With proximity to one of the best beaches on the island, water sports are a major activity. For that same reason, local residents are under constant pressure from an increasing number of tourists visiting and seeking overnight accommodations in the community.

While embracing the aloha spirit, we pride ourselves in having a relatively quiet, peaceful and friendly residential community, where residents would like to see their children be able to continue to live. But the demand for homes to be rented to tourists is causing property values to rise to levels that local residents cannot afford, and raising property taxes because of inflated values. That is likely the reason for “;No tourist rentals”; being the No. 1 issue mentioned in our survey.

With good strong support for our existing zoning from our elected officials, we can maintain the existing character of our community. The neighborhood board is fighting to keep our residential character.

The City & County is beginning to pave some of our streets after a long wait for some. But with smooth pavement will also come higher speeds.

As elsewhere, we have streets that were designed when cars could barely reach 40 mph. It is time that City & County traffic “;experts”; and elected officials move into the 21st century and provide realistic speed-abatement devices so that our streets are made safe.

A new nationwide program called “;Complete Streets”; recognizes this need, and should be implemented.

BOARD NO. 31         THE OFFICERS         Chairman         Chuck Prentiss         Secretary         Linda Ure         Members         Virginia Enos, Michael R. Hawes, Ursula Retherford, Jon Chinen, Shawn Christensen, Jim Corcoran, Ronald R. Weinberg, Donna Wong, Larry Bartley, Catie Fernandez, Derrick W. Fenske, Debbi Glanstein, Knud Lindgard, Claudine Tomasa, Utey Uch         GET INVOLVED         Contact board chairman or any member.

The speeding problem is very likely why “;street repair, traffic calming and pedestrian safety”; was No. 2 in our survey.

Our neighborhood board has received three petitions and many other complaints from neighborhoods asking for relief from speeding vehicles. The board has supported these requests, and has asked the City & County to provide the necessary solutions.

OUR TOP ISSUES

Our top five issues in Kailua came from a survey we did at the last Kailua Town Party in April, where attendees were asked the question: “;What is the most important thing that Kailua needs?”; We received more than 200 written responses and the top five were:
1. No tourist rentals.
2. Street repair, traffic calming, pedestrian safety.
3. Bicycle paths.
4. Beach park improvements.
5. More local-type businesses; small movie theater.