Waikiki beautification complete

By James Gonser
Advertiser Urban Honolulu Writer

A year ago, Kuhio Avenue in Waikiki was a disgrace, according to Honolulu Mayor Jeremy Harris. It was a dirty, back-alley kind of place with narrow, cracked sidewalks, trash and crime. It is the main thoroughfare in residential Waikiki, yet had not seen any improvements in decades.

This was the view yesterday of Kuhio Avenue near Lewers Street, with overall improvements including wider sidewalks set off from traffic. Deborah Booker • The Honolulu Advertiser

"I can't understand anybody who doesn't think that we needed to do something on Kuhio Avenue," Harris said Monday while walking the length of the project. "It was sidewalks too narrow to meet (Americans With Disabilities Act) codes and fire hydrants you could barely get around. We have tried to recapture (Kuhio) for pedestrians. To make it a place that is convenient, pleasant to walk. It's really done that."

The sidewalk-widening and beautification project on Kuhio is the second phase of Harris' plan to revitalize the three major traffic corridors in Waikiki before he leaves office in two weeks. The city completed its $2.4 million beautification on Ala Wai Boulevard this month.

The city has spent about $50 million to renovate Kalakaua Avenue and other beautification projects since 1997.

Harris said the Kuhio improvements have brought it to the level of Kalakaua Avenue, with wider sidewalks paved with quartzite stones, hundreds of new trees, vintage-style lighting and hanging flower baskets. The project is designed to improve the area's quality of life and bring back a Hawaiian sense of place.

Kuhio Avenue will have landscaped medians, public benches, redesigned traffic lanes and lighting intended to eliminate dark corners that hide drug dealing, prostitution and other criminal activities.

"The whole Waikiki community has been transformed," Harris said of completion of all the projects.

The 10 months of construction have been difficult for residents who have put up with Kuhio traffic jams and blocked access to businesses. Waiting for a bus was tiresome. Walking down the street became an obstacle course.

With the Kuhio project in full swing, residents held signs to protest the Ala Wai construction, saying it would creating a traffic nightmare. Robert Kessler, president of Waikiki Residents Association, filed a lawsuit but failed to stop the Ala Wai construction.

"My original concern with the Ala Wai was doing it at the same time as Kuhio," Kessler said. "Now we are past that. I think on the face of it, (Waikiki) looks nice and the tourists seem to appreciate it."

Waikiki resident William Sweatt said: "We are worried about trimming all those trees and watering the plants. They will be beautiful if they maintain them properly. As far as the number of traffic lanes and how the (BRT) bus program is going to work, that is almost a wait-and-see deal."

Reach James Gonser at 535-2431 or jgonser@honoluluadvertiser.com.