Excuse me if I complain about policy whiplash. City officials have repeatedly assured the public that although parks are closed, people are free to walk through a park to get to the ocean. But out on the streets, Honolulu police officers are threatening people with citations for doing so.
Over the past week, several people we regularly see on our early morning walks have reported being confronted by HPD officers while walking across Waialae Beach Park to get from Kahala Avenue to the beach, or back again.
They report being told by police officers that they cannot walk through the park, and could be cited for violating the emergency park closures.
“The park is closed,” an officer told one of our friends this week, pointing at a “Park Closed” sign. She described his manner as “aggressive.”
But according to the city’s website, people are free to walk through a park to get to the beach.
From the Department of Parks and Recreation official website:
March 27 – Community Gardens and stand alone comfort stations are open for public use. Community Gardens are open daily from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. (except for special hours at Foster Community Garden) and comfort stations will follow their regular nightly closure schedule (you can view that schedule by clicking here) Parks Permit Office is no longer providing in-person customer service. A reminder, you may traverse a City park to access the ocean, open comfort stations or your designated Community Garden plot, but you may not remain in the park. Click here for more information.
And if you click the link for more information there’s an additional paragraph about park closures.
It provides this clear statement of policy: “To clarify, members of the public should only traverse parks to access the comfort stations, their assigned community garden plots, or the ocean. After that you should go home.”
It’s seems like it’s time to remind HPD of this clear city policy.
Also see:
Honolulu Star-Advertiser, “City pulls lifeguards from Oahu beaches,” March 20, 2020.
“Under Hawaii law, people are allowed to traverse a park, even when closed, to access the beach. Additionally, the sandy area of beaches between the water and the “high water mark” of the sand is state jurisdiction, making it problematic for police or lifeguards to tell people they cannot go onto the sand and into the ocean.”
Honolulu Star-Advertiser, “As popular Hawaii hiking trails close amid coronavirus outbreak, several remain open,” March 25, 2020.
To clear up one more possible point of confusion: While the city previously announced the closure of restrooms in city parks, restrooms will be open starting today, but the parks themselves will remain closed, Serota said.
The public will be able to traverse city parks to access the ocean or to get from one point in a neighborhood to another, but stopping within a city park — apart from a restroom pit stop — will remain forbidden, according to a staffer on DPR’s information hotline, 768-CITY.
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Good morning. I find your article on this very interesting because of two events in my own life. One day while driving in Kakaako, the left turn lane was coned off up to the corner of Queen and Kamakee. A policeman was stationed there but it wasn’t clear whether the left turn lane was coned off or not. I stopped to ask him if it was ok to turn left at the light (there was almost no traffic). Politely I might add – no anxiety on my part one way or the other. He yelled at me “Get out of the car!” I quickly put my foot on the gas and got out of there as fast as I could. He seemed to be unravelling.
Another time at Kailua Beach Park I had walked my dog on the beach and had reached my car when my phone rang. My elderly dog laid down next to my open door while I talked for just a few minutes. A policeman in an unmarked, souped up car, came up to me and, in a very threatening voice, told me to get my dog out of there right away, that I was breaking the law. I didn’t go back there for some time. These are the only times I have had interaction with the police department, other than reporting a three burglaries, one at my home and two at my business and a bullet shot through my business’s window. These were before the new police chief started, so I have hope.
What part of “Stay Home” do you not understand?
You are putting yourself and innocent people at risk.
Whatever used to be OK in now forbidden.
Only trips for food and medicine are authorized unless you are an essential worker. You can read the Mayor’s Emergency Order yourself.
https://www.honolulu.gov/rep/site/may/may_docs/Emergency%20Order%20No.%202020-02.pdf
Thank you providing the link to the Mayor’s emergency order.
I would refer you to the definitions of “Essential Activities”, section II-A on page 3.
“For purposes of this Order, individuals may leave their residence only to perform any of the following “Essential Activities….”
There are five categories of activities defined as “essential,” including obtaining health care,obtaining food and other household essentials, working at an Essential Business, or to care for a family member or pet in another household.
And then there’s #3 in the list, as follows. QUOTE:
“3. To engage in outdoor activity in locations as allowed by law, provided the individuals comply with Social Distancing Requirements as defined in this section, such as, by way of example and without limitation, walking, hiking, or running (with or without pets).”
Couldn’t agree with you more, William! I’m writing from the Boston, MA, area and things are no different here. People are gathering in Boston Common and are NOT practicing “Social Distancing”! Some are even having picnics on the Common. How dare they put the lives of us in jeopardy!
If folks elect to stay home, that’s their own status. Many, many in the medical community agree that immune building is essential to gaining immunity, and aiding in herd immunity. In 1918, many affected areas experienced 2nd and 3rd rounds of the Spanish flu, worse than the 1st. Personally, want to take my place in the sun and trades, unique to HI. They are essential to rebuild awareness of what gives us life, and immunity.
I’m feeling the police getting disrespectful to residents who are out exercising w/in guidelines. That is exacerbated by demanding folks who opinion for others. This is a perfect time to reacquaint self with the lovely world that gives us life, and decide what’s self-best.
I sent a request for a clarification by email to both the Office of the Mayor and the Community Affairs Division of the HPD. If and when I get a response, I will report and/or forward what I am told.
Stay safe. We’re glad you’re helping keeping the community informed and connected.
Thank you.
The park is closed. The beach is not for casual strolls, You are supposed to be at home. Sorry your “routine” was disrupted ….
Do you see hundreds of people strolling along the beach in Waikiki?? not one person. Not sure why you think your beach is special………
Get a grip. Stay home and save your insults to those that protect us for something else.
Thanks for sharing your view. I would refer you to Gov. Ige’s Third Emergency Supplementary Proclamation dated March 23, 2020, which defines “permitted activities outside the home”.
QUOTE:
“7. Outdoor exercise activities, including ocean activities such as surfing and swimming, so long as social distancing requirements are maintained;
8. Walking pets on a leash.”
END QUOTE
And from the press release accompanying the proclamation:
“In turn, residents can leave their homes for various needs, including healthcare, purchasing food, medicine and gasoline, taking care of the elderly, minors, and those with disabilities, returning to a place of residence outside of Hawai‘i, picking up educational materials for distance learning, receiving meals and any other related services, and outdoor exercise – including surfing, swimming and walking pets.”
Social distancing is required when outside the home or residence.
It appears to me that “game rooms” are exempt from the distancing rules. All the open game rooms, which police are aware of, have a steady stream of customers 24/7. Each crowded game room can hold between 5 and 50 participants. There must be a health and safety violation in there somewhere.
I guess it’s much easier to harass individuals and couples then a game room full of participants. I’m not jealous that the game rooms stay open, just angry they are allowed to stay open, in the open.
Office of the Mayor confirmed that Ian is correct. See response above once it clears review by Ian
Thank you very much. This whole situation is unprecedented and stressful, and clearing up these confusing issues will help. Thanks to Mayor Caldwell’s office for stepping in to set the record straight.
Response from Office of Mayor
Aloha,
We understand this is a very difficult and unprecedented time, and we appreciate the cooperation of our community as we work together to limit the spread and impact of this pandemic. The measures that Mayor Caldwell has put in place for the City and County of Honolulu are designed to protect the health and well-being of our residents and get us back to business and our normal lives as soon as it has been determined safe to do so.
Regarding the beach and ocean activities, under Mayor Caldwell’s Emergency Order 2020-02 public access to get to the beach or walk along the beach below the high water line is permitted. Please employ social distancing on the water and avoid closed areas including City parks, though you may walk through City parks to get to the beach. Note that it is also listed on City’s Department of Customer Services website.
We are currently working with HPD to make sure that this information is communicated to all police officers across the island.
For additional information, see the FAQs here: http://www.oneoahu.org/faqs
Please note the overarching intent and spirit of the Mayor’s Emergency Order 2020-02 is to ensure that the maximum number of people self-isolate in their places of residence to the extent feasible in order to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus while enabling essential services to continue. Thank you for your concern and for notifying us of your issue.
Sincerely,
City and County of Honolulu
COVID-19 Response Information Team
For additional information, including FAQs, go to: http://www.oneoahu.org
For State Department of Health information and updates on COVID-19, go to: https://hawaiicovid19.com
For other referral services, go to: http://www.auw211.org
a suggestion for the mayor. Be the most innovative mayor in the country. Open the city golf courses to the public. Access can easily be limited, grounds people put back to work enforcing social distancing just as they enforce golf rules. Plenty of room for young kids to run around. And for us elders to stroll or just sit on the grass and watch the clouds go by.
What? An HPD officer responding in an aggressive manner? I am sure that never happens!
(I would insert a sarcasm emoji if I knew what it was)
I’ve had cops yell at me a couple of times, but in retrospect I can understand it (I was unknowingly speeding both times). They have to deal with all sorts of people, from very bad guys to just unthinking people like me. Ideally, nobody should be on the beaches or in the parks this month, no matter how cooped up we might be. But we do got to get out sometimes. So I dunno.
So the cops don’t disturb me. Ige disturbs me. What’s with this aversion to openness? Isn’t this supposed to be America? Just like the police commission, they call shutting down discussion and eliminating basic public review “the Aloha spirit”. I’ve been in the islands a long time, and I just don’t understand how closed everything is. Why is releasing basic public information seen in Hawaii as so offensive and embarrassing and a loss of face and dangerous?