Nude? No. Topless? Go for it!

[pzarquon]

The great June Watanabe of the Star Bulletin's storied "Kokua Line" column blows one of the worst kept secrets of island beachgoers: No law bans women from going topless.

There is no state or city law prohibiting women from baring their breasts in public, acknowledged Capt. Carlton Nishimura, of the Honolulu Police Department. He double-checked with the city Prosecutor's Office to make sure.

It boils down to the definition of genitals (and the perfectly reasonable parallel in the acceptability of public breast feeding). But, in fact, depending on how you define what "conduct is likely to cause affront," even being completely in the buff could squeak under the legal wire. It's not what you do, but how you do it, as it were.

[adrian]

Re: Nude? No. Topless? Go for it!

So many possibilities...

[pzarquon]

Re: Nude? No. Topless? Go for it!

While I don't think Waikiki Beach will make any "Top Ten Topless Beaches" lists, it sure would be nice for our shores to be at least as comfortable and open as most European beaches. With visitor traffic from Europe creeping up, in fact, they might provide the breakthrough needed...

Sadly, "early adopters" like the woman mentioned in June's column are subject to confused and amused gawkers and photographers. It'll be a while, if ever, before toplessness becomes so mundane it doesn't cause a stir.

Naturists should push something like "Second Saturday" and promote it in a way that women won't feel entirely alone.

BTW, the Forbes article linked above mentions that "unwritten rules of etiquette also exist at topless beaches, such as putting your top back on to stroll to the bar." I imagine here that would mean getting dressed before strolling into McDonald's on Kalakaua.

The proximity of the beach to a major street certainly raises the risks of fender benders!

[mel]

Re: Nude? No. Topless? Go for it!

Well now that this law or lack of it has come out in the open, how long do you think before one of our legislators or city councilpersons decides to draft a new law or amend the current law to ban topless bathing? Of course Ms. Watanabe's article stated that there may be some constitutional issues involved should such a ban be considered.

[craigwatanabe]

Re: Nude? No. Topless? Go for it!

I've always wondered about this issue. When I was in the Air Force living in the dorms, I put up a poster (framed) depicting this wahine surfing topless on a good sized wave. My First Sarge told me to take it down because the UCMJ(Uniformed Code of Military Justice) prohibted displaying of pornographic material in your room.

I looked up the definition of "Pornographic" and found it defines male or female genitalia. Genitalia is defined as those parts of the body used for sexual reproduction. Breasts are not considered genitalia. I won and the poster stayed up.

There may be no law on exposing one's breasts however there are laws on public indecency. But then again like that Corona's commercial of that wooly mammoth in a bikini bottom trying to look macho ain't my idea of a decent view either.

So that begs the question? What is defined as decent vs indecent? Some female breasts are decent enough to be displayed without being gross, then there are female breasts that should be strapped in and banned from the light of day forever! Since I'm a hetrosexual male, I cannot make a likewise comparison to the male genitalia. I don't ever want to see one other than mine or my baby's when I'm changing his diaper.

But like you said, Hawaii has a lot of gawkers...we call them rubber-neckers and they're out there on our freeways every morning and afternoon looking at car wrecks. But that's another thread.

I have no problem with exposed breasts (duh) but for some reason breasts clad in sexually inticing garments have more SHWING value than no garment at all. Think of it. Short skirts are more appealing to the male eye than shorts of the same hem line.

[mel]

Re: Nude? No. Topless? Go for it!

Another thing to take into consideration, is prolonged exposure to the sun. Ultraviolet rays have been linked to skin cancer.

[Glen Miyashiro]

Re: Nude? No. Topless? Go for it!

So that begs the question? What is defined as decent vs indecent? Some female breasts are decent enough to be displayed without being gross, then there are female breasts that should be strapped in and banned from the light of day forever! Since I'm a hetrosexual male, I cannot make a likewise comparison to the male genitalia. I don't ever want to see one other than mine or my baby's when I'm changing his diaper.

If it depends on what I personally think is gross, then there are a lot of pot-bellied men who should be fined for going shirtless. And don't get me started on all those hairy-backed guys in Speedos. [shudder]

[craigwatanabe]

Re: Nude? No. Topless? Go for it!

Hey!!!! That's a sexually discriminating remark there! It should be hairy-backed person! And that includes women!

Yeah I agree on what you think of gross. All men (and women) with hairy backs except me of course.

Notice when you use the Bowflex you go from flabby and hairy chest to muscular and suddenly no chest hair? Amazing I wonder if your back hair falls off too.

And the women go from poor posture to "make big body" and the ability to suck their belly in better.

[kamlost]

Re: Nude? No. Topless? Go for it!

I've always thought that even if there are no laws against it.. It's just not right to have your breasts hanging for the world to gawk at.

[craigwatanabe]

Re: Nude? No. Topless? Go for it!

I've always thought that even if there are no laws against it.. It's just not right to have your breasts hanging for the world to gawk at.

Yeah but Kamlost, but what if they don't hang!

[Hellbent]

Re: Nude? No. Topless? Go for it!

its wrong to show boobies but ok to show beheadings.

[Miulang]

Re: Nude? No. Topless? Go for it!

its wrong to show boobies but ok to show beheadings.

You can blame ol (dead) Margaret Meade and the "National Geographic Society" for this brouhaha. She was the one who first studied the Trobriand Island natives and described the "bare breasted women", which ,of course, horrified (and titillated) the citizenry of this country. The National Geographic started including pictures of bare breasted women on its pages. Why do you think so many people still have old copies of National Geographic still lying around?

In Brazil, if you go walking down to the playas like Ipanema, you will find men and women with nothing covering their chests and wearing only what are known as tangas --"dental floss". Of course, they all do have very tanned and buff bodies.

Here's a concept for you: In a nudist camp, no one is staring at anybody in their birthday suit. The only people who get stared at are the ones with clothes on!

Miulang

[Hellbent]

Re: Nude? No. Topless? Go for it!

i think its in toronto that a group of women lobbied to be able to go topless, since men can, women should be able to also.
the judges, not being dumb, said ok, but where do we put the $1's?
j/k about the $1's part, but america is breast affixated.

[pzarquon]

Re: Nude? No. Topless? Go for it!

I've always thought that even if there are no laws against it.. It's just not right to have your breasts hanging for the world to gawk at.

Good lord. Hellbent makes a good point. Americans are far too uptight about sex and sexuality, and yet similarly and inexplicably gaga for gore and violence. Europe and much of Asia has it the right way around... it is violence that is heavily moderated and forbidden in mass media, but nudity and sex flows much more freely. Softcore porn in prime time? No problem. Showing a discharging gun and a victim in the same frame? Edit city.

After all, sex and sexuality are a natural and healthy part of human existence. M-16s and gratuitious explosions aren't. If I had to let my children be exposed to either sex or violence, at least the former can prompt frank discussion and learning. It's something we can expect (and dread) that they'll have to deal with - hopefully maturely and responsibly - someday. The latter doesn't go much further than, "That's neat/gross!"

[kukui_nut]

Re: Nude? No. Topless? Go for it!

pzarquon: so when are you running for governor?