Revised Ordinances of Honolulu

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS


PREFACE & EXECUTIVE SUMMARY    P-1

P.1    THE SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES PLAN PROCESS    P-1
P.2     LAND USE PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT IN HONOLULU    P-2
P.3    AUTHORITY OF THE DEVELOPMENT PLANS AND SUSTAINABLE

COMMUNITIES PLANS    P-2
P.4    WHY THE DEVELOPMENT PLANS HAVE BEEN REVISED    P-3
P.5    EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF THE EAST HONOLULU SUSTAINABLE

COMMUNITIES PLAN    P-3
P.5.1    Chapter 1: East Honolulu=s Role in Oahu=s Development Pattern    P-4
P.5.2    Chapter 2: The Vision for East Honolulu=s Future    P-4
P.5.3    Chapter 3: Land Use Policies, Principles, and Guidelines    P-4
P.5.4    Chapter 4: Public Facilities and Infrastructure Policies and

Principles    P-6
P.5.5    Chapter 5: Implementation    P-7
P.5.6    Appendix A    P-7

1.    EAST HONOLULU = S ROLE IN OAHU = S DEVELOPMENT PATTERN    1-1

2.    THE VISION FOR EAST HONOLULU = S FUTURE    2-1
2.1    VISION STATEMENT    2-1
2.1.1    Protect Community Resources    2-1
2.1.2    Adapt to Changing Community Needs    2-1
2.2    KEY ELEMENTS OF THE VISION    2-2
2.2.1    Establish Urban Community, Agriculture and

                    Preservation Boundaries    2-2
2.2.2    Preserve the Scenic Value of the Koko Head-Makapuu Viewshed    2-10
2.2.3    Maintain the Urban Form of Ridge-and-Valley Neighborhoods    2-12
2.2.4    Expand Access to Recreational Areas    2-12
2.2.5    Protect and Preserve Natural Areas    2-13
2.2.6    Adapt Housing Supply to Changing Demographics    2-13
2.2.7    Focus Commercial Centers on Serving the Region=s

     Neighborhoods    2-14

3.    LAND USE POLICIES, PRINCIPLES, AND GUIDELINES     3-1
3.1    OPEN SPACE PRESERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT    3-1
3.1.1    General Policies    3-1
3.1.2    Planning Principles    3-1
3.1.3     Guidelines    3-2
3.1.4    Relationship to Map A-1, Open Space    3-12
3.2    ISLAND-BASED PARKS AND RECREATIONAL AREAS    3-12
3.2.1    Overview    3-12
3.2.2     General Policies    3-15
3.2.3    Planning Principles    3-15
3.2.4    Guidelines    3-16
3.3    COMMUNITY-BASED PARKS    3-17
3.3.1    Overview    3-17
3.3.2     General Policies    3-19
3.3.3     Guidelines    3-19
3.4    HISTORIC AND CULTURAL RESOURCES    3-20
3.4.1    Overview    3-20
3.4.2    General Policies    3-21
3.4.3    Planning Principles    3-21
3.4.4    Guidelines    3-22
3.5    RESIDENTIAL USE    3-22
3.5.1    Overview    3-22
3.5.2    General Policies    3-23
3.5.3    Planning Principles    3-23
3.5.4    Guidelines    3-24
3.6    NONRESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT    3-25
3.6.1    Overview    3-26
3.6.2    General Policies    3-27
3.6.3    Planning Principles    3-28
3.6.4    Guidelines    3-29
3.6.5    OTHER USES NONRESIDENTIAL AREAS    3-33

4.    PUBLIC FACILITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE POLICIES

AND PRINCIPLES     4-1
4.1    TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS    4-1
4.1.1    Existing and Planned Roadway Network    4-1
4.1.2    Transit System    4-2
4.1.3    Bikeway System    4-3
4.1.4    General Policies    4-5
4.1.5    Planning Principles and Guidelines    4-5
4.2    WATER ALLOCATION AND SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT    4-6
4.2.1    General Policies    4-7
4.2.2    Planning Principles and Guidelines    4-8
4.3    WASTEWATER TREATMENT    4-8
4.3.1    Sand Island Wastewater Treatment Plant    4-8
4.3.2    East Honolulu Wastewater Treatment Plant    4-9
4.3.3    General Policies    4-9
4.3.4    Planning Principles and Guidelines    4-10
4.4    ELECTRICAL POWER DEVELOPMENT    4-10
4.4.1    General Policies    4-10
4.4.2    Planning Principles and Guidelines    4-10
4.5    SOLID WASTE HANDLING AND DISPOSAL    4-11
4.5.1    General Policies    4-11
4.5.2    Planning Principles and Guidelines    4-11
4.6    DRAINAGE SYSTEMS    4-12
4.6.1    General Policies    4-12
4.6.2    Planning Principles    4-13
4.7    SCHOOL FACILITIES    4-13
4.7.1    General Policies    4-14
4.7.2    Planning Principles and Guidelines    4-14
4.8    CIVIC AND PUBLIC SAFETY FACILITIES    4-15
4.8.1    General Policies    4-16
4.8.2    Planning Principles and Guidelines    4-16

5.    IMPLEMENTATION     5-1

5.1    PUBLIC FACILITY INVESTMENT PRIORITIES    5-2
5.2    DEVELOPMENT PRIORITIES    5-2
5.3    SPECIAL AREA PLANS    5-2
5.4    FUNCTIONAL PLANNING    5-3
5.5 REVIEW OF ZONING AND OTHER DEVELOPMENT APPLICATIONS    5-4
5.5.1    Adequate Facilities Requirement    5-4
5.6    FIVE-YEAR DEVELOPMENT PLAN REVIEW    5-5
5.7    TRANSITION FROM THE CURRENT SYSTEM    5-5
5.7.1    Development Plan Common Provisions

and Existing Land Use Approvals    5-5
5.7.2    Relation to General Plan Population Guidelines    5-5
5.7.3    Review and Revision of Development Codes    5-6

LIST OF TABLES

 LIST OF TABLES


Table 2-1: Capacity for Growth within the Urban Community Boundary    2-7
Table 3-1: Types of DPR Island-Based Parks    3-13
Table 3-2: DPR Island-Based Parks in East Honolulu    3-13
Table 3-3: Types of DPR Community-Based Parks    3-17
Table 3-4: DPR Community-Based Parks in East Honolulu    3-18
Table 3-5: Significant Cultural and Historic Sites in East Honolulu    3-21
Table 3-6: Commercial Centers in East Honolulu    3-26
Table 3-7: Office Inventory in East Honolulu    3-27
Table 4-1: Bus Routes Serving East Honolulu    4-2
Table 4-2: East Honolulu Bikeways: Existing and Proposed    4-5
Table 4-3: Public School Enrollment, 1995    4-13
Table 4-4: Private School Enrollment, 1994    4-14
LIST OF FIGURES

 LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1-1: Development Plan Areas for Oahu    1-2
Figure 2-1: Urban Community Boundary    2-4
Figure 2-2: Suspect Areas for Land Movement    2-6
Figure 2-3: Vacant Usable Lands Available for Development

Within the Urban Community Boundary    2-8
Figure 2-4: Koko Head - Makapuu Viewshed    2-11
Figure 3-1: Public Parks and Recreation Areas    3-3
Figure 3-2: Natural Areas    3-10
Figure 4-1: East Honolulu Bikeway System    4-4

APPENDIX A: CONCEPTUAL MAPS     A-1
URBAN COMMUNITY BOUNDARY    A-1
AGRICULTURE BOUNDARY    A-2
PRESERVATION BOUNDARY    A-2
MAP A-1: OPEN SPACE    A-3
MAP A-2: URBAN LAND USE    A-3
MAP A-3: PUBLIC FACILITIES    A-4
PREFACE & EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

 PREFACE & EXECUTIVE SUMMARY


The East Honolulu Sustainable Communities Plan has been prepared in accordance with the Charter-prescribed requirements for development plans and is to be accorded force and effect as such for all Charter- and ordinance-prescribed purposes. It is one of a set of eight community-oriented plans intended to help guide public policy, investment, and decision-making through the 2020 planning horizon. Each of the plans addresses one of eight geographic planning regions on Oahu, responding to the specific conditions and community values of each region. The map on the following page illustrates these planning regions.

Two of the eight planning regions, Ewa and the Primary Urban Center, are the areas to which major growth in population and economic activity will be directed over the next 20 years and beyond. The plans for these regions will continue to be titled ADevelopment Plans,@ and will serve as the policy guides for the development decisions and actions required to support that growth.

The remaining six planning regions, including East Honolulu, are envisioned to remain relatively stable. The plans for those regions have been titled ASustainable Communities Plans@ and are focused on serving as policy guides for public actions in support of that goal. The vision statement and supporting provisions of the East Honolulu Sustainable Communities Plan are oriented toward maintaining and enhancing the region=s ability to sustain its unique character and lifestyle.

P.1    THE SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES PLAN PROCESS

This Plan is the culmination of the Charter-mandated development plan revision effort led by the City and County of Honolulu=s Planning Department and its successor agency, the Department of Planning and Permitting. This effort was comprised of a process that encouraged and enabled significant involvement from the region=s neighborhood boards, community associations and numerous individuals. This plan will have incorporated input received from:

$    Six meetings of the Resident Advisory Group,

$    Public workshops,

$    Extensive review and evaluation of landowners= court submissions regarding their long-term development proposals,

$    Two Public Information Meetings, and

$    Many meetings with community leaders and representatives of government agencies.

P.2    LAND USE PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT IN HONOLULU

The City and County of Honolulu guides and directs land use and growth through a three-tier system of objectives, policies, planning principles, guidelines and regulations. The General Plan forms the first tier of this system. First adopted by resolution in 1977, the General Plan is a relatively brief document, consisting primarily of one-sentence statements of objectives and policies. It has been amended several times, but the basic objectives and policies set forth in the 1977 plan remain intact.

The second tier of the system is formed by the development plans, which are adopted and revised by ordinance. These plans address eight geographic regions of the island; the Primary Urban Center, Central Oahu, Ewa, Waianae, North Shore, Koolauloa, Koolaupoko and East Honolulu. The East Honolulu Development Plan was first adopted in 1983. The development plans for East Honolulu, Waianae, North Shore, Koolauloa, and Koolaupoko are now referred to as Sustainable Community Plans.

The third tier of the system is composed of the implementing ordinances, including the Land Use Ordinance (Honolulu=s zoning code) and the City=s Capital Improvement Program. Mandated by the City Charter, these ordinances constitute the principle means for implementing the City=s plans. These ordinances are required to be consistent with the General Plan, the Development Plans (or Sustainable Community Plans), and each other.

In addition to these three Charter-mandated tiers, the development plans are supplemented by two planning mechanisms that are not required by the Charter, including the functional planning process and special area planning. Functional planning activities, some of which are mandated by state or federal regulations, provide long-range guidance for the development of public facilities such as the water system, wastewater disposal, and transportation. Special area plans are intended to give specific guidance for neighborhoods, communities or specialized resources.

P.3    AUTHORITY OF THE DEVELOPMENT PLANS AND SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES PLANS

The authority of the Development Plans is derived from the City Charter, which mandates preparation of a General Plan and development plans to guide Athe development and improvement of the city.@ Together with the General Plan, the development plans provide a policy context for the land use and budgetary actions of the City. This is the authority the originally adopted development plans carried, and it remains unchanged in the Sustainable Communities Plan presented in this document.

The Charter provides that Apublic improvement projects and subdivision and zoning ordinances shall be consistent with the development plan for that area.@ Although the development plans (or Sustainable Communities Plans) are not themselves regulatory, they Aregulate the regulators.@ They are policy tools and are to be used, in conjunction with the programs and budgets of the City, to accomplish the objectives of the City and as guides for the decisions made in the private sector.

P.4    WHY THE DEVELOPMENT PLANS HAVE BEEN REVISED

In 1992 the City Charter Commission recommended, and the voters of Honolulu adopted, amendments to the City Charter. Chief among its findings, the Charter Commission concluded that the development plans were overly detailed and had engendered processes that duplicated the zoning process. To eliminate this unnecessary duplication, the 1992 Charter amendments changed the definition of development plans from Arelatively detailed plans@ to Aconceptual schemes.@

The 1992 Charter amendments established that the purpose of the development plans is to provide:

$    Apriorities Y (for the) coordination of major development activities@; and

$    sufficient description of the Adesired urban character and the significant natural, scenic and cultural resources Y to serve as a policy guide for more detailed zoning maps and regulations and public and private sector investment decisions.@

In response to the 1992 Charter amendments, the Planning Department launched a thorough review of the development plans. The goal of that review was the revision of all eight of the development plans to bring them into conformance with the Charter-mandated conceptual orientation. The revised plan presented in this document conforms to that mandate.

P.5    EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF THE EAST HONOLULU SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES PLAN

This plan, which is incorporated into Ordinance 98-75 CD2 by reference, is organized in five chapters and an appendix, as follows:

C    Chapter 1: East Honolulu=s Role in Oahu=s Development Pattern defines the region=s role and identity within the overall framework of islandwide planning and land use management.

C    Chapter 2: The Vision for East Honolulu=s Future summarizes the vision for the future of the region and lists important elements of that vision.

C    Chapter 3: Land Use Policies, Principles, and Guidelines presents the Plan=s core policies, and provides policy guidance for the region=s various land use elements.

C    Chapter 4: Public Facilities and Infrastructure Policies and Principles outlines policies, principles and actions needed to support the land use policies of Chapter 3.

C    Chapter 5: Implementation addresses needs for carrying out provisions outlined by the Plan.

The contents of each chapter are briefly summarized below:

P.5.1    Chapter 1: East Honolulu = s Role in Oahu = s Development Pattern

Consistent with the directed growth provisions of the General Plan, East Honolulu is targeted for very little growth over the 20-25 year projection horizon of this plan. Policies in support of this goal limit the potential for expansion of the region=s housing stock, commercial centers and economic activity, and are focussed on maintaining the patterns of development characteristic of its residential neighborhoods.

P.5.2    Chapter 2: The Vision for East Honolulu = s Future
This vision is shaped around two principal concepts. The first of these calls for protection of the community=s natural, scenic, cultural and historic resources. The second principal concept addresses the need to improve and replace, as necessary, the region=s aging infrastructure systems, and to adapt the housing supply to accommodate modest expected increases in residents and the changing demographic profile of East Honolulu=s aging population. Seven key elements of the vision are identified, including:

$    Establish an Urban Community Boundary to contain the spread of urban development; and Agriculture Boundaries to protect and preserve the regions= existing agricultural areas;

$    Preserve the scenic value of the Koko Head-Makapuu viewshed;

$    Maintain the urban form of ridge-and-valley neighborhoods;

$    Expand access to mountain and shoreline recreational areas;

$    Protect and preserve natural areas;

$    Adapt the housing supply to the region=s changing demographics; and

$    Focus the commercial centers on serving the region=s neighborhoods.

P.5.3    Chapter 3: Land Use Policies, Principles, and Guidelines
This chapter presents general policies, planning principles and guidelines for the major concerns related to land use in East Honolulu. General policies related to each land use type are summarized below:

P.5.3.1    Open Space Preservation:
$    Protect scenic views, provide recreation and promote access to shoreline and mountain areas.

$    Define the boundaries of communities and provide fire safety buffers.

$    Create a linear system of landscaped pathways along roadways and drainage ways.

P.5.3.2    Island-Based Parks and Recreation:
$    Employ appropriate screening and siting.

$    Ensure environmental compatibility in the design and construction of park facilities.

$    Integrate recreational opportunities with the characteristics of the surrounding community.

P.5.3.3    Community-Based Parks:
$    Increase the inventory of community-based parks to provide appropriately located sports and recreation facilities.

$    Modify recreation facilities and increase access to school facilities to respond to changing demographic profiles and recreation needs.

$    Require developers of new residential projects to provide land for open space and recreation purposes, rather than paying the park dedication fee.

$    Pursue development of linear parkways along streams and drainage channels.

P.5.3.4    Historic and Cultural Resourc es:
$    Recommend in situ preservation and appropriate protection for sites with high preservation value.

$    Determine appropriate treatment for a historic site by the particular qualities of the site and its relationship to the surroundings.

$    Determine the degree of access appropriate to promotion and preservation of the historic, cultural and educational value of each site.

P.5.3.5    Residential Uses:
$    Increase the region=s housing capacity primarily through infill development of existing residential areas.

$    Respond to the changing needs of East Honolulu=s aging population by providing for development of a variety of housing opportunities affordable to low- and moderate-income, gap group, and other elderly households.

$    Modify residential street design to provide emphasis on safe, accessible, convenient and comfortable pedestrian routes, bus stops and bike routes.

P.5.3.6    Nonresidential Development:
$    Identify and define commercial uses in various categories appropriate to the character and needs of East Honolulu=s communities, including: neighborhood commercial centers; the regional town center; and areas supporting resort and institutional uses.

$    Limit the growth of commercial centers, resorts and institutions to current sites.

P.5.4    Chapter 4: Pu blic Facilities and Infrastructure Policies and Principles
This chapter presents general policies and planning principles for the major concerns related to public facilities and infrastructure in East Honolulu. General policies related to each facility type are summarized below:

P.5.4.1    Transportation Systems:
$    Reduce reliance on the private passenger vehicle by promoting transportation system management (e.g., contraflow lane operations) and travel demand management (e.g., transit, carpool and vanpool programs) measures for both commuting and local trips.

$    Provide adequate and improved mobility between communities, shopping, and recreation centers, especially by enhancing pedestrian, bicycle and transit modes of travel.

$    Maintain adequate person-carrying capacity for peak-period commuting to and from work in the Primary Urban Center.

P.5.4.2    Water Systems Development:
$    Integrate management of all potable and nonpotable water sources, including groundwater, stream water, storm water, and effluent, following State and City legislative mandates.

$    Adopt and implement water conservation practices in the design of new developments and the modification of existing uses, including landscaped areas.

P.5.4.3    Wastewater Treatment:
$    Connect all wastewater produced within the Urban Community Boundary area to a municipal or publicly regulated sewer service system.

$    Treat and reuse, where feasible, wastewater effluent as a water conservation measure.

$    Provide buffer zones and landscape elements between the East Honolulu WWTP and adjacent residential designated areas.

P.5.4.4    Electrical Power Development:
$    Design system elements and incrementally replace facilities such as substations, transmission lines and towers to avoid or mitigate any potential adverse impacts on scenic and natural resource values and to enhance system reliability.

P.5.4.5    Solid Waste Handling and Disposal:
$    Continue efforts to establish more efficient waste diversion and collection systems.

$    Expand the use of automated refuse collection in residential areas.    

P.5.4.6    Drainage Systems:
$    Promote drainage system design, which emphasizes control and minimization of nonpoint source pollution and the retention of storm water on-site and in wetlands.

$    View storm water as a potential irregular source of water for recharge of the aquifer that should be retained for absorption rather than quickly moved to coastal waters.

$    Select natural and man-made vegetated drainageways and retention basins as the preferred solution to drainage problems wherever they can promote water recharge, help control nonpoint source pollution, and provide passive recreation benefits.

$    Keep drainageways clear of debris to avoid the flooding problems that have occurred in the past.

P.5.4.7    School Facilities:
$    Approve new residential developments only after the State Department of Education certifies that adequate school facilities will be available when the development is completed.

$    Require that developers pay their fair share of all costs needed to ensure provision of adequate school facilities for the children living in their developments.

P.5.4.8    Civic and Public Safety Facilities:
$    Provide adequate staffing and facilities to ensure effective and efficient delivery of basic governmental service and protection of public safety.

P.5.5    Chapter 5: Implementation
This chapter discusses the various measures that will be necessary to ensure timely implementation of the plan, including those measures that will minimize disruption during the transition into the plan. Among the measures addressed by this chapter, changes to the zoning maps and the Land Use Ordinance will be necessary to achieve required consistency with the Sustainable Communities Plan, as will various other regulatory codes and standards. This chapter also addresses monitoring of plan implementation and provides for comprehensive review of the plan at five-year intervals.

P.5.6    Appendix A
The appendix provides three color maps that illustrate some of the plan=s textual provisions. Because these maps are intended merely to be illustrative of the text, if there are any conflicts between the maps and the text, the text shall prevail.

1.    EAST HONOLULU = S ROLE IN
OAHU=S DEVELOPMENT PATTERN

 1.    EAST HONOLULU’S ROLE IN OAHU’S DEVELOPMENT PATTERN

The General Plan of the City and County of Honolulu designates the East Honolulu Development Plan Area (DPA), shown in Figure 1-1, as an urban fringe area to remain predominantly residential with limited future population growth. General Plan policies call for developing and maintaining development characteristics which make East Honolulu a desirable place to live.

The present land use pattern and suburban character of East Honolulu began to take shape with the inauguration of the master planned community of Hawaii Kai in 1961. Prior to that time, most of this region was regarded as too far removed from Honolulu to be suitable for large scale residential development. Building on the momentum that Hawaii Kai was creating in the 1960s and 1970s, residential development spread quickly to the valleys of Kamiloiki and Kalama and to Mariner=s Ridge. With the development of newer communities at Kamehame Ridge, Hawaii Loa Ridge, and portions of Waialae Iki, most of the ridges and valleys in East Honolulu from Kahala to Kalama Valley have been developed with residential use. In the past two decades, however, the rate of urban growth in East Honolulu has slowed as the availability of suitable development sites has diminished.

This update reaffirms East Honolulu=s role in Oahu=s development pattern as intended in the General Plan policies by establishing the following principles for future land use and development in the East Honolulu Sustainable Communities Plan:


!    Limit the potential for new housing in the region so that significant residential growth is directed instead to the Primary Urban Center, Ewa, and Central Oahu Development Plan Areas.

!    Limit the expansion of commercial centers and economic activity in the region to promote the development and growth of employment in the Primary Urban Center, and potentially the designated secondary urban center in the Ewa Development Plan Area.

!    Maintain the region=s predominantly low-rise, low-density form of residential development.

!    Avoid flood damage, slippage and other problems associated with development of steep slopes and sites with expansive soils.

!    Utilize the design capacity of Kalanianaole Highway, the region=s key component of transportation, as a means to manage urban growth.

!    Preserve scenic views of ridges, upper valley slopes, shoreline areas from Kalanianaole Highway and from popular hiking trails that extend from Koko Head to Makapuu Head.

!    Promote access to mountain and shoreline resources for recreational purposes and traditional hunting, fishing, gathering, religious, and cultural practices.



2.    THE VISION FOR EAST HONOLULU = S FUTURE

 2.    THE VISI ON FOR EAST HONOLULUS FUTURE
This chapter presents a statement of the vision for East Honolulu=s future, discusses the key elements of the vision, and presents illustrative maps and tables.

2.1    VISION STATEMENT

The vision for East Honolulu extends to the year 2020. This is the horizon that was used to project potential residential development capacity of the region. Between 1995 and 2020, East Honolulu is projected to experience minimal population growth. According to projections prepared in 1995 by the City's Planning Department, East Honolulu=s population might be expected to increase from 45,850 in 1995 to approximately 51,800 by 2020, or by less than one percent per year. Population growth of this magnitude is not expected to generate significant demand for additional commercial development in the region. As discussed below, the vision for East Honolulu focuses on the long-term protection of community resources and adapting to changing community needs.

2.1.1    Protect Community Resources
The East Honolulu Sustainable Communities Plan provides a vision for preservation, conservation, and enhancement of community resources.


!         Protect Natural and Scenic Resources. Significant scenic views of ridges, upper valley slopes, and shoreline areas from Kalanianaole Highway and scenic views from popular hiking trails that extend from Koko Head to Makapuu Head must be protected. Furthermore, access to shoreline areas and mountainous regions will be improved and provided for all to use.

!         Preserve Cultural and Historical Resources. These resources will be preserved by retaining visual landmarks and significant views, and by preserving significant historic, cultural, and archaeological features from East Honolulu=s past.


2.1.2    Adapt to Changing Community Needs
Although East Honolulu is nearly built out, it will be essential that the changing demographics of the region=s communities be addressed. East Honolulu=s growing elderly population, trend of older couples or Aempty nesters@ moving out of single-family dwellings and younger families moving in, and observed increase in Amultigeneration@ households will likely require different housing types and services.
In addition, the region=s housing stock and infrastructure systems are aging. Incrementally, existing structures and facilities will be modified, expanded, or replaced due to obsolescence. Sustainable Communities Plan policies provide long-term direction for this gradual physical transformation.

2.2    KEY ELEMENTS OF THE VISION

The vision for East Honolulu=s future will be implemented through the following key elements:


!        Urban community, agriculture and preservation boundaries;

!        The Koko Head-Makapuu scenic district;

!        Ridge-and-valley neighborhoods;

!        Mauka-makai recreational access;

!        Protection and preservation of natural areas;

!        Housing stability;

!        Hawaii Kai Town Center; and

!        Neighborhood-oriented services.



Each of these elements is discussed below.

2.2.1    Establish Urban Community, Agriculture and Preservation Boundaries
Three types of boundaries have been established to guide development and preserve open space and agriculture areas. These are the Urban Community Boundary, the Agriculture Boundary and the Preservation Boundary. It is intended these boundaries will remain fixed through the 2020 planning horizon. They are intended to help guide future development, redevelopment, and resource management within existing zoning designations or future zoning designations and other standards or guidelines that may be developed in response to the provisions of this plan, other established entitlements, or in accordance with pertinent policy and character described in this plan.

2.2.1.1    Urban Community Boundary
The Urban Community Boundary is established to define and contain the intended extent of urbanized or Abuilt-up@ areas within the East Honolulu district. The purpose is to accommodate modest increases in population, to provide adequate lands for facilities or other groupings of built uses needed to support established communities while protecting lands outside this boundary for agriculture and other resource and open space values. Areas within this boundary characteristically include extensive tracts of residential or commercial development clearly distinguishable from undeveloped or more Anatural@ portions of the region=s environment. The Urban Community Boundary may include areas designated Apark@ or Apreservation,@ or areas with development-related hazards such as steep slopes or unstable soils; it is intended these areas will not be developed with uses unsuitable to their designations or in ways that may tend to exacerbate those hazards.

The Urban Community Boundary is intended to confine most new development to Ainfill@ sites that are adjacent to existing urbanized areas. A more compact form of development will result in relatively lower site development costs, more efficient utilization of existing urban infrastructure systems, and reduced reliance on the automobile by making transit ridership, walking, and bicycling more feasible and attractive as modes of travel.

The purpose of the Urban Community Boundary (see Figure 2-1) is to confine the spread of urban development while providing sufficient inventory of developable land to accommodate anticipated urban growth in the region through 2020. It is generally coterminous with the State Urban District boundary, but excludes the following areas of the State Urban District:


!    Areas which are committed to agricultural use by long-term leases (i.e., the farm lot subdivisions in Kamilonui Valley and adjacent to Kaiser High School);

!    Undeveloped areas in Kamilonui Valley which are adjacent to existing agricultural uses;

!    Large tracts of undeveloped lands at higher elevations that are prominently visible from the coastal highway or other public areas and are desirable natural scenic features; and

!    Significant undeveloped Urban District land areas which the U.S. Geological Survey has identified as suspect areas for land movement.   (See footnote 1)  (see Figure 2-2).



The six main objectives of the Urban Community Boundary are to:

!     Avoid Development of Hazardous Areas. Undeveloped lands on the fringes of urbanized areas which are characterized by steep slopes or unstable soils are placed outside of the Urban `Community Boundary to prevent potential property damage and threat to public safety. These physical constraints also increase site development costs, which are passed on to housing consumers.

!     Support General Plan Policy. Consistent with General Plan policy Housing Objective B, Policy 1, which aims to encourage the State government to coordinate its urban-area designations with the developmental policies of the City and County, the Urban Community Boundary indicates an appropriate adjustment to the State Land Use Urban District boundary.

!     Support Agricultura l Uses. Two areas in Hawaii Kai are placed outside of the Urban Community Boundary to recognize agricultural lots whose lease terms extend beyond 2020. Preventing the encroachment of suburban residential development within and surrounding these subdivisions supports active use of these lots for agricultural purposes.
!     Provide Sufficient Capacity for Projected Growth. Even with the amount of land reserved for parks and open space, there is ample capacity within the Urban Community Boundary to accommodate anticipated residential and commercial development to 2020 (see Figure 2-3). The Urban Community Boundary can accommodate approximately 2,600 potential new housing units (see Table 2-1). Combined with existing 1995 housing units, this translates to a total potential population in East Honolulu of between 48,300 and 52,600, which is consistent with the Planning Department=s projected population for the year 2020.



Table 2 - 1
 Capacity for Growth within the Urban Community Boundary  

Potential New Housing Units  
 
On Vacant Usable Lands  
 
Parcels 5 Acres and Larger  
1,800
 
Parcels Less than 5 Acres  
700
 
Ohana Units  
100
 
Total Potential New Housing Units  
2,600
 

Potential Population  
 
From New Housing Units  
6,200 - 6,800
 
From Existing 1995 Housing Units  
42,100 - 45,900
 
Total Potential Population  
48,300 - 52,600
 
Planning Department Projected 2020 Population  
51,800
 
Total Potential Population Over (Under)  
 
Planning Department Projected 2020 Population  
 

Persons  
(3,500) - 800
 
Percent  
(6.7%) - 1.5%
 

!     Promote an Efficient Pattern of Urban Development. The Urban Community Boundary confines most new development to Ainfill@ sites that are adjacent to existing urbanized areas on relatively level terrain. A more compact form of development on the coastal plain will result in relatively lower site development costs, more efficient utilization of existing urban infrastructure systems, and reduced reliance on the automobile by making transit ridership, walking, and bicycling more feasible and attractive as modes of travel.

!     Protect Natural and Scenic Resources. By contracting the potential area for new urban development through the Urban Community Boundary, significant natural landscape features can be protected from physical changes that will permanently impair their scenic value. These scenic landscape elements include the ridges and valley walls that are visible from Kalanianaole Highway, particularly in the area between Koko Head and Makapuu Point (see Figure 2-4).

2.2.1.2    Agriculture Boundary
The Agriculture Boundary is established to protect the region=s agricultural lands for their economic and open space values. The primary use of all lands within the Agriculture Boundary must be agriculture or directly supportive of the agriculture industry.

Two areas in Hawaii Kai are placed within the Agriculture Boundary to recognize agricultural lots whose lease terms extend beyond 2020 (i.e., the farm lot subdivisions in Kamilonui Valley and adjacent to Kaiser High School). In addition, undeveloped areas in Kamilonui Valley which are adjacent to existing agricultural uses are placed within the Agriculture Boundary. Preventing the encroachment of suburban residential development within and surrounding the existing subdivisions supports active use of these lots for agricultural purposes.

2.2.1.3    Preservation Bo undary
The Preservation Boundary is established to protect undeveloped lands which form an important part of the region=s open space fabric but that are not valued primarily for agricultural uses. Such lands include important wildlife habitat, archaeological or historic sites, significant landforms or landscapes over which significant views are available, and development-related hazard areas.

The Preservation Boundary generally circumscribes undeveloped lands that:

C    Are necessary for protection of watersheds, water resources and water supplies;

C    Are necessary for the conservation, preservation and enhancement of sites with scenic, historic, archaeological or ecological significance;

C    Are necessary for providing and preserving park lands, wilderness and beach reserves, and for conserving natural ecosystems of endemic plants, fish and wildlife, for forestry, and other activities related to these uses;

C    Are located at an elevation below the maximum inland line of the zone of wave action, and marine waters, fishponds, and tidepools unless otherwise designated;

C    Are generally characterized by topography, soils, climate or other related environmental factors that may not be normally adaptable or presently needed for urban community or agriculture use;

C    Have general slopes of 20 percent or more which provide for open space amenities and/or scenic values;

C    Are susceptible to floods and soil erosion, lands undergoing major erosion damage and requiring corrective attention, and lands necessary to the protection of the health, safety and welfare of the public by reason of soil instability or the land=s susceptibility to landslides and/or inundation by tsunami and flooding;

C    Are used for state or city parks outside the Urban Community Boundary; or

C    Are suitable for growing commercial timber, grazing, hunting, and recreation uses, including facilities accessory to such uses when such facilities are compatible with the natural and physical environment.

The Preservation Boundary excludes such features, sites or areas located within the Urban Community or Agriculture boundaries.

2.2.2    Preserve the scenic value of the Koko Head-Makapuu Viewshed
The rugged coastal lands between Koko Head and Makapuu Point are among Oahu=s most unique and spectacular scenic resources, offering mauka and makai views from many vantage points (see Figure 2-4). Protection of the scenic value of this viewshed has island-wide importance because of its attraction to both residents and visitors. Preserving one of Oahu=s most popular visitor resources is critical to our economy since tourism, our base industry, continues to grow in significance.

Nowhere else on the island, with the exception of the Kaena coastline, are there elements of a natural environment in one large, contiguous area of undeveloped open space. Unlike Kaena, however, the Koko Head-Makapuu coastline is easily accessible by vehicle. While easy access benefits the public=s recreational needs, it can also contribute to degradation of the area=s resources. Overuse, misuse, and potential urban encroachment, particularly in the Queen=s Beach vicinity, are pressures which threaten the integrity of this coastal area.

The resources of the Koko Head-Makapuu region should be protected and enhanced. The publicly owned Koko Head Regional Park, which includes Hanauma Bay Beach Park and Sandy Beach Park, should continue to provide world-class recreational opportunities, but at the same time the value of these resources must be protected from overuse. Visual resources of the Queen=s Beach and Queen=s Rise sections should also be protected through creation of the proposed Ka Iwi scenic shoreline.


2.2.3    Maintain the Urban Form of Ridge-and-Valley Neighborhoods
East Honolulu=s residential communities are physically defined by the topography of the region. A series of ridges and valleys serve as natural boundaries separating one community from the next. The first areas to develop, in approximate order, were the coastal plains of Waialae and Wailupe and the flatter valley floors of Aina Haina, Kuliouou, and Niu. Over time, further subdivision into smaller lots, infill lot developments, and home expansions have intensified the use of these areas. Also, development has extended deeper into the valleys and up the lower slopes of valley walls.

Residential development of hillsides and descending ridges generally followed the development of the coastal plain and valleys. Most of the residential-zoned areas of these hillsides have been fully developed, but there is some vacant residential-zoned land remaining in upper and side slope fringes.

Hawaii Kai, located in the eastern portion of the region, is a large, mixed-use master planned community containing a broad mix of housing types. It was inaugurated on a grand scale in the 1960s with the dredging of the coastal wetland for a marina, housing subdivisions, and apartment complexes. The master plan encompassed several geographic subareas: the Marina, Hahaione Valley, Mariner=s Ridge, Kamilonui Valley, Kamiloiki Valley, Kamehame Ridge, Kalama Valley, and Queen's Beach. Most of these areas have been fully developed, except for Queen's Beach, which has been designated for preservation.

Kalanianaole Highway is the linkage between these hillside and valley neighborhoods. It is a major route for joggers and bicyclists, as well as vehicles, and its attractively landscaped median helps to unify the image of East Honolulu as a distinct region.

With most of Oahu=s future population growth being directed to the Ewa and Central Oahu regions, no major developments are expected in East Honolulu. Growth in East Honolulu should occur by infilling existing built-up areas rather than spreading development onto steep slopes, higher elevations, undeveloped mountain ridges and valley walls, or deeper recesses of the valleys.

The character of existing neighborhoods must not only be protected, but also enhanced through effective design of public and private infrastructure and other community facilities. East Honolulu=s existing communities may need to adapt facilities and services to accommodate the changing composition of the region=s population (see Section 2.2.6).

2.2.4    Expand Access to Recreational Areas
The Koolau Mountain Range provides a wealth of hiking, hunting, and camping opportunities. It is important that access to publicly owned trails be made as unrestricted as possible. Communities, both open and gated, should cooperate with the State to ensure that visitor parking and access to trails are provided to the public. If these agreements do not work, consideration should be given to condemning land and acquiring public ownership of easements.

Shoreline access has been less problematic in East Honolulu. Existing beach access and rights-of-way should remain and new shoreline access ways should be acquired as the opportunities arise. In particular, at least three public access points should be acquired along Portlock Road in order to meet the City=s standard of public shoreline access at approximately one-quarter mile intervals. Furthermore, access to the Queen=s Beach shoreline, which extends from Koko Head Regional Park to Makapuu Point, should be improved through the creation of the proposed Ka Iwi scenic shoreline.

2.2.5    Protect and Preserve Natural Areas
Natural areas in East Honolulu include (see Chapter 3, Figure 3-2):

!    Paiko Lagoon Wildlife Sanctuary;

!    Ihiihilauakea Preserve;

!    Hanauma Bay Marine Life Conservation District; and

!    Queen=s Beach (Ka Iwi scenic shoreline).



These natural areas should continue to be protected and preserved by providing proper management and security to protect endangered species habitat, and by monitoring and regulating uses to avoid overuse and misuse of resources. In addition, steps should be taken to acquire land for the creation of the Ka Iwi scenic shoreline (see Section 3.2.1.2) as a means to protect the area=s rich recreational and scenic resources. Furthermore, the effects of runoff into these areas from any future upland construction will need to be thoroughly examined.

2.2.6    Adapt Housing Supply to Changing Demographics
East Honolulu should remain a relatively stable residential area, with only modest growth in housing stock or changes in household characteristics. In 1990, the owner occupancy rate for East Honolulu was approximately 79 percent compared to 49 percent for the island as a whole. Between 1995 and 2020, the population in East Honolulu is projected to increase by only about 6,000 residents. With minimal population growth, housing stability in East Honolulu will not be affected by rapid growth and new developments.

The composition of East Honolulu=s population, however, could have an impact. East Honolulu has a significant and growing proportion of elderly residents. In 1990, 11.5 percent of the area=s population was 65 years of age or older, an increase from 9.3 percent in 1980. This aging trend, however, is not consistent throughout the region. In the Kuliouou/Kalani Iki area, 17.0 percent of the 1990 population were in the 65 years old and over category. In comparison, only about 7.9 percent of Hawaii Kai residents belonged to this age group.

While this aging trend is consistent with the rest of the island B Oahu=s proportion of elderly residents increased from 7.3 percent in 1980 to 10.9 percent in 1990 B the growth rate of East Honolulu=s elderly population has outpaced that of Oahu as a whole. Between 1980 and 1990, the number of elderly residents in East Honolulu increased by 119.2 percent, compared to an islandwide elderly population growth of 65.2 percent. The aging population in East Honolulu and the island in general is expected to continue into the next century, indicating an increasing need for geriatric services, including long-term and care home services, and alternative living accommodations for seniors, such as retirement communities and group homes.

Despite an overall aging of the population, realtors specializing in this area have observed a trend of older couples or Aempty nesters@ moving out of single-family dwellings and younger families moving in. However, they have also observed an increase in Amultigeneration@ households; i.e., aging parents living with adult children and preschool or school-age grandchildren. These changing demographics may require different housing types and could result in changes to mature neighborhoods through the expansion of dwellings or the further addition of Aohana@ units on a long-term basis. Zoning and other community guidelines will need to ensure that neighborhood character is not adversely altered by the incremental intensification of existing residential lots.

2.2.7    Focus Commercial Centers on Serving the Region = s Neighborhoods
East Honolulu=s commercial areas should continue to be oriented primarily to the region=s residential community. General Plan policy discourages major new employment growth in this region. Any significant retail and office expansion in this region would countervail the General Plan policy to direct job growth to the Primary Urban Center and Secondary Urban Center. Furthermore, given the small amount of population growth that is forecast for East Honolulu, there is expected to be only modest growth in the demand for commercial land uses to support the communities of this region.

The Hawaii Kai Towne Center, with over 200,000 square feet of gross leasable area, is East Honolulu=s largest retail complex and includes Abig box@ stores that attract shoppers from outside the region. It is expected to maintain its role as the region=s major commercial center. Its present floor area could be increased to accommodate more retail establishments to fulfill future demand without any expansion of land area.

The smaller Koko Marina Shopping Center serves a dual market, containing specialty stores and services oriented to both local residents and tourists, particularly visitors to Hanauma Bay. Since it is likely that the number of visitors to the scenic and recreation area between Koko Head and Makapuu Head will increase, the future tenant mix at Koko Marina may shift to visitor-oriented services.

East Honolulu=s five other retail complexes, those at the community and neighborhood scale, are spaced at somewhat even intervals between Aina Haina and Kalama Valley. The market areas of the Aina Haina, Niu Valley, Hahaione Valley, Hawaii Kai, and Kalama Valley shopping centers are limited mostly to the communities for which they are named, emphasizing food and household products and personal services. None of these retail areas should require additional land area for expansion. Presently, the Kalama Village Center is underleased, primarily because it serves a very limited market area which is not expected to grow significantly. Consequently, the land presently planned for expansion of this commercial center should be redesignated for residential use.

3.    LAND USE POLICIES, PRINCIPLES, AND GUIDELINES

 3.    LAND USE POLICIES, PRINCIPLES, AND GUIDELINES
The vision for development of East Honolulu described in the preceding chapter will be implemented through application of the following land use general policies, principles, and guidelines.

3.1    OPEN SPACE PRESERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT

Open space preservation and development is a key element of the vision for East Honolulu=s future. Long-term protection and preservation of scenic resources, natural areas, and recreational areas are important to maintaining the desirability and attractiveness of East Honolulu for both residents and visitors.

3.1.1    General Policies
Open space will be used to:


!    Protect scenic views and provide recreation;

!    Promote access to shoreline and mountain areas;

!    Define the boundaries of communities;

!    Provide fire safety buffers where developed areas border Awildlands@ either in preservation areas within the Urban Community Boundary or in the State Conservation District; and

!    Create a linear system of landscaped pathways along roadways and drainage channels.


3.1.2    Planning Principles
The general policies listed above provide the basis for the following planning principles:

!     Provide Passive and Active Open Spaces. The open space system shall consist of areas in both active and passive uses. Active areas include community-based parks, golf courses, and the Hawaii Kai Marina. Passive areas include lands in the State Conservation District, drainage and utility corridors, nature preserves, and tracts of lands left undeveloped because of physical constraints or hazards. Beach parks may be either active or passive, depending on the extent to which the landscape has been modified by grading and construction of facilities and the intensity of public use.

!     Promote Accessibility of Recreational Open Space. Public parks and most golf courses will be accessible for recreation use, but the open space system should also promote the accessibility of shoreline and mountain areas (as required by City ordinance). Access to mountain trails and shoreline areas should be readily available. This also includes the need for parking areas.

!     Enhance the Visual and Physical Definition of Urban Areas. East Honolulu=s residential communities are physically defined by the topography of the region. A series of ridges and valleys linked by Kalanianaole Highway serve as unofficial boundaries separating one community from the next. Open space or landscaping, however, should be used to visually enhance the separation between communities, particularly along Kalanianaole Highway where ridgelines are less pronounced.

!     Dual Use of Roadway and Drainage Corridors. Roadways should be attractively landscaped to serve as linear open space features and create a more inviting environment for walking, jogging and biking. Where physical modification of natural drainageways is necessary to provide adequate flood protection, such modifications should be designed and constructed to maintain habitat and aesthetic values, and to avoid degradation of stream, coastline and near shore water quality.

3.1.3    Guidelines
The following provides a brief description of regional open space resources in East Honolulu, followed by guidelines for carrying out the general policies and planning principles related to each open space element.

3.1.3.1    Mountain Areas
Seventeen major trails, inventoried by the State Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), provide access to the mountainous areas of East Honolulu. Three of these trails (see Figure 3-1) are actively managed by the State=s Na Ala Hele program:


!     Hawaii Loa Ridge Trail. This trail begins at the top of the Hawaii Loa community and extends 2 miles to the crest of the Koolau Range.

!     Kuliouou Valley Trail. Beginning at the back of Kuliouou Valley, this trail runs for 0.6 mile to approximately the 440 foot contour.

!     Kuliouou Ridge (Koko Head) Trail. This 2.5-mile trail is an extension of the Kuliouou Valley trail, extending to the crest of the Koolaus.


Public access to the Hawaii Loa Ridge trail and the Wiliwilinui trail atop Waialae Iki has been a source of controversy because residents of these communities and large landowners are concerned about liability, security, and loss of privacy with the use of private roads by hikers and hunters. Consequently, hikers driving to the trails have been subjected to certain restrictions, including signing of waivers of liability, parking at the base of the ridge, or no access at all.
Mountainous regions in East Honolulu are in the State Conservation District and thus the State Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR) has the authority to decide what uses are allowed in these areas. To prevent future problems, landowners and residential associations should cooperate with the BLNR to ensure that access to the trails and visitor parking are provided to the public. If these agreements do not work, consideration should be given to acquiring fee ownership or easements for public use. Furthermore, the State and City should negotiate, in advance, provision of public access easements and visitor parking near the trailheads with developers of new subdivisions.

To protect important resource values in the State Conservation District, steps also need to be taken to control the number and range of feral animals and other alien species and prevent overuse and misuse by humans in selected areas, such as habitats of native and endangered species.

Guidelines pertaining to mountain areas are as follows:


!    Acquire and maintain public access easements to trailheads.

!    Provide public parking for trail users near the trailhead.

!    Maintain, protect, and/or restore native forests in the State Conservation District.

!    Avoid disturbances caused by utility corridors and other uses on areas with high concentrations of native species.

!    Identify and protect endangered species habitats and other important ecological zones from threats such as fire, alien species, feral animals, and human activity.


3.1.3.2    Agricultural Areas
The physical and economic conditions of East Honolulu preclude large-scale agricultural operations. There are, however, two concentrations of small-scale agricultural operations -- the larger one in Kamilonui Valley and the other above Kaiser High School on the slopes of Koko Crater -- which are expected to remain, and should be preserved as being consistent with the overall community vision underlying this Plan. In both areas, individual farm lots on long-term leases are used for nursery and vegetable production and remain commercially viable by serving a mostly East Honolulu market.

Water supply is sufficient in Kamilonui Valley, although short winter days are a limitation on the types of crops that can be grown here. There is also the potential for conflict between farming in Kamilonui Valley, an activity which existed prior to adjacent urban development, and the proximity and possible encroachment of suburban residential areas. This can result in complaints from neighbors about dust, noise, overspray, odors, and other normal effects of farming. In turn, this can lead to operational changes that may be required by the enforcement of public health regulations and that adversely affect the feasibility of agriculture. The most effective way to avoid this conflict is to provide adequate separation between agricultural and residential uses.

Guidelines relating to agricultural areas are listed below:

!    Design and locate buildings and other facilities that are accessory to an agricultural operation in a way which minimizes the impact on nearby urban areas and the street system.

!    Encourage continued use of small lots for agricultural uses and promote compatibility of nearby residential areas with those uses. Land use policy should explicitly promote maintenance of an adequate buffer between agricultural lands and new residential development with consideration given to topographic barriers, prevailing winds, and the noise or air-borne emissions associated with the type of agricultural operation.

!    Designate undeveloped areas in Kamilonui Valley which are on the ewa side of the existing farm lots for agricultural use.

!    Promote long-term agricultural leases at reasonable rates consistent with feasible agricultural use by having such areas remain outside the Urban Community Boundary and placing those areas within the Agriculture Boundary.


3.1.3.3    Natural Gulches and Drainageways
The ridges and valleys in East Honolulu form a series of natural drainageways extending across the region. These stream channels are the primary means for carrying water from the inland areas to the sea and are capable of handling runoff from normal rainfall amounts. During periods of intense rainfall, however, a number of these drainageways have experienced flooding problems (see discussion in Chapter 4).

Guidelines concerning natural gulches and drainageways are as follows:


!    Preserve the aesthetic and biological values of significant streams, wetlands, natural gulches and other drainageways by providing appropriate setbacks as part of the open space system. These include the perennial streams identified in the Hawaii Stream Assessment prepared by the State Commission on Water Resource Management, wetlands identified by the Army Corps of Engineers and/or identified on the Fish and Wildlife Service=s National Wetland Inventory maps, and other drainageways identified by the Department of Design and Construction or the Department of Planning and Permitting. For other streams, including intermittent streams, applicants for development should be required to show that the open space system will not be significantly impacted and that biological values will not be significantly impacted by not providing setbacks.

!    Alter natural gulches within the Urban Community Boundary that are necessary to provide flood protection in a way which preserves aesthetic and biological values to the extent possible, and avoids degradation of stream, coastline and near shore water quality. For example, impacts on biological habitat may be mitigated, as appropriate, by using v-shaped bottom channels for periods of low stream flow, rip-rap boulder lining of stream banks, and streamside vegetation to shade and cool the waters of the stream.

3.1.3.4    Community-Based Parks
There are approximately 117 acres of community-based parks in East Honolulu. As discussed further in Section 3.3, community-based parks include district, community, neighborhood, and mini parks. The main purpose of community-based parks is to provide active recreation space for residents of the region in the form of playfields and gyms, among others. In addition to meeting the active recreation needs of the region, community-based parks also serve as open space elements and add aesthetic value to the region by providing visual relief from urban land uses.

Guidelines pertaining to community-based parks in East Honolulu are as follows:


!    Expand community-based parks in areas where there is a deficit of such facilities and where recreational needs of residents are not being adequately met.

!    Design and site structural improvements and landscaping in community-based parks in such a way as to create or add to the aesthetic value of these open space elements.


3.1.3.5    Golf Courses
There are three 18-hole golf courses in East Honolulu; the Hawaii Kai Championship Golf Course, the Hawaii Kai Executive Golf Course, and the Waialae Country Club. No additional golf courses are proposed under this Plan. The first two courses are open to the public, while the latter is a members-only course. The three golf courses are important elements of East Honolulu=s open space system because they provide areas for active recreation and offer visual relief from adjacent urban uses. Golf courses have a manicured appearance, so they are not necessarily appropriate for areas where the retention of a natural, untamed landscape character is desired. However, the Waialae Country Club demonstrates how a golf course in an urban or suburban setting can preserve a significant viewplane, in this case the mauka-to-makai vista from Kalanianaole Highway. The two Hawaii Kai golf courses demarcate the eastern edge of suburban development and help preserve the mauka portion of the panoramic view from Koko Crater to Makapuu Head. In addition to their open space value at strategic locations, the design and siting of golf course grading contours and water features can contribute in a significant way to a passive stormwater drainage management system in an urban context.

Guidelines relating to golf courses in East Honolulu are listed below:


!    Maintain golf course designs to provide view amenities for adjacent urban areas, especially from well-used public rights-of-way, parks and vista points.

!    Optimize the function of golf courses as passive drainageways, maximizing their potential to retain or detain stormwater runoff.

!    Provide safe access through golf courses, as necessary, for regional continuity of pedestrian and bicycle systems.

!    When necessary for safety reasons, use screening, landscape treatment, setbacks and modifications to the course layout rather than fencing or solid barriers.

3.1.3.6    Shoreline Areas
East Honolulu=s shoreline extends for approximately 13 miles between Waialae and Makapuu. The shoreline provides residents and visitors with significant active and passive recreational value. Thus, public access, both mauka-makai and lateral, should be maintained and improved to the extent possible. In addition to recreational value, shoreline areas in East Honolulu, particularly between Koko Head and Makapuu, offer unparalleled scenic value. As such, view channels from Kalanianaole Highway to the shoreline should be maintained. The shoreline from Waialae to Koko Head and from Koko Head to Makapuu is discussed below.

!     Waialae to Koko Head. Few areas along this shoreline are accessible to the public due to residential development along Kalanianaole Highway. Access points to the shoreline along this stretch include the Wailupe, Kawaikui, Kuliouou, and Maunalua Bay Beach Parks and a few mauka-makai pedestrian easements.

Physical and visual access to the shoreline along this stretch is limited because of rather continuous residential development and the erection of sound barrier walls to screen traffic noise. However, there are a few points where the acquisition of additional pedestrian easements to the shoreline may still be possible as properties are redeveloped or subdivided.

In the residential area near Koko Head, there is a deficiency of public access to the shoreline from Portlock Road. To meet the City standard of public access at approximately one-quarter mile intervals, at least three additional public access points would need to be acquired along this road; two at either end and one in the middle. Where possible, these acquisitions should provide for direct, safe public access to sandy shoreline areas.

Most of the shoreline in this section is stable. Vertical seawalls and revetments have been constructed along many of the properties, but chronic erosion or accretion appears to be occurring only in two locations -- at Paiko Peninsula and in the Portlock area between the Hawaii Kai Marina entrance channel and the former Henry Kaiser Estate. Additional minimum setbacks for structures have been recommended as a management strategy to protect remaining sandy beaches in these segments.   (See footnote 2) 

It is also important in this area to retain and, if possible, expand visual access to the shoreline from the coastal highway. Presently, the most significant makai views are from the H-1 Freeway viaduct looking across the Waialae Country Club golf course and from Kalanianaole Highway fronting the Wailupe, Kawaikui, and Maunalua Bay Beach Parks.

!     Koko Head to Makapuu. Mauka-makai and lateral shoreline access is more prevalent between Koko Head and Makapuu. This stretch of shoreline is frequented by residents and visitors for various recreational and educational activities. The portion of this shoreline that extends from Koko Head Regional Park to Makapuu Point has been proposed as a 354-acre scenic shoreline area (see Section 3.2.1.2). The purpose of this park, referred to as the Ka Iwi scenic shoreline, is to preserve the area=s natural and scenic resources and to provide educational and passive recreation opportunities. In addition to shoreline access, there are continuous views of the ocean from the stretch of Kalanianaole Highway between Koko Head and Makapuu. This segment of the roadway is the highlight of a continuous visual sequence of the coastline extending from Hawaii Kai to Waimanalo.

Guidelines pertaining to shoreline areas are listed below:

!    Maintain existing makai view channels along the H-1 Freeway or Kalanianaole Highway between Waialae and Koko Head. Avoid obstructions, such as walls and landscaping, designed to screen out traffic noise.

!    Lateral shoreline access along some reaches of the beach from Maunalua Bay to Waialae Beach Park is a desirable goal, but difficult to achieve because of physical constraints, land ownership patterns and the extent of urban development. As an alternative, pursue opportunities to acquire additional pedestrian rights-of-way from the highway to the shoreline in sections which have high recreational value but no similar public access within at least a quarter-mile.

!    Provide additional public access to the shoreline from Portlock Road at approximately one-quarter mile intervals.

!    Require additional minimum setbacks for structures near the shoreline and implement other management strategies to protect unstable sandy beach areas at Paiko Peninsula and Portlock.

!    Place high priority on maintaining the untamed landscape quality of the Koko Head to Makapuu viewshed. Any modification to this shoreline area should be done in a manner which preserves the aesthetic values of the undeveloped xerophytic landscape.

!    Protect and preserve the long-term recreational and scenic value of the shoreline between Koko Head and Makapuu by supporting the creation of the Ka Iwi scenic shoreline.

3.1.3.7    Wildlife Preserves
East Honolulu is home to three formal wildlife preserves (see Figure 3-2):

!     Paiko Lagoon Wildlife Sanctuary. Paiko Lagoon, formerly a coastal fishpond, is fed by a freshwater spring and Kuliouou Stream and is managed by the State Department of Land and Natural Resources. The lagoon=s water level varies with the tides and occasionally exposes the saline mudflats. This wildlife sanctuary provides habitat to the endangered Hawaiian Stilt as well as other migratory waterbirds. The proximity of residential uses may threaten the sanctuary due to intrusions by humans and domesticated animals.

!     Ihiihilauakea Preserve. This preserve is located on the southern rim of the Hanauma Bay ridgeline on land owned by the City and County of Honolulu, and is managed by the Nature Conservancy of Hawaii (NCH) through a cooperative agreement with the City. This preserve maintains a pool for the endangered Ihiihi (Marsilea villosa), an ephemeral plant appearing only during periods of rainfall.

!     Hanauma Bay Marine Life Conservation District (MLCD). Established in 1967 by the Department of Land and Natural Resources, the Hanauma Bay MLCD was once a popular site for fishing and throw netting. Wildlife within Hanauma Bay is now protected by State law. The adjoining beach park is part of Koko Head Regional Park, administered by the City. In order to protect the marine resources of this popular visitor destination, the City restricts the daily number of visitors that have access to the bay, closes the beach on Wednesday mornings, and bans smoking at the bay. The City also collects entry and parking fees used to fund maintenance and capital projects at Hanauma Bay.
Guidelines relating to wildlife preserves in East Honolulu are as follows:

!    Avoid encroachment or intensification of residential or other urban uses near wildlife sanctuaries. In particular, there should be no reduction in preservation zoning in the vicinity of the Paiko Lagoon Wildlife Sanctuary or intensification of residential use in this zone. Provided, however, that any property with an existing residential use shall be designated for low-density residential use and may be zoned to an appropriate residential zone.

!    Implement management programs in areas where intense human activity threatens the sustainability of the resources, such as at Hanauma Bay. This could include, for example, monitoring studies, limits on the number of visitors, and admission fees.


3.1.3. 8    Marina
The 260-acre Hawaii Kai Marina provides protected water for small sail and motor craft, water skiing, and fishing. Residences fronting the marina have launching ramps and mooring facilities. In addition, there are boating facilities adjacent to the Koko Marina Shopping Center that can accommodate boats up to 40 feet in length. The Hawaii Kai Marina also serves as the focal point for commercial activity in Hawaii Kai. East Honolulu=s three largest commercial centers, the Hawaii Kai Towne Center, Hawaii Kai Shopping Center, and Koko Marina Shopping Center, front the marina on the east and west sides. The Hawaii Kai Marina contributes to the open space system by providing recreational value and visual relief from adjacent urban uses. It also has a cooling effect and thus offers climatic benefits for commercial and residential uses that front the water.

Guidelines concerning the Hawaii Kai Marina are listed below:


!    Enhance the recreational value of this open space feature by improving facilities in support of boating and providing additional pedestrian access to the edges, and to the extent possible, around the commercial frontages of the marina by way of a pedestrian and bike path.

!    Link the Hawaii Kai Towne Center and the Hawaii Kai Shopping Center with a pedestrian bridge in order to provide convenient access between the two commercial centers.

!    Improve pedestrian access to and along the marina=s edge. The marina should not be a barrier for those, particularly pedestrians, desiring to visit more than one destination along the waterfront. A shuttle boat transport service should be considered as a means of transporting people across the marina and providing them with easy and convenient access to various waterfront locations.


3.1.4    Relationship to Map A-1, Open Space
The following components of the regional open space system are shown on Map A-1, Open Space in Appendix A:

!     Mountain and Agricultural Areas. These areas are to remain outside of the designated Urban Community Boundary.

!     Parks. Areas designated as island-based and district parks are shown, as well as the general location of community and neighborhood parks. Additions to the community-based park system are determined more by community facility design considerations (see Section 3.3 below) than by their relationship to the regional open space network.

!     Golf Courses. The three golf courses in East Honolulu are shown because of their recreational value and visual contribution to the landscape.

!     Shoreline Areas. Shoreline areas with high scenic or wildlife value, primarily in the Koko Head to Makapuu region and at Paiko Peninsula, are designated for preservation and are located outside the Urban Community Boundary.

!     Hazard Areas. Certain undeveloped lands within the State Urban District that have either experienced significant damage from soil movement or are highly susceptible to such problems, particularly in Aina Koa, Aina Haina, and Kuliouou, are located outside the Urban Community Boundary and designated for preservation.

!     Marina. Hawaii Kai Marina is located within the Urban Community Boundary.

3.2    ISLAND-BASED PARKS AND RECREATIONAL AREAS

This section presents an overview of island-based parks and recreational areas in East Honolulu. This is followed by general policies, planning principles, and guidelines for development of these resources. The location of the region=s island-based parks and recreational areas are shown on Map A-1, Open Space; A-2, Urban Land Use; and Map A-3, Public Facilities in Appendix A.

3.2.1    Overview
The City and County of Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) develops and maintains a system of park and recreation facilities which it classifies in a hierarchical manner. The largest and most specialized parks are classified as island-based parks since they serve the needs of all Oahu residents. This group includes regional parks, beach/shoreline parks, beach/shoreline right-of-ways, nature parks/reserves, botanical gardens, golf courses, and zoological parks (see Table 3-1). DPR=s standard for island-based parks is eight acres for every 1,000 persons. The location of public parks and recreation areas in East Honolulu were shown previously in Figure 3-1.


Table 3 - 1