One of the excuses for putting up gates on "private" beach access paths is that locals and visitors will vandalize property if they are allowed on those streets... and unfortunately, those homeowners have a case when idiots -- mostly kids -- tag walls and fences with ugly graffiti. It ruins things for responsible neighbors who are respectful of others.
However, I'm sure there are people out there who know the identity of these taggers. I mean, that's the whole point of "tagging," isn't it? These morons have an infantile need to put their self-chosen name or crude logo on signs, walls, fences, whatever. Then they photograph their tags and crappy spray-painted messes, and post them on different photo sharing sites or YouTube. I'm not going to call what they do "art," because there is no real skill or evidence of talent evident in that kind of tagging.
I'm also willing to put my money where my mouth is. On the public beach access next to Kailuana Place in Kailua, taggers who go by "Slush" and "ET" left their mark on the neighbors' fences and walls. It appears Slush and ET could be young girls, judging from their writing "style" if you can call it that. If you live in Kailua and have kids, ask them if they know who is Slush or ET. Send me whatever info you have by email
and if it leads to an arrest, I will send you a check from Beach Access Hawaii for $200. It's not much, but if we can stop these idiots from defacing more property, it will be a start.
Sorry for the long absence between posts. This has been another do-nothing State Legislative session as far as public beach access... or pretty much anything else for that matter. Under Hawaii's bicameral system, even bills that have popular support will get all the way to the end, only to be tabled because of lack of funding or lack of political will to change the status quo. About the only way you can change anything is by going to court and filing a lawsuit against the State or county. And so it goes...
