The 2008 State Legislature has appropriated $850,000 for safety improvements in the Kalaeloa District.  The funds, part of the Capital Improvement Projects budget approved by State lawmakers, will allow the Hawaii Community Development Authority (HCDA) to continue its efforts to plan, design and construct badly needed life safety infrastructure in Kalaeloa.  The appropriation will be used for projects to construct or install traffic signals, roadway markings and signage, emergency call boxes and lighting fixtures.  Since becoming open to the public, roadways, parks, beach areas, and other publicly accessible areas in Kalaeloa have fallen into disrepair resulting in vandalism, arson and motor vehicle accidents.  The improvements are necessary to respond to the need for maintenance and public safety especially since use of the area is increasing.

HCDA members on September 5, 2007 approved the expenditure of $250,000 of Kalaeloa Capital Improvement Project funds to design and construct the first phase of life safety improvement projects in Kalaeloa.  These improvements will address safety conditions that need immediate attention.  Appropriations designated by the 2007 State Legislature are being used to accomplish projects such as:

• Installing sidewalks to new City subdivision standards
• Improving/installing streetlights on Roosevelt Avenue, Renton Road Extension, and Coral Seas Road
• Installing pavement markers and signs on Coral Seas Road (along s-curve) and on Roosevelt Avenue (along curves along Honouliuli Wastewater Treatment Plant in Kalaeloa)
• Installing vehicle radar speed signs as traffic calming devices in the Roosevelt Avenue “Pride Field” area and on Coral Seas Road (before the S-curve).

These initial projects, now being designed, are the first group of life safety needs identified for Kalaeloa by the Kalaeloa Public Safety workgroup that was organized to focus on public safety issues in the District.

Other HCDA-related actions taken by the 2008 State Legislature include:

• Approval of SB 3166, that provides for the designation of at least two members of the Authority as representatives of small businesses located in the Kaka‘ako District.  The designation of these small business representatives would further one of the Legislature’s stated intentions for forming the HCDA, which is to address insufficient commercial and industrial facilities for rent.

• Confirmation of the Governor’s appointments of Jonathan W.Y. Lai and Joseph L. Dwight, IV, to serve as HCDA members for terms to expire on June 20, 2012.

• Approval of a Senate resolution, SR 108, that requests HCDA to defer decisions on any applications for zoning changes until the Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) process on the draft Mauka Area Plan is completed and the subsequent adoption of the draft Mauka Area Plan and Rules.  HCDA is also requested to report back to the Legislature 20 days prior to the start of the 2009 session on steps that were taken to provide the fullest extent of public review and scrutiny of its actions on the General Growth Properties Ward Neighborhood Master Plan application and the considerations for its decision on the application.