Booming commercial activities at Kailua Beach Park have become a problematic side effect of the 7 million annual visitors to Hawai'i.

Recent news articles ("Park's for-profit use questioned," May 16) support the claim as do poll figures earlier this year in which 55 percent of O'ahu residents "said they believe that their island is being run for tourists at the expense of local people," ("Tourism poll tells us to pay heed to locals," April 13).

In 2004, 66 percent of Kailua residents who were polled supported a ban on commercial activities at the beach park, as did Kailua Neighborhood Board members in a 12-4 vote this month. Yet, Peter Young, chairman of the Department of Land and Natural Resources, seems to be intent on finding ways for us to swallow our anxiety.

Young addressed the Kailua Neighborhood Board recently regarding these concerns and ocean user conflicts. Instead of hearing what he had planned for residents who use Kailua Beach Park, we were told tourists want more activity in their beach-going experience.

He offered his "Mauka Makai" watch program, which enlists residents as enforcement agents and data gatherers. Another part of his plan has been to hire a Mainland consultant to identify ocean user conflicts and "acceptable levels of change." Yet another was to attach the word "eco" in front of the words "tour operator" to make us feel differently about the exploitation of the few natural offshore gems in Kailua Bay.

This is not the will of the people of Kailua.

The crowding at the small beach at the Mokulua islets is by no means limited to weekends. I have personally paddled out early mid-week mornings and have had to wait to land my canoe simply because there is no room. None of the others there has been a resident; all are guided tours. From what I could see, there was little respect for the signage (many glanced and walked past), for the nesting birds or for simply the quiet beauty of the environment.

As these businesses grow, so does the dependency on making those trips, and competition will increase the pressure.

In a letter to Donna Wong, chairwoman of the Planning, Zoning, and Environment Committee of the Kailua Neighborhood Board, dated July 6, 2006, Young refers to a revised draft of rules "that will allow DLNR to regulate commercial use of the (Mokulua) islands." He also states that "we are currently working with some of the kayak rental companies and commercial guides to establish policies and develop carrying capacity estimates for the islands in anticipation of the new rules."

Where are these revised draft rules and why have they not been available for public input? Why are you choosing to partner with the commercial interests only and not with the elected community representatives and the Neighborhood Board? These are serious questions that we would like to have answered.

Also, it is important to clarify the intent of the Neighborhood Board action relating to local business. The intent of the ban is simply to put visitors on the same playing field as residents who use the bay. They should have the same parking opportunities and the same opportunities to enjoy, not the special privilege of having their gear trailered down to the water's edge or being led out as part of a regular tour to the sanctity of the "Mokes" in the early morning on weekdays.

Many residents rent from shops in Kailua town. This is wanted and encouraged. But exploiting our parks to support the tourist industry is not in the interest of the resident taxpayers. Increased enforcement of the existing laws and regulations would be.

We deserve better for our tax dollars and we are asking you, Chairman Young and Mayor Mufi Hannemann, to seriously evaluate this issue and take action to stop the commercialization of our parks and offshore islands.

Resident canoe paddlers and surfers of yesterday lost their beautiful Waikiki to tourism. We will not lose Kailua Beach Park, the offshore islands and our residential community. I stand by the "no commercial activities" position as voted on by a 12 to 4 majority of the Kailua Neighborhood Board members.

Virginia Enos has worked as an officer aboard supertankers and has been a Kailua Neighborhood Board member since 2003. She wrote this commentary for The Advertiser.