The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1906-03-15

that will open to view the beauty OF
the valleys and make it unnecessary
to retrace ones steps on the same
road To this matter I shall refer
again in considering your parks and
drives The extension of Allen street
along the waterfront to connect with
Queen, if practicable and not too costly
would seem logical and desirable
step. that there may be an unbroken
public way along the docks.
2. FOCAL POINTS.
The focal points of the city's ac-
tivity may now properly receive con-
sideration.
a. THE RAILROAD STATION.
The railroad station. which in most
communities is Of prime Importance
as the main point of entrance and
egress, is here altogether overshadow-
ed by the greater significance of the
water gate. An advantage of this is
the opportunity thus given for con-
centration of attention upon the dew
elopment of the latter. But it will not
do to neglect entirely any focus of the
city, and l find the railroad station
and its main approach receiving,
through the enterprise of the interest
ed company, commendable attention
and treatment.
b. THE WATER ENTRANCE.
To the water entrance I have given
much thought. The biz new slips,
which viii establish the location of
this entrance as far as most Dassen-
gers are concerned, extend for the
present east of Alakea street and reach
to Allen. Almost ideally located in
front of this site is block of ground
occupied by the old Fish Market, now
practically abandoned. but public prop
erty of the Territory to be developed as
seems best. Here, then, is the place
to create that formal and attractive en-
trance to the city that shall insure a
good first and last impression to travel
ers and make for residents a pleas
anter means OF access to the docks
than any now possessed.
The block is bounded by Alakea,
Queen, Richards and Allen streets and
is $50 feet long by 230 feet wide. L
append a blue print showing the plan
I have worked out for it. The plots
Allen street line is set back at the mid
die, or entrance, point thirty feet, and
then is carried out to the street line
at either end in a curve. The pur-
pose of this is to give greater space
to traffic at the point where this most
converges and incidentally to empha.-
size the invitation of the open space
behind, as a straight line-shuttins it
off like private property-would fail
to do. On the broad curving walks
at the center, I would have the sellers
of lei. The position would be an
equally convenient and happy one for
them and for the public. At the en-
trance seventy feet wide, a fifty-foot
road and ten-foot walks stretching out
behind it, 1 recommend tall and
handsome gateway-the architectural
of the city. This might
take the form either of pylons, or, as
a more familiar type of gate with a
bridge above the road, pro-
vide a place for the band, where it
would be out of the way and where
IT'S music would carry easily to the
upper decks of the arriving or depart
ing steamer. In the construction or
of this gate the word 'tAlo-
ma" might well be Incorporated.
Passing through the gate, which
would give an unusually imposing en-
rance to the city, the road and walks
cad straight away to a point 100 feet
from the further end. Here they fork,
by long curves to the two
and so connecting with Ala
lea and Richards streets. At the
,rotch of the fork. terminating the
vista of the road, there should gradu-
lily rise a bank of tropical foliage:
1t the base, low ferns, midway higher
he oleander, far back the banana, and
back of all the tall palms. Outlining
he arcs at the front of the plot should
pc the royal palm. At the sides the
ronwoods, already planted and well
grown, may remain, and in front of
hem date palms. Overhanging the
walks, the algaroba will give a pleas
mt shade and yet be so low as not to
screen the trees beyond. Thus the
'ntrance to Honolulu would be, as it
'ught to be, through a garden. In
dopting the suggested treatment. Ala
iea and Richard streets would carry
Ill the heavy traffic, an ordinance re-
tricting the use of the parkway to
passenger vehicles.
An opportunity for waterfront park
ear this point, further to enhance the
effectiveness of the entrance. is Of
cred by the lots makai side of Allen
treet, from Alakea to Kekuanaoa. and
o Fort if a new Custom House is
rected on another site. In time this
and may be needed for additional
arge slips, but that is not likely to
re soon and meanwhile they would
asily make very attractive harbor
ark a pleasant sight to travellers but
t still more Importance to Honolulu
esidents. Considering the central To-
alton of this park, the fascination of
he busy shipping scenes that it would
Her, and the Improvement that it's
xistence would effect. it would be
bundantly worth it's cost. If the park
ere made here, it should have
The whole situation at
his strategic point is one of unusual {
God fortune, and your board is to be