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Posted: Wednesday, December 21st, 2005 7:34 PM HST

Council votes to ban Waikiki street performers

By Associated Press

HONOLULU (AP) _ The Honolulu City Council has passed a bill that would ban street performers in the center of Waikiki for three hours each night. The bill passed in a seven-to-two vote yesterday and will now be sent to Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann. The measure would make it illegal for people to perform from seven p-m to ten p-m on Kalakaua Avenue between Lewers Street and Uluniu Avenue. But Hannemann says he wants to meet with the American Civil Liberties Union, which has threatened to sue the city if the bill is signed into law. The A-C-L-U argues the measure would violate First Amendment rights. Hannemann says he will try to reach an agreement with the group to prevent a lawsuit. Waikiki business owners and residents who asked council members to pass the measure complained that performers pose a risk to public health and safety by clogging sidewalks. The ban also received support from police officers and the Waikiki Neighborhood Board. (Copyright 2005 by the Associated Press. All rights reserved.)