Editorial
Convention Center 'park' must be fair

While the idea of creating an open "convention park" around the state's Hawai'i Convention Center is a good idea, city officials must be careful about just how they do it.

Two ideas appear to be at hand here: creating some breathing room around the beautiful but physically cramped center, and eliminating so-called "adult" businesses around the huge tourist magnet.

The first idea, creating breathing room, makes good sense. But targeting only certain locations because of the business they are in could create more legal hassles than it is worth.

It is true that zoning laws designed to exclude or concentrate "adult" businesses have been upheld. But this is a somewhat different situation.

It focuses on some business on the basis of their "content" while paying no heed to identical businesses elsewhere and allowing some non-adult businesses to continue in proximity to the center.

The Convention Center needs breathing room and a wholesome neighborhood. The city must find a way to accomplish that goal without tying itself up in legal or constitutional problems.