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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, January 25, 2007

BUREAUCRACY BUSTER
Golf course road to get attention

By Robbie Dingeman
Advertiser Columnist

Q. The access road heading from Kapahulu Avenue to the Ala Wai Golf Course — and the state's finest public ballrooms — is an embarrassment. Potholes and ruts have been patched unsuccessfully for years, and the road is becoming nearly impassable. The curbs and sidewalks adjacent to the library are frequently underwater during heavy rains. Who is responsible for the road to our nation's No. 1 public golf course?

A. City golf course administrator Garrick Iwamuro said the issue is more complicated than it would appear. For one, he said it is not a city road in the conventional sense. He assumes its maintenance falls under his golf course — rather than parks — even though there are other users such as ballroom dancers and canoe paddlers.

The nearby sidewalk area falls under the Parks Department, as part of the small park at the entrance to the road. But he said he'd raise the drainage problem with parks officials.

Iwamuro said some limited repair work on the damaged entry road is scheduled by the end of this month. He said city road crews will patch parts of the road that have depressions and peel-offs to smooth over the rough areas.

Iwamuro said additional repairs to the road will be scheduled between March and April. That part of the project is being put off for now while a contractor uses part of the park near the entrance as a baseyard. With trucks coming and going, he said it would be prudent to wait till the contractor's crews complete their Kapahulu project.

Iwamuro said the crews were planning to patch the road over the weekend but then learned that schedule could interfere with a dance event. Crews are now looking to reschedule on the following week, he said.

Q. On the 'ewa side of A'ala Street, between Vineyard Boulevard and Kukui Street, there are plants growing into the sidewalk next to the parking meters. What can be done?

A. City Parks and Recreation director Lester Chang said crews from his Urban Forestry Division trimmed those plants after receiving your complaint.

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