Question: My wife has a small dance/exercise studio and rents storefront space for it. This provides income to the property owner, which in turn provides property tax revenue to the city, which in turn funds government services. The price of the classes is reasonable. You can see the benefits of this system for everyone. … On the other hand, sometimes I see what looks like private businesses monopolizing public spaces, especially at or near beach parks — big groups of people doing yoga or whatever. These “entrepreneurs” have an unfair advantage if they are charging the participants but aren’t paying rent or fees for use of the space. They might not be paying any related business taxes, either. On top of all this, sometimes people taking the class or doing the activity glare at or shush kids playing nearby — as if those kids have no right to be on public property! … So my question is, Is there a convenient place the public can check, such as an online directory, that says which businesses have permits to use public facilities and when? Otherwise, how can tell if they are monopolizing a public resource for private benefit?
Answer: You are not the only person associated with a small business on Oahu who has complained to Kokua Line about what is perceived as commercial misuse of parks or beaches by other entrepreneurs — as opposed to city-sanctioned programs and events or free activities that all are welcome to join.
We checked with Nathan Serota, spokesman for the city’s Department of Parks and Recreation, for an answer to your question (no, there’s no permit directory available to the public) and for information addressing the concerns mentioned by other readers. Here are his responses:
Q: Are private businesses allowed to use public park facilities for their commercial operations? If yes, must they be permitted to do so by the city and pay fees for the facility use?
A: “There are currently commercial activity permits issued for snorkeling/scuba, swimming/surfing, and photography. Additionally, there are park-use events (runs, community events, fairs, picnics) where there can be authorized commercial activity such as caterers. Each permit has its own cost depending on the activity and length or the permit.
“There are no permits for yoga commercial classes to be regularly conducted on DPR property.
“There are certain situations where the city has a contract with a vendor to provide a service at a specific location. For example: L&L at Ala Moana and surf concessions in Waikiki (the Department of Enterprise Services handles those).”
Q: Is there a way for the public to easily discern whether a commercial operator is a permitted user or simply monopolizing public resources for private gain? For example, is there a list of certified users online?
A: “Permit holders must have a copy of their park permit on-site. There is currently no public list of permits issued by DPR.”
Q: If it appears that a private business is using public facilities without permission, is there a way for the public to file a complaint?
A: “If the public believes that a business is operating illegally, they are advised to file a complaint with the Honolulu Police Department, which may issue a citation.”
You can read more about city park rules and regulation at 808ne.ws/dprrule; the nine links to information about commercial activities might be of special interest.
Mahalo
Kudos to the brave people in an SUV who tried to save a terrified, fluffy white dog that was standing on the median of Pali Highway on Friday night, June 2. It’s reassuring to know there are people like you who help. I hope that little dog is safely and securely at home and that it never escapes again. — Elizabeth
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.
