Officials work to balance bike lanes, car parking
HONOLULU — Honolulu city council members are proposing measures to require the city to find parking alternatives for the spaces lost with the construction of bicycle lanes.
So far, 184 on-street parking spaces were removed as bike lanes fill the spots in the city’s urban core. Another 70 spaces are expected to be gone by early next year as the city’s bike grid expands.
Councilwoman Carol Fukunaga proposed a measure that would require the city to provide parking options where the spaces are being replaced with bike lanes.
Councilwoman Ann Kobayashi’s proposal would halt construction of the bike lane on Pensacola Street until a parking option is provided.
The city plans to build a two-way bike lane on Pensacola Street, resulting in the elimination of metered parking next to Raintree Bakery and Coffeehouse.
Bakery owner Jerry Hardee is concerned the lack of parking spots would drastically hurt his business and others.
“All of these businesses are going to go under. There is no way we can survive,” Hardee said. “The fact that we had no voice in this, I did not think that this was right.”
The council is expected to consider the proposals later this month.
Jeconiah Kelley, general manager of Auntie Pasto’s, said he thinks the proposals are fair. He said if the city is going to continue the bike lanes, then officials should meet business owners halfway by fixing the lack of parking.
Louis Vuitton dog carrier stolen from heiress home
HONOLULU — The Honolulu home of a 92-year-old Hawaiian heiress many consider a princess was burglarized during the weekend.
Abigail Kawananakoa’s wife, Veronica Gail Worth, said they were home when a man entered their house Sunday morning.
Worth says he took a Louis Vuitton dog carrier. She says he took other items, including a coronation medal the king of Tonga gave Kawananakoa.
Worth says police were able to identify a suspect from surveillance footage and opened a first-degree burglary case.
