The trellises on either side of Nuuanu Stream provided shade for concrete tables and benches that had been popular with area residents.
“It’s an opportunity for the community to revisit this and see if we can reach a consensus on what is the best interest for serving the people of this area with the trellises back,” said Chu Lan Shubert-Kwock, president of the Chinatown Business and Community Association.
The issue resurfaced earlier this week after the City Council’s Committee on Parks and Human Services placed it on its agenda as a discussion item.
The tear down of the trellises in May of 2008 was supported by a majority of the Downtown Neighborhood Board, the Honolulu Police Department as well as former Mayor Mufi Hannemann.
“The trellises were very low and so it inhibited surveillance, which is one of principle elements of community policing,” said Downtown Neighborhood Board Vice-Chairman Tom Smyth. “If the police can’t see what’s going on they can’t do much about it.”
Those who regularly patrol Chinatown Streets say removal of the trellises made an instant impact on drug dealing, gambling and prostitution in the area.
“As soon as soon as they were removed it was like months and months before any drug activity was going on in the evenings,” said Dolores Mollring, a member of the neighborhood board who also leads the Downtown-Chinatown Citizens Patrol every Tuesday evening.
“Mainland gangs would gather here and we saw them pick on quite a few of our local folk.”
BUSINESSES SPLIT
Restaurants and shops located near the area where the trellises once provided cool shade remain split on whether they should go back up.
The manager of Royal Kitchen, a Chinese restaurant that specializes in takeout, remains opposed to their restoration.
“I have to admit I do miss the trellises,” said Liana Benn. “But on the other hand it was a choice between the drug dealing, the prostitution and the gambling versus having a clean environment for our business as well as for the families here.”
However Shubert-Kwock maintains some business owners were never consulted before the trellises were torn down.
“Because they not English proficient…they were bypassed,” she said. “When they were not consulted they felt like they’re not important anymore.”
Recently Shubert-Kwock began going door-to-door to get a better understanding of what community members really think. The owners of Kukui Café and KC Kitchen both support putting the trellises back up, saying their removal put a big dent on their businesses.
“There used to be hundreds here,” said KC Kitchen owner Martin Hee. “Now empty.”
Then there are those Chinatown residents who no longer relax within the open air mall because of the heat.
Yeubon Wong, 82, expressed frustration senior citizens in the area no longer have a place where they can enjoy shade and a cool breeze. He spoke to Shubert-Kwock in Chinese.
“A lot of seniors sit here,” he told her. “Now they can’t do that.”
Shubert-Kwock believes removal of the trellises was also disrespectful to the Chinese culture. The mall was built with aesthetic fung shui in mind while also honoring the founder of modern day China.
“This is a cultural and aesthetic aspect of the Chinese culture that was not consulted. It’s like taking off your head.”
CITY’S OFFICIAL POSITION
Honolulu Police spokeswoman Michelle Yu told Khon2 the department remains steadfast in its opposition to rebuild the trellises, citing concerns over the return of criminal activity.
That position is also supported by the Department of Parks and Recreation, which is in charge of the area in and around the mall.
Councilwoman Tulsi Gabbard, who represents the Chinatown area, continues to gather information from both sides of the issue before issuing any kind of recommendation. She says whether or not the trellises are rebuilt will be guided primarily by public safety.
“I want to see if there’s a workable solution for everyone,” she said.
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See the original article at: KHON2 Local News
