Cut back on street events in Waikiki

If you’ve ever unwittingly driven into Waikiki when Kalakaua Avenue was closed for a street festival or parade, the resulting traffic might not be as bad as the Pro Bowl gridlock outside Aloha Stadium, but it’s likely just as frustrating.

So imagine the angst Waikiki residents experience when Kalakaua is shut down — this year it could be as many as 37 times — keeping them from their homes or even trapping them inside.

It’s baffling why so many closures are permitted, especially when nearly a dozen of them are purely profit-driven street festivals run by a private company.

Each year, 14 city permits are automatically renewed because they are legacy events, meaning they have been held for at least 15 consecutive years. Those events include the King Kamehameha Parade, Aloha Festivals Parade and Honolulu Marathon — and there’s no question that these events be held in Waikiki with full community support.

What is inexplicable, however, are the permits for 15 other events that are handed out through a lottery typically held in September.

To many residents and business owners, it’s 15 times too many to be inconvenienced. Other than entertainment, there is no true public benefit from these events — the Hugs and Hearts Festival and Live Aloha Waikiki Festival are among them.

Little would be lost if the city were to cut that lottery number down to six or seven — or even to zero. It’s not as though the city is charging a premium for the permits that could be spent on improving our roads or parks.

Beyond the lottery, Mayor Kirk Caldwell also is allowed to issue eight waivers annually to events that didn’t get selected in the lottery. First Amendment events such as the Gay Pride Parade can bring the street closure count even higher.

It all adds up to an excessive number of street closures in Waikiki. Last year there were 29 closures for various events — four First Amendment, 10 legacy, 14 lottery and one mayor’s waiver.

There were 26 closures in 2014 and 28 in 2013.

No other local community would put up with that, and we shouldn’t expect Waikiki residents to accept this many road closures.

The Waikiki Neighborhood Board rightly passed a resolution asking the city to quit allowing for-profit events that don’t serve a public or cultural purpose to close Kalakaua on Saturday nights. They want to be — and certainly deserve to be — involved in tweaking the city’s rules for permitting parade and event street closures in the district.

And when area businesses, such as restaurants, complain that recent closures have reduced Saturday night business volume to Monday night levels, it’s the city’s duty to not just listen, but act.

One company in particular, Millwood ‘Ohana Productions, has taken full advantage of the city’s lottery, snatching up 11 of the 15 lottery permits for 2016. The company has mastered monetizing a private event at a public venue, setting up shop in the middle of Waikiki’s main thoroughfare and cutting off public access.

By renting out stalls for $350 to $900 at its street fests, Millwood could take in about $70,000 per event if all stalls are rented at the maximum rate.

City Transportation Services Director Mike Formby said his staff is reviewing complaints about the city’s parade ordinance and Millwood’s Waikiki events. Millwood’s events are subject to further scrutiny, and if the city discontinued those events, officials would have to consider whether to hold a makeup lottery.

The city should move swiftly and include stakeholders in the process of updating the parade ordinance. As for holding a makeup lottery, there shouldn’t be a pressing need. There are more than enough quality legacy events for residents to enjoy in Waikiki, and a fair share of festivals across the island.