Posted on: Thursday, July 8, 2004
Lop off median, Hawai'i Kai businesses say
| • | Map: Median change proposed |
By Suzanne Roig
Advertiser East Honolulu Writer
HAWAI'I KAI — Some businesses and a church want the city to remove part of the new landscaped median on Lunalilo Home Road, saying it blocks easy access to driveways near Kaumakani Street.
But the city, which rejected an earlier request to shorten the median as it was being built last year, said it is not sure if it will accommodate the latest call for a modification.
City Councilman Charles Djou included $50,000 in the newly adopted city budget to chop 20 to 30 feet off the end of the median at the north side of the intersection of Lunalilo Home Road and Kaumakani Street.
If spent, that would push the cost of the median strip for planning, design and construction past $1.2 million.
Because the budget was passed just last Thursday, it's too early to tell if the $50,000 will be spent, city spokeswoman Carol Costa said.
"It's very early in the game," Costa said. "There are no priorities for any projects yet."
The tree-lined median, which runs from Kalaniana'ole Highway to Kalakua Street, was completed in December and allows for U-turns along its length, but not in front of the businesses demanding the modification.
Affected by the median is Hawai'i Kai Christian Church, Hawaii National Bank, several offices and the Koko Marina 76 gas station.
At the time the median was built, the businesses had asked the city to push it back so residents wouldn't have to drive out of their way to get to turn into their driveways and get out of the businesses. The city flatly refused because it felt the businesses had sufficient access about 200 feet down the road for the bank and the residents could get to the church by cutting through a neighborhood.
Gilbert Shimatsu, Hawaii National Bank assistant vice president, said the median has affected business at the bank. The proof is in the number of ATM transactions, which have gone down, he said.
"It has been a problem," Shimatsu said. "Now people going in the mauka direction have to go and make a U-turn about 200 feet beyond the bank. It's inconvenient."
At the Hawai'i Kai church, many members make illegal
U-turns or dangerous turns into the parking lot entrance, which is on Lunalilo Home Road. Or people drive in the exit on Kaumakani Street rather than go around the block, said Patti Matsumoto, church business administrator.
"It has been difficult for us because the parents have to go around the block and they're not abiding by our entrance and egress. It becomes a nightmare in our parking lot," she said.
The city pushed for the median strip, saying it will improve the look of an arid and older section of the community and will reduce speeding. Residents complained that the median will increase traffic congestion because there is one less lane.
This median strip is just one of several the city has installed around the island: Kailua Road, Hunakai Street in Kahala, and along Ala Moana, Punchbowl Street and Sand Island Access Road.
Reach Suzanne Roig at sroig@honoluluadvertiser.com or 395-8831.
