Kokua Line has received several questions and complaints about parties off Waikiki that are galvanized by social media and described as a “flotilla” or “floatilla” because revelers bob along on inflatable rafts and tubes that often are linked together. Separate groups or individuals organize these disparate events, and the commitment to cleaning up afterward varies accordingly.
Question: Will “Flotilla” be allowed to go on this Fourth of July, or are they putting a stop to it?
Answer: We checked with the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, and spokeswoman Deborah Ward provided this response:
“Anyone is free to go into the ocean. However, the Walter J. MacFarlane Regatta marine event will be taking place throughout the day on July 4 in the waters off Waikiki between the Outrigger and Moana Surfrider hotels. The focus of the DLNR Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement, as marine enforcement patrolling on Jet Skis and boats, along with lifeguards, regatta personnel and Honolulu police on land, will be to ensure that there is safety for all marine event participants, as well as other ocean users that day. The possible excessive consumption of alcohol, prolonged exposure to hot sun, crowding and ocean conditions can add up to greater risk of something going wrong.
“Anyone organizing, or participating in a flotilla needs to make sure that everyone stays safe, behaves responsibly and shows respect for the environment by removing all of their belongings. Anyone planning to use ocean waters for the congregation of large numbers of people should apply for a state marine event permit. Marine event permits are not for exclusive use of an area, but can help ensure that ocean activities are kept separate for safety reasons.”
No flotilla organizer had applied for a marine event permit for July 4 as of Monday, Ward said.
Applications must be submitted at least 30 days prior to the event. Proof of insurance coverage of $500,000 also is required. Permits are issued by DLNR’s Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation; the form can be found at 808ne.ws/28Ny1Bg.
In past years, the Fourth of July flotilla was just beyond the turnaround point for the MacFarlane racing canoes; revelers watched the races, cheered their teams and enjoyed the day. Volunteers from the nonprofit Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii plied the waters collecting garbage on specially rigged boards and boats.
Kahi Paccaro, the nonprofit’s executive director, hopes the flotilla will continue, with careful debris removal as usual. He drew a sharp distinction between that day’s fun — which he described as a celebration of the regatta, not a separate event — and other floating parties that have no organized cleanup and no association with Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii.
“What we would like to say is: Lead by example. We were all young once. You can have a good time and not trash the place,” he said.
The nonprofit is hosting a large-scale beach cleanup in Waikiki on Saturday, starting at 9 a.m. Volunteers, including families with children, are encouraged to participate. See details at sustainablecoastlineshawaii.org or the group’s Facebook page.
Q: There was another one of those big float parties off Waikiki over Memorial Day weekend and they left behind so much garbage in the ocean and on the beach. Why can’t we put a stop to this?! Who has jurisdiction? There’s underage drinking, littering, etc.
A: Responsibility for picking up trash is with the flotilla organizers and participants. Failure to do so is a “citable offense,” Ward said. DLNR and HPD officers can enforce state and county laws against littering, underage drinking or creating hazards to navigation, she said. Kokua Line was unable to reach the apparent organizer of the May 30 party.
Q: Is it even legal to be drinking in the ocean like that?
A: Yes, for adults. As Ward specified: “It’s not prohibited to drink on a boat, but operating one under the influence is (prohibited). It’s not prohibited to bob on an inflatable device. It’s not prohibited to drink on an inflatable unless you are under 21 years of age.”
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.
