PETITION: CREATING A DEDICATED ANIMAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING COMPLEX WITHIN KALAELOA PARKLANDS

TO:  Honolulu City and County Office of the Mayor and its administration; the Honolulu City Council; and the Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation. 

PETITION: We, the undersigned residents of the City and County of Honolulu, Hawai‘i, hereby present this petition to address the opportunity of creating an animal education and training facility within the newly-deeded 400 acres of Kalaeloa Parklands. 

BACKGROUND:  

On June 12, 2024, the City and County of Honolulu took ownership of approximately 400 acres of former Navy-owned land of Kalaeloa for public park and public recreational area purposes. The City and County of Honolulu will have jurisdiction of the area, with the National Park Services (NPS) overseeing compliance with covenants and agreements contained in the deed.

Mayor Rick Blangiardi, in an Office of the Mayor press release, reported, “We have heard from communities across O‘ahu about the compelling need for additional public park and recreational opportunities. This generous gift of lands from the Navy and the National Park Services offers our administration an opportunity to think big and outside-the-box for more recreational opportunities for the people of O‘ahu. Whether pickleball courts, tennis courts, camp sites along O‘ahu’s leeward coast or possibly a future community motorsports park, these former Navy lands given to the people of O‘ahu by the NPS are an investment in our communities and the quality of life of our people.” 

Laura Thielen, the Director of Department of Parks and Recreation for the City and County of Honolulu, notes that now that the title is in place, the city will be able to invest in extensive planning and improvements for the residents of this area. We believe that the large and growing number of O‘ahu residents who enjoy activities with their companion animals (and each other) deserve a place at the table in making those plans and improvements.   

The needs of the animal community on O‘ahu have been overlooked.  Restrictions imposed by current City parks and the competition for park usage with other sports groups have made it extremely difficult to find suitable animal-friendly venues for dog shows, dog sports, cat shows, bird shows, free flight bird area, and 4H groups working with animals.

The only on-leash dog park within City park district 3 (Waipahu to Waianae) is Ewa Beach Community Park.  There are no public off-leash dog parks in this area.  Kapolei is a growing area, yet its residents have no park areas to enjoy with their pets.

PETITION REQUEST: Creating a dedicated fifteen-acre animal education and training complex within the newly-deeded 400-acre Kalaeloa Parklands.  The complex should include bathrooms, parking, secure indoor meeting and exhibition rooms (similar to the McCoy Pavilion at Ala Moana Beach Park), food preparation facilities, and secure storage areas that clubs could rent to hold equipment for dog agility, dog obedience, Fast CAT, and cages required for benched cat, rabbit, and bird shows.

We believe that an animal education and training complex in the Kalaeloa Parklands will enhance recreational opportunities for residents of the surrounding area and provide a much needed animal-friendly park that would benefit residents from all over O‘ahu.  The signatories below have joined together in support of this cause, seeking your assistance in creating the proposed animal education and training complex.