This summer, when wooden panels now blocking the street view of Thomas Square come down, a new blanket of grass and an irrigation overhaul, among other needed upgrades, will greet the public.
Eventually, the Caldwell administration hopes to establish the urban square — bordered by Blaisdell on King Street and the Honolulu Museum of Art on Beretania Street — as a more polished and active go-to place for a variety of community events as well as everyday park recreation.
Such improvements are needed to breathe new life into this 6.5-acre park, which, despite its prime location and historical importance, has been allowed to fray at the edges and become a haven for the homeless.
What remains unclear is which city department will pick up responsibility for the park.
Mayor Kirk Caldwell wants to see care of Oahu’s oldest park transfer to the Department of Enterprise Services (DES), which runs pay-to-enter sites such as Neal Blaisdell Center, the Honolulu Zoo, municipal golf courses and the Waikiki Shell. Opposed to that idea are some City Council members worried about a potential commercializing of Thomas Square.
They’re pushing Bill 23, through which Thomas Square would remain under city’s Department of Parks and Recreation. If the measure succeeds, it’s likely to block the city’s plans, which would be unwise.
The Caldwell administration’s intent is commendable: Reinvigorate a relatively passive park with various property improvements; put in place a fresh lineup of festivals and regular events; and honor history at the site where British Rear Adm. Richard Thomas read a declaration restoring sovereignty to the Hawaiian Kingdom on July 31, 1843, ending a five-month seizure of the islands by subordinate Capt. Lord George Paulet.
City Councilwoman Ann Kobayashi has pointed out that Enterprise Services projects are self-sustaining, which could open the door to recasting Thomas Square as a moneymaker, crowding out the casual local park-goer. It’s a valid concern, but should not be a deal-breaker.
DES’s rule-making process should include public input, allowing area residents and others concerned that the park could morph into a tourist-clogged attraction the opportunity to weigh in on measures to avoid excessive vehicular and foot traffic. In the interest of preserving public access, city officials are already pledging to mandate by DES rule that admission to all events held there would be free.
Switching from Parks and Recreation to DES operations, which is based at nearby Blaisdell, is expected to make it easier to maintain the park.
Nonetheless, given the city’s cash-strapped budget, the mayor and others should take care to regularly assess the price tag for both short- and long-range plans for the square, and continue to heed public input regarding the scope of the makeover.
>> The current $1.18 million upgrades project includes removal of mock orange hedge, grading, a new irrigation system, pruning of several large Indian banyans, removal of sick or unhealthy trees, and replacement of grass across the entire lawn.
>> The Council deleted from its budget last year another $1.95 million the city had requested for additional work. Even so, the administration has earmarked about that much funding for commission of a statue of the restored monarch, King Kamehameha III, as well as a flagpole for the Hawaiian flag and other items now scheduled to be in place for next year’s 175th anniversary of Restoration Day.
>> Among the unfunded wish-list items: a concession building, parking for food trucks, a bandstand and terraced seating, and a re-configuring of space to fold an elevated bike lane into the square.
During a Council meeting held last week, DES Director Guy Kaulukukui said the bill infringes on separation of powers and that the proposal is an executive branch matter. The city Department of Corporation Counsel is now sorting out whether a transfer would warrant a change in the public infrastructure map, which would require Council approval.
Regardless, the City Council should not object to improving Thomas Square, and encouraging more people to visit this iconic urban space.
