Comment:
Thank you for your efforts to create a quieter Hawaii. We have lived here 30 years and have noticed an alarming increase in noise levels over this time.
Noise from modified motorcycles is especially brutal, especially from the motorcycle gangs that parade along Kalanianaole Highway on weekends. Even about 100 feet away from the highway noise levels can be painful.
A second and more continuous source of daylight noise are the numerous tourist helicopters, particularly Rainbow Helicopters, that overfly our home many many times a day. They fly low and loud.
How best to get the attention of legislators and enforcement officers to this very real public health issue?
I look forward to hearing from you.
Quieter O'ahu Response:
Aloha,
Mahalo for your note. Always good to hear from the community.
Of the noise complaints we receive the first-place position would be motorcycles in Waikiki followed by motorcycles in Hawaii Kai. Both are popular "cruising" destinations. While Hawaii Kai is primarily a pass-through to Sandy Beach, large groups will also avail of the attractions of Koko Marina - including the gas station. And the owners of Koko Marina do nothing to stop the noise that affects you and your quality of life.
In terms of what to do, well, we do what we can against a well-organized adversary. We work the system. You have a very good Neighborhood Board in Hawaii Kai. Use it. Be vocal. Express your outrage that this obviously illegal noise is allowed to continue with no enforcement by HPD District 7 whatsoever. If you rally the Neighborhood Board, you have a very influential ally. They can pressure HPD District 7, they can pressure Koko Marina for allowing such loud congregations of motorcycles to assemble on their "Private" property, and they can lobby City Council to pressure HPD, generally, to enforce noise laws more vigorously. Or enforce noise laws at all! You'll find lots of information on our website to take to your Neighborhood Board - why the loud pipes are illegal, what other municipalities have done, effects on quality of life and health, and so on. We encourage EVERYONE to use their Neighborhood Boards to effect change. If enough people, through enough Neighborhood Boards, make their voices heard, change can happen. Remain silent and noise wins. It's that simple.
Finally, we periodically organize email campaigns where we address issues, legislation, or other noise related problems. We ask our subscribers to email their representatives to help us add voices to make legislators more mindful of what the community is thinking. When we do, we hope you will participate.
Again, Mahalo for your note. We've added you to our distribution list as requested, and we will publish your note and our reply to our Noise Blog - without your name or contact info, for the benefit of other visitors.
Quiter O'ahu
Note: Our contributor also raised the issue of increasing noise from low flying aircraft, helicopters specifically. We continue to raise this issue to our legislators, but it has become a finger-pointing exercise where elected representatives pass-the-buck to the FAA and its black-hole of unresponsiveness. We should all be mindful of which legislators try to help, and those that consistently do nothing.
Regarding HPD, we have documented their unresponsiveness and lack of law enforcement on our website. They continue to do nothing about noise. Pressure from the Neighborhood Boards and City Council is needed to compel HPD to simply do their job.
Thank you for your efforts to create a quieter Hawaii. We have lived here 30 years and have noticed an alarming increase in noise levels over this time.
Noise from modified motorcycles is especially brutal, especially from the motorcycle gangs that parade along Kalanianaole Highway on weekends. Even about 100 feet away from the highway noise levels can be painful.
A second and more continuous source of daylight noise are the numerous tourist helicopters, particularly Rainbow Helicopters, that overfly our home many many times a day. They fly low and loud.
How best to get the attention of legislators and enforcement officers to this very real public health issue?
I look forward to hearing from you.
Quieter O'ahu Response:
Aloha,
Mahalo for your note. Always good to hear from the community.
Of the noise complaints we receive the first-place position would be motorcycles in Waikiki followed by motorcycles in Hawaii Kai. Both are popular "cruising" destinations. While Hawaii Kai is primarily a pass-through to Sandy Beach, large groups will also avail of the attractions of Koko Marina - including the gas station. And the owners of Koko Marina do nothing to stop the noise that affects you and your quality of life.
In terms of what to do, well, we do what we can against a well-organized adversary. We work the system. You have a very good Neighborhood Board in Hawaii Kai. Use it. Be vocal. Express your outrage that this obviously illegal noise is allowed to continue with no enforcement by HPD District 7 whatsoever. If you rally the Neighborhood Board, you have a very influential ally. They can pressure HPD District 7, they can pressure Koko Marina for allowing such loud congregations of motorcycles to assemble on their "Private" property, and they can lobby City Council to pressure HPD, generally, to enforce noise laws more vigorously. Or enforce noise laws at all! You'll find lots of information on our website to take to your Neighborhood Board - why the loud pipes are illegal, what other municipalities have done, effects on quality of life and health, and so on. We encourage EVERYONE to use their Neighborhood Boards to effect change. If enough people, through enough Neighborhood Boards, make their voices heard, change can happen. Remain silent and noise wins. It's that simple.
Finally, we periodically organize email campaigns where we address issues, legislation, or other noise related problems. We ask our subscribers to email their representatives to help us add voices to make legislators more mindful of what the community is thinking. When we do, we hope you will participate.
Again, Mahalo for your note. We've added you to our distribution list as requested, and we will publish your note and our reply to our Noise Blog - without your name or contact info, for the benefit of other visitors.
Quiter O'ahu
Note: Our contributor also raised the issue of increasing noise from low flying aircraft, helicopters specifically. We continue to raise this issue to our legislators, but it has become a finger-pointing exercise where elected representatives pass-the-buck to the FAA and its black-hole of unresponsiveness. We should all be mindful of which legislators try to help, and those that consistently do nothing.
Regarding HPD, we have documented their unresponsiveness and lack of law enforcement on our website. They continue to do nothing about noise. Pressure from the Neighborhood Boards and City Council is needed to compel HPD to simply do their job.