CCH = City & County of Honolulu

DPR = Department of Parks and Recreation

HKF = Hawaii Kyudo Foundation

 

Is public park land being leased or sold for the dojo site?

No, the City retains ownership of the park land and is not giving any property right – lease, rent, or otherwise to HKF

 

How much land will the dojo take up?

The dojo will take just ½ acres or 1.5% of the park’s 39 acres.  

 

Why is a kyudojo needed?

Up until 2012,  archery, including Japanese archery (kyudo),  was allowed in Kapiolani Park. After some public concern about safety, those facilities were shut down and DPR ensured there were alternative western archery ranges at Koko Head & Waipio Regional Park, However, no replacement for the kyudo range was ever established. This project will remedy that shortcoming at  no cost to the taxpayer.

 

Who will own and operate the dojo?

Once construction is complete, the dojo will be gifted to the CCH and become another DPR facility. It will be operated by Hawaii Kyudo Foundation under DPR supervision.

 

Why Mau’umae and not some other nearby park?

DPR did consider other parks,  but they are already heavily utilized and couldn’t support additional use. The  space at Mau’umae, because it is  overgrown and inaccessible, presented an opportunity to utilize fallow land that, in its undeveloped condition, invites negative activities such as illegal dumping, etc.

 

Will this cost the taxpayers anything?

No. HKF will fund the entire development and construction process. Once complete, HKF will pay all maintenance costs.

 

Will the existing grass portion of the park be disturbed?

No, the dojo will be built on undeveloped scrubland mauka of the grass portion. No part of the existing grass portion of the park will be changed, so current activities such as dog training, dog walking, etc. will not be impacted.

 

Can the dojo serve other community uses in addition to kyudo?

Yes, the facility will be available for public use. There is a meeting room that is well suited for groups up to about 40 people,  and it will have limited kitchen facilities. The shooting gallery is a large, wooden-floored area of about 1,500 square feet. This can be used for hula, Tai Chi, yoga, or any other activity that doesn’t require shoes. (because kyudo is practiced wearing tabi (a special sock), the floor must remain pristine and can’t be damaged by shoes. There is also a large, outdoor  grass area of about 5,000 square feet that can be used for hula, Tai Chi, fundraising events, lua, etc.

 

What are some other benefits for the community?

Wildfire is an ongoing concern in the case of undeveloped land adjacent to urban areas. The dojo will eliminate this threat in its immediate area, and  will also provide critically important support for ongoing native reforestation efforts being made by EnVision Kaimuki for other areas of the park. Specifically, an irrigation supply, secure storage for tools and equipment used by volunteers, and a restroom for use by volunteers. HKF will have a vested interest in keeping all areas of the park well maintained and clean. We share EnVision Kaimuki’s objective of removing invasive species and  creating a green oasis that the community can be safely  accessed via nature paths. Finally, HKF intends to be a great neighbor and will do our best to ensure all areas of the park are well maintained and serving the neighborhood.

 

Will it include a public restroom?

No & yes. There will be restroom with access from the exterior of the dojo, but this restroom will always remain locked. A code will be given to HPD to encourage officers to be present in the neighborhood, and a one-time use code will be given to volunteers working in the park on any given day. Otherwise, the restroom will not be open to the public.

 

Will kyudo create a lot of noise?

No, kyudo is a silent sport and the quiet is an important part of the “Zen” of the discipline.

 

What about parking?

The dojo will include 19 stalls, more than sufficient for its intended use, so existing street parking will not be impacted. To prevent unwanted activity, the parking area access will be gated and locked when not actively in use.

 

Will there be a significant Increase in traffic ?

Currently the dojo is scheduled to operate for about 3 days/12 hours per week at times outside of peak traffic. CCH transportation dept. has done a preliminary review of the project and finds no significant concerns. 

 

Will there be a prolonged and disruptive construction process?

No, once a building permit is issued, we anticipate construction will take 4 – 6 months, with all activity occurring out of sight on the lot. There will be a few days' impact on 16th Avenue when sewer and water connections are made, but this work will be scheduled for off-peak hours.

 

What is being done to ensure safety from arrows?

The entire shooting range will be surrounded by arrow-impermeable barriers, including a “sky-barrier” netting to preclude arrows going up and out from the dojo. A qualified “Rangemaster” will always be present any time archery activity occurs. All users will have to complete a range safety course before being allowed to use the facility.

 

Can western  archery be done at the facility?

No, the facility is not suitable for western archery. Western archery practitioners have access to DPR’s other public archery facilities.

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What was the public process that allowed this project to proceed ?

CCH and DPR attorneys confirmed the legal process that allows a non-profit entity to work under DPR’s supervision to operate such a facility,  and other examples of this arraignment have operated in the community for years. The project then was presented to the Kaimuki Neighborhood Board on 4 occasions  to solicit input, and comments. Many good suggestions came from this process. The Kaimuki Neighborhood Board unanimously passed a resolution in favor of the project and the CCH administration greenlighted the initiative. Early in the process, HKF went door-to-door to abutting property owners to hand out information packets.  Finally, a legally required Environmental Assessment is currently being conducted,  and this includes soliciting and responding to comments from stakeholders. A formal report will be included as part of the project packets that goes before the Department of Planning and Permitting for final approval.

 

I’ve heard that there was once a Hawaiian Heiau on the site, is this true?

No. An  Archeological & Cultural study done by the City in 2002 shows that the nearest Heiau was over a mile away on Wilhelmina Rise,  and that there are “No other archaeological sites known in the vicinity” and that there are “No storied places (wahi Pana) known within the project area.

 

Will the public be able to learn kyudo?

Yes. HKF is legally required by its agreement with DPR to provide public classes so that every citizen has a path to learning kyudo and using the facility.