He said the city will pay a contractor about $1,000 to remove each of the 80 to 85 trees — most of them rainbow shower trees, with several monkeypods and one coconut palm.

That's a total of $80,000 to $85,000 on top of the $19 million already spent to beautify Kuhio. The contractor can cut costs by replanting the trees elsewhere, said parks and recreation director Lester Chang.

Hannemann said he's not dismantling his predecessor's project but reducing "an excess of trees" based on advice from experts. He said the large number of trees and the added landscaped medians prompted complaints from bus drivers, emergency workers — including firefighters and paramedics — and others that the trees blocked signs and access for drivers and pedestrians.

"You could make the argument that this was an accident waiting to happen," he said. "This was a difficult decision."

However, Hannemann said he has ruled out major changes to a project completed last year along nearby Ala Wai Boulevard that added other trees and eliminated some parking. "I'm going to leave Ala Wai alone," he said.

Eric Bentkowski, who works at a shoe store along Kuhio, can't quite believe that the trees that were planted just a few months ago will be dug up again in a few months.

"They just completed it," Bentkowski said, shaking his head. "Inefficiency costs us a lot of money."

He said the beautification project improved Kuhio Avenue even though it disrupted his and other businesses during their busiest time of year — summer.

"It's a lot nicer with the new sidewalks," he said. "I would think there's more access for pedestrians."

But he questions why the planning for the expensive project didn't consider potential problems caused by the large number of trees.

Ifita Meisas, who works in a bakery along Kuhio, was disappointed to hear that more than a dozen trees along a one-block stretch fronting her store would be removed. "Too bad, we like the trees," she said. "In Waikiki, we need trees, more shade."

The city spent $19 million on Kuhio Avenue last year — under a project championed by former Mayor Jeremy Harris — planting trees and adding landscaped medians, public benches, redesigned traffic lanes and lighting intended to brighten and beautify the area and reduce criminal activity.

Hannemann yesterday got the official blessing of environmental advocates from the Outdoor Circle. President Mary Steiner walked the length of Kuhio with parks director Chang, discussing the plan and debating replacing some monkeypods with more shower trees.

Steiner said the group's support hinged on the trees being replanted. She said the group got many calls from people worried about Hannemann's plan to take out some of the trees and urging her to fight to protect the them.

She said the city's new plan is a balanced one.

Hannemann said he's not sure where the $80,000-plus for removal will come from but believes creative solutions are possible.

His administration also is looking at ways to pay for maintenance of the enhanced landscaping, something he said wasn't figured in the earlier costs.

"There was really a rush to get it out and worry about the maintenance later," Hannemann said.