Enough Waikiki parades, some residents say

By Mike Leidemann
Advertiser Transportation Writer

Everybody loves a parade. But some Waikiki residents are saying enough is enough.

"Sure, everybody thinks parades are nice to go to, but have you ever been stuck behind one?" asks Waikiki resident Ray Gruntz. "We get that feeling almost every week."

"It's just too much already. Something has got to be done," Gruntz said.

Djou last week introduced a bill at the City Council that would limit the number of parades, fun runs, Brunch on the Beach events, protest marches, street fairs, movie and television filmings and other street-closing events in Waikiki to two a month.

"I don't want to ban them altogether. I just want to put some reasonable restraints in place," Djou said.

Djou said that in the past year 46 separate events received city permission to close parts of Waikiki streets for at least some part of the day or evening.

This month alone, five street closings have been scheduled for the area.

"I don't know of another community in the entire state that has to live through so many street closures," Djou said. "Parades are a great part of the Waikiki experience, but we don't want them every single week."

Not everyone in Waikiki supports the move, though.

"Personally, I like the parades, but even more important is that they are good for the economy," said Les Among, a Waikiki resident, professional entertainer and Neighborhood Board member.

"I don't think this is the right time to put limits on what's happening here while we're still in the midst of trying to turn the economy around," Among said.

However, Djou said the street closures also cost the city financially.

"These events aren't free. You've got to pay for the crowd control, police, security and cleanup. And that's to say nothing of the cost to small businesses along the route," he said.

Djou's bill doesn't spell out who would get to have a parade and who wouldn't.

"I'm open to letting the city administration decide," he said. "Maybe it would be on first-come, first-served basis or maybe we should set up a lottery. I definitely don't think it should be on a bidding basis."

Gruntz, a retired New York City police detective, thinks there might be a better solution than limiting the parades and other events.

"Go ahead, have all the parades you want — but don't shut the whole street. Kalakaua Avenue has six or seven lanes, so the parade can take up three lanes and the traffic can continue to move on the rest of the street," he said.

The bill likely will receive a public hearing early next year, Djou said.

Reach Mike Leidemann at 525-5460 or mleidemann@honoluluadvertiser.com.