Blog Archives

Can Emergency Sirens Be Made More Tolerable??

4/29/2019

New York City is now considering new legislation that would change the frequency and tone of its current emergency vehicle (e.g., ambulance, fire, police) sirens to that used in most European cities. The European style is the same loundness/Decibels, but is lower in both frequency of the sound and the tonal pattern. Many respondents have opined that the European version is better tolerated than the U.S. version. We understand from available literature that most contemporary sirens installed in emergency vehicles are programmable, and many could be changed to different tones with the the flip of a switch or two. The Waikiki Neighborhood Board is looking at this issue as a potential solution to the out-of-control emergency vehicle noise that plagues Waikiki today.

Read the article on what's happening with sirens in New York City.

1 Comment

Landscaping Equipment Noisy in Kailua

4/22/2019

1 Comment

Comment:

Weedwackers and leaf blowers should be battery or manual.
How about starting an on line petition to either Honolulu city council or state legislature?

Quieter O'ahu Response:

Aloha,
Thanks for the note. There has been a lot of legislative discussion over the past few years about weed trimmers and leaf blowers. Opinions were heard from all sides, and although the overwhelming majority were in favor of a quieter solution, battery or corded electric, the legislature once again sided with the industry and passed legislation that only limited the times of day that these noisy gas-powered tools could be used.

We do from time to time conduct email and petition campaigns where we ask our subscribers (now 200+ and we just added your name) to sign petitions or to directly email their city council or legislature. We have the gas-powered landscaping tools on our to-do list and will in the near future see if there's again an opportunity to petition the legislature for better laws and enforcement.

Mahalo,
Quieter O'ahu

1 Comment

Happy Easter - Have Some Noise In Nu'uanu

4/22/2019

1 Comment

Comment:

Below is a letter written to the Manager and Board of Directors of the Nu'uanu YMCA with copies to Carol Fukunaga, City Council, the Downtown Neighborhood Board, Mayor Kirk Caldwell, and Quieter O'ahu Quieter O'ahu has removed any personally identifying information.

21 April, 2019

I trust that you enjoyed a peaceful Easter holiday with family and friends. I, however, did not. I am a resident of [Nu'uanu] (since 2004). Early this morning my Sunday and holiday were disturbed by your tree trimmers; they cut and shredded and used noisy blowers until after 4:00 pm.

That may have been convenient for your members; however, I suggest that you consider your neighbors when planning such events. I have, in the past asked you to allow the residents of Downtown to enjoy ONE day a week and a holiday without the sound of choppers and blowers.

Recently, I spoke with your Manager because your trash haulers were coming at 3:30 am - and he did indeed stop that.

Those of us who live downtown appreciate the many positives - shopping, restaurants, banks, convenience …but we also deal with a huge problem - traffic noise, soot, pollution, sirens and helicopters, homeless individuals, crime and the problem is worsening.

I am copying those who may (I hope) address some these ancillary issues.

But I do expect the Nu’uanu Y to be a good neighbor, and I hope that the other agencies I have copied will respond as well.

With aloha,

Quieter O'ahu Response:

You said in your letter what many others are thinking - constantly. It is noisy; unnecessarily noisy!! Just the situations alone that you address are issues for everyone across the island. As our population density grows - and it is growing - we ALL have to be mindful that our actions directly or indirectly affect our neighbors and our neighborhood. Industry has to adapt to a new-normal which includes doing their noisy-work during more agreeable times of the day, week, month, and year. Your approach to your Council, neighborhood board, and Mayor are on-target. We encourage greater participation in the neighborhood board venue where one voice can literally change the rules of business for a board, and cause issues to be raised to higher priority because people are willing to speak out.

We have added you to our distribution list and from time-to-time will address issues where we recommend signing petitions, or direct email campaigns to elected officials, highlighting the growing noise in our community and underscoring that we expect their attention to the issue of mitigating noise or we will happily find candidates for their seat who will.

We will post your letter to our blog for the benefit of others, without your name or identifying information. Thanks you for contacting us.

Mahalo,
Quieter O'ahu

1 Comment

Take The Time To Comment

Let us know what you think. Are you tired of the noise? Do you have ideas on how to combat the noise? Tell us about it.

Also, use the "Contact A Quieter O'ahu" form (under "About Us" on the menu bar) to let us hear from you. We continue to compile email addresses of those interested in reclaiming quiet for our island to inform of noise and related issues of interest. From time to time Quieter O'ahu may recommend contacting City Council or the Legislator to make your feelings known on a particular noise or related Bill.

TOGETHER we can affect positive change.