Comment:
So glad I found your site. I want to figure out a way to get rid of illegal fire work use in my neighborhood. So loud. My animals and I suffer anxiety from it. My other concern is gas powered yard tools. Everyday I have to hear this noise. From sunup to sundown. My neighbor owns a 6000 sq. Ft. Lot and takes 3 days and 3 hours a day to cut his grass. Drives me nuts! Seems like no one even owns a lawnmower just loud weed eaters! Mahalo! Lived here 30 years. Every year worse. I just want some peace.
Quieter O'ahu Response:
Aloha,
Sounds as though Kahaluu has gotten much noisier than I remember. What a shame!
To the problem with fireworks. Overall, the use of fireworks by residents is illegal on O'ahu. The exception to this is by permit, and those permits are typically for small quantities and not for those that you would see at commercial fireworks displays. Your first recourse to disturbing fireworks is to phone HPD. They will respond and verify that the individual does or does not have a permit, and if not, issue a citation - often these citations carry a very hefty fine. You can read more about fireworks on our blog at this link: https://www.quieteroahu.com/our-noise-blog/archives/12-2017 - just scroll down the page until you find the Fireworks discussion.
To the noise of landscaping equipment/yard tools, this has been an active issue at the State level for many years. The retailers who sell this equipment, and the landscaping services that use them, are a strong lobby AGAINST any regulation of those tools. Here's an article from back in 2010 that took on this lobby, and you can see their response to any attempt at regulation: http://www.staradvertiser.com/2010/07/11/hawaii-news/city-bill-would-ban-gas-leaf-blowers/ .
We do now have very limited legislation on the books that somewhat limits use of leaf blower equipment during certain hours of the day: https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/Vol06_Ch0321-0344/HRS0342F/HRS_0342F-0030_0008.htm . That statute reads:
[§342F-30.8] Leaf blowers; restrictions. (a) In any urban land use district, as designated pursuant to section 205-2, it shall be unlawful for any person to operate a leaf blower within a residential zone or within one hundred feet of a residential zone in the State, except between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. on any day except Sunday or a state or federal holiday, and between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. on Sunday or any state or federal holiday.
(b) Violators shall be fined $50 for the first violation, $100 for the second violation, $200 for the third violation, and $500 for each subsequent violation.
(c) Government entities, and agents acting on behalf of government entities, shall not be subject to this section.
(d) Any county may adopt a rule or ordinance that places stricter limitations on the use of leaf blowers than are in this section. In case of a conflict between the requirements or limitations of this section and any county rule or ordinance regarding the use of leaf blowers, the more restrictive requirements shall apply.
(e) For the purposes of this section:
"Leaf blower" means any machine used to blow leaves, dirt, or other debris off sidewalks, driveways, lawns, and other surfaces.
"State holiday" means any day established as a state holiday in section 8-1. [L 2010, c 206, §1]
There are ongoing efforts by various groups to further limit use of this equipment. Most prominently are efforts to include weed trimmers/whackers. Attempts to include this under the hours of use restriction have largely been unsuccessful.
We nonetheless continue to lobby council at the City level and legislators at the State level to consider common-sense restrictions to improve quality of life for our residents. As long as the retailer and landscapers lobbies continue to contribute large amounts to our elected officials campaign funds, however, it will continue to be an uphill battle. Our long term strategy is to garner enough support for noise restrictions that we can influence elections and re-elections and, in turn, vote a few of the current bought-and-paid-for politicians out of office and replace them with candidates who will truly represent O'ahu's residents.
Mahalo for your note. As you chose to opt-in, we have added you to our distribution for noise and related information.
Quieter O'ahu
So glad I found your site. I want to figure out a way to get rid of illegal fire work use in my neighborhood. So loud. My animals and I suffer anxiety from it. My other concern is gas powered yard tools. Everyday I have to hear this noise. From sunup to sundown. My neighbor owns a 6000 sq. Ft. Lot and takes 3 days and 3 hours a day to cut his grass. Drives me nuts! Seems like no one even owns a lawnmower just loud weed eaters! Mahalo! Lived here 30 years. Every year worse. I just want some peace.
Quieter O'ahu Response:
Aloha,
Sounds as though Kahaluu has gotten much noisier than I remember. What a shame!
To the problem with fireworks. Overall, the use of fireworks by residents is illegal on O'ahu. The exception to this is by permit, and those permits are typically for small quantities and not for those that you would see at commercial fireworks displays. Your first recourse to disturbing fireworks is to phone HPD. They will respond and verify that the individual does or does not have a permit, and if not, issue a citation - often these citations carry a very hefty fine. You can read more about fireworks on our blog at this link: https://www.quieteroahu.com/our-noise-blog/archives/12-2017 - just scroll down the page until you find the Fireworks discussion.
To the noise of landscaping equipment/yard tools, this has been an active issue at the State level for many years. The retailers who sell this equipment, and the landscaping services that use them, are a strong lobby AGAINST any regulation of those tools. Here's an article from back in 2010 that took on this lobby, and you can see their response to any attempt at regulation: http://www.staradvertiser.com/2010/07/11/hawaii-news/city-bill-would-ban-gas-leaf-blowers/ .
We do now have very limited legislation on the books that somewhat limits use of leaf blower equipment during certain hours of the day: https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/Vol06_Ch0321-0344/HRS0342F/HRS_0342F-0030_0008.htm . That statute reads:
[§342F-30.8] Leaf blowers; restrictions. (a) In any urban land use district, as designated pursuant to section 205-2, it shall be unlawful for any person to operate a leaf blower within a residential zone or within one hundred feet of a residential zone in the State, except between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. on any day except Sunday or a state or federal holiday, and between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. on Sunday or any state or federal holiday.
(b) Violators shall be fined $50 for the first violation, $100 for the second violation, $200 for the third violation, and $500 for each subsequent violation.
(c) Government entities, and agents acting on behalf of government entities, shall not be subject to this section.
(d) Any county may adopt a rule or ordinance that places stricter limitations on the use of leaf blowers than are in this section. In case of a conflict between the requirements or limitations of this section and any county rule or ordinance regarding the use of leaf blowers, the more restrictive requirements shall apply.
(e) For the purposes of this section:
"Leaf blower" means any machine used to blow leaves, dirt, or other debris off sidewalks, driveways, lawns, and other surfaces.
"State holiday" means any day established as a state holiday in section 8-1. [L 2010, c 206, §1]
There are ongoing efforts by various groups to further limit use of this equipment. Most prominently are efforts to include weed trimmers/whackers. Attempts to include this under the hours of use restriction have largely been unsuccessful.
We nonetheless continue to lobby council at the City level and legislators at the State level to consider common-sense restrictions to improve quality of life for our residents. As long as the retailer and landscapers lobbies continue to contribute large amounts to our elected officials campaign funds, however, it will continue to be an uphill battle. Our long term strategy is to garner enough support for noise restrictions that we can influence elections and re-elections and, in turn, vote a few of the current bought-and-paid-for politicians out of office and replace them with candidates who will truly represent O'ahu's residents.
Mahalo for your note. As you chose to opt-in, we have added you to our distribution for noise and related information.
Quieter O'ahu
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