NAWILIWILI — Holders of permits for the nine concession stands at Po‘ipu Spouting Horn Park will now be able to reapply for permits every five years. The County Council Budget and Finance Committee unanimously approved Wednesday an amendment that eliminates
NAWILIWILI — Holders of permits for the nine concession stands at Po‘ipu Spouting Horn Park will now be able to reapply for permits every five years.
The County Council Budget and Finance Committee unanimously approved Wednesday an amendment that eliminates a clause in a 2008 bill which set 2013 as the last year concessionaires could operate in one of the most photographed spots on Kaua‘i.
Bill 2358 passed unanimously with seven votes, but committee Vice Chair William U. “Kaipo” Asing had some reservations.
“We decided some time ago that we were going to stop the concessions at the Spouting Horn,” Asing said. “That was a park facility designed for recreational purposes and we did not want to have any type of business in the area.”
Asing said there’s a long history behind the decision, going back to when several groups were trying to run different businesses in county parks spread across the island.
“We would take away the recreational facility to open it up for businesses, and that was not the intent of parks,” said Asing, explaining that county parks are designed and built for recreational purposes for island residents.
Many years ago, the council decided to “let it go,” said Asing, making a reference to the extraordinary decision of allowing businesses to operate at Spouting Horn Park.
“It’s a very gray issue,” Asing said. “Yes, they bring income, but that was not the intent of the park,” he said during council committee meetings at the temporary council chambers here.
In 2009 the concessionaires generated $463,116 in revenue for the county, according to Asing.
Many businesses throughout the island were against the concessions at the Spouting Horn, because of unfair competition due to cheaper rent, Asing said.
Councilman Tim Bynum said they have to be very careful when looking at commercial activities in county parks.
But concessionaires have been at Spouting Horn for many years and have become part of the park’s character, said Bynum, adding that many visitors expect to have the experience of shopping there.
The Po‘ipu Beach Resort Association, Kaua‘i Visitors Bureau and hotels on the South Shore have all supported concessions at Spouting Horn, Bynum said.
Asing, despite voting to approve the bill at the committee level, said he may not be supporting it when the bill reaches full council next week.
The bill says that the concessionaires’ contracts will expire in June 30, 2013. After that the contracts will be re-bid in accordance with the provisions of state law and regulations adopted by the county Department of Parks and Recreation.
Concessionaires shall not use water or electricity from the park, and the items sold must be entirely or partly in Hawai‘i.
All nine concessions stands will be subject to competitive-bidding requirements.
The highest qualified bids that meet or exceed the upset bid of $2,500 per month will be awarded concessions, according to the bill.
The full council will vote on the bill May 26. The bill will likely pass, and it will become law immediately after Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr.’s approval.
Go to www.kauai.gov for more information.
• Léo Azambuja, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 252) or lazambuja@kauaipubco.com.
