o - līhuʻe community plan update

Transcription

LÏHUÿE TOWN CORE
URBAN DESIGN PLAN
Prepared for:
Planning Department
County of Kauaÿi
Contract #7088
Prepared by:
June 2009
Michael Hitoshi Furukawa
(August 9, 1950 – September 17, 2006)
Member of the Lïhuÿe Urban Design Plan Citizen’s
Advisory Committee
Warmly we recall the fond memory of our friend
and colleague, Mike Furukawa, whose work and
community spirit exemplifies the many devoted
citizens, present and past, who built this town and
our cherished legacy of aloha…
Table of Contents
1.0
INTRODUCTION .................................................................. 1-1
1.1
1.2
PURPOSE............................................................................................... 1-1
PROJECT BACKGROUND....................................................................... 1-2
1.3
1.4
PROJECT SITE ....................................................................................... 1-5
PLANNING PROCESS ............................................................................ 1-9
1.5
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ...................................................................... 1-12
1.2.1
1.2.2
1.2.3
1.4.1
1.4.2
1.4.3
2.0
County of Kauaÿi Planning System ...................................................................... 1-2
Lïhuÿe Development Plan/Kauaÿi General Plan .................................................... 1-3
Lïhuÿe Town Core Urban Design Plan Planning Instrument .............................. 1-5
Citizens Advisory Committee ............................................................................... 1-9
Public Input .......................................................................................................... 1-9
Lïhuÿe Civic Center Site Improvements Project .................................................. 1-10
VISION FOR THE LÏHU‘E TOWN CORE ............................. 2-1
2.1
2.2
2.2.1
2.2.2
2.2.3
2.2.4
2.2.5
2.2.6
2.2.7
2.2.8
2.2.9
3.0
VISION STATEMENT ............................................................................. 2-1
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES...................................................................... 2-2
Civic Pride............................................................................................................. 2-2
Aesthetic Improvements and Beautification.......................................................... 2-2
Historic Preservation ............................................................................................ 2-2
Business and Community Revitalization.............................................................. 2-3
Transportation Networks ...................................................................................... 2-4
Environment and Natural Resources.................................................................... 2-5
Government Participation .................................................................................... 2-5
Community Facilities ............................................................................................ 2-5
Utilities and Infrastructure................................................................................... 2-6
PROJECT SETTING ................................................................ 3-1
3.1
3.2
3.3
HAWAIIAN HISTORY AND CONTEXT .................................................. 3-1
HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF LÏHU‘E TOWN .................................. 3-1
SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONDITIONS ......................................................... 3-9
3.4
SITE ANALYSIS ................................................................................... 3-15
3.5
REGULATORY FRAMEWORK .............................................................. 3-21
3.3.1
3.3.2
3.3.3
3.3.4
3.3.5
3.3.6
3.3.7
3.4.1
3.4.2
3.4.3
3.4.4
3.4.5
3.4.6
3.5.1
3.5.2
Population ............................................................................................................. 3-9
Incomes ............................................................................................................... 3-10
Workforce and Employment ................................................................................ 3-11
Housing ............................................................................................................... 3-12
Land Use and Construction in the Urban Core .................................................. 3-12
Key Projections and Planning Choices for Lïhuÿe ............................................... 3-13
Serving the Local Population and Workers ......................................................... 3-14
Historic Places and Important Resources ........................................................... 3-15
Topography ......................................................................................................... 3-19
Flood Information................................................................................................ 3-19
Important Views ................................................................................................. 3-20
Overhead Utilities ............................................................................................... 3-20
Areas Susceptible to Change ............................................................................... 3-20
The Kauaÿi General Plan ..................................................................................... 3-21
Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance ..................................................................... 3-25
Lïhuÿe Town Core Urban Design Plan
Copyright ©2006, 2009 PBR Hawaii
i
3.5.3
3.5.4
3.5.5
Lïhuÿe Development Plan .................................................................................... 3-26
Other County of Kauaÿi Design Controls ............................................................ 3-29
State Land Use and Long-Range Plans ............................................................... 3-30
3.6
3.7
LAND OWNERSHIP ............................................................................ 3-32
EXISTING URBAN FORM AND STREET CHARACTER .......................... 3-35
3.8
EXISTING TRAFFIC.............................................................................. 3-56
3.7.1
3.7.2
3.7.3
Rice Street Neighborhoods ................................................................................... 3-35
Kühiö Highway Neighborhoods ........................................................................... 3-45
Other Neighborhoods ........................................................................................... 3-50
4.0 GENERAL DESIGN GUIDELINES FOR ALL TOWN CORE
NEIGHBORHOODS ....................................................................... 4-1
4.1
4.2
NEIGHBORHOOD CONCEPT ................................................................. 4-2
STREET NETWORK & CIRCULATION PLANS ........................................ 4-4
4.3
4.4
PUBLIC PARKING ............................................................................... 4-25
PUBLIC TRANSIT ................................................................................ 4-29
4.5
PUBLIC ART ....................................................................................... 4-34
4.6
LANDSCAPE GUIDELINES .................................................................. 4-35
4.7
SUSTAINABLE OR GREEN DESIGN ..................................................... 4-45
4.2.1
4.2.2
4.2.3
4.2.4
4.2.5
4.2.6
4.4.1
4.4.2
4.4.3
4.4.4
4.5.1
4.6.1
4.6.2
4.6.3
4.6.4
4.6.5
4.6.6
4.7.1
4.7.2
4.7.3
4.7.4
5.0
Existing Service ................................................................................................... 4-29
Additional Stops for Route 70 ............................................................................. 4-31
General Design Priorities and Guidelines ........................................................... 4-32
Bus Stop Shelters ................................................................................................. 4-32
Design Priorities, Concepts and Opportunities .................................................. 4-34
Design Considerations......................................................................................... 4-35
Parking Lot Landscaping ..................................................................................... 4-37
Xeriscaping and Water-Efficient Design Considerations .................................... 4-39
Plant Materials .................................................................................................... 4-40
Street Trees and Accent Trees ............................................................................. 4-41
Kaua‘i Natives and Plants Significant to Lïhu‘e and Kaua‘i .............................. 4-43
Definition............................................................................................................. 4-45
Design Considerations......................................................................................... 4-45
Potential Costs ..................................................................................................... 4-48
Resources ............................................................................................................. 4-48
NEIGHBORHOOD-SPECIFIC DESIGN GUIDELINES .......... 5-1
5.1
5.1.1
5.1.2
5.1.3
5.1.4
5.1.5
5.1.6
5.1.7
5.1.8
5.1.9
ii
General Street Design Considerations................................................................... 4-5
Walkable Streets and Pedestrian Zones ................................................................. 4-7
Streetscape Design ................................................................................................. 4-9
Pedestrian Circulation Plan ................................................................................ 4-11
Bicycle Circulation Plan ...................................................................................... 4-12
Detailed Street Designs ....................................................................................... 4-13
RICE STREET NEIGHBORHOOD ............................................................ 5-5
Design Objectives .................................................................................................. 5-5
Land Use ................................................................................................................ 5-6
Site Design ............................................................................................................ 5-8
Architecture and Building Design ...................................................................... 5-18
Off-Street Parking Requirements ........................................................................ 5-22
Signage ................................................................................................................ 5-24
Walls and Fences ................................................................................................. 5-25
Outdoor Lighting................................................................................................. 5-26
Underground Utilities and Screening Utility Equipment .................................. 5-26
table of contents
5.1.10 Screening Loading Areas .................................................................................... 5-27
5.1.11 Näwiliwili Gulch................................................................................................. 5-27
5.2
KÜHIÖ HIGHWAY NEIGHBORHOOD ................................................. 5-28
5.3
‘AKAHI/ ‘ELUA/ ‘UMI STREETS NEIGHBORHOOD .......................... 5-46
5.4
LÏHU‘E CIVIC CENTER AND COMMUNITY FACILITIES NEIGHBORHOOD
........................................................................................................... 5-60
5.2.1
5.2.2
5.2.3
5.2.4
5.2.5
5.2.6
5.2.7
5.2.8
5.2.9
5.2.10
Design Objectives ............................................................................................... 5-28
Land Use ............................................................................................................. 5-29
Site Design .......................................................................................................... 5-31
Off-Street Parking Requirements........................................................................ 5-40
Signage ................................................................................................................ 5-42
Walls and Fences ................................................................................................. 5-44
Outdoor Lighting ................................................................................................ 5-44
Screening Loading Areas .................................................................................... 5-45
5.3.1
5.3.2
5.3.3
5.3.4
5.3.5
5.3.6
5.3.7
5.3.8
5.3.9
5.3.10
Land Use ............................................................................................................. 5-47
Site Design .......................................................................................................... 5-49
Signage ................................................................................................................ 5-57
Walls, Hedges and Front-Yard Landscaping ...................................................... 5-58
5.4.1
5.4.2
5.4.3
5.4.4
5.4.5
5.4.6
5.4.7
5.4.8
5.4.9
5.4.10
Land Use ............................................................................................................. 5-61
Site Design .......................................................................................................... 5-63
Signage ................................................................................................................ 5-72
Walls and Fences ................................................................................................. 5-73
5.5.1
5.5.2
5.5.3
Objectives ............................................................................................................ 5-75
Recommended Process for Redevelopment of the Lïhuÿe Mill Site ...................... 5-77
Other Implementation Considerations ................................................................ 5-78
5.5
LÏHU‘E MILL SITE AND HALEKÖ ROAD ............................................ 5-75
5.6
DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVES AND EXEMPTIONS APPLICABLE TO ALL
NEIGHBORHOODS ............................................................................. 5-79
5.6.1
5.6.2
5.6.3
5.7
5.7.1
5.7.2
6.0
6.1
6.2
Sustainability Credits and Incentives ................................................................. 5-79
Workforce Housing Exemption and Incentives................................................... 5-79
in-Lieu Fees for Parking for Historic Properties and Hardship Cases ................ 5-79
DEFINITIONS ...................................................................................... 5-81
Build-to Lines, Zones and Setbacks..................................................................... 5-81
Acronyms ............................................................................................................ 5-82
IMPLEMENTATION PLAN .................................................. 6-1
SUMMARY ............................................................................................ 6-1
CITIZEN IMPROVEMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE................................ 6-3
iii
6.3
REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS ............................................................ 6-3
6.4
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS ..................................................... 6-6
6.5
6.6
OTHER SPECIAL PROJECTS ................................................................... 6-7
POTENTIAL FUNDING SOURCES .......................................................... 6-8
6.3.1 Adoption of Chapter 5 Neighborhood-Specific Design Guidelines as a New
Ordinance ............................................................................................................................ 6-3
6.3.2 Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance Update ........................................................... 6-3
6.3.3 Lïhuÿe Development Plan Update.......................................................................... 6-4
6.3.4 General Plan Update ............................................................................................. 6-4
6.3.5 Exceptional Tree Ordinance Update...................................................................... 6-4
6.3.6 Workforce Housing Incentives .............................................................................. 6-5
6.3.7 Historic Properties and Hardship Cases In-Lieu Parking Fees ............................. 6-5
6.4.1
6.4.2
County of Kaua‘i Capital Improvement Projects ................................................... 6-6
Joint Development/Improvement Projects ............................................................. 6-7
6.6.1 County Highway Beautification and Disposal of Abandoned or Derelict Vehicles
Revolving Fund.................................................................................................................... 6-8
6.6.2 Community Development...................................................................................... 6-8
6.6.3 Historic Preservation Programs .......................................................................... 6-10
6.6.4 Transportation Programs .................................................................................... 6-13
6.6.5 Business and Economic Development ................................................................. 6-16
6.6.6 Other Programs and Resources ........................................................................... 6-18
7.0
REFERENCES AND SOURCES ............................................... 7-1
List of Appendices
Appendix A: January 2005 Public Survey .................................................... A-1
Appendix B: September 2003 Lïhuÿe Civic Center Survey ......................... B-1
Appendix C: Socio-Economic Study ............................................................. C-1
Appendix D: Kauaÿi Historic Resource List (Lïhuÿe Area Only) .............. D-1
Appendix E: Traffic Study .............................................................................. E-1
Appendix F: Kauaÿi Historic Preservation Review Commission
Memorandum regarding the Lïhuÿe Mill Complex ............. F-1
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table of contents
List of Figures
County of Kauaÿi Planning System............................................ 1-4
Lïhuÿe Regional Map ................................................................... 1-7
Aerial Photograph of Project Neighborhoods ......................... 1-8
Lïhuÿe Town Core Urban Design Plan Planning Process ..... 1-11
Historic Photograph of the Lïhuÿe Sugar Mill, circa 1889 ...... 3-2
Historic Photograph of the Lïhuÿe Store, circa late 1800s....... 3-2
Historic County Building, circa 1914......................................... 3-3
Bank of Hawaiÿi, circa 1914 ......................................................... 3-3
Lïhuÿe Store, circa 1920 ................................................................ 3-3
Albert Spencer Wilcox Memorial Building .............................. 3-3
Lïhuÿe Post Office ......................................................................... 3-4
County Annex Building, Adjacent to the Historic County
Building ...................................................................................... 3-4
Figure 3-9: Lïhuÿe Courthouse ....................................................................... 3-4
Figure 3-10: Map of the Lïhuÿe Town Core, 1932 ........................................ 3-5
Figure 3-11: Kühiö Highway, circa 1930s ..................................................... 3-6
Figure 3-12: Kühiö Highway, Today ............................................................. 3-6
Figure 3-13: Lïhuÿe Theater on Kühiö Highway .......................................... 3-6
Figure 3-14: County Moÿikeha Building, Formerly Part of the Lïhuÿe
Shopping Center ....................................................................... 3-7
Figure 3-15: First Hawaiian Bank .................................................................. 3-7
Figure 3-16: State Office Building .................................................................. 3-7
Figure 3-17: Lïhuÿe Town Core Historic Land Use Maps .......................... 3-8
Figure 3-18: Lïhuÿe Census Designated Place (CDP) .................................. 3-9
Figure 3-19: Age of Structures within the Lïhuÿe Core Study Area (SMS
2005) .......................................................................................... 3-13
Figure 3-20: Site Analysis .............................................................................. 3-16
Figure 3-21: Kauai General Plan Lïhuÿe Land Use Map ........................... 3-23
Figure 3-22: Kauaÿi General Plan Lïhuÿe Heritage Resource Map .......... 3-24
Figure 3-23: Lïhuÿe Town Core Zoning Map ............................................. 3-27
Figure 3-24: Lïhuÿe Development Plan Lïhuÿe Town Core Plan ............. 3-28
Figure 3-25: Lïhuÿe Development Plan Proposed Land Use.................... 3-29
Figure 3-26: Bike Plan Hawaiÿi Lïhuÿe Area Map ....................................... 3-31
Figure 3-27: State Land Use Districts .......................................................... 3-33
Figure 3-28: Major Land Owners ................................................................. 3-34
Figure 3-29: Existing Urban Form and Street Character .......................... 3-36
Figure 3-30: Historic County Building and Royal Palms ......................... 3-37
Figure 3-31: Modern Moÿikeha County Building ...................................... 3-37
Figure 3-32: Narrow Sidewalks on Rice Street .......................................... 3-37
Figure 3-33: Lïhuÿe Post Office ..................................................................... 3-37
Figure 1-1:
Figure 1-2:
Figure 1-3:
Figure 1-4:
Figure 3-1:
Figure 3-2:
Figure 3-3:
Figure 3-4:
Figure 3-5:
Figure 3-6:
Figure 3-7:
Figure 3-8:
v
Figure 3-34: Large Monkey Pod Tree in Parking Lot behind Bank of
Hawaiÿi ..................................................................................... 3-37
Figure 3-35: Pedestrian Crossing Rice Street Where Former Crosswalk
was Located ............................................................................. 3-38
Figure 3-36: No Sidewalks on ÿEiwa Street ................................................ 3-38
Figure 3-37: Parking Lot in front of Big Save ............................................. 3-38
Figure 3-38: Views of the ÿEwalu Street Commercial Area ...................... 3-39
Figure 3-39: Fairview Commercial Area ..................................................... 3-40
Figure 3-40: Pedestrian-Oriented Shops along South Side of Rice Street .. 340
Figure 3-41: Rice and Hardy Street Intersection, Utility Pole Blocking
ADA Ramp............................................................................... 3-40
Figure 3-42: Ad Hoc Parking near Hamura’s Saimin on Kalena Street
(Fairview Commercial Area) ................................................. 3-40
Figure 3-43: Former Dairy Queen Turned Used Car Dealership on Rice
Street ......................................................................................... 3-41
Figure 3-44: Auto Dealership and Large Parking Lot on Rice Street ..... 3-41
Figure 3-45: Former Theater with Art Deco Details at the Entry on Rice
Street ......................................................................................... 3-41
Figure 3-46: Doctors Offices with Decorative CMU, ÿEwalu Street ........ 3-42
Figure 3-47: Kauaÿi Government Employees Federal Credit Union on
ÿEwalu Street ............................................................................ 3-42
Figure 3-48: Lïhuÿe Christian Church on Kress Street .............................. 3-42
Figure 3-49: Plantation-Style House on Kress Street ................................ 3-42
Figure 3-50: Lïhuÿe Town Plaza Strip Commercial ................................... 3-43
Figure 3-51: Views of Single-Use Commercial Buildings along Rice Street
(Area C) .................................................................................... 3-43
Figure 3-52: View of Halau Street (Area D) ............................................... 3-44
Figure 3-53: View of ÿOihana Street ............................................................. 3-44
Figure 3-54: View of Kühiö Highway Where Sidewalk Partially Blocked
by Landscaping ....................................................................... 3-45
Figure 3-55: Safety Rails Along Kühiö Highway Sidewalks ................... 3-46
Figure 3-56: Sidewalk Sheltered from Traffic by Parked Vehicles.......... 3-46
Figure 3-57: Historic Garden Island Publishing Building on Kühiö
Highway ................................................................................... 3-47
Figure 3-58: New Commercial Buildings on Kühiö Highway with
Western-Style False Fronts .................................................... 3-47
Figure 3-59: Views of Modern Auto-Oriented Commercial Buildings on
Kühiö Highway ....................................................................... 3-47
Figure 3-60: View of Kühiö Highway, West Sidewalk (Area F) ............. 3-48
Figure 3-61: No Sidewalk on the East Side of Kühiö Highway between
ÿEhiku Street and Ahukini Road ........................................... 3-48
Figure 3-62: Residences Converting to Commercial Uses on the West Side
of Kühiö Highway .................................................................. 3-49
Figure 3-63: Landscape Buffer Fronting Wal-Mart ................................... 3-49
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table of contents
Figure 3-64: Views of Plantation-Style Residences on ÿAkahi Street Built in
the 1930s ................................................................................... 3-50
Figure 3-65: Views of Residences along ÿElua Street Built in the 1940s . 3-51
Figure 3-66: ÿUmi Street Residences ............................................................. 3-51
Figure 3-67: New Commercial Buildings on ÿAkahi Street ...................... 3-52
Figure 3-68: Commercial Uses in Structures Remodeled to Retain their
Residential Character ............................................................. 3-52
Figure 3-69: State Courthouse ...................................................................... 3-53
Figure 3-70: Sculptural Form of the Lïhuÿe Public Library ...................... 3-53
Figure 3-71: Kauaÿi War Memorial Convention Hall ................................ 3-53
Figure 3-72: Residentially Scaled Salvation Army .................................... 3-54
Figure 3-73: Residence on Hardy Street...................................................... 3-54
Figure 3-74: Views Looking East and West, Respectively, Down Hardy
Street by the Civic Center ...................................................... 3-54
Figure 3-75: Historic Kuhn House ............................................................... 3-55
Figure 3-76: Traffic Study Area and Intersections (Rowell, Fig. 1) ......... 3-57
Figure 4-1: Design Guideline Neighborhoods ............................................. 4-2
Figure 4-2: Proposed Street Network ............................................................ 4-4
Figure 4-3: Lïhuÿe Civic Center Master Plan ................................................ 4-6
Figure 4-4: Street Section and Pedestrian Zones ......................................... 4-7
Figure 4-5: Pedestrian Circulation Plan ...................................................... 4-11
Figure 4-6: Bicycle Circulation Plan ............................................................ 4-12
Figure 4-7: Proposed Street Section for Ahukini Road and Kapule
Highway ................................................................................... 4-13
Figure 4-8: Upper Rice Street Section .......................................................... 4-14
Figure 4-9: Rendering of Kele and Rice Street Crosswalks ...................... 4-14
Figure 4-10: Lower Rice Street Section ........................................................ 4-15
Figure 4-11: Rendering of Lower Rice Street ............................................. 4-15
Figure 4-12: Lower Rice Street Plan ............................................................. 4-16
Figure 4-13: Rendering of Kühiö Highway ................................................ 4-17
Figure 4-14: Kühiö Highway Street Section ............................................... 4-17
Figure 4-15: Hardy Street Section Adjacent to Civic Center .................... 4-18
Figure 4-16: Hardy Street Section between ÿUmi and Rice Street ........... 4-18
Figure 4-17: ÿUmi Street Section Adjacent to Lïhuÿe Civic Center with Onstreet Parking ........................................................................... 4-19
Figure 4-18: Residential ÿUmi Street Section ............................................... 4-19
Figure 4-19: ÿAkahi and ÿElua Street Section .............................................. 4-20
Figure 4-20: Chicane on ÿAkahi and ÿElua Streets ..................................... 4-20
Figure 4-21: Pedestrian on Halekö Road ..................................................... 4-21
Figure 4-22: Kaÿana Street Section (from Lïhuÿe-Hanamäÿulu Urban
Design Plan, August 1995) ..................................................... 4-22
Figure 4-23: Existing Kaÿana Street Adjacent to the New Judiciary and
Police Station (View looking towards Kapule Highway) . 4-23
Figure 4-24: Proposed Kaÿana Street Section.............................................. 4-23
Figure 4-25: Public Parking Opportunities................................................. 4-25
Figure 4-26: Lïhuÿe Route 70, The Kauaÿi Bus ............................................. 4-29
vii
Figure 4-27: Lïhuÿe Lunch Shuttle ............................................................... 4-30
Figure 4-28: Proposed Additional Stops ..................................................... 4-31
Figure 4-29: Potential Locations for Major Works of Art in the Lïhuÿe
Town Core ................................................................................ 4-34
Figure 4-30: Off-Street Parking .................................................................... 4-38
Figure 5-1: Proposed Land Uses for the Lïhuÿe Town Core ...................... 5-2
Figure 5-2: Rice Street Neighborhood Plan .................................................. 5-5
Figure 5-3: Fairview Commercial Area ....................................................... 5-13
Figure 5-4: ÿEwalu Street Commercial Area ............................................... 5-14
Figure 5-5: Kühiö Highway Neighborhood Plan ...................................... 5-28
Figure 5-6: ÿAkahi/ÿElua/ÿUmi Streets Neighborhood Plan ................... 5-46
Figure 5-7: Lïhuÿe Civic Center and Community Facilities Neighborhood
Plan............................................................................................ 5-60
Figure 5-8: Lïhuÿe Mill Site and Halekö Road ............................................ 5-75
List of Tables
Table 3-1: Resources Listed on the National and State Registers of Historic
Places within the Project Neighborhoods ........................... 3-17
Table 3-2: Existing Level of Service ............................................................. 3-58
Table 4-1: Recommended Street Trees and Accent Trees......................... 4-42
Table 4-2: Kauaÿi Native Plant List .............................................................. 4-43
Table 5-1: Summary of Land Uses for the Mixed-Use Design Districts ... 5-3
Table 6-1: Implementation Plan Summary ................................................... 6-2
viii
table of contents
1.0 INTRODUCTION
Chapter
1.0
1.1 Purpose
Lïhuÿe is the center of government, business, and the major hub of air,
ocean, and vehicle transportation on Kauaÿi. The 2000 Kauaÿi General
Plan Update identifies Lïhuÿe as the “heart” of Kauaÿi and the focus of
urban growth. It is well-positioned to handle much of the projected
growth for Kauaÿi including higher density residential, commercial and
industrial uses in order to
keep other parts of Kauaÿi
more rural and less
dense.
As a result, a
major part of managing
Kauaÿi’s future growth
involves the appropriate
building and physical
development of Lïhuÿe.
This report, the Lïhuÿe
Town Core Urban Design
LÏHUÿE
Plan, builds upon the
policies set by the 2000
General Plan and will
provide direction for ISLAND OF KAUAÿI
updating other County
planning documents such as the Lïhuÿe Development Plan and
Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance. It will guide development by
describing an overall vision specific to the town core that covers urban
design guidelines and standards. It will also address other planning
issues such as historic preservation, neighborhood character, socioeconomic conditions and trends, circulation, parking and traffic.
By detailing development guidelines specific to each area within Lïhuÿe
Town, sensitive development can occur that enhances Lïhuÿe Town’s
sense of place, history, and civic pride. The overarching purpose of this
document is to renew and revitalize Central Lïhuÿe, recapturing the charm
of this historic town and making it a destination and source of pride for
Kauaÿi once again.
1-1
1.2 Project Background
1.2.1 COUNTY OF KAUAÿI PLANNING SYSTEM
In general, the County of Kauai Planning Department utilizes a planning
system that is very similar to those of the other counties in Hawaiÿi.
Kauaÿi County’s planning process involves working within the framework
of a strong centralized State government as well as within the framework
of County government. Consequently, a major part of Kauaÿi County’s
planning program involves coordinating the County’s planning efforts
with both State and County government.
The foundation for Kauaÿi’s planning system is the County General Plan
(adopted in November 2000). It establishes the policies, vision, and
updated direction for the entire island. Both government and the private
sector planning for Kauaÿi rely heavily on the General Plan for guidance
and direction.
Other plans that help in the implementation of the General Plan are the
Development Plans, Special Planning Area Plans, Functional Plans (which
focus more on infrastructure), and Special Project plans. Figure 1-1 shows
a diagram of how the Lïhuÿe Town Core Urban Design Plan works within
the existing County regulatory environment.
It builds upon the
description of the Kauaÿi Planning System and Figure 1-1 of the Kauaÿi
General Plan which demonstrates how County policy is integrated and
implemented into construction projects. Additional information about
each of the regulatory documents can be found in the General Plan itself.
Section 3.5 provides a description of how some of the key regulatory
documents will relate to this Lïhuÿe Town Core Urban Design Plan and its
recommendations.
The following Lïhuÿe Town Core Urban Design Plan falls into the Special
Project category of planning instruments. Since the General Plan is the
policy document, this Urban Design Plan provides more detail on how to
guide development in order to implement the vision and policies stated in
the General Plan. The General Plan and Lïhuÿe Town Core Urban Design
Plan will subsequently be used to guide the update of the Lïhuÿe
Development Plan which has been designated for funding for the 2009-10
fiscal year.
In order to ensure consistency between the various planning instruments,
an important component of this planning project involved communicating
with and coordinating the planning efforts of other State and County
agencies such as the State Department of Transportation, State Historic
Preservation Division, State Department of Education, the County Public
Works Department, County Economic Development Office, and the
1-2
INTRODUCTION
County Water Department. This effort helped to ensure that this project
would be consistent with other existing plans and/or current planning
projects at achieving common goals for Lïhuÿe.
1.2.2 LÏHUÿE DEVELOPMENT PLAN/KAUAÿI GENERAL PLAN
One of the major concerns that appeared early in the process was that the
Lïhuÿe Development Plan is thirty years old (November 1977) and may be
outdated. Utilizing and building upon the existing Lïhuÿe Development
Plan for this planning project was questioned.
In preparation for these types of questions, the County of Kauaÿi General
Plan project in 2000 updated and expanded upon the various components
of the current Development Plans that were adopted in the mid-1970s.
This effort was done to ensure that planning projects within the various
Development Plan areas could be undertaken without having to update
all six Development Plans.
It is important to note that the General Plan project received additional
funding to update portions of the Development Plans in areas that were
found to be necessary (mainly vision, policies, and implementing actions)
through the context of the General Plan. This presented a very viable
opportunity since the General Plan update involved a comprehensive
island-wide process and would entail working with all of the
communities. In this manner, the General Plan could serve to update
pertinent areas of the various Development Plans to be concurrent with it
through its context. As a result, the Kauaÿi General Plan is written in more
detail than most other County General Plans that function mainly as
policy documents. However, it is still very important to update of the
Development Plans to bring up to date and expand upon the directions
and recommendations set under the General Plan.
By examining the General Plan, it is apparent that the vision, policy
directives, and implementing actions proposed in it are specific and clear
enough to guide Special Project type plans such as this throughout the
various Development Plan areas without having to update the entire
Development Plan. At the same time, the pertinent components of the
Development Plans that are still considered applicable today could work
in conjunction with the updated General Plan to guide planning projects
such as this Lïhuÿe Town Core Urban Design Plan. Consequently, this
planning project was developed through the use of both the Lïhuÿe
Development Plan and Kauaÿi General Plan.
1-3
Figure 1-1: County of Kauaÿi Planning System
PUBLIC
FACILITY
PLANS
UPDATE (2009-10)
COMPREHENSIVE
ZONING
ORDINANCE
SPECIAL
MANAGEMENT
AREA RULES
ZONE
CHANGE
ORDINANCES
SIX-YEAR CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENT
PROGRAM
SUBDIVISION
ORDINANCE
LÏHUÿE CIVIC
CENTER
MASTER PLAN
(DPW-Building
Division)
LAND USE PERMITS
&
SUBDIVISION APPROVALS
APPROPRIATIONS/
IMPROVEMENT
PROJECTS
Based on Figure 1-1 of Kauaÿi General Plan, 2000.
1-4
POLICY
LÏHUÿE TOWN
CORE URBAN
DESIGN PLAN
DEVELOPMENT
PLANS
(1976-1977)
INTRODUCTION
IMPLEMENTATION/REGULATION
CONTEXT/BACKGROUND
UPDATE (2009-10)
GENERAL PLAN (2000)
1.2.3 LÏHUÿE TOWN CORE URBAN DESIGN PLAN PLANNING
INSTRUMENT
The Lïhuÿe Town Core Urban Design Plan will act as an adjunct guidance
document for projects specific to the town core neighborhoods. It updates
the requirements developed for the Lïhuÿe Town Core Special Planning
Area as identified in the DP and will support interpretation of the
County’s existing regulatory ordinances for the Lïhuÿe Town Core and
supersede them where there is conflict. It should also be used to inform
future updates of the County regulations, particularly the Lïhuÿe
Development Plan which is expected in 2009-10. It is recommended that
the Lïhuÿe Town Core Urban Design Plan will be reviewed and
commented upon by the Planning Commission and portions of it enacted
as an ordinance by the County Council to revise relevant sections of the
existing Lïhuÿe Development Plan Ordinance as needed (Kauaÿi County
Code §10-5).
1.3 Project Site
A regional map of Lïhuÿe and the project site in relation to the
surrounding communities is provided in Figure 1-2. Early in the process,
the Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) recommended that the Urban
Design Plan focus on the historic core of Lïhuÿe Town. This area is
outlined in Figure 1-2. The CAC and project team also recognized that
even within this historic core, there are several different neighborhoods
each with their own identity, history and character. Figure 1-3 shows an
aerial photograph of the project site and the project neighborhoods. It also
identifies other key neighborhoods and destinations near the project site.
The five main project neighborhoods that are the focus of this plan are:
x Rice Street Neighborhood
x Kühiö Highway Neighborhood
x ÿAkahi/ÿElua/ÿUmi Streets Neighborhood
x Lïhuÿe Civic Center and the Adjacent Public Facilities
Neighborhood
x Old Lïhuÿe Mill Site and Halekö Road
For each of the project neighborhoods, detailed site analyses and
recommendations for allowable land uses, site planning, architectural
design guidelines, street sections, and landscaping are developed.
The adjacent Lïhuÿe-Hanamäÿulu project neighborhood outlined in a
dashed line in Figure 1-3 is envisioned as an infill development that will
1-5
accommodate much of Lïhuÿe’s projected growth. It has a separate Urban
Design Plan that was completed in August 1995 and has been adopted by
County Ordinance No. PM-326-96. This plan includes architectural design
guidelines for the various land uses within this area as well as special
street sections, landscaping guidelines and development standards.
Development within this area of Lïhuÿe must follow the guidelines
developed in this plan. Therefore, it is excluded from the design
guidelines developed for the Lïhuÿe Town Core Urban Design Plan to
avoid redundancy.
For the Lïhuÿe Industrial Park (also shown in Figure 1-3 with a dashed
outline), recommended street sections were developed for future
improvements to the right-of-ways within this area. Since industrially
zoned land on Kauaÿi is at a premium and the CAC felt that this area was
on the fringe of the town core, the recommendations for the Industrial
Park were kept to a minimum.
Where appropriate, a larger study area was analyzed in order to
understand regional concerns related to the Lïhuÿe Town core such as
traffic and socio-economic trends.
1-6
INTRODUCTION
1.4 Planning Process
The County of Kauaÿi Planning Department contracted PBR Hawaii to
develop the Lïhuÿe Town Core Urban Design Plan to help them review
construction and development projects within the Town Core. In
preparation for the project, PBR performed background research
including site visits and site analysis, historical research, meetings and
correspondence with County staff, State representatives, and community
members. Several public meetings were held with the Citizen Advisory
Committee and the general public to gather feedback and input on the
development of the plan. A preliminary draft of this report was then
prepared and distributed for review by the CAC, County and State
representatives, the Lïhuÿe Business Association (LBA), Kauaÿi Chamber
of Commerce, and posted to the County website. The report was then
revised and presented to the Planning Commission for their input and
review. The following report is a culmination of these efforts. Figure 1-4
shows the process chart for the Lïhuÿe Town Core Urban Design Plan
planning process.
1.4.1 CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Significant contributions to the project were made throughout the process
by the Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC). The CAC was appointed by
the Mayor and included a wide-range of active community members,
including people who grew up in Lïhuÿe, Kauaÿi residents knowledgeable
about local culture and historic traditions and architecture, representatives
from the State Department of Transportation, Lïhuÿe Business Association,
USDA Garden Island Resource Conservation and Development, and a
long-standing major Lïhuÿe landowner, as well as Kauaÿi-based design
professionals. Several meetings and workshops were held with the CAC
to develop the vision, goals, and the Urban Design Plan itself. All CAC
meetings were open to the public with meeting notices posted a week
prior to the meetings in accordance with the State’s Sunshine Law.
1.4.2 PUBLIC INPUT
In addition to the CAC meetings, two community-wide public meetings
were held in January and May 2005 at key stages of the planning process
to gather wider public input. The first public meeting was held jointly
with the Lïhuÿe Civic Center Site Improvements project (County of Kauaÿi
Department of Public Works Building Division) on January 26, 2005 since
the two project areas overlap one another. A public survey was
administered at this meeting and was later posted to the County’s website
between February and March 2005 to allow for further public input. The
survey was held before any plans were developed and sought public
1-9
input on a broad range of topics including transportation alternatives,
parking preferences, architectural resources and visual preferences. A
copy of the survey and the responses are provided in Appendix A.
The second public meeting was held on May 11, 2005 after a preferred
draft plan was developed with the CAC. Design concepts and standards
for the different neighborhoods and streetscapes were presented and
feedback from the meeting attendees was gathered and incorporated into
the plan.
1.4.3 LÏHUÿE CIVIC CENTER SITE IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT
The County of Kauaÿi Department of Public Works-Building Division
contracted PBR Hawaii a year prior to this Lïhuÿe Town Core Urban
Design Plan to prepare a master plan for future site improvements and
construction projects at the Lïhuÿe Civic Center. The Civic Center is the
two-block area of Lïhuÿe Town that historically has been the commercial
and governmental center of Kauaÿi. The Civic Center project involved
significant community participation and includes an environmental
assessment and the first phase of design and construction to begin
implementing the master plan.
Since PBR Hawaii was contracted to work on both the Lïhuÿe Civic Center
and the Lïhuÿe Town Core Urban Design Plan, community input gathered
during both processes was used to inform the development of both plans.
Coordination of the two Lïhuÿe projects allowed various design concepts
to inform the other so that integrated and appropriate solutions could be
developed. Furthermore, design concepts from one project that affected
the other project could be incorporated into the various analyses
performed for the respective plans such as traffic studies, streetscape
designs, parking alternatives and circulation plans.
1-10
INTRODUCTION
1.5 Acknowledgements
The Lïhuÿe Town Core Urban Design Plan is the culmination of months of
research, planning, and meetings with individuals and organizations who
share an interest and concern for the Lïhuÿe. Mahalo nui loa to all those
who have participated in the development of the plan. Your time,
dedication, and manaÿo have been invaluable.
Citizen Advisory Committee
Steve Kyono/State Department of Transportation Highways-Kauaÿi
Pat Griffin/Public (Historic)
Palmer Hafdahl/Public (Architect)
Laurie Ho/Federal (Garden Island Resource Conservation
Development)
Cheryl Lovell Obatake/Public (Näwiliwili)
Sonia Topenio/Lïhuÿe Business Association, Bank of Hawaiÿi
Mike Furukawa/Grove Farm
Neil Clendeninn/Public
Marc Ventura/Public (Architect)
Morton Yamasaki/Business (Landscape Architect)
Russell Seacat/Public (Architect)
Avery Youn/Public (Architect)
&
Community Participants
William Bodenstab/Kauaÿi Medical Center
Kurt Bossart/ÿElua Street
Larry Chaffin
Jonathan Chun/Belles Graham Proudfoot & Wilson
Connie Clausen
Barbara Curl
Dixie Daniel/Dynasty Court
Gary Furugen/Big Save, Inc.
Mamo Cummings Graham
Lynn Garcia
Karen Higa
Jerry Hirata/ÿUmi Street
Doug & Bernie Kaeo
Charles Kawakami/President, Big Save, Inc.
Clyde Kodani/Kodani & Associates
Kris Kono
Phyllis Kunimura/Historic County Building Restoration
Mary Ann Kusaka
Nani Larsen/Hawaiÿi Community Foundation
Dennis Makiya/Big Save, Inc.
1-12
INTRODUCTION
Lynn McCrory/Pahio Development
Kathy Miyake/Central Pacific Bank
Clyde Nakaya/Vice President, Central Pacific Bank
Ed Nakaya/KIUC
Leland Nishek/Kauaÿi Nursery & Landscaping
Rayne Regush/Kauaÿi Planning & Action Alliance
Wally Rezentes Jr./First Hawaiian Bank
Calvin Sakai/ Big Save, Inc.
Robert Schleck/Historic County Building Restoration, Grove Farm
Homestead
Wanda Shibata/WEBCO
James Sone/Verizon Hawaiÿi/Hawaiian Telcom
Ken Stokes
Michelle Swartman/Grove Farm Company
Roy Tanaka/M. Tanaka Store
Chuck Trembath
Eduardo Valenciana/Tres Hermanos de Kauaÿi
JoAnn Yukimura/Former Councilmember
Diane Zachary/President, Kauaÿi Planning & Action Alliance
Government Participants
County of Kauaÿi (Non-Project Team Participants)
Bernard Carvalho/Mayor
Bryan Baptiste/Former Mayor
Tim Bynum/Councilmember
Bryan Mamaclay/Planning Department
Gary Hennigh/Former Deputy Planning Director, County of Kauaÿi
Caven Raco/Planning Commission
Douglas Haigh/Chief, Department of Public Works Building Division
Beth Tokioka/Director, Office of Economic Development
Sumi Seacat/County Grants Administrator
Janine Rapozo/Executive, Transportation Agency
Pat Fleck/Office of Economic Development
Art Umezu/Office of Economic Development
State of Hawaiÿi
Stanley Doi/District Engineer, Department of Accounting and General
Services - Kauaÿi
Andrea Erichsen/DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife
Project Team
Ian Costa/Planning Director, Planning Department
Imaikalani Aiu/Deputy Planning Director, Planning Department
Keith Nitta/Former Project Manager, Planning Department
Myles Hironaka/Long Range Planner, Planning Department
Marie Williams/Long-Range Planner, Planning Department
1-13
Leanora Kaiaokamalie/Long-Range Planner, Planning Department
Barbara Pendragon/Former Planner, Planning Department
PBR Hawaiÿi
SMS Research & Marketing Services, Inc.
Philip Rowell & Associates
1-14
INTRODUCTION
2.0 Vision for the Lïhu‘e
Town Core
2.1 Vision Statement
Chapter
2.0
Developed by the Citizen Advisory Committee, the vision statement
paints a picture of what the Lïhuÿe Town Core could be like in the year
2020. It states:
“Lïhuÿe ~ the heart of Kauaÿi”
In the year 2020…
Lïhuÿe – the vital heart of Kauaÿi – celebrates its unique past and
embraces its future, combining the best of both in its
development over the next fifteen years.
Our town is the welcoming destination at the gateway to Kauaÿi. It
is the center of local government and the embodiment of civic
pride.
Lïhuÿe embraces business and community development while
honoring and protecting its historic architectural resources,
commercial districts and residential neighborhoods.
It recognizes its part in the larger environment as demonstrated by
the responsible stewardship of its watershed and other natural
resources. It is green and beautifully landscaped.
It exemplifies a pedestrian-friendly environment within a multimodal transportation system.
Lïhuÿe is pleasant and vibrant, inspiring and beautiful. The town
epitomizes the spirit of aloha, its urban fabric a patchwork
quilt of history, architecture, and civic life… an example for all
the Garden Isle.
2-1
2.2Goals and Objectives
2.2.1 CIVIC PRIDE
Goals:
o Celebrate Lïhuÿe as a destination
o Revitalize Lïhuÿe as a unique, vibrant town that inspires and
leads by example
o Develop Lïhuÿe into a model community for Kauaÿi, Hawaiÿi,
and the world
o Implement and fund regular maintenance and upkeep of
public spaces, parks, and streets
2.2.2 AESTHETIC IMPROVEMENTS AND BEAUTIFICATION
Goals:
o Beautify Lïhuÿe streets, walkways and parks
Objective: Design and install landscaping to create a
streetscape that unifies the “patchwork quilt” of
architectural building styles and mix of uses
Objective: Place all overhead utilities underground.
o Develop a “greenbelt” in the center of Lïhuÿe Town
o Coordinate with the Lïhuÿe Civic Center Site Improvements
master plan
o Build upon the landscape improvements along Ahukini
Road and Kapule Highway
o Implement a Public Arts Program
Objective: Ensure public art is accessible to all at all
hours of the day and not locked behind gates when
buildings/facilities close for business.
Objective: Install public art extensively throughout
Lïhuÿe.
o Create a unique identity for Lïhuÿe
Objective: Develop thematic beautification projects
for each Lïhuÿe neighborhood identified in the plan
including unique designs for crosswalks, landscaping,
public features and amenities.
2.2.3 HISTORIC PRESERVATION
Goals:
o Inventory Lïhuÿe’s historic resources
o Maintain and enhance historic resources
Objective: Preserve the Sugar Mill or its notion as the
former center of Lïhuÿe and a reason for the town. It
is the “lynchpin” connecting the old with the new. At
2-2
Vision for the Lïhu‘e Town Core
the very minimum, preserve the vertical form of
Lïhuÿe Sugar Mill stack to maintain connection to
Lïhuÿe’s history. Will require cooperation of
landowner, results from hazardous materials
investigations.
Objective: Enhance the old railroad alignment.
Explore connections between Lïhuÿe and the Harbor
through this corridor (bike path, pedestrian path,
train). Will require coordination and cooperation of
the landowner.
Objective: Explore uses of upper Näwiliwili Gulch,
near Kühiö Highway overpass (one suggestion:
botanical park)
o Educate residents and visitors about Lïhuÿe’s rich history
o Celebrate Lïhuÿe’s history and make it a focal point of
revitalization efforts. Integrate the old and the new.
o Encourage historic preservation through government
regulation and assistance
o Encourage enthusiastic community, business, and property
owner participation in enhancing historic resources
Cautions:
o Maintain integrity of historic preservation. Avoid
commercialized or sensationalized versions of history.
2.2.4 BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION
Goals:
o Empower Lïhuÿe to be developed as the main urban center
for Kauaÿi
Objective: True mixed-use housing should be allowed
within parts of Lïhuÿe where people live above
commercial. Increase housing options and
affordability at all economic levels within Lïhuÿe.
Objective: Allow higher density residential and urban
developments to be built in Lïhuÿe to “keep country,
country,” rural communities, rural.
Objective: Allow a mix of uses within certain areas of
the town core by creating special overlay planning
areas.
o Develop a variety of successful businesses and commercial
activity within the town core.
Objective: Develop a balanced mix of retail, food
services, finance and professional services,
entertainment, non-profits, government and public
services.
2-3

o
o
o
o
Objective: Change existing allowable land uses,
design standards, code revisions as necessary
Develop a mix of housing types within Lïhuÿe
Objective: Develop higher density residential
developments that maintain Kauaÿi’s rural feel
Objective: Allow mixed-use developments with
residential units located above ground-level
commercial uses.
Enliven Central Lïhuÿe
Objective: Hold special
community events such as farmers
markets, street fairs, holiday and
community celebrations within
the Civic Center
Objective: Reach 100 percent
occupancy rates in Lïhuÿe Town
Core commercial areas.
Create a Cultural District in the heart of
Lïhuÿe
Objective: Close ÿEiwa Street and
incorporate the Kauaÿi Museum, Historic County
Building, Post Office, and other historic buildings
within a cultural district
Objective: Support the development of new cultural
attractions within the district
Objective: Develop a walking tour to celebrate and
educate the public about Lïhuÿe’s cultural and historic
amenities
Create a community that brings together a wide mix of
users—multiple generations, locals and visitors, residents,
students, and employees
2.2.5 TRANSPORTATION NETWORKS
Goals:
o Develop transportation networks that support multi-modal
choices
o Create a safe, pedestrian-friendly environment that
encourages walking
o Convenient bicycle network and facilities
o Uncongested yet appropriate traffic flow. Circulation based
on context-sensitive design.
o Appropriate development of parking facilities that
encourages the use of multimodal transportation options.
o Develop alternatives for through-traffic such as the Lïhuÿe
Bypass and dedicated community transportation routes.
2-4
o Include enhanced links and connections to periphery areas
such as Näwiliwili Harbor, Kukui Grove Shopping Center,
and Lïhuÿe Airport.
o Consider pedestrian bridges across Näwiliwili Stream to
connect central Lïhuÿe to the residential communities on
Näwiliwili Road, as well as adding a pedestrian path on
Kaumualiÿi Highway to connect central Lïhuÿe to Kukui
Grove.
2.2.6 ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES
Goals:
o Protect and enhance natural resources
Objective: Mälama Näwiliwili Stream by reducing
and/or mitigating pollution that enters the stream
o Encourage urban green spaces and parks
o Encourage “green” building practices
Renewable energy sources and energy efficient
buildings and vehicles
LEED® certified buildings and projects
Catchment systems for irrigation water
o Encourage low impact/sustainable community structure
through performance zoning guidelines
2.2.7 GOVERNMENT PARTICIPATION
Goals:
o Establish a range of government-sponsored activities, e.g.
“center stage” events on County lawn, farmers markets
o Create tax credits and other formalized incentives for
commercial development and historic preservation
o Partner with other governmental agencies, businesses,
utilities, landowners, and developers to stimulate
revitalization efforts
2.2.8 COMMUNITY FACILITIES
Goals:
o Enhance and improve existing public facilities
Objective: Improve and enhance the County Lawn to
facilitate community activities held there.
Objective: Close ÿEiwa Street to expand the County
Lawn
Objective: Improve Lïhuÿe Park, increase accessibility
and visibility
2-5
o Increase the amount of landscaped public spaces within the
civic center
o Develop a regional park/multi-purpose center/festival
grounds
Objective: Develop multi-use parks for different
sports and children’s activities
o Develop a civic center forum
Objective: Create a “Pump Room” – public area
within the Civic Center equipped with closed circuit
television to view public meetings, interactive
computers for public information, permitting, other
public services/data. The atrium within the Piÿikoi
Building could serve this purpose.
Objective: Create a technologically advanced “e-hub”
where electronic voting and active community
discourse can be held
o Develop a dedicated Kauaÿi Information Center (KIC)
Objective: Create a non-commercial visitor center.
Partner with Kauaÿi Historical Society or other like
organization to advance and enrich the synergy
between the two organizations and their
missions/services.
Objective: Locate the KIC within the Civic Center,
possibly a public plaza or historic building such as the
County Annex.
2.2.9 UTILITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE
Goals:
o Locate overhead utilities underground
Objective: Prioritize overhead lines within the Civic
Center
Objective: Work with KIUC to find funding
Objective: Schedule undergrounding of utilities with
other roadwork or improvements to minimize
disruption during construction
o Provide sufficient capacity to support projected growth
o Partner government with landowners and developers in
developing needed infrastructure
o Prioritize public funding of improvement projects to support
revitalization of Lïhuÿe
o Develop demonstration sustainable/green energy projects
with County buildings and/or private buildings in the
Lïhuÿe Civic Center in an effort to encourage their
development in other areas of the island.
2-6
3.0 Project Setting
3.1 Hawaiian History and Context
Lïhuÿe, “goose flesh” or literally “cold chill,” is located on the southeastern
side of Kauaÿi (see Figure 1-2). The project site is located in the ancient
Puna District, which once stretched from the Häÿupu Range on the south
to the Makaleha Mountains to the north past Kapaÿa.
Chapter
3.0
The project site spans three ahupuaÿa: Näwiliwili, Kalapakï, and
Hanamäÿulu (see dashed red lines on Figure 1-2).
x
Näwiliwili was famous for its wiliwili groves. The full name of this
ahupuaÿa was Näwiliwilipakaÿäwililauÿililua, which means
“wiliwili trees upon which raindrops fall, twisting the leaves so the
rain touches both sides” (Wichman 58).
x
Kalapakï is a relatively small ahupuaÿa fronted by a sandy beach.
The area is rich with stories of the Menehune. Kalapakï literally
means “double-yoked egg” (Wichman 59).
x
Hanamäÿulu, or “tired bay,” was given its name because it was
located off the main road and travelers had to walk several miles to
reach it. There once was a significant community here with a major
heiau, Kalauokamanu, “tip of the endpiece of the canoe,” at the foot
of Kälepa Ridge. The heiau was feared since human sacrifices were
made there. The stones of the heiau were eventually used to build
the Hanamäÿulu Sugar Mill 1855 (Wichman 60-2).
The area also has ties to Chief Ahukini, aliÿi nui of Puna who lived circa
1250 A.D. (Wichman 60-6). Also, in ancient Hawaiian mythology, this
area was known as a major entry point for the island.
3.2 Historical Development of
Lïhu‘e Town
Lïhuÿe was established sometime in the second quarter of the 19th century.
Governor Kaikioÿewa, who was the first governor of Kauaÿi under
Kamehameha, named his home, Lïhuÿe, in memory of his previous home
on Oÿahu. The name, Lïhuÿe, was unknown on Kauaÿi before then; the
ancient name for this area was Kalaÿiamea, or “calm reddish brown place”
(Wichman 59).
3-1
By the early 1900s, Lïhuÿe Plantation and Grove Farm Plantation had
established Lïhuÿe as a profitable sugarcane production area. The Lïhuÿe
Sugar Mill was one of the longest operating mills in the islands, in use
from 1849 to 2000. Näwiliwili Harbor became the main port for shipping
on the island after completed as a deep water harbor in 1930.
Figure 3-1: Historic Photograph of
the Lïhuÿe Sugar Mill, circa 1889
Much
of
the
following
architectural and town history is
based
on
interviews
and
discussions with Pat Griffin, a
CAC member and former Chair of
the Kauaÿi Historic Preservation
Review Commission, who was
kind enough to share her theories PHOTO: KAUAÿI HISTORICAL SOCIETY ARCHIVES
and research.
According to
Griffin, the sugar mill and the plantations are the principal reasons Lïhuÿe
and its community exists today. Plantation camps developed around the
mill and the old Lïhuÿe Store was the center of town located at the corner
of what is now Halekö Road and Rice Street (see Figure 3-2).
Figure 3-2: Historic
Photograph of the
Lïhuÿe Store, circa
late 1800s
In the early 1900s,
the town core and
what has been aptly
referred to as the
“concrete village” by
PHOTO: KAUAÿI HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Griffin started to
emerge along Rice Street. Unlike typical Hawaiÿi plantation towns that
were mainly Western-style wooden structures with false fronts, Lïhuÿe
witnessed an infusion of neoclassical architecture starting with its seat of
government. The two-story Historic County Building was built in 1912
and remains the longest-serving county building in the State of Hawaiÿi
(see Figure 3-3). The following year, the Bank of Hawaii built its Lïhuÿe
Branch store as a similarly styled one-story, flat-roofed concrete building
in 1913 (see Figure 3-4). The Lihue Store tore down the old wooden
plantation store and rebuilt it as a two-story neoclassical building in 1915
(see Figure 3-5). It was nicknamed “Kauaÿi’s Emporium” where just about
anything could be found.
3-2
Project Setting
Figure 3-3: Historic
County Building,
circa 1914
PHOTO: KAUAÿI HISTORICAL SOCIETY ARCHIVES
Figure 3-4: Bank of
Hawaiÿi, circa 1914
Figure 3-5: Lïhuÿe
Store, circa 1920
Figure 3-6: Albert
Spencer Wilcox
Memorial Building
3-3
Over the next ten years, several other buildings with neoclassical elements
were built in town including the Hawaiian Telephone Building (which
still stands today in the Civic Center but is now clad with coral and metal
siding), and the original Tip Top which held small businesses and a
theater. The Albert Spencer Wilcox Memorial Building, built in 1924 was
originally a public library and now PHOTO: KAUAÿI HISTORICAL SOCIETY
ARCHIVES
houses the Kauaÿi Museum. It is an
interesting
fusion
of
styles—a
neoclassical entry attached to a
Romanesque lava rock structure,
barrel vaulted ceilings and a steep
gabled roof with blue ceramic tiles
adding an Asian flair (see Figure 3-6).
Figure 3-7: Lïhuÿe Post Office
During the Depression Era and 1930s, public improvement projects
dominated the construction scene in Lïhuÿe. Roads were paved and
several significant buildings were built. Hawaiian-style architecture
pioneered by C.W. Dickey and Hart Wood was in vogue. These buildings
were based on the California Mission and Mediterranean styles but were
designed specifically for Hawaiÿi’s humid, rainy weather. Large wall
openings, porches and
lanais, and the classic
Dickey
double-pitched
hip roof characterize this
architectural style.
Figure 3-8: County Annex
Building, Adjacent to the
Historic County Building
The Lïhuÿe Post Office (Figure 3-7),
the County Annex (Figure 3-8), and
the State Courthouse (Figure 3-9) are
beautiful examples of this Hawaiianstyle architecture that remain in
Lïhuÿe Town. A historic map of the
town core in 1932 is shown in Figure
3-10.
Figure 3-9: Lïhuÿe Courthouse
3-4
Project Setting
Along Kühiö Highway, false-front concrete commercial buildings were
constructed in the 1930s. The Garden Island Motors and Garden Island
Publishing buildings near Hardy Street are examples. Figure 3-11 shows a
historic photo of the buildings and Figure 3-12
shows a similar view of the structures today.
Art deco also made its mark on Lïhuÿe in the
1930s with the Lïhuÿe Theater on Kühiö
Highway (1931) (Figure 3-13) and several
buildings on Rice Street such as the Kress
Store, now the Salvation Army Thrift Store.
Figure 3-11: Kühiö Highway, circa 1930s
Further east on Rice St
Street,
treet,, William Hyde Rice,
Ltd. sold the old dairy land in the 1930s and
1940s and started developing a second PHOTO: KAUAÿI HISTORICAL SOCIETY ARCHIVES
commercial district around Kress
and Kalena Streets. Barbeque Inn
and other smaller shops thrived
during the World War II years. A
more informal type of business
district developed in the Hale
Nani area compared to the area
along Halekö and Kühiö.
Figure 3-12: Kühiö Highway,
Today
The postwar years, especially the
1960s and 1970s brought urban renewal on a large scale to Lïhuÿe.
Architect John Graham, famous for designing Seattle’s Space Needle and
the nation’s first shopping mall, also designed Lïhuÿe
Shopping Center in 1966. Noted for using circular forms,
he included one at the prominent corner of Kühiö
Highway and Rice Street of what is now the County’s
Moÿikeha Building (see Figure 3-14). Other architectural
examples from this era include the Sharon Sue Building
(1963), First Hawaiian Bank (1966) (Figure 3-15), State
Office Tower (1967) (Figure 3-16), and the Lihue Plaza
Building (1970). These Modernist/International Style
buildings typically have simple geometric forms, vertical
windows in curtain (non-structural) walls, and flat roofs.
Figure 3-13: Lïhuÿe Theater on Kühiö Highway
3-6
Project Setting
Figure 3-14: County Moÿikeha Building, Formerly Part of the Lïhuÿe
Shopping Center
Figure 3-15: First Hawaiian Bank
Figure 3-16:
State Office
Building
3-7
Part of Lïhuÿe Town’s charm is that buildings from each phase of
development stand side-by-side today as a living record of architectural
styles and fashions that have been popular in Hawaiÿi over the past
century. Maps from 1932, 1966, and the present show how land uses in
the town core of Lïhuÿe have changed over the last century (Figure 3-17).
BANK OF HAWAIÿI
The Bank of Hawaiÿi
itself is an interesting
microcosm of
Lïhuÿe’s architectural history. It was first
built in the 1910s and has been renovated during each major
redevelopment phase of Lïhuÿe to don the latest architectural fashions. In
the 1930s, the neoclassical building was topped with a Dickey roof. In the
1960s, it was clad with a lava stone façade. In the last year, it was
renovated again with a clean, modern look (see photo). Its neoclassic
columns were repainted and its heavy walls replaced by plate glass to
open up the building. (Information kindly provided by Pat Griffin.)
3.3 Socio-Economic Conditions
SMS prepared a socio-economic study for the Lïhuÿe Town Core Urban
Design Plan and it is included in its entirety in Appendix C. Some of the
highlights from that report are presented below.
Figure 3-18: Lïhuÿe Census
Designated Place (CDP)
3.3.1 POPULATION
According to the 2000
Census, the Lïhuÿe Census
Designated Place (CDP) (see
Figure
3-18)
contains
roughly ten percent of the
resident
population
of
Kauaÿi (5,674 of 58,463
persons).
The median age of Lïhuÿe
residents in 2000 was 44
while Kauaÿi’s as a whole
3-9
was 38. Within the immediate Lïhuÿe Town Core described as Census
Tract 405 Block Group 2, or the area bounded by Rice Street, Kühiö
Highway, Ahukini Road and Kapule Highway, it was even higher at 47
years of age. Nearly a quarter of the Lïhuÿe CDP’s population was over 65
(22.4 percent) and nearly another quarter is 17 years of age or younger
(22.8 percent). Another 600 persons (10.5 percent) were between 55 and 64
years of age in 2000. Recent 2004 State DBEDT projections forecast the
population of Kauaÿi to get increasingly older with those over 65 years of
age described as the fastest growing segment of the population (SMS
2005).
Little League Practice at Lïhuÿe
Park
Of the 2,178 households within the
Lïhuÿe CDP, 30.4 percent (663
households) had children under
the age of 18 years and nearly 40
percent (863 households) had
individuals 65 years or older. 16.1 percent of households consisted of
individuals living alone who were over the age of 65 (350 households).
Within Census Tract 405 Block Group 2, the percentage of individuals
over the age of 65 living alone is even higher at 17.4 percent (69
households).
In comparison, only 7.7 percent of Kauaÿi County
households consisted of individuals over the age of 65 living alone and
27.7 percent of households had individuals over the age of 65. This
indicates that there are proportionally more Lïhuÿe households with
elderly persons than Kauaÿi as a whole. There are also quite a few Lïhuÿe
households with children, however, proportionally less than the Kauaÿi
County average for households.
Compared with 62 percent of all Kauaians, over 72 percent of Lïhuÿe CDP
residents were born in Hawaiÿi. Within Census Tract 405 Block Group 2,
the proportion is even higher at 81.6 percent.
3.3.2 INCOMES
According to the 2000 US Census, Lïhuÿe CDP residents had a higher
average per capita income ($22,619) than Kauaÿi as a whole ($20,301) as
well as compared with nearby Puhi and Hanamäÿulu CDPs. Within
Census Tract 405 Block Group 2, it was even higher ($29,853). However,
this is more likely due to the age structure and smaller portion of
households with children in Lïhuÿe.
3-10
Project Setting
Over the long term, Kauaÿi per capita personal income has trailed the
State’s to the point where it was about five-sixth the State’s average in
2002 (SMS 2005). Also, wages have decreased as a portion of Kauaians’
income while rents and transfer payments are increasing. According to
the 2000 Census, more that 40 percent of homes in the Lïhuÿe CDP
received Social Security income. However, very few families were living
below the poverty line.
3.3.3 WORKFORCE AND EMPLOYMENT
Data from the US Census Bureau suggests that roughly half of Kauaÿi’s
workforce has an address with a Lïhuÿe zip code (96766). However, the
zip code includes Puhi and Hanamäÿulu and did not include government
workers. Based on SMS’s analysis, they believed the workforce counted in
the Census figures probably included workers who work from but rarely
in Lïhuÿe. Since Lïhuÿe has historically been the center of Kauaÿi, many of
the larger firms with 100+ employees were listed with a Lïhuÿe address.
Based on calls made by SMS, roughly 800 government employees work in
the study area.
The Lïhuÿe CDP was home to approximately eleven percent of Kauaÿi’s
4,611 government employees in 2000. Government workers represented
18.3 percent of all civilian employed residents in the Lïhuÿe CDP and they
comprised an even higher proportion within Census Tract 405 Block
Group 2 at 24.2 percent. This indicates that a relatively high number of
government workers lived near the Civic Center in 2000.
The majority of residents in the Lïhuÿe CDP and Census Tract 405 Block
Group 2 were also in management, professional and related occupations
(34.9 percent and 39.0 percent, respectively).
Although Hurricane ÿIniki brought soaring unemployment to Kauaÿi
throughout the 1990s, the unemployment rate has steadily declined and
passed the State’s current low rate of 2.4 percent. Kauaÿi’s unemployment
rate in April 2007 was 2.2 percent (DBEDT 2007).
3.3.3.1 Journey to Work
According to the 2000 US Census, of the 2,632 workers living in the Lïhuÿe
CDP over the age of 16, 93.2 percent drove a car, van, or truck to work.
This was similar to Kauaÿi rates as a whole (90.7 percent).
Two percent of Lïhuÿe CDP workers (52 workers) walked to work and less
than one percent (22 workers) used public transportation. 16.3 percent of
Lïhuÿe CDP workers carpooled and the average journey to work
3-11
(excluding those who work at home) took only 14 minutes. This was short
even by Kauaÿi standards as the island averaged 21.5 minutes to work.
This suggests that many Lïhuÿe CDP residents work relatively close to
home. The majority of Lïhuÿe CDP workers who did not work at home
(roughly 46 percent) left between 7:00 and 8:00 AM.
3.3.4 HOUSING
In 2000, roughly 40 percent of Lïhuÿe’s households rented in comparison
with 38.6 percent of Kauaÿi County households (US Census 2000). Also,
nearly 38 percent of the housing units within the Lïhuÿe CDP were
attached units (multifamily).
Since 2000, SMS analyses show that rental trends on Kauaÿi varied
significantly based on location and the number of bedrooms and type of
unit. In Lïhuÿe, the average monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment
remained modest from under $600 in March 2000 to about $675 in
December 2002. For a two-bedroom single family house, however, rents
in Lïhuÿe went from $775 to $2,200 over the same time period. The reverse
trend occurred over the same time period in resort areas such as Poÿipü
and the North Shore, where average rents for one-bedroom apartments
increased significantly (rents up above $900 per month by December 2002)
and decreased by nearly half for two-bedroom single family units ($900
and $1,300 per month respectively in December 2002). These trends may
indicate a general need for housing within Lïhuÿe, particularly larger
multi-bedroom single-family units.
3.3.5 LAND USE AND CONSTRUCTION IN THE URBAN CORE
The Urban Core includes a mix of residential, commercial and industrial
parcels. According to SMS, there were an estimated 489 single family lots,
129 condo/apartment lots and 289 commercial/industrial lots within the
Lïhuÿe Core area in 2005. Much of the Lïhuÿe area is built upon but
roughly 20 percent of the lots were vacant, most within residential and
commercial areas (SMS 2005). The Lïhuÿe District includes only about a
sixth of the visitor plant inventory of Kauaÿi. The majority of it located at
the Kauaÿi Marriott Resort and Beach Club and the Kauaÿi Beach Resort
and Hotel (former Radisson Kauaÿi Beach Resort).
Much of the Urban Core housing was built in the 1980s while commercial
construction has been spread out over time (see Figure 3-19). Sales data
suggest that the real estate market has increasingly been active in Lïhuÿe
as it has been Statewide, peaking in 1996 and in 2003. Recently, the
majority of sales have typically been residential but in 1999 there were
proportionately more commercial/industrial sales in Lïhuÿe.
3-12
Project Setting
The average residential lot size in the study area was 13,092 square feet
with an average building area of 1,542 square feet. The average
commercial and industrial lot size was 30,449 square feet with an average
building size of 8,948 square feet (SMS 2005).
SMS also notes that the Lïhuÿe District (identified as TMK Zone 3) contains
about half the land zoned for commercial and industrial uses on Kauaÿi,
with two-thirds of it undeveloped. The Urban Core Study Area has about
a quarter of all commercial and industrial parcels on Kauaÿi, with about a
fifth of the vacant parcels designated for commercial/industrial.
200
NUMBER OF STRUCTURES
150
100
50
0
Before 1955
1950
1960
1965
1970
1975
1980
1985
1990
1995
2000
YEAR BUILT
Residential
Commercial/Industrial
Figure 3-19: Age of Structures within the Lïhuÿe Core Study Area (SMS
2005)
3.3.6 KEY PROJECTIONS AND PLANNING CHOICES FOR LÏHUÿE
SMS concluded their study with the following projections and key
planning choices for Lïhuÿe:
x Lïhuÿe is a small area with a complex mix of persons living in and
passing through town. Any components of the design plan
involving commercial activity should take into account the
market(s) that will support that activity and any renovation needed
to accommodate it. The markets are segmented. If the potential
customer base for commercial areas is to be large, they will need to
3-13
x
x
x
appeal to Lïhuÿe residents, the Lïhuÿe workforce, and visitors both
staying on Kauaÿi and cruise ships.
Lïhuÿe currently appears to capture a very small share of visitor
spending. However, cruise traffic will likely increase and could
bring visitors (day or overnight visitors) to the Lïhuÿe area. If
cruise ships stay longer at Näwiliwili Harbor than they do now,
then cruise visitors could become increasingly important as a
consumer group for Lïhuÿe.
Development of a Historic Lïhuÿe area. This area would integrate
historic architecture and open spaces with upscale dining and retail
choices. To be successful, the new focus should be linked to events
(in Lïhuÿe Park, perhaps), walking tours, and points of interest.
Based on projections provided in SMS’s report, such a historic area
could include from 40,000 to 70,000 square feet of retail and eating
and drinking space by 2010. There is currently close to 9,000 square
feet of commercial and industrial space within the Lïhuÿe Core
study area (SMS 2005).
3.3.7 SERVING THE LOCAL POPULATION AND WORKERS
SMS recommends upscale establishments to target the professionals, parttime residents, and visitors. However, it is important to recognize the
everyday, local residents and workers who need affordable places to eat
and shop on a regular basis. They comprise a significant portion of the
population that could potentially frequent Lïhuÿe establishments and it
will be important to make these places welcoming and accessible to them
in a pedestrian-friendly environment.
Responses received from a survey distributed in 2003 to the Lïhuÿe
Business Association and County employees as part of the Lïhuÿe Civic
Center project support this statement. Write-in responses to an openended question asking what changes would they like to see within the
Civic Center area revealed that there is a need for more eateries, lunch
wagons, kiosks, coffee shops and snack bars and a variety of stores and
gift shops that are in walking distance of the Civic Center. Many wanted
to see more tables and benches and places to eat outside and beautifully
landscaped open areas with continuous pedestrian pathways.
A
summary of these responses is provided in Appendix B.
Other socio-economic considerations for Lïhuÿe Town include the higher
than average Hawaii-born resident population, strong demand for multibedroom housing units, and the aging population of Lïhuÿe.
3-14
Project Setting
3.4 Site Analysis
A site analysis was prepared for the Lïhuÿe Town Core and is shown in
Figure 3-20. It includes slope and flood analyses, identification of historic
places and important resources within the Town Core such as buildings,
properties, and trees. It also describes notable views, areas susceptible to
developmental change, and the location of overhead utilities. Section 3.7
provides a more detailed description of the urban character of the
different project neighborhoods and Section 3.6 discusses land ownership.
3.4.1 HISTORIC PLACES AND IMPORTANT RESOURCES
As one of the historic town centers of Kauaÿi, Lïhuÿe is rich with historic
places and other important community resources. Several sources of
information were used to identify these resources within the Town Core.
They are the State and National Registers of Historic Places, the County’s
Historic Resource List, community and CAC input, and the Kauaÿi
Historical Society.
3.4.1.1 State and National Registers of Historic Places
The State and National Registers of Historic Places are planning tools
developed to help identify historic resources of state and national
importance.
As part of national policy derived from the National Historic Preservation
Act of 1966 and according to the Code of Federal Regulations (36CFR60),
the National Register is an authoritative guide maintained by the National
Park Service to be used by Federal, State, and local governments, private
groups and citizens to identify the Nation’s cultural resources and to
indicate what properties should be considered for protection from
destruction or impairment. The listing of private property on the National
Register does not prohibit under Federal law or regulation any actions
which may otherwise be taken by the property owner with respect to the
property.
However, listing in the National Register makes property owners eligible
to be considered for Federal grants-in-aid for historic preservation. There
are also potential tax benefits for listed properties. These provisions
encourage the preservation of depreciable historic structures by allowing
favorable tax treatments for rehabilitation, and discourage destruction of
historic buildings by eliminating certain Federal tax provisions both for
the demolition of historic structures and for new construction on the site
of demolished historic buildings. The County of Kauaÿi also exempts
qualified residential properties listed on the Hawaiÿi Register from
property taxes per Kauaÿi County Code §5A-11.22.
3-15
Similarly, the State Register of Historic Places is a list of historic properties
of value to Hawaii's heritage. The list formally recognizes districts, sites,
structures, buildings and objects and their significance in Hawaiÿi’s
history, architecture, archaeology, engineering and culture. The State
Historic Preservation Division (SHPD) is the official keeper of the State
register. They are also tasked to develop and implement interpretive
programs for historic properties listed on or eligible for the Hawaii
register of historic places as well as review any modification planned for a
historic property on the register (Sections 6E-8, 9, and 10 HRS).
Several buildings and the Lïhuÿe Civic Center Historic District are listed
on one or both Registers of Historic Places. Table 3-1 provides a listing of
the registered places within the project neighborhoods. They are also
highlighted in red in Figure 3-20.
Table 3-1: Resources Listed on the National and State Registers of Historic
Places within the Project Neighborhoods
DATE LISTED
SITE
HAWAIÿI
NATIONAL
NUMBER
SITE NAME
TMK
REGISTER
REGISTER
30-11-9342
Lïhuÿe Post Office
3-6-05:10
11/28/89
30-11-9344
Kauai Museum
3-6-05:05
2/17/79
5/31/79
(Albert Spencer
Wilcox Building)
30-11-9351
Lïhuÿe Civic Center
3-6-05:
9/21/81
12/17/81
Historic District
01,02,03
(includes the Historic
County Building,
County Annex, State
Courthouse, and
County Lawn)
3.4.1.2 Kauaÿi Historic Resource List
In addition to the State and National Registers, the County of Kauaÿi
Planning Department maintains a Kauaÿi Historic Resource List (KHRL)
which identifies a wide variety of historic resources including buildings,
structures (includes bridges, a grandstand and a wall), objects, and
historic districts. It also includes historic resources that have been
demolished or have lost integrity in terms of their historic value. This
may be due in part to renovations, damage, or deterioration of the
resource. The KHRL was last updated in September 1998. A full listing of
the resources or properties identified on the 1998 KHRL within the Lïhuÿe
area is provided in Appendix D and identified in yellow in Figure 3-20.
3-17
Lion Horse Trough on Halekö
Road
Within the Lïhuÿe Town Core
project neighborhoods, several
historic resources have been
identified.
They include a
variety of commercial buildings,
residences, churches, theaters, as
well as a couple of objects—the
Paul Isenberg Memorial and the
Lion Horse Trough (see above)—
both on Halekö Road.
3.4.1.3 Historic Properties by State Definition
According to Hawaiÿi Revised Statutes (Section 6E) and Hawaiÿi
Administrative Rules (Sections 13-275, 280 and 284), the definition of a
“historic property” means any building, structure, object, district, area, or
site, including heiau and underwater site, which is over fifty years old. A
determination of significance is required by the State Historic Preservation
Division (SHPD) for any “historic property.” Due to this automatic
trigger based on the age of a property, all TMKs with structures reaching
fifty years of age in 2006 within the Town Core project neighborhoods that
are not listed on the State or National Registers of Historic Places or the
KHRL have been identified in the site analysis. They are shown in purple
in Figure 3-20. The ages of the buildings were estimated from Kauaÿi
County property tax information. Not all structures or properties over
fifty years old will be found significant by SHPD during their review.
However, because they trigger the SHPD and County of Kauaÿi Historic
Preservation Review Commission (KHPRC) historic preservation review
processes and based on the potential for them to be found as historically
significant, they are identified in the site
analysis.
Exceptional Tree K-1 (False Kamani)
in front of the Historic Kuhn’s House
3.4.1.4 Significant Trees and Other
Resources
Other elements shown on the master
plan that have been identified as
important resources include a variety of
trees, parks and open spaces, as well as buildings or structures not yet old
3-18
Project Setting
enough to be considered for the historic registers. These resources are
highlighted in pink in the site analysis in Figure 3-20 and the trees are
shown in green. There is an Exceptional Tree as listed by the County’s
Exceptional Tree Ordinance (KCC 22-5.4) within the Town Core. It is the
False Kamani (Terminalia Catappa), Exceptional Tree No. K-1, located just
east of Kühiö Highway on Ahukini Road. The banyan tree at the
Watamull Building on Rice Street is also significant as it is the tree that
initiated the Exceptional Tree designation on Kauaÿi. The initiative was
led by the Mokihana Club and the County Council passed the Exceptional
Tree ordinance in 1974 (Ordinance No. 240).
The Hawaiÿi State
Legislature followed in 1975 with Act 105 (HRS 58). Currently, the
banyan is not listed as an Exceptional Tree in the County Code. It is
shown as a significant tree in the site analysis (Figure 3-20).
3.4.1.5 Näwiliwili Stream and Gulch
There was also a strong sentiment to provide connections to Näwiliwili
Stream and to improve water quality. Näwiliwili Stream stretches from
the old mill site and Town Core to Näwiliwili Harbor. It provides a
unique opportunity to provide a greenbelt connecting the Town Core with
the harbor. Recommendations from previous studies include pedestrian
and bicycle paths such as the Lïhuÿe Community Pathway from the State’s
Bike Plan Hawaiÿi (Kimura 2003) and possibly rebuilding the old railway
that once extended from the mill to the harbor. Other recommendations
include stormwater runoff control and remediation to improve water
quality downstream and at the harbor.
3.4.2 TOPOGRAPHY
The Lïhuÿe Town Core sits on a plateau overlooking Näwiliwili Stream.
See Figure 3-20. The majority of the site is relatively flat (1 to 3 percent
grades) with steeper slopes along Kühiö Highway and Rice Street where
the two roads intersect. There is a relatively steep bluff along the southern
edge of the Town Core where the land slopes towards Näwiliwili Stream.
The old Lïhuÿe Mill Site sits in a low point at about 148-150 feet above
mean sea level (amsl). The Civic Center is at 200-214 feet amsl above the
stream and the high point of Lïhuÿe Town is near Wal-Mart at roughly 223
feet amsl.
3.4.3 FLOOD INFORMATION
Näwiliwili Stream is a major stream channel and therefore the main
floodway near the Lïhuÿe Town Core. The Town Core sits on a plateau
above the stream and has been determined by the Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA) to be outside of the floodplain. The mill
3-19
site, however, is located in the streambed and portions of the site are
within the floodway. Detailed flood elevations have been calculated for
Näwiliwili Stream and are shown in Figure 3-20.
View to the South of
Häÿupu Range in the
Distance
3.4.4 IMPORTANT VIEWS
Because Lïhuÿe is up on a
plateau and most buildings
in Lïhuÿe are low rises, with the State Office Building the tallest structure
in the Town Core at four stories, spectacular views can still be seen from
many parts of Lïhuÿe Town and are valued by the community. To the
south and west, there are mauka views of the Häÿupu Range and Mount
Waiÿaleÿale, respectively. Looking north up ÿUmi Street, there is a view of
Kälepa Ridge in Hanamäÿulu. To the east along Kapule Highway and
further down Rice Street and Ahukini Road, there are distant views of the
ocean.
3.4.5 OVERHEAD UTILITIES
There are both electrical and telecommunication lines that run overhead
along many of the streets in Lïhuÿe Town. These are shown in red in
Figure 3-20.
3.4.6 AREAS SUSCEPTIBLE TO CHANGE
In the site analysis, areas that were susceptible to developmental change
are shown in orange in Figure 3-20. There are three main areas that are
highlighted: Lïhuÿe Land Company’s Lïhuÿe Gateway project, the
ÿAkahi/ÿElua Streets neighborhood, and the lower Rice Street
neighborhood around Kress and Kalena Streets.
The Lïhuÿe Gateway project has been over ten years in the making. The
County supported the land use change from agriculture to urban uses in
the mid-1990s in order to accommodate Kauaÿi’s projected growth. It is in
a logical location near the island’s major airport and harbor and Civic
Center. It encompasses over 500 acres of land near the Lïhuÿe Airport
with approved zoning for single and multi-family residential, commercial,
and industrial uses.
The ÿAkahi/ÿElua Streets neighborhood is a residential neighborhood that
is transforming into a commercial district given its proximity to the Civic
3-20
Project Setting
Center.
Existing zoning varies from commercial to multi-family
residential, to single family residential (see Figure 3-23). Many of the
residential structures are historic—from the 1930s and 1940s—and are
valued by many community members for their architectural significance.
Several businesses have preserved the buildings and maintained the
residential character of the historic neighborhood. However, other
businesses have torn down the old homes and erected modern
commercial structures without much consideration for the neighborhood’s
historic character. As a neighborhood in transition and with some
families still living in some of the homes, the design guidelines developed
for this area will try to maintain and encourage what is left of the historic
residential neighborhood while allowing commercial uses to operate in
the area.
The Lower Rice Street area near Kress and Kalena Streets contain several
older buildings and vacant lots. It is also home to historic “Deco Row1”
and Lïhuÿe icons such as Hamura’s Saimin and Barbeque Inn. It is in a
transition area between the older commercial areas and larger multifamily
complexes. The area is underutilized and is ideal for redevelopment.
3.5 Regulatory Framework
The legal instruments that regulate development on Kauaÿi are:
x Kauaÿi General Plan (last updated in 2000)
x Kauaÿi County Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance (CZO)
x Lïhuÿe Development Plan (last updated for the County in 1976)
x State Land Use Districts and Other State Agencies’ Long-Range
Planning Documents
x Other County Ordinances such as the Subdivision Ordinance
A general explanation of how this Lïhuÿe Town Core Urban Design Plan
fits within the existing County regulatory framework is provided in
Section 1.2. The following sections provide additional information on
existing land use regulations specific to the Lïhuÿe Town Core and related
reference maps.
It also describes proposed application of the
recommendations made in this report and how they are envisioned to
work with the existing regulatory instruments.
3.5.1 THE KAUAÿI GENERAL PLAN
The Kauaÿi General Plan is a policy document that is intended to improve
the physical environment of the County of Kauaÿi and to provide for the
1
Phrase coined by Pat Griffin.
3-21
health, safety and general welfare of the populace. It accounts for future
growth and trends within all Kauaÿi communities and covers a wide range
of development needs such as housing, education, recreation, land use,
heritage and environmental resource protection, and public infrastructure
and facilities. It was last updated in 2000 by PlanPacific.
The Land Use Map and Heritage Resource Map for the Lïhuÿe Town Core
from the 2000 General Plan are shown in Figure 3-21 and Figure 3-22,
respectively. All but two areas of the Lïhuÿe Town Core project
neighborhoods are designated as “Urban Center” according to the General
Plan Land Use Maps.
The two areas outside of the Urban Center land
use designation within the project site are (see
left, numbered in red):
1. Agriculture Designation: the area opposite
Kühiö Highway from the Lïhuÿe Civic
Center, and
1
2. Open: a small portion of the Lower Rice
Street Neighborhood off Kalena Street.
2
Overall, the recommendations of the Lïhuÿe Town
Core Urban Design Plan are consistent with the
General Plan. However, consideration should be given to revising at least
one of remaining areas to Urban Center when appropriate. One idea
proposed by the community was to develop a parking structure in the
gulch opposite Kühiö Highway from the Civic Center at location #1. It
could be built into the grade below the level of the roadway and hidden
from view. It could serve as an alternative site for public parking and
support Civic Center parking needs. However,
R-20 Portion of Location
the costs of building such a structure could be
#2 off Kalena Street
a factor in determining feasibility. Additional
discussion is provided in Section 4.2.
The open area near Kalena Street contains a
steep bluff area which should be maintained
as undeveloped. The adjacent R-20 zoned
area, however, was recently adjusted in this
area and the overlay district proposed in this
plan should apply only to the flat area at this site (location #2, see photo).
3-22
Project Setting
The six historic resources identified on the General Plan (GP) Heritage
Resource Map are also noted as important resources in the Lïhuÿe Town
Core Urban Design Plan. They are the:
x
x
x
x
x
x
Lïhuÿe Post Office
Albert Spencer Wilcox Memorial Building (Kauaÿi Museum)
Historic County Building
County Annex
State Courthouse
Lïhuÿe Mill
Not specifically listed in the GP Heritage Resource Map but should be
added since they are listed in on the National and State Registers of
Historic Places is:
x Lïhuÿe Civic Center Historic District (includes the Historic County
Building, County Annex, State Courthouse, and County Lawn)
There are two parks and two open areas identified in the General Plan
Heritage Resource Map. They are:
x Lïhuÿe Park
x Kalena Park
x The agricultural area opposite Kühiö Highway from the Lïhuÿe
Civic Center
x The open area along the bluff in the Lower Rice Street
Neighborhood off Kalena Street
Lïhuÿe Park has also been identified as an important resource by the
community in the Lïhuÿe Town Core Urban Design Plan process (see
Figure 3-20) and the agricultural and open areas are discussed above.
3.5.2 COMPREHENSIVE ZONING ORDINANCE
Chapter 8 of the Kauaÿi County Code (KCC) is the Comprehensive Zoning
Ordinance (CZO) for the County of Kauaÿi. It regulates the type of land
uses permitted on the island and their locations. The CZO is specific in its
regulation of permitted uses and building construction. The existing
zoning map for the Lïhuÿe Town Core is shown in Figure 3-23.
For the areas specified in this Lïhuÿe Town Core Urban Design Plan, the
existing zoning designations will remain intact and will not require a
zoning amendment. The regulations and procedures established in the
CZO apply within the areas specified in this Lïhuÿe Town Core Urban
Design Plan except where the land uses and development guidelines
specified in this Urban Design Plan conflict. When this occurs, the
3-25
provisions of this Lïhuÿe Town Core Urban Design Plan and the special
design districts described in this report should supersede those specified
in the CZO.
3.5.3 LÏHUÿE DEVELOPMENT PLAN
Section 10-5 of the KCC is the Lïhuÿe Development Plan (DP). It was
prepared in 1976 by EDAW Inc. and Muroda & Associates and was
created to coordinate the future development and growth of the Lïhuÿe
District including the need to expand the Civic Center. The DP ranked the
Civic Center as the most important priority and cited the following goals
and objectives for its development:
A. Develop a Civic Center plan showing the placement of
buildings, design, landscaping
B. Provide area for Civic Center growth
C. Design of Civic Center should reflect the image of the
Garden Island
D. Expand and maintain a cultural center
An overlay of the development controls and the illustrative plan for the
Lïhuÿe Town Core from the EDAW/Muroda report is shown in Figure
3-24. Completed just ten years after the Lïhuÿe Shopping Center was built,
the 1976 DP showed the shopping center remaining in its location at
Kühiö Highway and Rice Street as it could not foresee the County’s
acquisition of the property by the late 1980s. Instead, it recommended
expanding the Civic Center to the east—positioning new government
offices over a portion of Lïhuÿe Park. It also showed ÿEiwa Street
realigned to intersect with ÿAkahi Street at Hardy Street and Waÿa Road at
Rice Street. This realignment would require a significant reduction in the
size of the historic County Lawn in front of the Historic County Building
and the removal of some of the large monkey pod trees.
Other highlights of the plan for the Town Core included alternating
building frontages in the ÿAkahi/ÿElua Streets neighborhood with shared
parking area, reduced parking requirements for shared public/customer
lots and provision of pedestrian access ways, new public facilities and
government office buildings, proposed common parking areas and
landscaping.
3-26
Project Setting
Since an update of the Lïhuÿe Development Plan is designated for funding
in 2009-10, the following is a preliminary list of revisions that should be
incorporated into the DP Update:
Source: Lïhuÿe Development
Plan (1976), page 12
x
x
LÏHUÿE TOWN CORE
PROJECT AREA
x
x
Revise the Lïhuÿe Town Core planning
boundary and addition of the five project
neighborhoods
Revise applicable design guidelines and
standards
Integrate the Lïhuÿe Civic Center Site
Improvements Master Plan (County
Department of Public Works-Building
Division)
Eliminate the remaining two Project
Districts 2 and 3 (see Figure 3-25, pages 1112 from the 1976 DP). Project District 1
was removed by County of Kauaÿi
Ordinance No. PM-326-96 as part of the
zoning amendment granted for the LïhuÿeHanamäÿulu project. Project District 2 is
outside of the Town Core in Puhi and has
been significantly completed.
Project
District 3 is the current Wal-Mart site in
Lïhuÿe.
Figure 3-25: Lïhuÿe Development Plan
Proposed Land Use
3.5.4 OTHER COUNTY OF KAUAÿI DESIGN CONTROLS
Other County of Kauaÿi ordinances and regulations that control land use
and development in Lïhuÿe include:
x Subdivision Ordinance:
Similar to the CZO, the existing
regulations and procedures established in the Subdivision
Ordinance apply except where they conflict or differ with the
proposed Lïhuÿe Town Core Urban Design Plan. When this occurs,
the provisions of the Lïhuÿe Town Core Urban Design Plan
supersede those of the Subdivision Ordinance (KCC, Chapter 9).
x Outdoor Signs: Nothing recommended in the provisions of the
Lïhuÿe Town Core Urban Design Plan should be construed to
conflict or override any of the provisions in the Outdoor Signs
Ordinance (KCC, Chapter 15, Article 4).
x Exceptional Tree Ordinance: The large Tropical Almond or False
Kamani (K-1, Terminalia Catappa) is designated as an important tree
and is preserved in the Urban Design Plan (KCC, Chapter 22,
Article 5).
3-29
3.5.5 STATE LAND USE AND LONG-RANGE PLANS
The State Land Use Districts for the Lïhuÿe Town Core is shown in Figure
3-27. The entire Lïhuÿe Town Core project and the entire Näwiliwili
Stream gulch are located within the State Urban Land Use District.
Only four to five percent of Kauaÿi Island is classified as Urban by the
State Land Use Commission. Lïhuÿe is one of the largest urban areas on
the island. No State Land Use Boundary Amendments would be required
to fulfill the Lïhuÿe Town Core Urban Design Plan.
Other State long-range plans that may need to be updated based on the
findings and recommendations of this plan include:
x
x
x
x
Kauaÿi Long Range Land Transportation Plan (1997)
Lïhuÿe Airport Master Plan (1990, in the process of being updated)
Kauaÿi Commercial Harbors Master Plan (2001)
Hawaiÿi State Bike Plan (2003)
View of Halekö Road at Rice
Street and Distant View of
Häÿupu Range
The State long-range planning
effort that is most affected by the
recommendations of this plan is
the
State
Department
of
Transportation (DOT) Kauaÿi Long
Range Land Transportation Plan.
It was last updated in 1997 and is
currently in the process of being
updated. Future updates should
include
the
following
recommendations and priorities identified in the Lïhuÿe Town Core Urban
Design Plan:
x
Construction of the Lïhuÿe Bypass Road and realignment of
Ahukini Road east of Kühiö Highway to meet with ÿEhiku Street
and the Lïhuÿe Bypass.
x
Importance of Halekö Road as a historic roadway (see photo
above). Require maintenance of the roadway as a two-lane road
rather than expanding it to four lanes. Provision for pedestrian and
bicycle access via possibly a shared path or shoulder lanes where
there is adequate right-of-way. Include interpretive signage and
identification of Halekö Road as the historic link between the old
3-30
Project Setting
mill and Lïhuÿe Town. Appropriate landscaping and preservation
of larger, significant trees. Removal of invasive species.
Another long-range plan that is affected by the recommendations in this
plan is Bike Plan Hawaiÿi, a comprehensive bicycle master plan for the state
completed in 2003 by Kimura International for the DOT. It describes
existing facilities as well as identifies implementation strategies and future
projects to improve the bicycle network for each island. Figure 3-26 shows
the proposed bicycle network for Lïhuÿe.
Within the Lïhuÿe Town Core planning area, the Bike Plan recommends
installing striped bike lanes in Ahukini Road and Hardy, Rice, and ÿUmi
Streets and posting signs along Kühiö Highway indicating that it is a
shared roadway. Halekö Road is also recommended to have a bike lane.
A bike path separated from vehicular traffic and identified as the Lïhuÿe
Community Pathway is proposed along Näwiliwili Gulch from Halekö
Road to Näwiliwili Harbor. Kapule Highway is shown as an existing
signed shared roadway.
Source: Bike Plan Hawaiÿi (Kimura
International, 2003)
Figure 3-26: Bike Plan Hawaiÿi Lïhuÿe Area Map
3-31
Future updates should include the following recommendations identified
in Section 4.2.5 of this Lïhuÿe Town Core Urban Design Plan:
x
x
Bike path or lane in Kaÿana Street
Bike/pedestrian path behind Wilcox Elementary School
3.6 Land Ownership
A map showing the major land owners within the Lïhuÿe Town Core area
is provided in Figure 3-28. The County of Kauaÿi and State of Hawaiÿi
own the lands upon which most of the public facilities are located. The
Weinberg Foundation, HRT Ltd., and their associated companies own
much of the land on Kühiö Highway as well as a few properties along
Rice Street. They also own several parcels in the Lïhuÿe Industrial Park
near Rice Street and Kapule Highway. Lïhuÿe Land Company owns the
Wailani project area (Lïhuÿe-Hanamäÿulu infill) as well as much of the
land further mauka of Lïhuÿe Town. Pacific Funds, LLC out of Seattle,
WA recently purchased the old Lïhuÿe Mill Site and the Nühou
Corporation (Grove Farm Homestead Museum) owns much of the land
along Näwiliwili Stream including several segments of the old railroad
right-of-way.
3-32
Project Setting
St.
Oxford
St.
ighway
Street
Kühiö H
Ehiku
ÿElima
Street
ÿEono S
ÿEono
treet
WILCOX
HOSPITAL
Ahukini R
oad
e St
iS
State Land Use Districts
Conservation
Agricultural
Rural
Urban
Project Site Boundary
Disclaimer:
This graphic has been prepared for
general planning purposes only.
Source:
State GIS-Land Use Commission (2006)
St
St
he
ea
Ah
St
ay
Kapu
t
ss S
Ric
Pua
eS
tre
ÿole
et
St.
Ha
lau
Rd.
Kre
t
aS
n
e
l Ma
lam
Ka
aS
t
ÿOi
han
St
aS
t
St
a St
he
Ohiohi St
H
t
eS
el
uk
A
Hun
ighw
Alohi
ana
Ka
VIDINHA
STADIUM
St
Kepa
Hili P
l
an
Ka
n
Na
et
t
LEGEND
t
Hili S
tre
Pala S
t
koi S
Au
eS
Malae St
WAR
MEMORIAL
ko
Pikak
St
St
Ric
Ho
iki
e St
Pua Nani St
oR
lek
Ha
Pua
Lok
t
t
Kokio St
eS
Pua
Kiele Ln
rov
Nawiliwili Rd
iG
Rd
Iliahi St
ku
he
We
d.
alu
KAUA'I
VETERANS'
POST
OFFICE
LÏHUÿE AIRPORT
le H
mi
ÿU
Ew
Ku
WILCOX
ELEM.
St
t
P.O.
POLICE
STATION STATE
JUDICIARY
ÿola
Stree
i St
Uluhu
St
m
Kau
Rice
OLD
LÏHUÿE
MILL
SITE
St
t
yS
Hard
Eiwa
wy
iH
uali
ÿUmi
ÿElua
St
i St
Rd
Palai St
ana
ÿAkah
om
a St.
Fujii St
Ho
Poincian
leke
St
Figure 3-27
State Land Use Districts
LÏHUÿE TOWN CORE
URBAN DESIGN PLAN
NORTH
LINEAL SCALE (FEET)
0
1000
500
2000
Disclaimer: For Planning Purposes Only.
Source Information:
-County of Kaua'i GIS, Real Property Maps
Figure 3-28
Major Land Owners
3.7 Existing Urban Form and Street
Character
Information on existing land uses along with photographs and details
obtained during the site analysis and site visits were used to document the
existing urban form and street character of the Lïhuÿe Town Core. Figure
3-29 shows the resulting Urban Form and Street Character Map. The map
identifies various issues as they relate to existing pedestrian environments
in the town core. The map identifies sidewalk characteristics, crosswalks,
major parking areas, buildings that are pedestrian friendly (built up to the
street front, with a pedestrian conducive frontage), parks and open spaces.
Nine areas within the five project neighborhoods are described in the
analysis, each with their own distinct character.
3.7.1 RICE STREET NEIGHBORHOODS
There are four distinct areas along Rice Street between Kühiö and Kapule
Highways, each with its own identity and character. These areas are
labeled A through D on Figure 3-29 and described in more detail below.
Rice Street was recently widened in 2002 from a three-lane road with a
center two-way left turn lane to a four lane roadway. Additional land was
acquired from several properties along Rice Street to widen the right-ofway and install sidewalks from Halekö Road to Kapule Highway. The
overhead utilities were left as overhead lines and Kou trees were planted
in small 12-inch square tree wells.
AREA A
3.7.1.1 Area A: Historic/Civic Center (Kühiö
Highway to ÿUmi Street)
The Rice Street Historic/Civic area is the
historic commercial and government center of
Lïhuÿe Town. It includes the area around Rice
Street from Kühiö Highway to ÿUmi Street.
The area to the north (Kapaÿa side) of the
roadway includes the Civic Center (see Figure 3-30 and Figure 3-14), while
the area to the south (Näwiliwili side) includes a number of
commercial/retail properties. There are several historic buildings as noted
earlier in this report. The County of Kauaÿi Department of Public Works
Building Division is also in the process of finalizing a master plan for the
Lïhuÿe Civic Center. Portions of that master plan are referenced in this
report. The following section describes the current condition of the Civic
Center and not those proposed in the master plan.
3-35
Figure 3-30: Historic County Building
and Royal Palms
Figure 3-31: Modern
Moÿikeha County Building
Figure 3-32: Narrow Sidewalks on Rice
Street
Figure 3-33: Lïhuÿe Post
Office
Figure 3-34: Large Monkey Pod Tree in
Parking Lot behind Bank of Hawaiÿi
3-37
Rice Street within Area A is characterized by high vehicular traffic
volumes that make crossing the street difficult and create an environment
that is not conducive for walking. A popular crosswalk in front of the
Post Office was removed to discourage people from parking in the Civic
Center parking lots and crossing Rice Street to the Post Office. Some
people still try to cross the street at this
location (Figure 3-35).
Figure 3-35: Pedestrian Crossing Rice
Street Where Former Crosswalk was
Located
The area contains a variety of sidewalk
conditions—some areas have wide
sidewalks, some narrow sidewalks
(under four feet wide) (Figure 3-32). Other areas in the Civic Center do
not have any sidewalks such as the south side of Hardy Street and all of
ÿEiwa Street (Figure 3-36). Utility poles and even some of the street trees
intended to beautify the area often obstruct pedestrian paths where the
sidewalks are narrow.
Figure 3-36: No Sidewalks on ÿEiwa Street
In other areas of Rice Street, such as near
the Post Office and First Hawaiian Bank,
wider sidewalks with large shade trees
provide more pleasant pedestrian
environments (Figure 3-15 and Figure
3-33).
Figure 3-37: Parking Lot in front of
Big Save
The area is characterized by a mix
of architectural styles ranging
from neoclassical to traditional
Dickey-style architecture, as well as post-1960s Modernist buildings. The
older buildings constructed prior to the 1960s are oriented towards the
street while the newer buildings such as the Civic Center (which was a
former shopping center, Figure 3-37) and the First Hawaiian Bank face
parking lots. The large parking lots in the Civic Center dominate the area
and break-up the streetscape, making the area less conducive to walking.
3-38
Project Setting
Although there are some large canopy trees by the Post Office, in the
County Lawn and behind the Bank of Hawaii (Figure 3-34), the Civic
Center parking lots have limited landscaping and are mainly asphalt
(Figure 3-37). There is also no coordinated street tree theme for the area
except for the kou trees that were planted along Rice Street as part of the
road widening but many of these trees are struggling. The landscaping
varies along the roadway fronting the various buildings. There is a
general lack of street furniture and places for people to sit which makes
the area less inviting for pedestrian activity.
AREA B
3.7.1.2 Area B: Old Dairy Commercial/Residential
(ÿUmi Street to Hardy Street)
The Old Dairy Commercial/Residential area along Rice
Street includes the area from ÿUmi Street in the west to
Hardy Street in the east. The north side of Rice Street
includes commercial uses (office and retail) fronting
Lïhuÿe Park. The south side of Rice Street is primarily
commercial (office and retail) with some residential
units (mostly one-story single-family homes and small
apartment buildings), a recently renovated hotel, Rice
Shopping Center, and churches scattered throughout
the
area.
It
includes
a
variety of commercial areas such as
the ÿEwalu Street area (Figure 3-38)
and the Fairview area (Kress and
Kalena Streets, Figure 3-39), and
Deco Row.
Figure 3-38: Views of the ÿEwalu
Street Commercial Area
High vehicular traffic volumes on
Rice Street make the street difficult
for pedestrians to cross. The only
crosswalks on Rice Street in this
area are at the ÿUmi, Kress and
Hardy Street intersections. The
distance between the ÿUmi and
Kress Street crosswalks is well over
860 feet. Ideally the maximum
distance between crosswalks for
pedestrian-friendly environments
is between 250 and 300 feet.
3-39
Figure 3-39: Fairview Commercial
Area
Smaller internal roadways provide
access to the commercial areas on the
south side of Rice Street such as
ÿEwalu, Kress, and Kalena Streets.
They are narrow and cater to local
traffic. In some areas, the right-of-way
is only 30 feet wide. The separation
between public and private property is
not clear and parking in these areas is
ad hoc.
Figure 3-40: Pedestrian-Oriented
Shops along South Side of Rice Street
Sidewalks on Rice Street in Area B also
vary in width, as they do within the
Rice Street Historic/Civic Core (Area
A). Generally, the sidewalks tend to
be narrower on the north side of Rice
Street (about 4 feet wide) and wider on
the south side of Rice Street (about 10
feet or more, see Figure 3-40).
However, there are also areas on the
south side of Rice Street where
sidewalks are narrow and utility poles
obstruct pedestrian access (Figure
3-41).
Figure 3-41: Rice and Hardy Street
Intersection, Utility Pole Blocking ADA
Ramp
Within the ÿEwalu Street and Fairview
commercial areas south of Rice Street,
there are no continuous sidewalks.
Cars are often parked right up to the
front of buildings making pedestrian
and ADA access to the entrances
difficult (Figure 3-42 and Figure 3-39).
Figure 3-42: Ad Hoc Parking near
Hamura’s Saimin on Kalena Street
(Fairview Commercial Area)
3-40
Project Setting
Traffic is generally slow
through these areas. However,
the lack of sidewalks and
blocked storefronts make it
difficult for pedestrians to
navigate these areas.
Figure 3-43: Former Dairy
Queen Turned Used Car
Dealership on Rice Street
Figure 3-44: Auto
Dealership and Large
Parking Lot on Rice Street
There is a wide variety of
architectural styles in this
area due to the mix of uses
and the era in which the
structures
were
built.
Many
of
the
older
commercial
buildings
(pre-1960s) were built facing the public
streets and are relatively simple
warehouse-type structures that added
character to their storefronts. Some used
Western-style false fronts with awnings
(Figure 3-39) while others such as the old
Kress Store and former Royal Theater
built art deco façades and entries (Figure
3-45).
Figure 3-45: Former Theater with Art Deco
Details at the Entry on Rice Street
In the 1960s-80s, most of the commercial
buildings were modern, flat- or slightly
pitched-roofed boxes built of concrete or
concrete masonry units (CMU, Figure
3-46). These buildings tend to be set back
from the street and fronted by parking
lots (Figure 3-43 and Figure 3-44). Some
of the newest buildings such as the Kauaÿi
Government Employees Federal Credit Union and Kokua Professional
3-41
Building are built in the plantation
revival style, donning traditional
double-pitch and hipped roofs.
Figure 3-46: Doctors Offices with
Decorative CMU, ÿEwalu Street
Figure 3-47: Kauaÿi
Government Employees
Federal Credit Union on
ÿEwalu Street
Many of the single
family homes that still
exist
are
typical
plantation-style homes
(Figure 3-49) and the
churches are built in a
variety of styles. The Lïhuÿe Christian Church on Kress Street is a local
version of a Romanesque church with lava rock walls and double-pitch
gable roofs (Figure 3-48).
Figure 3-48: Lïhuÿe Christian
Church on Kress Street
Overall, the neighborhood has a
disjointed feel as buildings do not
relate to one another in style or
scale except in specific areas such
as Deco Row and the Westernstyle buildings on Kress and
Halenani Streets. There is a
general lack of landscaping in the
area and some of the kou trees on
Rice Street are growing into the
overhead utility lines.
Figure 3-49: Plantation-Style
House on Kress Street
3-42
Project Setting
3.7.1.3 Area
C:
Rice
Street
Transitional/
Auto-Oriented
(Hardy Street to Hoÿolako
Road)
Further east on Rice Street, between
Hardy Street and Hoÿolako Road, the
street character changes to one that is far
more auto-oriented.
The area is
AREA C
characterized by high vehicular traffic
volumes along Rice Street and buildings turned inward away from Rice
Street. There are also large
parking lots that dominate the
streetscape.
Figure 3-50: Lïhuÿe Town Plaza
Strip Commercial
The sidewalks on this portion
of Rice Street also vary in
width.
Some sidewalks are wide and
comfortable to walk; others are narrow and
squeezed between the roadway and buildings
but the sidewalks are continuous throughout
the area. Like the other portions of Rice
Street, architectural styles and building
patterns vary along this roadway.
However, the majority of this area is
characterized by large, modern singleuse buildings such as Dani’s Restaurant,
the UPW offices, and Midas. Some
developments have landscaping along
their street fronts to help soften the
streetscape but there is no coordinated
street tree theme.
Figure 3-51: Views of Single-Use Commercial
Buildings along Rice Street (Area C)
There are also large multi-family complexes in this
area with buildings turned inward away from Rice
Street and long, blank walls along the roadway.
None of the buildings relate to each other in Area C
which creates a disjointed streetscape.
3-43
AREA D
3.7.1.4 Area D: Industrial (Hoÿolako
Road to Kapule Highway
The Rice Street Industrial area is
bordered by Rice Street to the south,
ÿOihana and Halau Streets to the
north, Hoÿolako Street to the west and
Kapule Highway to the east. The
area is characterized by high traffic
volumes on Rice Street and Kapule
Highway, with slower industrial
traffic on the inner roadways.
Figure 3-52:
View of
Halau Street
(Area D)
There
are
sidewalks on
portions
of
Rice Street,
but
no
sidewalks on
the internal
roadways, making these roadways not conducive for pedestrian activity.
This area is characterized by industrial warehouse-type buildings and is
dominated by off-street parking for workers of the industrial subdivision.
There is limited landscaping and no bicycle lanes. There are no design
controls
to
coordinate building
and
driveway
locations
so
streetscapes
are
inconsistent
and
designed mainly for
vehicle and truck
access
to
the
industrial businesses
in the area.
Figure 3-53: View of
ÿOihana Street
3-44
Project Setting
AREA E
3.7.2 KÜHIÖ HIGHWAY NEIGHBORHOODS
There are two main areas along Kühiö Highway.
The first area is adjacent to the Civic Center and
includes the historic Kühiö Highway commercial
area near the Lïhuÿe Theater. The second is further
north between Ahukini Road and ÿEhä Street.
Similar to Rice Street, the Kühiö Highway
streetscape differs between the two areas. The older
commercial areas of Kühiö still have a few historic
buildings that were designed to address the street
with articulated storefronts facing Kühiö Highway,
while the newer commercial developments have
buildings set back from the street and parking lots
fronting the highway. More details are provided
below.
3.7.2.1 Area E: Kühiö Highway-South (Rice
Street to Ahukini Road)
Kühiö Highway-South includes the area along Kühiö Highway from
Ahukini Road in the north to Rice Street in the south. Kühiö Highway is
characterized by high vehicular traffic volumes and a variety of sidewalk
widths, some of which are narrow (under four feet wide). The sidewalks
are typically located at the edge of the roadway, sometimes with
landscaping pushing pedestrians dangerously close to the vehicles
passing by and creating uncomfortable places to walk (Figure 3-54). In
some places, safety rails have been installed to help protect pedestrians
(Figure 3-55).
Part of the
problem occurred when Kühiö
Highway was widened to four
lanes. In order to reduce the
amount of land taken from the
adjacent properties, minimal
sidewalks were installed close
to the travel lanes.
Figure 3-54: View of Kühiö
Highway Where Sidewalk
Partially Blocked by
Landscaping
In other places along Kühiö
Highway, the sidewalks jog
3-45
around parking stalls which are accessed
directly from the highway. Visually, the
parked cars seem obtrusive but the
sidewalks are continuous and connect to
storefronts. In these areas, the walkways
feel relatively safe since they are sheltered
from the moving vehicles along Kühiö
Highway by the parked vehicles (Figure
3-56).
Figure 3-55: Safety Rails Along Kühiö
Highway Sidewalks
A variety of architectural styles characterize
this area. On the makai side of the highway,
there are several historic buildings such as
the art deco Lïhuÿe Theater (Figure 3-13) and
the Western-style Garden Island Motors and
Garden Island Publishing buildings built of
concrete (or veneered with stucco to look
like concrete) with false fronts and
walkways sheltered by awnings (Figure
3-57).
Figure 3-56: Sidewalk Sheltered from Traffic
by Parked Vehicles
Further north, there are a few commercial
buildings that echo this Western-style false
front architecture, but were built with the
more typical building material used in
historic Hawaiian towns— wood. These
buildings were constructed in the early
1990s and are oriented towards the street
with parking lots behind the buildings
(Figure 3-58). Architectural details which make these and the other
historic buildings on the makai side of Kühiö Highway pedestrianfriendly are their scale and articulated storefronts, broad awnings, large
picture windows and stallboards below the windows.
In contrast, many of the buildings on the mauka side of the highway are
modern, auto-oriented structures. Some look like warehouses modified
for retail. Store entries typically face inwards towards parking lots rather
than the street. There are several fast food restaurants and gas stations
with standard national building designs. Large parking lots and large
3-46
Project Setting
expanses of pavement are
common and break up the
streetscape. Sidewalks are
also narrow and adjacent to
the traffic lanes, making it
uncomfortable to walk along
the street.
Figure 3-57: Historic Garden
Island Publishing Building on
Kühiö Highway
Figure 3-58: New
Commercial Buildings on
Kühiö Highway with WesternStyle False Fronts
The area is also characterized
by a general lack of
landscaping
and
no
consistent street tree theme.
Where there is landscaping
along the street, the design is
often uncoordinated and do
not shelter pedestrians from
either traffic or the elements.
Figure 3-59: Views of
Modern Auto-Oriented
Commercial Buildings on
Kühiö Highway
However, there are beautiful
views along Kühiö Highway
of Häÿupu to the south, Mt.
Waiÿaleÿale to the west and
Kälepa Ridge to the north.
3-47
AREA F
3.7.2.2 Area F: Kühiö Highway
Transitional (ÿEhä Street to
Ahukini Road)
The Kühiö Highway Transitional
area stretches from ÿEhä Street to
Ahukini Road.
The area is
characterized by high vehicular
traffic volume on Kühiö Highway.
There are a variety of sidewalk
conditions in the area, ranging from
wide, comfortable sidewalks over 4
feet on the west side of the roadway
(Figure 3-60) to no sidewalks on portions of the east side (Figure 3-61).
Pedestrians were witnessed walking in the traffic lane in this area since
the area was impassable due to
the overgrown brush and there
were no crosswalks at this
intersection.
Figure 3-60: View of Kühiö
Highway, West Sidewalk (Area
F)
The area is also characterized
by a variety of architectural
styles and building types, due
to the transitional nature of the
neighborhood.
They range
from
smaller
commercial
structures and single-family
residences on the west side of
the roadway to large big box
retail establishments, including
Wal-Mart and Hilo Hatties, on
the east side of the roadway.
Figure 3-61: No Sidewalk on the
East Side of Kühiö Highway
between ÿEhiku Street and
Ahukini Road
3-48
Project Setting
Most of the single-family homes are one-story wooden structures built in
the traditional plantation style with hipped and/or double-pitch roofs.
Similar to the homes on ÿAkahi and ÿElua Streets, many of these buildings
are converting to commercial uses and businesses (see Figure 3-62).
Because they have retained the original form and landscaped front yards
of the former residences, this area provides a nice transition between the
heavily
urbanized
commercial areas on
Kühiö Highway and the
residential areas to the
north and west.
Figure 3-62: Residences
Converting to
Commercial Uses on the
West Side of Kühiö
Highway
Except for the extensive
landscape
buffer
fronting the Wal-Mart
parking
lot,
the
landscaping along Kühiö
Highway
is
not
coordinated and reflects
the transitional nature of
the area.
Figure 3-63: Landscape
Buffer Fronting Wal-Mart
The character of Kühiö
Highway in this area is
split between the autooriented east side of the roadway and the transitional commercial and
plantation cottage residences on the west side.
3-49
3.7.3 OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS
3.7.3.1 Area G: ÿAkahi Street, ÿElua
Street, ÿUmi Street Transitional
The ÿAkahi, ÿElua and ÿUmi Streets area
is a neighborhood in transition. This
area is bounded by properties along
ÿAkahi Street to the west and residential
properties on ÿUmi Street to the east. It
includes the area between the existing
and realigned Ahukini Road to the
north and Hardy Street to the south.
All of the roadways within this area are
local streets with a rural residential
AREA G
character. There are no sidewalks along
any of the roadways, and many of the property owners have grassed or
paved the shoulders within the right-of-way where cars are often parked.
Figure 3-64: Views of Plantation-Style
Residences on ÿAkahi Street Built in
the 1930s
Historically, the area has been a
residential neighborhood. In the
1930s and 1940s, plantation- style
cottage homes were built on ÿAkahi
and ÿElua Streets as the Civic Center
and commercial areas on Kühiö and
Rice Street flourished. The homes
built in the 1930s are characterized
by steep double-pitch hipped roofs,
vertical wooden siding, and small
covered entries or front porches with
lava rock detailing (Figure 3-64).
The homes built in the 1940s tend to
have simpler and flatter hippedroofs but are also wood-sided and
elevated.
The entries are often
shielded from view of the street.
Some have attached carports wide
enough for a single car (Figure 3-65).
Many of the historic homes have low lot coverage and landscaped front
3-50
Project Setting
yards with mature trees and
trimmed hedges fronting the
property. The landscaping
adds to the small-town
character
of
the
neighborhood.
Figure 3-65: Views of
Residences along ÿElua Street
Built in the 1940s
In 1965-6, tract homes were
built on ÿUmi Street. These
homes are different in
architectural
form
and
character from those on
ÿAkahi and ÿElua Streets.
They are built on slabs atgrade, have larger footprints
and are built of CMU blocks.
The roofs have flatter pitches
with gabled ends and the
two-car carports are the most
prominent features of the
homes along the street
(Figure 3-66). Landscaping is
sparse.
By the 1960s and 1970s,
several commercial uses
began replacing some of the
cottage homes on ÿAkahi
Street with large, modern
buildings that do not relate to the surrounding neighborhood (Figure
3-67).
Many are
built of CMU blocks
with flat roofs and
designed
to
maximize building
size and footprint.
Figure 3-66: ÿUmi
Street Residences
3-51
Figure 3-67: New
Commercial Buildings
on ÿAkahi Street
Given
its
close
proximity to the Civic
Center and Lïhuÿe
businesses, the area
seemed appropriate
for infill commercial
development and the County changed the zoning of ÿAkahi Street to
General Commercial (C-G) and the west half of ÿElua Street to multifamily residential (R-10) to allow for higher density development. ÿUmi
Street remains residentially zoned (R-6). Also, the County is receiving a
growing number of requests for variances for businesses on ÿElua Street
and there is momentum building to also change ÿElua Street to commercial
zoning. However, many in the community and at the County feel that the
residential character of the neighborhood is worth preserving, particularly
the historic homes on ÿAkahi and ÿElua Streets. They are part of one of the
last remaining historic residential neighborhoods of Lïhuÿe Town.
Some of the businesses that have
moved into the area have
preserved the residential character
of the neighborhood. Some kept
the historic structures (Figure 3-64).
Others have remodeled or rebuilt
the structures but maintained the
residential character and scale of
the buildings by keeping them to
one-story and including pitched
roofs, entry porches, and wood
siding. Another important feature
is the landscaping—maintaining
the lawns in the front yard, the low
hedges or rock walls along the
street and even the mailboxes help
to preserve the character of this
historic
neighborhood
(Figure
3-68).
Figure 3-68: Commercial Uses in
Structures Remodeled to Retain
their Residential Character
3-52
Project Setting
3.7.3.2 Area H: Hardy Street-Town
Center/Residential
Interface
The Hardy Street-Town Center area
includes Hardy Street from Kühiö
Highway to its southern terminus at
Rice Street. The area overlaps with
Area A (described earlier) by the
Civic Center and includes a number
of public and quasi-public uses
along Hardy Street, including the AREA H
State Office Building and old
Courthouse (Figure 3-69), Lïhuÿe Public Library (Figure 3-70), the Kauaÿi
War Memorial Convention Hall (Figure 3-71), Lïhuÿe Park, and Wilcox
Elementary School. There are also several commercial uses (retail and
office) such as Hale Pumehana, Kauaÿi Community Federal Credit Union,
the Salvation Army (Figure 3-72) and ILWU as well as a church, St.
Michaels.
Figure 3-69: State Courthouse
From Kühiö Highway to ÿUmi Street,
there
are
larger,
civic
and
commercial type buildings. From
ÿUmi Street to Rice Street, there are
civic buildings on the south side of
Hardy Street and typical 1960s-70s
single family residential on the
north side. Architecturally, there is
a wide variety of styles mostly from
the modern, post-1960s era.
Figure 3-70: Sculptural Form of the
Lïhuÿe Public Library
Figure 3-71:
Kauaÿi War
Memorial
Convention Hall
3-53
Figure 3-72: Residentially Scaled
Salvation Army
Traffic on Hardy Street tends to be
local and primarily related to the
nearby businesses and the Civic
Center. It can be heavy specifically
due to the arrival and departure of
public workers in the Civic Center
during the morning and afternoon
peak hours and at lunchtime as
well as the vehicles exiting the
library. There also may be some
regional traffic using the local
streets and parking lots as shortcuts
to bypass Kühiö Highway.
Figure 3-73: Residence on Hardy
Street
Between Kühiö Highway and ÿUmi Street, there are sidewalks on the
north side of Hardy Street but not the south adjacent to the Civic Center
(Figure 3-74). Between ÿUmi and Rice Streets, there are sidewalks along
the school side of Hardy Street but not in front of the residences on the
makai side of Hardy Street. Sidewalks are especially critical for this area
due to the high volume of pedestrian activity associated with the Civic
Center, Wilcox Elementary School and
Lïhuÿe Park.
Figure 3-74: Views Looking East and
West, Respectively, Down Hardy Street
by the Civic Center
Landscaping is minimal in this area.
There are no coordinated street trees
planted on Hardy Street, but there are
a few large monkey
pod trees by ÿUmi
Street
and
several
Poinciana trees around
the
Kauaÿi
War
Memorial and Wilcox
Elementary
School.
There are mauka views
from most areas along
Hardy Street.
3-54
Project Setting
3.7.3.3 Area I: Ahukini Road
AREA H
The Ahukini Road area includes Ahukini Road from Kühiö Highway to
Kapule Highway. This roadway is characterized by a high volume of
traffic on what is currently a two-lane rural roadway. Due to the future
Wailani (Lïhuÿe-Hanamäÿulu infill) project bordering both sides of the
roadway and its increasing use by regional traffic, Ahukini Road is
expected to be expanded to a four-lane divided roadway and is included
as such in the State DOT’s Kauaÿi Long Range Land Transportation Plan
(KLRLTP). In addition, the KLRLTP includes a realignment of its western
portion to intersect with ÿEhiku Street at Kühiö Highway (Figure 3-61)
since it is planned as the major connector road for the proposed Lïhuÿe
Bypass.
Figure 3-75: Historic Kuhn
House
Currently, there are no
sidewalks on Ahukini Road
and no bike lanes. However,
bike lanes are expected to be
added during the expansion
to four lanes. There are no
actively used accesses for
cars and other vehicles from
the internal roadways except at the Wal-Mart driveway and ÿAkahi, ÿElua,
ÿUmi and Palai Streets. However, additional connections will be made
with the development of Wailani.
Single family homes as well as vacant lands are located along the
roadway. There is a historic property between the existing and proposed
alignments for Ahukini Road, the Kuhn House, which is currently used as
office space (Figure 3-75). One of Kauaÿi’s Exceptional Trees, a grand false
kamani, is also located here. With the Lïhuÿe Gateway landscaping
improvements, a consistent landscape theme has been established for this
roadway and adds to the rural character of the area, enhancing this
roadway as the gateway to Lïhuÿe.
3-55
3.8Existing Traffic
Phillip Rowell and Associates prepared a traffic study for the project.
They analyzed existing traffic conditions and several alternatives
generated from public input, CAC discussions and the project team as
well as conditions proposed for the Lïhuÿe Civic Center Site
Improvements project and findings from the traffic study prepared for
that project. The traffic study for this project is provided in its entirety in
Appendix E.
The traffic study for this project includes existing traffic volumes for the
morning and afternoon peak hours taken in the first week of November
2004 and the resulting level-of-service (LOS) analysis.
The study area included the area bounded by Kapule Highway, Rice
Street, Kühiö Highway and Ahukini Road. The intersections studied for
the report are shown in Figure 3-76 and listed below:
1. Kühiö Highway at Rice Street
2. Halekö Street at Rice Street
3. ÿEiwa Street at Rice Street
4. ÿUmi Street at Rice Street
5. Hardy Street/Kalena Street at Rice Street
6. Hoÿolako Street at Rice Street
7. Kapule Highway at Rice Street
8. Kühiö Highway at Hardy Street
9. ÿAkahi Street at Hardy Street
10. ÿEiwa Street at Hardy Street
11. ÿElua Street at Hardy Street
12. ÿUmi Street at Hardy Street
13. Kühiö Highway at Oxford Street
14. ÿAkahi Street at Ahukini Road
15. ÿElua Street at Ahukini Road
16. ÿUmi Street at Ahukini Road
17. Palai Street at Ahukini Road
18. Kapule Highway at Ahukini Road
19. Kapule Highway at Kaÿana Street
All of the streets within the study area are two-lane, two-way roadways
except Kühiö Highway and Rice Street, which are both four-lanes wide,
two in each direction.
3-56
Project Setting
Along Rice Street, parking is allowed along both sides of the street during
the off-peak hours, limiting much of the roadway to two lanes. However,
during peak traffic periods on weekdays, parking is prohibited from 7:00
AM to 9:00 AM and from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM.
Figure 3-76: Traffic Study Area and Intersections (Rowell, Fig. 1)
3-57
LOS is a qualitative measure that involves a variety of factors such as
speed, travel time and delays, traffic interruptions, freedom to maneuver,
safety, and driving comfort. It uses a scale of A to E to describe overall
traffic conditions and has different criteria for signalized and unsignalized
intersections.
LOS D is typically considered acceptable for peak hour conditions in
urban areas. To be consistent with the conclusions of the TIAR for the
Lïhuÿe Civic Center Master Plan, LOS E will be considered acceptable
under certain circumstances such as for minor left turn movements when
the main through traffic is moving at acceptable levels or there are no
appropriate mitigating measures to improve the minor movement without
sacrificing the quality of the major movements. The summary table for
the existing LOS for the study area is provided in Table 3-2.
Table 3-2: Existing Level of Service
LOS LOS
No. Intersection
Controls
AM PM
Conclusions/Comments
1
Kühiö Hwy at Signalized
B
B
All movements are C, or
Rice St
better.
2
Halekö St at
Unsignalized
C
C All movements operate at
Rice St
B and C.
3
ÿEiwa St at
Unsignalized
E
F
Southbound left operates
Rice St
at E during AM and F
during PM. Remaining
movements operate at C,
or better.
4
ÿUmi St at
Signalized
B
B
All movements operate at
Rice St
B, or better.
5
Hardy St at
Signalized
A
A
Rice St
A and B.
6
Hoÿolako St
Signalized
B
B
at
B, or better.
Rice St
7
Kapule St at
Unsignalized
E
F
Southbound left operates
Rice St
at E and F during AM and
PM, respectively.
Intersection is to be
reconfigured and
signalized by DOT. Design
is underway.
8
Kühiö Hwy at Unsignalized
F
F
Westbound left operates
Hardy St
at F during AM and PM.
9
ÿAkahi St at
Unsignalized
C
Hardy St
C, or better.
3-58
Project Setting
No. Intersection
10 ÿEiwa St at
Hardy St
Controls
Unsignalized
LOS
AM
E
11
ÿElua St at
Hardy St
ÿUmi St at
Hardy St
Unsignalized
C
Unsignalized
F
13
Kühiö Hwy at
Ahukini Rd
Signalized
B
14
ÿAkahi St at
Ahukini Rd
ÿElua St at
Ahukini Rd
ÿUmi St at
Ahukini Rd
Palai St at
Ahukini Rd
Kapule Hwy
at
Ahukini Rd
Unsignalized
C
Unsignalized
C
Unsignalized
F
Unsignalized
D
Signalized
D
Kapule Hwy
at
Kaÿana St
Signalized
A
12
15
16
17
18
19
LOS
PM
Conclusions/Comments
D
Northbound left operates
at E during AM (39.3
seconds per vehicle), but
is acceptable for short
periods during peak
periods. All other
movements operate at D,
or better.
C, or better.
F
Northbound approach
operates at F during AM
and PM. All other
or better.
C Westbound left operates
at E during AM and F
during PM. All other
or better.
C, or better.
D
D, or better.
F
Northbound left operates
at F during AM and PM.
D
D, or better.
D
Eastbound left and
westbound left operate at
F and E during AM.
Eastbound left operates
at F during PM and
northbound thru and
southbound left operate
at E during PM. All
remaining movements
operate at D, or better.
A
D, or better.
From Table 4, “Existing (2004) Levels-of-Service” (Rowell, 2006).
3-59
Chapter
4.0
4.0 General Design
Guidelines for All Town
Core Neighborhoods
The following design guidelines apply to all project areas and provide
guidelines for a wide range of design elements and planning concepts.
They primarily cover the public areas within the Town Core such as street
networks, public transit, and public art and will require the participation
of both County and State agencies. However, there are several sections
that are applicable to privately-owned properties such as landscape
guidelines and sustainable design.
They also provide important
guidelines on designing the interface between the public and private
realms in order to create inviting, walkable environments as envisioned
for the Lïhuÿe Town Core.
The following guidelines should be reviewed and adhered to for any
project proposed within the Town Core.
For site-specific design
guidelines and allowable land uses, please also refer to the applicable
section for each neighborhood in Chapter 5.0. This chapter is organized
into the following sections:
4.1 Neighborhood Concept
4.2 Street Network & Circulation Plans
4.2.1 General Street Design Considerations
4.2.2 Walkable Streets and Pedestrian Zones
4.2.3 Street
4.2.6 Detailed Street Designs
4.3 Public Parking
4.4 Public Transit
4.5 Public Art
4.6 Landscape Guidelines
4.6.1 Design Considerations
4.6.2 Parking Lot Landscaping
4.6.3 Xeriscaping and Water-Efficient Design Considerations
4.6.4 Plant Materials
4.6.5 Street Trees and Accent Trees
4.6.6 Kaua‘i Natives and Plants Significant to Lïhu‘e and Kaua‘i
4.7 Sustainable or Green Design
4-1
4.1 Neighborhood Concept
KKÜÜH
HIIÖ
ÖH
HIIG
GH
HW
WA
AYY
N
NEEIIG
GH
HBBO
ORRH
HO
OO
OD
D
ÿÿA
AKKA
AH
HII//ÿÿEELLUUA
A
SSTTRREEEETTSS
LLÏÏH
HUUÿÿEE C
CIIV
VIIC
C
C
CEEN
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O
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HUUÿÿEE
M
MIILLLL SSIITTEE
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HO
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Figure 4-1: Design Guideline Neighborhoods
x
There are design guidelines for the five key neighborhoods in the
study area (Figure 4-1). The neighborhoods are:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
x
4-2
Rice Street Neighborhood
Kühiö Highway Neighborhood
ÿAkahi and ÿElua Streets
Lïhuÿe Civic Center
Old Lïhuÿe Mill Site
Each neighborhood has their own character based on different land
uses, streetscapes, and design themes.
General Design Guidelines for All Town Core Neighborhoods
x
Each neighborhood is designed to complement, not compete, each
other.
x
The detailed design guidelines for each of the neighborhoods are
provided in Section 5.0.
x
Overlay districts, called “Special Design Districts,” are created
where appropriate with specific design guidelines for future
development. These Special Design Districts allow existing zoning
to remain in place while clarifying allowable land uses and
development standards in order to preserve the character of the
neighborhood.
4-3
4.2Street Network & Circulation
Plans
Streets are multi-faceted corridors of the public realm. Not only do they
convey traffic, but they are social arenas where people walk, bike,
exercise, chat with neighbors, enter businesses, see and be seen. The
following recommendations for the Lïhuÿe street network attempt to
balance the need for improved vehicle, pedestrian and bicycle circulation
throughout Lïhuÿe Town and the desire to preserve and recapture the
integrity and charm of a historic community.
LLÏÏHHUUÿÿEE BBYYPPA
ASSSS RRO
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AD
D
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NEED
D
ATT RREEA
A
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I
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A
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AHUKINI ROAD AND
EEHHIIKKUU SSTTRREEEETT
W
NII RRO
OA
AD
D && KKA
APPUULLEE
WIID
DEEN
NA
AHHUUKKIIN
H
W
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S
HHIIG
F
O
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L
A
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WIITTHH
GHWAY TO FOUR LANES W
C
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NTTEERR M
MEED
DIIA
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GHHTT IIN
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GHHTT
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DD
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SSTTRREEEETT TTHHRRO
OUUG
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W
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AIILLA
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Figure 4-2: Proposed Street Network
Figure 4-2 diagrams the proposed street network for Lïhuÿe Town:
x
4-4
Red Arrows: Four lane roadways that serve island-wide traffic.
Ahukini Road and Kapule Highway are envisioned as divided
roadways with bike lanes and limited or no pedestrian activity.
Rice Street and Kühiö Highway are undivided roadways (with the
exception of Rice Street between Kühiö Highway and ÿUmi Street)
with high pedestrian activity within the Civic Center and reduced
pedestrian activity further away from the Civic Center.
x
Orange Arrows: Four lane roadways during peak traffic hours.
During non-peak traffic hours, they are reduced to two-lane
roadways and on-street parking is permitted on the outside lanes.
Pedestrian activity is moderate to high.
x
Yellow Arrows: Two lane roadways with a pedestrian and bikefriendly streetscape in the urban core.
x
Green Arrows: Two lane roadways. Most are local neighborhood
streets that provide important alternate routes for the main
collectors. Halekö Road merits further discussion (see below).
4.2.1 GENERAL STREET DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS
x
Pedestrian- and Bicycle-Friendly: Provide wide, ADA-accessible
sidewalks in high traffic pedestrian areas such as the Civic Center
and along commercial streets like Rice Street, Kühiö Highway and
the ÿEwalu and Kress/Kalena neighborhoods. Shelter pedestrians
from the elements by providing awnings on storefronts and plant
street trees where sidewalk widths permit.
x
Multi-modal:
Provide
opportunities
for
multi-modal
transportation. Design roadways to serve pedestrians, bicycles,
and public transit as well as private vehicles.
x
Connectivity: Provide convenient links between the various
neighborhoods within Lïhuÿe Town as well as key destinations in
the surrounding areas such as Kukui Grove Shopping Center, the
future Wailani (Lïhuÿe-Hanamäÿulu) development, Näwiliwili
Harbor and the new Police Station/Judiciary/Vidinha Stadium
complex.
x
Lïhuÿe Civic Center Master Plan: Coordinate street improvements
with the County’s Lïhuÿe Civic Center Master Plan. A copy of the
master plan as of January 2008 is provided in Figure 4-3
x
Underground Utilities: Relocate overhead utilities underground to
improve safety during high wind conditions. Priorities include
those located along Rice Street, Kühiö Highway, Hardy Street, ÿUmi
Street and within the Civic Center.
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4.2.2 WALKABLE STREETS AND PEDESTRIAN ZONES
Walkability is the cornerstone and key to an urban area's efficient ground
transportation. Every trip begins and ends with walking. Walking
remains the cheapest form of transport for all people, and the construction
of a walkable community provides the most affordable transportation
system any community can plan, design, construct and maintain.
Walkable communities put urban environments back on a scale for
sustainability of resources (both natural and economic) and lead to more
social interaction, physical fitness and diminished crime and other social
problems. Walkable communities are more livable communities and lead to
whole, happy, healthy lives for the people who live in them. (Walkable
Communities, Inc.)
Consider the organization of a typical street in section. There are four
basic zones within this section (moving from the outside edge of the rightof-way inward): the Building Interface Zone, the Pedestrian Passing Zone,
the Roadway Interface Zone, and the Vehicle Roadway (includes vehicle
travel lanes and crosswalks). A sidewalk typically includes the first three
of these zones and a street’s walkability is measured by the width and
treatment of these zones.
Figure 4-4: Street Section and Pedestrian Zones
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x
The Building Interface Zone is
the area closest to building façades
that serves as a transition between
the pedestrian travelway and the
commercial/residential activities
occurring within buildings along
the street. It extends at least a few
feet into the sidewalk and can
penetrate the building façade
depending upon the design and
use of the building edge. It is the
zone where activities such as
outdoor eating and window
shopping take place as well as
where sidewalk store displays are
set up.
x
The Pedestrian Passing Zone is
an area relatively clear of any
obstructions down the center of
the sidewalk which allows for the
most efficient movement of
pedestrians along the sidewalk.
Depending on its width and the
number of pedestrians, movement
through this zone can be
congested
x
The Roadway Interface Zone
serves as a transition zone
between the vehicular traffic in
the roadway and pedestrian
activity along the sidewalk. This
zone serves to help buffer
pedestrians from the vehicular
traffic and noise associated with
the roadway. Street furniture and
landscaping such as street trees,
seating areas, newspaper and
brochure
dispensers,
trash
receptacles, drinking fountains,
street lighting, street signs,
parking meters, bus stops, bicycle
racks and art work (depending on
its appropriateness and scale) are
typically placed within this zone.
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Stanford, CA
Manhattan Beach, CA
Alexandria, VA
x
STAMPED CONCRETE CROSSWALK
WITH EMBEDDED CROSSWALKLIGHTS
STREET FURNITURE
WITHIN A BULB-OUT
Except
for
crosswalks,
the
Roadways are primarily the realm
of vehicles.
Crosswalks are
considered an extension of the
pedestrian zone, providing a
marked
crossing
from
the
sidewalk to the opposite side of
the street. To improve safety,
crosswalks should be highly
visible using contrasting paving
materials, paints, or lighted
signals.
Curb bulb-outs are
encouraged at intersections and
crosswalks to shorten the distance
pedestrians must walk across
roadways.
4.2.3 STREETSCAPE DESIGN
Particularly within the Town Core, where
pedestrian activity is emphasized and
encouraged, elements that enliven the
streetscape such as benches, signage, and
other amenities should be provided.
x
Street furniture and amenities
should be placed at convenient
locations along the street. Street
furniture can include, but is not
limited to benches, bike racks,
trash receptacles, water fountains,
informational signage, kiosks,
lighting and landscaping.
x
Coordinate the design style of the
various street amenities to create
visual unity within Lïhuÿe Town.
x
Unique street amenities can be
designed to incorporate Hawaiian
motifs
and
other
historical
elements related to various time
periods in Lïhuÿe’s history. Create
a unique yet recognizable Lïhuÿe
Town plaque and/or graphics to
DIRECTORY WITHIN A BULB-OUT, BIKE RACK,
SEATWALLS, AND PATTERNED SIDEWALKS
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commemorate and celebrate the Town’s historic heritage. An
example might be Hawaiian quilt patterns in sidewalks and
crosswalks to set Lïhuÿe apart and make walking an experience.
x
Incorporate landmarks and historic sites into
a walking tour.
Provide interpretive
plaques, and wayfinding signs and markers
such as the King Kamehameha signs and
Boston’s Freedom Trail pavers.
x
Provide curb bulb-outs around on-street
parking stalls, particularly at street corners. Example plaque (Chicago, IL)
Bulb-outs
serve
multiple
purposes—
enlarging pedestrian waiting areas, narrowing crosswalk distances,
and providing places for street amenities and landscaping.
x
Provide locations for artwork by local artists along all major
roadways within the planning area (see Figure 4-29), but with
special focuses on Rice, Hardy, and ÿUmi Streets and Kühiö
Highway.
Example banners on street
lights (Pasadena, CA)
x
Within
the
Town
Core
and
surrounding the Civic Center, install
street lights with hardware for
hanging banners and event signage.
x
Provide seating opportunities in the
design of buildings and urban spaces
through the use of ledges, steps, and
seatwalls as well as space for
moveable
chairs
and
benches
particularly near eateries with
outdoor seating. Areas adjacent to
the sidewalks from the street provide
an appealing location for seating.
Example of seating incorporated into the building façade
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4.2.4 PEDESTRIAN CIRCULATION PLAN
PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENTS:
x ADA-accessible sidewalks
x Street trees
x Street amenities such as benches,
trash receptacles, and public art,
particularly along Rice Street and
within the Civic Center
x Storefronts and building façades
address the street and stimulate
pedestrian activity
x Crosswalks located in convenient
and safe locations
x Sidewalks with Lïhuÿe and Kauaÿibased designs, patterns, and colors
to add interest
x Historical, interpretive, wayfinding
(directional), Hawaiian-language
signage
WILCOX ELEM.
SCHOOL
CIVIC CENTER
LÏHUÿE
PARK
WAR
MEMORIAL
Figure 4-5: Pedestrian Circulation Plan
Figure 4-5 shows the proposed Pedestrian Circulation Plan for the Lïhuÿe
Town Core. Pedestrian improvements are recommended along the major
streets and include ADA-accessible sidewalks, street trees, continuous
storefronts and street amenities. Pedestrian pathways are also
recommended throughout the Civic Center Neighborhood to create a
campus-like environment. Additional crosswalks are shown across Rice
Street and Kühiö Highway to improve connectivity. Many intersections
already have traffic signals that will help pedestrians cross safely.
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4.2.5 BICYCLE CIRCULATION PLAN
BICYCLE IMPROVEMENTS:
x Bike lanes in Hardy, ÿUmi,
and Kaÿana Streets.
x Shared bike/pedestrian
paths between Wilcox
Elementary School and
Lïhuÿe Park.
x Bike routes along Rice
Street and Kühiö Highway.
Consider painting the right
lanes a different color or
marking them with shared
bicycle lane symbols to
heighten driver
awareness.
x Ten-foot road shoulders in
Ahukini Road and Kapule
Highway double as bike
lanes.
WILCOX ELEM.
SCHOOL
CIVIC CENTER
LÏHUÿE
PARK
WAR
MEMORIAL
Figure 4-6: Bicycle Circulation Plan
Figure 4-6 shows the proposed Bicycle Circulation Plan for the Town
Core. Striped bicycle lanes are proposed for ÿUmi, Hardy and Kaÿana
Streets. Shared bike/pedestrian paths will cut between Wilcox Elementary
School and Lïhuÿe Park. Rice Street and Kühiö Highway are designated as
bicycle routes (shared right lane, painted for driver awareness) since there
is insufficient space for a separate bike lane without acquiring additional
land from adjacent property owners and encroaching on buildings and
sidewalks. On Ahukini Road and Kapule Highway, bicycles will be able to
ride comfortably in the ten-foot wide shoulders.
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4.2.6 DETAILED STREET DESIGNS
4.2.6.1 Ahukini Road and Kapule Highway
These two roadways are the major entry points for Lïhuÿe Town and the
gateway to the airport. In order to maintain the vision of Kauaÿi as the
Garden Isle for residents and visitors alike, these roads are envisioned as
four-lane divided roadways with generous landscape buffers on either
side of the roadway and landscaped center medians. Because they are
primarily a high volume vehicle travelways with bicycle lanes, no
sidewalks are recommended; however, crosswalks should be provided at
every intersection that has traffic signals.
Figure 4-7: Proposed Street Section for Ahukini Road and Kapule Highway
Travel lanes: Four twelve-foot travel lanes, two in each direction. Tenfoot striped bike lanes/road shoulders are also provided within the
travelway (Figure 4-7). The center medians will narrow where left turn
queue lanes are required at intersection approaches If additional left-turn
queue lanes are needed, such as the approaches to Kühiö and Kapule
Highways, portions of the gateway landscaping could be narrowed or
removed since there is ample space within the 120-foot right-of-way. The
right-of-way on Kapule Highway varies and may not be wide enough to
accommodate a center median along certain stretches.
Landscape Buffers: The roadway design should maintain the landscape
buffers on the outside edges of the right-of-way to soften the view of the
adjacent buildings particularly near the airport. Additional landscaping
should be planted as needed to provide continuity. Since there are no
sidewalks planned for these roadways, the landscape buffers could be
designed as bioswales to assist drainage and filtration of road runoff. If
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the underlying soils have adequate drainage capacity, the shoulders could
be paved with permeable materials to improve percolation.
Utilities: The overhead utility lines should also be relocated underground
at the same time the roadways are widened to four lanes.
4.2.6.2 Rice Street
Rice Street is the heart and “main street” of Lïhuÿe Town. It is where the
island’s major parades and celebrations are held but it is also a major
collector road. There are two different street sections proposed for Rice
Street.
Figure 4-8: Upper Rice Street Section
Upper Rice Street: The design for the first section originates from the
Lïhuÿe Civic Center Master Plan and describes the stretch of Rice Street
between Kühiö Highway and ÿUmi Street (see Figure 4-3 and Figure 4-8).
Because there is sufficient right-of-way, the
section includes a small landscaped
median and four travel lanes—two in each
direction. There are wide sidewalks with
tree wells or planting strips (minimum
four feet wide) and overhead utility lines
are relocated underground. The traffic
study prepared for the Lïhuÿe Civic Center
Master Plan recommends installing a
traffic signal at the intersection of Rice and
Kele Streets to make the pedestrian
crossing safer and is illustrated to the left.
Figure 4-9: Rendering of Kele and Rice
Street Crosswalks
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Figure 4-10: Lower Rice Street Section
Lower Rice Street: For the remaining length of Rice Street between ÿUmi
Street and Kapule Highway, the road right-of-way width varies but is too
narrow to include a center median. The County previously acquired land
to widen Rice Street to four lanes so
there are sections where the sidewalk is
narrow and uncomfortable to walk. In
order to make the sidewalks safer for
pedestrians, the proposed roadway
section includes four-foot tree wells to
improve the health and growth of the
trees and to provide a wider buffer for
pedestrians from the travel lanes.
Overhead utility lines are relocated
underground. In addition, wider
sidewalks, a minimum 6 to 8 feet, are
recommended (Figure 4-10).
These
improvements would be required as
easements on the adjoining properties.
Awnings and canopies are also required
for buildings fronting Rice Street to
shelter pedestrians and to create a
pleasant walking environment.
Figure 4-11: Rendering of Lower Rice
Street
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