Two Hale'iwa drive-throughs OK'd

By Robbie Dingeman
Advertiser City Hall Writer

The Honolulu City Council yesterday approved allowing up to two drive-through businesses in historic Hale'iwa, in its final vote on a battle that has divided the community and dragged on for years.

The bill to ease land-use restrictions to allow an existing drive-through and the construction of one more passed the council by a 6-to-3 vote. Those in favor were newly sworn Councilwoman Darrlyn Bunda, Romy Cachola, Chairman John DeSoto, John Henry Felix, Ann Kobayashi and Gary Okino. Those opposed were Duke Bainum, Steve Holmes and Jon Yoshimura.

The measure now goes to Mayor Jeremy Harris, who hasn't given any indication whether he plans to sign the bill.

Special district regulations designed to preserve the historic rural character of the North Shore town ban drive-throughs. But McDonald's fast-food restaurant opened a drive-through in 1997 after receiving permission from the city in a variance.

Then-Councilwoman Rene Mansho, who represented the area, pushed for the change. But Mansho resigned April 10, and yesterday her replacement, Bunda, became the deciding factor because the measure needed six votes for approval.

Before the vote, the issue turned emotional again with 43 people signed up to testify before the council. The group roughly fell into two camps: supporters, most of them Waialua residents who praised the convenience and the job opportunities provided by McDonald's; and opponents, most from Hale'iwa, who say the law is clear in banning the drive-throughs and should be honored.

Several North Shore residents and the environmental group Life of the Land filed suit, and a state Circuit Court overturned the McDonald's variance but allowed the drive-through operation to continue while the case was appealed to the Hawai'i Supreme Court. If the bill becomes law, the Supreme Court appeal becomes moot, supporters have said.

Bunda was sworn in less than an hour before the Hale'iwa issue came up for a final vote.

Councilmen Yoshimura and Bainum tried to postpone the vote but won only the support of Holmes. Yoshimura argued that the council should await the decision of the Supreme Court and allow Bunda time to become familiar with the issue.

Because the drive-through would continue, Yoshimura said, "nobody's hurt" by a delay.

Life of the Land's Henry Curtis said it is difficult to fashion a compromise that meets somewhere in the middle.

"Our side is that the law should be upheld," he said. "Their side is they should be given a drive-through."

McDonald's employee Gwen Areola said she supports keeping the town historic but believes that a well-concealed drive-through or two doesn't do any harm and provides much-needed jobs. "You can't really see it from the road," she said.

Bunda expressed support for the historic district, but still voted to allow the change to permit the drive-throughs. "If it's done well, it can still not compromise the integrity of the special-design district," Bunda said.

She did try to change the bill to require an additional public hearing but couldn't gain enough votes to pass the amendment.