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NEIGHBORHOODS

Kaimuki seeks
facelift for
$6.8 million

A small pedestrian mall on
12th Avenue would be the
area's town center

By Leila Fujimori
Star-Bulletin

Kaimuki once boasted a bustling downtown. But with the advent of the H-1 freeway and Kahala Mall, those days are gone.

To discourage motorists from bypassing the area, some residents, with a $6.8 million master plan, are hoping to bring back locals, tourists and dollars.

They envision Kaimuki's historic charm restored: people flocking to dine at restaurants, strolling along beautified streets and on wider sidewalks, shopping and enjoying shows at an outdoor stage on a pedestrian mall.

The mall, which would serve as the town center, crowns the plan. Buses would shuttle customers from Waikiki and stop at a new transit center nearby.

To create the pedestrian mall, 50 feet of 12th Avenue would be closed to traffic at its Waialae Avenue end between First Hawaiian Bank and Coffee Talk. It would stop short of the public parking lot entrances, maintaining access to the lots. Planners chose the site for its central location in the commercial district, convenient to shops and restaurants.

Kaimuki resident Leonard Tam reported to fellow members of the Kaimuki/Palolo/Waialae-Kahala/St. Louis Heights vision team at a recent meeting that the contract for the first phase of the project had been signed, and construction begins in January. The team awaits budget approval by the City Council for Phase II, which includes the pedestrian mall.

Tam, whose family owns a shoe repair shop on 12th Avenue, and other area residents hope the proposed project will receive further funding.

But Walter Wakinekona objected to the mall. "There's not enough space there to maintain the crowd," said the Kaimuki resident of 50 years. He suggested using a nearby park to set up an entertainment stage. Closing 12th Avenue would also interfere with his usual route to the bank.

Lee Manfredi, a vision team member from Waialae-Kahala, said, "I would consider this more seriously if it was a larger area." Manfredi said a successful mall in Santa Monica stretches for seven city blocks. She recommended taking the whole 12th Avenue. "Don't let traffic access be the dictating factor to limit the design," Manfredi added. "It would really benefit Kaimuki to elaborate the design."

Tam said, "If the mall works, we may extend it down the line."

Other vision teams have proposed eight other economic revitalization projects, said Ross Sasamura, director of the Facility Maintenance Department and the city vision team facilitator for the area, who shares oversight of all 19 teams.

The master plan was presented to and won the approval of the Kaimuki Neighborhood Board and the Kaimuki Business and Professional Association. The City Council has approved it.

Mayor Jeremy Harris said the integrated plan was particularly well done, noting that "hundreds of people spent thousands of hours" on the proposed design "to bring back the best about Kaimuki ... and to keep that small-town feel."

Tam said he and others must still knock on doors to inform the public of the proposals. He expected some opposition because the plan's pedestrian-friendly wider sidewalks will necessitate narrowing Waialae Avenue, which is five lanes wide in places, to two lanes.

The project has $1.8 million of the $6.8 million needed. The team is seeking an additional $1 million this year.

Tam and vision team members must continue to submit proposals to the city to fund the remainder of the project. The plan came from an earlier process three years ago to obtain federal funds for economic revitalization, and incorporates ideas from other plans.

Then, maybe, Kaimuki will once again be a place people drive to, not through.

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Streetwise

Roadwork planned this week throughout Oahu:

LEEWARD OAHU

Ewa Beach
Fort Weaver Road from Farrington Highway to Hanakahi Street; and Farrington Highway from Piliokoe Bridge to Kahe Power Plant in the vicinity of Tracks Beach Park.

Makakilo
H-1 from Palehua separation to Waikele Bridge.

Maili
Mynah Street and Place; Monilial Place; and Heleuma, Okokomo and Okohola streets.

Waianae
Hakalina Road from Pahihi to Puhawai roads.

CENTRAL OAHU

Kunia
Vicinity of Kunia Interchange to Waikele Stream Bridge and from Kupuna Loop to Farrington Highway; Kunia and Fort Weaver roads; H-1 Freeway ramps 5 and 5B and all other ramps in Kunia Interchange; H-1 Freeway in the vicinity of Kunia Interchange; and Kunia Road from Anonui Street to South Kupuna Loop.

Haleiwa
Haiku Valley Bridge Tunnel.

Wahiawa
California Avenue between Rose Street and Nanea Avenue and between Makaweo Avenue and Uluku Street; Kilani Avenue from Holoku Place to Ilima Street; and Mala and Ilima streets.

Waipio
Farrington Highway, Leoole to Awanui streets; and Paiwa to Leoku streets.

Waipahu
Lumiaina Street from the Board of Water Supply Waipahu Wells II facility on Kukula Street to its facility on Lumiaina Street; Kahuanui Street between Kahuanani and Kahuahale streets; Kahuanani Street between Kahuanui and Kahu streets; Kahuanui Street from Paiwa to Kahuanani streets; Waipahu Depot Road from Haakoa Place to the Waipahu Incinerator; Pupuole Place; and Awaia, Awanei, Awanui, Paiwa and Pupuole streets.

Aiea
Moanalua Road from Punanani Channel to Pali Momi Street; Kaonohi Street between Alania and Kahapili streets; Kahapili Street between Kaonohi and Kaonohi streets; Maohu Place; and Akaaka, Ilee, Kulawai, Neki, Ulune and Kaamilo streets.

Pearl City
Kamehameha Highway from Acacia Road to Honomanu Street; Komo Mai Drive from Waimano Home Road to Hookupa Street; and Kamehameha Highway between Arizona Street and Arizona Memorial Place.

Waiau
H-1 Freeway between the Waiau Interchange and the ZipHale near the Honolulu International Airport; and H-1 Honolulu-bound lane from the Waiau Interchange to the Kaahumanu overpass and two Ewa-bound lanes from the ZipHale to the Kaahumanu Overpass.

HONOLULU

Foster Village
Halupa Street from Haloa Drive to Punihi Street.

Kalihi
Dillingham Boulevard between Waiakamilo Road and North King Street; Kamanaiki Street from Violet to Laulani streets; Skyline Drive; and Kapalama, School, Moani, Laulani, Puolani, Pahulu, Ashford, Lima, Kamalii, Hillcrest and Noe streets.

Liliha
Huli Street.

Nuuanu
Kahawalu Drive; Ragsdale and Homelani places; and Waokanaka Street from Pali Highway intersection to street end.

Punchbowl
Punchbowl Street between Vineyard Boulevard andBeretania Street.

Kakaako
Keawe Street on Ala Moana, South and Queen streets, and Nimitz Highway and River Street to end at Hotel Street; and Coral Street from Ala Moana to Auahi Street.

Kapiolani
Harding Avenue from Kapahulu to 1st avenues; Kapiolani Interchange; Kapiolani Boulevard to 1st Avenue; Kapahulu Avenue from Kaimuki to Waialae avenues; and Kapiolani Boulevard from Old Waialae Road to Kapiolani Boulevard.

Moiliili
Date Street between Isenberg Street and University Avenue; Kuulei Street from Kahoaloha Lane to University Avenue.

Punahou/University
H-1 from vicinity of Punchbowl off-ramp to Kapiolani Interchange; Bingham and Lunalilo streets; Punahou to Isenberg streets; Liholiho to Kaihee and Ernest to Pensacola streets; and Keeaumoku Street to Bingham Street off-ramp.

Waialae
Aha Nui Place.

Waikiki
Ala Wai Boulevard between Ala Moana and Kalakaua Avenue; Ala Wai Promenade; and Kalakaua Avenue from Kaiulani to Kapahulu avenues.

Wihelmina Rise
Maunahilu, Pakolu and Pili places; and Paula Drive between Maunahilu Place and Iwi Way.

WINDWARD OAHU

Kaneohe
Kahekili, Kamehameha and Likelike highways from Waihee Road to Kaneohe Bay Drive.

Kahaluu
Ahuimanu Road; and Kialua, Hoopai and Poomau streets.

Hauula
Keala, Kawaipapa and Puuowaa roads; Waikulama Street; and Kamehameha Highway from Pipilani to Kaupau places.

Kailua
Halekou Interchange to Kaneohe Marine Corps Base; Kapaa Quarry Structures 1 and 2; Ililani Street from Mokapu Boulevard to Iliwahi Loop; Iliwahi Loop from Ilimano to Ilimano streets; Iliaina Street from Ililani Street to Iliwahi Loop and from Ilihau Street to end; Kalaheo Avenue between Wilikoki Place and Kaiholu Place and on Aumoe Street; Kalanianaole Highway to Kawainui Bridge; Alahaki, Akupa, Lunaai, Lunahooko and Lunaanela streets; Kailua Road; Keolu Drive; Akupa, Ilikaa, Nanaloko, Lunaawa, Lunaapono and Lunahaneli places; and Lunahelu Street and Place.

Waimanalo
Kaaiai Street from Huli to Nakini streets; Kumuhau Street from Waikupanaha to Mahailua streets; Waipahu Street from Amokii Street to Waikele Road; and Humuniki Street.

EAST OAHU

Waialae Iki
Kaimoku Place and Way.

Niu Valley
Paiko Drive and Niuiki Circle.

Kuliouou
Kuliouou Road and Keoki, Pahukula and Wakine places.

Makapuu
Kalanianaole Highway from Makapuu Lookout to Kealahou Street.

Other

Mililani
Fun Run, 7 a.m. Wednesday from the Kaiser Permanente Clinic and twice around Mililani Town Center.

Waikiki
"Salute to Youth Parade," 6:30 p.m. Wednesday from Saratoga Street through Waikiki via Kalakaua Avenue, ending at Queen Kapiolani Park.