City urged to
buy drive-in

Hannemann wants a park
on the site across
from Pearlridge

By Gordon Y.K. Pang
Star-Bulletin

The 14-acre Kam Drive-In site would be converted to a park under a proposal by City Council Chairman Mufi Hannemann.

A resolution by Hannemann urging Mayor Jeremy Harris to begin the process of obtaining the site from landowner Kamehameha Schools Bishop Estate is on the agenda of tomorrow's Planning and Intergovernmental Relations Committee meeting.

Bishop Estate has a 55-year lease with Consolidated Amusement that expires in 2016. Consolidated opened the drive-in in 1962 and closed it this past Labor Day. A swap meet continues on weekends and Wednesdays.

Hannemann said Aiea needs more recreational space. Nearby Blaisdell Park is designated for passive use only, and there is little space elsewhere for soccer, softball or other activities.

The drive-in is surrounded by high-rise condominiums, and "all those condo unit dwellers don't have any recreational space," he said.

Hannemann said he had preliminary discussions with area residents and community leaders and "they seem very receptive to the idea of a park."

He said he is disturbed by rumors he's heard that Consolidated and Bishop Estate are considering major commercial ventures for the property, which is zoned for commercial and community business.

Among those said to be interested are Home Depot and Costco.

Home Depot is about to start negotiations for the city's Manana property across Pearl City Highlands. The retailer recently won the right to purchase the Manana site for $17.5 million, but the city refused the offer based on Home Depot's conditions for purchase.

Hannemann said he's aware of talk that Home Depot is interested in the Kam Drive-In site, but said it wasn't the only motivating factor for his resolution.

"I'm not saying the two issues are completely separate, but I would have done this regardless. Home Depot has never told me they had second thoughts about going to Manana."

Regardless of whether it's Home Depot or some other large venture, "I am opposed at this point to another heavy commercial use of this area," he said.

Cost would be a factor in any plan to create a park. The city could condemn the property but must then pay its fair market price. At 14 acres, across from Pearlridge Center, such a property won't come cheap.

Hannemann noted that the state was able to use federal funding to help pay for Ka Iwi Shoreline Park, while the city used federal dollars to help purchase Waiahole Beach Park.

Kekoa Paulsen, Bishop Estate spokesman, said trustees are looking at Hannemann's plan.

Consolidated's president, Phil Shimmin, did not return calls.