs

Question: On Sept. 12, 2012, you wrote about the sandwich board signs put up on public property by different churches, specifically New Hope Windward and Hope Chapel Kaneohe Bay. New Hope never stopped putting signs out along highway medians and sidewalks, and to this day, every Saturday and Sunday, the signs are there. How do churches get away with that for years, when the state Department of Transportation and The Outdoor Circle both say they get constant complaints?

Question: Kokua Line had determined that sandwich board signs on public sidewalks and median strips are illegal. Many of these signs advertise church groups. (Enclosed are photos taken in Kaneohe along Kame­ha­meha Highway from Hawaiian Memorial Park to Windward Mall, Kahe­kili Highway, Kahu­hipa Highway and around Windward Mall.) The signs are from Hope Chapel Kaneohe Bay, New Hope Windward Mall and other churches. Some signs are posted on Sundays, and many are also there 24/7. Who is responsible for enforcing the sign law, and why is it not being enforced?

Answer: Because the signs in question usually only appear on weekends, enforcement by the state Department of Transportation is said to be a "challenge."

Both of you provided photos showing signs placed by the churches along sidewalks and medians in the Windward area this past weekend.

In response to complaints to Kokua Line last year — is.gd/BuQe5B — the DOT said it contacted Hope Chapel Kaneohe and New Hope Windward to advise them that placing the signs on DOT property violated Section 291C-36 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes.

Last week DOT spokes­woman Caroline Sluyter reiterated that commercial advertising on state highways is prohibited by state law, as well as on city streets by Section 29-14.3 of the Revised Ordinances of Hono­lulu.

"Highway maintenance personnel generally inform sign owners of the infraction and give them a short grace period to remove the signs themselves," she said. "If the signs remain, highway personnel will remove them."

However, Sluyter said weekend removals "are a challenge" because most highway crews only work weekdays. Weekend crews generally are assigned to specific projects.

In weekend-only cases, "public assistance is very necessary and appreciated," she said.

In defense of the signs, Dave Barr, pastor of New Hope Windward, sent an email saying, "We want to express that our heart is not to deface or remove from the beauty of Hawaii. On the contrary, our desires are to help improve our wonderful community of Kaneohe whom we have served for 13 years."

He said the signs are used to direct people to church events that improve people’s lives.

"Over the years, we have heard concerns from a handful of people regarding our signage," Barr said. "On the other hand, hundreds of people in Kaneohe have personally thanked us for the signs as they have directed them to educational services."

To help address the concerns expressed, he said, "We pulled the signs up last week and will only utilize (the signs) for special series which occur periodically throughout the year.  We hope this alleviates frustrations from the complainant."

We did not hear back from Hope Chapel Kaneohe Bay.

REPORTING THE SIGNS

On Oahu the public is asked to call the state Highways Division at 831-6714 to report illegal signs and to provide as much detail as possible, including the type of sign, locations and date and time.

"Highway crews will follow up with each complaint," Sluyter said. "The Highways Division will again work with area churches to remind them of the laws."

She said that while the DOT is empowered to remove illegally placed signs, it does not issue citations or fines.

Meanwhile, the city Department of Planning and Permitting’s enforcement staff said there hasn’t been "a dramatic increase in illegal church signs on city sidewalks or other areas under the city’s jurisdiction."

If anyone does see such signs on city property, call 768-8159 with the address or location.

MAHALO

To the kind person who left a note on my windshield after witnessing a truck hit my parked car at Costco in Iwilei. Had it not been for your actions, the driver would have gotten away! He wasn’t from Hawaii, was using someone else’s truck and tried to leave the scene. But thanks to you, he was apprehended, cited by HPD, and the owner of the vehicle has paid for the damage. Thank you for taking the time to be a good Samaritan. — Cindy

———
Write to “Kokua Line” at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu 96813; call 529-4773; fax 529-4750; or email kokualine@staradvertiser.com.