Saturday Briefing

By Eric Masutomi (Dr. Richard Kelley is travelling. His column will return next week, April 11)  –  On February 25, representatives from an array of Waikiki businesses — large and small — gathered with other Waikiki community leaders and government officials at Waikiki Beach Walk® to witness Mayor Mufi Hannemann signing into law new signage regulations for Waikiki.  The new law, drafted under the auspices of the Waikiki Improvement Association, was supported by a broad coalition of community interests, including the Waikiki Neighborhood Board and the Outdoor Circle, and was unanimously approved by the Honolulu Planning Commission and the Honolulu City Council before reaching the Mayor’s desk.

Prior to the enactment of the new standards, hotels and retail establishments throughout Waikiki struggled to make their businesses and services known to customers, hamstrung by – as the Mayor put it – “the most stringent sign regulations in the nation.”

The measure provides for possible increases in the size and number of signs for Waikiki establishments and addresses a number of issues pertaining to second-floor signs, building identification and directional signs, and other deficiencies in the existing regulations that have often left visitors and residents scratching their heads when searching for particular establishments. A simple example: Before the new law, garage entry signs were not allowed to include the name of the establishment served. Now, with a well-placed “OHANA Waikiki East Hotel Parking” sign, guests arriving at that hotel will no longer be faced with the all-too-common problem of missing the garage entrance.

“This measure is important to our economy and the health of Waikiki businesses because it will provide greater flexibility in the placement and design of signs that guide visitors and other customers,” Mayor Hannemann said. “The measure will also assure the preservation and improvement of Waikiki’s aesthetic qualities.”

As Chair of the Waikiki Improvement Association (WIA), I had the privilege of accepting a copy of the signed bill on behalf of WIA. Outrigger President and CEO David Carey was also presented a copy of the newly-inked measure. In his prepared remarks, Mayor Hannemann noted that he had specifically selected Waikiki Beach Walk® as the site for the signing ceremony in recognition of Outrigger Enterprises Group’s abiding and strong leadership on issues of concern to Waikiki and the broader Island community.

Mahalo, Mr. Mayor, for allowing Waikiki Beach Walk to host this significant event! Special thanks as well to: Cynthia Bittner of Waikiki Beach Walk’s “Bittner the Pleasure of Writing” for presenting Mayor Hannemann with a special Delta Dolcevita pen for the signing; Blane Kia of KIA Enterprises for providing sound and entertainment; and Barbara Campbell and Conchita Malaqui of Outrigger’s Retail Group and Bob Yeoman and Joe Carmona of Embassy Suites® - Waikiki Beach Walk® for preparing the wonderful setting for the event.