Waikiki park gets mayor’s support

Waikiki activist William Lee Sweatt died in 2011 before seeing the derelict lot behind his condominium turned into a place where kids could play, but his dying wish may soon come true.

Neighborhood residents and leaders, who took up Sweatt’s decadelong battle after his death, were recently notified by Mayor Kirk Caldwell that his administration will take steps this year to bring the neighborhood closer to getting the first city park in central Waikiki.

The city committed to turn the 33,000-square-foot lot at Seaside Avenue and Aloha Drive into a park in 2003, after condemning the property and purchasing it for $2.57 million. At that time, largely due to Sweatt’s influence, the park project was praised as needed relief from Waikiki’s density.

But despite Sweatt’s enthusiasm, progress stalled when city officials decided to turn the proposed park into a "temporary" staging area and construction base yard for improvement projects throughout Waikiki. Ten years later, sewer pipes occupy the ground where Sweatt had hoped to see playground equipment and park benches.

After Caldwell took office, Waikiki Neighborhood Board Chairman Bob Finley asked for an update on the park. The mayor’s Feb. 13 response is the most promising turn of events in the development of a park since Sweatt led a 700-signature petition drive stopping construction of a high-rise senior living facility on the site.

"The good news is that the Beachwalk Wastewater Pump Station Force Main project will be operational this month," Caldwell wrote to Finley. "This will allow the temporary 48-inch high-density polyethylene bypass system (black noodle) to start being removed from the Ala Wai Canal and city parks. The current project support areas in the Ala Wai Park, the Ala Moana Beach Park and the undeveloped property along Aloha Drive will be cleaned up and restored to their original condition before the end of the year."

Caldwell also pledges in the letter to discuss adding project planning to the fiscal year 2014 capital improvement project budget. If this item is approved, Caldwell wrote, the "project planning phase could possibly commence for the development of the land along Aloha Drive for the requested city park and parking early next year."

Sweatt’s widow, Helen, who moved to the neighborhood in 1997, said she’s waited a long time to see her husband’s dream fulfilled and is eager to see the neighborhood improvements made.

"I’m so happy that they realize how important that park will be and that they are finally finishing up there," said Sweatt, whose master bedroom and lanai overlook the blighted lot. "It’s been a real disaster for the neighborhood."

The staging area’s broken-down fence and deteriorating condition attracts crime and brings down property values, she said. "I’m so happy that someone cares. If it’s the mayor, even better."

Sweatt’s Royal Kuhio neighbor Bill Lofquist and other Waikiki Neighborhood Board members say the park has been too long in coming.

"There are a lot of young families renting and living in the Royal Kuhio and the surrounding condominiums that would love to have a park," Lofquist said.

Lofquist was recently joined at the site by neighborhood board members Walter Flood, Jeff Apaka, Mike Peters, Bob Finley, Jo-Ann Adams and Liz Larson, who wanted to honor Sweatt’s contribution by showing their continued support for the project.

"We wouldn’t be at this point without Bill Sweatt," Peters said. "He worked tirelessly to bring a park to this community."

Apaka said he favors changing the park’s name from Aloha Park to something that would honor the memory of the man who kept fighting for it until his death at age 85.

"We need a park to alleviate congestion," Flood said. "There are thousands of people living within a few hundred feet of the proposed park."

Larson, who lives with her husband and two young children in Waikiki, said there aren’t enough open spaces for families.

"As the costs to own or rent a home have increased, we have seen many families moving into condominiums in the neighborhood," Larson said. "I would love to see a park here. My family would certainly use it."

FINLEY said he’s pleased Caldwell and City Councilman Stanley Chang support the project and hopes to see it funded in the 2014 budget. However, since homelessness in Waikiki has grown in the past decade, Finley said the city and the community must work to ensure that the property does not become an attractive nuisance.

"My concerns include it becoming a homeless camp following the exit of the sewer construction folks," Finley said. "Perhaps the city should rent it for parking until funds are available to do the park construction."

Waikiki police, who spearheaded the beautification of the Kuhio Mini Park last year, said they are ready to work with Aloha Park supporters.

"We’ll give our input to make it a safe environment and to ensure that it’s not a haven for crime," said Maj. Cary Okimoto of the Hono­lulu Police Department’s Waikiki substation. "Presence and visibility is very important. We’ll continue to patrol and we’ll respond when it’s appropriate. We’ll never roll over. We’ll make sure the park is for everyone."

Police worked with residents and businesses around Kuhio Mini Park to clean it up after it was taken over by homeless people and criminals, said Melody Young, whose lanai overlooks the now-serene park.

"At one time, we had about 11 mattresses in (Kuhio Mini Park)," Young said. "There were daily drug deals, massive drinking and graffiti was all over the walls. It was horribly noisy, trash was everywhere and it stunk."

Safe parks, beautification projects and proper enforcement of neighborhood rules lead to better communities, Okimoto said. He also has seen improvements at the King Kalakaua Park near the Waikiki Gateway Hotel since park closing hours were passed.

HPD officer John DeMello said, "You want to alter the environment so it’s not a haven for crime."

Young, who also owns a rental unit on Seaside, said the community needs to come together again to ensure Aloha Park is safe and pleasant.

"I’d love to see a park there, but you can’t rely on government to do everything," Young said. "If the city is willing to build a park, people in the area need to say, ‘I’ll take ownership and I’ll make it our little piece of heaven.’"