QUESTION: After a couple of years of not going to the beach, I decided to take a friend visiting from California to Sans Souci Beach Park, between the New Otani Kaimana Beach Hotel and the Waikiki Natatorium. I was surprised to see lots of dogs — eight on the beach and four in the water. Three dogs were unleashed. I witnessed several dogs urinating and defecating on the walls and sand. I saw one owner pick up the dogs’ mess with a plastic bag but do nothing about the urinating. This was unhealthful, especially with babies playing in the sand. There was a sign posted that said, among other things, that animals are prohibited in the park and beach area. The same owner kept throwing a roped ball toy in the water for a large Labrador to fetch. Earlier, a yellow Labrador was fetching a tennis ball in and out of the water. The two lifeguards sitting in their booth did nothing to enforce the rules. Has Sans Souci turned into a dog park?
ANSWER: The area between the New Otani hotel and the Natatorium is not a dog park.
However, dogs on leashes may traverse Kapiolani Beach Park to get to the shoreline, said Toni Robinson, director of the city Department of Parks and Recreation. (Sans Souci Beach is part of Kapiolani Beach Park.)
Once at the beach, "Dog owners are allowed to have their dogs below the high-tide line and in the water at Sans Souci," said Jim Howe, chief of operations for the city’s Ocean Safety Division.
"It is also OK to take your dog through the park to get to the water if the dog is on a leash," he reiterated.
If someone complains to Ocean Safety about "dog activity," lifeguards will advise the dog owner of city ordinances dealing with dogs on beaches and show them a copy of the laws, Howe said.
He said lifeguards have a copy of the ordinances in their tower at Sans Souci Beach.
"If the person ignores the advisory, our lifeguard will request HPD to deal with the law enforcement situation," Howe said.
However, he said the supervisor on the South Shore reports not receiving complaints about dogs at Sans Souci Beach.
We’ve explained previously that city lifeguards and parks employees do not have the authority to enforce Parks and Recreation rules, notably in response to continuing complaints about dogs at Ala Moana Beach Park.
(See archives.starbulletin.com/2008/03/02/news/ kokualine.html.)
But Howe pointed out that Ala Moana Beach Park is different from the situation at Sans Souci, because dogs, except for service animals, are not allowed on the beach there.
The primary responsibility of city lifeguards "is to ensure the safety of the people in the water," he said. "We do our best to address issues that may occur on our beaches, but only if it does not jeopardize the well-being of those in the ocean."
Meanwhile, Robinson said that park users who witness any activity on park property in violation of the posted rules should call police.
DOG-FRIENDLY BEACHES
You can find the locations of dog-friendly beaches and dog-friendly parks on the website of the Hawaiian Humane Society: hawaiianhumane.org/Dog-Friendly-Beaches.html.
AUWE
To a neighbor who threw a shopping bag of crushed soda cans infested with ants into my recycling bin, (which) was already full to capacity. Ants crawled all over the bin and ground. Seems like a lot of people think the recycling and trash bins are community property. If you have some trash or recycling items, please ask permission before using my bins. Have some decency and courtesy.
— Your Mililani Neighbor
As Kokua Line has explained previously, there is no law addressing someone tossing things into someone else’s trash or recycling bin.
However, the city Refuse Division says it issues the carts for the exclusive use of residents of a particular home and that it is best to ask permission before tossing anything into someone else’s cart.
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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.
