The Day the Hawaiian Steel Guitar Became A Crime To Play On Waikīkī Beach

October 26, 2023 • Daniel Tremblay • News

Ed. Note: Daniel has been demonstrating the Hawaiian steel guitar on Waikīkī beach for many years. However, he received a citation from the Honolulu Police Department for creating "prohibited noise" because he was using amplified sound for his steel guitar. Daniel chose to take his case to the court system and was convinced he would be vindicated. Here is his account of that proceeding.

As most of you that have read my blogs in the past know I have been playing the Hawaiian Lap Steel Guitar in Waikiki at Queens Beach for more than 7 years, well no more. Last May 12^th at 1:23 PM two Honolulu Police Department officers gave me a criminal citation for playing "Aloha ‘Oe," and stated I would have to appear at the 7D court for arraignment and pay a $100 fine because I was creating "prohibited noise." They took pictures of me to be presented to the prosecution. I told them they were making a big mistake and couldn't they just give me a warning. Their answer was I was breaking the law and they were doing their duty. I tried to explain that this instrument was invented in Hawai‘i and is part of the Aloha Spirit and the Hawaiian culture. They didn't care, didn't know anything about it all and were not interested.

Then the saga began. Getting back to the "Alice's Restaurant" song, when I got to the Honolulu District Court I was told to sit on the 7D bench and wait for my case to be called. I was there with robbers, drug dealers, trespassers, car stealers, mother rapers and well you know.

"They took seven eight-by-ten color glossy photographs…One was used as evidence against us…and he stopped me right there and said, 'Kid did you ever go to court?'…Kid I want you to sit down on the bench that says Group W." Where they put you if you may not be moral enough to join the Army after committing your special crime, there all kinds of mean nasty ugly looking people on the bench there. Mother rapers. Father stabbers. Father rapers sitting right there on the bench next to me! They was mean and nasty and ugly and horrible crime-type guys sitting on the bench next to me…they were talkin about crime, mother stabbing, Father rapping and all kinds of groovy things…

Well I listened to all the guys talkin about their crimes and how many times they have been to court, I really felt out of my element, didn't want to be there. When my case was called they stated I would have to go to a pre-trial and state my case. I sent the following letter to the judge:

Neither the Judge nor the Prosecution was swayed and at pre-trial I was told to appear on October 12 at 1:30 for trial. I had many members of the Hawaiian community that were very upset to hear the Hawaiian Steel Guitar is "prohibited noise" especially playing Aloha ‘Oe on the beach of Waikīkī. Many wanted to be witnesses to give testimony and support me. When I learned that I would not be allowed the time it would take to present all the witnesses I decided to just defend myself with help from the experience of Geri Valdriz¹. He wrote me a very comprehensive closing argument:

So when the court date came and I appeared, the Prosecutor approached me and said he read my letter to the court and didn't like prosecuting these cases and asked if I would accept a plea deal to a civil misdemeanor and $25 fine. I said no sir, there are at least 300 people that know about this case and would be very upset if I pleaded out, I want my day in court.

The police officers were there as witnesses against me. They were questioned by the prosecutor and I learned they were both new cops just out of the academy and both did not know what a Hawaiian Steel Guitar was and anything about Hawaiian Mele. The Prosecution did bring out the 8X10 color photo of me and my steel guitar sitting at the beach, and asked the officers if that was the guy they saw playing "prohibited noise" at the park. They both said that it was. These were both inexperienced cops looking to make a mark for themselves and didn't know when to turn a blind eye. This seemed to be their first time testifying in court and they were very nervous. Both had been born and raised here. I asked them on cross examination whether they knew anything about the Hawaiian culture and the Aloha Spirit, many objections were brought up by the prosecution but the Judge gave me a great deal of latitude.

When I was about to testify I stated I objected to Aloha ‘Oe written by Queen Liliuokalani being called prohibited noise, I'm sure if she were her today she would be very upset, especially being played by the Hawaiian Steel guitar, an Hawaiian invention.

The Judge stopped me from going any further, she stated she must dismiss this case since the Prosecutor left out an element of the crime in the pleading so she must dismiss. I said I object your Honor, I haven't been able to make my case and have a very important closing argument that I believe is important to get into the record. She stated she had dismissed this case so we are done here. The Judge said that while she sympathized, the law was the law until amended through proper channels so it remains a crime to play a Hawaiian Lap Steel Guitar which requires amplification on any public property, parks, beaches etc. in Waikīkī. So sad.

¹ Geronimo "Geri" Valdirz is a professional steel guitarist, a retired judge of the Maui Second Circuit Family Court of Hawai‘i and a member of HIMELE's board of directors.