HTA Gets Involved Kailua Beach Ban Debate

Inside Honolulu reports:

Although the Honolulu City Council ultimately upheld Kailua Beach’s commercial activity ban, also known as Bill 11, tour buses can still be found traveling through the town’s streets.

Kailua residents are still complaining that their neighborhood is being illegally and unfairly invaded by tourist operations, while the companies say they’re losing out on crucial business. 

Sure enough, the situation has regressed into a flat-out conundrum. 

But a meeting held Thursday at the Hawaii Tourism Authority headquarters offers a beacon of hope. 

KITV4 Reports that 40 to 50 people, including a number of tour company reps., came together to discuss how the businesses can continue to thrive without intruding on area residents. 

Honolulu Councilman Ikaika Anderson told the news station that one option is designating a commercial zone for large buses to park and then shuttling the tourists to the beach parks in smaller vehicles.

Read more here.

— Alia Wong