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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0138.018 2000-2002 March 17, 2001 TO DOMINIC YAGONG, CHAIRMAN LENINGRAD ELARIONOFF, VICE CHAIRMAN' ` COUNCIL MEMBERS COMMITTEE ON PARKS AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT FROM RON NAKAMICHI SUBJECT :COMMUNICATION 138.3: REQUEST THAT LILIHIWAI STREET AROUND THE VICINITY OF LILI'UOKALANI GARDENS REMAIN CLOSED TO VEHICULAR TRAFFIC This written testimony is submitted in support of Communication 138.3 to keep that portion of Lihiwai Street that travels around the perimeter of Lili'uokalani Park closed to vehicular traffic. Throughout my residency here in Hilo, I have enjoyed the beauty and activities provided by Lili'uokalani park. I remember as a child having picnics there with my parents and siblings and later with my own family. There were many weekends spent there just walking through the park, having lunch or catching opae. I even had the pleasure of being a part of the tree planting ceremony by Prince Hitachi of Japan on June 21, 1985. This past summer, I had walked through part of the park, to fish along the wall, and had observed the re-beautification project in progress. I didn't fully realize the extent of the project until December when I walked through the park with my family. For all who were and are involved in this project, thank you. You have transformed a nice park into one of the most beautiful and picturesque parks in the State. My daughters even commented of wishing they had a park like this on Oahu. Since December, I have utilized the park for my walks and short jogs in the evenings after work, and I find it not only to be beautiful, but it to have a very serene and tranquil setting. I have observed an increased usage of the park with walkers and joggers, and families enjoying a picnic. Please keep in mind that all of these activities are during the weekday and in January and February, when the days are short. I have also observed couples and groups, residents and visitors, strolling around the perimeter of the park, either on the sidewalk or intended roadway or enjoying the view sitting on the benches fronting the seawall. ComYn. N®. ~ 3 8./ g Jule 1~To. Ref. To• ~ M c., . Date_ ~tAR ~ 0 200 COMMUNICATION 138.3 PAGE 2 All of these activities are enjoyed without the concern of the danger of being struck by a motor vehicle, the smell of exhaust fumes, or loud boom boxes. It is further enjoyed because of the lack of litter. For the past two and a half months the area has been clean, free of trash, broken glass, bottles or cans along that perimeter. On Thursday, March 15, was the first time any type of vandalism was observed when someone had defaced the base of a light standard with graffiti. Should Lihiwai Street be open to vehicular traffic, there will definitely be problems with groups congregating in the parking areas which would lead to alcohol and drug use. It is an on going problem everywhere, and we will have that problem in the park. Will we see an increase in litter and graffiti? Unequivocally, yes. Will the serenity and beauty of the park be affected? Unquestionably. Guests from the hotels on Banyan Drive and the cruise ships are enjoying the walk along Lihiwai Street, and those that I have talked to have related that the park and walkway are beautiful and would prefer to have the roadway remain closed. Dining guests at the nearby restaurants can also enjoy the beauty of this area with a stroll along the water's edge before or after dinner. It will surely add to whet one's appetite or to the memory of a delicious dinner. Should this closure of Lihiwai Street remain, it is my understanding that it is also being proposed to allow skateboarders to use the paved roadway. There have been a few skateboarders taking advantage of the closure, but due to damage that I have already seen on the benches and the planter box surfaces, I strongly recommend against this proposal. The YMCA currently has a facility for skateboarders in the butler building on the civic grounds. Although there are membership and user fees required, if it has not already been addressed, possibly a joint partnership can be agreed upon for use of the facility by everyone. This would allow for the skateboarders to enjoy their sport at night and during inclement weather conditions and preserve the park's structures. Everyone should be able to enjoy the beauty of the park and the view it presents. Additional parking for the handicap can be designated in the "Isles" parking area. The planning and design of the project have included the Isles area with sidewalks and accessible walkways established. It is a distance of 280 feet from the designated handicap parking on Lihiwai Street to the first designated parking stall in the Isles parking area. The walk along that area is as beautiful as that along the seawall and will give a different perspective of Lili'uokalani Park. Tremendous effort, planning, and monies were expended in beautifying Lili'uokalani Park. Don't destroy the serene and tranquil setting of the park with vehicular traffic. COMMUNICATION 13 8.3 PAGE 3 Thank you for taking time to review my testimony and look forward to a favorable outcome. Should you have any questions, please call me 939-2519 (b) or 959-3005 (r -unl). 'The following are a few friends who have indicated they would also like to see Lihiwai Street remain closed to vehicular trafffic: 1. Yvonne Inouye oti. Hilo, Hawaii 2. Kelvin Sewake ~'~~~.e Hilo, Hawaii ~ A 3. Dana Sewake OUP-~ut.~c.% ~,~'c-~ Hilo, Hawaii 4. Maxine Hanashiro ~ OIYLt~~ ~ Hilo, Hawaii 11~~ ,N, "n'~ 5. Karen Ramada ~3L~~J Hilo, Hawaii 6. Greg Esteban Hilo, Hawaii 7. Laurie Kaneta Hilo, Hawaii