Wanted: Mayor with vision who’s in love with his city

After winning his first election, one of the first things former Honolulu Mayor Frank Fasi put on his office wall was a framed quote, urging all to remember that "If you would make your city loved, you must first make her lovable."

There was no doubt that Fasi kept up a love affair with Honolulu until the day he died. It was Fasi who would keep a paint can and well-used brush in his van to wield it against any and all graffiti.

He was the sort of mayor who on the weekend would take pictures of the latest city construction project. When Fasi was in office, that huge brass post office box in Honolulu Hale was always polished.

Fasi understood that the secret to lovable cities is that they become part of your daily life and rhythms.

The best cities are about people. That’s why Fasi knew Honolulu needed open markets, a ballet company and a library in Makiki.

This is preamble to the new interest in the race for mayor of Honolulu. Mayor Peter Carlisle issued a fairly tepid State of the City speech last week, listing some perfectly fine and sensible ideas and a predictable defense of the city’s $5.27 billion heavy rail project.

There is so much more he or any other mayor could do with a subject as rich in history and ripe in potential as Honolulu.

Peter Kageyama, author of "The Love of Cities: The Love Affair Between People and Their Places," explains the art of a flourishing city.

"Livable is good — it’s a fine aspiration that we have yet to achieve on any large scale. But I think we can do better. Instead of merely livable, I think we need to start thinking about how we make our cities more lovable. When we love something, we cherish it; we protect it; we do extraordinary things for it," he said.

Our three candidates for mayor are all fine folk, strong political leaders, but I’m wondering if their care for Honolulu envisions an extraordinary city.

The late Hawaii historian and city executive Robert Dye once described former Mayor Eileen Anderson of having the "heart of a plantation bookkeeper," as he prepared to run for her office. Anderson, Dye said, knew the business and was able to keep the books, but was the city something that excited her?

That year Anderson lost her re-election race and Fasi came back into office.

Carlisle’s speech was another day in the same old brown shoes. The list of accomplishments would only be enviable if you have not gone to any other city in the past decade. His defense of rail was rote, not inspiring.

You would be disappointed if you were waiting for something like: "It’s 2020 and I’m taking you along on our new rail route, to the left, a family is moving into their affordable apartment complex, next to that, teens are flocking to one of 12 new mini-parks along the route, and on the right, the first of 50 new businesses is opening its doors."

Or there could have been some expression of wonder at how the rail brought new organic change to the city, making it a landmark and a vital connection for all our citizens. Instead, Carlisle offered a list of permit approvals. Instead of new programs for innovations like green roofs, Carlisle announced new computers for city bureaucrats.

As for former Gov. Ben Cayetano and former state Rep. Kirk Caldwell, we need to hear a lot more hopes and dreams.

Urban experiences are about parks. The protection of graceful old parks, the excited beginnings of new parks and the community experience of communities from Makiki to Makaha involved in planning new gathering spots.

A mayor in love with Ho- nolulu cheers on our neighborhoods, knows the names of all the trendy new restaurants on Waialae Avenue, can see the revitalization of River Street, and celebrates Makapuu as one of the best beaches on the planet.

I hope, at least, someone offers to plant some trees.

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Richard Borreca writes on politics on Sundays, Tuesdays and Fridays. Reach him at rborreca@staradvertiser.com.