Why is it (again) that we simply can’t or won’t get things resolved permanently far too often locally? This time, I’m wondering about the Hawai`i State Capitol surrounding moat (er… former ponds), now defunct. After decades of persistent issues, the existing tiles were finally stripped, and the area leaked during recent, torrential rains. Actually, there was flooding- walls below, ceilings, floors, equipment, records, you name it, the water came rushing into the Beretania basement. Once again. Mildew madness. The plan is to replace the ponds with user-friendly, artistic, glass tiles that perusers can walk (skate?) on. What could possibly go wrong?
Flooding/leakage has occurred repeatedly since 1969 when the State Capitol was constructed. That’s 55 years of on again/off again drippage and solution posturing. Ho hum. That’s nothing compared to the length of time we’ve waited for resolution on the Koolau Stairway to Heaven and on the Waikiki Natatorium. I know, the Stairway has been partially removed (yet another lawsuit), and the Natatorium has some practical ideas for reparations… this decade. And we’ll not nosedive into nagging no-gos of recent ilk like TMT, Aloha Stadium, or the on-going Red Hill fiasco.
And then we have the saga of the Queen Theatre in Kaimuki, a building that many see as having historical value, yet has sat vacant and deteriorating for 40-years on a very visible and valuable corner in Kaimuki. We don’t measure things dilapidating in years here, we measure them in decades. The theatre went from a grand symbol of growth in Kaimuki to a pornographic movie house (giving a whole new meaning to the Queen Theatre moniker) to an empty shell; but the City of Honolulu seems likely to act “soon”.
And hey! We’re (finally) getting that leeward bypass road, which officials say will be functional by next spring! We often witness a lack of urgency regarding public or private, well-publicized projects; not handling things often leads to frustration, apathy, and (invariably) greater costs… like the $45-million that’s now being spent to fix leaks and electrical damage in the Capitol pool area.
Recent rainwaters permeated the allegedly waterproof basins even after the Capitol pools were drained in 2020. With the assumed no more pool rule, some are questioning why we can’t save some form of water feature that won’t leak. Perhaps after 55 years, it’s time for change, though change we abhor. Even when things stay broke.
Think about it…