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Hunakai median
advocated to slow
traffic, beautify area

Other projects considered include
a facelift in central Kaimuki, landscaping
along Waialae Avenue and a shower room
at KCC for commuting bicyclists

Roadwork

By Harold Morse
Star-Bulletin

Lucinda Pyles wants to see an irrigated, landscaped median with trees and ground cover in the middle of four-lane Hunakai Street between Pahoa Avenue and Pueo Street.

Besides beautifying the thoroughfare and providing shade, street narrowing would slow speeding traffic and make pedestrian crossing safer, said the member of the Kaimuki/Palolo/Waialae-Kahala Visioning Team.

Hunakai Street is divided only by a double yellow line. It borders one end of Kahala Mall and is hot and dry.

The plan, one that's been talked about for years, would make the newly shaded street two lanes, retaining existing parking on both sides. The tree median in the middle would be 12 feet wide.

The trees proposal, a visioning team project, was discussed at length last week at a meeting at Kapiolani Community College.

Ross Sasamura, visioning team role facilitator, also city director of facility maintenance, spoke of reports of drag racing in that stretch of Hunakai.

Pyles has allies, including the Outdoor Circle. If the median goes in, some sewer pipes now more than 50 years old would be replaced.

The proposal also calls for landscaping under the freeway near the Waialae Avenue on-ramp.

Another high profile project is the Kaimuki Business District Master Plan, backed by Leonard Tam.

It looks to beautified streets, wider sidewalks -- created by narrowing Waialae Avenue -- and a pedestrian mall. Fifty feet of 12th Avenue would be closed to traffic at Waialae Avenue to make room for the mall. Buses would shuttle customers from Waikiki and stop at a new transit center nearby.

Tam said the master plan is in "Phase 2." Phase II, which includes the pedestrian mall, was funded earlier by the City Council.

A state improvement project farther east on Waialae Avenue compliments the Kaimuki plan by giving the avenue a face lift near Kahala Mall -- with new paving, fence posts and chain-link fence, plus clearing and grubbing of ground to be landscaped and planted with shrubs and palms. Additionally, that contract provides permanent irrigation lines to maintain plants.

A tentative idea to enhance the Bikeway Master Plan would be to view Kapiolani Community College as a final destination for many bike riders and thus make practical a bike riders' comfort station there to allow riders to take showers and change clothes.

It would call for a design that lends itself to the least vandalism and deterrence of the homeless. Other team projects include further beautification of Waialae Avenue and of Waialae Beach Park, where new outdoor showers and improved restrooms are planned.

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Roadwork

Planned this week on Oahu:

LEEWARD OAHU

Ewa Beach

Old Fort Weaver and North roads; Fort Weaver Road from Farrington Highway to Hanakahi Street; Farrington Highway from Piliokoe Bridge to Kahe Power Plant in the vicinity of Tracks Beach Park; and Fort Weaver Road at Renton Road and near Kahua Ranch Nursery.

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; H-1 Freeway in the vicinity of Kunia Interchange; and Kunia Road from Anonui Street to South Kupuna Loop.

Haleiwa

Haiku Valley Bridge Tunnel.

Pupukea

Kamehameha Improvements at Pupukea Road; and Pahoe Road to Kapuhi Street.

Wahiawa

Ilima Street.

Waipio

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

Mililani

Lanikuhana Avenue.

Waipahu

Intersection of Waipahu and Awamoi streets; 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

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; and Spine Road.

HONOLULU

Foster Village

Halupa Street from Haloa Drive to Punihi Street.

Pearl Harbor

Vicinity of Arizona Memorial.

Kalihi

Skyline Drive; Ashford, Lima, Kamalii and Hillcrest streets; and Gulick Avenue.

Kakaako

Keawe Street on Ala Moana, South and Queen streets, and Nimitz Highway and River Street to end at Hotel Street; and Rycroft Street from Birch to Piikoi streets.

Kapiolani

Kapiolani Interchange; Kapiolani Boulevard between Old Waialae Road and King Street; S. King Street at the Kapiolani Intersection; and Harding and First avenues to Kapiolani Boulevard.

Moiliili

Date Street between Isenberg Street and University Avenue.

Punahou/University

H-1 from vicinity of Punchbowl Offramp to Kapiolani Interchange; Bingham from Punahou to Isenberg streets; and Lunalilo Street from Liholiho to Kaihee and Ernest to Pensacola streets.

Waialae

Ainakoa Avenue to West Hind Drive; Kalanianaole Highway from Ainakoa Avenue to Laukahi Street; Waialae Interchange to Ainakoa Avenue.

Kaimuki

Narcissus Place.

Waikiki

Ala Wai Boulevard from Ala Moana to Kalakaua Avenue; and Kalakaua Avenue from Kaiulani and Paoakalani avenues to Kapahulu Avenue.

Wilhelmina 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; Lihika and Laenani drives and the section of Kamehameha Highway connecting the two streets; Mapele Place and Road; Ahilani, Ahuimanu and Pulama roads; and 45-637 Uhilehua Streets.

Kahaluu

Ahuimanu, Ahilama and Pulama roads; Kialua, Hoopai and Poomau streets; Mapele Place and Road; and Kamehameha Highway from Lihikai to Laenani drives.

Kailua

Auloa Road from Castle Junction to near Lunaai Street; Halekou to Kaneohe Marine Corps Base interchanges; Kalaheo Avenue between Wilikoki and Kaiholu places; Aumoe Street; and Mokapu Saddle Road at Kaneohe Bay Drive.

Waimanalo

Kumuhau Street from Waikupanaha to Mahailua streets; Waipahu Street from Amokii Street to Waikele Road; and Humuniki Street.