Confusion On Lighting Upgrades

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Hawaii Kai residents continue to question the city’s lighting upgrades for Lunalilo Home Road at a cost of $2.26 million.

The first phase of the project, now under way, will replace 48 existing fixtures with 144 light poles from Kalanianaole Highway to Koamano Street ($1.96 million). The second phase will install 32 lights where there are now 11, from Koamano Street to Hawaii Kai Drive ($500,000).

Work is ongoing, and completion of both phases is scheduled for March 2010.

Hawaii Kai Neighborhood Board, meanwhile, has discussed the project at two meetings already, questioning the cost, the number and type of lights and whether improvements are needed at all.

At its July 28 meeting, members heard from Gerald Hamada, chief of mechanical and electrical engineering for the city Department of Design and Construction, who noted driving safety as the main reason for the work, as well as the need to replace aging equipment.

“We’re still not satisfied,” NB chairman Greg Knudsen said the next day. He and others have pointed out the plan’s “overkill” of commercial-level brightness and the proliferation of poles - three new lights for every current light - as well as city construction priorities.

“We didn’t ask for (these improvements) but got them,” he said, “while others have asked but didn’t get them.”

The project remains on the agenda for the board’s next meeting at 7 p.m. Aug. 25 at Hahaione Elementary School.