Some new Kuhio
trees to be pulled

Workers this morning will start removing some of the 277 trees that were planted along Kuhio Avenue as part of a Waikiki beautification project last year.

The city claims that 86 of the trees create pedestrian and driving hazards or other problems.

Royal Contracting Co., which planted the trees as part of a controversial $19 million Kuhio Avenue improvement project ordered by former Mayor Jeremy Harris, is removing them.

Project manager Roland Au estimates the work will be completed in three weeks and cost about $80,000. The city has set aside $105,000 for the project.

Current Mayor Mufi Hannemann consulted the Outdoor Circle to identify the questionable trees. Mary Steiner, Outdoor Circle chief executive officer, said the organization will monitor the work to ensure the right trees are removed.

"We will be watching," she said.

Six of the trees are damaged and cannot be saved, Au said. The rest will be replanted. "We found homes for all of them," he said.

Some of the trees will be replanted along Kuhio Avenue. The rest are headed for resorts on Lanai, Bay View Golf Course subdivision and Waialae Country Club.

Au said the work will be done between 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. and may involve lane closures.

Tree removal Workers will start taking out trees planted along Kuhio Avenue posing potential hazards for pedestrians and drivers Tree Number What will be done Monkeypod 15 move off site Coconut palm 1 move off site Rainbow shower 55 move off site 9 relocate within project 6 cut down TOTAL 86 Source: City and County of Honolulu