The beaches of the Big Island are beautiful and we are yearly visitors to the island.
We were at Kahaluu Beach Park on Alii Drive and this beach is very accessible for handicap people. We arrived mid-morning and took a table in the shelter at the end that was near the phone booth and had a nice view of the water. I assisted my husband with his walker to this location. I then helped him move his legs over the bench so he could sit on the seat at the picnic table and quickly put a cushion under him before he sat down for his comfort. I then went back to the car, parked in the handicap zone and retrieved our things for the time we would be at the beach. We were enjoying the morning and I was able to read the West Hawaii Today newspaper before the loud music started.
The loud music started behind our table and also behind us the Reef Teach people had the display of teaching /information boards set up. I started toward the Reef Teaching main setup to ask them if they would mind turning it down. I realized it could not be them who was in control of the music. I then walked over to the far end of the pavilion where people were gathered near those tables and spoke to a women and asked if they had control of the music and speaker on the other side of the room.
They advised me they had rented the pavilion for the day for a private party. I mentioned I did not see it roped off or any signage advising us of such a party. She then said everyone would have to get out of here for the private party.
I returned to our table and explained this to my husband. I then quickly looked for an open table outside and found one under a palm tree and it was accessible mostly by the sidewalks and we encountered some sand just past the main Reef Teach area. I assisted moving my husband to this location. He is quite handicap from a stroke earlier this year and is now 83 years of age. This beach really works for us and I am able to swim occasionally. Over the years, I have found the Hawaiian people very gracious and accommodating and we did not want to be an interruption to this party.
When people who rent the pavilion from the county for the day, I would like to suggest, along with the rental contract paperwork, they are given a sheet on, “How to keep your party private.” Information should include using some kind of signage on the entryway openings to announce the party area is private, rope off the area and/or place sandwich boards outside each opening announcing the pavilion is closed for a private party and people should please walk around.
We had no way of knowing this was rented for the day and caused us a great amount of frustration in trying to relocate my husband to a new table further away from the handicap parking space.
Priscilla McLaughlin is a frequent visitor to Kailua-Kona.