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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Sunday, April 20, 2008

Route will affect native shrub, dozens of trees

 •  Rail will give Honolulu new look

By Sean Hao
Advertiser Staff Writer

Decades-old monkeypod trees, kamani trees and an endangered Hawaiian endemic shrub could be removed or transplanted to make way for Honolulu's elevated commuter rail.

Overall, at least 24 monkeypod trees and 26 kamani trees will be affected as the guideway is built from Kapolei to Waikiki and the University of Hawai'i-Manoa, according to an October 2006 draft environmental consequences report produced by project contractor Parsons Brinckerhoff.

The exact number and type of trees that must be removed or transplanted to accommodate the guideway is subject to refinements in the system's route.

According to Parsons Brinckerhoff, the project's impact on street trees includes:

  • Possible impact on trees at Aloha Stadium, removal of a few Indian coral trees on Kapi'olani Boulevard and pruning or other impact on two monkeypod trees on Kikowaena Street.

  • One monkeypod and 26 kamani trees would be affected by the widening of Dillingham Boulevard. Additional kamani trees at Honolulu Community College also could be affected.

  • Remove/replace four notable monkeypod trees on the makai side of Halekauwila Street.

  • Ten notable monkeypod trees in the median of Kona Street and seven notable monkeypod trees along Kapi'olani Boulevard between Kalakaua Avenue and McCully Street would be affected.

  • Tree protection zones will be needed for exceptional mahogany trees on Kalakaua Avenue.

    Bob Loy, director of environmental programs for the Outdoor Circle, said the group would oppose removing many of those monkeypod and kamani trees.

    "The Outdoor Circle will do everything in its power to prevent the monkeypod trees on Kapi'olani from being removed and we will do everything we can to prevent the kamani trees on Dillingham from being removed," he said. "They are significant resources of this city that cannot be replaced.

    "We're not going to let that happen easy."

    There also could be a disturbance of Abutilon menziesii, a native endangered shrub, near Saratoga Avenue and North South Road.

    The guideway also could have shadow impacts along Kamehameha Highway at the Waiau Stream taro patch and Sumida Watercress Farm, according to Parsons Brinckerhoff.

    Randy Ching, chairman of The Sierra Club O'ahu Group, said it's unlikely mature monkeypod trees can be relocated.

    "If it came down to several million for right of way (to avoid a tree), or a couple thousand (for tree removal), I hate to say it, but I think I know what way that decision is going to go," he said. "I think we should do what we can to save those, but I don't think there's going to be much of an option. It's going to pretty much be chop."

    Both the Outdoor Circle and Sierra Club said they hope to learn more about the environmental impact of the project once a draft environmental impact statement is released this summer.

    Reach Sean Hao at shao@honoluluadvertiser.com.