Alert!!!!!!!!! Your Kokua is needed now.

Flyin Hawaiian · 02-21-2009, 09:37 PM

Stop House bill 1310! Relating to Ocean Recreation. So we can keep weekends and Holidays for the local community in Maunalua Bay.

The bill deletes from the current statute:
a) prohibition of commercial operation of thrill craft, water sledding, para sailing, or high speed boating in Mauanalua bay, Oahu, on weekends and holidays.
b) requirement that permits must be issued at public auction; and
3) maximum term of permit issue of 20 years

WHAT THIS MEANS TO US:
Commercial (rental) jetskis and thrill crafts will be allowed in Maunalua Bay 7 days a week including holidays. It also means the company who has the permit can keep it in perpetuity. This will put rental jetskis on the water when locals are enjoying the Bay.

WHAT WE CAN DO TO STOP THIS: YOUR VOICE IS NEEDED.

Rep. Gene Ward Introduced this Bill with out seeking community input. please call or email him to let him know you oppose this bill
Gene Ward 586-6420 repward@capitol.hawaii.gov

Two emails need to be sent one to the judiciary rep and the other to the senate rep. Please see their info below.

For the judiciary committee please email chair rep: Jon Riki Karamatsu at repkaramatsu@capitol.hawaii.gov
In the email please include:
Your Full Name, Address in the email. Also a reason why. I have included some reasons why to copy and paste or you can put your own personal reasons.
In the subject line write: "In strong opposition to HB 1310"

In the senate please email senator Clayton Hee at senhee@capitol.hawaii.gov
In the email please include:
Your Full Name and Address. Also a reason why. I have included some reasons why to copy and paste or you can put your own personal reasons.
In the subject line write: "In strong opposition to SB 367"

Why it should be stopped, here are some reasons:
HB 1310 is in direct opposition to the late 1980's community effort (Maunalua Bay Recreational Plan) which reserves recreational opportunities to our local community.

The safety of community members will be in jeopardy with a mix of community paddlers, surfers, swimmers, and all ocean lovers as well as the commercial thrill craft businesses operating on weekends.

most importantly, the community should have a voice when the change in a bill will radically effect our ocean area. This needs to come before our Neighborhood Board and community organizations.

In addition to sending the emails if you can find the time you can ATTEND the Hawaii Kai Neighborhood Board meeting at Haha'ione Elementary school.
When: Tuesday February 24th
Time: 7pm (plan to spend an hour and 15 minutes at the meeting
What to bring: A sign that says you oppose HB 1310

For more information: hawaiikaihui@aol.com

Please copy and send this to all your friends on Oahu to help us fight this.

Thank you for your time!!

SpearoPaul · 02-22-2009, 11:45 PM

I'd like to learn more about why this is really bad. Aren't rentals allowed there already? All they do is ride around in circles in a small area. I don't quite see the problem with that. Shouldn't we be pushing for more PWC usage in order to help us get the "thrill craft" silliness overturned/removed so that we can ride anywhere boats can go? I'd really like to learn more.

Mahalo!

-Paul

superjet112x · 02-22-2009, 11:55 PM

Oh yes ! the ol thrillcraft ban, that sux.

Rustiferion · 02-25-2009, 12:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpearoPaul

I'd like to learn more about why this is really bad. Aren't rentals allowed there already? All they do is ride around in circles in a small area. I don't quite see the problem with that. Shouldn't we be pushing for more PWC usage in order to help us get the "thrill craft" silliness overturned/removed so that we can ride anywhere boats can go? I'd really like to learn more.

Mahalo!

-Paul

Well, come to the meeting...you're invited.

Keep in mind two things: this is only affecting **commercial** jetski operators, who are not supposed to be out there on weekends. Yes, we've all seen them out there on Sunday, but they're illegal. The real issue, ultimately, is that >>locals<< tend to use the Bay (heavily) on weekends and the commercial renters tend to cater to tourists who don't care what day of the week it is. The conflict is one-time users who don't understand what "give way" means.

I don't know of any restrictions against **private** jetski owners in the area, other than Hawaii Kai Marina's restrictions against >>all<< non registered boats (kayaks, paddleboats, jetskis and powerboats, whatevers). You are free to go where "real" boats go, other than private property, which I am constantly reminded, HK Marina is.

This whole issue seems to be Gene Ward trying to change existing legislation to please some unnamed personal friends who couldn't get >>commercial<< permits under the existing rules. Recall if you will that the existing legislation came about because of huge public outcry against unregulated commercial activity in the Bay, particularly close on the heels of both the Hanauma Bay issues and an (unrelated) jetski acident in the Bay.

I'm going to be there, just to watch the process..

mr1320 · 02-25-2009, 03:14 AM

So how did it go? Anyone know how to get a copy of the meeting minutes? Maybe someone can post it up for the rest of us who could not attend.

Rustiferion · 02-25-2009, 03:33 PM

Discussion of the bill was taken back off the agenda at the last minute, I presume because there was too much other business already slated. Too bad, because there was a huge turnout, and both Gene Ward and Sam Slom were there to speak. Slom spoke about another business-related issues and only made a passing reference to 1310. The hearing has been rescheduled for, I think, Mar 3, downtown. As soon as I can confirm the date and place, I'll pass it along.

Outside the hall I had a cordial encounter with a small group of the principal advocates of the measure, all (predictably) owners and employees of the two companies presently operating in the Bay. While I still have serious concerns about the wisdom of expanding activities to weekends, I must admit I am on their side of the fence on one point: the requirement to apply for permits at public auction. While we all like the idea of a transparent process, the true effect of this item is that after 20 years of investing and working to make a rental business viable, you could lose it all in an afternoon to some outside company who doesn't really know what it costs to do business here, and goes belly up in a year. It also makes it impossible to draw up a realistic business plan to take to a bank. I agree that part should go. It's anti-business, and I believe this is why Rep. Slom is behind the bill.

Their stand on the weekend issue is that they get a large number of inquiries from local families who can only go out on weekends. Personally I think that since there are at least four other areas on Oahu that allow weekend operations, this is not a problem for the public, only for these two operators.

It was just as well 1310 was not on the agenda - the meeting went on to 9:30 anyway! It will be interesting to see how it falls after the downtown hearing...

tnerb · 05-23-2009, 02:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr1320

So how did it go? Anyone know how to get a copy of the meeting minutes? Maybe someone can post it up for the rest of us who could not attend.

I think this is dead as the legislative session is done for the year. You can check on the status at teh following link: http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessio...illnumber=1310

seadaddy · 11-27-2009, 06:45 PM

Are there any updates on this bill? Did it fail, pass or was it postponed?