| # | Name | Comments |
|---|
| 1 | Tim Clark | |
| 2 | Sheri Clark | These regulations suck! |
| 3 | Anonymous | I agree to this petition! |
| 4 | Mari Gabrielson | I believe it would be wise for the state to allow ordained ministers of recognized denominations the opportunity to get a one-time per year permit for small, intimate weddings with no more than 6 people in attendance. This would allow visitors coming for a destination wedding to fulfill their dream of being married with their toes in the sands of Hawaii. Furthermore, kamaaiana couples who want last minute (or nearly so) small family weddings to enjoy their birthplace beaches as well.
Compromise is always the win-win for all. Let's do it!
Respectfully,
Rev. Mari Gabrielson, M.A.
A Pastor in Paradise
808 780-1580 |
| 5 | Anonymous | |
| 6 | Anonymous | This is outrageous! The DLNR has gone way out of their way to destroy the wedding industry in Hawaii. Good point Ron, “You can look, as long as you stand behind the rope.” We can not just lie down and let the DLNR steamroller drive all over us. What happened to the “pursuit of happiness” and the right to practice “religious ceremonies”? What about the large groups of locals who have huge campsites set up on the beach for weeks at a time bring everything but the kitchen sink? The have multiple tents, ice chests, tables and chairs, even a refrigerator and a generator! Where is the permit to do that? What about the large “raves” of youngsters who party on the beach drink and light bonfires? And all the trash that they leave behind, where is the DLNR when you need them?
The State is cutting off it’s own nose despite it’s face. Don’t they realize that weddings on the beaches bring countless visitors to Hawaii to spend money on everything from tropical flowers and limousines to hotel rooms and restaurants? Do they know what the repercussions will be when this excessive over regulation of weddings on the beach hits mainstream America and the rest of the world? We know they already know, and now they are going to think twice before planning a “beautiful beach wedding in Hawaii”. How much room does it take to have a cake table on the beach? about the same as a beach-goer setting up his beach chair and cooler. How can this be obtrusive to the aina? Just because someone is making a few dollars on the cake (as you know there is little profit in setting up a cake). And just because someone is making a few dollars on 10 or 20 chairs, does this bothers the State of Hawaii? These few dollars here and there are what we pay our bills with, send our children to school with, pay our rent and run our businesses with. We pay out taxes to the State, County and Feds, I’m sure they realize that their GET payment is getting smaller each month.
We have to do something besides having “door mat” written on our foreheads. We need to take the State to court over this issue, over too much regulation and stiff penalties for not playing by their rules. And what about the rules? The rules are changing daily since August 1st (it’s only the 13th and the rules have changed countless times). How far can they push us out of business? The State did it to the vacation rentals and now it’s our turn at bat, strike one, two three, You’re Out! We don’t have a problem with the permits; we do have a problem with the rest of it. A class action suit against the State for singling out the wedding industry is in order… where do I sign up? |
| 7 | Jessica McNeil | |
| 8 | Irina Robilotta | |
| 9 | Lynda Driscoll | If the beach if free to the public, then it should be free to do anything that is not indecent. |
| 10 | Anonymous | |
| 11 | Anonymous | This is an outrage! After trying for years to get the state to agree to a permit process, they decide to impose it on us with very little lead time. Now we can't have "props"! I guess pretty soon I won't be able to take my chair and towel to the beach either. Better yet, all those locals that camp illegally on the beaches won't be able to do that either!! Or will they? |
| 12 | Bill Armstrong | We as an industry take pride in doing our part to keep Hawaii's economy prospering. We always leave our beaches just the way we found them. I have never walked away from a beach site without making sure every thing was as it was when I arrived. We always have our ceremonies early in the morning, or an hour before sunset, when the beaches are quite empty. |
| 13 | Tina Digman | Weddings are a huge part of the Hawaii/Maui economy. The more restrictions we place on beach weddings the fewer couples/ guests come to the islands to get married. This in turn hurts all of us airlines, transportation companies, hotels, restaurants, activities, stores, and many wedding vendors. Please help our wonderful industry and by allowing props on the beach. Mahalo |
| 14 | Wilson Angel | On times of economic hardship, don't make it any harder for the resident businesses. Let the dreams for any wedding party materialize -- they know it could happen here; don't take away economic possibilities for the islands and for reasons why people come here. |
| 15 | Anonymous | I have no problem with the permits, but regarding the "no props' clause, I think this is unreasonable. I have been very respectful with regard to chairs, etc.. Only setting them up 5-10 min. prior to the start time and immediately breaking down after the 15 min. ceremony. I do not feel this impedes other beachgoers in any fashion from enjoying our beaches. |
| 16 | Anonymous | Our economy is struggling already. We are driving tourists away by closing down the Vacation Rentals and now making weddings so much more difficult. The paperwork alone in procuring the permits is tedious and unnecessary. Further restricting "props" will make weddings in Maui on the public beach, a thing of the past. The wedding industry provides jobs for many local people. Their livilihoods and being threatened. Why can't the DLNR be supportive of our efforts to police ourselves and get a yearly permit. We're willilng to regulate ourselves and give the county the money, just not like this! |
| 17 | Denni Grace | My very small business has been adversely impacted by the enthusiastic and sudden insistence on regulating beach weddings in Hawaii. Please take some time to reconsider this decision and remove the restrictions. |
| 18 | Claudia Noriega | As longest the area is clean after using it, it should be allowed. |
| 19 | Tim O'Hara | |
| 20 | Anonymous | weddings have been going on in Hawaii for 100's of years and why now would you want to stop all that revenue coming into to your state |
| 21 | Robert Digman | Destination weddings are a livelihood for a great number of residents of Maui. The tax dollars that are generated by these events also brings money to the State of Hawaii & the county of Maui. Weddings generate money for every facet of the tourist industry as well. I don't feel that elminating beach weddings (or unreasonalbel restrictions) is in the best intrest to the ecomony of Maui or it's image as a top rated tourist destination. |
| 22 | Robin Williams | This is a direct result of the division caused by the Maui Wedding Network. Lets unite and stop attacking and pointing fingers elsewhere! |
| 23 | Anonymous | |
| 24 | Sandra Napua | |
| 25 | Charles Fasi | I think it is unreasonable to require a permit for weddings on the beach. I do agree that the use of chairs, archways, stanchions or any physical structures on the beach should indeed require a permit as they normally would require from other events. I do not agree that restrictions should be required for a cake table or flower pathways when the public has the right act in a far more intrusive manner without such restrictions i.e. hibachi's, tents and lawn chairs, picnic tables, volleyball, etc. Why should our clients, many of whom are local, be not allowed to have a cake table? |
| 26 | Judith Harvey | Own a vacation rental property |
| 27 | Sally and Jack Nisbet | Please vote for Jan Shields. She's the one who will help us the most! |
| 28 | Kay Madnani | Weddings on the beach are a romantic event and we should not restrict them |
| 29 | Mary Klebs | |
| 30 | Anonymous | |
| 31 | Hanne Ruhnau | |
| 32 | April Cendana | |
| 33 | Gary Canier | Unless it is decreed that the beaches of Hawaii are only for looking at, I believe fair, equitable use, with respect to Hawaiians, residents, and tourists alike should not single the wedding industry which is helping the many people who come to our island paradise to celebrate their ceremony in a simple beach wedding. Flowers, conch shell, acoustic musician, doves, an arch or a chuppah, a small cake table, or a cider toast befit the loving traditions that are weddings. Not to mention that the wedding industry is a major part of the State of Hawaii's economy. I believe that the permits are a good idea, but mindful standards should not deprive the couples that come to celebrate here in Hawaii. |
| 34 | Kristin Mills | Hawaii's visitors should be allowed to enjoy our beaches for their beautiful romantic weddings. If we restrict the tourist use of our beaches, they will take their money to other states and countries that will allow the use of beaches. Financially, if we place too many restrictions on beach use, Hawaii will be the state to lose. |
| 35 | Kahu Alalani A Hill | I support weddings on the beach and to amend the States decision. May we find together a balance between which beaches we can accommodate what is being called "props", Some of these regulations such as chairs may restrict elders or Kupuna as well as children from attending the joining of Ohana (families) in Holy Union. |
| 36 | Andrea Duarte | These restrictions not only hurt the industry but all the people already struggling to get by. Help your citizens not hurt them!! |
| 37 | Elaine Olson | These new restrictions are ridiculous. What possible harm could come from having a cake table on the beach for an hour or two? Who would possibly find that offensive? It's not just the coordinators who will lose business: it's the other small businesses such as musicians, photographers, florists, beauticians, etc. We've got enough economic problems with the rising costs of gas and food. We don't need to lose income because of random meaningless regulations.
I can understand the need for sensible rules and permits, but this is going too far. I don't understand why the state is doing this. |
| 38 | Anonymous | Good point Geanelli. The front page of the Maui News today reported that there was a 22% drop in visitors in July, My wedding business has had a 45% drop for the year - thus this proves that there is a higher drop in wedding couples as compared to general tourists. With small businesses throughout the country hurting from the economy, why is the State making that two-fold for the small businesses of Hawaii? My feeling is that they are for BIG BUSINESS.. I can't wait for the democrats to be in power. |
| 39 | Taylor | |
| 40 | RODGER JAMES SHORTELL JR | Thank you for putting together this petition. We have to work together to cut back on insane regulations. I went to the meeting on Thursday and learned a little, asked some questions...but mostly watched a few people pontificate and limelight. Thank you once again and I will pass this on.
LUV N' ALOHA...
RAJA
RODGER JAMES SHORTELL JR.
CHEF AND OWNER
TIKITORCH PRODUCTIONS
(FEAST ON THE BEACH...HANA HOU-CHEF TO GO)
WWW.FEASTONTHEBEACH.COM
(808) 870 - 3451 |
| 41 | Anonymous | Weddings are a vital part of our islands economy on Maui. Many people besides the bride and groom choose Maui soley based upon the fact that it is a great place to get married. During a time when the economy is poor and tourism is down, discouraging weddings on the beaches is counterproductive to helping our local businesses succeed. Please come up with a realistic and beneficial way to keep our beaches beautiful without scapegoating one group of professionals. |
| 42 | Erica Goldsmith | |
| 43 | Ginny Morgan | We need to take care of our tourists, accommodate their needs and respect their presence if the State of Hawaii really desires the economic benefits of tourism. We do not need over-regulation that will chase away our future tourists. Over regulation of the beaches is yet another way of discouraging tourism. |
| 44 | Ernest Puaa | |
| 45 | Larry LaSota | These restrictions, which are on the beach for a short time will certainly deter brides from coming to Hawaii for their weddings and the state will loose millions of dollars in ancillary tourist and service businesses. |
| 46 | Anonymous | The beach permits worked fine before and are over-regulated right now. The rules are so vague, and there is more confusion and less courtesy than before. If we are paying for a space and people are in it, we will now have to ask people to move. This was not an issue before. Oahu is great at the permit issuance, but Maui is HORRIBLE at getting back to people. These restrictions, as well as the limited amount of legal private properties, are destroying the economy on the islands. People are going elsewhere instead of coming to Hawaii. There needs to be consistency and better explanations of the rules and regulations imposed. |
| 47 | Regina Corpuz | |
| 48 | Chris Howells | |
| 49 | Joey Hall | |
| 50 | Kelly | |