KAPA‘A — Bicyclists and joggers did a double take Tuesday on the multi-use path fronting the Kapa‘a Library. A crane whirred and fronds swished as a crew from Kaua‘i Nursery and Landscaping worked to remove four mature coconut trees from
KAPA‘A — Bicyclists and joggers did a double take Tuesday on the multi-use path fronting the Kapa‘a Library.
A crane whirred and fronds swished as a crew from Kaua‘i Nursery and Landscaping worked to remove four mature coconut trees from the back of the library.
Councilwoman Lani Kawahara, who serves as librarian at the Kapa‘a branch, said the trees were being removed following an inspection by the state Department of Accounting and General Services.
“The DAGS people did an inspection at all of the libraries and the removal was based on two factors,” Kawahara said. “First, since the trees are so close to the path, the high cost of maintaining the trees in the face of budget cuts; and secondly, due to increasing liability.”
Kawahara said the trees located in the employee parking and receiving area of the library are close to the popular bicycle and pedestrian path and two of the trees were actually growing out over the path.
“Even our employees would check the trees before parking under them,” she said. “The high impact area got higher due to the success of the bike path.”
Following the inspection, Kawahara said a team from KNL visited the library to see which of the trees could be saved.
Several of the trees were unsalvageable due to various reasons, but four of the trees could be relocated to the KNL lot in Lihu‘e where they will be replanted while waiting for new homes, a KNL worker said.
“The good thing is that the trees will have new homes,” Kawahara said.
That seemed to please many of the path users who stopped to chat with the workers.
