Last Sunday’s cleanup of Donkey Beach by Kaua’i County’s anti-nudity mayor and a civic-minded organization might be the first time in quite a while that everybody frolicking in the sand was fully clothed. Donkey Beach (along with Secret Beach to
Last Sunday’s cleanup of Donkey Beach by Kaua’i County’s anti-nudity mayor and a civic-minded organization might be the first time in quite a while that everybody frolicking in the sand was fully clothed.
Donkey Beach (along with Secret Beach to a lesser degree) has a reputation as the island’s nude beach, despite the fact that public nudity is a misdemeanor offense in the county.
“We do prosecute those complaints. It is a petty misdemeanor punishable by up to 30 days in jail and up to $1,000 in fines,” said Prosecuting Attorney Mike Soong said.
Soong said the complaints aren’t numerous.
“It’s kind of the same as it’s always been. We get a few cases all at once when somebody complains and the police go down. There’s always some of these,” Soong said.
A local woman, who asked for anonymity, said that many local families no longer hold their family outings on Donkey Beach or the furthest reaches of Secret Beach because of nude, male sun worshippers.
“It’s not the kind of behavior they (families) want their children exposed to,” she said.
Mayor Maryanne Kusaka is on the record as not being in favor of nude sunbathing and certain associated nude beachside behaviors.
County spokeswoman Beth Tokioka said reports that the mayor has gone to the beach on one or more occasions to chide nudists are correct.
“She’s been very outspoken on this subject,” Tokioka said.
“It dismays me,” Kusaka said, “that this beach is highly publicized (on the Internet) as a nudist beach. Nudity is illegal on Kaua`i and we won’t tolerate it. I’ve been there personally to advise people that nudity is against the law.”
It’s also bad for the tourist industry, according to Kaua’i Visitors Bureau executive director Sue Kanoho.
“From my perspective, we are becoming a pretty strong family destination, and people aren’t just lying around naked any more. They are doing things that are not acceptable anywhere,” Kanoho said.
Another problem, according to Kanoho, is that nude sunbathers aren’t always aware of their changing surroundings.
“People aren’t differentiating. They are at Donkey and Secret Beach, and then they go to Polihale where there are families and visitors and take their clothes off there, too,” Kanoho said. “It is clearly our of hand, and it is illegal and complaints are up.”
She attributed some of the complaints to more outlandish behaviors, but also noted that there are now homes overlooking what were once isolated beach areas.
Because some Internet sites are advertising Kaua’i as a nude- friendly destination, Kanoho said the Visitors Bureau has added contrary information to its official travel planner.
“We tell them there are no nude beaches on Kaua’i, and it (nude sunbathing) is illegal,” Kanoho said.
Staff writer Dennis Wilken can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 252) and dwilken@pulitzer.net
