Honolulu Mayor Peter Carlisle opened the newly completed Kaakepa Street in Pearl City with a dedication and blessing ceremony held on Wednesday, June 29, 2011 at the intersection of Kaakepa and Kuala streets.
Mayor Carlisle was joined by District 8 Honolulu City Councilmember, Breene Harimoto, former District 8 Honolulu City Councilmember, Gary Okino, Pearl City community organization leaders, Principal's representing the Pearl City District Complex and Pearl City residents for the hour long ceremony that included lunch provided by the Pearl City Community Association.
Wednesday's opening of Kaakepa Street will link Kuala and Kuahaka streets with the objective to alleviate the growing traffic congestion in the Pearl City Manana area.
The City announced In a press release issued by the Mayor's office on Wednesday, June 29, that the $3.5 million project included construction of the roadway, curbs, and gutters, sidewalks, retaining walls, a storm drainage system, traffic signals, street lighting, an irrigation system and trees to beautify the street.
Kaakepa means "take a short cut" and stretches for about a quarter mile.
The Kaakepa Street construction project is part of planned infrastructure improvements for the Manana and Pearl City Junction Development.
Benefits to the community with the opening of the new roadway was immediately felt as residents took to Kaakepa Street for the first time on Wednesday following the dedication and blessing ceremony.
"The most important thing is to have people have an easy commute, not one that is difficult.This allows people to avoid an intersection that takes a long time to get through. The Pearl City community is growing and the problem will only get worst without this road. This is a really forward thinking thing to do and its' a pleasure to see it. Any Mayor is very happy to see a road that doesn't have a pothole in it."
Honolulu Mayor Peter Carlisle
"It brings great satisfaction with all the effort we put in to get this thing done. To see it actually come true and come to a realization is a wonderful thing. Having this road here is really going to help the people in the Manana development. It's significant. It's not the perfect answer because there's lots of traffic now, but it's the best answer at this point. In fact, it gives a big advantage to the community."
Former District 8 Honolulu City Councilmember, Gary Okino
"This is great. Change is sometimes hard to accept, but I think this is a good change, this is a positive change. With all the new development, this road will help alleviate a lot of traffic on Waimano Home Road. People have worked long and hard on this project and its a wonderful day."
Current District 8 Honolulu City Councilmember, Breene Harimoto
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
Mayor Carlisle and Honolulu City Councilmember Breene Harimoto pictured flipping on the traffic signal control switch at the Kaakepa Street and Kuala Street intersection to officially open the new roadway that links Kuala and Kuahaka streets.
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
Mayor Carlisle had honors to be the first to press the Kaakepa Street crosswalk button.
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
Once again, Mayor Carlisle made history on Wednesday, June 29, 2011 along with Louise Kim McCoy and Councilmember Breene Harimoto, as the first to use the Kaakepa Street and Kuala Street intersection crosswalk. The trio are pictured walking in the Diamond Head direction towards Waimano Home Road.
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
Former District 8 Councilmember, Gary Okino (3rd from left) joined Mayor Carlisle, current District 8 Councilmember, Breene Harimoto and representatives from Pearl City community organizations on Wednesday for the Kaakepa Street dedication and blessing ceremony.
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
Mayor Carlisle and staff pictured on Kaakepa "take the short cut" Street on their way back to Honolulu Hale.