Money for Kaimuki trolley cut
By James Gonser
Advertiser Urban Honolulu Writer
As part of its effort to balance the city budget, the City Council last week cut in half money for the subsidized Kaimuki trolley, placing the long-term future of the service in doubt.
Advertiser library photo
The trolley service, operated by E Noa Corp. since February, was a project sponsored by former City Councilman Duke Bainum three years ago to bring tourists into the shopping areas along Kapahulu and Wai'alae avenues. It operated with close to $500,000 annually in city money.
"For one community to have a trolley, we just couldn't justify it," said City Councilwoman Ann Kobayashi.
Financing for fiscal year 2003-04 has been halved, and city support beyond that is questionable, said City Councilwoman Ann Kobayashi.
Advocates for the trolley service say businesses, residents and tourists have benefited, and it should continue.
Kobayashi disagreed.
"For one community to have a trolley, we just couldn't justify it," she said. "Every day there are not that many people that ride it, and we already have our own bus system that can take care of that area."
Kobayashi said there are many other communities that would like to have a trolley bring tourists into their business districts, but the city cannot afford to do that.
"Manoa would love it if somebody brought customers up there right from Waikiki," she said. "But we can't start doing this for every community. Maybe the Kaimuki businesses can help pay for it."
The open-air trolley operates from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily, making 26 stops every 30 minutes from Royal Hawaiian Avenue in Waikiki to Koko Head Avenue in Kaimuki. Last month, a stop was added at the Center for Hawaiian Studies at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa.
Fares are $1 per ride, $2 for an all-day pass with on-and-off privileges and $25 for a monthly pass. City-bus pass holders pay 50 cents per trolley ride for adults and seniors, while students and disabled customers pay 25 cents.
The number of monthly riders surpassed 11,000 for the first time in May, for a daily average of about 355 people, according to E Noa. The company markets the trolley service to tourists who want to get outside Waikiki to visit shops and restaurants frequented by residents. It also markets the trolley as a way for residents and UH students to visit Waikiki without the inconvenience of driving and parking.
The company's contract runs through Jan. 30, 2004, and the money in the current budget will cover the trolley until June 30, 2004.
"The trolley has been making everything work," said Ginny Meade, a member of the Greater East Honolulu Community Alliance and one of the trolley's most ardent supporters. "Getting people to and from work. It has helped ease the parking. It's connected the community. We have all started to learn to work together."
Kathy Tsark, owner of the Kwilts 'n Koa shop on 12th Avenue, said the trolley passes in front of her store and will stop there to let off passengers if requested.
"My customers tell me they are riding the trolley," Tsark said. "Most of the people that come here are visitors. They have to find us from Waikiki, and it is real simple if they get on the trolley. It comes here directly."
Tsark said that if visitors had to take the city bus, it would require at least one transfer, and many would not make the effort.
"It would be really hard on a tourist," she said. "A lot of them are Japanese, and they don't speak much English. They love coming to Kaimuki and visiting the little shops and restaurants."
Meade said the trolley has also been a great example of government and private enterprise working together.
"Now the community and private enterprise have to figure out what to do," she said. "What this (funding cut) has done is mobilized us to start thinking about ways we can make it work better."
