The winner of a city contract to run two Waikiki beachboy stands was supposed to take over from the previous operators Tuesday, but that didn’t happen.
The current contractors — Star Beachboys and Hawaiian Ocean’s Waikiki — didn’t vacate their spots on the state’s most popular beach, and the city didn’t push the issue.
Instead of forcing out the two longtime contractors, the city has decided to wait until at least Thursday, when a judge has scheduled a hearing on the dispute.
“The city will await the determination by the court on Thursday before proceeding further,” said city spokesman Andrew Pereira.
Star Beachboys’ owner Aaron Rutledge has asked Circuit Judge Dean Ochiai to issue a temporary restraining order that would allow Star Beachboys to keep the Waikiki concession. Ochiai is scheduled to hear arguments Thursday on the temporary order and on a permanent injunction July 6.
“That’s all we want … just the city to give (us) time until the injunction is heard,” Rutledge said. “If we lose at that point, then of course we gotta get off. It’s nothing against the new company. It’s not his fault. The city should not have qualified a scuba diving company for a beachboy concession. It’s common sense.”
The beachboy stand operators are disputing the way the contract was issued by the city.
Last month the city awarded Dive Oahu a five-year contract to operate the beach concession stands, which offer surf lessons, canoe rides and surfboard rentals.
Early Tuesday about 50 protesters gathered in Waikiki to support Star Beachboys and Hawaiian Ocean’s Waikiki.
“Hawaii’s tourism would not be where it is today if you didn’t have the likes of the Waikiki beachboys perpetuating our aloha spirit, our culture, showing the world what Hawaii is all about,” said Malia Kaleopa‘a, whose uncles were beachboys. “Without them we’re just another destination with umbrellas and beach chairs.”
Kaleopa‘a was one of the participants in the protest in front of the Duke Kahanamoku statue at dawn Tuesday.
At the protest some toted signs that said, “Save our beach boys” and “No beach boys, no aloha.”
Dive Oahu manager Shelly Rofrits said, “I do want to make it clear that we’re not kicking any beachboy out. That’s not what we’re doing at all. We won the contract bid, and there are certain things we need to adhere to.”
“This is a change in management, not a change in beachboys,” she said.
Dive Oahu plans to hire 30 to 40 beachboys and already has signed up about a dozen, the company said.
“We want a peaceful transfer” of the concession, Rofrits said.
As he stood on the sidewalk along Kalakaua Avenue, Rutledge pointed to the statue of Duke Kahanamoku. “We’re here representing him,” Rutledge said. “Some of the guys who work for me actually worked with him back in the ’60s and the ’50s before he passed away. Some of those guys are still here.”
Legendary waterman Richard “Buffalo” Keaulana, who participated in Tuesday’s protest, said, “We were born by the water.
“We share what we know and we know the water.”
