West Hawaii residents, officials say drinking not a problem at parks

KAILUA-KONA — As the county considers a crackdown on drinking at a popular Hilo park, some West Hawaii residents say they don’t think the issue’s out of control at parks and beaches on their side.

Earlier this month, Hilo Councilwoman Sue Lee Loy introduced a bill to ban alcohol at James Kealoha Beach Park, also known as 4 Mile. The park is one of 23 around the island where beer and other intoxicating beverages are allowed between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. The Hawaii County Council moved that proposal forward another step on Tuesday, while adding another park to the list.

Officials are cleaning up one troubled spot on the leeward side — Old Airport Park in Kailua-Kona — but authorities and residents said it doesn’t seem to need constant policing anywhere else.

“It’s not a problem unless there’s a problem,” is how Kona resident Shane Bloking put it while at Laaloa Bay Beach Park on Tuesday.

Six areas in North and South Kona allow the consumption of intoxicating beverages from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Those include the Honaunau Boat Ramp and Hookena Beach Park.

A total of 19 areas in North and South Kona either require a permit or prohibit all consumption of alcohol outright.

But as far as this side of the island, Hawaii Police Department Maj. Robert Wagner said he “would not consider it a major problem.”

“It does occur,” he said, “we do our best to enforce what we observe.”

Old Airport Park, he said, seems to be the most problematic area. That area is the focus of an upcoming sweep Aug. 9-10, where officials are planning to bring down homeless camps and relocate the people to service providers they need.

Wagner said the department does regular sweeps of beaches looking for any violations, not just those related to alcohol.

People found drinking in parks and beaches in violation of the county code can be cited for a petty misdemeanor, which is punishable with up to 30 days in jail and a fine of up to $1,000.

“If people call to report it, we check it out, or if we are in the area and see it, we enforce it,” Wagner said.

And while the Hawaii County Council focuses on 4 Mile beach park on the east side, no west side beaches are being considered for similar regulation changes.

Visitors to some west side parks on Tuesday said they rarely see alcohol consumption at public spaces in Kona.

“As far as this park is concerned, as far as my knowledge, I don’t think it’s that big of a problem,” said Joy Smith, at Higashihara Park in Honalo.

Smith works with Kamaaina Kids and was at the park Tuesday with 18 children as part of an outing.

She said she rarely sees any rubbish left behind from drinking at the park — “no bottles, no cans, none of that.”

The county code prohibits the drinking of any intoxicating beverages and even their “display in public view” at Higashihara Park.

Smith said in her opinion, there’s no reason for someone to bring alcohol to the park.

“I mean the park is for children to enjoy,” she said. “It’s not for adults to indulge, especially if they’re here watching their own kids or not their own kids.”

At Laaloa Bay, Bloking, there with his family, said that while people might drink at the park and beach, he doesn’t think it presents issues during the day.

“I think it’s completely fine,” he said. “People are usually really good and clean up after themselves.”

The county code distinguishes between Laaloa Bay Beach Park and Magic Sands Beach Park, which are immediately adjacent to each other but have different policies for alcohol under the code.

Laaloa Bay Beach Park has the same policy as Higashihara Park: no intoxicating beverages allowed. At Magic Sands, the county code says permits are required for the consumption of intoxicating beverages between 10 a.m and 10 p.m.

Bloking added that the drinking can be an issue later at night, but that typically involves both drugs and alcohol. Overall, he said, the area’s a safe one for families, provided everyone uses common sense.

Ryan McGuckin, water safety officer II, said drinking can become a problem when it becomes a safety issue at the beach.

“A lot of our rescues in the afternoon have to do with alcohol, people drinking on the beach,” he said.

There’s also the issue of rubbish ending up in the water, he said. Just recently, he pulled out a broken half glass bottle from an area where several people were standing at the time he spoke to West Hawaii Today.

But, he said, they don’t have the ability to enforce the laws on drinking and have to focus on ocean safety.

“We’re focused on the water more than anything else,” he said. “If it gets brought to our attention because they come into the water with it or they’re lethargic rolling around in the sand, then yeah, that’s when we have to intervene.”