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#1
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Hawaii Kite/Windsurfing Ban - Deferred, but for how long?
you all see this?
Report Title: Ocean Recreation; Sailboards Description: Prohibits operators of sailboards from approaching within 200 feet of a swimmer or surfer in the ocean. THE SENATE S.B. NO. 2091 TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008 STATE OF HAWAII A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SAILBOARDS. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII: SECTION 1. The legislature finds that surfers and swimmers using Hawaii's oceans for recreation face a danger from operators of sailboards and kiteboards. Sailboarders and kiteboarders often operate their craft at high speeds in areas crowded with surfers and swimmers. Kiteboards and sailboards are much heavier and faster and could cause serious injury if they were to collide with a swimmer or surfer. The purpose of this Act is to ensure water safety by prohibiting the operator of a sailboard or kiteboard from approaching within two hundred feet of a swimmer or surfer in the water. SECTION 2. Chapter 200, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part II to be appropriately designated and to read as follows: "§200- Operation of sailboards and kiteboards. No person shall operate a sailboard or kiteboard within two hundred feet of another person swimming or using a surfboard within the waters of the State. For the purposes of this section, "sailboard or kiteboard" means any type of board that is propelled by a detachable sail or kite apparatus. For the purposes of this section, "surfboard" means any type of board that is used for the sport of surf-riding and includes boards commonly known as "body boards"." SECTION 3. This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun, before its effective date. SECTION 4. New statutory material is underscored. SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect upon its approval. INTRODUCED BY: _____________________________ |
#2
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This is a VERY bad move for us. If we had kept away from bystanders/surfers this wouldn't have been forced down our throats at the 11th hour out of nowhere.
We should have until 9 pm tonight Please send in your objection per the following: SBC Kiteboard came up with the following. Sounds good to me. Quote:
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FKA, Inc. transcribed by: Rick Iossi |
#3
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Just sent my letter out to as testimony (real important) to:
testimony@capitol.hawaii.gov and for good measure individually to all members of the senate Water and Land Committee including: Senator Clayton Hee Chair - senhee@Capitol.hawaii.gov Senator Russell S. Kokubun Vice-Chair - senkokubun@Capitol.hawaii.gov Senator Carol Fukunaga - senfukunaga@Capitol.hawaii.gov@Capitol.hawaii.gov Senator Jill N. Tokuda - sentokuda@Capitol.hawaii.gov Senator Paul Whalen - senwhalen@Capitol.hawaii.gov I sent it with the subject line: OPPOSITION TO S.B. #2091 - Ocean Recreation; Sailboards The letter, (so it's wordy, do a shorter one): Senator Clayton Hee: I am shocked that this bill has been proposed to heavily restrict and virtually ban both windsurfing and kiteboarding in Hawaii. Hawaii has been globally recognized as the prime destination for both windsurfing and kiteboarding for a very long time. Both sports were either started or in large measure developed and expanded through the marvelous ocean environment and culture of strong watermanship bound to your islands. I have visited Hawaii on multiple occasions as have numerous friends. Our primary reason for these visits often several weeks to months in duration was to practice windsurfing and kiteboarding. Substantial revenues were earned by numerous Hawaiian businesses in these visits. If Hawaii legislates against these sports, ironically against global activities largely born and nurtured in these islands, many avid tourists some who vacation in Hawaii several times per year will have to travel elsewhere. This decision would not be voluntary but would be forced upon them by the Hawaiian Legislature in an ironic twist. Numerous Hawaiian businesses dependent upon windsurfing and kiteboarding will also suffer and may fail as a consequence of this measure if passed. Kiteboarding can coexist with other water activities. Hawaii has a rich and long tradition of surfing, fishing, swimming, canoeing and more. These activities can be reconciled with windsurfing and kiteboarding through effective management. Such management has been successfully called upon to reconcile surfing, fishing, swimming and canoeing through responsible practices hundreds of times across the globe. Good management can improve the safety at which many things are practiced from automobile and aircraft operation to even the practice of windsurfing and kiteboarding. Does government exist to serve the people or to harm commerce, livelihoods and beneficial tourism? I strongly request that you not support this bill which will not only cost Hawaii well deserved tourist and retail revenues but also potentially destroy a decades long global reputation as a primary birthplace of windsurfing and kiteboarding. Sincerely, PLEASE send those letters out, not so many hours left before the deadline. 9:45 pm EST, 3:45 pm PST, or 2:45 pm in Hawaii, TODAY!
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FKA, Inc. transcribed by: Rick Iossi Last edited by ricki; 02-15-2008 at 04:44 PM. |
#4
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It is very important that Hawaiian residents on here send in testimony emails. I think your thoughts will count even more than that of us visitors. I am concerned about not only what this may do to riding in Hawaii but the serious negative precident it may offer to other areas. Please make your feelings known to the legislature.
Requiring a 200 ft. offset if strictly enforced could end windsurfing and kiting in many areas in Hawaii. This is not a bogus threat, it is serious.
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FKA, Inc. transcribed by: Rick Iossi |
#5
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Rick, you repeated Sen Kokubun's email, what is email for Sen Fukunaga? Guessing it's senfukunaga@, but what to make sure.
JP |
#6
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Thanks for catching that JP. It's fixed now.
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FKA, Inc. transcribed by: Rick Iossi |
#7
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Letter sent.
Are the major players in both sports aware of this? I would assume they use Hawaiian Waters to do their R&D. Could be a big blow to them if this passes. |
#8
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There may well be a round two in this thing. Unlike this time where it was hurried into place without much public notice, next time should come in clear view, I hope. The interests in windsurfing and kiteboarding should be prepared and ready to deal with this thing prior to the next vote.
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FKA, Inc. transcribed by: Rick Iossi |
#9
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More info on the bill, what happened and may happen in the future:
Proposed 200' Kite Ban on Maui Deferred John Bryja The Hawaii Senate Committee on Water and Land deferred a proposed bill this afternoon that would have banned windsurfing and kiteboarding within 200 feet of swimmer. According to the bills sponsor, Senator Les Ihara Jr, the move "effectively dismissed it from further consideration" (at THIS TIME). Continued at: http://www.sbckiteboard.com/News?new...81&uniqid=1015
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FKA, Inc. transcribed by: Rick Iossi |
#10
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It looks like Sen Hee is on our side, got this response from him.
To: testimony@capitol.hawawii.gov Thank you for your email. I agree with most of your comments and will ask the members of the committee to not move this measure, introduced by Senator Les Ihara, forward for further consideration. Thank you again. Clayton Hee |
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