Canoe paddling is the state team sport, designated by Act 219 in 1986. There are 16 canoe/rowing/kayaking organizations located on the Ala Wai Canal that use it on a daily basis, year-round. Many people enjoy watching the practices and races.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is proposing to build a 4- to 6-foot-high concrete wall down the entire 2-mile length of Ala Wai Boulevard as part of its prevention plan for a potential 100-year flood event. This is the height of the median in the middle of H-1 freeway. The open space and clear visual fields will be forever compromised.
The mauka side of the canal would have berms of similar height. This would displace the 400-pound canoes currently “parked” canal-side to easily move in and out of the water. Hauling the canoes over the existing wall and then over an additional 4-foot berm will cripple clubs’ access.
The Army Corps says that grass can grow on the berms, but the grass that the City and County of Honolulu planted is struggling to grow because of fire ants and the brackish water.
Recently, the Army Corps verbally stated that it is authorized by its main office to make changes to the original plan. This is a complete reversal from its stance last fall when it was adamant that any changes to the plan would void the federal funding. To date, though many people including legislators have asked for written proof, the Army Corps has yet to produce any written authorization of change.
We hope that the Army Corps will switch the plan from earthen dams at the back of valleys and walls and berms along the Ala Wai, to a plan with flood pumps at the mouth of the Ala Wai.
In conjunction with the pumps, the 168-acre Ala Wai Golf Course, while still functioning as a golf course, can be used as the main detention basin instead of sites at the back of Manoa and Palolo.
Developers The MacNaughton Group and Kobayashi Group are working with the Army Corps and the city to develop a $50 million, four-story Top Golf facility that will feature 180 foot-high lights and ball-driving ranges on two floors. Is building this expensive commercial facility before finalizing the flood issues not putting the cart before the horse?
The rampant development in Honolulu without adequate input from neighborhoods, communities and organizations has to be reined in. Imagine the H-1 median down the length of Ala Wai Boulevard. Graffiti artists would rejoice in being given a long surface to paint and tag.
Perhaps the wall may become the backdrop for more pop-up tents to accommodate the unfortunate, transient population. With limited access to public restrooms and clean water in the public parks, the Ala Wai would become more of an open sewer. The Waikiki neighborhood Board will love this option.
Installing a floodgate and pump at the Kapahulu Library-end of the canal could gradually improve water circulation and rehabilitate the Ala Wai Canal. Restriction on fertilizers and weed killers in the entire ‘ahupua‘a would also help to clean up the water. Efforts by groups such as Na Wai ‘Ekolu with their annual stream cleanups help to keep trash from entering the canal.
When the canal was first built in 1921, people actually swam in it. Next year is the centennial of the Ala Wai Canal. Let’s work together to make it a more beautiful, healthy place for canoe paddlers as well as the general public.
Teri Skillman is secretary of the Kamehameha Canoe Club.
