A LONG TALKED ABOUT ALA WAI PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE TO AND FROM WAIKIKI IN HONOLULU IS SET TO MOVE FORWARD AFTER THE CITY RECEIVED MILLIONS IN FEDERAL FUNDING.

DUDLEY ALA PONO BRIDGE, IT LOOKS TO PROVIDE SAFE ACCESS FOR PEDESTRIANS AND CYCLISTS TO CROSS THE CANAL, AS WELL AS AN ALTERNATIVE, EMERGENCY ROUTE OUT OF WAIKIKI.

HOW LONG WILL THIS PROJECT TAKE AND IS EVERYONE ONBOARD?

JOIN THE DISCUSSION NEXT ON INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAII.

∂∂ ∂∂ >> Lauren: ALOHA AND WELCOME TO INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAI'I...I'M LAUREN DAY.

WE OPEN TONIGHT'S SHOW WITH HEAVY HEARTS.

OUR THOUGHTS ARE WITH THE PEOPLE OF MAUI AND ALL THOSE WHO ARE EXPERIENCING LOSS AND HARDSHIP DUE TO THE DEVASTATING WILDFIRES THIS WEEK.

I THINK SPEAK FOR EVERYONE HERE IN THIS ROOM TONIGHT AND AT PBS HAWAII, BUT IT DOES MAKE IT A BIT CHALLENGING AND DIFFICULT TO THINK ABOUT SOMETHING OTHER THAN THE PEOPLE OF MAUI TONIGHT.

WE ARE HERE ON INSIGHTS TO TALK ABOUT THAT PROPOSED PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE OVER THE ALA WAI CANAL.

THE CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU IS SET TO MOVE FORWARD WITH PLANS TO BUILD A PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE CROSSING OVER THE ALA WAI CANAL CONNECTING THE MCCULLY/MO'ILI'ILI NEIGHBORHOOD TO WAIKIKI.

ACCORDING TO THE CITY, THE BRIDGEÖ TO BE CALLED ALA PONO ÖWILL CONNECT KEY NEIGHBORHOODS AND ENHANCE PUBLIC SAFETY FOR ROUGHLY 3-THOUSAND PEDESTRIANS AND CYCLISTS EVERY DAY.

IT'S ALSO DESIGNED TO PROVIDE AN EMERGENCY EVACUATION ROUTE FROM WAIKIKI FOR ABOUT 20,000 PEOPLE.

WITH 25 MILLION DOLLARS OF FEDERAL MONEY SECURED, CONSTRUCTION IS NOW SET TO BEGIN ON ALA PONO IN 2025.

THE TOTAL ESTIMATED COST OF THIS PROJECT IS MORE THAN 60 MILLION DOLLARS.

WHAT ARE THE PROS AND CONS OF THE BRIDGE?

AND WHERE IS THE REST OF THE MONEY COMING FROM?

WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR PARTICIPATION IN TONIGHT'S SHOW.

YOU CAN EMAIL OR CALL IN YOUR QUESTIONS.

AND YOU'LL FIND A LIVE STREAM OF THIS PROGRAM AT PBSHAWAII.ORG AND THE PBS HAWAII FACEBOOK PAGE.

NOW, TO OUR GUESTS IN STUDIO.

JON NOUCHI IS THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF TRANSPORTATION SERVICES FOR THE CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU.

HE PREVIOUSLY SERVED AS THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENT FOR THE HONOLULU AUTHORITY FOR RAPID TRANSPORTATION (HART) AND THE DIRECTOR OF PLANNING AND SERVICE DEVELOPMENT FOR O'AHU TRANSIT SERVICES.

LAURA RUBY JOINING US VIA ZOOM IS A LONG-TIME MO'ILI'ILI COMMUNITY ADVOCATE, ACTIVIST, AND HISTORIAN.

SHE COORDINATED AND EDITED THE BOOK, MO'ILI'ILI -- THE LIFE OF A COMMUNITY.

SHE ALSO TAUGHT A SEMINAR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAI'I AT MANOA ABOUT MO'ILI'ILI WHERE STUDENTS WALKED, INTERVIEWED RESIDENTS AND COMPILED HISTORICAL DATA.

JEFFREY MERZ HAS SERVED ON THE WAIKIKI NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD FOR THE LAST 18 YEARS.

HE IS ORIGINALLY FROM ST. LOUIS AND HAS A BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN URBAN AND REGIONAL PLANNING FROM MISSOURI STATE UNIVERSITY.

HE HAS LIVED IN WAIKIKI FOR THE LAST 22 YEARS AND CURRENTLY WORKS FOR A HAWAI'I-BASED ARCHITECTUAL, ENGINEERING, PLANNING FIRM.

DAVE BARBER GREW UP IN A SMALL TOWN IN IOWA AND IS A VIETNAM WAR COMBAT VETERAN.

HE MOVED TO HAWAI'I NEARLY 40 YEARS AGO AND HAS LIVED IN MO'ILI'ILI FOR THE LAST 30 YEARS.

HE HAS SERVED ON THE MCCULLY - MO'ILI'ILI NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD SINCE 2018.

THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU BEING IN STUDIO AND LAURA JOINING US VIRTUALLY VIA ZOOM THIS EVENING.

JON, I WANT TO START WITH YOU.

CAN YOU BRING US UP TO SPEED, WHERE ARE WE ON THIS PROJECT?

>> RIGHT NOW WE ARE CONCLUDING OUR WORK ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROCESS.

AS A FEDERALIZED PROJECT, WE DO HAVE MANY STEPS WE NEED TO GO THROUGH TO MAKE SURE WE MEASURE ITS IMPACTS, AND PROPOSED MITIGATIONS FOR THINGS THE PROBLEM MIGHT HAVE AN EFFECT UPON.

SO I DO WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR.

WHEN -- IN ALL THE HEADERS AND LEAD-IN, THE CITY SAYS WE'RE MOVING FORWARD ON.

WE'RE STILL WORKING THROUGH THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROCESS.

AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE CONSIDER COMMUNITY INPUT AND ALL THE USERS THAT ABUT THE PARK THAT OUR NEIGHBORS, COMMUNITY, PEOPLE THAT WE CAN -- AND TAKE IN EVERYONE'S INPUT ON THIS VERY VALUABLE PROJECT.

>> Lauren: WHERE ARE WE NOW?

IS CONSTRUCTION SET TO BEGIN ANY TIME SOON?

TELL US ABOUT THAT.

>> WE -- I SUPPOSE WE ARE -- LIKE I SAID, WE DON'T WANT TO PREDETERMINE ANYTHING.

WE NEED TO FINISH UP OUR ENVIRONMENTAL PROCESS.

I WILL SAY WE DO HAVE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF FEDERAL DOLLARS.

FEDERAL FUNDING AVAILABLE, SUCH THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT PAYING ABOUT 20% WITH LOCAL FUNDS OF A $63 MILLION PROJECT.

WITH AN 80% FEDERAL SHARE.

SO WE HAVE SECURED $25 MILLION IN TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVE PROGRAMS MONEY.

WE MOST RECENTLY WON AN INFRASTRUCTURE GRANT TO THE TUNE OF $25 MILLION.

>> Lauren: WHERE EXACTLY WILL THIS BRIDGE GO?

>> THIS BRIDGE WILL LINK THE END OF UNIVERSITY AVENUE IN MO'ILI'ILI TO KALAIMOKU STREET IN WAIKIKI.

IT WILL BE A DIRECT CROSSING, CROSSING THE CANAL AT THAT POINT.

IT'S ABOUT A 250-FOOT CROSSING OF THE ALA WAI CANAL.

>> Lauren: I WANT TO BRING IN OUR OTHER GUESTS.

JEFFREY, I'LL START WITH YOU.

TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS BRIDGE.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT IT?

MAYBE WHAT DON'T YOU LIKE ABOUT IT?

>> FIRST, I'LL SPEAK HOW THE BOARD HAS BEEN INVOLVED, WAIKIKI NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD.

WE'VE BEEN INVOLVED FROM THE GET-GO WITH THE PUBLIC OUTREACH.

THE CITY HAS DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB.

THIS HAS BEEN YEARS IN THE MAKING.

WE'VE SUPPORTED THIS BRIDGE.

WE SUPPORT INITIALLY THE CONCEPT OF IT.

IT'S PRACTICAL.

IT'S HELPED ONE ACCESS WAIKIKI AND MO'ILI'ILI WITHOUT HAVING TO GET IN THEIR CAR, WHICH IS A GOAL OF WAIKIKI.

AND IT ALSO PROVIDES, AS ALREADY BEEN STATED, EMERGENCY EXIT FOR FOLKS GETTING OUT OF -- WE'VE SEEN WHEN NATURAL DISASTERS CAN DO MOST RECENTLY, AND HAVING INFRASTRUCTURE THAT LETS ONE GET OUT OF NEIGHBORHOODS AND GET TO SAFETY IS VERY IMPORTANT.

WE'VE SUPPORTED IT ALL ALONG, AND COMMENTED ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENTS, AS JON SAID.

PERSONALLY, I SUPPORT IT.

I'M A BIKE RIDER.

I WALK, AND THAT'S WHAT A MAJORITY OF FOLKS IN WAIKIKI DO.

>> Lauren: JEFFREY, YOU REPRESENT WAIKIKI, OBVIOUSLY.

DAVE, YOU LIVE IN THE McCULLY-MO'ILI'ILI AREA.

WHERE DO YOU STAND ON THIS BRIDGE?

>> I'M A MEMBER OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD, McCULLY-MO'ILI'ILI NUMBER 8.

WE HAVE PASSED RESOLUTIONS AGAINST THE BRIDGE, THE DESIGN OF THE BRIDGE.

WE HAD A LOT OF MEMBERS THAT DIDN'T WANT THE BRIDGE.

THEY SETTLED BACK.

WE DON'T MIND IF THERE'S A BRIDGE BUT COMPLETELY AGAINST THE DESIGN.

WE THINK IT'S WAY TOO BIG.

OUT OF PLACE LOOKING.

TOO EXPENSIVE.

EVEN IF MONEY IS COMING FROM FEDERAL, IT'S STILL TAXPAYER MONEY.

AND OUR SHARE WOULD BE, I GUESS HE SAID ROUGHLY $12 MILLION.

WE THINK THAT A LOT BETTER USE COULD BE MADE OF THAT MONEY, ESPECIALLY WITH MONEY, ESPECIALLY THE HOUSELESS SITUATION WE HAVE HERE.

AIR CONDITIONING FOR CHILDREN IN SCHOOLS, THINGS LIKE THAT WOULD BE MONEY MORE WELL SPENT.

WE DON'T REALLY SEE THE NECESSITY OF THE BRIDGE.

IF WE DO HAVE A BRIDGE, WE'D MUCH RATHER SEE A MORE SIMPLISTIC DESIGN.

LESS EXPENSIVE AND GET THE JOB DONE.

WE TOTALLY FEEL THAT 160, 180-FOOT TOWER IS OUT OF PLACE FOR THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.

>> DAVE, I UNDERSTAND YOU SUBMITTED A PHOTO.

YOU'RE FROM IOWA.

I BELIEVE WE HAVE THIS PHOTO WE CAN HOPEFULLY PULL UP ON THE SCREEN.

A SIMPLE DESIGN OF A BRIDGE IN IOWA.

CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHY YOU SUBMITTED THAT PHOTO TO US?

>> WELL, BECAUSE IT CROSSES IOWA RIVER AND THE DISTANCE IS ABOUT THE SAME.

ROUGHLY 250 FEET.

I COULDN'T REALLY FIND EXACT MEASUREMENTS.

TO THE EYEBALL, IT LOOKS SIMILAR.

IT'S LOW, DOES THE PURPOSE.

GETS PEDESTRIANS AND BICYCLISTS ACROSS.

IT DOESN'T OBSTRUCT THE VIEW PLAINS AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT.

I THINK IT WOULD BE MUCH BETTER TO HAVE A BRIDGE LIKE THAT COMPARED TO THE MONSTROSITY BEING PLANNED.

>> Lauren: LAURA, I'LL BRING YOU IN, IN A SECOND.

JON, SPEAK TO THE DESIGN OF THE BRIDGE CURRENTLY, AND WHY IT WAS DESIGNED THAT WAY.

>> YOU KNOW, WHEN WE LOOK AT ANY PROJECT, WE REALLY WANT TO LOOK AT ALL THE GENERAL USES THAT WE WILL EFFECT AT THE SITE.

AND FROM THE START, WE WERE VERY AWARE THAT THE ALA WAI CANAL IS A VERY VALUED RECREATIONAL WATERWAY FOR A VERY NATIVE HAWAIIAN SPORT OF CANOE PADDLING.

EVERY DAY YOU'LL SEE PEOPLE LAUNCH THEIR WAA'S INTO THE ALA WAI.

AND I HAVE PERSONAL EXPERIENCE OF PADDLING IN THE ALA WAI.

AND JUST KNOWING WHEN WE HAVE KING TIDES OR REGULAR TIDES, THE WATER LEVEL DOES RISE AND EBB AND FLOW.

WHEN YOU GET TO THE McCULLY BRIDGE, SOMETIMES YOU ALMOST CAN'T GET UNDERNEATH IT BECAUSE OF THE WATER LEVEL.

WE WANTED TO REALLY RESPECT THE CANAL AS IT RECREATIONAL WATERWAY, AND SO TO DO THAT, WE DID NOT WANT TO PUT ANY MORE PIERS INTO THE WATER THAT ARE OBSTACLES, EVEN FOR REGULAR FLOW AND DRAINAGE OF THE CANAL.

WE WANTED TO CLEAR SPAN THE CANAL IN ONE TRY.

AND MAKE THE CONSTRUCTION NOT ONLY TIMELY AND TOPICAL FOR NOW, BUT ADDRESS FUTURE RESILIENCE OF SEA LEVEL RISE AND OTHER PROJECTS THAT ARE ONGOING AT THE ALA WAI SITE.

>> Lauren: LAURA, I'LL BRING YOU IN NOW.

I SAW YOU SORT OF NODDING AS DAVE WAS SPEAKING ABOUT HIS CONCERNS ABOUT THE DESIGN OF THE BRIDGE.

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT IT?

>> ORIGINALLY, IN 2007, I DID A RESOLUTION TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD WHICH WAS AGAINST ANY BRIDGE OVER THE CANAL.

WE HAVE, AT MORE RECENT TIMES, WE HAVE OVER 600 PETITION SIGNERS THAT ARE AGAINST THE BRIDGE.

HOWEVER, WE REALIZE THAT THE CITY AND COUNTY ARE PROBABLY, THEY'RE COMMITTED TO DOING THIS BRIDGE.

DAVE AND I HAVE BEEN TALKING THIS OVER.

WE ARE GOING TO MEET HALFWAY.

A MODEST, LOW COST, SMALL, NARROW BRIDGE THAT OBVIOUSLY HAS CLEARANCE FOR THE CANOE PADDLERS BUT NOT VERY MUCH CLEARANCE.

I THINK DIRECTOR ROGER MORTON MISSPOKE WHEN HE SAID IT HAD TO BE 14 FEET HIGH ABOVE THE CANAL.

MOST TIMES IT'S BEEN SAID 12.5 FEET ABOVE THE CANAL.

MY FEELING, AND I'LL USE THIS EXAMPLE THAT I USED BEFORE, IT'S AS IF ANDRE THE GIANT WAS STANDING UP IN THE CANOE AND STILL BE CLEARANCE.

WAY TOO HIGH, WAY TOO BIG.

IT DOES NOT NEED TO HAVE ANY PARTICULAR TOWER WITH STAY CABLES, AND WHAT IS ABSOLUTELY PROHIBITIVE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE CANAL ARE HUGE CONCRETE BUTTRESSES THAT ARE PUT INTO NECESSITATE THIS TOWER THAT DOESN'T NEED TO BE.

THE IOWA BRIDGE, AND WE ALSO HAD A BRIDGE IN BANF.

ALBERTA, CANADA, SIMILARLY DONE.

A WIDER SPAN THAT DID NOT HAVE ANY PIERS OR POST IN THE MIDDLE BUT JUST AT THE EDGES.

IT WOULD PROTECT THE HISTORICAL NATURE OF THE CANAL, THE PROMENADE.

AND THE PARK, THE SCHOOL, AND THE HISTORIC CANOE ARE ALL HISTORICAL AND SHOULD NOT BE INTERFERED WITH.

THERE'S MANY THINGS THAT -- THE EIS HAS TO GO THROUGH.

AND I CAN ELABORATE.

WE HAVE THE KOLEAS THAT COME EVERY YEAR.

I LIVE ON THE NINTH FLOOR.

AND I CAN HEAR THEM ECHO LOCATING ALONG THE CANAL.

IT'S A WONDERFUL FEELING.

YOU KNOW THEY'RE COMING TO THEIR FAVORITE FIELDS AND STAYING THERE.

THIS IS THE 1918 MIGRATORY BIRD TREATY ACT PROHIBITS THINGS LIKE INTERFERENCES, AND THE TOWER, STAY CABLES, THE BUTTRESSES AND SUPPOSEDLY SOME LIGHTING WILL UNNECESSARILY CONFUSE AND HARM THE BIRDS.

I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.

AS FOR THE TREES, THE WHITE TERN NESTS IN THE TREE.

THEY DO NOT MAKE REGULAR NESTS.

THEY PUT THEIR EGGS ON THE BRANCHES.

THEY WILL BE DISTURBED.

THE CANOPY IN THAT LOCATION HAS FINALLY GROWN UP.

I'VE BEEN IN THE SAME NEIGHBORHOOD FOR 43 YEARS AND WATCHED THE CANAL AND ALL IT'S MANY CHANGE.

TREES ARE HAVE GROWN FROM TWIGS.

MANY OF THEM.

IT'S A FULL CANOPY THAT'S THERE.

AND THE PLANTS THAT ARE DRAWN UP SPACE OUT THE TREES.

THAT TAKES AWAY FROM THE GREENERY OF THE PLACE.

THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER THINGS.

MAINLY, I THINK THE NAME SHOULD NOT EVER BE USED AGAIN.

I DON'T EVEN WANT TO SAY IT, BUT THE REASON WHY PONO IS A SPECIAL WORD.

YOU WOULD NOT USE PONO CONDOMINIUM.

YOU WOULD NOT USE PONO PARK OR ANY OF THE OTHER THINGS.

THAT IS ONE OF MY FEELINGS THAT IT NEEDS TO HAVE ANOTHER NAME THAT IS NOT DENIGRATING OF THE HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE.

IF YOU HAD HAWAIIAN PRACTITIONERS TALK ABOUT THIS, I CANNOT IMAGINE THAT THEY WOULD EVER WANT THE WORD USED.

>> Lauren: LAURA -- >> CAN I GO ON?

>> Lauren: WE'LL COME BACK TO YOU.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE SPREADING TIME EVENLY.

JON AND JEFFREY WANT TO COMMENT ON SOME THINGS THAT YOU DID TALK ABOUT.

JON OR JEFFREY?

>> I ACTUALLY WANT TO SPEAK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE NAME.

LAURA, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS AT THE TOWN HALL MEETING.

YOU'VE PROVIDED US A DECENT AMOUNT OF E-MAIL DISCUSSING THIS WITH US.

AND I DON'T AT ALL WANT TO WEAPONIZE HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE, BUT I HAVE STUDIED HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE.

I THINK WE LAND ON CERTAIN WORDS, I FEEL THAT SOMETIMES WE LAY OLELO BINGO WITH WHERE WE USE KEIKI, KUPUNA, KULEANA, PONO, AND I DON'T WANT TO WALK AWAY FROM THE FACT THAT WE WERE VERY THOUGHTFUL IN CHOOSING THE WORD PONO.

IF YOU ASK THE AVERAGE PERSON WHERE THEY USE PONO, THEY THINK OF THE STATE MOTTO, UA MAU KE EA O KA AINA I KA PONO.

PONO IS RIGHTEOUSNESS.

BUT PONO IS SUCH A NUANCED WORD THAT IT HAS OTHER MEANINGS THAT WE FELT VERY MUCH APPLIED.

PONO CAN MEAN CORRECT.

PONO CAN MEAN TO HAVE A BENEFIT.

PONO CAN MEAN A VERY STRONG WORD THAT I THINK OUR DEPARTMENT IS VERY WELL FOCUSED ON, WHICH IS EQUITY.

SO IF WE LOOK AT IT THROUGH THAT LENS, WE CAN LOOK AT PONO AS EQUITY OR MORALITY OR HAVING SOME BENEFIT OR THINGS THAT IMPERATIVELY WE SHOULD BE TAKING ON.

FROM A MISSION OF THE CITY, WE'RE LOOKING AT TRANSPORTATION EQUITY.

THAT IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE DID CHOOSE THAT.

PONO ALSO HAS TALKS OF A USE, PURPOSES OR TO PLAN, AND I THINK WITH THIS BRIDGE, WE ARE HARNESSING -- MAYBE WE HAVEN'T PLANNED ENOUGH, AND WE'VE LET OUR INFRASTRUCTURE GROW.

THE TALL BUILDINGS, THE DEVELOPMENT OF WAIKIKI AND MO'ILI'ILI AND BOTH SIDES OF ALA WAI TO A POINT WHERE MAYBE WE SHOULD HAVE PLANNED MORE INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE BEGINNING.

NOW WE'RE STUCK WITH THE MOBILITY THAT WE HAVE.

MAYBE I'LL LEAVE HERE.

LIKE I SAID, I DON'T WANT TO WEAPONIZE HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE, BUT A LITTLE KNOWN MANAO OF PONO IS HOPE.

SO WE HOPE FOR A DIFFERENT OUTCOME THAT PEOPLE CAN GET ACROSS THE ALA WAI WITH BY OTHER MEANS THAN JOUSTING OR JIVING WITH CARS.

IT KIND OF BRINGS TO MIND THERE'S A HAWAIIAN PROVERB THAT'S MY PONO HANA, WHICH MEANS DON'T WORK CARELESSLY, BUT LET'S PROCEED WITH CARE.

I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO.

WE'RE IN OUR PHASE IN OUR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.

>> Lauren: JEFFREY, YOU HAD SOME THINGS YOU WANT TO THE SAY?

>> YEAH.

WE SAW THE PICTURE FROM IOWA.

WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, WE'RE NOT IN IOWA.

I PERSONALLY DON'T WANT THAT BRIDGE.

I DON'T WANT SOMETHING EXTRACTED FROM IOWA, NOR FROM BANF, LAURA.

SO I THINK WHAT THE CITY'S DONE WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY IS MADE SOMETHING, A DESIGN THAT'S THOUGHTFUL.

ALSO THE BRIDGE IN IOWA, WHERE I SEE BY CORNFIELDS OR SOYBEANS, WHAT OUR BRIDGE IS GOING TO BE IS VERY VERTICAL.

THE MOST VERTICAL NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE STATE.

YOU DON'T WANT SOMETHING THAT BLENDS IN.

LIKE DANIEL BURNHAM, THE GREAT PLANNER SAID, BUILD TO -- AND SOULS.

WE HAVE THAT ABILITY TO CREATE A TIMELESS FEATURE, NOT JUST A UTILITARIAN BRIDGE CROSSING THE ALA WAI.

WE NEED TO FOCUS ON THAT.

THIS IS AN ABILITY TO DO THAT SOMETHING THAT, YEAH, COSTS A LITTLE MORE.

IT ALSO ELEVATED YOUR SOUL FOR THE PEDESTRIANS AND FOR BICYCLISTS AND PEOPLE FOR ALL ACCESS.

SURE, WE CAN USE A UTILITARIAN McCULLY BRIDGE, BUT LET'S ELEVATE THIS DISCUSSION AND DO IT RIGHT THIS TIME AND MAKE IT TIMELESS FOR THE NEXT GENERATION.

>> DAVE, CAN YOU SPEAK TO THE CONCERNS THAT YOUR COMMUNITY HAS ABOUT THE BRIDGE?

YOU KIND OF TALKED ABOUT THE DESIGN EARLIER.

>> MOSTLY THAT IT LOOKS OUT OF PLACE FOR THAT LOCATION.

IT STICKS OUT LIKE A SORE THUMB.

IT JUST DOESN'T SEEM RIGHT, AND THE REASON THEY WANT TO MAKE THE BRIDGE IN THE FIRST PART, IT THOUGHT, WAS THE UTILITARIAN ASPECT IT.

BUT IT WOULD LIKE NICE IN OTHER LOCATIONS.

MAYBE IN BOSTON.

THEY HAVE SOME CABLE BRIDGES AND STUFF LIKE THAT AND YOU MIGHT PUT THIS IN THAT AREA.

IN HAWAI'I, IN THAT PLACE THERE, TO ME IT LOOKS TOTALLY OUT OF PLACE.

>> Lauren: ARE THERE OTHER CONCERNS THAT YOUR COMMUNITY HAS, APART FROM THE DESIGN?

>> IT'S EXPENSE OF IT.

NOT ONLY DID OUR NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD HAVE A RESOLUTION AGAINST IT, NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD NUMBER 5, DIAMOND HEAD-KAPAHULU AND ST. LOUIS, THEY ALSO PASSED A RESOLUTION AGAINST IT.

BOTH BOARDS IN THAT ARE AGAINST THE DESIGN.

>> Lauren: LAURA, YOU HAD YOUR HAND UP.

YOU WANTED TO ADD SOME THINGS?

>> THERE'S NO REASON WHY IT COULDN'T HAVE BEEN CALLED KALAIMOKU BRIDGE.

ALL THREE OF THE BRIDGES THEY CROSS ARE ALL NAMED AFTER THE STREETS THEY'RE CONNECTED WITH, AND THAT WOULD NOT OFFEND ANYBODY AND IT WOULD NOT PUT A TRAPPING SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE A SIMPLE, MODEST, NARROW FOOT BRIDGE.

TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF EVACUATION, WE ALL KNOW YOU MUST THAT SEQUESTER THE FOURTH FLOOR AND ABOVE.

ESPECIALLY IN HOTEL AREAS.

YOU DON'T WANT PEOPLE RUNNING AROUND LIKE WHAT HAPPENED AT U.H.

A FEW YEARS BACK WHERE STUDENTS DIDN'T KNOW WHERE TO GO WHEN THEY WERE RUNNING ALL AROUND.

WE DO NOT WANT THAT THING TO HAPPEN.

GOOD PLACARDS IN THE HOTEL ROOMS WILL TELL PEOPLE TO SEQUESTER IN PLACE.

FURTHERMORE, GOING ACROSS THE CANAL ON THE MAUKA SIDE.

THE MAUKA SIDE IS LOWER THAN THE PRIMARY DUNE, WHICH IS WAIKIKI.

WHERE WOULD THEY BE RUNNING TO?

A SPACE THAT IS MORE OR LESS WITHOUT ANY RESOURCES AT ALL.

FURTHER, I'D LIKE TO ASK JEFF, DID YOU SURVEY PEOPLE IN KALAIMOKU STREET?

ON EITHER SIDE OF THE BRIDGE ARE BOTH RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITIES.

IF YOU'VE SURVEYED THEM, IF WE HAD 600 PEOPLE ON OUR SIDE AND DIDN'T GET ALL THE SIGNERS WE COULD HAVE, DID YOU SURVEY ALL THE PEOPLE UP AND DOWN KALAIMOKU STREET AND FIND OUT WHAT PERCENTAGE THAT ACTUALLY WANTED, 1500 PEOPLE TO 4,000 PEOPLE GOING TO CROSS THERE?

STRANGERS GOING ACROSS THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD.

>> THEY SHOULD HAVE COME TO THE WAIKIKI BOARD MEETINGS.

I'M NOT GOING TO GO DOOR TO DOOR AND SURVEY PEOPLE.

IT'S NOT A POPULARITY CONTEST.

THEY NEED TO SHOW UP AT THE NEIGHBORHOOD BOARDS AND COMMENT ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENT.

THAT'S HOW THE PROCESS IS DONE.

SO NO, LAURA, I DID NOT GO DOWN STREETS AND INTERVIEWING.

>> YOU HAVEN'T CONTACTED THEM.

PEOPLE DON'T NORMALLY COME TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD BOARDS.

THERE ARE VERY SMALL POPULATIONS THAT USUALLY GO TO NEIGHBORHOOD BOARDS.

I SAID TO THE MAYOR AT THE TOWN HALL MEETING, AND, JON, YOU WERE THERE, AND I SAID THAT MANY, MANY PLANS HAVE GONE TO THE ARCHIVES IN THE FASI BUILDING AND PARKING BASEMENT THAT HAVE NEVER BEEN DEVELOPED.

FOR EXAMPLE, YOU KNOW THE BRIDGE TOWERS WERE NEVER DONE.

THE SUPER FERRY NEVER DONE.

AND WAY BACK IN THE '30s OR '20s EVEN, MAUKA ROADWAY ON THE MAUKA SIDE OF THE ALA WAI CANAL PLANED FOR BUT NEVER BUILT.

THAT'S WHY THE SPACE IS OPENED FOR SUCH A LONG TIME.

SO THESE PLANS ARE SITTING THERE IN THE BASEMENT ARCHIVES.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH WITH THIS PARTICULAR PLAN.

A MODEST FOOT BRIDGE WOULD BE AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE.

WE'VE COME HALFWAY TO THINK THAT THAT'S WHAT THE CITY AND COUNTY IS FIXED ON THAT, AND A MODEST BRIDGE WILL BE JUST A WONDERFUL THING.

I DO HAVE A ROUGH DRAWING OF WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE IF YOU WERE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CANAL, THE MAKAI SIDE.

AND YOU MIGHT WANT TO PUT IT ON THE SCREEN AND SHOW HOW MUCH CONCRETE BUTTRESS IS GOING TO BLOCK YOUR VIEW AS YOU DRIVE DOWN ALA WAI BOULEVARD, WHEN YOU'RE WALKING ALONG ALA WAI BOULEVARD.

IT'S HUGE.

THERE HAS TO BE 150 FEET OF ADA COMPLIANCE ON THAT SIDE THAT'S A ZIGZAG TRAIL.

ON THE MAUKA SIDE, ANOTHER 150 FEET THAT GOES TO MY DOORWAY PRACTICALLY.

>> Lauren: LAURA -- >> THIS IS BISECTING THE ENTIRE PARK.

HEAVILY USED BY THE ESPECIALLY PADDERS.

PADDLERS HAVE REGATTAS AND THEY BRING THEIR TRAILERS WITH THEIR CANOES.

THE PARK IS JUST CRAMPED WITH PEOPLE VERY ANXIOUS TO TAKE PART IN THE PADDLING EXERCISES.

>> Lauren: LAURA, YOUR CONCERN ABOUT THE DESIGN IS A GOOD SEGUE.

I WANT TO BRING IN A VIEWER QUESTION FOR JON HERE.

THIS IS FROM DALE, WHO WROTE IN VIA EMAIL.

HE'S ASKING, WHY DO WE NEED SUCH A GRAND SUSPENSION BRIDGE STRUCTURE?

DOESN'T THIS UNNECESSARILY INCREASE THE COST AND SIGHT LINES OF THE BRIDGE?

CAN YOU SPEAK TO THE DESIGN?

>> THIS IS WHAT'S CALLED A CABLE STAY BRIDGE.

AGAIN, WE REALLY WANTED TO RESPECT THE RECREATIONAL WATERWAY AND NOT PUT ANY MORE PIERS IN THE WATER.

WE WANTED TO MAKE IT SUSTAINABLE FOR THE FUTURE FOR WHATEVER THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS MIGHT DESIGNED.

IT HAD TO BE COMPATIBLE.

TO THAT END, THE CLEAR SPAN WAS THE EARLY DEFINING GOALS OF THIS PROJECT.

AND THAT IS ONE WAY TO ACHIEVE THIS.

WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ACHIEVE A CLEAR SPAN WITHOUT THIS TYPE OF DESIGN.

AND I REALLY LIKE THE FACT THAT WE HAVE ENGAGED HERE.

WE CAN SIT ACROSS THE TABLE FROM EACH OTHER AND TALK ABOUT THIS.

AS WE'RE TALKING AS A COMMUNITY, I WAS PREPARED TO COME HERE TODAY AND FEEL THAT PEOPLE WERE AGAINST THE CONCEPT OF A BRIDGE.

I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THIS A LONG TIME.

WE REVIEWED PLANS BACK TO 1950, WHEN EIGHT POTENTIAL BRIDGES WERE PROPOSED ALONG THE ALA WAI.

I'M CURIOUS, LAURA.

IF I MIGHT ASK, WHAT WOULD YOU CONSIDER TO BE A MODEST BRIDGE?

>> A BRIDGE THAT COULD CARRY FOOT TRAFFIC AND BICYCLE TRAFFIC.

ONE THAT WOULD BE RESTRICTED FROM MOPEDS AND OTHER ELECTRIC BIKES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

THAT'S GOING TO BE A SECURITY PROBLEM.

THERE'S A WHOLE SLEW OF THINGS THAT HAVE TO DO WITH POLICE AND SECURITY ENFORCEMENT.

COMFORT STATION IMPROVEMENT.

ALL OF THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.

THOSE HAVE TO BE FIGURED OUT.

IF IT WAS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE STAGE, I WAS AT THE FIRST MEETING AND IT WAS ACCOMPLISHED.

WE COULDN'T EVEN DECIDE WHAT WE WANTED AS A COMMUNITY.

THIS WAS VERY CONCERNING TO US.

NOW, THE CONCRETE BUTTRESSES ARE JUST GOING TO BE HUGE.

IF YOU WOULD SHOW THE MODEL THAT IS BEING SHOWN BY ROGER MORTON AND ALL, AND I TOLD MY STUDENTS AT U.H., BECAUSE I'VE TAUGHT LARGE PUBLIC SCULPTURES TO MY STUDENTS AT U.H.

I TOLD THEM THAT ANY MODEL YOU MAKE, HOLD IT UP TO EYE LEVEL.

SO IT IS THE EYE LEVER YOU ARE SEEING IT AT.

IN THIS CASE SIX FEET, AND YOU WILL SEE THAT IT'S DWARF THE HUMAN SCALE.

THE HUMAN SCALE WILL BE DEVALUED, AND IT IS JUST A CONTRARY TO THE WAY HUMANS LIKE TO FEEL IN THEIR SPACES.

AND -- >> Lauren: LAURA -- >> IT'S GOING TO BE TALLER THAN MY NINTH FLOOR APARTMENT.

>> AGAIN, A MODEST -- WHAT WOULD THE WIDTH OF THAT BE?

BECAUSE WE ANTICIPATE DEMAND FOR THIS TO BE QUITE HIGH.

WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT TRANSPORTATION EQUITY, WE HAVE ALL KINDS OF -- TRANSPORTATION, IN TERMS OF ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION.

AND EBIKES, WHETHER YOU LIKE THEM OR NOT, WE HAVE THESE OTHER KINDS OF DEVICES.

WE HAVE SCOOTERS, ONE WHEELS, ELECTRIC SKATEBOARDS.

WE HAVE SKATEBOARDS.

WE WOULD LIKE TO BE AGNOSTIC AS TO HOW PEOPLE GET AROUND.

WHAT MODE THEY CHOOSE FOR THEMSELVES.

AND WE'RE ALREADY CONTENDING WITH SIDEWALKS.

AND EVEN IF WE BUILT THE WIDEST OF SIDEWALKS, WE DON'T WANT TO ENCOURAGE CONFLICT BETWEEN, SAY, KEIKI AND KUPUNA AND ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION.

AND WE'RE ALREADY HEARING THAT WITH MIXING OF MODES.

EVEN IN DESIGNATED AREA WE HAVE.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE ENOUGH SPACE TO ACCOMMODATE THE DEMAND.

WHAT IS MODEST?

>> YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH THE -- BRIDGE THEY BUILT.

FOR BIKE AND PEDESTRIAN PATH.

YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH IT?

IT SERVES EVERY PURPOSE.

ANYBODY THAT WANTS TO GO ON A WHEELCHAIR OR ELECTRIC BIKE OR BICYCLE OR WALK.

ALL FREE TO GO BACK AND FORTH.

I DON'T KNOW, IT'S NOT EVEN 20 FEET WIDE.

I'M NOT SURE.

YOU WOULD HAVE TO DO THE MEASUREMENTS.

VERY SIMPLE BRIDGE.

THAT IS THE CONTINUATION OF OUR BIKE AND PEDESTRIAN PATHWAY THROUGH THE WHOLE PARK.

AND IT RANGES THAT WAY, AND THERE'S NOTHING MORE THAT'S NEEDED EXCEPT THE RAILINGS WILL PROBABLY HAVE TO BE A LITTLE MORE HIGHER AND A NICE DESIGN CABLE.

>> I'M GLAD WE CAN AGREE.

OUR BRIDGE PROPOSED RIGHT NOW AT A 20-FOOT WIDTH ALSO.

WE THINK THAT THAT'S SUFFICIENT TO BE ABLE TO MAYBE SEQUESTER THE QUICKER MODES AND SEPARATE THE PEDESTRIANS.

TO HAVE SEPARATION OF SPACE.

ONE OF THE TENETS OF COMPLETE STREETS WE ALWAYS LOOK AT IS ORGANIZING THE DIFFERENT USERS OF THE ROADWAY SO THEY ALL THE HAVE EQUITY LIKE DEMOCRACY OF SPACE IN A GIVEN AREA.

BUT THAT FASTER MOVING USERS WOULD NOT IMPACT SLOWER MOVING USERS.

THIS BRIDGE, PEOPLE MIGHT PAUSES AND CONTEMPLATE DIAMOND HEAD AND WA VIEWS.

WE WANT TO DESIGN THIS SUCH THAT WE CAN ACCOMMODATE ALL THOSE USES.

SO I DO FIND THE SENSE OF COMFORT THAT WE DO AGREE WHAT AN ACCEPTABLE WIDTH WOULD BE SO WE CAN ACCOMMODATE 3,000 PROJECTED USERS THAT WOULD USE THAT FOR TRANSPORTATION ACCESS BUT ALSO FOR DEFINING A PLACE.

>> ONE OF THE PLACES IS THE VIEW PLACE.

I TEACH THIS TO MY STUDENTS, IT WOULD BE ENTIRELY CUT OFF BY TOWERS AND STAY CABLES.

DIAMOND HEAD, THE ALA WAY CANAL ITSELF, THE KO'OLAU MOUNTAINS WILL BE CUT OFF BECAUSE OF THE HUGE -- >> LAURA, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DISAGREE THAT -- AND AGREE TO DISAGREE.

YOU DON'T LIKE THE DESIGN.

AND I DO.

AND IT'S AESTHETICS, AND LET ME FINISH.

IT'S AESTHETICS.

IT'S DESIGNS.

THAT'S SUBJECTIVE.

THERE'S NO ABSOLUTES HERE.

I THINK THE DESIGN ENHANCES TO VIEW DIAMOND HEAD.

TO VIEW THE ALA WAI.

YOU MAY NOT DISAGREE WITH ME, BUT THERE'S NO RIGHT OR WRONG.

AGAIN, I DON'T SEE WHAT'S THE RESISTANCE TO CREATING SOMETHING AESTHETICALLY ATTRACTIVE.

SURE, WE CAN GET BUY WITH A UTILITARIAN IOWA CITY RIVER CROSSING.

LET'S ELEVATE THIS DISCUSSION.

LET'S REALLY DO SOMETHING THAT ELEVATES THE EXPERIENCE IN WAIKIKI.

AS JON JUST SAID, MAYBE PAUSE AND VIEW THESE CERTAIN FEATURES WHILE YOU'RE ON THE BRIDGE.

IT DOESN'T JUST NEED TO BE UTILITARIAN.

YOU MAY DISAGREE WITH ME, BUT YOUR THOUGHT DOESN'T MAKE IT NOR DOES MINE.

>> Lauren: I DO WANT TO BRING IN, IF I CAN -- DAVE, I'LL GIVE YOU THE FLOOR.I KNOW YOU WANTED A CHANCE TO SPEAK.

I WANT TO READ SOME VIEWER COMMENTS.

WE ARE GETTING -- I'VE GOT A LOT OF ORANGE PAPERS.

I'M GETTING A LOT OF COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS FROM PEOPLE.

BUT AS YOU SAID, JEFFREY, VIEWPOINTS ARE GOING TO BE DIFFERENT, AND SO ARE THESE COMMENTS.

ALAN SAYS, I THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE CRAZY MAINTENANCE WITH A DESIGN LIKE THAT.

I DON'T THINK ANYONE ADDRESSED UPKEEP AND CLEANING WITH THAT DESIGN.

BECKY EMAILED ASKING, WHY CAN'T THE PROPOSED BRIDGE LOOK LIKE THE EXISTING OTHER BRIDGES OVER THE ALA WAI INSTEAD OF RESEMBLING BOSTON?

ON THE CONTRARY, THIS OTHER VIEWER WROTE IN.

IT NEEDS TO BE FUNCTIONAL AND EVACUATE PEOPLE.

IT NEEDS TO BE BUILT MULTI-LEVEL AND FOLLOW HANDICAP LAWS AND NOT MODEST.

WE'VE GOT PEOPLE ON BOTH SIDES OF THIS SPECTRUM HERE.

JEFFREY, THIS OTHER VIEWER FROM WAIKIKI, JOHN, WROTE IN, NOT THE BEST USE OF 63 MILLION.

WE CAN'T RELOCATE HOMELESS CAMPERS FROM OUR PARKS AND SIDEWALKS BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO SUPPORT THEM.

WE STILL HAVE TOO MANY ISLAND CLASSROOMS WITHOUT ADEQUATE AIR-CONDITIONING, ETC.

SURELY, WE CAN FIND A BETTER USE OF FUNDS.

I JUST WANTED TO READ HIS COMMENT.

HE'S FROM YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO SAY TO THAT AS FAR AS WHAT YOU'RE HEARING FROM OTHER WAIKIKI RESIDENTS?

>> HE RAISES GOOD POINTS.

ALL THESE ARE PROBLEMS.

THESE TWO DIFFERENT BUCKETS OF MONEY.

YOU WOULDN'T TRANSFER D.O.T.

OR FEDERAL HIGHWAY FUNDS TO THE HOMELESS ISSUE.

EVERYTHING THAT'S BEEN RAISED IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE AN ISSUE.

THOSE ARE NOT GOING TO GO AWAY.

AND NOT BUILDING THIS BRIDGE AND SOMEHOW ALLOCATING THAT MONEY, I DON'T THINK THAT'S GOING TO RESOLVE THESE PROBLEMS.

LET'S WORK OPTION BOTH.

WORK ON AESTHETICALLY APPROPRIATE EVACUATION ROUTES AND A WAY TO REDUCE CAR USE AND ALSO GET APPROPRIATE FUNDS FOR THESE OTHER ISSUES.

LET'S ELEVATE THE EXPERIENCE IN WAIKIKI.

WE DON'T HAVE TO DO UTILITARIAN BRIDGE BECAUSE THERE'S A HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT NEXT DOOR OR A PROBLEM WITH COST OF LIVING.

RESOLVE BOTH.

>> Lauren: DAVE?

>> LOOK AT THE KALAKAUA BRIDGE -- >> Lauren: LAURA -- I DON'T MEAN TO CUT YOU OFF BUT DAVE HAS BEEN WANTING TO SAY SOMETHING FOR A FEW MINUTES.

>> I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT YOU MENTIONED TO ELEVATE THE EXPERIENCE AND MAKE IT AESTHETICALLY PLEASING.

THAT'S A SUBJECTIVE TERM.

WHAT IS AESTHETICALLY PLEASING FOR YOU MAY NOT BE FOR ME.

I'VE HEARD PEOPLE DESCRIBE IT AS A FISHNET AND SOME OTHER TERMS.

ONLY THINKING I CAN SEE IS LOOK LIKE A HARP WITH CABLES.

TO ME, IT'S NOT AESTHETICALLY PLEASING.

TO ME, IT'S AN EYESORE.

WE JUST GOT DIFFERENT OPINIONS.

>> ABOUT THE STYLE, SO AGAIN, CONTEXT SENSITIVE.

THERE'S A LOT OF RECREATIONAL USE OF THAT WATERWAY BY NATIVE HAWAIIAN CANOE PADDLERS.

AND WHAT WE DID WANT TO DO WAS HONOR THE MAST OF POLYNESIAN VOYAGING CANOES.

AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE PROFILE OF THE BRIDGE, IT REALLY DOES MIMIC AND CAST TOE PROFILE OF THE HOKULEA AND OTHER LONG DISTANCE VOYAGES CANOES.

IT IS INTENDED TO LOOK LIKE A SAIL DESIGN.

BUT I UNDERSTAND.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO AGREE ON AESTHETICS.

WE ARE NOT AT A FINAL DESIGN.

WE'VE TRIED TO REDUCE THE HEIGHT OF THE TOWER.

WHEN YOU PUT THAT TOWER AGAINST THE OTHER DENSITIES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, THE TOWER IS SHORTER THAN A LOT OF BUILDINGS THAT ABUT IT.

WE HAVE BUILDINGS THAT ARE ALMOST 40 STORIES HIGH.

AND THIS ONE'S ABOUT A 16 STORY HEIGHT.

WE WANT TO OFFER THAT PERSPECTIVE THAT LOOKING AT THIS IN THE CONTEXT OF WHAT WE'RE DOING, WE'RE NOT BUILDING THIS IN A MIDDLE OF A BLANK FIELD.

WE'RE BUILDING THIS IN CONNECTING TWO AREAS THAT HAVE HUGE RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL DENSITIES.

HAVE SUCH A HIGH DENSITY OF PEOPLE, I DON'T THINK OUR TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE HAS KEPT UP TO MOVE PEOPLE AROUND EFFICIENTLY.

AND EVEN THOSE WHO USE AUTOMOBILES WOULD SAY THAT THERE'S A DEFINITE PROBLEM GETTING IN AND OUT OF WAIKIKI.

>> Lauren: JON, THIS QUESTION FOR YOU FROM ONE OF VIEWERS WHO WROTE IN, CAN YOU PLEASE EXPLAIN HOW THE CITY WITH BUILD SUCH AN EXTRAVAGANT BRIDGE WHEN THEY CANNOT UPKEEP INFRASTRUCTURE ELSEWHERE.

ALSO, WHAT WILL BE THE MAINTENANCE COST?

>> I ALWAYS APPROACH MAINTENANCE AS IT IS A PROGRAM COST, AND THROUGH OUR CITY PROCESS, BEFORE WE EMBARK ON CONSTRUCTION OF A PROJECT, WE DO HAVE TO PROJECT THE MAINTENANCE COST.

IF YOU LOOK AT IT, THIS IS NO DIFFERENT THAN ANY OTHER BRIDGE WE HAVE IN OUR NETWORK.

WE HAVE IN ADDITION, WE HAVE A RAIL ALIGNMENT THAT IS ESSENTIALLY A LONG BRIDGE.

EVERYTHING THE CITY BUILDS, NOT UNIQUE TO BRIDGES OR THIS TYPE OF INFRASTRUCTURE HAS A MAINTENANCE COST.

WE BUILD A ROAD, ROADS AREN'T FREE.

EVERYTHING NEEDS MAINTENANCE.

ANYTHING WE TOUCH, ANYTHING WE BUILD, ANYTHING WE PROGRAM FOR THE GOOD, IT ALL REQUIRES MAINTENANCE.

I DON'T WANT TO SINGLE OUT MAINTENANCE FOR THIS PIECE OF INFRASTRUCTURE.

I KNOW FROM JUST MY PERSPECTIVE, IF I PUT A BUS STOP OUT AND WE BUILD A SHELTER, THAT REQUIRES MAINTENANCE.

THERE'S AN INHERENT COST WITH EVERYTHING, AND WE ARE GOING TO PROGRAM HOW MUCH IT COSTS TO MAINTAIN THIS.

I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD ISOLATE THE BRIDGE IN TERMS OF BEING SO VASTLY DIFFERENT THAN BUILDING ANY OTHER STRUCTURE.

EVEN IF WE BUILT A ROAD BRIDGE, ALL THE McCULLY BRIDGES ALL THE OTHER BRIDGES REQUIRE MAINTENANCE.

>> JEFFREY AND LAURA AS WELL, I WANT BOTH SIDES, WAIKIKI AND MO'ILI'ILI COMMUNITY SINCE YOU GUYS ARE REPRESENTING THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS, TO COMMENT ON THIS.

DO THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE CONCERNS AS FAR AS DURING THE CONSTRUCTION PROCESS OF THIS BRIDGE GOES?

>> YES.

IN FACT, WE RESPONDED TO THE DRAFT EA, AND ONE OF OUR CONCERNS WAS, ESPECIALLY ON THE MAKAI SIDE, WHERE'S THE STAGING AREA GOING TO BE?

IT'S TIGHT THERE ALREADY.

WE DON'T WANT TO IMPACT CARS AND PEDESTRIANS AND BICYCLISTS.

THE CITY WILL NEED TO COME UP OR THE CONTRACTOR TO COME UP WITH A STAGING AREA.

BOTH ON -- LAURA, THIS GOES TO WHAT YOU SAID.

THERE'S A LOT OF USE ON THE MAUKA SIDE.

WE DON'T WANT TO DISRUPT PADDLING.

AGAIN, THE BIKE PATH DOWN THERE AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

SO STAGE AND CONSTRUCTION PROCESS REALLY NEEDS TO BE WELL THOUGHT OUT.

WHAT DO THEY DO IF THERE'S KING TIDE AND IF THERE'S TSUNAMI WARNING?

THAT NEEDS TO BE DETAILED OUT.

OUR NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIFICALLY ARE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT THAT FROM OUR SIDE.

THE MAKAI SIDE?

>> DAVE -- >> I HAVE A QUESTION FOR JON.

YOU MENTIONED THE FINAL DESIGN IS YET NOT TOTALLY IMPROVED.

ARE YOU CONSIDERING BOTH NEIGHBORHOOD BOARDS ON THE MAUKA SIDE OF THE CANAL ARE AGAINST THAT DESIGN?

THEY BOTH REPRESENT A LARGE PORTION OF THE POPULATION?

>> WHEN YOU SAY AGAINST THAT DESIGN, WE DO HAVE TO DESIGN THE BRIDGE TO A CERTAIN STANDARD TO ACHIEVE SOME OF THE SUCCESSES AND SOME OF THE MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS OF WHAT WE INTENDED TO SET OUT TO DO.

AND AGAIN, I'LL GO BACK TO THOSE AND I DON'T WANT TO HIT THEM AD NAUSEAM BUT SUSTAINABLE, COMPATIBILITY WITH FUTURE USES INCLUDING THE ARMY CORPS PROJECT.

AND WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO IT, THE DESIGN OF THE BRIDGE, WE HAVE PIVOTED INTO HOW WE'RE GOING TO DELIVER THIS.

WE WERE GOING TO DO SOMETHING CALLED DESIGN BID BUILD.

WE WHERE WOULD HAVE TO PROCURE A DESIGNER.

A DESIGNER WOULD MAKE A FINAL DESIGN, AND WE WOULD GO OUT TO CONSTRUCTION TO BUILD THAT PROJECT.

WE'RE PIVOTING TO DO A DESIGN BUILD, WHICH CONTEMPLATES WE PUT OF A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS.

WE STATE WHAT ARE THE MUST HAVES AND WHAT ARE THE MINIMUM PIECES OF IT, AND WE CAN WORK WITH A DESIGN BUILDER TO ACTUALLY REFINE THE DESIGNS THAT WE HAVE ALREADY COME TO A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF COMPLETION ON.

SO IF PEOPLE DON'T LIKE THE DESIGN, WE CAN WORK ON DESIGN REFINEMENTS, BUT THE GENERAL CHARACTER OF THE BRIDGE, I WILL STICK TO THE FACT THAT I DO BELIEVE WE WANT TO DO A CLEAR SPAN AND MAKE IT COMPATIBLE WITH ANY ALA WAI, ARMY CORPORATIONS ONE HUNDRED YEAR FLOOD, SEA LEVEL RISE AND ALL THOSE THINGS.

WE WANT IT TO BE RESPECTFUL OF NATIVE HAWAIIAN CANOE PADDLERS.

I THINK THE RUBRIC WE'RE TRYING TO ADDRESS HERE.

>> I THINK THE SIMPLE SPAN LIKE THE IOWA CITY BRIDGE COULD STILL ACCOMPLISH ALL THOSE GOALS.

IT CAN HAVE ENOUGH CLEARANCE FOR THE PADDLERS.

YOU MIGHT HAVE TO PUT A COUPLE PILLARS IN, BUT YOU MENTIONED ABOUT THE WATER FLOW AROUND THE PILLARS, THAT WOULD BE NEGOTIABLE.

I DON'T SEE WHY IT WOULD HURT TO HAVE A COUPLE OF SMALL PILLARS TO SUPPORT A PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE.

AND THE WIDTH COULD BE WHATEVER.

AND I DON'T SEE HOW IT WOULD INTERFERE WITH ANY FUTURE PLANS FOR THE ARMY CORP FOR THEIR FLOOD CONTROL PROJECTS OR ANYTHING.

>> I WOULD OFFER THIS, HOW FAMILIAR IS EVERYONE WITH THE McCULLY BRIDGE OR EVEN THE KALAKAUA BRIDGE?

YOU DO HAVE PIERS IN THE WATER.

SOME OF THESE BRIDGES ARE MERE -- THEY'RE NOT THAT HIGH OVER THE WATER.

IN THIS CASE, WE NEED TO RESPECT THE FACT THAT THERE IS A HUNDRED-YEAR PLAN HERE.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT SEA LEVEL RISE IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT A HUNDRED-YEAR FLOOD IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE.

SO TO ELEVATE AND KEEP THAT SAME PROFILE AND PUT PIERS IN, THE PIERS GET NOTICEABLY BIGGER AS HIGH AS THE BRIDGE NEEDS TO BE.

SO IF WE'RE JUST IMAGINING THINGS, THAT'S ONE THING.

IF WE'RE ENGINEERING THINGS, IT'S A WHOLE OTHER PROCESS.

>> Lauren: JON, IS THERE STILL TIME FOR RESIDENTS IN THE AREA TO GIVE THEIR INPUT ON THE DESIGN?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THEY CAN E-MAIL US.

AS WE WORK THROUGH AN RFP PROCESS, WHICH WE ANTICIPATE WOULD TAKE A YEAR, WE WILL GO INTO DESIGN.

AT THAT TIME I THINK WE WILL KEEP THE NEIGHBORHOODS POSTED ON WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.

SAY, WE DON'T AGREE ON WHAT THE TOWER DESIGN LOOKS LIKE, THAT'S NEGOTIABLE.

THAT WE CAN TALK ABOUT.

THERE'S PROBABLY A MINIMUM HEIGHT THAT IT HAS TO BE FOR ENGINEERING.

NOT EVERYTHING IS AESTHETICS.

NOT EVERYTHING IS LOOKS.

WE HAVE TO HAVE SOME FUNCTIONALITY AND PHYSICS BUILT INTO IT.

WE CAN WORK AND THE COMMUNITY AND WE INTEND TO WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY.

WE INTEND TO BE THOUGHTFUL ABOUT THIS.

ONCE WE GET INTO THE DESIGN PHASE, I THINK WE CAN GO THROUGH A LOT AND MAYBE TRY TO, AS WE MIGHT SEE, SOFTEN OUT THE EDGES.

>> TO THAT AS WELL, AND JON'S TEAM AND THE CITY AND THE WAIKIKI COMMUNITY KNOWS THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR YEARS.

IT'S BEEN GREAT PUBLIC OUTREACH.

I GRAPPLE WITH WHEN PEOPLE SAY I WASN'T NOTIFIED OR I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THIS.

SHAME ON NOW YOU.

IT'S BEEN OUT THERE, AND THEY'VE BEEN GREAT PUBLIC OUTREACH.

I WOULD HOPE JON'S OFFER TO CONSIDER DESIGN ALTERATIONS, WHATEVER, WOULD NOT BE SEE AS AN ENTREE TO DELAY AND SLOW DOWN THIS PROJECT.

WE NEED THIS NOW.

WE'RE ONE TSUNAMI AWAY FROM WAIKIKI BECOME DESTROYED AND LOSS OF LIFE.

THIS IS NOT A NICE TO HAVE.

THIS IS A PRACTICAL SOLUTION WHICH NEEDS TO GET BUILT NOW.

>> Lauren: WE DO HAVE OTHER VIEWER QUESTIONS ASKING ABOUT THE LOGISTICS OF THE DESIGN.

PAUL FROM MO'ILI'ILI IS ASKING, ARE WE GOING TO HAVE A PARKING LOT WITH A BRIDGE POSSIBLY FOR PEOPLE THAT WORK IN WAIKIKI TO USE THE BRIDGE TO GET TO WORK?

OR PEOPLE THAT DON'T WANT TO PAY FOR PARKING?

SOMEBODY ELSE -- KUNIA FROM WAIKIKI IS ASKING, ARE YOU GOING TO RENOVATE THE RESTROOMS AT THE PARK THAT THE BRIDGE CONNECTS TO SO PEOPLE CAN USE IT?

JON, CAN YOU SPEAK TO THE DESIGN PRACTICALITY?

>> NO PARKING STRUCTURE.

NO PARKING, NO ADDITIONAL LARGE SCALE CONSTRUCTION INFRASTRUCTURE TO ACCOMMODATE PARKING.

WE WILL BE WORKING WITH OUR PARKS DEPARTMENT AND WITH THE USERS OF THE PARK TO WORK ON MITIGATIONS.

TO HAVING THIS BRIDGE HERE.

WE UNDERSTAND THAT -- WE HEAR LOUD AND CLEAR FROM OUR COMMUNITIES THAT THERE ARE CONCERNS THAT MORE PEOPLE WILL COME AND USE THE PARK.

I DON'T CHALK THAT UP AS A CONCERN.

I THINK OF IT AS A GREAT THING.

IF MORE PEOPLE USE THE PARKS, THAT'S A GREAT THING.

BUT WE HAVE TO BE ON THE HOOK TO PREPARE FOR THAT.

THAT'S AN EFFECT.

MORE PEOPLE COME INTO THE PARK, THEN WE NEED TO BUILD UP THE CAPACITY, THE QUALITY OF THE FACILITIES THERE.

THE CANOE HALAU, RESTROOMS, EVEN WORKING WITH OUR PARKS, THE COMMUNITY GARDENS THAT ARE THERE.

I DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO FORGET THAT THE VERY REASON THAT MAYBE SOME PEOPLE LIKE NEGATIVELY ON THE BRIDGE BEING THERE IS, OH, NO, PEOPLE WILL USE IT.

THAT IS ABSOLUTELY NOT THE PROBLEM.

IF WE GET TO THE POINT WHERE PEOPLE USE IT, I DON'T KNOW WHY IT'S LIKE THIS, BUT WE HAVE STUDENTS THAT GO TO ALA WAI ELEMENTARY SCHOOL THAT LIVE ACROSS THE CANAL.

THEY COULD WALK MAYBE A TENTH OF A MILE ACROSS THE CANAL.

THEY NOW HAVE TO WALK A MILE AND A QUARTER SO THERE A OTHER USES THAT WE SHOULD LINK TO PEOPLE WILL USE THIS BRIDGE.

>> Lauren: LAURA, I SEE YOUR HAND UP.

>> YES.

FIRST OF ALL, I'VE ASKED TO BE ONE OF THE DESIGN CONSULTANTS.

I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A SHERRET.

I THINK IT WILL DO A WORLD OF GOOD WITH THE COMMUNITY AND PEOPLE WHO ARE THE STAKEHOLDERS.

SECOND OF ALL, YOU TALKED ABOUT ALA WAI KIDS GOING AROUND THE CANAL.

I'VE WATCHED THEM OVER THE YEARS.

THEY'RE THE HAPPIEST GROUP OF KIDS BECAUSE THEY GET TO GO ALONG THE BYPATH AND AROUND THE BRIDGE, AND IT'S A HAPPY EXPERIENCE.

WHAT HAPPENS, BECAUSE WE OFF-RAMP THE ADA, IT'S ABOUT THE BISECT THE PARK.

PARENTS AND STUDENTS WHO LET OFF THEIR KIDS, PICK UP THEIR KIDS AND GO ACROSS THE STREET TO THE PLAYGROUND AREA WON'T BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

THE GARDENERS WILL HAVE TROUBLE BINGING IN MULCH IN.

AND THE McCULLY LEAGUES WILL HAVE DIFFICULTY PARKING.

I'VE TAKEN PICTURES OF THE PARK USE AND THE AFTERNOONS.

REGULAR WORK DAY AFTERNOONS, AND THE PARK IS COMPLETELY FILLED WITH CARS.

THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE ROOM FOR ALL OF THE ALREADY EXISTING PARK USERS.

>> FROM MY POINT OF VIEW, I HAVE TO IMAGINE A HISTORY WHERE WE DON'T WORRY ABOUT PARKING AND WORRY ABOUT CARS.

WE DON'T HAVE A GREAT WAY OF PEOPLE TO GET TO THESE PLACES WITHOUT CARS.

YOU TALK ABOUT PEOPLE COMING IN AND USING THE PARK, AND IT'S ALMOST A LITTLE IS SADISTIC THAT WE HAVE TO PROVIDE SO MUCH PARKING AT A NEIGHBORHOOD PARK.

IF PEOPLE COULD WALK THERE, THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD ASPIRE TO.

IT'S A NEIGHBORHOOD PARK, AND WE SHOULDN'T BE AFRAID OF PEOPLE USING PARKS, BUT WHAT WE SHOULD DO IS PREPARE THAT A MORE HEAVILY USED PARK WILL REQUIRE MORE MAINTENANCE, AND THESE ARE ALL GOOD THINGS.

I DON'T WANT TO LOOP US INTO THE MINDSET THAT -- AND DARE I CALL IT ELITIST THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE A CAR TO ENJOY SOMETHING.

I CAN'T SAY, I WOULD GUARANTEE -- AND LAURA, I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO AGREE TO DISAGREE.

I THINK KIDS WOULD BE VERY HAPPY CROSSING THE CANAL INSTEAD OF HAVING TO WALK DOWN ALA WAI BOULEVARD, WALK ACROSS THE NARROW TRAFFIC SIX-LANE McCULLY BRIDGE, WALK AROUND ALA WAI PARK ALONG KAPIOLANI BOULEVARD, ALONG THE SIDEWALK AND MAYBE WALK THROUGH THE PATH THREW THE ALA WAI PARK TO GET TO THEIR SCHOOL.

SAVING -- I THINK WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THREE MINUTES VERSUS 20 MINUTES.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT VALUE AND THE OTHERS THAT IT WOULD ATTRACT THAT WOULD EXPERIENCE THAT AND BE THE BENEFICIARIES OF THAT, I WANT TO GO BACK TOLD WORD PONO AGAIN.

IT IS BENEFICIAL TO SOME OF THE BENEFITS THAT WILL COME WITH THIS BRIDGE.

>> AND, JON, THE PONO AND NET TIES IN WITH EQUITY.

THIS IS BIGGER THAN JUST YOU GETTING AROUND IN YOUR CAR AND WHERE'S THE PARKING?

AS JON SAID, IDEALLY, NO ONE -- IT'S NOT ABOUT CARS, IT'S ABOUT PEDESTRIANS, UNIVERSAL ACCESS VIA ADA.

LETTING PEOPLE GET AROUND WITHOUT A CAR.

I FIND IT SURPRISING -- NOT SURPRISED BUT THIS OVERRELIANCE AND ASSUMPTION THAT YOU HAVE TO GET EVERYWHERE IN A CAR, AND IT IS ELITIST.

A LOT OF PEOPLE CAN'T AFFORD A CAR AND DON'T CARE ABOUT PARKING.

ME, I CHOOSE NOT TO DRIVE.

I COULD AFFORD A CART.

I DON'T WANT ONE.

THIS ASSUMPTION THAT WE NEED TO BUILD OUT OUR INFRASTRUCTURE TO ACCOMMODATE THE CAR, NOT PEOPLE, THE CAR, IS OUTRAGEOUS.

IT'S UNTENABLE AND WE'RE MOVING BEYOND THAT MODEL.

>> Lauren: DAVE, I SAW YOU NODDING YOUR HEAD TO SOME OF THE THINGS -- >> I AGREE WITH THE USE OF THE BRIDGE.

OF COURSE, IT'S NICE TO HAVE THE PEOPLE TO HAVE A LOT OF USE AND HAVE THEM BE ABLE TO GET TO THE PARK AND MAYBE A SHORTCUT AROUND.

THAT'S FINE.

I'M STILL MOSTLY AGAINST THE DESIGN OF THE BRIDGE.

I'D RATHER HAVE ONE THAT LOOKS LIKE IOWA CITY.

IF YOU HAVE TO PUT A COUPLE PILLARS IN THE WATER AND YOU CAN STILL GET THE UTILITARIAN EFFECT FROM IT.

>> I THINK WE CAN WORK WITH YOU ON THAT.

THE COMPROMISE IS GOING TO HAVE TO COME WITH WHAT WE REQUIRE FOR THE ENGINEER AND WHAT WE IMAGINE IN OUR HEADS.

AS A GOVERNMENT, AS SOMEONE WHO IS TASKED WITH TRANSPORTATION, I THINK FAR TOO OFTEN, WE VERGE TOO MUCH ON THE UTILITARIAN AND NEGLECT WHAT MAKES A GREAT CITY.

I'M FINDING MORE AGREEMENT THAN DISAGREEMENT.

IF WE FOUND SOMETHING THAT MADE SENSE, ABSOLUTELY, THE BRIDGE IS A BENEFIT TO BOTH NEIGHBORHOODS.

I FIND A LOT OF COMFORT WITH THAT.

I THINK WE CAN WORK TOGETHER OVER TIME TO SEE WHERE WE LAND.

>> Lauren: JON, WHAT WOULD BE THE NEXT STEPS TO MAYBE HAVE SOME COMMUNITY DISCUSSION WHERE PEOPLE COULD TALK ABOUT THE DESIGN WITHOUT MAYBE HOLDING UP PLANS FOR IT?

>> WE CAN CONTINUE TO HAVE OUTREACH.

WE CAN HAVE A MEETING.

WE'VE HAD A SERIES OF MEETINGS.

IN FACT, BEFORE THIS WAS EVEN A PROJECT, THIS GOES BACK TO THE EARLY 2000 AND BEFORE THAT.

I KNOW LAURA BROUGHT THAT UP TOO.

YOU OPPOSED IT FOR MANY YEARS.

AS MUCH AS PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO PUT IT OUT THERE.

BUT I DO KNOW THAT FROM THE EARLY 2000S, THE MOMENTUMS HAS SHIFTED A LITTLE BIT.

IN THE SENSE THAT PEOPLE ARE LOOK FOR OTHER WAYS TO GET AROUND.

IF YOU LOOK AT HOW MISERABLE IT IS TO GET FROM, SAY, UNIVERSITY AVENUE AND KAPIOLANI BOULEVARD ON THE WEEKENDS, ON A REGULAR SATURDAY AFTERNOONS, YOU SEE CARS CUEING UP TO MAKE THAT LEFT TURN TO McCULLY.

ALL THESE PEOPLE, I DON'T THING ANYONE REALLY LIKES DRIVING INTO WAIKIKI.

IT'S SOMETHING WE BEAR.

IT'S SOMETHING WE DO.

AND IF I CAN TAKE A PERSONAL NOTE OF PRIVILEGE, I GREW UP IN THE MO'ILI'ILI AREA.

AND I SPENT MOST OF MY LIFE ALONG THE BANKS OF THE ALA WAI, ALONG DATE STREET.

WENT TO SCHOOL THERE, AND I NEVER ONCE THOUGHT THAT WAIKIKI WAS CLOSE.

IT'S RIGHT THERE.

AND SO TO THAT END, I THINK THERE ARE GENERATIONS OF PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN MO'ILI'ILI THAT STILL THINK GETTING TO WAIKIKI IS A TREK AND HUSTLE, AND THEY DON'T DO IT UNLESS THEY HAVE TO.

UNLESS THEY WORK THERE.

SO BUILDING THESE COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS, I THINK, IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE NEGLECTED FOR DECADES.

AND I THINK THE AGREEMENT THAT WE SEEK THAT A BRIDGE COULD BE USEFUL, THAT'S A GREAT STARTING POINT FOR A DISCUSSION.

>> Lauren: I DO WANT TO SAY, A LOT OF THESE ORANGE PAPERS I'M GOING TO BE PAPERS I'M GETTING ARE VIEWER COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS.

A LOT OF THEM TONIGHT.

IT'S ABOUT 50/50 AS FAR AS PEOPLE WHO DON'T WANT THE BRIDGE, DON'T LIKE THE DESIGN AND SOME SUPPORTERS.

I WANT TO READ A COUPLE TO BRING IN OTHER PEOPLE IN THE DISCUSSION.

THIS IS A RESIDENT FROM THE BIG ISLAND.

THIS PERSON SAYS, THIS BRIDGE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN BUILT FOR A CANAL IN KALIHI.

IT'S FOR TOURISTS IN WAIKIKI AND NOT LOCALS.

HOWEVER, ON THE CONTRARY -- >> COULD HE ADDRESS THAT RIGHT NOW?

>> Lauren: SURE.

>> I LIKE TO THINK OF MYSELF AS SOMEONE WHO, AT THE FOREFRONT OF WHAT I DO -- I'M SORRY I'M A LITTLE OUT OF SORTS BECAUSE OF A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON.

I WILL PUSH HARD AGAINST ANYONE WHO SUGGESTS WE DON'T HAVE EQUITY IN MIND.

I MENTIONED EQUITY WHEN WE STARTED WITH PONO.

I WILL TELL YOU WE HAVE PROJECTS IN KALIHI TO CROSS KAPALAMA CANAL, SO I WILL DISMISS THAT COMMENT FROM SOMEONE WHO IS NOT FROM THIS ISLAND.

AND MAYBE GIVE THEM CREDIT FOR NOT KNOWING WHAT'S GOING ON ON THIS ISLAND.

WE HAVE TWO BRIDGES PLANNED FOR KAPALAMA CANAL.

SO ANY ALLEGATION, EVEN A SIDE ALLEGATION THAT WE'RE NOT THINKING ABOUT THINGS IN AN EQUITABLE SENSE, I'M GOING TO PUSH HARD.

>> Lauren: WHICH YOU'RE ENTITLED TO DO.

>> I'M SORRY.

LET ME SOFTEN MY TONE.

>> Lauren: NO, OKAY.

THERE ARE OTHER SUPPORTERS.

NANCY FROM WAIKIKI SAYS, IN LIGHT OF THE FIRES ON MAUI, I THINK WE NEED THIS BRIDGE IN CASE A FIRE BREAKS OUT IN WAIKIKI.

IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE AND IT'S NEEDED FOR PEOPLE TO ESCAPE.

SAM FROM MO'ILI'ILI SAYS, WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE THOUSANDS OF CARS ON THE ROAD.

WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THAT.

WE SHOULD GET CARS OFF THE ROAD.

DOES ANYONE ON THE PANEL DRIVE?

THE BRIDGE WILL HELP RELIEVE TRAFFIC IN WAIKIKI.

>> LIKE JEFF, I DON'T OWN A CAR.

I RODE COMBINATION OF BUS AND BIKE TO GET HERE.

AGAIN, EQUITY.

I'M PRIVILEGED -- AND IT SHOULDN'T BE THIS WAY, BUT I AM PRIVILEGED TO BE ABLE TO LIVE IN A CITY AND GET AROUND WITHOUT OWNING A CAR.

AND THAT'S NOT LOST ON ME.

SO I KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE.

I KNOW WHEN WE COMPLETE STREETS.

I ALMOST GOT DOORED BY A CAR.

I WAS RIDING MY BIKE, AND A DRIVER LOST THEIR DOOR IN THE WIND.

NOBODY'S FAULT.

IT WAS REALLY WINDY THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS.

DOOR FLEW OPEN.

I ALMOST HIT THEM GOING 15 MILES PER HOUR.

WE DO NEED BETTER ORDER ON OUR STREETS.

I AM GETTING A LITTLE HYPED UP AND A LITTLE EMOTIONAL ABOUT THIS BECAUSE I WANT TO IMPROVE THAT EQUITY.

THAT EQUITY OF USERS ALONG OUR ROADWAY.

I THINK WE DESIGN FOR THE CAR SO MUCH THAT -- IT REALLY DOES OFFEND MEAN WHEN WE TRY TO DO SOMETHING FOR BIKES AND PEDESTRIANS, AND WE GET TO THAT POINT WHERE THE MOST -- IF I WERE TO PUT IN A ROAD, I DON'T THINK ANYONE WOULD COMPLAIN, >> Lauren: I DON'T WANT TO CUT ANYONE OFF.

UNFORTUNATELY, WE ARE OUT OF TIME.

>> THE PARK CLOSES AT 10:00.

>> Lauren: SORRY, LAURA.

WE DON'T HAVE TIME ANYMORE.

>> OUR PARK CLOSES AT 10:00.

>> Lauren: LAURA, I'M SORRY TO CUT YOU OFF.

WE'RE OUT OF TIME FOR THIS EVENING.

JON, REALLY QUICKLY, DO YOU HAVE AN E-MAIL THAT PEOPLE CAN EMAIL IF THEY WANT TO COMMENT ON A DESIGN.

>> I HAVE TO FIND WHAT OUR PROJECT E-MAIL IS.

I DON'T HAVE THAT WITH ME RIGHT NOW.

>> Lauren: HOPEFULLY MAYBE WE CAN GET THAT AND PUT IT ON OUR PBS WEBSITE.

MAHALO FOR ALL OF YOU FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.

ALL OF YOU WRITING IN WITH YOUR COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS.

WE HAD A LOT OF THEM.

AGAIN WE WANT TO SEND OUR THOUGHTS OUT TO OUR NEIGHBORS AND 'OHANA ON MAUI.

WHAT THEY'RE DEALING WITH.

AND WE ALSO WANT TO THANK OUR GUESTS.

LAURA JOINING US VIRTUALLY.

JON NOUCHI THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION SERVICES FOR HONOLULU, JEFFREY MERZ FROM THE WAIKIKI NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD, LAURA RUBY VIRTUALLY FROM MO'ILI'ILI, AND DAN BARBER FROM THE MCCULLY/MO'ILI'ILI NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD.

NEXT WEEK ON INSIGHTS WE DISCUSS THE FUTURE OF THE HA'IKU STAIRS.

THE CONTROVERSIAL STAIRS ON O'AHU'S WINDWARD SIDE ARE SLATED TO BE TAKEN DOWN, BUT THE PLAN HAS RECEIVED PUSH BACK FROM CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.

SO WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THE HA'IKU STAIRS?

PLEASE JOIN US THEN.

I'M LAUREN DAY FOR INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAI'I.

ALOHA.