Chinatown's Kekaulike Mall in Honolulu has recently undergone a significant upgrade, a project that signals the ongoing efforts to rejuvenate the area. Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi and the City Department of Transportation Services showcased the improvements yesterday at noon, highlighting elements such as newly poured cast-in-place concrete pavement and advanced storm water management systems designed to better handle the island's downpours, as reported by KHON2.
In addition to the structural enhancements, aesthetic and functional improvements include the installation of new lighting and poles, electrical upgrades, and the strategic planting of shade trees, aiming to enhance the visitor experience. The existing community dragon decal, a staple of Chinatown's visual identity, will find a new home at the center of the mall. The overall cost of these improvements is estimated to be about $4.4 million, according to KITV.
The mall's restoration is part of a larger city plan that seeks to restore the historic Chinatown area, stretching renovations toward Nimitz Highway where the Honolulu rail system is slated to stop. "I've seen all the ups and downs of this mall and this is the most beautiful it's ever been," Honolulu City Councilmember Tyler Dos Santos-Tam told KITV. The Department of Transportation Services Director Roger Morton spoke to the significance of the infrastructure improvements, stating, "This is the largest stamped concrete project that we've had in the state of Hawaii, it'll make for much easier maintenance."
Local business owners are already reporting benefits from the improvements made to the mall. "With this construction the drainage system is much better," Paul Min, the owner of 'You Market,’ said in an interview with KITV. Chinatown merchants, previously plagued by flooding during heavy rains will now see relief with the new drainage systems in place. In celebration of the mall's facelift and to officially welcome the upgraded look, a special ceremony is scheduled for Saturday morning next to Kekaulike Mall.
