Public input sought for street safety program

The city is seeking community input for its Complete Streets program through an interactive website, survey and eight sit-down sessions Nov. 13-17.

The program seeks solutions for making streets within Honolulu’s urban core safer for pedestrians, bicyclists, bus riders and motorists. The project includes portions of King Street; Kapiolani Boulevard; Piikoi, Pensacola, Punchbowl and Kamakee streets; and Ward and Kalakaua avenues, among others.

Online input is welcome via a “story map” at honolulu.gov/completestreets/urbancore or by emailing comments to completestreets@honolulu.gov. A series of scheduled pop-up events will also take place around town in November and can be found on the Complete Streets Facebook page.

The two-hour sessions will focus on a particular neighborhood and include a presentation and discussion of issues, ideas and solutions.

RSVPs can be made online for the following neighborhood sessions:

>> Ward/Ala Moana: 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Nov. 13 at Neal Blaisdell Center, Oahu Room, 777 Ward Ave.

>> Kakaako: 11 a.m.-1 p.m. and 5:30-7:30 p.m. Nov. 14 at Hawaii Community Development Authority, 545 Queen St.

>> Downtown/Punchbowl: 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Nov. 15 at MOA Hawaii Wellness Center, 600 Queen St.

>> Kalakaua/Moiliili: 6-8 p.m. Nov. 15 at Moiliili Community Center, 2535 S. King St.

>> North King Street: 9-11 a.m. Nov. 16 at AIA Center for Architecture, 828 Fort Street Mall No. 100

>> Lower Makiki: 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Nov. 17 at Neal Blaisdell Center, Oahu Room

>> Ward/Ala Moana: 6-8 p.m. Nov. 17 at Neal Blaisdell Center, Oahu Room

Early bird catches the ‘exploding stars’

Early risers will have a chance to see two celestial phenomena this week, if the weather cooperates: sunlight bouncing off satellites so brightly that they look like exploding stars.

At 4:41 a.m. Wednesday the Iridium-54 satellite will flare up low in the south, below Sirius, the brightest star in the sky.

Sirius, in the constellation Canis Major, has a brightness or apparent magnitude of minus 1.44. The Iridium-54 will be many times brighter at minus 6.2.

The best place to see it is along the South Shore, with an unobstructed view of the horizon. The nearly full moon will be at the top of the sky.

At 4:36 a.m. Thursday the Iridium-83 satellite will appear in roughly the same spot, only lower.

Hawaii island

$4.2M redo begins at Hapuna

A yearlong, $4.2 million construction project is underway to fix up Hapuna Beach State Recreation Area in South Kohala.

The first phase of work began Oct. 30 in the Hapuna Beach North section, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources announced Friday. That required closure of the comfort station and pavilion; a portable toilet is provided.

Replacement has also begun of the concession pathway, beach and shower pathways, and the pathway from the upper parking lot. Security fencing will be installed. That phase is expected to be finished by Jan. 7.

The park will remain open during each phase of work except at those sections affected by the renovations, the department said.

The job entails renovation and repair of the three comfort stations in the north, south and main parking areas; and two pavilions, including new roof supports, new barbecue grills, flooring and wall repairs as well as new pathways and showers, re-striped parking stalls and new bike racks.

The finished project will be compliant with the Americans With Disabilities Act.

Phase 2 is due to take place from February to April and focus on the Hapuna Beach central and south sections. including the remainder of the makai pathway, comfort station, pavilion, showers and ADA parking.

Phase 3, from May to October, will focus on the upper areas including the pathway areas in the Waialea section, roadway to the cabins and the dining hall at the mauka cabin area.

Work is being done by Site Engineering Inc.

Kauai

Sterilization clinic to reopen

The sterilization clinic at the Kauai Humane Society is reopening its doors to the public Tuesday.

The program was temporarily suspended in April following the deaths of two feral cats, the Garden Island reported. Officials decided the clinic needed more staff members to keep up with the surgeries.

“We’ve now completed our internal review of procedures and have hired the number of qualified veterinary staff we need to operate effectively,” said Scott Pisani, KHS executive director.

The service will be provided every Tuesday and Thursday for owned pets.