Kailua park users review plan
By Eloise Aguiar
Advertiser Windward O'ahu Writer
KAILUA — Options in a Kailua Beach Park master plan that include expanding premium space by reconfiguring the road in the park drew criticism last night from people who said the proposals would reduce open space, limiting such activities as soccer, baseball and Frisbee.
The city has prepared four options for the portion of the park behind Kalapawai Market. The plans also cover a canoe landing site on Ka'elepulu Stream across the street from the park and a public parking area by Buzz's Original Steak House.
Details of the proposals were discussed at a public meeting at Kailua District Park. About 100 people were there.
Lee Sichter, project manager with Belt Collins Hawai'i, said the meeting was called to gather comments and additional ideas to include in final recommendation to the city Department of Parks and Recreation.
"We're dealing with this as a mix-and-match thing," said Sichter about the four plans. "We're not wedded to any particular option."
Three of the options call for moving the road mauka to create more space next to the sand dunes, where families like to sunbathe out of the wind, and adding between 29 and 66 parking stalls, he said. The variations differ in the amount of parking and disabled-access walkways provided, which Sichter said is a major motivation for the plan.
The options include a space for sailboard vendors, sand stabilization measures, new trees and naupaka bushes, pruning ironwood trees, and installing permanent picnic tables and a play area for children.
There will be no new buildings, but one of the options provides a shaded area at the canoe launch site across the street. At Buzz's, the parking area will be graded, paved and landscaped. Additional outdoor showers have been proposed.
The options range in price from $745,000 to $1.4 million.
There was loud vocal support to retain open spaces, get rid of the windsurfing vendors and to limit parking, although several people insisted more parking was needed.
Chinky Mahoe, who lives next to the park, said he likes the park the way it is and that the city should just maintain it better.
"The more parking the more congestion there will be," Mahoe said.
Larry Bartley, a Kailua Neighborhood Board member, offered his own plan, saying the city's options would eliminate open space at the beach that people use as a playing field.
"All four proposed options chop up all existing large open areas with concrete paths and new trees," Bartley said. "Trees are wonderful, but so is open space."
Bartley's option called for leaving the road as is, getting rid of commercial vehicles at the park, improving the exercise station and no additional concrete walkways.
Sichter said the city Parks Department has clearly indicated that it wants to limit the park to beach activities, but that brought negative responses from the audience.
"We need to keep the open space for the people in the community," said Noel Mackisoc.
Jane Morris, with the Lani-Kailua Outdoor Circle, said she liked having the vendors moved off the main road and wanted the designer to include a hau tree trained on a trellis along the road next to the canoe landing.
"It would be picturesque and useful," Morris said. "They would have shade and it would be Hawaiian."
Once the preferred plan is provided to the Parks Department, that agency will have to ask the City Council for money for the project.
Reach Eloise Aguiar at eaguiar@honoluluadvertiser.com or 234-5266.
