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Committee advances revisions to Waikiki parade and street‑festival rules, cites First Amendment wording
Summary
The committee approved a CD1 of a bill to tighten rules governing parades, street festivals and First Amendment street activities, with clarifications to definitions and support from the Department of Transportation Services and Waikiki neighborhood interests.
The Committee on Planning, Infrastructure and Transportation on Feb. 11 amended and reported out a revised ordinance to regulate parades, street festivals and similar activities — a set of changes intended to reduce disruption in Waikiki while recognizing First Amendment protections.
Council Chair Waters, the bill's introducer, told the committee the draft clarifies the definitions of "agency," "First Amendment street activity" and "street" and said the revised language recognizes the U.S. Constitution's applicability without changing which events qualify for coverage. "The new definition of the First Amendment street activity recognizes the applicability of the U.S. Constitution to such events, but is not intended to limit or expand the range of events that are covered," Waters said.
Director designate Roger Morton of the Department of Transportation Services told the committee the administration supports the amendments, saying the measure is "directed to, for us, this really targeted issue of too many festivals going on, on Kawakawa in Waikiki. It accomplishes that and we support the bill." A Waikiki Neighborhood Board member who testified remotely supported the bill's intent but urged amendments to ensure first-responder access and other operational details.
The chair recommended the posted CD1 be adopted; with no objections the bill was amended to CD1 and reported out for passage on third reading.
What the bill would do: the CD1 posted to the agenda adjusts permit and street-use rules for street activity in Waikiki and elsewhere, clarifies agency roles and aims to moderate large, repeat festivals that neighborhood stakeholders say create safety, access and quality-of-life problems. Committee members said the revised rules will preserve lawful expression while giving the city clearer tools to manage large-scale street closures in high-use tourism areas.
The committee cited a neighborhood board resolution supporting the changes and invited continued coordination with the Waikiki Business Improvement District and first-responder agencies on operational amendments submitted at the hearing.
Votes at a glance: Bill 50 (2024) was amended to the posted CD1 by unanimous consent and reported out for passage on third reading.
