Delay in restroom repairs irks North Shore residents

Question: The restrooms at Kaiaka Bay Beach Park have been boarded up for months. Any clue as to when they will reopen? There’s a portable toilet but it’s just nasty. We need to take care of basic needs, not merely for tourists in Waikiki and Ala Moana, but for those visiting less known but beautiful parks like Kaiaka.

Answer: There’s no estimated date yet when the comfort station, damaged by fire in a suspected arson case, will reopen.

It’s been more than a year since the fire, and North Shore Neighborhood Board members have expressed their unhappiness with the length of time it’s taking to repair the facility. Without the restrooms, camping is not being allowed at Kaiaka.

Despite the seeming delay, the city Department of Design and Construction is "on schedule" to put the renovation project out to bid in March, said Deputy Director Mark Yonamine.

The length of time is "just the normal process of contracting a design consultant and getting that (design) approved and the consultant doing their work," he said. 

An architectural consultant was hired in October to draw up a design and is completing the construction drawings.

The estimated $400,000 project will include repairing the comfort station’s roof and replacing electrical and plumbing fixtures.

In the March 2014 minutes of the North Shore Neighborhood Board, city officials said it would be too costly — $800,000 — to replace the structure. New restrooms would have to be built to meet flood standards, including being 14 feet above the ocean’s mean sea level.

The Honolulu Police Department said the arson investigation remains open and that there are no suspects.

Portable Toilets

Kathleen Pahinui, chairwoman of the North Shore Neighborhood Board, said besides being frustrated with how long the project is taking, members believe there are not enough portable toilets and are asking for an additional three.

At a board meeting Tuesday, one member described "how awful" the portable toilets are, with a visiting couple from Australia coming out of them "with faces of horror," she said.

She also said there is a homeless encampment nearby, and "we know they use (the toilets) at night." 

The comfort station had a total of six stalls.

However, the Department of Parks and Recreation said it believes the three portable toilets it has installed — one accessible under the Americans With Disabilities Act and two standard ones — are sufficient for now.

"We believe that three toilets are adequate; however, we will continue to monitor the situation and will add an additional toilet if it becomes necessary," a spokesman said.

Regarding the state of the toilets, he said they are cleaned and serviced twice a week by a vendor and "in between" by parks staff.

"Unfortunately, portable toilets are occasionally vandalized and left in undesirable condition," he said. "We do our best to keep these restrooms in usable condition and ask that the community help us by reporting vandalism to park staff so that we can respond quickly."

Sakura Trolleys

Rene Mansho has been swamped with calls requesting reservations for the "Sakura Safari-Hana Mi" (cherry blossom viewing) trolley tours in Wahiawa on Feb. 7 and asks callers to be patient if they have not yet received calls back (see bit.ly/15LMHKB).

She said she has been adding more trolleys and should be able to accommodate most callers.

The deadline for reservations was Monday.

Mahalo

To a kind couple. In December, after shopping at the Manoa Longs Drugs, I accidentally left my purse in the shopping cart in the parking lot. A couple with two children turned it in to a manager at Longs. The manager did not get their names, but I really want to thank them for being so thoughtful and honest. Everything was intact, and I am very grateful for all that they did. 

—  Jennie P.

Write to “Kokua Line” at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu 96813; call 529-4773; fax 529-4750; or email kokualine@staradvertiser.com.