The Hawaiʻi County Council on Wednesday voted for a pilot program that would authorize special activity permits for commercial vendors on the ocean side of Ane Keohokālole Highway in Kailua-Kona.
Council Chair Holeka Inaba introduced the measure that changes the permitting to allow small, mobile businesses to apply to operate within a 200-yard stretch between the West Hawaiʻi Civic Center and Allied Quarry Access Road.
Inaba said commercial activity already is occurring on the side of the highway and on several other roadways in Kailua-Kona. He said they have no legal places along roads in the county for mobile vendors to do business.
“A lot of work has been spent working with the Hawaiʻi Police Department and the Department of Public Works to find a safe, legal place for these businesses to operate,” Inaba said. “Any folks who are set up along any road in the county are doing so illegally, so having a dedicated area for this kind of activity will help police who are stretched thin.”…