City crackdown upsets old-timers

By Catherine E. Toth
Advertiser Staff Writer

Ten-year-old Keanu Salmon, right, watches city official Ron Nakano, left, tell a Kuhio beachboy known as Big Wave Rider that the chain on his chair will be cut. Photos by Richard Ambo • The Honolulu Advertiser

Workers from the city Department of Enterprise Services cut a chain used by longtime beachgoers to hang their belongings. Regulars at Kuhio Beach say they're upset by the city's action.

They've been there so long that they have become part of the atmosphere that defines the historic stretch of beach along Kalakaua Avenue.

But yesterday the city began enforcing a rule that prevents them from storing their chairs or any belongings at the beach, which traditionally have been stored overnight chained to the surfboard lockers or alongside the concession stand. They also can't hang their bags and backpacks on chains draping from the wall of the concession stand, as they have for as long as they can remember.

"It's so stupid," said Judy Bell, 55, who was born and raised in Waikiki and has surfed there for more than 40 years. "If they're going to clean up the chairs, they should clean up everything ... Where are we supposed to go after this? There's no place to go."

By noon, city workers had taken away the plastic lawn chairs — some with names written on them — while dozens of old-timers and fellow surfers protested.

Holding signs that read, "Unfair to locals," "Leave us alone" and "You take our view, our chairs, our backpacks but not our souls," they protested the city's taking away what they say is their way of life.

"I'm upset because a lot of us come to surf here. There's no parking nearby, no place to store our bags, no place to sit down in the shade," said Suzanne Walker, 51, from St. Louis Heights, who has been surfing every day for the past four years at the spot known as Queen's. "We're the greeters of Waikiki ... They're disbanding this 'ohana."

The city Department of Enterprise Services, which runs the concession stands on the beach, asked the regulars to remove their personal items last week, said director Barry Fukunaga. The department sent them a reminder letter Monday.

"This is obviously a public area, not a storage area," Fukunaga said. "It's not appropriate for people to use the facility for their personal belongings."

He said the city has provided the public lockers in the bathrooms and benches to sit on. They can bring their own chairs, as long as they take them home, Fukunaga said.

But there are only two benches in the area. The concession stand has eight four-seat tables, which are used by customers.

More than 50 people typically sit in the plastic chairs or use the area at any given time every day.

Most of them said they don't store their gear in the lockers provided by the city because they arrive at the beach well before the bathrooms — where the lockers are — open.

Police at the Waikiki substation said there haven't been any complaints about the people who hang out near the concession stand.

But Fukunaga said it's not about complaints; it's against the law.

"There may be some frustration on their part," Fukunaga said. "But they're not entitled to this area for their personal advantage."

Not everyone was unhappy at the city's action. Some beach vendors, who pay to rent space on the beach, said some of the regulars were conducting surfing lessons and taking away business.

The regulars say they will take up the issue with the City Council, mayor and governor.

Cowboy Rosa has surfed Waikiki for 40 years. Now retired, he has spent nearly every morning at the beach, sitting in his plastic chair out of the heat.

"I relax, talk to people, just take it easy," said Rosa, 67, from St. Louis Heights. "Looks like (the city officials) don't care about us. There's so much other things to worry about. It's a shame."

Every Thursday and Sunday night, several regulars have played Hawaiian music for the tourists, who would sit in the same chairs that were confiscated yesterday.

"So many people enjoy it," said Dewey Medeiros, 44, from Kaimuki, who plays guitar and has been surfing in Waikiki for 20 years. "This chips away at our own culture. ... Now no more chairs, may as well call it quits."

Watching city workers cut the chains and walk off with stacks of chairs, Dino Miranda shook his head.

"It's so weird," said the professional longboarder from the North Shore, who was once a regular at Queen's. "This is a public place. These are public people. Why all of this?"

Reach Catherine E. Toth at ctoth@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-8103.