By Staff Reports
(Honolulu)- – At a press conference today outside of Honolulu Hale, Mayor Kirk Caldwell announced that non-profit organizations will be allowed to continue holding annual events at city parks, such as the Haleiwa Arts Festival and the Wahiawa Pineapple Festival, that involve commercial vendors.
“These festivals are part of the fabric of our community and must be allowed to continue,” said Mayor Caldwell. “With the exception of Kailua Beach Park and Kalama Beach Park, I have directed the Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation to accept permit applications from non-profit organizations which request to use a city park for their non-profit fundraising, cultural, sporting, and community events.
“Commercial activities are currently prohibited only at Kailua Beach Park and Kalama Beach Park following the enactment last summer of Ordinance 12-28 (Bill 11 (2012), CD1). After consulting with Corporation Counsel, I determined that the Parks Department erred last year when they determined that the bill would apply to all city parks. Commercial activities have been and continue to be regulated at other City parks by administrative rule.”
Kathleen Ells, President of the Haleiwa Arts Festival, said: “We want to extend a heartfelt mahalo to Mayor Caldwell, Council Chair Ernie Martin, and their staff for their follow through on this issue. We appreciate their dedication and commitment to serving our communities.”
Moana Bjur, Executive Director of the Haleiwa Arts Festival, said, “We understand the issues that arise from an overabundance of commercial activities in our parks; we also know that there are several wonderful annual events that strengthen our small communities. When we lose the events, our communities begin to break down. The Haleiwa Arts Festival is proud to be a part of the North Shore Community for 16 years now and will continue to work with the city and other agencies to ensure a strong foundation grows stronger for our future generations. We want to express our deepest gratitude to Mayor Caldwell, his staff, and Council Chair Ernie Martin for their support and efforts in trying to work through the side effects Bill 11 has had.”
Bob Lormand, Vice President of the Waihawa Historical Society, said, “The Pineapple Festival has been a part of our community since at least the 1950s, and it is very important to the people of Wahiawa, which was once the pineapple capitol of the world. The mayor’s decision makes it possible for us to move forward this year’s Pineapple Festival, otherwise we would have had to cancel.”
Alesia Au, co-chair of the Waihawa Pineapple Festival, said, “The Wahiawa Pineapple Festival also includes a jazz festival, which we believe is the only free jazz festival available for the people of Hawaii. We are so pleased we will be able to hold the festival this year.”