Sign, Sign, Everywhere A Sign
Tens days after the primary election, there are still plenty of campaign signs around town for Mufi Hannemann and other defeated candidates.
You might be surprised to know that there is no state or county law requiring that the signs be taken down.
The Honolulu City Council, however, is considering placing limitations on political signage.
Hawaii allows no billboards or aerial advertising (sorry, Goodyear Blimp) but political campaign signs are another matter.
First Amendment protections permit political signs — except on public property or if they create a safety hazard — and every two years candidates for office and their supporters plaster neighborhood fences and yards.
There are also no restrictions on size. Banners by candidates like state Rep. Scott Nishimoto and lieutenant governor candidate Lynn Finnegan, for example, are nearly as large as Niihau.
Alarmed about the proliferation of big signs, the Honolulu City Council is moving through , which would place limitations on political signs in residential neighborhoods. The resolution calls for amending existing city ordinance relating to signs.
Specifically, the resolution states:
• No political sign posted on residential property shall be larger than 4 feet by 2 feet or a total of 8 square feet in area.
• No political sign shall be posted on residential property more than 120 calendar days before any election to which the sign relates nor more than 30 calendar days after the election.
• A candidate for office or the candidate’s committee shall be subject to a criminal fine of not less than $25 nor more than $500 for any violation of this section.
Bob Loy, director of environmental programs for — which bills itself as the “leading organization for protecting the beauty of Hawaii” — says the council’s resolution is good “in concept, but details need to be discussed and perhaps refined to make more sense. Three by 5 is too large — we want 2 by 4, but that has never been able to pass at the Legislature. Most signs are under 2 by 4, but most banners are over 3 by 5, so it is going to be more palatable to politicians to be able to use what they got.”
The Outdoor Circle has traditionally sent guidelines to candidates suggesting they not post signs 60 days before elections and 10 days after. Not this year.
“There were so many people running and so many signs that by the time we could get a list of candidates to deal with, it was too late,” said Loy. “The barn door had been closed after the horses had already bolted.”
Loy added: “Too many candidates are hiding behind the First Amendment and not being sensitive to the natural beauty of Hawaii.”
It’s understandable that he might feel that way. But there’s an inevitable tension between the guarantee of freedom of political speech and our desire to respect the aina, all reflected by a candidate’s passion — sometimes shameless — to self-promote.
The sign in the picture with this story has been taken down, but it’s an example of the creative lengths will go to promote themselves.
