I Submitted a Proposal for an Update to the Honolulu City Charter!
Every time I’m in Waikiki (the epitome of a tourist city), I marvel at the fact that we haven’t limited or banned cars from the area – the area is relatively small and contained, and except for making day trips out from the resort area for hiking, snorkeling/SCUBA diving in other parts of the island, etc., people generally stay within Waikiki where most of the hotels are, along with their shopping and eating needs, which means a lot of foot travel. Waikiki is constantly swarming with people on foot and yet, we let cars in and the combination is dangerous and causes traffic around the area for miles.
Last week, I had an opportunity to try to voice my opinion about it, so I did something a little different: I submitted a proposal to the Honolulu Charter Commission — the group that reviews and recommends updates to the city’s guiding document.
My proposal is simple but powerful: design our city for people first, not cars.
Right now, much of Honolulu’s layout prioritizes car traffic — wide roads, limited sidewalks, and long stretches where walking or biking feels unsafe or inconvenient. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Cities around the world have shown that when we design for people — with safe crosswalks, bike lanes, shaded sidewalks, and connected neighborhoods — everyone benefits.
Why It Matters
Walkable, bikeable cities are healthier, safer, and more vibrant. Studies show that when people can easily move around without a car, we see:
- Fewer traffic injuries and deaths
- Cleaner air and lower carbon emissions
- More business for local shops
- Better physical and mental health
- Stronger neighborhood connections
Honolulu already has great programs like Complete Streets and Vision Zero, which aim for safer, multimodal design, but still incorporate the biggest problem: the cars. My proposal would take the next step — by writing this “people-first design” principle into the City Charter itself, so it becomes a lasting value that guides future planning and budgeting decisions.
Here’s the verbiage I proposed:
“The City and County of Honolulu shall plan, design, and manage its streets, public spaces, and transportation systems to prioritize the safety, accessibility, and well-being of people—whether walking, bicycling, or using public transit—above the movement or storage of private automobiles.”
Honolulu has the perfect climate and culture for walking and biking. With a little imagination and commitment, we can make it easier — and safer — for everyone to get around.
You don’t need to be a policy expert to make a difference. Sometimes it just takes a little effort. I hope this proposal makes a difference for the people who live, walk, or bike around Honolulu. We’ve seen a small but growing movement globally supporting these kinds of efforts, maybe this is just the beginning!
Even a small idea can spark change. And who knows? Maybe this proposal will help make my city a little more connected, a little more human, and a little more like the place we all want to live.
A guy can dream, right?
