The Honolulu City Council is considering a proposal mark curbs with “no parking” near driveways within a one-quarter mile radius of public trailheads if a resident requests it.
Bill 54, sponsored by Chair Tommy Waters, proposes instructing the Department of Transportation Services to paint portions of curb within four feet on either side of a driveway with “no parking” at the request of the property owner or resident on portions of public streets within one-quarter mile of public trails. The bill passed second reading on Wednesday and hasn’t yet been scheduled for a second committee hearing.
It’s illegal in the City and County of Honolulu to park in front of a driveway or within four feet on either side of a public or private driveway, according to city code.
Hong Li, deputy director of DTS, voiced the department’s opposition to the bill to the Committee on Infrastructure, Transportation and Technology in August, saying that the bill would create a “significant maintenance burden.” According to Li, hundreds of driveways could be included in the proposed one-quarter mile radius of public trails.
Li said that the department supports the intent of improving access to trails and road safety, but he doesn’t believe that a special curb marking program is the answer.
“Our main concern is the proposed special curb painting program for driveways within one-quarter mile of public hiking trail. This is different from City’s general approach to curb markings,” Li said. “[The City] does not generally paint curbs to identify every location where parking is already prohibited by law. We use curb marking primarily for specific traffic and operation purposes like bus stops, commercial loading zones.”
Li expressed concern that if some curbs near driveways are marked and others are not, motorists might mistakenly think that it’s allowed to park next to an unmarked curb.
According to DTS spokesperson Travis Ota, the special curb marking would create an ongoing maintenance obligation for the Department of Facility Maintenance to periodically inspect, repaint and maintain the markings.
The cost of curb painting would depend on the number and location of trailheads, the length of curb and the condition of existing curb, Ota said.
Ota said, "From DTS’s perspective, we would prefer that the bill clearly identify the responsible agency, the locations and extent of the required markings, the applicable marking standard, and the funding source for installation and ongoing maintenance. Alternatively, the requirement could be limited to specific locations where a demonstrated parking or access problem exists, rather than requiring islandwide application at every trailhead."
Honolulu Police Department is responsible for enforcement of illegal parking and has the authority to cite and tow cars for violations.
Waters told the Waikīkī neighborhood board in July that the bill stemmed from complaints of blocked driveways in the Kuliʻouʻou-Kalani Iki neighborhood.
Kuliʻouʻou-Kalani Iki residents brouht concerns about hikers at the Kuliʻouʻou Trail to the neighborhood board in 2017. Residents said that hikers make excesive noise, leave trash, trespass on private property and loiter in the cul-de-sac at the end of Kalaʻau Place.
A resolution passed by the board in 2017 states that when hikers park too close to driveways, access is restricted to resident’s homes, driving becomes dangerous when it becomes difficult to see oncoming vehicle while pulling out from driveways and emergency vehicles have a hard time navigating the crowded street.
Lanikai has also faced congestion from what DTS Director Roger Morton called “hot tourism spots,” like Lanikai Beach and Kaʻiwa Ridge, where the Lanikai Pillboxes are located. Through the first phases of the Lanikai Transportation Management Plan, DTS will install “no parking any time” signage along Makulua Drive and Aalapapa Drive and create loading zones near beach access points. Morton said at a Kailua neighborhood board meeting in June that congestion in the neighborhood has caused unpredictability in travel times and concerns about emergency response times.
Christian de Quevedo, Waialae-Kahala neighborhood board chair, told Aloha State Daily that parking is always an issue in Kahala due to economic hubs like the Kahala Mall, a lack of employee parking, schools, public trailheads and beach access.
De Quevedo said residents become irritated when visitors congest streets, leave trash and play loud music on speakers.
“It can be quite a burden on a neighborhood,” he said. “People should realize when you block someone’s driveway or pull moped on lawn, you make life more difficult for people who live here.”
De Quevedo suggested use fees for hikes and paid neighborhood parking to pay for wear and tear on the roads and trails.
“I believe that neighborhood streets should belong to the neighborhood. If you pay taxes to live there, that infrastructure should be there to assist you, that’s the social contract that we make, and when that public infrastructure is being used as a mode of harassment and discomfort to the people that live in these high frequency areas, it can build up quite a bit of tension,” he said.
Shilo Garner, founder of the Honolulu Hiking Club, sees educating hikers on trail and parking etiquette as part of his kuleana. The club meets every Sunday morning at different trails across Oʻahu.
Garner encourages hikers to “hike pono” by not blocking resident’s driveways or mailboxes when parking, keep their voices down while in the neighborhood, only use official trails, clean their shoes before and after hiking and play music on headphones rather than speakers. He also encourages hikers to carpool when they can.
Garner said he understands resident’s need to access their homes safely and their frustration with congestion. He said that marking curbs where parking is prohibited would make it clearer where not to park, but it doesn’t solve the issue of where to park to access trails and could move the issue one-quarter mile down the road.
“This is their home, this is their neighborhood that we’re entering and we should respect that,” he said. “We should be pono and be mindful of how we park.”
Hawaiʻi is based on community, which comes with humility and empathy, Garner said.
“Responsible trail access requires respect for the community and clear guidance for hikers,” Garner said.
Haley Lehman can be reached at haley@alohastatedaily.com.
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