Philadelphia
firm lands Kakaako
design contract

The company will plan
improvements for the
waterfront park

By Jerry Tune
Star-Bulletin

The state has hired the Philadelphia design firm of Wallace Roberts & Todd to prepare the master plan for a revised Kakaako Waterfront Park.

The Hawaii Community Development Authority yesterday approved $315,000 for the master plan and details of a first phase that can be constructed for not more than $2 million.

An interactive water attraction for children was in the firm's conceptual plan presented last year.

"I think some kind of a water feature would be the kind of attraction we are looking for," said Jan Yokota, the authority's executive director.

The master plan is to be completed by August and the detailed first phase design by April 2000.

Wallace Roberts & Todd designed the Hale Koa Hotel and Fort DeRussy Park in Waikiki.

The $30 million, 30-acre Kakaako park opened in November 1992, with 2,400 feet of previously inaccessible waterfront.

For more than 100 years, the area had been used for waste disposal. The landfill and incinerator were closed in 1978.

Ash and toxic materials were contained in a polyvinyl membrane, covered with four feet of imported topsoil.

The park has parking for about 300 cars and last year was extended out to Ala Moana.