City looks to reduce the amount of parades and activities in Waikiki

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – A bill aimed at reducing the number of parades and activities in Waikiki is getting closer to becoming law.
The city said there are 12 yearly legacy events that have taken place on Kalakaua Avenue for decades, but officials admit the number of new events has increased substantially.
This year, the city received 38 permit applications for parades, festivals, and other activities to take place on the critical Waikiki roadway.
Meanwhile, complaints are mounting.
“Rent-paying tenants that rely on customers to come in couldn’t come in because their businesses are totally blocked,” said Victor Lim, a McDonald’s franchise owner.
Some Waikiki residents said it’s now become overwhelming.
“We are in support of cultural festivals and their vendors, but there are other viable areas to hold these festivals that can actually benefit the neighborhood,” said one resident.
The Honolulu Department of Transportation Services is now backing Bill 50 at the city council, limiting the number of non-legacy events and adding more requirements and conditions before a permit is given.
“We’ve been hearing over a bunch of years that perhaps the frequency of such events is a little too much for the community to bear,” said DTS Deputy Director Jon Nouchi.
However, some have concerns about language in the bill that could make it more difficult for events to occur in other communities.
“For downtown Chinatown, these community events really provide a key public benefit. These events attract tens of thousands of people, which our struggling small business community desperately needs,” said one resident.
The city said the revised ordinance’s definitions apply to anything permitted for street use by DTS. Still, the numbers and regulations of certain things are very specific to Waikiki.
The city also claims First Amendment activities are not affected but admits it would likely affect how early someone might have to apply for a permit.
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