COURTESY OF HAWAII RESERVES INC.
An architect's plan of the beautification project for the Mormon temple shows the grand avenue transformed into a "pedestrian-friendly promenade."
Mormons’ president to visit
for Polynesian Cultural Center
celebrationA groundbreaking will also
kick off a $6 million temple
beautification project
Laie residents and visitors will have opportunities this weekend to see another internationally known president in town for a visit.
President Gordon Hinckley, the leader of 11 million members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints worldwide, is in Hawaii as the church celebrates the 40th anniversary of its Polynesian Cultural Center.
More than 5,000 people are expected to attend events today as Hinckley and other officials join in a groundbreaking ceremony to kick off a $6 million beautification project that will turn the boulevard leading to the Hawaii Temple into a parklike promenade.
The 93-year-old leader, who is regarded as a prophet by church members, will also speak at a service tomorrow at the Brigham Young University Hawaii Cannon Activity Center. About 7,000 Laie area church members will attend the event, at which Lynn Robbins, president for the Hawaii Pacific area, and Von Orgill, president of Polynesian Cultural Center, will also speak.
The plan for Hale Laa Boulevard, the privately owned street from Kamehameha Highway to the temple, includes planting 79 royal palm trees and 33 autograph trees, as well as other palms, plumeria, hala and buttonwood trees, yellow hibiscus, bird of paradise and other tropical species.
"We envision a pedestrian-friendly promenade, a wonderful place to walk," said Eric Marler, executive vice president of Hawaii Reserves Inc., the commercial arm of the church.
The royal palms will restore the original look of the boulevard, which dates back to the 1919 construction of the temple. Marler said the original palms were replaced years ago by Norfolk Island pines.
Termite infestation doomed the pines, already a hazard because roots had buckled sidewalks, "so we decided to go all the way and do it right," Marler said.
The project will also feature traffic-slowing landscaped circles at Kulanui Street and Naniloa Loop, muted lighting of walkways and underground utility lines.
A 2,500-square-foot shoreline parcel will be developed as "Temple Gardens," with landscaping, seating, lighting and a grassy courtyard for small gatherings. A public-access pathway to the beach will be built, Marler said.
A new parking lot near Kamehameha Highway will be available to garden visitors, as well as serve Laie Elementary School.
An additional $1.5 million project will change the Kulanui Street entrance to Brigham Young University-Hawaii.
Hinckley has traveled to 60 countries since he became 15th president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1995.
He and wife Marjorie are frequent visitors to Hawaii, most recently in June when he spoke at the BYUH commencement.
There are 55,000 church members in Hawaii, Marler said.
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