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Kokua Line
Question: I want to call attention to the rubber walkway for the handicapped that is not being maintained at Ala Moana Beach. The walkway is in bad shape and not cleaned up so the handicapped can use it. Can you help? Rubber mats
at Ala Moana
Beach fixedAnswer: Repairs to level the beach mats were to be made yesterday.
The city Department of Parks and Recreation had placed the mats at both ends of Ala Moana Beach to give wheelchair users a way to get to the water.
"We will be making repairs tomorrow," Norman Morikuni, manager of the Parks Department's West Honolulu District, said Wednesday. He personally checked out your complaint last week and found "some uneven areas, but not as bad" as described. Nonetheless, he said, both mats would be made level.
Maintenance workers had been sweeping the mats once a day, Morikuni said. "I've now increased that to twice a day, so there will be more frequent cleaning of the beach mats."
Asked if many people in wheelchairs actually use the mats, he said not a lot. Some occasionally opt for using the city's "all-terrain wheelchairs," which have extra big tires to navigate across sand.
Two of those wheelchairs are available at Ala Moana, one at each of the concession stands at the Diamond Head and Ewa ends of the park. The beach mats are only set up at Ala Moana, but all-terrain wheelchairs are also offered at Sans Souci Beach in Waikiki, Hanauma Bay, Kualoa Regional Park and Kailua Beach Park, Morikuni said.
There is no charge, but the wheelchair user must have a companion who is able to wheel him or her over the sand to the water, he said.
At Ala Moana, they are available at the concession stands 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; at Sans Souci, through Kayak Oahu Adventures at the New Otani Kaimana Beach Hotel, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; at Hanauma Bay, through North Shore Shuttle Inc., 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; and at Kailua Beach, at the food concession, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
At Kualoa, make arrangements first by calling park staff at 237-8525, Morikuni said.
Manoa Road work update
Months ago a reader asked about the status of work to construct wheelchair curb ramps in Manoa. The work had started more than a year ago then suddenly halted because of concerns about meeting accessibility guidelines set by the Americans with Disabilities Act.The reader expressed concern about the danger of "a rod sticking up" at the corner of Lowrey Avenue and East Manoa.
We got an update from the city Department of Design and Construction on the project, but no response asking for information as to cost and a timetable.
Just so we don't leave Manoa readers hanging: The last word was that the curb ramps have been redesigned to meet a more recent interpretation of what ADA guidelines call for.
"The redesign involves a "reasonable accommodation,' " said department Director Gary Yee.
Yee told us his office was involved in "detailed documentation on the technical infeasibility of meeting the design standards" and an alternative design in its place.
Mayor Harris and his Cabinet attended a recent Manoa Neighborhood Board meeting earlier this month, at which time, he said the project was to restart by the end of this month.
If that happens, the project should be completed by the end of the year, according to information Yee provided earlier.
Need help with problems? Call Kokua Line at 525-8686,
fax 525-6711, or write to P.O. Box 3080, Honolulu 96802.
Email to kokualine@starbulletin.com