HANALEI — Certain commercial boat tours reportedly operating last week from a privately-owned facility in Hanalei have local residents on edge again. Makaala Kaaumoana, Hanalei Watershed Hui executive director, said yesterday that a community protest scheduled for today would be
HANALEI — Certain commercial boat tours reportedly operating last week from a privately-owned facility in Hanalei have local residents on edge again.
Makaala Kaaumoana, Hanalei Watershed Hui executive director, said yesterday that a community protest scheduled for today would be postponed until at least Tuesday.
State and county officials held a multi-agency meeting Friday, she said, in response to residents reporting that Lady Ann Cruises, doing business as Na Pali Explorer, was operating from Hanalei River Boatyard.
A federal judge in 2003 overturned the state’s zero-boat policy for tour operators in Hanalei Bay. It allowed three existing companies — Na Pali Catamaran, Capt. Sundown and Na Pali Coast Hanalei Inc. — to run on a permanent injunction.
But the ruling left in question whether the door remains open for another operator to set up shop at Mike Sheehan’s boatyard, located adjacent to Black Pot Beach Park.
The three present tour operators have said the door should remain closed at least until the state and county determine regulations.
Sheehan, however, has said the ruling paved the way for Lady Ann Cruises to operate from his facility.
Community members say they are concerned that if state and county officials allow the Na Pali Explorer to run in Hanalei Bay, more tour operators will follow suit despite Sheehan’s assurance to limit the number of operators in his boatyard.
“The three companies that hold the permanent injunction have been operating the last several years without any incidents or any complaints,” said Brian Lansing, who owns Na Pali Catamaran. “The level of boating has worked well with the community.”
The decision to postpone the community protest came after the commercial boat tours in question halted activity over the weekend, Kaaumoana said.
The Kaua‘i County Planning Department, which issues Special Management Area Use Permits, and the Hawai‘i Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation, which oversees small harbors, did not return calls placed late last week.
“The hardest part is a lack of communication. We were faced with it last October and we faced it again this weekend,” Kaaumoana said.
