Waikiki Board cold to
parimutuel gambling

By Mary Adamski
Star-Bulletin

The Waikiki Neighborhood Board has defeated a motion in support of parimutuel gambling that Chairman Sam Bren launched as a way to "kick-start" Hawaii's faltering economy.

The motion urging the Legislature to legalize the method of betting on races was put down in an 8-5 vote last night after the board heard heated testimony from area residents and gambling opponents.

A companion measure that proposes turning the Ala Wai Golf Course into a thoroughbred horse-racing park was tabled by the board at its September meeting. Although it was not up for a vote, speakers attacked that proposal, too.

"This is a stalking horse for casino gambling," said Ira Rohter, co-chairman of the Green Party. "This is another version of the 'pave over paradise' theme. It is wrong to believe that people come here to see a theme park in Diamond Head, a giant ferris wheel on the waterfront ... a replication of Southern California."

Waikiki resident Louis Xigogianis asked the board members to consider the hype preceding the Hawaiian Super Prix auto race which was planned for Nov. 13. "It was touted as an economic boom ... now we read, they canceled it because of financial problems. Have the board members canvassed their constituents? Your personal opinions don't replace your constituents."

Bren said parimutuel gambling and horse racing "would bring business to the state, it would bring money in from New Zealand and Japan and the mainland." He said his intention is "to see the state stop sucking at the federal trough."

Bren said horse racing is not a new idea, historically there was horse racing at Kapiolani Park in the 19th century.

Board member Les Among said the two measures "would create jobs, create revenues to turn around the bad economy." When Among referred to efforts to promote "a Hawaii sense of place" he drew a roar of laughter from the crowd.

Dorothy Bobilin, chairwoman of Hawaii Coalition Against Legalized Gambling, said approval of any form of gambling is a wedge in opening the door to all forms of gambling including casinos. She quoted studies that show pari-mutuel gambling is diminishing on the mainland.

Police Lt. William Waters told the board that the Honolulu Police Department opposes legalized gambling including horse racing and parimutuel betting