MAYOR HANNEMANN APPROVES TWO BILLS RELATED TO CITY PARKS

Mayor Mufi Hannemann has signed into law two bills designed to keep City parks clean, safe and accessible to everyone.

Bill 42 CD1 established a new definition of camping in response to the 2007 Hawaii Supreme Court decision in State v. Beltran, which held that the previous definition of camping was overbroad and vague, and therefore interfered with the freedom of movement and association protected by the Hawaii Constitution. The new definition was adopted to address the concerns raised by the Hawaii Supreme Court in the State v. Beltran decision.

Bill 42 CD1 was approved by the City Council on Aug. 20, 2008 by a vote of 8-to-0, with one excused absence.

Recreational camping is allowed by permit at 15 designated City park areas. Camping is prohibited in all other City park areas. Permits are free and are issued on a first-come-first-served basis at the Parks Permits Section on the ground floor of the Frank F. Fasi Municipal Building, 650 South King Street, or at any Satellite City Hall from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information on location and camping hours, please visit http://www.co.honolulu.hi.us/parks/permits.htm or call the Parks Permit Section at 768-3440.

The second approved parks measure, Bill 43 CD2, established procedures governing the disposition of abandoned and unattended property on park land.

Bill 43 CD2 was also approved by the City Council on Aug. 20, 2008 by a vote of 8-to-0, with one excused absence.

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Media contact: Informational Affairs Officer Johnny Brannon, 527-5767