COMMENTARY
Waikiki progress must not be set back
By Jeremy Harris
Honolulu Mayor
Not long ago, Waikiki was a place where pedestrians dodged T-shirt vendors and sundry publication stands along narrow, gum-strewn sidewalks.
Advertiser library photo
Poor planning and neglect allowed our premier visitor destination to deteriorate into an unsightly urban landscape that failed to reflect the spirit of Hawai'i's culture and its people.
Mayor Jeremy Harris says the work to improve Waikiki has to continue for tourism to prosper.
Residents stayed away from what many considered a drab, unwelcoming setting. Tourists lamented the lack of opportunities to mingle with local folks.
Today, Waikiki is in the early stages of a social and cultural revival, thanks to public and private efforts to restore it to its former grandeur.
Over the past few years, the city has set in place key elements of an infrastructure needed to showcase our Hawaiian culture and restore Waikiki's reputation as a meeting place for people from all walks of life.
Wider sidewalks, new lighting fixtures, landscaping and historic monuments are but a few of the improvements that offer visible evidence of the area's transformation.
But today's Waikiki is more than the sum of its many parts. Hundreds of organized activities have sparked a revitalization effort unlike anything our community has ever seen. Hula performances, torch-lighting ceremonies and public events like Sunset on the Beach and concerts at Kapi'olani Park bandstand are supporting local businesses and bringing residents and visitors together in the spirit of old Hawai'i.
The historic district is once again an inviting place to experience the living culture of our islands.
But our job is far from over. A new era of public-private cooperation is needed if we are to make sustainable Waikiki's re-emergence as the crown jewel of Hawai'i tourism.
A mature visitor destination cannot prosper in the absence of hotel and retail revitalization, any more than it can thrive without new parks, sewers, water lines and other capital improvements.
Advertiser library photo • August 2000
A number of new private projects are encouragingly synergistic with the city's revitalization plans. Hilton's Kalia Tower was the first commercial hotel to be built in the area in nearly a decade.
The improvements at Kuhio Beach and elsewhere in Waikiki include water features and wider sidewalks, but more work is needed.
The Honu Group's new retail complex at 2100 Kalakaua Avenue will open for business later this year. And as Outrigger's redevelopment plans for the Lewers Street area unfold, the heart of Waikiki will be transformed into a pedestrian-friendly hotel-and-shopping plaza replete with native vegetation and water features.
The city's goal is to create a seamless Waikiki experience, where visitors and residents can patronize hotels and restaurants without feeling that our streets are a wasteland separating one oasis from another.
We need to move away from an outmoded image of Waikiki as a series of isolated resort enclaves with nothing of value in between. The redevelopment of Kuhio Beach, the beautification of Ala Moana Boulevard and the greening of mauka-makai streets are important steps in the right direction. But much more needs to be done.
The dredging of the Ala Wai Canal offers a timely opportunity to re-examine the possibility of transforming Honolulu into the Venice of the Pacific. Once the canal has been cleaned, the city will move forward with plans to unleash its potential for recreation and leisure.
With a little creativity and a lot of hard work, it is possible to transform the Ala Wai Canal from a missed opportunity into one of Waikiki's most precious resources.
We could turn the 'ewa end of the canal near the Kalakaua Bridge into a docking and restaurant emporium, where residents and visitors would rent paddle boats, engage in leisurely afternoons of shopping, and enjoy refreshments at water's edge.
The opposite end of the canal near Kapahulu Avenue would be an ideal location for a beautiful facility in keeping with the spirit of the Hawaiian renaissance.
Families could gather there to enjoy canoe races and regattas, and visitors could come to learn more about our culture and the multi-ethnic heritage of our people.
The length of the canal could be made more inviting by taking out the parking lane on the mauka side of Ala Wai Boulevard, widening the pedestrian walkway, and turning this portion of Waikiki into livable space for the enjoyment of our community. Ample parking could be provided by acquiring nearby lots for that purpose.
These are the kinds of projects we need to consider to keep alive the momentum of revitalization. The city is prepared to take a leading role in advancing these and other capital improvements, but public money alone cannot prevent Waikiki from showing its age.
The time is ripe for business leaders to join the city in demonstrating their commitment to Waikiki by investing in our resort and residential community.
Bold and decisive action is needed if Waikiki is to reassert its leadership in the industry and stem the decline in room rates and revenues.
We need to challenge ourselves to think big to ensure a sustainable future for Waikiki.
By working together and summoning the courage to be bold in thought and action, we can solidify O'ahu's place as a center for tourism in this new century.
