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Communications Issued by Friends of Kewalos to DLNR:
I.
Mr. Roy
Yanagihara, Oahu District Manager November
15, 2006
Division of Boating and Ocean
Recreation
333 Queen Street #300
Honolulu, Hawaii 96813
Subject: Set of Rules to
govern surf contests/events at Kewalo Basin Park.
Seven
months have gone by with discussions and research with DOBOR and Hawaii
Amateur Surfing Association (HASA) which have resulted in very little
progress toward our two goals: 1) limiting the surf contests and 2) public
notification of contests at Kewalo Basin Park as noted in our initial letter
to you dated March 23, 2006. After notifying both parties of the mounting
frustrations, contests continue to occur with no notification.
Submitting
a proposal to DOBOR for governing surf contests on the South Shore at our
initial meeting on May 10, 2006, resulted in DOBOR coming back with
requesting Friends of Kewalo Basin Park Association (Friends)to organize an
Advisory Council to govern all ocean events on the South Shore. We were
intimidated by this and turned our efforts to HASA in the hopes of working
out an agreement with them. But on October 28, 2006 another permit was
issued for a surf contest sponsored by HASA as noted on the permit with no
courtesy call to us. This was the last straw, which resulted in
Friends coming up with these set of rules to govern surf contests/events
at Kewalo Basin Park to take effect immediately.
These
rules are based on:
- A surf
spot is a ˇ§PUBLIC OCEAN PARKˇ¨ for all the people to use.
- The
Surf spot called ˇ§the Pointˇ¨ at Kewalo Basin Park had the most surf
contests for the past 2 years in the entire State of Hawaii. 14 in
2005 and 11 in 2006. Comparison purposes: Queens -8 and Ala
Moana Bowls- 3
- We
feel this is a fair set of rules which will bring balance and equity to
other spots being used.
Should any of these rules be broken, Friends will exercise their every right
to surf. This right is stated on the DOBOR permit and orally expressed to
us at our first meeting.
However,
Friends hopes that we will not have to reach this point, and hopes that
DOBOR, HASA, and any other contest organizer will support us and abide by
these rules. Friends have been and would like to continue to respect the
contests at Kewalo Basin Park.
The big
picture is that DOBOR will adopt these rules Statewide to prevent another
surf area from experiencing what we did. If you would like to convene to
discuss these rules in more detail, Friends will be happy to participate.
Aloha,
Ronald T.
Iwami, President Enclosure
Friends
of Kewalo Basin Park Association cc: HCDA
P. O. Box 61825 Honolulu, Hawaii
96839-1905 cc: HASA
www.kewalo.org
Ronald@kewalo.org cc: C&C Parks & Recreation
ˇ@
II. SET OF RULES TO GOVERN SURF CONTESTS/EVENTS
AT KEWALO BASIN PARK
These
rules apply to the 4 surf spots that make up Kewalo Basin Park:
1. Points
2. Rennicks
3. Straight Outs
4. Marineland
1. 1.
There will be a total of four (4) surf contests or promotional events per
calendar year at
Kewalo Basin Park.
2. Contest/events will only be held during the first
week of the month. ( to address the
public notification issue)
3. Contest/events will not be held during a holiday
or holiday weekends including
three day holiday weekends.
4. Contest/events will not be held for more than two
days.
5. No holding periods
6. There will only be one contest/event per month.
7. DOBOR to notify Friends of Kewalo Basin Park
Association of all contest/events
as soon
as the permit is issued. We will then get the word out.
Note: If a holiday falls during the first week of the
month, then the contest/event shall be
held the following week.III. Minutes as
recorded by Friends of Kewalos
MINUTES TO MEETING HELD ON
THURSDAY FEBRUARY 08, 2007
Convened by Friends of Kewalo
Basin Park Association
Place of Meeting: Honolulu Boys
and Girls Club
Attendees: Ron Iwami, Brian Shimokawa, David Nakada and Jay Kadowaki
(Friends Of
Kewalo Basin Park Association), Richard Kuitunen (HCDA),
Mike Jones (DOBOR),
Bobbi Lee & Daughter (NSSA), Cherry Fu & Associate (Girls
Who Surf), Bert
Ishimaru (HASA), and Kahea Hart (Hurley International).
Meeting is called to order by
Ron Iwami at 6:10 P.M.
Ron
opens the meeting by thanking everyone present for taking the time and
effort to attend this important face-to-face meeting concerning the amount
of surf meets being held at the Kewalo Point surf venue. Ron then states
that he will be the Facilitator of the meeting and he starts by asking
everyone to introduce themselves stating the organization they represent and
their mission in regards to the matter of surf contests/events at Kewalo
Point.
-
Richard Kuitunen-HCDA Kewalo Basin Park Asset Mgr.-his Dept. is responsible for
the issuing of all permits for
land/park use at Kewalo Basin Park. Permits issued for the use of the park
does not specify any certain designated area of the park which amounts to
first-come, first-serve.
-
Mike Jones-Asst. DOBOR Mgr. of Oahu District-his Dept. is
responsible for the issuing
of permits for ocean
recreational use.
-
Bobbi Lee & Daughter-NSSA President/Director-amateur
event/non-profit 501C-3; NSSA promotes surfing for the kids who aspire to
someday become a Pro. The one surf meet at Kewalo Point that they have
requested for by way of permits is the NSSA State Championships that is
the ˇ§springboardˇ¨ to the National Finals that is normally held in
California. Bobbi assured us that all the kids must maintain a certain
grade point average in order to compete in these meets.
-
Cherry Fu & Associate Heather-Girls Who Surf-amateur event-runs
Surf School named the same-mission is to promote female surfers and give
many females a chance to surf in a structured contest atmosphere in which
they may never have a chance to do so
otherwise.
-
Bert Ishimaru-HASA-President/Director-amateur and pro-am
events/non-profit 501C-3;
sponsors and promotes amateur
and pro-am surf meets throughout the state-also stated that all the kids who
surf in HASA events must maintain a certain grade point average-HASA is also
hired by other surf industry promoters and sponsors to ˇ§runˇ¨ events.
-
Kahea Hart-Hurley Intˇ¦l.-Manager of Hawai`i Teamriders-amateur/groms-allows
kids to ˇ§hob-nobˇ¨ with selected Hurley Pros and to have competition with
kids using surf-boards that Hurley Pro-Riders actually rode-ˇ§Rip My Shred
Stickˇ¨.
-
Ron Iwami-President of Friends Of Kewalo Basin Park Association-Mission
is to protect and preserve Kewalo Basin Park and its surrounding areas and
waters to ensure that the recreational users continue to have public
access and the ability to enjoy the park for future
generations to come. Ron then gives our history with Save Our
Kaka`ako and why we are doing this/having the meeting.
- Brian
Shimokawa-Member of Friends Of Kewalo Basin Park Association-states that we
do not want to ban surf contests, we are seeking a limit to the amount to
be held at Kewalo Point. There have been a total of 26 events in the last
two years, 14 in 2005 and 12 in 2006. We are seeking fairness and
equality amongst the other surf spots that are able to be utilized for
surf meets/contests. Those other spots being Sandy Beach, Diamond Head,
Queenˇ¦s, Bowls, Courts, Kewalos, Sand Island, and Maile Point.
(1)
Ron then
asks Bobbi, Cherry, Bert, and Kahea why they choose Kewalo Point as the
venue for their respective contest(s).
ˇP
Bobbi stated
that many contestants (kids) fly in from the Outer Islands and Kewalos in
proximity to the airport is centrally located for all of them-the ample
parking situation, overall facilities and the venue atmosphere being very
centralized. She also said that she felt very welcomed and safe at last
yearˇ¦s NSSA surf meet which was their very first one held at Kewalo Point.
ˇP
Kahea says that
he grew up a Sandy Beach boy and he would be more than happy to take ˇ§Rip My
Shred Stickˇ¨ event to Sandy Beach. He said he knows how we feel.
But, the reason for Kewalo Point
is the overall centralized proximity of the venue set up and atmosphere.
ˇP
Bert says they
choose Kewalos as 1 of 3 different spots on the South Shore that they run
surf meets-the other 2 spots are
Tennis Courts and Ala Moana Bowls. Also, said that the set-up and
atmosphere of the venue is conducive to the camaraderie and friendships that
are built amongst the kids and their parents at these events.
-
Cherry Fu and Associate
Heather state that if the contest organizer is to spend so much money to
run the event they would like to have it at Kewalo Point where the better
waves are.
-
Brian mentions the
possibility of ranking the contest(s) as 4 star, 3 star, or 2 star to
determine where the contest(s) will be held, as it relates to the Kewalo
venue. Example would be, 4 star at the Point, 3 or 2 star at Straight
Outs. Other potential South Shore sites may also merit such a rating
system.
Summary of answers to why
Kewalo Point is chosen for given events: overall convenience, safety
factors, good clean facilities, close proximity to the waves, nice seawall
and walkway for spectators and contestants, easy judging venue. All groups
expressed the reason for these meets is to promote surfing for the kids in a
safe and healthy environment. Also, to keep them out of trouble. These
meets are a possible route up the ladder to become professional surfers.
Ron then states the
purpose of this meeting:
to find a solution to limiting the amount of surf meets/contests held at
Kewalo Point. If a solution cannot be found or agreed upon we want to make
sure that you are all aware of our intentions.
-
Bobbi Lee then asked: What
do we intend to do?
-
Ron responds: Take this
issue to the press media and T.V. media, hold a rally and protest with
signs and banners and to exercise our right to surf and surf in numbers.
Bobbi was very distressed to
hear this and said that she does not want the kids exposed to this.
Ron then asks everyone: After
all thatˇ¦s been said and discussed what are your solutions to this matter?
-
Richard Kuitunen (HCDA)
asks how many surf spots there are at Kewalo Basin and if the meets could
be spread out at these spots by naming a specific spot on the permit(s)
issued for
Kewalo Basin. There are 4 spots, Kewalo Point, Rennicks, Straight Outs, and
Marineland.
Through discussion only 2 possibly 3 of the 4 spots are safe to use as
contest venues. Other(s) are too shallow.
Before Richard could finish,
Bobbi Lee asked Friends what their solution is/might be instead of hearing
everyone else.
-
Ron answered: The big
picture and long term solution would be for DOBOR to adopt rules similar
to the North Shore rules which calls for only 4 contests per given site.
The short term solution would be to work with the groups and come to a
mutual agreement to appease this matter of too many surf meets at Kewalo
Point.
(2)
-
Ron then asks Mike Jones (DOBOR)
the possibility of the above mentioned long term solution becoming a
reality. Mikeˇ¦s reply is that it is possible but that this will be a
timely process which make take anywhere from 2-5 years. In the meantime
Mike Jones stated that Ed Underwood (Statewide Administrator Of DOBOR)
instructed him to stick to the new unwritten in-house policy of no more
than 2 contests a month (every other weekend) along with no holding
periods for any of the contests.
-
Ron then explains that the
reason we need rules coming from the Authority is because that is the only
way that the amount of contests can be controlled. If we just make an
agreement amongst ourselves whoˇ¦s to say that a person not attending our
meeting will not be able to have a contest at Kewalo Point.
Brian then asks Bert Ishimaru
(HASA) if he has any knowledge whether or not Wendell Aoki
has formed a sponsorship
entity that will run surf meets. Bertˇ¦s answer was that he was not sure but
that it is highly possible that Wendell did or might do so.
Ron then alerted everyone of
Wendell Aokiˇ¦s unwillingness to work with us in the past by not attending
any of the previous meetings that Ron had set-up. Ron then asked Bert if he
had given Wendell a call to notify him of this meeting. Bert said that he
unfortunately did not get around to doing so.
At this point of the meeting,
Mike Jones presents a copy all of the permit requests (8) for 2007 for the
use of Kewalo Basin. Mike made it very clear that none of these permit
requests have been cleared, okayed, or granted as of this meeting.
To the surprise and dismay of
ˇ§Friendsˇ¨ out of the 8 permit requests received 4 of them were pulled by
Wendell Aoki under the Sponsorship Organization name ˇ§Hawaii Surfing
Productionˇ¨ (HSP). One of these 4 pulled by Wendell listed Straight Outs as
the location of contest.
*Bobbi and/or Bert asked Ron
and Friends: If we decide to do the protest and surf thing with the media
does that mean all surf meet organizations will suffer regardless.
-
Brian responds to this
question: Unfortunately yes, but thatˇ¦s why we are all here to see if we
can all come to some kind of mutual verbal agreement in limiting the surf
contests at Kewalo Point. ˇ§Friendsˇ¨ have been working and corresponding
for the better part of one-year with the proper Agencies that deal and
have the power to allow these surf meets. Only recently have they been
responding to our concerns and desires but, unfortunately the new
unwritten in-house policy mentioned above does absolutely nothing to
appease ˇ§Friendsˇ¨ concerns and desires. There is the potential to have 26
contests a year at Kewalo Point.
*Brian states that if we can
all agree on a possible long term solution and sincerely work on it very
diligently then ˇ§Friends Of Kewalo Basin Park Associationˇ¨ will compromise
for a possible short term agreement.
The Meeting then seems to go
adrift from its immediate topic of discussion when David Nakada
suggested having a mandatory
meeting with all interested parties wanting to have surf contests
at Kewalos. This meeting
will include ˇ§Friendsˇ¨ and will be held before the new upcoming year.
All permits for the upcoming
year for the use of Kewalo Basin Park and its surf spots will be issued at
this meeting. If any contest organization misses the meeting, they have
missed their chance to have a contest at Kewalos. A decision to when and
where at Kewalos will also be decided at this meeting. By doing so, there
will be a set schedule for the entire year that will be
dispersed for all to know.
(3)
-
All parties have a question
or two about this process but after all is said everyone agreed to it.
-
Mike Jones (DOBOR) said he
will present this proposed solution to Ed Underwood who is the Statewide
DOBOR Administrator and who has the authority to adopt such a procedure.
-
Ron then asks Mike Jones if
this procedure is possible without going through the lengthy process of
adopting a certain set of rules.
-
Mikeˇ¦s reply is: Yes,
because it is only a procedural change.
-
Brian then asks Mike Jones
to convey the urgency of this meeting we all had to Ed Underwood and due
to itˇ¦s very serious nature could they, (DOBOR) possibly stop accepting
anymore permits for 2007 for the use of Kewalo Basin and we, ˇ§Friendsˇ¨
will be more than happy to respect all 8 surf meets as a compromise to
this overall issue.
In closing, Ron notifies Mike
Jones that he will be in constant contact with him on this matter of
resolving the amount of surf contests at Kewalo Point.
Meeting is adjourned at
approximately 8:00 P.M. |
