Hawaii County committee forwards bill to ban commercial vending at Kohanaiki Beach Park

The Hawaii County Council's Policy Committee on Health and Safety and Well-Being voted March 17 to forward Bill 138 to the full council with a favorable recommendation. The measure would amend Chapter 15, Article 2, Division 1, Section 15-20 of the Hawaii County Code to state explicitly that commercial activity is not allowed at Kohanaiki Beach Park.

The bill's author told the committee the change is intended to close a long-standing ambiguity in the code and to remove the option of issuing permits for commercial activity at that park. "What this bill does is specifically articulate that commercial activity at Kohanaiki Park is not allowed and that a permit for such activity cannot be granted, within the park," the author said, describing review by a working group of parks staff and community members.

Deputy Director Melissa Zamora of the Department of Parks and Recreation told the committee the department supports Bill 138. "We do support this bill 138. We really, really think this is a great idea, regarding not even having the option to get a permit," Zamora said, adding that the department has issued cease-and-desist notices when groups operated commercially without authorization. She told committee members staff will review permitting processes to prevent unauthorized commercialization.

Committee members expressed support for the measure and for local partners that helped draft the language. One member thanked community stakeholders and said the bill will "close a loophole to make it easier for everyone to understand how and what needs to be enforced in that area." The author also noted Kohanaiki Shores and the local ocean safety crew as front-line contacts who often receive park-use inquiries.

A member asked whether the ban would affect permitted events that previously included vendor concessions. Zamora replied, "They won't be allowed to vend or commercialize. They cannot sell, you know, ... shirts, cannot sell any foods," indicating that sales and vending at events in the park would not be permitted under the proposed amendment.

The committee approved the motion to forward Bill 138 to the full council with a favorable recommendation; the motion was moved by Councilmember Inaba and seconded by Mister Hughes. The clerk recorded the tally as eight ayes and one excused member. The committee adjourned at 1:28 p.m.

If adopted by the full council, the code change would direct county parks staff to prohibit vending and other commercial operations at Kohanaiki Beach Park and to rely on the county's enforcement processes for unauthorized vendors.