Makiki residents to map future
By James Gonser
Advertiser Urban Honolulu Writer
Makiki residents will gather next week to help develop a long-range plan to guide development in their densely populated community.
Park space, parking, business support and appropriate development are the key issues selected by a resident's advisory committee for study. Those topics will be discussed during the first Makiki Community Plan public workshop Tuesday at Makiki District Park.
Workshop
"They have been talking about the goals and character for the community," said Lowell Chun, an official with the city Department of Planning and Permitting. "The intent of this plan, once it is done, is to be a guideline for the community coming up with future projects."
The community plan is paid for with a $50,000 city vision team appropriation and is the 10th such project on O'ahu, Chun said. The advisory committee has met several times to focus the effort and a final report is expect in the spring.
With a population of nearly 44,000, Makiki has more residents than Hilo. It is one of the most densely populated areas on O'ahu with its maze of tightly-packed condominium and apartment buildings. Parking and crime are overriding issues for residents.
The area is bounded by Punahou Street and Ward Avenue, and from South King Street to Tantalus.
The city released a plan in January 2003 to revitalize Wilder Avenue, turning it from an automobile-focused street to a pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly road with a meandering sidewalk shaded by trees.
City Managing Director Ben Lee at the time said that with the tight city budget, money was unlikely to be set aside for the plan. So far, the plan has not received money.
The community plan has no specific projects requiring city money. It is basically a guide for future planning and will be used by the city when considering public and private developments, Chun said.
John Whalen, of project consultant Plan Pacific, said residential Makiki is a mix of small residential lots and large apartment buildings. The meeting will offer some alternatives on how to develop the area for multi-family use but keep it low-rise and pedestrian friendly.
To increase park space, the committee suggests expanding existing parks using public lands rather than trying to acquire expensive land for new parks.
To support the Makiki business district along King and Beretania streets, the committee suggests improving the access through better parking.
"Those business are facing challenges with the Wal-Mart super center going in," Whalen said. "They provide a real service to that community. We're looking at ways to optimize use of parking and other things to reposition the business district."
Other communities that have either completed or started community plans include Waipahu, Wahiawa, Kalihi-Palama, Waialua, Chinatown, Kapahulu, 'Aiea-Pearl City, Waikiki and Kane'ohe.
Reach James Gonser at 535-2431 or at jgonser@honoluluadvertiser.com.
