O'ahu briefs
Advertiser Staff and News Services
WINDWARD
Work begins on valley stairs
The Nakoa Companies Inc. has begun repair work on the popular Ha'iku Valley hiking trail that climbs 2,800 feet up the ridge and offers a panoramic view of Windward O'ahu.
The 3,922 metal steps, known as the "Stairway to Heaven," are deteriorating from rust, and the route was closed to the public in the 1980s.
The nearly $800,000 contract includes replacing damaged stairs, realignment of some stair modules, and intermediate guard and handrails, said City Council member Steve Holmes.
The project is expected to be completed by October, although the company has 570 days to finish the contract.
The original stairs, built of wood during World War II, led to the summit, where a Navy antenna was erected. The metal stairs were installed in the 1950s.
Money set aside for Kahalu'u
The city's capital improvement program includes $2.5 million for specific Kahalu'u projects and additional financing that falls under miscellaneous improvement.
The city's $581 million capital improvements budget for fiscal 2002 contains $2.3 million for the Kahalu'u Regional Park to complete its master plan and the design and construct phases of the plan, which may include an amphitheater, comfort station and ball fields, said Councilman Steve Holmes.
The budget also has $4 million for canoe halau improvements at various parks, including a boathouse at Kahalu'u Regional Park Makai. A specific amount for the Kahalu'u project wasn't available.
Holmes said the budget also contains $210,000 to design and build bleachers at Kahalu'u Community Park and $50,000 to demolish abandoned structures on recently acquired land and provide landscaping.
In He'eia, the city has allotted $100,000 for a master plan for He'eia Kea Valley. And in Waiahole, $350,000 was set aside to design and build a practice field at Waiahole Beach Park.
Capital improvements money also will benefit the entire Windward side, which is slated for bikeway and other projects.
EAST HONOLULU
'Eyesore' house is demolished
After years of sitting abandoned, the house on the corner of Laukahi Street and Kalaniana'ole Highway has been razed.
"It was an eyesore," said Marsha Bolson, Kamehameha Schools communications director. "The lessee had not been there for several years. We had complaints from the neighbors."
The structure was demolished this month amid rumors that it was haunted.
It wasn't haunted in the spiritual sense, said Wai'alae Iki resident Manya Sanderfur. "Only in the sense that it looked haunted. It was a blight on the neighborhood."
Colson said Kamehameha Schools, Hawai'i's largest land trust, will put the property up for sale after it is fenced in.
NORTH SHORE
Board selects new leader
The North Shore Neighborhood Board has elected Kathleen Pahinui as chairwoman, a position she filled for about a half a year when the previous chairman left.
At its meeting Tuesday, the board also selected Larry McElheny as vice chairman. Dan Gora will serve as treasurer, and Jacob Ng will be secretary.
Fishermen pulled safely into Hale'iwa
Two North Shore fishermen who were thought of as missing pulled into Hale'iwa Harbor yesterday.
Lawrence Kealoha, captain of the 30-foot sampan Hale'iwa, and crewman Kevin Nakamura were expected home yesterday morning. When they did not return, a girlfriend of one of the men called the Coast Guard at 8:30 p.m., said Petty Officer Lauren Smith.
The Coast Guard used the cutter Jarvis and an HH-65 helicopter to search waters off Hale'iwa and Ka'ena Point, even when friends of the men suspected they stayed out longer to take advantage of the nice water conditions.
"They made it back, and they were in no trouble," said Chief Gary Openshaw, a Coast Guard public affairs officer.
CENTRAL
AT&T request not acted on
The city Planning Commission yesterday did not take any action on AT&T Wireless Services' request for a six-month deferral on its request for a special-use permit for an existing antenna off Ahikao Street in Mililani Mauka because the group could not reach a quorum.
AT&T was seeking the extension to allow time to collect other city approvals needed to move its antenna to a pole owned by Hawaiian Electric Co.
Several community residents testified against the request at the meeting, saying the antenna was put up illegally and as long as the antenna remains, they are being exposed possible health risks from radio frequency and electromagnetic fields. They asked the commission to vote against the extension and have the antenna removed immediately.
AT&T consultant Keith Kurahashi said the company wants to move the antenna near Kaoma'aiku Neighborhood Park off Makaunulau Street, and the request must be approved by the Public Utilities Commission. Kurahashi said PUC approval would take at least six months. He said the new site is 260 feet from any homes.
Because only five commission members were in attendance and five votes are needed to pass a motion, the motion to deny AT&T's request failed. The motion will be heard again at the next meeting July 11.
Correction: Marsha Bolson is communications director for Kamehameha Schools. Her name was misspelled in a previous version of this article.
