Mahalo for supporting Honolulu Star Advertiser. Have fun with this free story!
Along the beachfront Kalakaua Avenue, Waikiki’s main tourist boardwalk, the city of Honolulu is battling crime and vandalism. And at Ala Wai Boat Harbor, at the gateway to Waikiki, state agencies have grappled with increasing decay for decades, along with crime, vandalism, and other miscellaneous wrongdoings that plague the site.
This reflects urban life in Hawaii, which has become more crowded, expensive, and complicated this century. Parks and public spaces that were relaxed gathering places a generation ago have come under pressure from increased use, decay and lack of maintenance, and rising homelessness has led people to occupy spaces that were never meant to be used in this way.
This is where “activation” comes in – providing an attraction that attracts widespread, sustained public use, thereby discouraging illegal or antisocial behavior.
For a series of pavilions along Kalakaua Avenue, the provision of an activity – a refreshment stand, a beach boy concession – was successful in many ways and created a friendly, lively atmosphere. But problems persist at Pavilion #4, on the corner of Kalakaua Avenue and Kapahulu Avenue, which are proving to be too much for the Pacific Island Beach Boys.
Although they successfully provide services at a concession stand at Kuhio Beach and Waikiki’s Pavilion #3, the beach boys at Pavilion #4 lasted only months before returning the pavilion to the city, citing vandalism and crime.
Last month, Waikiki’s John Deutzman called Pavilion No. 4 “an embarrassment and a disaster” where people “had a bowel movement, fighting, drinking and drug dealing every day.”
This week, the city said talks were underway to refill Pavilion No. 4. But while city spokesman Ian Scheuring said a “long-term activation” would be good for the square, the city has yet to find a solution.
Ideas put forward at an Aug. 9 meeting of the Waikiki Neighborhood Board include a biki bikeshare booth or guarded lockers. Scheuring raised the possibility of filling the pavilion with a city agency. None of these solutions sound particularly lively or social, but they would fill the space not to attract illegal activity.
Pavilion #4 is in an attractive location and it would be a shame to see it with lockers or a stagnant installation. While it may not be best suited for a beach boy booth, the city would do best to place an activity there that involves a live attendant and interaction with beachgoers to create a visible presence and increased security.
In the short term, things are looking a little better at Ala Wai Boat Harbor while the need for intervention is just as urgent. The port has been in dire need of attention and repairs for more than a decade, left in abeyance by the failure of a plan to build a mixed-use project at the port by developer Honeybee USA in 2016, which suffered financial setbacks and lost its lease with the state.
In 2018, the Board of Land and Natural Resources voted to renew a call for proposals from private developers for projects in the port. As this develops, BLNR has approved a temporary food truck and entertainment court with 30-day renewable, revocable permits.
Plans include food service and Hawaiian music, 32 umbrella-covered tables, an entertainment area and landscaping. The operators undertake to provide 24-hour security and maintain public toilets nearby. that seems to tick all the boxes.
Ultimately, municipalities and states need a long-term master plan for besieged public spaces and consistent interventions for those who abuse shared spaces.
In the meantime, offering culturally appropriate attractions in troubled places can ward off decay and criminal activity. When done right, the Activation can celebrate its location, and that should be the goal.
Related posts:
- 3 Honolulu police officers charged with killing 16-year-old boy
- Honolulu City Council member calls for more local produce at farmers’ markets
- As the wars end, Congress visits the powers of the President – Honolulu, Hawaii
- HFD transports hikers from the Diamond Head Crater Trail, Maunawili Falls Trail
Comments are closed.