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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted on: Sunday, October 31, 2004

Firefighters' access to mall blocked

By James Gonser
Advertiser Urban Honolulu Writer

A recent increase in the number of mopeds illegally parked on Fort Street Mall near Hawai'i Pacific University has raised concerns about access for emergency vehicles along the pedestrian walkway, fire officials said.

Hawai'i Pacific University freshman Whitney Natale secures her moped on the sidewalk of the school's Fort Street Mall campus. The dozens of mopeds that line the mall, along with overgrown trees and banners, are blocking fire-truck access, fire officials say.

Firefighters say a combination of overgrown trees, tables and chairs outside mall restaurants and now dozens of mopeds lining the way means they wouldn't even try to take a fire truck down the mall. Instead, they would likely attempt to reach a fire by stretching out hoses.

"It could be a problem for us if we had to drive through, but we can't drive through now because of all the trees and the banners that hang across," said Ken Kahahawai, acting captain at the Central fire station on Beretania Street directly across from the mall. "We've talked to the city people that maintain it and the HPU staff. If there is an alarm halfway down, we are either walking from here or we can go in at Pauahi Street or Chaplin Lane. We used to drive in from here to go all the way to Hotel Street. Now we can't even drive down the mall."

HPU vice president Rick Stepien said the university's private security guards make sure the entrance to the mall on the Beretania Street end is kept clear for emergency vehicles.

"We don't want emergency vehicles obstructed because we've had to have emergency vehicles come and handle students on some occasions," Stepien said. "We will be alerting students starting (tomorrow) about mopeds and making sure they are parked where they are supposed to be parked. They are going to have to start looking for some (alternative parking)."

Finding another area for mo-peds will not be easy with the lack of parking downtown, said Bethenie Sanchez, 18, a freshman at HPU.

"This is just where they told me to park," said Sanchez, who rides her moped to classes. "There is not really much parking anywhere."

Fire Department spokesman Capt. Kenison Tejada said the fire lane down the mall was narrowed during city beautification efforts a couple years ago, but a fire truck could still fit through.

"Illegal parking is always a concern when it comes to fire safety," Tejada said. "If we see something parked in front of a fire hydrant, we call police. If those (mopeds) are blocking our way, that is a concern."

Tejada said there hasn't been a major fire on the mall for 30 or 40 years.

Ben Lee, city managing director, said he is aware of the situation on the mall and will be talking with the police and fire departments as well as HPU to make sure a 16-foot wide path is kept clear for emergency vehicles.

Fort Street Mall is owned by the city and operated under rules similar to a public park — no alcohol, no pets, no bicycling, camping, littering, skateboarding or feeding the birds. No vehicles, including mopeds, are allowed without permits. The mall is closed from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. daily.

The mall has seen many improvements in the past couple of years since the nonprofit Business Improvement District took over most of the security and cleaning of the commercial strip and began holding public events to make the area more attractive to customers. The area is cleaned and patrolled regularly.

There are now open markets selling fresh fruits, vegetables and plants. Handmade items draw both area residents and workers from their downtown offices, said Chris Nakashima-Heise, president of the Business Improvement District.

"Whenever we set up the mall we try to pay attention to the fire lane," said Nakashima-Heise. "If there are any encroachments, we try to correct it right away."

Nakashima-Heise said she will talk with the city about trimming the trees and has already talked with HPU officials about the moped situation. The two groups are looking for somewhere else that is safe and legal for the mopeds to park.

"We are trying to find solutions," she said. "We try to stay within safety compliance codes and make sure the mall works for everybody."

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