State: No Magic Isle
Convention Parking
Planned

The park is just one possible site
for cars during a major event, officials say

By Gordon Y.K. Pang
Star-Bulletin

State convention officials say they have no definitive plans to use Ala Moana Park's Magic Island as a standby parking lot for the Waikiki convention center.

But they also won't rule out the possibility.

City Councilman Andy Mirikitani yesterday criticized a recently completed study on transportation management for the center.

Mirikitani said it was ludicrous for the consultant to suggest that the convention center, which will hold 800 cars, would use the island's most heavily used park.

The study lists Magic Island as one of nine possible locations for cars during a major event at the center. Other sites included the University of Hawaii's quarry parking complex, Kapiolani Community College Diamond Head parking lots and the Blaisdell Center parking structure.

Officials with both the Hawaii Convention Center Authority and SMG, the convention center management team, insisted that the locations are simply identified as possible parking sites.

"The Hawaii Convention Center operator would like to state that there is no intention on their part to convert Ala Moana Beach Park into a convention center parking lot, nor have they been given any direction from the state to do so," spokeswoman Patty Inaba said.

Inaba said Terry Brothers, an analyst for traffic consultant Wilbur Smith & Associates, was told to list all possible scenarios.

Because the city intends to cater primarily to events involving those who did not live in Hawaii, "the majority of the attendees will be coming to the center on prearranged shuttle buses, Inaba said.

But when asked if she could give Mirikitani any guaranteed assurances that the Magic Island proposal wouldn't go any further, she said she could not do so.

Inaba noted, however, that such a move would require a host of approvals and opportunities for public testimony, including approval by the City Council.

"The probability is it will never be used unless some kind of resolution can be reached between city and state on it," said Alan Hayashi, executive director of the state Convention Center Authority.

"If it's a constant use, absolutely not," Hayashi said. If anything, he said, Magic Island and the other sites may be considered "for sporadic flow."

Hayashi added that if there is strong public resistance, "it shouldn't fly."

The $350 million convention center is slated to finish completion in October. The first booked convention is for Aug. 6.