HONOLULU FIXED TRACK MASS TRANSIT

TO: THE RESIDENTS OF NAURU TOWER

FROM: Kan-ichi Hayakawa, Ph. D.
Setsuko Hayakawa, Esq.
Unit 3901
808-591-0779
nakahayakawa@aol.com

INTRODUCTION
In late last February, Honolulu City and County Council approved a fixed truck mass transit system that passes through the following route proposed by Mayor Hannemann: Kapolei, Waipahu, Pearlridge Center, Salt Lake, Downtown Honolulu, Kakaako, Ala Moana, and Ala Moana Center. Our Councilman Mr. Rod Tam was one of five who approved the mass transit system.

CONCERNS OF NAURU TOWER RESIDENTS
A part of the fixed track route in Ala Moana goes from Ward Ave. to Kona Street then to Ala Moana Center. This local route is of great concern to Nauru Tower residents. Kona Street is a narrow street located virtually next to the complex of five condominium high rises, consisting of Nauru Tower, Ala Moana, Hawi’iki, Ko’olani, and Hokua (the combined sum of residential units in the complex is well over 1,000). We believe that this route causes serious deterioration in the quiet residential atmosphere, congested local traffic, and impaired views around here.

CONCERNS OF LOCAL TAXPAYERS
The expected construction cost of the approved mass transit system is about $3.5 billion, requiring Federal Funding and revenues from a 0.5% general excise tax surcharge. Since the sum of Honolulu City & County revenues in the last fiscal year was about $1.4 billion, the construction cost is well over twice of our annual revenues. The future tax burden of local residents is not clear at this time since costs for system operation, maintenance, and repair are not yet available.

SUBMITTAL OF WRITTEN COMMENTS TO HOLOLULU CITY
You may submit written comments of your concerns on the following four issues.

The purpose and/or needs to be addressed by the project (fixed track mass transit system)

The alternatives, including other technologies to be evaluated

Alignments (routes) and termination points to be considered

The environmental, social, and economic impact of the project to be analyzed

Your comments should be directed to the following address by April 13, 2007

Department of Transportation Services
City and County of Honolulu
650 South King Street, 3rd Floor
Honolulu, HI 96813
Attn: Honolulu High-Capacity Transit Corridor Project

Alternatively, you may submit your comments at WWW.honolulutransit.org

RECOMMENDATION
Each interested party to submit their concerns and recommendations, which, if received in sufficient number, can be very effective influencing the action of the officials formulating the details of the mass transit system. Issues:

1. Concern on the deterioration of residential environment of Nauru Tower and surrounding condominium high rises.

2. Requesting the following changes in the local track route to minimize the negative impact on our residential environment:

The planned route from Ward Ave. to Kapiolani and then to the intersection of Kapiolani and Keeaumoku should go underground.

3. Concern on future tax burden to local residents.

CONTACT OUR ELECTED OFFCIALS
We recommend that each of us send letters of concern to our elected officials. For your convenience, their addresses are listed below.

Rod Tam
Council District 23
Honolulu City Council
530 S. King Street, Room 202
Honolulu, HI 96813
rtam@honolulu.gov

Mufi Hannemann (D)
Honolulu Cit & County Mayor
530 S. King St., Honolulu, HI 96813
mayor@honolulu.gov

Tom Brower (D)
Representative District 23
Hawaii State Representative
Hawaii State Capitol, Room 310
415 South Beretania St.
Honolulu, HI 96813
repbrower@capitol.hawaii.gov

Gordon Trimble (R)
Senatorial District 12
State Senator
Hawaii State Capitol, Room 203
Honolulu, HI 96813
sentrimble@capitol.hawaii.gov

Linda Lingle (R)
Governor of State of Hawaii
Executive Chanber
State Capitol
Honolulu, HI 96813
governor.lingle@hawaii.gov

Neil Abercrombie (D)
US House Representative
Prince Kuhio Federal Building
300 Ala Moana Blvd., Room No. 4-104
Honolulu, HI 96850
neil.abercrombie@mail.house.gov

Daniel K. Akaka (D)
US Senator
Prince Kuhio Federal Building
300 Ala Moana Blvd., Room No. 3-106
Box 50144, Honolulu, HI 96850
akaka.senate.gov/email.cfm

Daniel K. Inouye (D)
US Senator
Prince Kuhio Federal Building
300 Ala Moana Blvd., Room No. 7-212
Honolulu, HI 96850-4975
inouye.senate.gov/abtform.html