Longtime beach boy sues to keep Waikiki stand

By Johnny Brannon
Advertiser Staff Writer

A veteran Waikiki beach boy is fighting his eviction from a surfboard rental stand after a lengthy dispute with the city over back rent that was harshly criticized in a recent audit.

The city says Pacific Beach Service owner Gilbert Hisatake owes $200,000 for use of the stand near the banyan tree on Kuhio Beach and has avoided paying rent for more than two years.

But Hisatake says the city failed to properly equip the stand and provide electricity after renovation work along the beach disrupted business. He says he should not have been charged the full rent of $12,000 per month plus a portion of his earnings from surfboard rentals and lessons.

Late Tuesday night, officials removed surfboards and other equipment from the stand and changed the locks. Hisatake angrily blamed Mayor Jeremy Harris for the situation and said the city is putting money over tradition.

"He's kicking the beach boys off the beach," and putting big hotels in a position to take over such businesses," said Hisatake, a Waikiki fixture for 40 years.

City managing director Ben Lee said Hisatake rejected an offer from the city to settle the dispute two years ago for half the amount owed. "I think we've been more than generous," Lee said. "They played hardball."

Hisatake yesterday filed a federal lawsuit that alleges the city violated his right to due process by failing to properly notify him before the eviction. The issue of back rent is separate and still subject to dispute, attorney Jack Schweigert said.

The city's auditor criticized the Department of Enterprise Services in a report last month for failing to collect the money.

Reach Johnny Brannon at 525-8070 or jbrannon@honoluluadvertiser.com.