We The People

[jdirgo]

There are a lot of shades of gray in there. For example, I have taken a helicopter tour over the volcano (and I must say, my pilot definitely kept a proper distance from the ground). Would I support designation of allowed routes that minimized the noise, etc to established subdivisions? Sure. Flat-out ban? No. Do I have the skills to draft such an initiative? Well, maybe if I devoted about 3 months of my life full-time to it.

For that particular initiative, I would say
"The County of Hawaii shall appoint a commission of seven people consisting of:
1) two operators of tour helicopters
2) two employees of the County Department of Planning
3) three civilian land and/or home owners in the subdivisions closest to the volcano (i.e. Fern Forest, Ohia Estates, Eden Roc, Royal Hawaiian).

Only the Planning Department employees will be compensated for such service as a part of their regular duties.

Such Commission will, within one year, submit to the County Council, a plan of three acceptable routes and height restrictions (to allow for weather variations), agreed upon by all commission members for vote by the County Council.

Upon ratification by the County Council and the Mayor, all tour companies licensed in the County of Hawaii MUST adhere to said routes and height restrictions or face penalties to include monetary damages for first offenses and revocation of tour license upon 3 offenses in one year.

In addition, all tour companies must paint, in letters no less that 14 inches tall, an assigned company identifier and helicopter numerical designation on the bottom of each helicopter, to allow for proper identification in the event of violations."

I could go on to describe what "acceptable evidence of violation" would be, but frankly, I'll leave that up to people that know more about this than me.

John Dirgo, R, ABR, e-PRO
Aloha Coast Realty, LLC
808-987-9243 cell
http://www.alohacoastrealty.com

Edited by - jdirgo on 11/07/2007 11:08:55