Questions and Comments from Audience for Panel

City Not Being Fair, Not Listening to the People

  1. Isn’t Caldwell working for the local people so why doesn’t he listen to us.  We don’t want the park changed! Just maintained. Nobody complaining about shade…Take vote on subjects.

  2. Where is the Mayor tonight?  He is not “Pono.”

  3. I would like to know why the idea of building a dog park was not presented at the earlier C &C hearings but yet was included in the DEIS.  Also, why the lack of transparency, but no attempt at scheduling an EIS hearing?

  4. JUST LEAVE THE PARK ALONE!  IT’S FINE TO MOST OF US!

Shared Use Path

  1. Who requested the shared path?

  2. Resolution 18-50: mentions grass strip.  Why is that not being acknowledged?

  3. By removing grass on makai side and putting planters, picnicking on grass would be taken away.  Prefer practical use of grass vs. cosmetics.

  4. Please elaborate on number 2-widening the shared use path along the makai side (trees, grass)

  5. Why rip up sidewalk to put just 12 inches of sidewalk?  So unnecessary!

Safety

  1. A critical safety issue is the Piikoi and Ala Moana ingress/egress intersection.  Can you please support insuring that intersection is modernized to become safer? A “Tokyo scramble” format would be very much a welcome improvement.  I’ve seen too many pedestrian accidents occur. Mahalo.

Dog Park

  1. Honolulu Lei of Green extends from Diamond Head to Aloha Tower.  An important connection to this Lei of green is planned to be between Ala Moana Park and Kewalo Basin Park for continuity.  Why is a dog park that can be anywhere planned to block this lei of green connection intended for all park users? We do not want this important shoreline green open space decorated with dog poop.

  2. “DO NOT let Ala Moana Go To The Dogs!”  “Enforce current no pets rule.”

  3. Appreciate the upkeep of the bathrooms on a regular basis.  We do not need a dog park or playground equipment!! What is being done about erosion and rocks on shore?

  4. Do we need a Dog park?  

  5. We see signs posted “NO ANIMALS”.   THIS IS NOT ENFORCED. MANY PEOPLE BRING DOGS THAT POOP IN THE PARK AND ON THE BEACH.  WHY NO ENFORCEMENT?

Sand Erosion

  1. DID BEACH SAND EROSION INCREASE AFTER KEWALO SIDE SEAWALL RENOVATION?

  2. MAYBE MORE SAND ON BEACHES!

Canals and Ponds

  1. Plans for the Canal and Ponds?  Carol Ching

Commercial Activity

  1. There are dozens of people/companies operating commercial activities in this park without permits daily.  The EIS does not address this issue. Is this a deficiency that needs to be addressed?

  2. WILL THE USE OF THE PARK BY ALL THE VENDORS (WITHOUT CONTRACTS) LIKE SUP, YOGA, ETC be addressed?  THIS IS PUTTING A LOT OF ADDED PRESSURE ON SPACE AND RESOURCES.

  3. What are your feelings of all the commercial activities in a public park?  Weddings/segways/watersports

  4. How do you account for the one acre lawn bowling being in a City park?  Do they pay rent? Who owns it? Why McCoy is limited to being used by non-profits only?  How will you stop people from parking at Ewa end all day and catch bus to work downtown?

  5. Ala Moana Park is a historic park with historic walls, bridges, and gates.  Why is there an industrial bicycle station in the shape of a large horseshoe fronting and defacing the historic Roosevelt portal?  How long will this station ruin this area?

  6. No surf lesson, this is not Waikiki!  Why do those expensive apartments shuttle across the street-drive tenants w/chairs/standup boards!

Pollution

  1. I noticed that one of the basic issues that plague Ala Moana Beach Park that was not addressed in the DEIS was plastic pollution.  The rubbish on the beach is an eyesore and obviously has negative impact on the environment and potentially, our health. Will we be able to deal with basic issues first before building expensive facilities?

  2. In a time when our oceans are filling up with trash, when birds, fish and other wildlife are dying in large numbers due to trash in our oceans, something drastic needs to change in how Honolulu addresses this issue.  Currently, there are more than 120 wide mouthed plastic trash cans in the park with trash blowing out of them. This is not simply a waste management problem, it is an environmental and park and recreation issue. Education is required.  How is it that a serious litter management plan is not included in the (DEIS) plan?

  3. What about pollution of the water?  People washing with soap and shampoo-sign at showers ignored.  Dogs/animals on beach, before and after lifeguards leave.

Playground

  1. What is the rational for a playground when Ala Moana Park is already a playground?  Waste of money.

Maintenance

  1. Is there an appropriation in the budget for park maintenance at Ala Moana?  And if not, how is the amount provided for AMRP maintenance determined?

Tree removal

  1. HOW CAN TREE REMOVAL ON MAUKA SIDE OF ALA MOANA BE PREVENTED?  THEY’LL SAY TREES ARE DISEASED TO JUSTIFY REMOVAL.

Parking

  1. My understanding is that the parking situation fronting and near the tennis courts continues to be an issue.  If so, is the proposal to widen the walkway at the expense of altering the parking spaces still on the table even though very many park users are vehemently against it?

Concern About Usage of Park  (Miscellaneous)

  1. Are there any statistics on current park usage?  And projected park usage?

  2. Does the EIS include a study for carrying capacity for various users?  (surfers, picnickers, BBQ, etc.)

  3. How are the thousands of local people who use this park daily for many years going to benefit from these proposed actions?

  4. Homeless program at night!  

Creating Protections for Ala Moana Park

  1. Question for Trevor and Ann:  Please tell us HONESTLY what we can do, and what you both will do to preserve the park as a historical park for the people of Honolulu?  Mahalo.