Final obstacles cleared for structure's removal
By Eloise Aguiar
Advertiser Windward O'ahu Writer
PUNALU'U — An eyesore that has marred the beauty of the Windward coastline for years is coming down this week to make way for a park.
The dilapidated structure, with one- and two-story components, has slowly crumbled, giving way to vandals and squatters, said Creighton Mattoon, a Punalu'u resident and chairman of the Ko'olauloa Neighborhood Board.
The beachfront property is very narrow and the house is built close to the highway. Automobiles have crashed into its protective wall more than once.
"That house had been a site of all kinds of questionable as well as illegal activities while it was vacant," Mattoon said. "There were many problems including safety, health and even alleged drug dealing."
Mattoon said he thinks the building has been vacant for about 10 years and would take three days to demolish.
Kamehameha Schools owned the property and the Punalu'u Community Association encouraged the city and the school to exchange the beach lot and two other beachfront properties for city land elsewhere to increase the park space along the shore, Mattoon said.
About three years ago the Ko'olauloa Vision Team allocated $75,000 for the demolition of the house, he said.
"There were all kinds of hoops and hurdles that needed to be covered before they could actually demolish the building and today it's finally happening," Mattoon said yesterday.
Various hurdles, including a shoreline permit, Health Department approval, Transportation Department clearance and an asbestos-mitigation plan had to be cleared before work could proceed, said Wayne Hashiro, director for the city Department of Design and Construction, which is managing the project. The last obstacle was overcome when a revised mitigation plan was accepted in February.
About $200,000 is available for the project, with money going toward such tasks as demolition, asbestos removal, grading and planting of grass.
For now the plan calls for clearing the land, grading it and installing irrigation, a water fountain, signs and chain barriers, Hashiro said. It will not include a comfort station, parking lot or any tables or benches.
"We're hoping to have enough money," Hashiro said. "Something may have to fall to the side."
The park will have little activity, said Wilfred Ho of the city Department of Parks and Recreation.
"Basically it opens some of the view plane and it opens up some of the shoreline among the houses along that stretch," Ho said.
Mattoon said many people fish there so having the area open will benefit them, and local residents will be glad to see the abandoned building gone at last.
"I'm sure everyone, neighbors as well as passers-by, will welcome the demolition," he said.
Reach Eloise Aguiar at eaguiar@honoluluadvertiser.com or 234-5266.
