Parks, Facilities and Services

"We’ve spent more than $101 million to develop the Central Oahu Regional Park and Waipio Soccer Complex, but those crown jewels of our park system have come at the expense of other heavily used parks, as you all know."

Mayor Hannemann
State-of-the-City Address
February 2005



ACCOMPLISHMENTS


Parks

  • Cleaned up Ala Moana Regional Park
  • Led community cleanups of Pokai Bay and Haleiwa beach parks
  • Cleared and cleaned Maili, Nanakuli, and Ulehawa beach parks
  • In-house makeovers of Thomas Square, Wilson Park, Waimanalo Beach Park, Waialae Iki Park, Makakilo Neighborhood Park, Sharks Cove Beach Park, and many others
  • Rebuilt Kaaawa Comfort Station
  • Teaming up with Lani-Kailua Outdoor Circle to replace dead wiliwili trees on Mokapu Boulevard
  • Worked with Outdoor Circle to reduce the number of trees in Waikiki to a sensible level by replanting more than 70 elsewhere
  • Rejuvenated Hans L’Orange Park in Waipahu and helped to lure Hawaii Winter Baseball back
  • Opened Veterans’ Memorial Aquatic Center at Central Oahu Regional Park
  • Reconstructing Halona Blowhole Lookout to improve visitor experience
  • Nearing completion of Kahaluu Community Park
  • Completed renovation of Maunalani recreation building
  • Completed construction of 100-space parking lot at Kapolei Regional Park
  • Constructed ball fields and comfort station at Mililani Mauka Community Park
  • Opened Nanakuli and Pokai Bay canoe halau
  • Introducing a dedicated police parks patrol
  • Opened Kapolei skate park
  • Dedicated a new baseball field in Hawaii Kai named after the late Mike Goeas
  • Built Hawaii Kai dog park in a partnership with the community and businesses
  • Beginning an aggressive program of repaving park parking lots


Facilities

  • Renovated Pearlridge Satellite City Hall and Ala Moana Satellite City Hall
  • Replacing 40-year old Blaisdell Arena air-conditioning system and risers, replacing basketball court, and repainted concert hall
  • Opened Honolulu Zoo’s orangutan habitat, veterinary clinic, and Keiki Zoo using public-private partnerships; nearing completion of Learning Center and elephant facility
  • Renovating Walter Murray Gibson and Mission Memorial buildings
  • Dedicated municipal building and Civic Center to honor former Mayor Frank F. Fasi


Services

  • Created online system for certain building permit applications to eliminate waiting in line
  • Set up online reservations for driver license road tests
  • Provided online voting option for Neighborhood Board elections for the first time
  • Adopted new format for driver licenses
  • Devised gift cards for greens fees at municipal courses
  • Opened Koolau Driver Licensing Center in Ahuimanu
  • Launched DriveAkamai website to inform motorists of construction projects and potential traffic congestion


New Traditions

  • Expanded Honolulu City Lights to Kapolei and Kaneohe
  • Hold annual Mayor’s 9/11 Remembrance Walk to honor the victims of the 2001 terrorist attacks on America and Hawaii’s first responders
  • Brought the fun back to Magic Island in the form of annual Honolulu Family Festival
  • Recorded first Christmas compilation by Royal Hawaiian Band
  • Partnered with Abilities Unlimited to bring Flavors of Honolulu to Fasi Civic Center