Disabled access work goes on

By Mike Leidemann
Advertiser Staff Writer

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources says it hopes to complete a $16 million effort to make its parks, small boat harbors, campsites and other facilities accessible to people with disabilities by the end of 2006.

Max Toa of BCP Construction shows a new, wider shower stall built to American with Disabilities Act standards at a public bathroom at Ala Wai harbor. The upgrade is part of a push to remodel or replace facilities throughout Hawai'i to comply with the law. Deborah Booker • The Honolulu Advertiser

But despite the plea, work at more than 119 different sites will continue, said Dean Aoki, the department's American with Disabilities Act coordinator.

In all, the department identified more than 5,000 architectural barriers in its facilities and, as part of a court-approved consent degree stemming from a 1998 lawsuit, began a major push this year to have them removed, Aoki said.

"It's not 100 percent, but by the time we're done, we think we'll have fixed more than 90 percent of the problems," he said. "It's basically creating an environment where all people with disabilities can experience the basic resources that we have to offer."

Several members of the Honolulu boating community said the work actually reduces the number of toilets and showers available for use in local harbors. At the same time, it fails to increase access to boating facilities, they said.

"The ultimate irony is that the state's transition plan does nothing to help a handicapped person get on the docks or on a boat," said Janet Mandrell of the Makai Society, a group of concerned boaters.

Because a handicapped bathroom stall requires more space than regular ones, the work in existing buildings will actually reduce the number of stalls available to the boating community by 50 percent, she said.

Aoki said the figure is closer to 9 percent.

Francine Wai, executive director for the state Disability and Communication Access Board, said such conflicts aren't unusual in ADA projects.

"There are all sorts of competing interests, even within the disability community," she said. "It's no different than creating an accessible parking stall. A handicapped stall has to take the space of two regular stalls and people tend to notice that, especially when it's done in a small lot."

Mandrell and William Mossman of the Hawai'i Boaters Political Action Association have asked Gov. Linda Lingle to postpone the start of any new contracts and consider revising DLNR's accessibility transition plan. The money allocated to fix all restroom facilities would be better spent on a plan that identifies the best areas on each island and makes all their boating facilities accessible, they said.

"The law doesn't require them to fix every single facility," Mandrell said.

Wai said both sides in the dispute should emphasize the improvements being made.

"The focus should be on what's being gained — better access so that all people can participate in what the parks have to offer," she said. "The goal is to make what's there more accessible."

So far, the department has appropriated about $11 million to assess, redesign and build existing park facilities, Aoki said. Most of the work involves removing physical barriers that bar access.

"We'll probably be seeking another $5 million from the Legislature next year to complete the work," Aoki said.

Meanwhile, the department is continuing a push to overhaul or replace existing park facilities, including restrooms, at locations throughout the state. When possible, the new facilities will replace existing ones rather than retrofitting them for ADA accessibility, Aoki said.

"There are all sorts of things that boaters want fixed, but they aren't covered in the transition plan," Wai said. "But the department is going to try to add some more ADA improvements as it continues its general upgrades."

Reach Mike Leidemann at 525-5460 or mleidemann@honoluluadvertiser.com.