Holiday Alcohol Ban At Sandbar Could Become Permanent

By Wendy Osher

A Safety Zone at the Kane'ohe Sandbar was tested out on a temporary basis over three holiday weekends in 2011. Map of safety zone courtesy State of Hawaii.

A temporary ban on alcohol, drugs, and unruly behavior at Ahu o Laka (the Kane‘ohe sandbar) could become permanent for three-day weekends under a rule being considered by the state.

The Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR) today authorized the initiation of proceedings for the permanent adoption of the rule.

The action seeks to extend an emergency 120-day rule that was enacted in June, 2011, that covered the Fourth of July, Admission Day and Labor Day holiday weekends this year.

The temporary ban was created in response to an increase in overcrowding and incidents involving alcohol and drugs at Ahu o Laka over the past several years, particularly on holiday weekends.

The board’s action today is an early step in the public process aimed at formalizing a more permanent ban.

If the proposed rule and any modifications are accepted and approved by the BLNR, it will be presented to the governor for final approval.  State officials say an approval could come as early as the spring of 2012.

“From the very first three-day weekend of the test ban on alcohol and unruly behavior, it was obvious that we could restore a peaceful, family-oriented atmosphere at Ahu O Laka,” said William J. Aila, DLNR Chairperson. “The comments we received from families returning to this waterway were overwhelmingly positive. We can foresee the many positive effects of a permanent ban and today we took the initial step toward achieving that goal,” he said.

The Ahu o Laka safety zone would include a square mile in the middle of Kane‘ohe Bay, defined by six marker buoys.

Violations of the rule, as defined by the temporary ban, resulted in fines of no more than $5,000 for a first violation, and increasing graduated penalties for additional violations.