Salmonson said the city often gives itself exemptions from performing environmental assessments on minor projects and did so on the Ala Wai project.

Salmonson said it is not unusual for exemptions to be challenged, and such situations often end up in court.

"We have not studied it yet and will be looking into it," Salmonson said. "The council will probably take it up next month."

Ben Lee, city managing director, said an environmental assessment is not required for the type of work planned. An assessment would take considerable time and expense to complete.

The city is expected to begin its $2.4 million project Monday. The project would widen the parking lane along the Ala Wai Canal to allow for a bicycle lane next to the traffic lanes. The plan includes construction of 21 "bulb-outs" — green areas up to 120 feet long that would extend 7 feet into the parking lane — new landscaping and new water lines.

Residents, who have been standing on the street holding signs to protest the project, are concerned about losing about 60 parking spaces and a fourth traffic lane on Ala Wai Boulevard. They also say the timing of the project is bad, with major renovations under way along Kuhio Avenue and other private projects under construction, and the difficulty construction will pose to emergency vehicles.

Kessler said this work should not fall under the state's guidelines that allow the city to exempt itself when doing minor work such as repairs, reconstruction of an existing structure, minor alterations or demolition.

"I think the city cut itself a lot of slack on interpreting the grounds on which they exempted themselves from having to do an environmental assessment," Kessler said. "When you are making big changes of this magnitude, it looks like they bent the rules in their own favor."

City Councilman Charles Djou has opposed the project, saying it was done without public input and that there are better ways to spend taxpayer money. He has set up a meeting Friday with city managing director Lee so residents can voice their concerns.

"I have told them that realistically, there is only one way now to pull the plug on the project, that is to get the mayor to do it," Djou said. "The mayor has not said he is willing, but my constituents asked me to assist them in setting up a meeting. They want to plead their case."

Lee said the project will not affect traffic because it will be limited to the existing parking lane and the lost parking stalls will be offset by two new city parking lots.

Kessler said the protest and sign-waving on the street will continue even if construction begins.

"I don't know if we will be able to stop the initial phases of the construction, but this is a project that needs to be reviewed, at least by the environmental people and hopefully by the community at large before it gets too much further down the road," he said.