TheBuzz
TheBuzz
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Certain platitudes could characterize this column about the city's beautification project in Kaimuki, such as, "no pain, no gain." As an answer there's an old Rolling Stones song title, "You can't always get what you want." Miffed merchants
in KaimukiThe intent of the project is to revitalize and bring more people to the area.
To hear small-businessman Duane Chang tell it, none of the clientele that put up with a half-hour search for parking think the project is a good thing. Chang and Robert Lai own Collector Maniacs at 3571 Waialae Ave.
"The sad part about it is the clientele all complain about it. Nobody comes in here and says, 'oh yeah it's going to be a better thing for Kaimuki,'" Chang said.
The project started in August, took a break for the Christmas shopping season and resumed after the first of the year.
The work has slowed vehicle-borne traffic to his store and caused problems with merchandise deliveries.
"All the retailers' business has gone down and we've had landlords write a letter to the city asking for reduced tax," he said, "so we're seeing what we can do to compensate for lost revenues."
Construction has also slowed foot traffic from senior citizens to students, who would frequent the shops after school.
"If you had called two hours ago, I would have been screaming" to override the noise of heavy machinery ripping up the street fronting his store, Chang said.
The road ripping was unavoidable, according to City Councilman Duke Bainum. "They've been paved over so many times they're about to cover up the storm drains."
Kevin Matsuura, president of the Kaimuki Business and Professional Association, acknowledges the project has been challenging, primarily for retailers on Waialae between 11th and 12th avenues.
The association and the Greater East Honolulu Community Alliance have served as touchpoints for Bainum and his staff.
"Over two years we've had dozens of community meetings," he said, adding that he and his staff went door-to-door to businesses inviting merchants to planning meetings.
"We're very aware that not everyone can drop everything" to come to a meeting, Bainum said, but noted that several meetings were planned for evening hours so people could give their input.
To Chang's eyes the project has taken away six parking places when stalls were already hard to find. Try to find parking between noon and 1 p.m. or 6 to 7 p.m., Chang dares. "Good luck. Come on the weekends, good luck. Period. There's no way."
Bainum's office counters that two loading zone spaces and one accessible stall will be added to the five regular stalls on the mauka side of Waialae, while one loading zone space and one accessible space will be added to the eight stalls on the makai side. Illegal "spaces" aren't included in the official count.
"Plus we have $75,000 from the budget that becomes active this year in July to do a parking study to look for additional parking in Kaimuki," Bainum said. One idea is to repave and restripe the municipal lot on Harding Avenue between 11th and 12th Avenues for a gain of 23 stalls.
"The plan has been disruptive," Bainum said, "but the overall benefit will be tremendous."
"I predict in five years Kaimuki will be one of the best places to have a business. It's already one of the best places to have a restaurant," Bainum said. "The bulk of it will be done by the private sector; this is the government part. I know the business community is up to it, so we have to do the best we can, get out of the way and let them do what they do best."
Erika Engle is a reporter with the Star-Bulletin.
Call 529-4302, fax 529-4750 or write to Erika Engle,
Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., No. 7-210,
Honolulu, HI 96813. She can also be reached
at: eengle@starbulletin.com