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Overnight stays will not be permitted at Ala Moana over Fourth of July weekend

CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / 2019
                                Beachgoers at Ala Moana Regional Park on the Fourth of July in 2019. Overnight stays will not be allowed this year over the Fourth of July weekend.

CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / 2019

Beachgoers at Ala Moana Regional Park on the Fourth of July in 2019. Overnight stays will not be allowed this year over the Fourth of July weekend.

Overnight stays will not be allowed Sunday and Monday at Ala Moana Regional Park over the Fourth of July weekend due to the cancellation of the fireworks show, according to Honolulu parks officials.

Permits for park facilities at Ala Moana will not be issued, so park facilities will be on a first-come, first-served basis during the park’s regular hours from 4 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

“We want everyone to enjoy Ala Moana Regional Park, aka ‘the People’s Park,’ and all of our park locations responsibly and with aloha to your fellow park users,” said Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation in a news release.

Officials issued the following guidelines for Ala Moana:

HELP PROTECT TREES

Do not hang items on or dump coals on trees. Although BBQs are absolutely encouraged, remember to dump used coals in designated pits. Do not dump them at the base of a tree or in the sand. When in doubt, drench the coals with water, stir them up, then drench them again before throwing them away in a designated pit.

PACK OUT THE TRASH YOU BROUGHT IN

We have plenty of rubbish bins in our parks, but with loads of people enjoying the outdoors this weekend these bins will likely fill up fast. If possible, please bring your own bags and collect your trash before leaving the park. Remember, it is everyone’s kuleana (responsibility) to malama aina (respect the land).

DO NOT RESERVE PARKING

Sometimes you have that friend who shows up late to the BBQ and you want to save a parking spot for them. Please don’t do this. Parking spaces in public parks are available to everyone on a first-come, first-served basis (unless otherwise indicated, such as lifeguard or ADA parking). Those parking spaces are for vehicles, not for lounging around until the rest of your party arrives.

NO LARGE TENTS

Although canopy permits are not needed, DPR asks people to refrain from the use of large tents. A 10-by-10 pop-up canopy is welcome on grass areas, but not on the sand so lifeguards can keep a watchful eye on ocean-goers. Also, remember we are still dealing with a pandemic and want to avoid large gatherings of more than 25 people outdoors. Having a giant tent makes it that much easier for big groups to gather and for people to let their guard down. Please consider weighing down your canopy with weights, like your cooler, instead of stakes. Nothing ruins a day in the park like puncturing an irrigation line.

BE A GOOD NEIGHBOR WITH YOUR KANIKAPILA (MUSIC)

Jamming out and having tunes to accompany your paina (party) are part of the celebration, but make sure to enjoy them at a reasonable volume. Please do not have large speakers or amplified music that drown out your neighbors or make it difficult to hear or converse. Our parks are not yet ready for concert-level music.

DO NOT WASTE WATER

Please use only what you need. The Ewa-side of the park on Thursday experienced a ruptured water line, requiring a reduction in water pressure.

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