Question: After exiting the international arrivals baggage claim area of Honolulu Airport on July 29, I noticed a large contingent of Japanese cameramen and reporters. A Japanese celebrity then walked out to the sidewalk, where he was interviewed and taped by the Japanese media. I tried to take a photo, but a sheriff’s deputy put her hand over my camera and said "no pictures." She also denied another person from filming. We were standing on a public sidewalk. Can a member of the sheriff’s department deny a Hawaii resident’s right to take photos when the Japanese media are allowed to do so? Did the sheriff’s department grant them "exclusivity" on a public sidewalk?
Answer: Unless you were being disruptive or blocking the area, you should have been allowed to take a photo.
The Japanese celebrity and news media were part of a film shoot and that may have resulted in a situation in which the deputy sheriff felt she needed to stop you from taking a photo, according to the state Department of Public Safety.
Otherwise, "Taking photographs on the curb, in the terminal or in parking lots is not restricted" by the state Department of Transportation’s Airports Division, said spokeswoman Caroline Sluyter.
We first contacted Public Safety, which includes the Sheriff Division, about why you were blocked from taking a photo.
Spokeswoman Toni Schwartz explained that "bona fide" news reporters know they must get permission from the Airports Division to film or take photos of a special event at the airport.
"Once they are cleared, the sheriffs are notified by the DOT which media outlet will be filming or taking pictures at the airport," she said. "In this case, I think only authorized (DOT approved) media was allowed to take pictures for that event."
Even if that may not have been the case, Schwartz said the other important thing to note is that "the airport wants people to move on and not tie up the curb."
"It does create a safety and security concern if crowds start to form," she said. "As such, I believe that the deputy was preventing any picture-taking to keep the celebrity moving on and the traffic moving too."
For the DOT, Sluyter explained that it requests a "courtesy notification" from news media working on either breaking or daily stories when they are on airport property.
For commercial filming, a film permit is required from both the Airports Division and the Hawaii State Film Office.
The Japanese film crew did have a film permit for the shoot on July 29, but "the public would not be prohibited from taking a photo," Sluyter said.
However, she said security is responsible for keeping the public quiet during active filming and for keeping the public away — out of any shot — from the filming location.
She said it also is important to keep the curb area clear and traffic moving.
"We are sorry to hear about the unpleasant experience and always appreciate feedback," Sluyter said. "It gives us a chance to review our procedures and look for ways to improve in the future."
Asked what specifically would be reviewed in this instance, she said the Airports Division always reviews an incident and procedures associated with it whenever it receives a complaint.
Mahalo
To Hawaiian Airlines Flight 8 attendants and "Doc" Matthew for your care and concern when I became ill midway to Las Vegas. The manner in which you handled the situation calmed a stressful experience for my husband and me. I was whisked off the plane and not able to properly say "thank you." With heartfelt appreciation to you all, I wish you good health and happiness always. — "77"
Mahalo
To the honest person who turned in my purse that was left in the shopping cart at Costco Kapolei in June. You made a very stressful day turn into a joyous day because of your honesty. May you be blessed many times over.
— Grateful Senior
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