Kailua beach park plan disputed
By Eloise Aguiar
Advertiser Windward O'ahu Writer
KAILUA — Based on input from public meetings, a consultant will recommend a modified master plan for Kailua Beach Park that maintains open space, reduces the length of a pedestrian walkway and preserves a stand of hau trees.
However, the Kailua Neighborhood Board does not support the plan and wants further changes.
"When you look in depth there's some issues," said Donna Wong, a Kailua Neighborhood Board member. Among them:
• Sand buildup needs to be addressed, she said. For years sand has been building up on Kailua Beach, creating sand dunes and covering roads, grass and parking lots in the park.
• A planned asphalt parking lot next to the stream creates environmental concerns.
• And somehow the plan should address the windsurfer concessions operating there. There are too many of them for the area, said Wong, and they take up a lot of space on the road and on the grass.
She also said she saw no need to move the road, which would cut in half an open field at the park.
The modified plan will have fewer picnic tables than originally suggested and fewer new trees. A proposed play area will be moved to the Lanikai side of the park. Eliminated from the plan was a proposed shade structure near Buzz's Original Steak House. About 40 more parking spaces will be added.
The plan also calls for new pedestrian paths, picnic tables and showers, and improving landscaping.
Lee Sichter, project manager for Belt Collins Hawai'i that prepared three master plan options for the Kailua end of the beach park, said the proposal being recommended is in response to community comments.
A public meeting to discuss the three options was held in April, and Sichter said he has attended every board meeting since December and met with park users and stakeholders to hear their concerns.
The designer first tried to make the Kailua end of the park, behind Kalapawai Market, similar to the Lanikai end, which is for passive recreation and picnics, he said.
"This side seems more active recreation-oriented, hence the strong statement by the members of the community that they don't want to lose the character of open space," Sichter said.
Though Sichter said he would suggest to the city that a sand management plan be included, Wong said the Kailua board would forward its recommendation as well, along with its other suggested changes.
The final Kailua Beach Park Landscape Improvements Master Plan as well as comments and recommendations will be submitted to the city Department of Design and Construction.
Construction money for the project must still be obtained. The city had allocated $250,000 for planning and construction last year, but that lapsed and some $60,000 was restored.
The earliest the project could be financed would be next year; cost is estimated at $1 million to $1.5 million.
Kailua Neighborhood Board member Bob Vieira said he had concerns about the modified master plan but felt the project should go forward, especially because so much is being done to improve the appearance of the community, including placing utility wires underground, planting trees in the median and building new sidewalks.
"Everything is coming together and we might as well get it done all at once instead of piecemeal," Vieira said.
Reach Eloise Aguiar at eaguiar@honoluluadvertiser.com or 234-5266.
