Maunawili Community Association

Maunawili Community Association November 4, 2003

Minutes November 4, 2003

Maunawili Community Association
Regular Meeting: November 4, 2003
Maunawili Valley Neighborhood Park Pavilion

Present: Jim Corcoran (Director); David Laeha (President); Alicia Flores (Rep Pendleton’s office); Linda Ure (Secretary); Ann Medeiros.
The meeting was called to order by President David Laeha at 8:00 p.m.
Minutes for August 5, 2003; September 2, 2003; and October 7, 2003 were approved as circulated.
MCA And KNB REPORTS: A. Parks and Recreation: 1.) The Sports Council Meeting to determine the schedules for play courts was held September 16, 2003 at the Kailua District Park at 6:30 p.m. The MCA attended the meeting to address In-Line Hockey play at the Maunawili Valley Neighborhood Park. It has been resolved that the In-Line Hockey League is reduced immediately to only 3 days per week in Maunawili Valley Neighborhood Park because of complaints. It has been stated by the Sports Council that further complaints received will equal a loss of additional days. 2.) Further Park developments include the Enchanted Lakes Park Plan that the City met with resistance on in inclusion of more basketball courts adjacent to residences. The noise levels would have been a constant nuisance to the residential area. 3.) Swing-sets for children under five are being removed from City Parks in Kailua. Ann Medeiros has addressed the City Councilmember Barbara Marshall offices and the Kailua Neighborhood Board at their October 3rd meeting, about the removal of playground swings for children under five years from the Pohakapuu Park and Waimanalo Park and still to be removed from the last park in Kailua according to DPP. Despite over 300 signatures collected and submitted to Marshall’s office it is stated that the initiative for toddler swing-set must be a private donation, however, the City administration has said that they will maintain the swing sets if privately funded. Ms Medeiros has gotten tentative commitment from the windward Rotary Club to install equipment. It was noted that due to ADA requirements it will be 2007 before any toddler equipment in built in City Parks. Although the swing set cost only $4,000.00, the preparation of the safety pad beneath is estimated at $50-60,000.00 causing the entire cost, with labor, to reach $125,000.00 according to Bill Balfour of the City. This cost appears to be excessive. There are 15,000 children in Kailua under the age of 9 and 7,500 of these are under the age of five and have no suitable swing sets to play on. No formal reason was given for the removal of the swing set however, it has been suggested that a single complaint was received from a person citing non-compliance with ADA requirements. It has been most frustrating that the communities involved were not notified of the planned removal so that they might take affirmative actions to remediate the problem rather than have the swings removed by the city. Ms. Medeiros has been given several possible contacts to request funding, such as Weinberg HRT, which has replied that they only give to destitute children; Harold Castle Foundation which caused the park to be erected in the first place with the fountain may have an interest in this issue and therefore contacting Castle Hospital, President Robert Walker or David Earls may be of some benefit; or Mitch D’Olier of Kaneohe Ranch as the management arm of the entire Castle holdings in Kailua; and the Kailua Chamber of Commerce through David Earls as a contact person. Meanwhile, Ben Lee, Managing Director of the City and County of Honolulu cited violations of Federal Law as pertains to ADA requirement, it must be remembered that children under five should not be discriminated against as relates to public parks and statements that include ”You Mothers” should not enter any discussion with citizens wishing to replace the removed equipment. The Maunawili Community Association will ask that the submission of Capital Improvement Projects for the coming year include placement of swing set equipment in the Maunawili Valley Neighborhood Park for our toddlers under the age of five years. The State of Hawaii should also be petitioned to grant CIP funds to place toddler swing-set equipment in City Parks as these parks are utilized by preschool and day care facilities statewide.
B. BRT: During discussion it was determined that as the Metro serves only a fraction of the population of the Island of Oahu, specifically central downtown Honolulu and Waikiki, therefore it is fundamentally wrong to raise the taxes of all taxpayers to fund a system that serves so few.

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C. Kapaa Quarry as a Sanitary Landfill: The Mayor’s Blue Ribbon Panel is to complete its list of suitable sites for a sanitary landfill by December 1, 2003. Kapaa Quarry remains on this list, however, it is ranked lower for a number of reasons including acquisition and conversion cost and the fact that it is still an operating quarry. Be not mistaken, the political decision to continue to keep Waimanalo Gulch Sanitary Landfill off the list of potential sites remains high, despite the fact that the City already owns the entire 84 acre parcel. The Mayor’s recommendation is to go to the City Council for further consideration and funding in January 2004 and their decision must be compete by June 2004.
D. La Jardine School may have a Public Hearing on the CUP as it has been requested. The building height and the footprint of the 53,000 square feet both require variances. There is concern that universal agreements in the original CUP concerning the lights to remain unobtrusive and mitigated for the nesting shearwater birds in the mountain cliffs that use the flight plan over the complex need addressing. A traffic study has not been done except during the bus strike. DPP Erik Crispen must decide whether or not to hold the Public Hearing and we await that decision.
E. Clean-up Day in Maunawili: November 15 has been set aside to clean up the entrance to Maunawili beginning at 8:30 am. Several other areas need attention, Auloa Road, the Bulletin Board Areas, and across from the Neighborhood Park. Bring gloves, sun screen and a willingness to work a few hours.
F. Treasurers Report: There was no report.
G. Halloween Parade: The MCA turned out well for the Halloween Parade and Pumpkin carving Contest. First, here’s a summary of our fun Maunawili Halloween extravaganza. It was a lovely evening with perfect weather on Friday, October 31. We had a great time with the parade starting at 5:30 p.m. in the Lunaawa Place cul-de-sac and ending at Lunahai Place cul-de-sac. We had a lot of wonderful little kiddies dressed in great costumes and a whole lot of parents, grandparents, aunties, uncles, and just friendly neighbors who enjoyed the excitement. We handed out 60 goodie bags and served juice and 5 dozen pumpkin cookies to the crowd of approximately 100. Thanks much to John Fink for entertaining everyone as a terrific emcee, Bryan Gomes for making the new "stage", Julie Hahn for leading the parade, Cha Sanchez, Ka'aimea McKee and Jan Saito for staffing the goodie table and David Laeha and Molly Arthur for putting the word out to the neighborhood. Thanks goes to Joan Riggs, Georgette Gomes and Linda Ure for their expertise from past years' events. We have a small group of helpers committed to the 2004 Halloween event so we are assured of keeping this long-standing tradition alive in Maunawili! Many people commented that they were so happy the parade was back. Some thought it had been an annual tradition for about 40 years. Seeing how much excitement and fun it gave the children (and the adults, too) was the best part. Here's to the great neighborhood we live in and to the friendly neighbors who are so kind and willing to give the children these special memories. As the children's goodie bag tags said, "It's a TREAT to live in Maunawili!" Long live the Maunawili Halloween tradition! Second, the Trick or Treating was quite brisk until 9 pm on Lunaai and Lunaahelu Streets, our main thoroughfares. Most of the Places and Cul-de-sacs were lighter with fewer trick-or-treaters but the entire valley outdid itself from past years and decorated with smoke machines, Jack-O-Lanterns, Ghosts, Light shows and lots, and lots of candy to give out to lots, and lots of kiddies. Moms, Dads, Aunts, Uncles and Grandparents took the time to walk with the children and with their flashlights up one street and down the next—the kids got lots of goodies and some may not come off their sugar highs until Christmas. Our Pumpkin Carvers included so many entries it was indeed difficult to choose. We offer the following categories and descriptions for everyone’s appreciation: The youngest carver was KATIE GOMES with the help of her Dad and she displayed a broad friendly smiling Jack-O-Lantern on her doorstep. A Cubist interpretation Jack-O-Lantern was carved by JAN LOOSE. Most Hawaiian HEAD Jack-O-Lantern by TONY LOCRICCHIO to include the lei straw hat and little plastic Jack-O-Lantern hair ornaments. The BRADENS treated us with beautifully carved cats in their Jack-O-Lantern. The CASEYs lit their driveway with Jack-O-Lanterns with red and yellow interior lights. RICHARDSONs and BAUTISAs displayed their jack-O-Lantern as did the GRACES and the YAMASHIROS; while the HUs displayed their Jack-O-Lantern collection from

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over the years. THE MADDOCKS Family displayed a wonderful 35 foot high ghost presiding over a haunted graveyard complete with many headstones and six or more Jack-O-Lanterns carved
as an arched-backed cat, a flying bat, a frowning face, a smirking face and two smiley faces. A free spirited snaggle-toothed Jack-O-Lantern was displayed by LARRY LOOSE. The Scariest Jack-O-lantern was offered by young carver THOMAS GOMES with the assistance of his Dad and Thomas displayed a vampire’s head with blood dripping fangs to guard his doorstep. Over on Maunawili Road we found a clutch of Jack-O-Lanterns we have to put in the most unique category. The entire family carved one Jack-O-Lantern each and displayed them on a black-draped table in the front yard behind which they offered trick-or-treat candies to all brave takers. One was a Hawaiian Beach House that included the rainbow and swaying Palm trees; another was the caricature face of Mickey Mouse; Tinkerbelle smiled out of one Jack-O-Lanterns to grant all wished of all children for the evening, Stitch flew in from outer space to oversee the festivities; a Gentle Mother Tiger was quietly nursing her kittens and last, but not least, helping to give out candy was a Maunawili pumpkin in the making—due date, several months away. We know we must have missed some of the hopeful entries and it will HAUNT us all year long—but Maunawili, you did a great job heralding in the arrival of the Great Pumpkin—Congratulations!!
Third, the cost of the event was trinkets for the goodie bags: $46.41; Refreshments at parade’s end: Pumpkin Cookies $20.30; and Teddy Grahams $15.05; and edible treats for the goodie bags $28.60 = $110.36.
Adjournment: There being no further business of the Board the meeting was adjourned at 10:00 p.m. Submitted by Linda C. Ure, Secretary

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