Kokua Line

By June Watanabe

Tuesday, August 26, 1997

Back view of beach wear
unregulated in this state

I was enjoying a great weekend with my family at Ala Moana Beach Park when a young female sat a few yards away from us and to my surprise was wearing a thong (dental floss) style bikini bottom with a top (thank goodness). I thought wearing thong bikinis was not permitted at public beaches? There was also another female with her spouse to the left of us wearing a thong bikini. From behind, this is considered nude. I think thong bikinis should not be worn in front of my keiki or at a family atmosphere. Is there a state policy or public beach regulation for wearing these bikinis?

There is no policy, regulation or law saying you cannot wear a thong bikini on a public beach here.

Thong bikinis may be scanty, but as long as key frontal parts of the body are covered, you are not considered nude.

This subject made national headlines in 1990 when officials in Florida banned the buttock-baring bikinis from beaches there.

Back then, state and city officials in Honolulu said they saw no reason to follow suit, so to speak, especially since there were relatively few complaints about the beach wear.

If you are concerned, you should talk to your City Council or state legislative representative about enacting possible restrictions.

What happened to the beach project proposed by former Gov. John Waihee that was supposed to extend from Magic Island to Aloha Tower?

It's alive and proceeding, said Jan Yokota, executive director of the Hawaii Community Redevelopment Agency.

Kakaako Waterfront Park, which opened in 1993, and the Aloha Tower Marketplace (1994), were key parts of the Waihee administration's plans to develop that area.

Currently, a six-acre park (four-acre playing field and two-acre passive park) that will give a formal entrance to Kakaako Waterfront Park is being built. The $6.7 million Kakaako Makai Gateway Project, which includes widening Cooke Street and utility upgrades, will be completed in February.

A nonprofit group is building a Children's Discovery Center on the site of the old city incinerator. That project, also part of original development plans, should be open by this time next year.

Meanwhile, the authority recently selected a developer for the old pumping station at Ala Moana and Ilalo streets. Plans are to turn it into a restaurant/microbrewery and a computer superstore.

"So several parts (of Waihee's plan) are ongoing," Yokota said. In the coming year, several roadway projects will begin. The Legislature appropriated $37 million for the Ward Avenue extension project, which will start next year and be completed at the end of 1999. The plan is to extend Ward across Ala Moana, looping around the makai area and connecting to Punchbowl Street.

In the meantime, the Legislature has funded a feasibility study for Gov. Ben Cayetano's proposal to set up a a world-class aquarium in Kakaako, Yokota said.

Mahalo

To Vernon Lau of Mililani, who found my checkbook and planner at Kahala Mall and mailed it back to me. Your act of kindness is sincerely appreciated. - Alan

Mahalo

To the fellow from Waimanalo who was our guardian angel. Our car broke down at night on July 31 and he pushed our car all the way home from the bottom of the Pali. May he be blessed many times over. - Zoe

Mahalo

To Waikiki Trolley driver Mel. We recently spent three hours on his trolley and had such a wonderful time. He made everybody happy. That's what aloha is all about. - K.C. from Indiana