Name signs ready in East Honolulu

By Suzanne Roig
Advertiser East Honolulu Writer

HAWAI'I KAI — Efforts to erect community signs in Hawai'i Kai and 'Aina Haina appear to be nearing the final stages of a three-year endeavor. The city said construction could begin within six weeks.

All that remains is for the city and contractor C&C Engineering to get approval from landowners that will allow signs to be put on their property. The agreements include drawings that reflect minor changes needed to be made to the design, said Carol Costa, city spokeswoman.

The time the project has taken and the latest design changes don't sit well with resident Murray Luther, who has been pushing for a community sign since 1995 to replace the one taken down to make way for the widening of Kalaniana'ole Highway.

Luther was instrumental in getting that first sign put up.

Meanwhile, start dates for work on the signs have come and gone, the latest of which was supposed to be by the end of last year, Luther said.

"I'm really angry about this," Luther said. "For them to come to this is so typical. Everyone had agreed on the current signs. We did the work on it and then the city goes ahead and changes things without talking to us."

Technicalities necessitated the changes after state highway officials and the Outdoor Circle examined the plans, said Eric Crispin, assistant director of the city's Department of Design and Construction. The changes do not affect the overall design of a canoe and sails cast in stone as approved by the Hawai'i Kai community, Crispin said. Similarly, the 'Aina Haina sign was simplified to ensure that it would be legible to drivers on Kalaniana'ole Highway, he said.

"We went to the community prematurely," Crispin said. "It was done before everyone who has a vested interest in signs signed off on it. The Outdoor Circle has a vested issue in signs. And we had concerns about the landscaping and the long-term maintenance of the landscaping.

"I wish we could do this faster. It all takes time."

The new sign in Hawai'i Kai will be on the duck island between Hawai'i Kai Drive and Kawaihae Street on Kalaniana'ole Highway.

In 'Aina Haina, there will be two signs, on West and East Hind drives.

The city initially set aside $670,000 for the East Honolulu signs. Costa said the contract awarded to C&C Engineering is for $190,000, plus a $20,000 contingency fee for all the signs.

"We're very excited that we're on the edge of this project," she said. "There's been a lot of back and forth."

Reach Suzanne Roig at sroig@honoluluadvertiser.com or 395-8831.