Kokua Line
Kokua Line
Military policy
is to give aid despite
beach access issueQuestion: I had a bizarre experience at Bellows Beach on Saturday, Sept. 21. I am a 50-plus-year-old kayaker who was kayaking off Lanikai Beach when I became tired. I wanted to get to shallow water to stand and stretch the cramps out of my legs. It's almost all seawall in the area except for the adjoining area at Bellows. So I paddled to a sandy area at Bellows and got out.
Suddenly, two males in swimsuits approached and told me I was trespassing on a military base. I assured them that I had no intention of going on base and was only trying to get the cramps out of my legs. That didn't seem to matter and they again warned me to leave immediately. They told me not only was the beach off-limits, but also the water within 500 feet of the shore. One also told me he had paid $100 to rent a cabin and that I therefore was trespassing on his land. He then demanded to see an ID, and when I refused, he demanded my name. I informed him he had no right to this information and suggested he call the military police to resolve the situation. He said he had done so but none arrived.
It is my understanding that although public access through military property can be denied, access to the beach itself was available to the public unless otherwise posted. If I'm wrong, then I would like to know. I don't think any citizen of Hawaii should endure this type of belligerent behavior, particularly when there are no signs identifying this as a restricted area. As a veteran, I was offended and deeply disturbed by the behavior of these individuals. They are certainly a poor reflection upon our proud members of the military community.
Answer: The Air Force men you encountered gave a conflicting account as to what happened that day.
But Air Force officials say two points foremost need to be made: Anyone in distress is always helped first, no questions asked, and anyone who goes to or happens upon a military installation should be prepared to show identification.
Air Force officials said they take these types of issues very seriously and, after determining which two men were involved in your encounter and researching the matter of accessibility, said they want to clarify any misunderstandings.
First, the two men, base personnel, said you never mentioned having cramps and needed to stretch your legs, said Lt. Paradon Silpasornprasit, chief of media relations for 15th Air Base Wing at Hickam Air Force Base.
That is a major point, he noted, because the policy is to always render aid to any person who may be in distress -- no questions asked.
In fact, "on numerous occasions our personnel have helped people in the waters at Bellows," Silpasornprasit said.
According to the two men, once you were on shore, they asked for an ID. They said you refused, citing your right to be there.
Silpasornprasit said the Air Force is "sensitive to perceptions of how we treat the public."
Since Sept. 11, 2001, various "force protection" measures have been implemented to varying degrees as threat levels have increased or decreased, he said. But one now-standard measure is the requirement for anyone on a military facility to show ID when requested.
"When individuals are in locations considered off-limits, it is the duty of our personnel to question their presence," he said. "This is when individuals must show proper identification.
Regarding your right to be on the beach, Silpasornprasit said there are rules that govern the boundaries between military and public waters.
"Under the Navy Protection of Water Way Law, the Navy and Marines on Hawaii maintain a 500-yard buffer zone extending seaward from the shoreline," he said, quoting the base's legal office. "However, for Bellows, the United States Air Force enforces a 100-foot buffer zone extending from the shoreline."
He said this policy is incorporated in the Bellows Air Force Station security forces procedures and that, under the Land Internal Security Act, signs are posted along the shores of restricted areas at Bellows. "These signs state that all personnel who unlawfully enter these restricted areas may be subject to apprehension and subsequent criminal prosecution for trespassing," Silpasornprasit said.
Signs normally are posted on a wall facing Lanikai and "easily visible from the water," as well as on the beach facing the joint-use (military and public use) side, according to Maj. Justin Hall, commander for Bellows.
You saw no sign because the sign facing the Lanikai side was "removed by someone," Hall acknowledged. Who or when was not known, but another sign was subsequently posted, he said. However, he said he expects preventing someone from again removing the sign "will be a constant battle."
Silpasornprasit said he hopes the public understands that "although certain areas of our installation are restricted, we remain sensitive to the needs of the public in terms of access to the beaches."
He pointed out that on weekends, the front gate at Bellows is opened so the general public can enjoy the beach there.
Auwe
Football fans are banned from parking across from St. Elizabeth's Church, but why were there cars in that same "restricted area" on the morning of Sunday, Sept. 29, and again on Sunday, Oct. 6 -- at 5:25 p.m. and 5:45 p.m.? I'd sure like to know how to get preferential treatment if I'm a churchgoer. -- No Name(No preferential treatment was intended. Police Maj. Bryan Wauke of the Pearl City Station said the problem of illegal parking was obvious during University of Hawaii football games, prompting police to crack down in areas around Aloha Stadium. "We didn't think about (problems) with church parking," he said.
(A sergeant was dispatched to talk to church officials. "We will give them a warning and also will monitor it. If it continues, we will cite," Wauke said.)
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