Lunalilo road median opposed
By Suzanne Roig
Advertiser East Honolulu Writer
HAWAI'I KAI — City plans to build a tree-lined median along Lunalilo Home Road came under fire Tuesday night from a handful of upset residents who said they were not consulted about the idea.
The project, which calls for installation of a 10-foot-wide tree median on Lunalilo Home Road from Kalaniana'ole Highway to Kalakua Street, has been designed and is ready to go out for bid.
The city has already spent $200,000 on architectural drawings and plans. Should a contractor not be hired by Dec. 31, the $1 million budgeted for the project will lapse and the project will be shelved until money becomes available again, Eric Crispin, city Department of Design and Construction deputy director, told residents at the monthly Hawai'i Kai Neighborhood Board meeting.
Because the community expressed opposition, the board decided not to vote on the issue and instead will set up a meeting with the city and residents before the Dec. 31 deadline, said board member Tom Ishii.
"Just because the money is lapsing, that's no reason just to spend it," Ishii said. "It's incredible that the city has gotten this far without even contacting the community."
The city's consultants had tried to get on the neighborhood board agenda for several months, Crispin said, but were put off because there was so much business to discuss already.
"It is unfortunate with the timing," Crispin said. "But we did try to come to the community a number of times. We would like support for the project. If the community says no way, we'll obviously let the funds lapse. We thought it was a good idea and it was approved by the City Council in the 2002 budget."
Under the city's plan, an estimated 52 nara trees would be planted along the center of the street, similar to projects the city did along Pali Highway, Ala Moana Boulevard and Kailua Road, Crispin said.
The trees would be irrigated and maintained by the city. The median would beautify the area and slow traffic on the wide residential street. If the problems can be ironed out, the city is prepared to begin construction in the third quarter of 2003, Crispin said.
However, residents feared that the trees would reduce visibility and make it inconvenient for those who live along the street, said Raymond Marques, a resident of Lunalilo Home Road for 27 years.
"I don't think it's necessary," Marques said. "We weren't consulted."
Another resident expressed concern that the city's plan, which involves taking 10 feet of roadway for the median, would make it unsafe for cyclists and runners who use that route during races.
Only one resident, who lived in another part of Hawai'i Kai, said she favored the median plan.
The city would be willing to work with the community even after it hired a contractor and would make changes to the construction plan, Crispin said.
"This is a city initiative," Crispin said. "It's part of a regional plan to plant 10,000 trees in Honolulu.
Lunalilo Home Road was singled out as a street with the highest impact."
Reach Suzanne Roig at sroig@honoluluadvertiser.com or at 395-8831.
