HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0138.011 2000-2002 " ' QECg1VE~
--_j~~y y~.~~~_
Hawai' i County Council : March 20, 2001 - / : ,
~nfy a1c[~ ,
The improvements to Lili'uokalani Gardens have been thoughtfully
and beautifully done. It was originally planned that Lihiwai Street be
reopened when the improvements were done. In fact, signs still say
that the street is temporarily closed while improvements are being
made. Since the work has already been done, it will not cost anything
to reopen the street. We respectfully request that this original plan
be carried out so that Lihiwai Street will again be open to traffic.
We have been observing the park for some time. Before the street
was closed the park was frequently being used by so many people that
it was impossible to count them. We would see people spreading cloths
on the grass and having lunch or dinner there. (There were few tables
then.) Many people would be walking around the park. In the past month
we have observed the park several times. On weekdays we saw perhaps a
dozen people in the park, and some of these were the maintenance
crews. On a Sunday there were only about 20 people in the park. At no
time did we see anyone eating, either at the picnic tables provided or
on the grass. This doesn't mean that nobody ever picnics there, but we
did not see anyone doing so, and it certainly is not as common as it
was two or three years ago.
Lihiwai Street is very accessible for handicapped people. The
sidewalks slope to street level by the handicap parking spaces and the
sidewalks themselves are broad, making it easy for handicapped people
to walk or to ride in wheelchairs. However, Lihiwai Street will not be
really accessible until and unless the street is opened so cars may
park in the handicap spaces. It should be remembered that most
handicapped people are restricted by distance more than any other
factor. This applies to people with arthritis, heart trouble, balance
disorders, and muscular disorders. Thus, if Lihiwai Street is not
open, most handicapped people will not have access to it, regardless
of any other accommodations made there.
Lihiwai Street, as it passes Lili'uokalani Gardens, is the only
place where we can admire the view of Hilo Bay as we drive along. In
the daytime, we have the wonderful view of our beautiful bay, with
Mauna Kea in the background. At night, we can enjoy the lights across
the bay as they reflect on the water. This is really a great tourist
attraction, with the kind of view that many visitors expect of
Hawaii. People with impaired balance, like Anne, and people with
impaired night vision, find it impossible to walk there at night. Many
people would hesitate to walk there at night for safety reasons. This
means that for a large number of our people, the beautiful views.
across the bay at night are not available as long as the street is
closed. Many of our visitors would not have the opportunity to walk
along the street, but they could drive by both safely and easily. f 3
Comm. No. _ a..,.,K
File No.~
~r~~ P ~ M L
R,ef. To: _
Ref. 7Jate~?~ 2 0
We understand that the police would like the street closed to
prevent speeding there. Closing streets does not stop speeders it
simply makes them speed somewhere else. (Akolea Road is a nightly
favorite. We live a block away from that road, and we frequently hear
the speeders.) Closing would also prevent easy access of emergency
vehicles to the park. Closing is not a solution to the speeding
problem and it complicates emergency access.
If the Council wishes to find out what the people of this County
and in Hilo wish regarding this issue, we suggest that a telephone
poll be taken. Letters (like this one), informative as they might be
about issues, are not good indicators of popular preferences. I7nti1 a
month or so ago, all indications were that Lihiwai Street would be
reopened after the park improvements were made. (Signs still say that
the street is t~m~,orarily closed.) Therefore, nobody who favored
reopening sent any letters because they assumed that reopening would
occur. (To support this statement, we ask how many people wrote
letters requesting that Komohana Street be reopened after the November
flood. We're sure you agree that opinion was unanimous for reopening
Komohana Street.) A much more accurate way to determine public opinion
is to run a telephone poll . ( Phone polls ensure greater accuracy and
more responses than written polls because many people don't bother to
answer written ones.) The poll needs only one simple question: "Do you
favor reopening of Lihiwai Street by Lili'uokalani Gardens?"
We have had numerous calls and comments supporting our opinion
after we wrote letters to the Council and the editor of the Hawaii
Tribune-Herald in February.
We request that Lihiwai Street be reopened to vehicular traffic.
Thank you.
Roger E. Baldwin
Anne E. Baldwin
l ~ ~~~~~i
E1 zabeth fl~i. Baldwin