Keep It Kailua

From our friends at “We are Kailua”:

Bill 11 is law! Congratulations and thank you everyone who helped make this possible. This is proof that WE ALL DO BETTER WHEN WE WORK TOGETHER!

Now we need to ensure that this law is enforced. If you see illegal commercial activity at Kailua or Kalama beach parks you need to call 911, say that this is not an emergency, and describe the illegal activity. The following is considered illegal: any commercial drop offs at Kailua or Kalama beach parks (kayak drop offs or other ocean activity equipment etc.), any commercial business operating in the parks, any large or small tour buses inside the beach parks (tour buses can drop off at city bus stops, but no buses in parks), and no Segway tours in park. When I say in the beach park that also means the canal mouth, because it is also considered a part of Kailua Beach Park. We have been working on enforcement by talking with HPD. However, we all need to call and ensure that they do enforce. This is not an easy task, but it will get better with time and our persistence. Mahalo for your support!

On Wednesday, May 9^th – 2:00pm at the Pali Golf Course Clubhouse Banquet Room, the City Council will have a second of three readings of Bill 11CD1. We need Kailua Residents to tell the City Council we do not want Kailua to be the Windward Waikiki and ask the Council to support Bill 11 CD1 as proposed.

Bill 11 CD1 will:

1. Prohibits commercial activities, including recreational stops by tour companies, but excluding commercial filming activities, at Kailua Beach Park and Kalama Beach Park.
2. Provides that no permit shall be issued for commercial activities at Kailua Beach Park and Kalama Beach Park, including permits for recreational stops by commercial tour companies, but excluding permits for commercial filming activities.

The continuing exploitation of Kailua as a tourist trap must stop if Kailua wants to retain its residential character.

SPEAKER REGISTRATION

Prior to the Day of the Meeting

Persons wishing to testify on the morning calendar are requested to register as follows:

a. On-Line at http://www1.honolulu.gov/council/attnspkccl.htm

b. By faxing to 768-3826 your name, phone number and subject matter;

c. By filling out the registration form in person; or

d. By calling 768-3813.

On-site on the Day of the Meeting

Registration on-site for items listed on the morning calendar will be from 7:45 a.m. to 10 a.m.

Persons who have not registered to testify by the deadline will be given an opportunity to speak on an item following oral testimonies of the registered speakers.

Each speaker shall not have anyone else read their statement and is limited to:

a. Three-minute presentation on New Business and Sunshine items;

b. One-minute presentation on all other items.

WRITTEN TESTIMONY – Prior to the Day of the Meeting

Written testimony may be faxed to 768-3826 or e-mailed at http://www1.honolulu.gov/council/emailccl.htm for distribution at the meeting.

15 copies are requested if written testimony is submitted on-site.

If submitted, written testimonies, including the testifier’s address, e-mail address and phone number, may be posted by the City Clerk and available to the public on the City’s DocuShare Website.

Any physically challenged person requiring special assistance should call 768-3813 for details at least one day prior to the meeting date.

Please attend a special Honolulu City Council meeting on April 18^th, 2012  6:30PM at the Kailua High School Cafeteria (451 Ulumanu Dr.). The Honolulu City Council’s Park and Cultural Affairs Committee will be having a public hearing about proposed amendments to Bill 11 (addresses commercial activities at Kailua beach parks).

Keep it Kailua supports these amendments and ask all Oahu residents to support these and all other efforts to curb the continuing trend of making Kailua a tourist trap.

1. Removes previous conditions relating to permit limitations, watercraft activities, and recreational stops at Kailua Beach Park and Kalama Beach Park.
2. Prohibits commercial activities, including recreational stops by tour companies, but excluding commercial filming activities, at Kailua Beach Park and Kalama Beach Park.
3. Provides that no permit shall be issued for commercial activities at Kailua Beach Park and Kalama Beach Park, including permits for recreational stops by commercial tour companies, but excluding permits for commercial filming activities.

To register to speak or submit testimony:

Speaker Registration:   Persons wishing to speak may register through Wednesday, April 18, 2012, 4:30 p.m. by

1. On-Line at http://www1.honolulu.gov/council/attnspkpca.htm;
2. By faxing to 768-3827 your name, phone number and the agenda item;
3. By filling out a registration form in person; or
4. By calling 768-3816.

Registration on-site will begin at 5:30 p.m. Each speaker is limited to a one-minute presentation. Persons who have not registered to testify will be given an opportunity to speak on an item following oral testimonies of the registered speakers.

Written Testimony – Must be Submitted prior to the Day of the Meeting: Written testimony may be faxed to 768-3827 or emailed at http://www1.honolulu.gov/council/emailpca.htm for distribution at the meeting. 15 copies are requested if written testimony is submitted on-site. By submitting written testimony, you are not automatically registered to speak.  Refer to “SPEAKER REGISTRATION” procedures above.

Kailua’s Future?

Keep it Kailua strongly opposes Hawaii Senate Bill 2927. We consider it an insidious attack on open government. SB 2927 could exempt development projects from public scrutiny and accountability. It shuts out the public by allowing  developers with projects near a transit station (rail or bus) free rein with numerous exemptions and minimal public input.

It appears SB2927 would:

1. Circumvent county general plans, development and sustainable community plans.
2. Exempt projects from zoning regulations, impact fees, and parking standards.
3. Diminishes opportunities for public feedback.
4. Exempt projects on state or county land from Hawaii Revise Statutes Chapter 343 environmental review.
5. Exempt development from all fees associated with land development.
6. Provide indemnity for any county, its officials, or employees for actions taken regarding exceptional planning projects (no government official will held responsible for causing harm).

What this could mean for Kailua is a free-pass for a developer to build anything they want within a quarter mile of a bus station in Kailua. That could possibly include high-rises or hotels!

Keep it Kailua believes SB 2927 violates due process, transparency, and most importantly public input regarding the future of our community.

Please call or email both the Hawaii House and Senate representatives and ask them to oppose SB2927

E-MAIL AND CALL ALL HOUSE MEMBERS BY CLICKING ON THE FOLLOWING: http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/members/legislators.aspx?chamber=H

E-MAIL AND CALL ALL SENATORS GO TO: http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/members/legislators.aspx?chamber=S

Our neighborhood beach parks are being threatened by increased commercialization. City Council member Ikaika Anderson has introduced City Council Bill 11 that would by ordinance authorize an unlimited number of tour buses to drop off tourist at Kailua beach park and would allow four tourist-oriented concession stands to operate at Kalama Beach Park and Kailua Beach Park.

Keep it Kailua believes this is the wrong approach. Bill 11 should be modified to prohibit tour buses and ban commercial activities from our beach parks. Kailua is a residential community and our beach parks should be a safe-haven from commercialization.

This Friday, March 30th at 3:30PM, please join fellow residents for sign-waving demonstration at the park across from Castle Hospital. Let’s make a presence and show the Council we don’t want Kailua turned into a resort area. Please bring blank poster boards and permanent pens and we will make our messages consistent.

Please also write, e-mail, or call council members on the Parks and Cultural Affairs Committee asking them to change Bill 11 to specify the following:

1) No tourist buses dropping off tourist at Kailua or Kalama beach parks.
2) There shall be no vendor permits issued for Kailua or Kalama beaches.

Please contact all the following Parks and Cultural Affairs Committee members via phone and e-mail and state the above two points:

Ikaika Anderson (808) 768-5003 ianderson@honolulu.gov

Tom Berg (808) 768-5001 tberg@honolulu.gov

Romy Cachola (808) 768-5007 rcachola.honolulu.gov

Tulsi Gabbard (808) 768-5006 tgabbard@honolulu.gov

Breene Harimoto (808) 768-5008 bharimoto@honolulu.gov

Permanent “neighbors” foster security, social interaction and create a sense of community and neighborliness. The residential character of a community is primarily defined by the active participation of permanent residents. Help us keep Kailua a strong and vibrant residential community by getting involved in the following ways:

• Join or start a Kailua Neighborhood Security Watch

• Join the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT).

• Join the Lani-Kailua Outdoor Circle

• Work with the Kailua Neighborhood Board

• Coach a Local Sports Team

• Volunteer at a Non-Profit Organization or Hospital

• Join Keep it Kailua!