Maui mayor offers plan
to improve Wailuku area

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By Gary T. Kubota
gkubota@starbulletin.com

WAILUKU >> Maui Mayor James "Kimo" Apana has proposed an improvement plan for Wailuku town that includes converting county land on the north side of Iao Theatre into a park and a parking lot.

Vineyard Street would serve as the access to the 42-stall parking lot.

The lack of parking has been a major reason why some developers have been reluctant to build in Wailuku town.

The plan also would develop public restrooms and a police substation in the park adjacent to Maui Sporting Goods on North Market Street.

Apana is expected to unveil the plan at a meeting at 6:30 tonight at the Maui Academy of Performing Arts Building in Wailuku.

The land for the park and parking lot, about 42,000 square feet, is currently used as an unpaved parking lot and for holding special events in Wailuku.

County officials plan to use $462,500 in federal urban renewal funds to pay for the design and some of the improvements.

Apana is planning to ask the County Council to fund parking lot improvements.

The administration is also considering whether to allow the nonprofit Lokahi Pacific to operate the county building to the south of Iao Theatre.

The building would offer retail space for start-up businesses, a commercial com- munity kitchen and office space.

Wailuku town started losing its customers in the 1950s with the development of shopping centers and supermarkets in Kahului.

Activity has slowly picked up, however. Construction has occurred on Main Street, and the Apana administration has sponsored special events and closed a section of North Market Street for celebrations, including Chinese New Year's.

"(The town is) open at night," Apana said. "That's something that wasn't possible to see four years ago."