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PAGE 2 • THE FIL-AM COURIER • DECEMBER 1-15, 2017 By RADIANT CORDERO I remember the first few years after I got my driver’s license and began driving myself to wherever I needed to go whenever I needed to. Prior to obtaining my driver’s license, I had to plan out my errands Connectivity networks for to coincide with the bus route I would be taking on that particular day. When I started driving, I’d drive around from memory to go places. everyone, not just for cars It was then that I realized that I really didn’t know my own city’s streets communities have provided means from the crosswalk on Houghtailing But, these roads have been Think wholly for your and highways very well. for you to do that if you really wanted on Halona Streets, mainly because made to easily accommodate motor community, not just what works for I knew directions and where to to try it. the entrance to the park was open vehicles instead. you. If you see someone walking or park, but, I didn’t realize which For me, Kalihi and Kapalama by the playground. A less permeable network, like biking or waiting for the bus, taxi or streets ended up being one-ways or are what I know best. I was also At that point, I am hungry, the one I endured from Hillcrest and Uber/Lyft, look around them and you. dead-ends. Many times, I’d have inspired by the inaugural Kalihi sweating so much that I knew I barely to Dillingham Boulevard and Are the conditions of the road, close calls of driving head on into ahupua‘a bike ride that connected smelled, and I wanted to give up. Mokauea Streets has few sidewalk, neighborhood favorable one-way traffic – from Kaimuki to ‘keiki to kupuna alike from Ho‘ulu I told myself to just make it to intersections making it difficult to for you and them? Kaneohe and especially in ‘Aina to Sand Island Recreational Nimitz Highway to Libby Street so I reach a destination in a reasonably If not, speak out and reach out Downtown/Chinatown. Park. could just say I made it to the water’s direct route. to the people elected to serve you I also learned that there are I wanted to try it in another part edge and just go back to where I If our neighborhoods and to effect improvements for us all! some intricate driving habits of of the ahupua‘a, where residents can get shelter and shower. communities increase connectivity Hawai‘i habits, too: Have you that commute through other modes As I walked long stretches between people and places, then we State Legislature: noticed that for many in Hawai‘i, of transportation are aplenty. Also, toward North King Street and will see more people utilizing their http://capitol.hawaii.gov/members/ most especially on Oahu, driving I wanted to go from mauka to makai Dillingham, I saw many of my fellow streets not just in their cars. legislators.aspx from town to Kapolei or even the because going downhill is pedestrians donning umbrellas. I Connections also must be Honolulu City Council: North Shore is considered only for preferable for me. was ill-prepared for this walk, they made not just to connect to major http://www.honolulu.gov/council day-trips, unless you have to I was dropped off at the were certainly prepared for rain and thoroughfares or highways, I Maui County Council: commute to and from there, of intersections of Hillcrest Street and especially for the daunting sun. believe that smaller routes, http://mauicounty.us/ course. While in the other Houghtailing St. and made my way Shade and benches at bus pathways, and greenways are councilmembers/ contiguous 48 states, driving or makai-bound. The first fifteen stops were one in a few. At bus essential and blocked areas - of Kauai County Council: commuting through other means of minutes masked the venture as an stops, there were individuals who which many communities have many http://www.kauai.gov/Council/ transportation 20 to 100 miles can easy one so my spirits were high. released a pungent smell that made - need to be redesigned. Councilmembers be all a part of life. Have you also Then, I got to one beautiful part me not want to stay under the bus But, that is not all. We can’t Hawaii County Council: noticed that when you travel, there of the Kapalama ahupua‘a, right stop cover for any longer than a just provide a path and call it http://www.hawaiicounty.gov/ are some places where you’d behind Mexico Restaurant off of nano-second. So I kept going. walkable. It needs to be comfortable council/ certainly rent a car, and others, you School Street where Lo‘i Kalo Park I wasn’t going to make it to enough with shade or areas to sit. would find renting a car would be is then met with the intersection of Nimitz Highway or even see the Crosswalks need to be comfortable more of a hassle? Hawai‘i is one Kapalama Canal. I’ve been there ocean to make it a true mauka-to- to cross also, as I crossed North particular place where renting a car many times for cleanups and site makai trip like I intended to. The King Street from Farrington High is crucial. inspections of the canal. I thought I stretches of sidewalk that normally School toward Waiakamilo Street, The more I travel, the more I had an advantage in somewhat go by so quickly as I drive seemed the road had a natural bump to it, see that people are willing to walk knowing the area. so much longer while I was walking. making it easy to stumble or trip, longer and farther distances than we Then, I was met with the same That is if there were sidewalks, plus the three lanes going east and do in Hawai‘i, though our weather is realization I had when I first started I had to place one foot in front of the three lanes going west made it a long Radiant Cordero is the assistant editor more favorable than many other driving almost a decade ago — I other to walk along edges of the road trek at the intersection with cars of the Fil-Am Courier, tech. assistant with destinations. I then pondered don’t actually know that area well where cars would be least likely to impatiently waiting to turn into the the Fil-Am Courier Community Hour on deeper into the idea of it, is it harder enough to traverse it! hit me. next lanes glared at me and an older KNDI 1270AM, and a chief of staff with to get from place to place in Hawaii? With Lo‘i Kalo Park and “Why am I doing this for my woman. We give cars so much room the City and County of Honolulu. Cordero Think about it, have you ever Kapalama Canal behind me, I stood column again?” I doubted my that although I, as a pedestrian, have has over eight years of experience in tried walking, biking, or traveling by the Houghtailing freeway exit by intention over and over again. a right of way, the drivers don’t nonprofit organizations, government through other means other than your Halona St. debating whether to walk I thought I’d be done and back completely seem to care about that. relations, media relations, and community car through just your ahupua‘a? I’m towards Palama Street or within the hour. An hour and a half With the new development of a engagement. Radiant comes from an talking either from mountain to Houghtailing Street. With not many passed and I only made it to Kalihi transit system and a multimodal ocean or vice versa. other pedestrians around me, I Street and Dillingham Boulevard. system to go along with it and educational background of Political As my interest in connectivity decide to go to the place that looked Cursing my idiocy, I shaked off especially new housing Science, American Studies, Ethnic of networks increased over the closest, Houghtailing Street. The my negativity and focused on what I developments, I call all of us to Studies, and Public Administration and years, I made it a point to do just keyword is closest. Although it was can learn from this and why I was ensure efficient and sufficient pre- utilizes her experiences on the Board of that in both the Kalihi and Kapalama closer than Palama Street, the cars not enjoying it all. If I was struggling emptive planning for new areas and Directors of the Epilepsy Foundation of ahupua‘a. exiting the freeway made it very through the shoddy terrain as a improving existing conditions. We Hawaii, and as an active member/volunteer Not all ahupua‘a are like that, uncomfortable to feel safe walking pedestrian, what about the people need to come out in numbers to any with Asian American Journalists though. In Moanalua, you can trek along Halona. who have to do it every single day? community meetings or town halls Association, Read Aloud America, Catholic down from Moanalua Valley to makai As soon as I reached the This is why I stand behind the that are discussing these plans. We Charities Hawaii, Pacific Alliance to Stop to Keehi Lagoon or further down if intersection that is parallel to Peter importance of connectivity in road cannot just sit back and anticipate Slavery, Prevent Child Abuse Hawaii, necessary. You can also do that Buck Mini Park on Houghtailing, and street networks.