Question: As a frequent Ala Moana Beach Park user, I’ve noticed more exercise groups using the park. Some are small but others have over 20 people. According to an article in the Star-Advertiser, people are paying to participate in these exercises. Are they regulated in any way? Does this mean mobile car detailing or portable massage businesses can also use the park?
Answer: If people are paying to take part in the exercise classes, it is not an authorized park use.
If no money is solicited or given, under current rules, groups of fewer than 50 people can gather in city parks without a permit, said Jon Hennington, spokesman for the Department of Parks and Recreation.
"This is the same limit that applies to picnics," he said. "As long as the group does not solicit the public and does not require exclusive use of an area of the park, no permit is required."
For any kind of commercial activity to take place in any of its parks, the Parks Department requires a public hearing. See bit.ly/1LGLnIu.
"This is a complicated issue," Hennington said.
He explained that a public hearing is required before a decision is made to authorize commercial activities of a "particular type."
Once a public hearing is held and an activity — such as surf lessons — is authorized, then the department would need to develop specific rules for that activity. Those rules would then be subject to another public hearing.
Once rules for an authorized commercial activity are adopted, the department would then be able to issue permits to applicants who meet the specific requirements, Hennington said.
Among the factors considered in authorizing an activity: whether it is consistent with the nature of a particular park, the extent to which the general public will be inconvenienced by the activity, the location where it would take place, the time/duration it would occur and the number of people that would be allowed to participate.
As with paid exercise classes, mobile car detailing and portable massages are not authorized activities.
"Unfortunately, some (exercise) groups circumvent this by moving the exchange of funds to another site or online, posing a challenge for enforcement," Hennington said.
"Without the ability to differentiate between a small group of friends and a group that paid for a class online, (the Honolulu Police Department) is faced with a difficult task."
The Parks Department is asking for recommendations on "how to balance the competing needs of those who utilize our parks," he said. "With the rapid growth of different types of group fitness and recreational activities, we need to plan for the future use of Ala Moana and other parks."
Go to ouralamoanapark.com to voice your opinions.
Authorized Activities
Among the commercial activities "eligible to be permitted" are filming, hiking tours at Hanauma Bay, scuba, snorkeling, swimming, tour companies and windsurfing, Hennington said.
"This does not mean, however, that any or all of these activities are eligible for a commercial use permit at a given park," he said.
Meanwhile, craft fairs and art marts sponsored by nonprofit organizations are eligible for permits. To find out more about commercial activities at city parks, go to bit.ly/1HV9wKa.
Mahalo
To a man wearing a neon green construction shirt for his random act of kindness. I had just parked in a metered stall on South Street, next to the state court parking garage, when he pulled his car out of a spot two stalls in front of me. All of a sudden he reversed and pulled up alongside me. I was startled, until he said, "Park in that stall. There’s still about 48 minutes of time left." I was shocked, then thanked him profusely. That act of generosity had us both smiling and just made my day.
— Lucky We Live Hawaii
Write to "Kokua Line" at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu 96813; call 529-4773; fax 529-4750; or email kokualine@staradvertiser.com.
