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Maybe it's been this way for awhile, but today driving past I saw that the market is now fenced in for the first time. It looked new so it can't be too old.
What is the point of this? To prevent people from trying to enter without paying to get in?
Am I the only person who thinks this is a bad idea? What if one of the propane tanks on a food truck blew and people started to panic, and now there is only one way out? (Disclaimer, I only saw what was visible from the road, so I don't know where all the exits are). Aren't those permanent tarps against fire code anyway, and now the attendees are fenced in like cattle?
ETA: Their FB page has drone footage of the market- with no fence. So it's definitely new since then.
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To prevent people from trying to enter without paying to get in?
Yes. Ironically, I've heard no reports of mass citations for the crowds of vehicles that were regularly parking outside the market, despite the plentiful NO PARKING signs.
Aren't those permanent tarps against fire code anyway
Only when used on non-DHHL land in districts other than Puna.
Expect the parking fee to be raised soon. I'm hoping they go directly to $5 so as to make their position abundantly clear to everyone.
Speaking of building/planning/permits, funny thing happened to the propane vendor down the road from the market. Seems his barn was larger than the 600 square feet allowed under Ag zoning, so he had to cut it into two buildings "for compliance" while he waits for "as-built" permits to be issued. Ironically, the inspector would have to drive past the Makuu tarps (unpermitted, fire hazard, plainly visible from the highway) twice for every visit to the propane vendor.
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Aren't those permanent tarps against fire code anyway
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It was my understanding that the issue was electrical cords being used, under the tarps.
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To me the real problem is the illegal park cars on Hwy 30 of people who doesn't want fork up 2 Dollars to park. The police need to come along on Sunday and write a bunch of tickets If your going to the market what is $2 anyway to pay for parking.
jrw
jrw
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"no reports of mass citations for the crowds of vehicles that were regularly parking outside the market, despite the plentiful NO PARKING signs"
All the parking I've observed have appeared to be off the roadway / easement where it's not a "no parking" issue, it's a "no trespassing" one and nobody seems to care.
"I'm hoping they go directly to $5 so as to make their position abundantly clear to everyone." Agreed! And they will have more revenue to spend to make the market look more unwelcoming. Anything to lessen the traffic hazard it creates is okay with me. Raise the entry fee to $10. Of all the things to spend their admission money on- barriers to keep people out seems to be a confusing choice, especially if it was only to chase a few dozen dollars every week. My guess is that these people who chose to park outside the market still won't pay to get in, meaning the vendors will just have fewer customers and the hosts will never see a return on their fencing "investment".
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A fence won’t keep out the serious free parking crowd.
There’s an exit road out the back of the market parking lot which leads to a paved DHHL street. From there it connects with the highway. Plenty of free parking on the DHHL streets, then walk in the back way - - or for the shamelessly bold shopper, just drive right in the exit and hope no staff in the parking lot see you.
"I'm at that stage in life where I stay out of discussions. Even if you say 1+1=5, you're right - have fun." - Keanu Reeves
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Given the insane commercial real estate rental prices in Puna the vendors have no choice but to pay what the farmers market charges them.
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vendors will just have fewer customers and the hosts will never see a return
Vendors pay rent whether or not people can avoid paying to park.
vendors have no choice but to pay
Makuu is not the only farmers' market ... just the biggest ...
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I don't know how much the vendors pay today... I think it was around $30 (for a table) back in 2013ish. It wasn't the fee they complained about it was having to show up at 3am (or whatever) to "get a spot".
If anybody knows how much vendors pay currently, I'd love to see it. The surrounding markets tend to charge between $0-$5.00 depending on whether or not one needs to be under "their" canopy or not.
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Perhaps the fence is for beautification also. I've never seen a place with so many chain link fences as East Hawaii. Historically such fences were put up only around playing fields. Now they're cropping up everywhere; officials love to add them to any new project as a matter of routine.
Fences help deter trespassing and illegal parking, but the extent of their use is not at all commensurate with crime and parking issues in East Hawaii. Sometimes county officials set up two fences back to back, such as along the playing field on the makai side of the Afook-Chinen auditorium.
Where I grew up in the S.F. Bay Area, chain link fences, as well as overhead power lines, were regarded as eye sores. And they can be a huge impediment to pedestrians. Fences were much fewer, and when used, wood was the norm.
Apparently our officials have quite the different perspective.
At least every once in a while they'll paint a chain link fence green. Or let some vegetation grow over it.
