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A Sorry Sign of the Times
In my fifteen plus years with The Outdoor Circle I have never experienced what happened to House Bill 1832 Relating to Outdoor Advertising. The bill, introduced at the urging of The Outdoor Circle, was written to limit the posting of political signs on residential properties by restricting the size and number of signs allowed.
We were excited when the bill passed Conference Committee and was scheduled for a full vote by both the House and Senate on Tuesday April 27. Both statewide newspapers, the Advertiser and Star Bulletin, supported the bill and ran editorials strongly in favor of controlling campaign signs.
At what was scheduled to be the Senate’s final floor vote, HB 1832 CD1 was passed 18-6. The legislators then recessed, caucused amongst themselves, went back into session, and voted again. Instead of passing HB 1832 they voted to send the bill back to committee, thus killing it. Later in the day the House members followed suit.
Hundreds of hours were spent working with our elected officials to make sure they understood the legislation. Sadly, our legislators decided to put their own self interests ahead of the beauty of these islands. We continue to discuss the best way to proceed. One way you can help if you feel as strongly as we do is by writing a letter to the editors of both papers stating your support for limiting campaign signs and showing disgust at how the bill was killed.
Needless to say we’re very disappointed. If you have any insights or thoughts as to how we should proceed please use this forum to let us know.
HB 1832 can be found at: http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2008/bills/HB1832_CD1_.htm
The section of the article in the Advertiser pertaining to HB 1832 reads as follows:
“Lawmakers in both chambers voted to shelve a bill that would have restricted political campaign signs on residential property to 4-by-2 feet and a total of 16 square feet for all signs. The bill was important to The Outdoor Circle and cleared a House and Senate conference committee last week. But support for the bill fell apart in private caucus.
The Senate at first voted to pass the bill yesterday but then reconsidered. State Senate Majority Leader Gary Hooser, D-7th (Kaua’i, Ni’ihau), explained that the bill would have applied to other signs, such as advertisements for chicken sales or fan support for University of Hawai’i sports, and would have interfered with county home rule.
Hooser made a personal commitment to work with Outdoor Circle and others before next session on a new draft.”
Tell Us What You Think About Honolulu’s Proposed Transit System
The Honolulu High Capacity Transit Corridor Project is one of the most important public projects in O‘ahu history. As proposed, it also will be a visible fixture on O‘ahu’s landscape. The train’s fixed guideway will rise from about 20 feet above grade to a maximum of about 80 feet as it traverses the 20 mile route from East Kapolei to Ala Moana Center. The project also will include 19 transit stations and accompanying commercial development.
The City estimates the cost of the current proposal at approximately $3.8 billion—$5 to $6 billion if the route is extended to the University of Hawaii and Waikiki. Others claim the costs will be one-third higher. A great debate is being waged in Honolulu and within The Outdoor Circle over the monetary and aesthetic costs of the project versus its potential benefits.
For more than two years TOC has attended public meetings and hearings, become involved in the Mayor’s Transit Advisory Committee and carefully observed the community reaction to the transit proposal. We received multiple briefings from the City’s transit contractors as well as from opponents of the City’s transit plans. And we have extensively toured the likely transit route.
The following resolution was adopted by The Outdoor Circle’s Board of Directors:
Whereas, The Outdoor Circle recognizes the benefits of public transportation, and
Whereas, The Outdoor Circle has concerns about the currently proposed transit fixed guide way system, and
Whereas, The Outdoor Circle considers it essential that protecting the visual environment to be a priority in the planning, construction and operation of any transit system,
Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Board of Directors of The Outdoor Circle urges the City and County of Honolulu to adopt policies and practices to ensure a clean, green and beautiful island of O‘ahu.
A Statement Supporting Transit
By Kathy Whitmire, Board Advisor, TOC
Honolulu’s traffic congestion speaks for itself! We must move forward now with the creation of a new transit system.
The City chose a fixed guideway system because it has greater passenger capacity, lower operating costs and results in less traffic congestion than any alternative. Transit oriented development will help stem urban sprawl across Oahu’s agricultural and open lands, encourage the development of livable, walkable communities around transit stations and increase transit ridership.
Honolulu’s transit plan includes protection of view corridors and street trees and a design that embodies Hawaii’s rich cultural heritage. TOC must take an active part in the planning and design phase to ensure that these principles are followed and that scenic beauty is not sacrificed but enhanced. We must also make sure that
•there is no relaxation of Oahu’s strong sign control regulations
•transit-oriented developments include open space such as pocket parks and plazas
•utility lines are placed underground as part of the project
•landscaping is well designed and maintained throughout the system.
With strong participation by TOC, Honolulu can have a transit system that enhances the visual environment while conserving energy, reducing air pollution and avoiding the need for more highways.
A Statement Opposing Transit
By Jane Morris, Public Affairs Co-Chair, Lani-Kailua Outdoor Circle
I favor transit that allows more mobility for our citizens, reduces traffic congestion and is cost efficient. The City’s proposal will not meet these tests. Nor will it meet the goals that guide The Outdoor Circle:
CLEAN
We must maintain our communities and protect our view planes. Our parks and roadways are overgrown with weeds. Will there be money to clean these and other eyesores after we pay for Transit? The City says $1.2 Billion will be Federal money. The Feds say only $500 Million. The City increased the excise tax but will Transit costs cause city maintenance and other programs such as recycling to slide even further?
GREEN
How many of our beautiful, mature trees will be removed to construct the elevated guideway? Will this plan use less fossil fuel, show a net energy saving and be less polluting than the alternatives?
BEAUTIFUL
The elevated train and its 19 huge transit stations will be an ever-present eyesore as it snakes through communities; skirts along the waterfront; plows through downtown, Kakaako, Moiliili and ultimately over the H-1 freeway to the University.
The Outdoor Circle must protect Honolulu from the visual blight and the many unintended consequences of Transit.
Help shape public opinion. Tell us what you think by posting your opinion to this blog.
Trees Removed for Retail!
Seventeen of 30 Monkeypod trees were removed in Koloa town on Kauai. After months of community protests and vigils aimed at saving the trees the developer started the removal process early last week. The Kauai Outdoor Circle and the Koloa Community Association worked in tandem to save the trees. Both organizations are saddened by the outcome.
The trees came down to make way for a new shopping center. And more stores are not what the community wanted. The developer refused to meet with community representatives to discuss plans prior to the removals. A court order requires Monkeypod trees be replanted within the development. However, it will take another 40-60 years for new trees to become what the others were…large, stately and beautiful.
The Outdoor Circle and the Kauai Outdoor Circle will continue to watch this development closely to ensure that the newly planted trees are cared for and given the opportunity to survive.
Save Old Koloa’s Trees
Due to a loophole in Kauai’s permitting process, developer Nelson Co. sued the County of Kauai and was able to get a judgment allowing them to build what is now known as “The Shops at Koloa Town”. This is about a 76,000 sq. ft. mall that will go in on the corner of Maluhia and Koloa Roads, right in the heart of Koloa Town.
The current design calls for the removal of 23 Monkey pod trees, some of which are 50-plus years old. These magnificent trees will be replaced with 12” diameter field stock. The replacement trees will have to be cut back to stubs in order to be transported from the nursery to the site. This is not acceptable to the Kauai Outdoor Circle.
We are working hard here on Kauai to save the Monkey pod Trees. Our President, Maureen Murphy, is a certified Arborist. She is assessing the value of the trees so the developer can fully understand the value of what he is about to destroy. As for me, I am a sign waver and runner, distributing hundreds of flyers and postcards pre-addressed to the developer. Using these cards shoppers can easily let the developer know how they feel about losing the trees. We are working along with the Koloa Community Association and Malama Mahalepu to bring all the attention we can to the plight of the trees.
Please e-mail or write a letter asking the developer to save these trees. He can be reached at:
Mr David Nelson
Nelson Co.
6060 Orchard Lake Rd, Suite 200
West Bloomfield, MI 48322
drnelson @ nelsoncos.com
In your letter also request that he meet with the Koloa Community Association and The Kauai Outdoor Circle to discuss how we can incorporate more of the trees into his plans for the shopping mall. After all, most developers want instant landscaping. This one already has it.
Save Historic Trees in Koloa Town
IMUA – TAKE A STAND!
Monday January 7, 2008
10am – 10pm
Save the Trees
Block Party!
Make signs under the Monkey pod trees
Candlelight Vigil at Sunset
Old Koloa Town = Old Koloa Trees
Developer David Nelson will be on Kauai the week of January 7
Design around the trees, let them live!
Check back for more information
Lani Kailua Outdoor Circle Tree Planting
On a recent Saturday morning a crowd gathered at Aikahi Triangle Park in Kailua to bless the 21 Nara and Monkey pod trees planted in the median of Mokapu Boulevard. The event also was a celebration of the partnership between the Lani-Kailua Outdoor Circle and the City Department of Parks and Recreation, Division of Urban Forestry.
Mayor Mufi Hannemann, City Council Chair Barbara Marshall, Parks Director Lester Chang and LKOC President, Sharon Geary, as well as most of the LKOC Board members were in attendance. The 21 trees were supplied by the City and LKOC Board paid the planting costs of more than $15,000. The trees were planted to replace the dead Wiliwili trees which had fallen prey to the state-wide blight.
Beach Walks with Rox #529 – Outdoor Circle Tree Blessing
Flyers on Utility Poles Degrade Communities
Once again greedy concert promoters have decided that our communities are a good place for them to illegally advertise their events. Last week hundreds of ugly yellow flyers were posted on utility poles in various places across O‘ahu, most notably on the beautiful Windward side.
From Makapu‘u Lookout to the Waimanalo business district dozens of utility poles were wallpapered with flyers creating an unforgivable eyesore along one of the most scenic roadways on the planet. The flyers were strategically concentrated in the areas where people tend to congregate—near pubic parks, in front of schools, close to commercial businesses and in residential neighborhoods. The same flyers also have been posted on numerous utility poles elsewhere on the island as well.
The event advertised on the posters is a reggae concert scheduled for Kualoa Ranch. But of course Kualoa denied any knowledge of the dastardly deed, as did the concert’s promoter. That’s par for the course. The utility poles on all of our islands frequently become the target of event promoters who obviously believe that their desire to make money supersedes the peoples’ right to live and play in an environment free of illegal advertising. And make no mistake about it, posting any type of sign on a utility pole, whether a concert flyer or garage sale notice, is not only a civil violation that can result in fines, but also a criminal act for which violators can be sentenced to community service and even time in jail.
In this instance The Outdoor Circle would like to extend a huge mahalo to the State Department of Transportation for its extremely quick action in dispatching a highway crew to remove the flyers along Kalanianaole Highway in the Waimanalo area. The removal work obviously was done at taxpayer expense. Even so, hundreds of flyers for the Kualoa event remain on utility poles elsewhere on O‘ahu and we encourage anyone who finds this illegal activity offensive to call Kualoa Ranch and register a complaint. Kualoa might not be responsible for posting the flyers, but it and other event venues should communicate a clear message in their contracts with promoters that illegally advertising their events will result in stiff financial penalties and result in losing their ability to stage future events. That’s the type of action that might make event promoters obey the law and prevent the unconscionable littering of our communities with illegal advertising.
In the meantime, if you see illegal flyers on utility poles anyplace on O‘ahu, please call The Outdoor Circle.
Arbor Day Celebrations 2007
Margaret Mead said, “Never believe that a few caring people can’t change the world. For, indeed, that’s all who ever have.” She couldn’t have been more right judging by how The Outdoor Circle celebrated Arbor Day this year.
It was a sad day last summer when a stately, 90+ year old tree at Kuhio School had to be removed, the victim of disease. The tree was well loved and many of Honolulu’s media outlets covered the distressing news. Shortly afterward I received a call from a Kuhio School graduate who was so upset over the tree’s loss that she offered to donate a replacement tree.
Word went around among the landscape/tree community asking where we could obtain a Monkey pod tree. The response was amazing. Wayne Ogasawara from Mililani Agricultural Park stepped forward and offered to donate the tree of the donor’s choosing and Steve Nimz of Steve Nimz Associates volunteered to dig the tree out of the ground and move it to the school. He offered also to dig the hole and to replant it.
But first we needed to ensure that Kuhio School wanted another tree. Mrs. Evelyn Hao, Principal, was thrilled when we spoke. She admitted to being very sad to have lost the tree and couldn’t believe that someone cared enough to give the school another. She also stipulated that she wanted as big a tree as possible.
Thursday November 1, 2007 was our Arbor Day celebration at the school. Following a very stormy evening and several morning downpours, the day turned sunny and beautiful just in time for our celebration. As we kicked off our program we were treated to a rainbow which arched beautifully across the tree, as a bird frolicked in his new home. We could not have ordered a more perfect day!
Many guests from the community came as did representatives from the Department of Education and friends of The Outdoor Circle. The Kuhio School Choir entertained us with songs and the Student Government Officers provided us with many famous quotes and proverbs about trees.
All of this from one “do-gooder” in the community who cared enough to change her world and wanted Kuhio School students to benefit from the tree in the same way.
Arbor Day 2007
The Outdoor Circle and Prince Jonah Kuhio School cordially invite you to participate in a celebration of Arbor Day 2007
Help restore shade, solace and beauty to the playground of Prince Jonah Kuhio School. The 90 year old Monkeypod tree lost in July will be replaced by another – the gift of a generous donor.
Where: Prince Jonah Kuhio School, 2759 S. King Street
When: Thursday, Nov 1, 2007
Time: 9:00 a.m.
Refreshments Immediately Following
Magic Island Update
The Outdoor Circle has stepped away from the ongoing discussions about the proposed removal and relocation of trees at Magic Island. We have done so because we believe the recent statements made by the city which state that no trees will be removed or relocated to accommodate the Blue Planet Festival concerts. We stand by our public statements on this matter but we believe it is counter productive to continue a conversation over a matter that has been settled.
We have formally asked the City to refrain from issuing statements that are not supported by the facts. Chief among the misleading statements about Blue Planet Festival’s proposal is the repeated comment that the City “never gave the idea any consideration.”
The fact is that the City has given long, hard consideration to the proposal. Finally that consideration resulted in the proposal being rejected. But for the City to state that it wasn’t even considered is simply not the case. On the contrary, according to Les Chang (Director of Parks and Recreation) and others, DPR staff was involved in multiple discussions with Blue Planet. In addition, we were specifically told that a City landscape architect/arborist had been involved in working to identify specific locations on Magic Island where trees worthy of relocation might be planted.
When we received the anonymous letter raising concerns about the Blue Planet Festival we had several discussions with Les Chang and others within City government. In those conversations we were repeatedly told that the City has been meeting and working off and on with Blue Planet for months. The head of the Division of Urban Forestry hosted one of our staff members on a tour of Magic Island and pointed out 15 trees that the City was considering removing and/or relocating. Of those trees only five showed serious signs of being burned by charcoal. We were told the remaining trees would block the view planes of concert patrons and television cameras.
Following the tour, representatives from the Department of Parks and Recreation, Urban Forestry, and three representatives of the Blue Planet Festival met with our President Betsy Connors, Bob Loy and me. At the meeting we were informed that in addition to the 15 trees shown to us on the tour, at least four other trees also would have to be relocated or the concert could not be held. At no time in this meeting did anyone state that the tree removal/relocation proposal was not being considered by the City. In fact it was repeatedly stated that the “targeted” trees would be removed and/or relocated at the expense of Blue Planet and that in addition, Blue Planet would provide a mitigation package of “community benefits” that would likely include providing the resources to plant many more trees at locations of the City’s choosing.
This discussion is well documented in detailed notes taken during the meeting. The notes show that the City was considering the Blue Planet proposal and had spent significant time and resources examining it to determine how it might be executed.
There is one other clarification which must be made. The Mayor and his representatives continue to boast of the City’s status as a “Tree City USA.” Honolulu should be proud of its position and flaunt it as much as possible. However, this status is one that we’ve held for more than 20-years and comes from the Arbor Day Foundation (http://www.arborday.org/index.cfm) and not from the US Conference of Mayors.
It is our desire to move past this issue and continue working on what we do best – the protection and enhancement of the beauty of Honolulu.
Keep the trees where they are at Magic Island!
The Outdoor Circle is in complete agreement with the Honolulu Star Bulletin. The caption of their editorial, dated August 27, 2007 reads, “Move the stage, not the trees.” We concur.
It all started with an anonymous letter which stated that the city was negotiating with a group to hold a large concert at Magic Island. The trees, it asserted, would block the view of the stage and the city had planned to remove and/or relocate them.
This was hard to believe. TOC staff speaks with the city’s Division of Urban Forestry at least three times a week about various tree issues. No one ever told us about a plan to remove or relocate trees at Magic Island. Nor had they told us about a large concert planned for next spring. We later learned that city employees and consultants were given orders to keep the entire plan under wraps.
We wrote to Honolulu’s Director of Parks and Recreation and learned that it was true! For more than a year the city has been working with a group called Blue Planet Festival. The plan is to hold a two day symposium on energy sustainability and then a two day music and arts festival at Magic Island. Festival promoters hope for 25,000 – 30,000 people to attend the concert this year with plans of growing the annual festival’s attendance to as many as 50,000 in future years.
The irony of this potential debacle was not lost on us. A group claiming to promote sustainable energy and operating under an umbrella of environmental sensitivity wants to rip out and relocate mature trees to improve views for a concert. In addition, the promoters say for several days the event will close all of Magic Island for public use. The only people allowed in will be those who pay for a ticket—price yet to be announced. The event also will restrict public access to and usage of other parts of Ala Moana Beach Park as well.
When we met with the promoters and city officials to learn about the plan they explained that this is the only location on O‘ahu large enough to accommodate the event. Perhaps they’re not familiar with Aloha Stadium? Blue Planet Festival also claimed that the city will benefit because they will leave the park better than when they began. But they were unable to explain what their plan was or how the park would be enhanced. It is hard for us to believe that removing and/or relocating 15 or more trees from the center of Magic Island will enhance it at all.
The Outdoor Circle believes that making permanent changes in a park to accommodate a temporary event is completely unconscionable. We believe it is the City’s responsibility to be a steward of our park lands not a promoter of paid events.
We urge the people of Honolulu to closely monitor this still evolving story. That’s certainly what The Outdoor Circle intends to do.
H-2 Tree Massacre Act 2
On August 6, 2007 six employees from the Department of Transportation (DOT) met with Outdoor Circle (TOC) volunteers and staff to discuss the ongoing tree massacre on the H-2 Freeway. Earlier DOT promised that all tree work on the highway would stop until TOC and its volunteer arborists examined the arborist report, walked the entire site and reviewed a replanting plan, but DOT contractors continued to cut trees leaving three-foot stumps in their wake.
At our sit-down it was agreed by DOT that they made some “mis-steps.” They offered in the future to provide TOC with all work orders their maintenance department issues relating to pruning and removing trees. DOT expressed its hope that in doing so future miscommunications will be avoided.
We believe that the amount of negative attention this project generated took DOT by surprise. At first DOT’s public spokesman claimed the trees were cut because they were dangerous, then he said it was because they were invasive, and finally he claimed it was because they were a fire hazard. None of this was necessarily true and it was clear the DOT was shooting from the hip using any excuse it could find in order to justify the mess it created.
Let’s hope that DOT learned an important lesson…TOC must be consulted before any projects of this magnitude are undertaken again. Our members are always watching. Mahalo to each of you who contacted us frantic for information. We hope that you are satisfied with our actions. We are not finished. In fact, we promise that H-2 will be green again!
DOT Promises to Replace Trees Removed Along H-2
From the State Capitol to Honolulu Hale. From the headquarters of Hawaii’s Big Five Companies to the Makiki shop owner and just about every other corner of Hawai‘i government and business those seven little words “Have you talked to The Outdoor Circle” have been repeated countless times.
But it was exactly the opposite, not talking to The Outdoor Circle, that landed the Department of Transportation (DOT) in a negative light with the cutting and removal of hundreds of trees on the H-2 Freeway.
The massive tree removal began at the end of June and prompted dozens of telephone complaints to our office. We are usually consulted prior to a removal action of this magnitude but unfortunately that didn’t happen this time.
We prefer to have the opportunity to have trees assessed by qualified arborists to determine if they are structurally hazardous or if their locations present a threat to motorists. We did not have the opportunity to do that in this instance and were as surprised as those traveling on H-2 when the work began.
DOT has used every excuse in the book for removing these trees. Scott Ishikawa, the department’s spokesperson, said that a tree limb fell on their emergency call box prompting the clear cutting. In their press release DOT also said they cut down the Albizia, Opiuma and Christmas Berry trees because they were invasive. We believe there are far too many trees of these types classified as invasive species to ever remove them from Hawaii’s landscape, nor would the public stand for that.
It should be stated that The Outdoor Circle is not for saving hazardous trees and had DOT told us in advance and allowed us to walk the site we might have agreed that some number needed to be removed. But 70-100 trees? We think not!
The DOT has promised to replant the area with native trees by the end of the year. You have our promise that we will be reminding them of that promise regularly. And by the way, DOT also has promised to call The Outdoor Circle before taking on a project of this magnitude again.
Technorati Tags: Trees, Billboards, Green, Hawai‘i, OutdoorCircle
Honolulu Advertiser Talks About Flowering Trees
The beauty and diversity of Hawaii’s flowering trees is stunning. With assistance from The Outdoor Circle, the Honolulu Advertiser recently published a very detailed and informative article about these highlights of our local landscape.
Staff writer Loren Moreno starts the article with:
Hawai’i may not have the East Coast’s famous autumnal turning of the leaves, but our summer brings a riotous show of color.
If you want to learn more about the Monekeypod, Royal Poinciana, Octopus, African Tulip and more, we suggest you head on over and read the article in full! The publicly accessible article will expire by September 1, 2007.
You can also see more photos by visiting The Outdoor Circle’s Flickr page. Flickr is a photo sharing site; if you are a member, please add us to your Contacts!
These links will take you off of The Outdoor Circle web site:
Flowering trees of summer color Hawai‘i
The Outdoor Circle on Flickr
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