Posted on: Tuesday, August 3, 2004
Ala Wai road work draws protesters
By James Gonser
Advertiser Urban Honolulu Writer
Two of three main arteries in Waikiki are now under construction with the start of work on Ala Wai Boulevard yesterday.
Jeff Widener • The Honolulu Advertiser Protesters were also there, waving signs that asked Mayor Jeremy Harris to stop the work. They say the project will make life more difficult for anyone who lives, works or passes through Waikiki.
"We have no plans to interfere with the construction; we are just making our opinions known," said Robert Kessler, who is leading the effort to stop or postpone the project until the city completes its $19 million construction project on Kuhio Avenue.
The Ala Wai road work will complete the mayor's efforts to make major improvements in Waikiki. The city has already finished projects on Kalakaua Avenue, in Kapi'olani Park and along the mauka-makai streets. Work on Kuhio Avenue and Ala Wai Boulevard is expected to be finished by December, when Harris leaves office.
The project includes construction of 21 bulb-outs (green areas up to 100 feet long that would extend 7 feet into the parking lane), new landscaping and new water lines. It will leave a 24-hour parking lane along the Ala Wai Canal and a 5-foot-wide bicycle lane next to it. The three existing traffic lanes will remain.
• Phase 1: Began near the Waikiki Library at 'Ainakea Way and will run to Ka'iulani Avenue. Work is expected to last through mid-September. • Phase 2: Will extend the project to Lewers Street. Starts mid-September and runs through the end of October. • Phase 3: Will complete the project to McCully Street. Scheduled for completion by the end of December. • • • Environmental hearings The state Environmental Council will discuss the Ala Wai project at 2 p.m. Aug. 12 in Room 702 of the State Office Tower, 235 S. Beretania St. A subcommittee will hear the issue at 1 p.m. Both hearings are open to the public. Yesterday the protesters picked up support from Waikiki hotels, whose officials are also looking for answers about the project.
Ernest Nishizaki, executive vice president and chief operating officer at Japanese firm Kyo-ya, which owns the Sheraton Waikiki, Royal Hawaiian, Sheraton Princess Kaiulani and Sheraton Moana Surfrider, waved signs along with other hotel managers and residents.
"We are in favor of beautification," Nishizaki said. "Our question lies in the fact that we are concerned with taking the fourth lane out permanently."
Nishizaki said the work on Kuhio Avenue is already causing problems for hotel guests and delivery vehicles, and the Ala Wai construction could make it even worse.
"We are concerned that a proper traffic study be done. If it proves it does work with three lanes, then so be it," he said. "We are assuming the city has done the study, but we haven't seen it."
Nishizaki hopes to have a meeting with the mayor to discuss the project.
"Our businesses have a great impact on the residents, so we share their concerns," he said.
Kessler and about 40 others met with Ben Lee, city managing director, last week and tried unsuccessfully to convince him to halt the project. Lee told the group he would take their concerns to the mayor.
"We are not aware of whether or not Ben Lee relayed our comments or not to the mayor," Kessler said. "He said he would, and I assume he did, but based on what we saw this morning, it doesn't look like it has made any difference. We have not heard back."
City spokeswoman Carol Costa talked to the mayor yesterday, and she "did not hear anything from him that would lead me to believe he was changing the project."
Kessler said the group will continue waving signs, wait for the mayor to reply and hope the state Environmental Council will require that an environmental assessment be done for the project when it meets Aug. 12.
Reach James Gonser at jgonser@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2431.
Crews surveyed lanes, marked the locations of underground utility lines with spray paint on the street and closed off four blocks of parking to mark the beginning of the city's $2.4 million Ala Wai Boulevard beautification project.
A cyclist rides along Ala Wai Boulevard, where work on a $2.4 million beautification project began yesterday.
Residents are concerned that the bulb-outs will reduce parking by about 60 spaces and permanently eliminate the option of a fourth traffic lane on Ala Wai Boulevard. They also say the timing of the project is bad, with major renovations under way that could also make it difficult for emergency vehicles to reach crisis spots quickly.
At a glance
