Public hearing scheduled for proposed changes to Shore Water Event rules

Hearing scheduled for Tuesday, July 3, 2018 at 2 p.m. in the Mission Memorial Conference Room

News Release from City and County of Honolulu June 1, 2018 

Honolulu  –  Following a strong push to modify the permitting rules governing surf events, including those held on the North Shore of O‘ahu, a public hearing has been scheduled to gather comment on the proposed rule changes.

The hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, July 3, 2018 beginning at 2 p.m. in the Conference Room of the Mission Memorial Building located at 550 S. King Street next to Honolulu Hale. Those who cannot attend this hearing may also submit written testimony to the Department of Parks and Recreation no later than July 11, 2018.

The amendments and additions to Title 19, Chapter 4 of the Honolulu Administrative Rules Shore Water Events can be viewed on the Department of Parks and Recreation website, parks.honolulu.gov, or by clicking here. The current rules may also be viewed from this page, as well as a copy of the official public notice detailing the public hearing.  

Some of the notable changes or additions to the current rules:

• Adds that the mayor may appoint an advisory committee to assist the department in resolving scheduling conflicts.
• Deletes the appeal process.
• Amends that the director may fill a vacancy on a North Shore calendar when an application is withdrawn, denied, or revoked.
• Amends the deadline to submit Shore Water Event applications no later than 90 days prior to the date of the event.
• Changes scheduling of the North Shore surf calendar from a yearly cycle to a three-year cycle and establishes new deadlines for filing of permit applications.
• Adopts new procedures governing the application process for submittal of multiple applications for surf events to be scheduled on a triennial North Shore surf season calendar.
• Amends the period for permitting of a surf event on the North Shore; changes scheduling of surf events on the North Shore from an annual calendar to a triennial calendar; amends the due date to establish the North shore calendar
• Imposes a duty upon the permittee to pump portable toilets and park toilets.
• Adds that a permit may be revoked due to severe shore water erosion.
• Clarifies the process for a big wave event.

 “The proposed changes to the rules for Shore Water Events are the result of careful consideration and input from longtime representatives of the surf community,” said Mayor Kirk Caldwell. “Our goal is to improve the selection and permitting process in order to better serve competitive surfing, provide fair access to O‘ahu waters for our community, and protect the surfing culture brought to the rest of the world by our first people, our Native Hawaiians.”  

 “We encourage the public to carefully review these rules in the month proceeding this public hearing,” said Department of Parks and Recreation Director Michele Nekota. “We believe that a good understanding of the proposed changes will lead to a more fluid and productive public hearing next month.”

—PAU—

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