Kauai bill could halt LIHUE >> You can legally get drunk in all Kauai County parks in the middle of the night, according to county ordinances, but pretty soon you may be fined up to $500 for flying a kite at the same parks in the daytime.
kite flying in parks
The legislation would allow
radio-controlled planes, howeverBy Anthony Sommer
tsommer@starbulletin.comThe Kauai County Council, which voted down a bill last year to prohibit drinking in the parks at night, today will begin deliberation of a bill containing a number of changes to the ordinance regulating activities in the parks.
One would prohibit "kite flying except in park areas designated specifically for such purposes." There is nothing in the draft ordinance requiring kite-flying areas be designated at every park, or any park.
Parks and Recreation Supervisor Mel Nishihara responded to a request for more information with a statement prepared by Mayor Maryanne Kusaka's office.
"Parks and Rec has received complaints from people who want to enjoy the beaches and don't appreciate the noise and activity generated by kite flyers," mayoral press aide Beth Tokioka said in the statement. "Most of these complaints came from Poipu Beach Park."
There was no elaboration as to what "noise and activity" is generated by someone holding on to a piece of twine tied to a kite flying high above a park.
Marilyn Sipila, owner of the island's only kite store, Kauai Kite & Hobby, said the county never bothered to inform her of the proposed restrictions. Kite sales amount to about 25 percent of her business.
"Mainly I sell parafoils, a kite that looks like a parachute that has no struts that could injure anyone. It's basically just a strip of nylon material," she said. "If you get into a kite that's 6 feet or larger and requires two people to fly it, and it has wood or metal struts, those should be kept in restricted areas. But this appears to cover all kites."
Even Councilman Bryan Baptiste, who sponsored the bill "by request" of the mayor's office, is shaking his head. "Obviously, it's for safety purposes. I've seen big kites on Oahu dragging two people down the beach. But this includes all kites, and it's going to need some clarification.
"One lady asked me if this means her daughter can't fly her Barbie kite in a county park, and the way it's now worded, she may not be able to," said Baptiste, who is also a mayoral candidate.
Baptiste noted the bill contains wording that would allow some activities at parks that now are prohibited. It would allow the county to set aside areas for flying radio-controlled airplanes, which currently are illegal at all county parks. It also would legalize the long-unenforced ban on the use of portable charcoal grills and canopies used by families on weekend outings to county parks.
The park restrictions are enforced by county park rangers. There are only two rangers: one for parks on the west side of the island, and one for parks on the east side.
County of Kauai
