Disconnected Queen Street
segment likely to be renamed

Question: Now that Queen Street is going to be rerouted mauka on the Diamond Head end, what will the roadway between Auahi and Ala Moana near the IBM building be renamed? The street signs still read "Queen Street" for that short section.

Answer: That area is under the purview of the Hawaii Community Development Authority, which expects to finish its project to extend Queen Street from Kamakee to Waimanu streets in early September.

However, the city Department of Planning and Permitting would have to approve any naming or renaming of city streets.

Although the half-block stretch you refer to has the same name, it never connected with the main thoroughfare known as Queen Street. Since it curves into Auahi Street, it would be logical to rename that stretch Auahi Street.

In fact, the HCDA has applied to the city to rename it as such, said Executive Director Daniel Dinell.

A request before the city would make the stretch near the IBM building part of Auahi Street.

Although the name change makes a lot of sense, the city wants to make sure it gets all its streets lined up in order, so to speak, before making a decision.

A general realignment for that area hasn't yet been approved, explained Kathy Sokugawa, an official with the Department of Planning and Permitting.

"There are some issues related to final improvements to the Auahi Street alignment, the existing Queen Street and even down to some issues (related) to Waimanu Street further up," she said.

It's not a simple matter of just renaming a street, Sokugawa said. Otherwise, like what happened with the disconnected portion of Queen Street, we could once again "end up with streets with the same name not connected to each other," she said.

Meanwhile, Dinell said his staff is also checking with the city about naming the new extension Queen Street. No one has an address on that section, as well, so, "from that point of view, there is no impact," he said.

The Queen Street Extension Project involves building a 76-foot-wide roadway, including 8-foot-wide sidewalks, two lanes in each direction and an 8-foot-wide median. Waimanu Street, between the new road and Pensacola Street, also is to be widened.

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