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Hawaii says "stay away" to the Wienermobile
Apple pie, Baseball and the Wienermobile - seriously, there is not much more American than the iconic Oscar Mayer hotdog on wheels. People everywhere love seeing the Wienermobile, and contests are held yearly so people can get a chance to drive it themselves.
Unless of course you live in Hawaii. An archaic 1927 law bans all billboards on the Hawaiian islands, and a local organization claims the Wienermobile should be part of that ban. The group, Outdoor Circle, is pushing to keep the hotdog off the island forever.
The Wienermobile visited Hawaii for 3 weeks in July, and as far as Outdoor Circle is concerned, that is going to be its last visit.
According to the people behind the organization, "6 to 12 O'ahu residents complained". A 2006 law banning all vehicles with the sole purpose of advertising was also cited in the complaint.
The Honolulu mayor welcomed the Wienermobile to his city, and it was honored with an official "Oscar Mayer Wiener Day". The mayor is now looking into possible violations, but pointed out that no official complaints were received by them.
Sometimes you just wonder whether people are having such a hard time finding better things to do. Complaining about the Wienermobile violating a 1920's law just seems like a huge waste of time.
Filed under: North America, United States, News
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 8)
J. Roberts Jul 24th 2009 2:28PM
I support the people of Hawaii in banning the Wiener-Mobile. The right way to draw the line is to Draw.The. Line. the comments I see so far basically say that it's no big deal. My case is that drawing the line is in fact a really big deal and deserves in this case to be honored.
ckoeho Jul 24th 2009 4:59PM
How many people live in Hawaii? 6 to 12 complaints. wow. Another case of the tail waging the dog. Majority means nothing. Minorities run every thing.
Terry Jul 24th 2009 2:33PM
Does this mean that Chevrolet, Ford, Nissan, Toyota, Chrysler, and etc. must stop putting their logos and names on their vehicles, or they will be banned from the islands as well?
Hawaii can KMA Jul 24th 2009 2:45PM
Yet more stupidty from Hawaii. Just like the time they were the majority sitting on BRAC they wanted to have ALL submarine overhauls and modifications done there. No drydocks setup to handle nuke subs would have cost 12 billion to build them. No readily accessible steel stocks of the ally used to build subs. 6000 miles away from all the faqcilites that make parts for them oh yeah would have cost trillions by the time the were done where were the savings? Real smart folks them Hawaiians. Thank goodness congress realized what they were up to and stomped that plan.
So it's no surprise they have issues with an icon of american culture. I now know for sure I'll skip Hawaii next year and go to Alaska instead.
Anuhea Jul 24th 2009 4:37PM
As a native Hawaiian, I say to you, "Hawaii can KMA" please skip the islands next year and visit Alaska instead. I'm sure Hawai`i will get along fine with one less ignorant visitor. PS: KMO!
MichaelsMom Jul 24th 2009 5:24PM
Stupidity?
Hey KMA, yes, we were stupid. We were stupid when we welcomed the white man to our islands and were repaid for our kindness with disease that wiped out 1/3 of the Hawaiian population and we were stupid when we watched the greedy white man help themselves to our `aina (land) and we were stupid when the Americans imprisoned our Queen and stole our sovereign nation at gunpoint! Yes, we were stupid. But that was then. This is now.
LATom Jul 24th 2009 6:09PM
So you're blowing off Hawaii because of some beef going on with the Wienermobile? Yeah, good reason KMA.
G C P Jul 24th 2009 2:39PM
I am so glad that I live on the main land. My daughters got such a kick out of seeing the Weinermobile pass by one day. We'll keep the logos here, and our friendlier attitudes towards advertising.
jmw1431 Jul 24th 2009 4:54PM
And our money.
Suzanne Jul 24th 2009 4:48PM
With all that is going on in the world today - war, genocide, serious recession, and out of control health care costs, people spend their valuable time on wiener mobile complaints. It boggles the mind!
Cathy Jul 24th 2009 2:43PM
Please remember that many of the outspoken people ex. government, organizations etc. are not speaking for ALL people of the subject. Many people who complain (not all) are people who came to live here in Hawaii from somewhere else. Especially for the Super Ferry most were people who like to claim being local but from the mainland do most the complaining making Hawaii what they want. Come meet us and our families here and get to know us. We are not the ones complaining we love the weinermobile! All it takes is one voice to mess people up and the way people look at you thats why it's hard to get other subjects to cease for the same reasons.
Dan Jul 24th 2009 3:20PM
I'm orginally from Maine and we had the same problem there. Anyone not from Maine is usually called a flatlander. Well these flatlanders would move to Maine from where ever. They put up no trespassing signs all over the place, in a state that is about 90% forests. They tried telling people born and raised there that they couldn't do this or that. One even tried to prevent me from fishing a stream that crossed his property, while I was in a canoe. The joke was on him. He called fish and game. The warden that responded laughed at him as did I. First off, all the waters, game and fish belong to the state and can not be regulated by anyone except the state. Second, I was a state trooper and already knew that. People need to lighten up and not take life so seriously. But unfortunately there always has to be some uptight butt hole that has to ruin things for everyone.
Joe Jul 24th 2009 2:44PM
Must be why they call the Island Wahoo, or is that A Wahoo?. Seems, by the numbers shown, to be full of them. I agree with no billboards. Years ago I drove to Niagra Falls on the Canadian side and billboards were banned. It really was a terrific trip. But banning an icon, regardless of it's corporate affiliation, you'd also have to ban any advertising on any vehicle, including the state motto on liscense plates. A law has to be fair and equitable to all. You'd have to ban things like the Shriners Motor Cycles, because they do advertise the Shriners, just to name one, but alas, you'd also have to ban any float in a parade, as they are built by corporations and somewhere on them, is the corporate name or logo. I don't even want to hear about Pineapples shown on anything.
Kellie Jul 24th 2009 2:50PM
I have an OLD weiner mobile on wheels bank. Wonder how much it's worth today...??
kelliecolemann@aol.com
J.R. Jul 24th 2009 2:51PM
OK I am no fan of billboards especially political ones. The OM wiener-mobile is not offensive nor is it going to stay around forever like political signs and billboards for beer! It temporary and kids love to see it. That it made it to Hawaii is great it has to cost a bundle to ship the darn thing. Which reminds me my upcoming vacation which would have shipped me to Hawaii. It was going to cost me a bundle. So knowing that 6to12 is policing Hawaii and they might jail me for my HD tee shirt sooooooo.. Thanks for the heads up and I am going to Las Vages instead. JR
pat Jul 24th 2009 2:52PM
Advertising is done tomake money for a company or person. In this case, it is at the expense of the natural beauty of Hawaii. It should not be allowed if there is a law inplace to forbid it. The law is the law. If people complain about a violation, it is what they should be doing. Only a scofflaw would object to that.
Nick Jul 24th 2009 2:50PM
SERIOUSLY, who the hell complains about the wienermobile?! are people that bored that they have to think about new shit to complain about? get a life. i cant remember from when i was out there but im pretty sure that cabs advertise all the time. should they be next to be banned?
MIKE Jul 24th 2009 2:52PM
BOOK EM DANNO
brmvol Jul 24th 2009 2:51PM
Hmmmmm. Hawaii won't release Obama's birth certificate (and no, what the Obama campaign released wasn't an official birth certificate), something that affects the entire nation, but rather they focus on such important state business as not allowing the Weinermobile? That's really pretty sad, if you think about it.
scott Jul 24th 2009 2:53PM
I say put a turret/gun cannon on the weinermobile and let it fight for itself. WAR Weinermobile!!!!!