Hawaii - Court rules Hawaii can regulate weddings on public beaches

USA Today: Court rules Hawaii can regulate weddings on public beaches (http://travel.usatoday.com/destinations/dispatches/post/2012/06/court-rules-hawaii-can-regulate-weddings-on-public-beaches/711435/1)

Something to keep in mind if getting married @ a Hawaiian beach...I do no think it's that big of a deal. Perhaps HI FT'ers can comment!

Wedding applicants must pay at least $20 or 10 cents for each square foot of beach requested, plus liability insurance. The permit sets a two-hour time limit for the ceremony, no alcohol is allowed, and participants must not disturb other beachgoers and must leave the beach in a clean condition.

Does this include renewal of vowels? :confused:

"Does this include renewal of vowels? "

Yes, you have to buy them too, just like on Wheel of Fortune.

There's nothing onerous in these regulations. Alcohol prohibition is normal for Hawaiian beaches, so why should there by any special allowance for weddings? Leaving the beach clean also makes sense. Hawaiian beaches are all public, so there should be a time limitation on activities that prevent public access. In other words, nothing is being restricted here that is not normally restricted, except for the time limit. The fees are appropriate (and quite reasonable) due to the public expense created by these events. I doubt there is anything here that will cause distress for a wedding planner (except that they have to setup pretty quickly).

USA Today: Court rules Hawaii can regulate weddings on public beaches (http://travel.usatoday.com/destinations/dispatches/post/2012/06/court-rules-hawaii-can-regulate-weddings-on-public-beaches/711435/1)

Something to keep in mind if getting married @ a Hawaiian beach...I do no think it's that big of a deal. Perhaps HI FT'ers can comment!

This is just affirming the status quo, which was being challenged, so not really anything to keep in mind. :-)


The fees are appropriate (and quite reasonable) due to the public expense created by these events.

What public expense do you think is being created?

This is just affirming the status quo, which was being challenged, so not really anything to keep in mind. :-)




What public expense do you think is being created?


Cleanup, and opportunity cost of non-invitees being denied access to a public resource

Cleanup, and opportunity cost of non-invitees being denied access to a public resource

neither are any more, or less of an issue than with general public use. actually, probably less of an issue given the restrictions.

these permits are just money to the state- there's no extra cleanup involved / provided (no services whatsoever are provided, and the state doesn't pretend it does- the fees just go to the general fund), doesn't even reserve a spot, and you can't make anyone move from a spot they're already in, so denied use doesn't come into play either.

details:
- the permits allows you to use a certain square footage on the beach. a certain square footage that you can't reserve; the location can only be selected from what is open on the beach, and only immediately before the wedding, and is only good for up to 2 hours, including setup and cleanup.
-- 'regular' public beach goers have better access than this, as they are not time restricted, and can show up early and 'reserve' themselves a location by dropping items off. both of these are no gos on the permits.
- you can not prevent non-invitees from being on the beach, or coming up to your party. at my wedding in maui, we had a couple of amateur photographers within 10' taking pictures and others milling around watching.
- cleanup is largely a non-issue, as not much is allowed on the beach; it's not like people are having receptions on the beach given the 2 hour time limit, no seating (generally) allowed, and no booze. :D