Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-02-23
CITY engineers
ORDERS NOW STOP
CUTT|NGOF Trees
Supervisor Hatch Sheds New
and Much Needed Light on
Kapiolani Park incident

stop cutting the Kapiolani Park iron
wood trees, temporarily at least, and
statement and questions by Super
visor Hatch, which put entirely new
phases on the tree-cutting incident,
were important developments today
When w. T. Spalding. manager Of
the SpaIding Construction Company,
was seen this morning by Judge
Hatch. who asked him not to cut the
ironwood trees, Spaldfng said he had
already received orders from the city
and county engineer not TO cut the
trees and mad no Intention OF destroy
ing them.
Judge Hatch, in letter to the Star
Bulletin, points out that a strip OF
Kapiolani Park has been included In
the improvement ordinance illegally,
and he asks directly whether the pres
emit situation has been brought about
by inadyertence on the part OF the
county attorneys office or by deliber-
ate intent.
His letter is as follows:
Editor SIar-Bulleun.
Dear Sir: The matter Of the IRON
wood trees near the entrance to Kapio-
lani Park is OF great public interest al
this moment. The situation, as !
understand 1t, is as follows:
"A strip of KapiolanI Park extends
to the north in front OF Makee Island
TO the side road, which let US call
Cunha road, for Identification; the
highway is wholly on the sea side OF
| the trees. The railroad track is 10.
Gated not on the highway, but in the
park area: this is the case to the ter
minus near Mr.. Parkers place. This
location was not obtained through any
authority from the superintendent OF
public works. 1t was a grant from
the park commissioners, and paid for
| III part by lighting obligations under,
taken by the railroad company.
when the ordinance for the crea-
ton OF the Improvement district under
which Kalakaua avenue Is being re.
built was drafted, this strip of the
park lying between "Cunha road" and
.Menagerie drive" (adopting Mr.. Cas-.
| ties useful term, was included In the
ordinance. The attention of the SUI
pervisors was not called to the fact.
The measure could not have passed II
| it had been. Only the legislature can
authorize a surrender OF any portion
Of the park. II would simply have
| been a breach OF trust for the super.
Yisors knowingly to have done SO.
.The points for consideration are:
at1.1 How to correct the mistake,
having due regard TO the rights OF the
contractor and OF the assessed prop
erty owners.
a(2.) Was the above situation
brought about through mere inadyert.
ence in the county attorneys office
(which we hope), or was it deliberate
| ly done? This latter inquiry perhaps
has only historical interest.
Respectfully,
az. NJ. HATCH
Another expression of sentiment
comes to the Star-Builetin from James
Steiner, resident of the Improvement
district. He says:
II am an old resident OF Waikiki
and love the place dearly. TO the
| KaIakaua avenue frontage tax inn
provement fund I'm contributing
$4,000. In my opinion, and for. the
safety of the enormous traffic. on that
avenue, ] believe the few ironwood
trees at the bridge breakwater should
be done away with altogether. These
few trees are not rare and could easily
be spared as there are many more
close by In the park. Besides, 1t
would open up beautiful outlook to-
wards Manoa and Palolo valleys and
the rnaunfainas
Meanwhile the Star Bulletin gets
verbal expressions of opinion from
numerous citizens who say that while
the park trees may have to be cut,
they feel that the city engineer should
spend more time in trying to avoid
the destruction.
The Star.Bulletin is informed that
while Rapid Transit officials say they
do not wish to go counter to public
sentiment in cutting down the trees.
at the same time the Rapid Transit
engineer fully upholds the view of
City Engineer Collins that the trees
must be cut. One city official points
out that in effect the Rapid Transit's
attitude is that the trees should be
cut.