Hawai'i Kai sign repair at $18,000

By Suzanne Roig
Advertiser East Honolulu Writer

HAWAI'I KAI — Contractors estimate it will cost the city $18,000 to repair the Hawai'i Kai community sign, which officials say was damaged by vandals.

The year-old sign is cracked and pulling apart in the middle. Hairline cracks are appearing around the letters that identify the community as Hawai'i Kai.

The sign, a "vision" project intended to instill community pride, was erected last year at a cost of $117,623.

Ben Lee, city managing director, will meet with the city Department of Design and Construction, the sign's designers and the contractor to discuss the $18,000 price and determine whether there's a less costly way to repair the sign, said Carol Costa, city spokeswoman.

"Ben Lee feels the initial estimate is too high and wants to look at the redesign to ensure that it will prevent further vandalism," Costa said.

She did not say when the meeting will be held, but said the repairs should start next week.

When the damage was detected in May, the city determined it was vandalism by someone leaning on the sail portion of the sign, causing the bottom portion to crack.

Community activist Murray Luther, the sign's primary champion, believes that the cracking is due to "a goof in the construction."

The sign has been plagued with problems that ranged from construction delays to structural rocks that were the wrong color.

The sign was initially facing the wrong direction and needed adjustment. The 'okina or diacritical mark in the word "Hawai'i" was originally an apostrophe that had to be corrected.

The cost of those changes was borne by the architect.

"I see no reason we should pay for the repair," said Charlie Rodgers, Hawai'i Kai Neighborhood Board chairman. "It should be paid for by the architect that designed it or the contractor that built it.

"It's an absurdity that the taxpayers should pay for it."

Reach Suzanne Roig at sroig@honoluluadvertiser.com or 395-0464.