Posted on: Sunday, April 22, 2001

Hawai'i Kai skate park debate rolls on

By Suzanne Roig
Advertiser East Honolulu Bureau

HAWAI'I KAI — Residents backed a proposal for an in-line skating rink and a skateboard park at Kamiloiki Community Park, but opposed specific locations suggested at a meeting Friday night.

The idea to build skating facilities at Kamiloiki came up as a way to get something that enthusiasts can use by the end of the year, rather than waiting until mid-2002 for facilities at Koko Head District Park.

At the meeting at Koko Head District Park, about 100 residents debated the merits and disadvantages of a series of locations. None of the participants wanted any facility too close to their homes.

Revised plans will be presented at the Hawai'i Kai Neighborhood Board meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Haha'ione Elementary School cafeteria.

Mayor Jeremy Harris has promised that some kind of facility would be built for skaters starting in July. Everyone figured it would be at Koko Head District Park, where a master plan is being drawn up.

However, an environmental study is required to build anything at the district park, and so discussions shifted to placing the skate facilities at Kamiloiki.

Already, that park is the site of baseball and soccer teams, as well as regular practices by the in-line hockey team Hawaii Kai Ducks.

There is so much activity that some residents of Maniniholo Street and Ninini Way feel as if they've lost control.

"I experience the Saturday freeway on Maniniholo Street," said Barbara Swift, a resident. "... I want a quiet street. I have trouble getting out of my driveway."

The facilities at Kamiloiki would be in addition to skating facilities at the district park. There, an estimated $4 million in first-phase improvements are being proposed, including a skateboard park, parking and an in-line rink, said Roy Nihei, a planning consultant hired by the city.

The city has $1 million set aside to build the skating facilities, in addition to the amount budgeted for the first phase of the district park improvements.

At Kamiloiki, a 10,000-square-foot skateboard facility would be built next to the playground equipment facing Hawai'i Kai Drive.

Some of the sites suggested for an in-line skate rink were on the dirt field behind the homes on Ninini Way, near the basketball courts or even closer to Lunalilo Home Road. Neither would be lighted.

Whatever the community decides, the city is prepared to begin working on the facility and plans to have something open by the end of the year.

"Skateboarders need bigger space," commented Debbie Kasnetz, a mother of three skaters. "Why throw money away for something that's not big enough?"

But in-line hockey coach Wayne Giancaterino said the plan looked promising: "We have an opportunity to get something now."