CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARBULLETIN.COM Craig Inouye helped Ashton Foderberg, 6, pick a pair of slippers yesterday at the Quiksilver Boardriders Club at Kapiolani Boulevard. Inouye is worried that the improvements scheduled along the road will hurt business.

Business owners fear more
Kapiolani road work

To learn more The city says people with questions or concerns about the Kapiolani project should contact Lynn Kurashima of the Department of Design and Construction at 527-6707 or Chester Koga of RM Towill Corp. at 842-1133.

Kapiolani Boulevard entrepreneurs who lost up to 30 percent in business last year because of emergency road work hope the loss won't be repeated during a 21-month sewer and water-main project that starts next year.

"I've been here almost 10 years and every year there is a major project along this street," Quiksilver surf shop owner Craig Inouye said. "It's a deterrent to come in this area and as a result we lose a lot of business. ... We had a substantial 30 percent decrease in business when they did those emergency repairs last year."

For two months last year, the city closed lanes on Kapiolani Boulevard for emergency sewer line repair. And from next January to October 2007, traffic will again be disrupted by a joint sewer and water project.

Project planners acknowledge the inconvenience and say they are taking measures to minimize the effects.

"The proposed joint project reduces two to three years of construction-related traffic tie-ups to less than two years," city Chief Engineer Eldon Franklin said. "We are also asking the state for a noise ordinance to allow work at night, which would reduce our estimated construction time by 25 to 30 percent."

RM Towill, the civil engineering firm in charge of the project, promises to keep at least one lane open in each direction at all times and cease work during peak commuting periods, including the holiday rush. They will also limit construction at night to nonresidential areas and keep the noise level to a minimum by furnishing all equipment with mufflers, Board of Water Supply engineer Howard Tanaka said.

Construction will be done in phases along Kapiolani Boulevard from Ward Avenue to Kalakaua Avenue and portions of Kamakee Street, Atkinson Drive and Kalakaua Avenue.

Trying to keep communication flowing between the public and project planners, the city has provided a hotline to address concerns and has held two public meetings recently to inform affected residents and business owners.

Reaction from area businesspeople has ranged from frustration to resignation.

"I am worried because there are a lot of legitimate businesses in the area, but most of them don't go to the meetings to voice their concerns," said Inouye, who attended the first meeting. "They weren't sensitive to our concerns then, so I just want to make sure it won't happen again."

Kenny Ikeguchi, a manager of Shabu-Shabu House restaurant, was incredulous. "We suffered a 15 percent business loss for a couple weeks when they were doing the sewer work. Now they want to do construction for almost two years!"

And Lawrence Wong, a manager of Cuisine Tony facing Kapiolani Boulevard, noted, "The construction will affect all businesses in the area because customers don't know how to access our buildings."

But others acknowledged the need for the work.

"Our customers express frustration, but I understand it has to be done," said Dwayne Arakawa, general manager of Hawaiian Bryan's pool hall. "It means we have to be creative in luring in new customers and take care of our current clientele."

Chris Pivonka, an assistant manager at 24-hour Fitness, said, "We didn't go to the meeting because it won't have a big impact on our business.

"It's just an inconvenience for our customers. They have to use alternate routes."