Kuhio jam fails to reach
nightmarish proportionsRestaurant owners say weekend
traffic flowed better than expected
Three of Dan Pham's employees at the Pho Old Saigon Restaurant on Kuhio Avenue were 45 minutes late Saturday when their bus was stuck in traffic surrounding the King Kamehameha Celebrations Floral Parade.
"It was jammed," said Pham.
Events Friday, Saturday and yesterday in Waikiki diverted traffic from Kalakaua Avenue to Kuhio, much of which is under construction. Work includes widening sidewalks, landscaping medians and installing decorative street lights.
Pham and some restaurant owners said Kuhio Avenue was a bottleneck during the parade, while others said traffic was moderate as motorists continue to maneuver around work clogging one of Waikiki's main thoroughfares.
Some restaurant owners said traffic generated by those who attended the parade Saturday and the Pan-Pacific Hoolaulea Friday had little effect on business, but noted they were satisfied that contractors were almost finished with sidewalk construction, allowing patrons to find their way into their restaurants.
"At least my customers can walk through now," said Kwei Hui, owner of Seaside Bar & Grill at 2256 Kuhio Ave. Hui said he was surprised traffic Friday and Saturday was moderate. "It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be," he added.
Contractors had completed most of the sidewalk work on the mauka side of Kuhio Avenue from Seaside Avenue to Nohonani Street and from Nahua Street to Walina Street. Some said they are waiting for contractors to add planters to portions of the sidewalks.
Hui said his business is normally slow during hoolauleas in Waikiki because of food vendors that are available at the event.
Breakfast and dinner shifts at the Seaside Bar & Grill have improved 15 percent since contractors completed most of the work. "It's picking up slowly," Hui added.
Rick Egged, president of the Waikiki Improvement Association, said traffic was "better than expected."
Egged said he plans to contact city officials today to get a traffic report.
A few restaurant owners said patrons, especially tourists, are intimidated by cones and yellow tape surrounding work areas near the front of their restaurants.
"They're confused," said Pham. "They don't know which way to come in."
However, business has since improved since contractors completed the stone tile work on the sidewalk, he said.
"It helped a little bit," he said. "They're almost done."
Tracy Miller, manager of Chili's in Waikiki, said: "It wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. I thought it could have been a lot worse."
Miller said business was not affected.
"We have had tremendous numbers this weekend," she said. "Our numbers didn't show any damage at all."
Ryan Blatz, who recently bought the Big Italian Tomato Restaurant at 2260 Kuhio Ave., said traffic was "real bad" during the parade Saturday.
"It's tough when you have one (Ewa-bound) lane open," said Blatz.