Some of the founders of The Outdoor Circle who worked tirelessly to enact our original anti-billboard laws in Hawai‘i in the 1920s.
Thanks to you, their over-100-year-legacy has been upheld. GREAT NEWS!
We are happy to report that due to overwhelming public opposition, SB3197 SD1, the bill that would have allowed billboards and logos at the proposed Aloha Stadium Development District and Hawai‘i Convention Center, has been deferred and is now considered a "dead" bill. The Outdoor Circle is very grateful to each of you who joined and supported us by testifying, calling lawmakers, writing letters to the editor that were published in the paper, and for making your voices heard loud and clear. Keeping our state free of visual blight is a ceaseless battle but one we are deeply committed to as a cornerstone of our legacy. We could not have defeated this bill without all of your help and dedication. Please share with your friends and family the good news and encourage them to also join our wonderful organization and its branches who make a wonderful difference in our local communities with their many projects of beautification, strong advocacy, and much more. Everyone in Hawai‘i is a beneficiary of our efforts because we continue to keep Hawai‘i clean, green, beautiful and billboard-free, but to our members and supporters who help us uphold our lofty ideals and ongoing mission of The Outdoor Circle, we appreciate and applaud you. We thank you for your continuing trust and support! Winston Welch Executive Director We appreciate this article by Edward T. McMahon, an urban planning expert and former President of Scenic America,
that presents a clear case against billboards and the visual clutter they create. Originally published by Planning Commissioners Journal in 1998, updated and republished in 2011. Working together to keep Hawai‘i Clean, Green and Beautiful! 
These billboards littered Oahu until the founders of The Outdoor Circle
got legislation passed that banned the billboard in the 1920s. That hard fought legislation is now being threatened. POSTED 2/23/24
HELP SAVE HAWAI‘I'S ANTI-BILLBOARD LAWS! Senate Bill 3197 SD1 has advanced to the Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee. This bill seeks to allow naming and logo rights, no longer just at the proposed Aloha Stadium site, but also at the Hawai‘i Convention Center! Although these venues are on Oahu, if this bill passes it could lead to more legislation that extends to all the islands so it is important for everyone across the state to make their voices heard. We urgently need you to testify (or testify again if you testified to the initial bill), telling lawmakers you oppose this newer version of the bill, SB 3197 SD1. Please call the Committee Members' offices and send separate emails to them as well -- using all channels of communication will ensure your opposition is heard. A list of Committee Members, with their email and phone numbers can be found below. The more noise we make collectively, the better chance we have of making sure this bill does not advance any further. Finally, if you are able, please submit written testimony 24 hours in advance of the hearing. The deadline is Monday, February 26th at 10:00 am. Even though all prior testimony was overwhelmingly against this bill moving forward, it still advanced to the Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee, and now has a new hearing. Suffice it to say, it is hard to say what the senators will pay attention to, so please make your messages clear and heartfelt. Senate Bill 3197 SD1 would irrevocably damage our existing century-old anti-billboard laws, through naming rights and logos, opening up the door for further weakening of our laws with this precedent set. Our state has benefited from these laws which The Outdoor Circle advanced since 1912. These laws have served to keep Hawai‘i free from visual pollution, protected our scenic views and preserved our beautiful landscape from the ugly blight of billboards and their offsite advertising. This bill would allow corporate branding (ads by any other name) with names and logos on public/quasi-public buildings, turning all of collective visual field into forced consumers of those brands, opening the door for further commodification of our environment. BECAUSE OUR CENTURY OF WORK IS AT RISK,
PLEASE TAKE THESE THREE ACTION STEPS BELOW AND LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD! TEP 1: PROVIDE NEW TESTIMONY FOR THE SD1 version: Click on the link above to provide testimony for the upcoming hearing (sample language and talking points provided below). Please personalize in any way you like that you think gets this message across. Please do this TODAY to ensure your voice is heard.
Written testimony must be submitted 24 hours in advance of the hearing. The deadline for testimony is Monday, February 26, 2024 at 10:00 am. SAMPLE TESTIMONY RE: PLEASE OPPOSE SB 3197 SD1 Dear Senators, I stand with the overwhelming majority of residents who do not wish to be forced to view billboards, corporate logos emblazoned on public/quasi-private buildings, offsite ads in the form of naming rights. Naming rights is advertising when they are attached to public or quasi-public property: i.e. "Safeco Field" or "Allianz Arena," "AT&T Stadium." The public has, time and time again, firmly rejected the sale of our public views, our unique scenic environment and our right to exist without being subject to corporate identities intruding in our public spaces under naming rights or sponsorships. Prior personal testimony on this bill was unanimous in its opposition, joined in opposition by the StarAdvertiser editorial board, letters to the editor, and backed by a legacy of a century of protection through our groundbreaking laws establishing a tradition and now heritage of protection universally respected and admired. Hawai‘i's strong anti-billboard laws vigilantly guard our treasured view planes and scenic beauty. We have protected our state from the visual pollution of billboards, logos, offsite ads and commodification of public spaces for over a century and we must never weaken our laws on this. Indeed it is part of what makes Hawai‘i such a beautiful place to live and visit. Our "brand" for 100 years has been a state with "no brands" marring our view planes, vistas and cityscapes. Indeed, the US 9th Circuit Court has strongly affirmed in a recent ruling that our very economic well-being is integral to our state and its residents in upholding our strict signage and advertising laws, making us unique and proudly so. We should not sell naming rights to our public assets and facilities owned or controlled by the people of Hawai‘i. We do not need Aloha Stadium to have the name of a large corporation and its logo screaming out on the front of the stadium — this is simply an offsite ad and has been prohibited by law for a century. If any name is needed for a facility, it should be one that reflects Hawai‘i's unique environment, not a corporation. This might be in the form of something like Honu Stadium if the shape is built with a covering as one resembling a turtle, or Volcano Stadium if built to imagine a volcano, or the Kolea Convention Center, representing the graceful birds of Hawai‘i. It is shortsighted to contemplate degrading and cheapening Hawai‘i's visual environment, forcing residents and visitors alike to be captive audiences to unnecessary corporate branding under the guise of "sponsorships," dangerously distracting motorists and marring our vistas, while weakening existing laws protecting Hawai‘i and its residents and visitors alike, setting dangerous precedents for the future. We thank you as we work together to keep Hawai‘i Clean, Green and Beautiful! Please ensure that SB 3197 SB1 does not advance and that other bills like this are never considered in the future. Thank you for doing what is right for Hawai‘i by opposing this bill. ______________________________ STEP 2: Please directly contact the Senators via telephone and email who sit on the Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee hearing this bill. • Let them know politely, but clearly, that you oppose any effort to weaken Hawai‘i's laws for billboards and signage as is proposed in SB 3197 SD1 or in any form at the proposed Aloha Stadium Development District and the Hawaii Convention Center. • Let them know you care deeply about protecting Hawai‘i’s scenic view planes and that any weakening of our laws, as proposed in SB3197 SD1, strikes at the heart of keeping out ugly and unnecessary visual intrusions and forced consumption of unwanted public advertising. Hawaii's consumers want to be protected from these things, not forced to consume them. We have gotten along without them for 100 years and happily so! • Let them know the people of Hawai‘i have overwhelmingly testified against this bill -- not one individual testified in favor of it in the last committee. • Let them know that the newspaper and media have come down squarely against this bill or any others like it for good reason. • Let them know that dozens of studies carried out by researchers around the world, as shown in a recent compilation report by the California Department of Transportation Legal Department, have indicated that such billboards and ads are designed to distract attention, causing increased dangers on our roadways. • Let them know such a bill, if advanced, would set dangerous precedent for others to follow and that we must be vigilant against any such weakening of our laws which are the envy of the world. • Let them know the proposed Stadium Authority and Convention Center is already allowed to install billboards and ads inside of the facilities, as permitted by law, so this law is unnecessary. The only reason for its passage would be to expand the scope at a later time, but the effect would do irreparable harm to these existing laws protecting our state. • Let them know we should not sell naming rights to our public assets which cheapen and degrade the public facilities owned or controlled by the people of Hawai‘i. We do not need Aloha Stadium to have the name of a large corporation and its logo screaming out on the front of the stadium — this is simply an offsite ad and has been prohibited by law for 100 years. If any name is needed for a facility, it should be one that reflects Hawai‘i, not a corporation. This might be in the form of something like Honu Stadium if the shape is one resembling a turtle, or the Kolea Convention Center, representing the graceful birds of Hawai‘i. • Let them know that there are abundant opportunities for corporate branding elsewhere in the barrage of ads and logos and "sponsorships" we see, hear and are bombarded by on a daily basis. Hawai‘i’s “brand” is exactly “no brands.” This is our heritage and our way of life, and it is cherished by residents and visitors like. It is also integral to our economy and the well-being of the people of Hawai‘i, as elaborated upon in a recent ruling by the US 9th Circuit Court on similar matters, which strongly upheld our laws against visual intrusions. • Let them know that Hawai‘i's unique beauty and scenic environment is not for sale. Let them know that the beauty of Hawai‘i and its public assets, as well as its residents must be protected from this sort of unnecessary and unwanted intrusion of their public visual and mental spaces. Let them know that it is entirely unacceptable to make a buck while despoiling Hawai‘i's unique beauty, and that our signage laws are a source of pride and envy across the world. Here are the emails and phone numbers for the Senators on the Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee. Please share your personal thoughts with them before the hearing for this bill takes place next week. Senator Jarrett Keohokahole, Chair of CPN [email protected] Phone: 808-587-7215 Senator Carol Fukunaga Phone: 808-586-6461 [email protected] Senator McKelvey Phone: 808-586-6070 [email protected] Senator Herbert M. "Tim" Richards III Phone: 808-586-6760 [email protected] Senator Brendon Awa Phone: 808-586-7330 [email protected] You can also send a general email to all senators and representatives on this issue. It is not a substitute for testimony and calls/emails to the senators above, but may be useful to let all of our elected representatives know to not weaken our strong anti-billboard laws, and in preparation in case this bill advances further: General email for ALL senators: [email protected] and ALL Representative: [email protected] STEP 3: Lastly, please share this message with your family and friends across the state, and encourage them to testify as well.
THANK YOU for helping to guard Hawai‘i's scenic beauty and the 112 year legacy we all share in protecting Hawai‘i's beauty and its views, keeping our state clean, green and beautiful! Winston Welch Executive Director We appreciate this article by Edward T. McMahon, an urban planning expert and former President of Scenic America,
that presents a clear case against billboards and the visual clutter they create. Originally published by Planning Commissioners Journal in 1998, updated and republished in 2011. Working together to keep Hawai‘i Clean, Green and Beautiful! POSTED 2/19/24
HELP SAVE HAWAI‘I'S ANTI-BILLBOARD LAWS! We urgently need your help! Senate Bill 3197 SD1 is moving through the Hawai‘i Senate to eviscerate Hawai‘i's century old anti-billboard laws. Our state has benefited from these laws which The Outdoor Circle advanced since 1912. These laws have served to keep Hawai‘i free from visual pollution, protected our scenic views and preserved our beautiful landscape from the ugly blight of billboards and their advertising. UPDATE ON SB 3197 SD1 The bill passed out of its first Committee and was sent to the Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee (CPN) on . WE NEED YOUR HELP ~ PLEASE CONTINUE TO VOICE YOUR OPPOSITION! |
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WHAT YOU CAN DO NOW ~ CALL AND WRITE TO:
Senator Jarrett Keohokahole, Chair of CPN [email protected] 808-587-7215 • Ask him to not advance this bill in committee. It is the wrong bill for the people of Hawai‘i, and that its passage would undo 100 years of keeping Hawai‘i billboard-free, offsite advertising-free, and offsite logo-free in the public visual space. • Let him know you care deeply about protecting Hawai‘i’s scenic view planes and that any weakening of our laws, as proposed in SB3197 SD1, strikes at the heart of keeping out ugly and unnecessary visual intrusions and forced consumption of unwanted large-scale advertising. • Let him know the proposed Stadium Authority and Convention Center is already allowed to install billboards and ads inside of the facilities, as permitted by law, so this law is unnecessary. The only reason for its passage would be to expand the scope at a later time. • Let him know we should not sell naming rights to our public assets which cheapen and degrade the public facilities owned by the people of Hawai‘i. If any name is needed for a facility, it should be one that reflects Hawai‘i, not a corporation. This might be in the form of Honu Stadium if the shape is one resembling a turtle, or the Kolea Convention Center, representing the graceful birds of Hawai‘i. We do not need Aloha Stadium to have the name of a large corporation and its logo screaming out on the front of the stadium — this is simply an offsite ad and has been prohibited by law for 100 years. • Let him know the people of Hawai‘i have overwhelmingly testified against this bill -- not one individual testified in favor of it. • Let him know that the newspaper and media have come down squarely against this bill or any others like it for good reason. • Let him know that dozens of studies carried out by researchers around the world, as shown in a recent compilation report by the California Department of Transportation Legal Department, have indicated that such billboards and ads are designed to distract attention, causing increased dangers on our roadways. • Let him know such a bill, if advanced, would set dangerous precedent for others to follow and that we must be vigilant against any such weakening of our laws which are the envy of the world. Finally, let him know that the beauty of Hawai‘i and its public assets must be protected from this sort of unnecessary and unwanted intrusion and thank him for listening to consumers who want to be protected from an invasion of their visual and mental spaces. There are ample opportunities for corporate branding elsewhere in the barrage of ads and logos and sponsorship we see, hear and are bombarded by on a daily basis. Hawai‘i’s “brand” is “no brand,” and is integral to our economy and the well-being of the people of Hawai‘i, as elaborated upon in a recent ruling by the US 9th Circuit Court on similar matters. IF Chair Senator Jarrett Keohokahole decides to put this on the agenda, we will need NEW testimony submitted quickly so be on the lookout in the days ahead. We thank you as we work together to keep Hawai‘i Clean, Green and Beautiful! |
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POSTED 2/10/24
UPDATE ON SENATE SB 3197 HELP SAVE HAWAI‘I'S ANTI-BILLBOARD LAWS! We urgently need your help! Senate Bill 3197 is moving through the Hawai‘i Senate to eviscerate Hawai‘i's century old anti-billboard laws. Our state has benefited from these laws which The Outdoor Circle advanced since 1912. These laws have served to keep Hawai‘i free from visual pollution, protected our scenic views and preserved our beautiful landscape from the ugly blight of billboards and their advertising. Senate Bill 3197 was heard on Thursday, February 8, 2024. Concerns were great enough that the bill was deferred for decision until Tuesday, February 13, 2024 at 1:00 pm. BECAUSE OUR CENTURY OF WORK IS AT RISK, WE NEED YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT. PLEASE READ THE UPDATE BELOW AND WHAT YOU CAN DO NOW TO STOP THIS BILL FROM PASSAGE. |
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UPDATE ON SENATE BILL 3197
An update on the status of Bill 3197 to allow for billboards again in Hawai‘i, specifically at the proposed Aloha Stadium Development This bill was heard on Thursday and at the Energy, Economic Development and Tourism Committee with Committee Chair Lynn DeCoite, Vice Chair Glenn Wakai and committee members Senator Donna Mercado Kim, Senator Carol Fukunaga and Senator Kurt Fevella. Four testifiers submitted written testimony in favor of the bill: HCDA, the Stadium Authority, the Hawaii Masons’ and Plasterers’ Union Hawaii Industry Stabilization Committee, and the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii. The first two, plus the HTA testified in favor of the bill in-person and were repeatedly called back for more information and clarifications. 88 individual testifiers submitted written testimony opposed to this bill. The Outdoor Circle testified live at the hearing and was given two minutes exactly before being cut off summarily, striking because we were the only voice representing so many others who testified against this bill. Senators Fukunaga, Kim and Fevella asked good questions, especially regarding distraction of traffic by signage, and were told differing things about types and placement of signage, since the bill is written so broadly to allow signage at any location in the giant footprint of the entire area. Concerns were great enough that the bill was deferred for decision making until Tuesday, February 13, 2024 at 1:00 pm. WHAT YOU CAN DO NOW No further testimony is being taken at this time, but you can still help by directly calling and leaving a message with the following senators who sit on the EEN Committee, and if it were to pass out of Committee, to the CPN Committee— Commerce and Consumer Protection. We need to STOP this bill now in this EEN Committee but also be prepared if it were to pass out. Please call and email these senators before Tuesday, February 13, 2024 and let them know of your total opposition to any weakening of our billboard laws for any reason, but especially on grounds of: — proven traffic safety concerns which can result in harm or death from distracted drivers — issues with migratory birds becoming disoriented and dying from bright lights — known human health issues of those exposed to artificial billboard lights directly affecting residents — the destruction of our cherished laws which have protected Hawaii’s natural beauty keeping us from visual pollution for a century — the precedent such changes would set. Let them know that you care, that these laws really matter and that we are special in this state because of them. Let them know it is simply not pono to sell out Hawai‘i, its beauty and its people to ugly and cheap commercialization by weakening our laws which are the envy of the world. IF YOU HAVE TESTIFIED OR NOT, PLEASE EMAIL AND CALL THESE SENATORS’ OFFICES NOW and let them know you OPPOSE and want them to STOP SB 3197: EET Committee: Chair Senator Lynn DeCoite - [email protected] - 808-587-7225 Vice Chair Senator Glenn Wakai (bill sponsor) - [email protected] - 808-586-8585 Senator Carol Fukunaga (serves on both committees) - [email protected] - 808-586-6460 Donna Mercado Kim - [email protected] - 808-587-7200 Senator Kurt Fevella - [email protected] - 808-586-6360 CPN Committee: Chair Senator Jarrett Keohokahole - [email protected] - 808-587-7215 Vice Chair Carol Fukunaga - [email protected] - 808-586-6460 Senator Angus McKelvey - [email protected] - 808-586-6070 Senator Tim Richards - [email protected] - 808-586-6760 Senator Brenton Awa - [email protected] - 808-586-7330 IF YOU HAVE TIME, PLEASE ALSO CALL AND EMAIL THE SPONSORS OF THE BILL: Vice Chair Senator Glenn Wakai [email protected] 808-586-8585 Senator Stanley Chang [email protected] 808-586-8420 Senator Sharon Moriwaki [email protected] (808) 586-6740 Senator Michelle Kidani [email protected] 808-586-7100 Senator Lorraine Inouye [email protected] 808-586-7335 Senator Troy Hashimoto [email protected] 808-586-7344 Please check back for regular updates — hopefully this will end on Tuesday, but if not, we must be ready for quick action! We thank you as we work together to keep Hawai‘i Clean, Green and Beautiful! |
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POSTED 2/06/24
OUR INITIAL CALL TO ACTION HELP SAVE HAWAI‘I'S ANTI-BILLBOARD LAWS! We urgently need your help! Senate Bill 3197 is moving through the Hawai‘i Senate to eviscerate Hawai‘i's century old anti-billboard laws. Our state has benefited from these laws which The Outdoor Circle advanced since 1912. These laws have served to keep Hawai‘i free from visual pollution, protected our scenic views and preserved our beautiful landscape from the ugly blight of billboards and their advertising. BECAUSE OUR CENTURY OF WORK IS AT RISK, Please take three action steps TODAY to have your voice heard. Senate Bill 3197 being heard on Thursday, February 8, 2023 at 1:00 pm. FIRST: PROVIDE TESTIMONY TODAY - Click on the link to provide testimony for the upcoming hearing (sample language provided below). Please personalize in any way you like that you think gets this message across. Please do this TODAY to ensure your voice is heard. |
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We urgently need your help! Senate Bill 3197 is moving through the Hawai‘i Senate to eviscerate Hawai‘i's century old anti-billboard laws. Our state has benefited from these laws which The Outdoor Circle advanced since 1912. These laws have served to keep Hawai‘i free from visual pollution, protected our scenic views and preserved our beautiful landscape from the ugly blight of billboards and their advertising.
SAMPLE TESTIMONY We urgently need your help! Senate Bill 3197 is moving through the Hawai‘i Senate to eviscerate Hawai‘i's century old anti-billboard laws. Our state has benefited from these laws which The Outdoor Circle advanced since 1912. These laws have served to keep Hawai‘i free from visual pollution, protected our scenic views and preserved our beautiful landscape from the ugly blight of billboards and their advertising. RE: STOP SB 3197 -- never allow Billboards and Advertising at the Stadium Development District Dear Senators, Hawai‘i's strong anti-billboard laws vigilantly guard our treasured view planes and scenic beauty. We have protected our state from the visual pollution of billboards for over a century and we must never weaken our law on this. Indeed, it is part of what makes Hawai‘i such a beautiful place to live and visit. It is unacceptable to degrade and cheapen Hawai‘i's visual environment, forcing residents and visitors alike to be captive audiences to ugly billboards, distracting motorists and marring our vistas. We've known this since 1912, when The Outdoor Circle formed to fight this visual blight and replace it with beauty. Please do all you can to ensure that bills like this are never considered, and please do all you can to stop SB 3197 and oppose it vehemently. Thank you for doing what is right for Hawai‘i. SECOND: Please directly contact the Senators who sit on the Energy, Economic Development and Tourism Committe hearing this bill. Let them know politely, but clearly, that you oppose any effort to weaken Hawai‘i's laws for billboards and signage as is proposed in SB 3197 or in any form. Specifically mention the proposed Stadium Development District, which this bill seeks exemption from state advertising laws and would lead to precedent elsewhere statewide. Let them know that Hawai‘i's unique beauty and scenic environment is not for sale. Let them know that it is entirely unacceptable to make a buck with visual pollution while despoiling Hawai‘i's unique beauty and that our signage laws are a source of pride and envy across the world. Let them know you stand with The Outdoor Circle opposing any weakening of these laws, ever. Here are emails and phone numbers to write and call today for Senators on the Energy, Economic Development and Tourism Committee hearing this bill this week with your personal thoughts. Sen Lynn DeCoite, Chair - Phone: 808-587-7225 - [email protected] Sen Glenn Wakai - Phone: 808-586-8585 - [email protected] Sen Carol Fukunaga - Phone: 808-586-6461 - [email protected] Sen Donna Mercado Kim - Phone: 808-587-7200 - [email protected] Sen Kurt Fevella - Phone: 808-586-6360 - [email protected] You can also send a general email to all senators and representatives on this issue. It is not a substitute for testimony and calls/emails to the senators above, but may be useful to let all of our elected representatives know to not weaken our strong anti-billboard laws: General email for ALL senators: [email protected] and ALL representatives: [email protected] THIRD: FINALLY, if you have time, please attend the hearing in-person or remotely to TESTIFY LIVE on Thursday, February 8th at 1:00 pm either in person at the Hawaii State Chapel in Conference Room 229 or by video. Please register at least 24 hours in advance here: Register to Testify Please also share this email with your friends and family and encourage them to testify as well. THANK YOU for helping to guard Hawai‘i's scenic beauty and upload the 112-year legacy we all share in protecting Hawai‘i's beauty and its views, keeping our state clean, green and beautiful. Winston Welch Executive Director 808-593-0300 [email protected] |