Disappeared News

by Larry Geller

A Star-Advertiser headline caught my eye this morning: Security zones will make the sea off-limits (Star-Advertiser, 10/7/2011). If APEC visitors are staying at hotels fronted by the no-swim security zones, doesn’t that alone defeat the purpose of showcasing Hawaii as a destination?

The proposed rules appear to make the ocean in front of major hotels totally off-limits to swimmers and surfers. This would, of course, include family members who might want to take a swim while they visit Hawaii. In fact, they may have decided to accompany their delegate- or staff-spouse just to enjoy the wonderful ocean we are known for.

We are supposed to be showcasing Hawaii. Do we expect delegates, their spouses and kids, to stare all day at the Sopogy exhibit or gaze longingly out their lanai windows at an ocean they can’t swim in? Won’t they feel a bit, um, cheated? Or disappointed in their visit to Hawaii?

Can you imagine a rule that would ban drinking coffee in Seattle or eating sourdough bread in San Francisco?  Not allowing swimming in Hawaii seems a magnitude worse.

The story referred to a US Coast Guard docket containing proposed rules. A copy of the Federal Register containing the proposed rules is included below. The docket itself refers to a handy graphic which does not yet appear in the docket, so you have to interpret the cumbersome verbal description.

What will APEC visitors do instead? Well, they might decide to visit Chinatown. In that case, our image is really in trouble.

I made an attempt at drawing the Hilton Hotel exclusion zone based on the latitude and longitude data.  This is my map, not the Coast Guard’s, so please don’t rely on it. Basically, visitors will have a heck of a long walk in the sun if they want to get into the water.

Here is the verbal description of the area that will be off-limits:

§ 165.T14–0800 Security Zones; 2011 Asia-
Pacific Economic Cooperation Conference,
Oahu, HI.
(a) Locations. The following areas,
from the surface of the water to the
ocean floor, are security zones.
(1) Ko’olina Offshore Zone. All waters
encompassed by a line extending 1500
yards seaward from 21°19′23.63″ N,
158°07′20.83″ W; to 21°18′49.59″ N,
158°07′52.68″ W; then north to
21°21′17.96″ N, 158°08′36.75″ W; then
due east to 21°21′18.70″ N,
158°07′49.15″ W; then along the
shoreline back to the starting point. This
security zone does not include the
entrance of Barbers Point Harbor
Channel or the four lagoons adjacent to
the Ko’olina Resorts.
(2) West Waikiki Zone. All waters
offshore of Waikiki Beach encompassed
by a line connecting the following
points: beginning at 21°16′40.33″ N,
157°50′01.26″ W; to 21°16′10.20″ N,
157°50′37.55″ W; to 21°16′29.28″ N,
157°50′56.69″ W; to 21°16′53.95″ N,
157°50′29.10″ W; then along the
shoreline back to the starting point. The
West Waikiki Zone includes the
offshore area adjacent to the Hilton
Hawaiian Village Resort and the Fort
DeRussy military reservation. The West
Waikiki Zone does not include the two
lagoons adjacent to the Hilton Hawaiian
Village Resort.
(3) East Waikiki Zone. All waters
offshore of Waikiki Beach encompassed
by a line connecting the following
points: Beginning at 21°16′36.20″ N,
157°49′46.91″ W; to 21°16′05.04″ N,
157°50′20.56″ W; to 21°16′14.87″ N,
157°50′30.98″ W; to 21°16′40.33″ N,
157°50′01.26″ W; then along the
shoreline back to the starting point. The
East Waikiki Zone includes the offshore
area adjacent to the Sheraton Waikiki
Hotel and the Outrigger Waikiki Hotel.
(4) Ala Wai Harbor and Canal Zone.
All waters, including a section of the
Ala Wai Canal, extending from the
entrance to the canal in Ala Wai harbor
to a point 15 yards northeast of the
McCully Bridge and also including all
Ala Wai Harbor waters encompassing
the Harbor Working Docks, the ‘‘Front
Row’’ along Holomoana Ave, the
Loading Dock, G Dock, F Dock, the 400
Row, the south face of X Dock and D
Dock.

Download USCG-2011-0800-0001

Permalink posted by Larry @ 10/07/2011 07:28:00 AM