Park users who arrived at Waialae Beach Park around dawn today found virtually the entire parking lot had been taken over by taxis from The Cab, which describes itself as “Hawaii’s largest dispatch company.”
The taxis are apparently waiting for calls from the Sony Open next door at the Waialae Golf Course. Today’s schedule features the official Pro-Am tournament, and the main tournament runs Thursday through Sunday.
The other half of the park is already taken up with parking on the grass for tournament sponsors (read “advertisers”). The virtual monopoly of the parking lot means the public park is effectively preempted for commercial use.
Is this legal? Do the taxis have to get some kind of permit to take over a public park? Did they? Do park users have any rights in this situation?
The photo below shows just one section of the parking lot. The other sections were similarly occupied by cabs.
Cabs take over park
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Big deal. Creating the news today??
No problem if you aren’t personally worried about the commercialization of public parks and the loss of access to public resources. There are plenty of people who share the concern.
I am one of them.
Me too!
With all of the restrictions on tour operators and commercial vendors using park facilities in Kailua through Waimanalo, it would seem some kind of permit would at least be required. I’m not sure if that’s the case, however. Michele Nekota from the parks department would probably know the answer.
Oh Geez……It’s for a few days for an event that brings tens of millions of dollars to our state coffers. If we all only had the same “outrage” for the dozens of illegal campers that destroy our parks and force us to close them to the very public you cite your concern for use. C’mon….seriously.
Ian – thank you for writing about Kahala Beach Park. All year round, that car park is choke with wedding companies’ limos, photographer’s cars and taxis. This is a small area and it is difficult for ordinary people who want to use the beach. There is little street parking, essentially creating a posh enclave for the very rich at the hotel, country clubs and condominium.