Ocean activity business operators express concern about Department of Parks and Recreation’s draft document regulating recreational activity permits. “The ocean is big enough for us all.”Everyone agrees, Maui County’s parks exist for the enjoyment of the public. But who makes up the public—local residents? Tourists? Both?
Where residents and tourists gather for recreation, businesses will want to exercise their right to make a living and offer services. But should they be allowed to do so on county park property? If so, how heavily and forcefully should they be managed and regulated? And what about the impact on the environment? Where will everyone park?
These and many other issues were addressed on Tuesday, April 15, at the Kihei Community Association (KCA) meeting as nearly 100 people gathered to discuss ocean recreation activities and their impact on beaches and parks in South Maui.
Until 2004, businesses that offered ocean recreational activities such as scuba diving, surfing lessons and kayaking operated under a loose set of rules, some of which were unwritten but understood to be necessary for everyone to coexist, explained KCA Boardmember Don Couch. “They were asked to get a license, maintain a commercial building in which to conduct their business and follow those rules,” said Couch, who was then serving as executive assistant to former Mayor Alan Arakawa. “In 2004, an operator began flaunting those rules, operating out of a bus, taking cash right there, and the county began to get complaints.” In addition, there were safety concerns about a kayak operator at ‘Ahihi Kina‘u Reserve. As a result, county ordinances were developed and environmental assessments undertaken for each Maui County park.
Bob Straub, who recently retired from the Maui County Department of Parks and Recreation, spent two years developing those rules for Commercial Ocean Recreational Activities (CORA) operators. “There were concerns the parks were overcrowded,” he told the attendees. Two park rangers were brought on board and environmental assessments were conducted for 17 different parks. It was determined that only two parks on Maui were overcrowded with commercial operators: Kamehameha Iki and Makena Landing, explained Straub. “Kalama Park in Kihei was busy, but the commercial operators were mostly following the rules,” he said. “All we wanted to do was make sure commercial operators were doing the right thing.”
Jeff Strahn, general manager of Maui Dive Shop, expressed his views on behalf of the business operators. “Millions of dollars are spent to get visitors to come to Maui,” he said. “The water sport industry is a very vital part of their visit. They don’t come here to sit in their hotel rooms. They want to participate.”
Strahn and other business operators at the meeting expressed concern about a Maui County Department of Parks and Recreation draft document released on April 9, 2008, entitled “Adoption of Chapter 10–102, Rules of Practice and Procedure for Commercial Ocean Recreational Activity Permits.” He said they hope it adequately and fairly addresses issues such as multiple permits for multiple locations, regulation of night diving, restricting days of scuba diving instruction and locations and shuttling park and beach users to the parks.
“You used to be able to go diving anywhere,” said Strahn. “Then it was just allowed at a set number of parks and then that number was reduced even more. This forces more and more people into a smaller box.” He has concerns about shuttling as well. “Limiting parking becomes a control mechanism for overcrowding,” said Strahn. “Look at how they bus loads of people into Hanauma Bay (on O‘ahu).”
Following the presentations, guests were asked to split up into groups to discuss relevant issues, then report back their concerns and ideas. “KCA wants to involve the community more,” said Couch. “In the future, there will be public hearings and we want to be able to tell the county what KCA’s positions are.”
Group spokespersons Maury King, Bobby Baker, Jon Miller, David Dorn, Ed Robinson, Chaz Dryden and Kai Nishiki shared their groups’ issues, ideas and concerns. Among them: providing education on enviro-friendly use of resources, clarifying county rules, improving the park facilities and addressing parking issues by expanding and properly maintaining lots.
Much of the feedback centered around environmental concerns related to preserving the reef and protecting wildlife. “Many in the industry are here tonight,” said Dryden. “Their livelihood depends on the reef.” He added that operators have a vested interest in protecting or even enhancing the reef.
There was also concern about how little has been done over the years to improve the infrastructures of the parks. “I have been here since 1971, and very little has been done to improve amenities,” said Robinson. “They have added a few toilets and paved a few parking lots.” His group also noted that limiting access to commercial ocean activity operators would ultimately limit the number of tourists who visit Maui. “If we take that access away, they will go somewhere else,” he said.
Although there was some disagreement on specifics, the groups generally felt the meeting was an important step in bringing residents and the operators of ocean recreation activity businesses closer together on the issues. “After all,” said Strahn, “the ocean is big enough for us all.”
The public is invited to attend the next KCA meeting, which will be held Tuesday, May 20, beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Kihei Community Center on Lipoa Street.