MAYOR, HEAR THE PEOPLE: Keep Ala Moana Beach Park “The People’s Park”!

We, the undersigned, urge our leaders to change the “Ala Moana Regional Park and Magic Island Improvements Master Plan” to keep local traditions and to keep the park safe.

RETAIN THE MAKAI GRASS STRIP FOR THE PEOPLE

Do not eliminate it or make it narrower

We oppose: “Widening the shared-use path along the makai side of Ala Moana Park Drive” (DEIS Section 2.3, page 2-6). Figure 2-8 (page 2-24) illustrates the sidewalk is widened by eliminating the makai grass strip or making it narrower. For generations, the makai grass strip has been a space where families barbecue, parents watch their keiki play in the sand, beach park users pitch their tents and umbrellas, and people relax and watch the sunrise and sunset. Removing this grassy area or making it narrower will put an end to these local traditions, forever.


KEEP THE MAKAI SIDEWALK SAFE FOR PEDESTRIANS

Do not allow it to be a shared-use path

We oppose: “Widening the shared-use path along the makai side of Ala Moana Park Drive” (DEIS Section 2.3, page 2-6). Allowing wheeled vehicles on the makai sidewalk causes unsafe conditions for children playing on the path as well as for people walking and jogging. It may also cause collisions especially since those traveling on wheels will often be looking at the ocean.


KEEP THE MAUKA PARALLEL PARKING

Do not change it to perpendicular stalls

We oppose: “Reconfigure parking on the mauka side of Ala Moana Park Drive to add more stalls" (DEIS Section 2.3, page 2-6) and “The mauka stalls are still proposed to be reconfigured to perpendicular stalls, but will also include parallel stalls where appropriate.” (DEIS Section 2.3.5, page 2-17). Reorienting a majority of the mauka parallel parking stalls to perpendicular parking raises the following safety concerns: There is limited sight vision for drivers reversing from perpendicular stalls into oncoming traffic and park users will be exposed to traffic as they load and unload their vehicles. Additionally, as noted in the DEIS, there is sufficient additional parking stalls proposed at the Magic Island and Keyhole parking lots.

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