Comment:
I've looked at https://www.quieteroahu.com/ on and off for the past several years. Now it's time to join the mailing list.
Living in the country should be quiet and relaxing. However, I live next to a church owned community park accompanied by the noise that comes from people bringing loud music systems, with boom boom bass. It seems they can't play football or basketball without playing loud music.
I've been trying to work with the church officials who oversee the park for over 10 years, but have made little progress. The police do respond and the the music gets turned down, but because of the 15 inch speakers, the boom boom of the bass still penetrates the insulated walls and double paned windows of my house.
Looking for additional information and help.
Mahalo for a wonderful resource.
Quieter O'ahu Response:
If anyone can offer additional advice beyond what's available on our website, please post your response here.
Mahalo
Quieter O'ahu Email to Church Representative:
Subject: Unintended Consequences of Good Deeds
As a quick introduction I represent the non-profit organization, A Quieter O'ahu (www.quieteroahu.com). We have a simple mission, try to make O'ahu a bit quieter to the benefit of the health and quality of life of us all, one noise problem at a time.
We were contacted by a subscriber to our website who, for some time, has been subjected to the overspill of noise from the park at 55-122 Poohaili St. In researching the property I see it is owned by the Church and has been for some time now a community park enjoyed by many residents.
I entitled this email Unintended Consequences of Good Deeds because certainly the Church's act of kindness of providing such a park was intended as a good deed and is certainly, without argument, a better place for youth to enjoy recreational activities than other possible activities. Unfortunately, and this is the unintended consequences part, when any group of people, but in particular youth, are unsupervised in their activities, it is too often the case that manners, common courtesy, and respect for others is just simply forgotten. That seems to be happening here.
Our subscriber tells of increasingly loud activities. Sports, which brings its own level of noise - but which "is what it is" - are increasingly accompanied by people bringing personal, high-powered, high-bass, stereo systems to the park and, atop the sports noise, playing these stereo equipment at their highest levels. Today's stereo technology is such that the bass component of these stereos easily penetrates walls and windows of homes up to several blocks away from the music source. Without the supervision of Church Staff, or anyone in authority saying "Stop this noise" the crowds assume there is tacit approval to do what they will, regardless of the impact on those in the community whose quality of life and health are negatively affected by this noise.
We understand this has been a back-and-forth with the community for some time. We are taking this opportunity to lend our voice to that of the community in asking you, as the Church lead for the park, to work with the community toward an agreeable solution. It would seem that playing sports isn't conditioned upon loud music. So perhaps banning these stereos and posting signage that the park is private property and that music isn't permitted would solve the problem. Such signage would also provide additional standing for community members, in the absence of Church Staff, to contact HPD who could enforce private property postings. Another possibility would be for the Church to have a "Noise Complaint Number" and a "Team" of responders on-call to respond in real-time to community complaints of loud noise. In this scenario the on-call Team Member would respond to the park in person with the authority to address the noise complaint, even if it requires closing down the event.
Yes, we understand that this probably oversimplifies the problem and any workable solution. But recognizing there IS a problem is the first step. And there is clearly a problem here. One that has apparently been ongoing far too long.
We hope that we can count on you and the Church to work with the community in a good faith resolution of this issue.
Our very best regards and sincere Mahalo for the good work of the Church on behalf of the community.
Mahalo,
A Quieter O'ahu
Church Representative Response:
Aloha,
Thanks for your email. We have been working this problem for some time. Unfortunately, it hasn’t been as quickly as [name omit] would like.
We understand the issues, and want to find a way to make the park useful for everyone. I feel we have made good progress most of the time, but then we occasionally take some steps backwards.
When we see people playing music loudly, we ask them to stop. Unfortunately, we can’t patrol the park all the time.
Anyway, we’re working on it. We appreciate the email.
My counselor, [name omit] is copied in. He has been tasked to work on this issue. Would you like us to keep you posted on what we’re doing?
Thanks,
Quieter O'ahu Response to Church Representative:
Mahalo, [name omit], for your quick turnaround. We assumed this was one of those neighborhood issues that had been simmering for some time. You wouldn't believe how often we encounter well-meaning people on opposite sides of a noise issue that just can't reach common ground because of obstacles both real and artificial. We'll be hoping that something can be done to restore quiet to the neighborhood while still allowing this sports venue to achieve its goal of providing the community a venue for healthy activities.
Please remain mindful that noise is more than a nuisance issue. Scientific studies are increasingly making the connections between noise and stress, depression and other mental health issues, sleep disorders and even cardiovascular issues. I hope our interest isn't viewed as intrusive into this community issue. Like you and the Church we are merely advocates for a better quality of life for O'ahu residents and communities. That said, yes, please copy us on future correspondence for this issue, and please let us know if there is anything we can do as advocates to the City and County, Neighborhood Board, HPD, or other organizations that might help achieve an agreeable solution for all parties.
Mahalo,
Quieter O'ahu
I've looked at https://www.quieteroahu.com/ on and off for the past several years. Now it's time to join the mailing list.
Living in the country should be quiet and relaxing. However, I live next to a church owned community park accompanied by the noise that comes from people bringing loud music systems, with boom boom bass. It seems they can't play football or basketball without playing loud music.
I've been trying to work with the church officials who oversee the park for over 10 years, but have made little progress. The police do respond and the the music gets turned down, but because of the 15 inch speakers, the boom boom of the bass still penetrates the insulated walls and double paned windows of my house.
Looking for additional information and help.
Mahalo for a wonderful resource.
Quieter O'ahu Response:
If anyone can offer additional advice beyond what's available on our website, please post your response here.
Mahalo
Quieter O'ahu Email to Church Representative:
Subject: Unintended Consequences of Good Deeds
As a quick introduction I represent the non-profit organization, A Quieter O'ahu (www.quieteroahu.com). We have a simple mission, try to make O'ahu a bit quieter to the benefit of the health and quality of life of us all, one noise problem at a time.
We were contacted by a subscriber to our website who, for some time, has been subjected to the overspill of noise from the park at 55-122 Poohaili St. In researching the property I see it is owned by the Church and has been for some time now a community park enjoyed by many residents.
I entitled this email Unintended Consequences of Good Deeds because certainly the Church's act of kindness of providing such a park was intended as a good deed and is certainly, without argument, a better place for youth to enjoy recreational activities than other possible activities. Unfortunately, and this is the unintended consequences part, when any group of people, but in particular youth, are unsupervised in their activities, it is too often the case that manners, common courtesy, and respect for others is just simply forgotten. That seems to be happening here.
Our subscriber tells of increasingly loud activities. Sports, which brings its own level of noise - but which "is what it is" - are increasingly accompanied by people bringing personal, high-powered, high-bass, stereo systems to the park and, atop the sports noise, playing these stereo equipment at their highest levels. Today's stereo technology is such that the bass component of these stereos easily penetrates walls and windows of homes up to several blocks away from the music source. Without the supervision of Church Staff, or anyone in authority saying "Stop this noise" the crowds assume there is tacit approval to do what they will, regardless of the impact on those in the community whose quality of life and health are negatively affected by this noise.
We understand this has been a back-and-forth with the community for some time. We are taking this opportunity to lend our voice to that of the community in asking you, as the Church lead for the park, to work with the community toward an agreeable solution. It would seem that playing sports isn't conditioned upon loud music. So perhaps banning these stereos and posting signage that the park is private property and that music isn't permitted would solve the problem. Such signage would also provide additional standing for community members, in the absence of Church Staff, to contact HPD who could enforce private property postings. Another possibility would be for the Church to have a "Noise Complaint Number" and a "Team" of responders on-call to respond in real-time to community complaints of loud noise. In this scenario the on-call Team Member would respond to the park in person with the authority to address the noise complaint, even if it requires closing down the event.
Yes, we understand that this probably oversimplifies the problem and any workable solution. But recognizing there IS a problem is the first step. And there is clearly a problem here. One that has apparently been ongoing far too long.
We hope that we can count on you and the Church to work with the community in a good faith resolution of this issue.
Our very best regards and sincere Mahalo for the good work of the Church on behalf of the community.
Mahalo,
A Quieter O'ahu
Church Representative Response:
Aloha,
Thanks for your email. We have been working this problem for some time. Unfortunately, it hasn’t been as quickly as [name omit] would like.
We understand the issues, and want to find a way to make the park useful for everyone. I feel we have made good progress most of the time, but then we occasionally take some steps backwards.
When we see people playing music loudly, we ask them to stop. Unfortunately, we can’t patrol the park all the time.
Anyway, we’re working on it. We appreciate the email.
My counselor, [name omit] is copied in. He has been tasked to work on this issue. Would you like us to keep you posted on what we’re doing?
Thanks,
Quieter O'ahu Response to Church Representative:
Mahalo, [name omit], for your quick turnaround. We assumed this was one of those neighborhood issues that had been simmering for some time. You wouldn't believe how often we encounter well-meaning people on opposite sides of a noise issue that just can't reach common ground because of obstacles both real and artificial. We'll be hoping that something can be done to restore quiet to the neighborhood while still allowing this sports venue to achieve its goal of providing the community a venue for healthy activities.
Please remain mindful that noise is more than a nuisance issue. Scientific studies are increasingly making the connections between noise and stress, depression and other mental health issues, sleep disorders and even cardiovascular issues. I hope our interest isn't viewed as intrusive into this community issue. Like you and the Church we are merely advocates for a better quality of life for O'ahu residents and communities. That said, yes, please copy us on future correspondence for this issue, and please let us know if there is anything we can do as advocates to the City and County, Neighborhood Board, HPD, or other organizations that might help achieve an agreeable solution for all parties.
Mahalo,
Quieter O'ahu