Are makeshift memorials legal? - Hawaii Features

The areas in question are being evaluated by officials of the state Department of Land and Natural Resources By June Watanabe POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Nov 14, 2009 Return to Paginated View QUESTION: Someone is turning shoreline tide pools into a memorial park.

[north shore dude]

We are having trouble with the perpetuation of these memorials which we wonder if the Clean Water Act would apply. How can just anyone use cement and along our shore line to affix plaques and fake flowers and flags? What if we all did it? Or more of us did it? We took the route of dedicated a bench in memorey of our loved one. It took just under $300, paperwork and approx. 8 months to do this via the city -- Today the bence sits there in loving memorey for all to enjoy and is not creating a safety issue of cement poured on the costline rocks with things sticking out. DLNR has no policy on better care of our resources? Need these items removed but have no staff to do it? No problem, some of who would like to respect our costline and keep it clear of visual blight and keep it safe can tend to it. I just hope we don't get arrested. Won't that be odd!

[Average Joe]

Why do people feel the need to put up public memorials for their personal loss? What happened to grieving in private with some dignity and stoicism? Keep the memory of your lost loved ones in your heart, not on our roads. All these junk memorials are ugly, annoying and distract from the natural beauty of our islands. Not only has the Waianae coast become a shantytown of homeless people, it has also become a shantytown for the dead.

[Stumpy]

The memorials don't hurt anything as long as people don't mind fisherman walking over them. Some people are even considerate enough to cement fishing-rod holders into the memorial. Just how is cement polluting the ocean, you want to also tear out all the piers?

[rayh]

Well when you pour cement over coral-which is alive-I figure it would tend to smother the live coral. Hey someone correct me if I'm wrong.

[north shore dude]

aloha rayh,

you are correct in what you say about coral -- memorials as noted in the article are self serving to the individual and respective family. the greater population and the health and care of our resources comes first. a temporary shrine is one thing but a permante one on public land? we best take of this now via DLNR upholding rules. I read in an old article it be up to $500 fine per day. I will call DLNR and file a complaint to help compell them to take this up as a priority. I will also do the same with my council person so the City too helps along.

[melfromwestside]

I doubt the haole complaining is willing to go out to the waianae coast and try take them down

[melfromwestside]

rayh wrote:

Well when you pour cement over coral-which is alive-I figure it would tend to smother the live coral. Hey someone correct me if I'm wrong.

pouring cement on coral is disrespectful and bad for the environment

that is why this is a case by case thing --- people that disrespect the coast should have their stuff removed

longstanding memorials should be grandfathered in

[Local Boy]

I lost both my parents to illness when I was in my 20's. You show love by what you do when their alive, not when their dead. If you showed it, they know it. Ive never really understood why some people choose the place of trajedy to remember? I think if you could ask loved ones who have past awayed how to memorialize them, they would prefer a "happy" place or event... I would.
Just my 2 cents

[Dead Zone]

These beach and roadside memorials have become an eyesore. They are also considered as litter. When all the flowers and flags deteriorate, those that put them up do not clean them up. They leave it to blow into the ocean or somewhere on land for someone else to clean it up. These people should memorialize the dead people at home where it doesn't bother anyone else. See if they would build something in their yard. Probably not, because then they'd have to maintain it,

[alice]

temporary memorials are ok but the trrouble is they linger on and become unhealthy

[Stumpy]

rayh wrote:

Well when you pour cement over coral-which is alive-I figure it would tend to smother the live coral. Hey someone correct me if I'm wrong.

The coral is lond dead. Consider yourself corrected.

Cement memorials on the reef are harmless. I wouldn't make one, but saying they pollute the ocean or kill the reef just isn't true. If anything, they fight erosion and cover up some sharp coral.
I'd rather they go after the "In Loving Memory Of" type decals that block the back windows of cars. That's a real safety violation. While they are at it, make the drivers take all that Shyt off their rearview mirror too.

[Blala]

Something you wouldn't understand.

[NOEND]

this nonsense should be stopped....there should be a law againest such childish nonsense.

[NOEND]

Average Joe wrote:

Why do people feel the need to put up public memorials for their personal loss? What happened to grieving in private with some dignity and stoicism? Keep the memory of your lost loved ones in your heart, not on our roads. All these junk memorials are ugly, annoying and distract from the natural beauty of our islands. Not only has the Waianae coast become a shantytown of homeless people, it has also become a shantytown for the dead.

this is a very silly practice and it should be stopped right now....bunch of IDIOTS

[Moke]

alice wrote:

stumpy is right. And the horrible thing is that these memorials deteriorate and oddly resemble the dead. They become a disgrace.
By the way, the memorial to the two dead drunk mokes who were racing and failed to stop their car from crashing over a cliff has been defgaced with angry people cursing the mokles for putting lives at risk with their selfish behavior. It is hideous looking.

Try taking these MOKIES memorial down if you dare. We want to see you try. You have talked kukae about us too many times. Now you are disrespecting dead kids that made the ultimate mistake by reckless behavior. I wouldn't do that if I were you.

[alice]

quiet moke..any threatening on here can result in prosecution. It is illegal. I merely said that the memorials offend the community and recognize and reward reckless behavior that endangered all of Waimanalo. The memorials have been defaced according to my roommate who noticed it last week. It is a silly practice.

[sandy beech]

alice wrote:

stumpy is right. And the horrible thing is that these memorials deteriorate and oddly resemble the dead. They become a disgrace.
By the way, the memorial to the two dead drunk mokes who were racing and failed to stop their car from crashing over a cliff has been defgaced with angry people cursing the mokles for putting lives at risk with their selfish behavior. It is hideous looking.

The crash went inland through a hedge and over a berm. The only angry person is the mother. Is a mokle like opihi?

[alice]

These reckless mokes are greatly hated in Waimanala. The memorials have been defaced I am told. Reckless, drunken speeding puts everyone in danger and should not be honored.

[Dead Zone]

Soon the shorelines/roadsides will be littered with these so-called memorials. Another guy got killed on the roads this weekend. What happens when they die at your favorite spot at the beach, or in front of your home? You go there and there's crap blocking the area. Think its ok then?

[alice]

Thye mokes who killed themselves after failing to kill pedestrians had their memorial torn down and defaced by the angry residents of Waimanalo. Hard to blame them.