**Honolulu City Council Proposes Pedestrian Mall on Chaplain Lane to Revitalize Downtown**
Calls to redevelop downtown Honolulu for reducing crime and sparking economic activity may soon include transforming Chaplain Lane, a narrow city-owned roadway, into a pedestrian mall.
Located within the boundaries of Nuuanu Avenue, South Beretania, Bethel, and South Pauahi streets, Chaplain Lane’s mauka end is commonly used by Hawaii Pacific University (HPU) students for moped parking. Its makai side is occupied by Mark’s Garage, a paid parking lot at 22 S. Pauahi St.
### Bill 48 Seeks to Convert Chaplain Lane into a Pedestrian-Friendly Mall
Honolulu City Council Bill 48, sponsored by District 6 Council member Tyler Dos Santos-Tam, proposes converting a 200-foot stretch of Chaplain Lane into “Chaplain Lane Mall,” a non-vehicle, pedestrian-friendly zone. The measure aims to stop all vehicle traffic between Fort Street Mall and Bethel Street, with some exceptions for limited service access.
Council member Dos Santos-Tam explained, “The section of Chaplain Lane between Fort Street Mall and Bethel Street is generally too narrow for vehicles on a regular basis and has often been used for moped parking for HPU students and others.”
He added that neighboring businesses have requested the closure of the lane to vehicular traffic to allow for “sidewalk dining,” a program he has championed for downtown Honolulu.
Chaplain Lane’s location is ideal, according to Dos Santos-Tam, as it directly intersects with Fort Street Mall, serving as a key pedestrian connection. Its dead-end layout inherently limits vehicular access, making it suitable for conversion.
“This project can encourage foot traffic for nearby businesses, better support adjacent small retailers and restaurants, and help activate our historic core with arts, culture, and community events,” he said.
The pedestrian mall is part of a broader effort to revitalize downtown Honolulu. It complements prior initiatives such as making outdoor dining permanent, streamlining office-to-residential conversions, and establishing the Downtown Honolulu Business Improvement District (BID).
“Designating Chaplain Lane as a pedestrian mall will improve safety, accessibility, and the overall walkability of downtown while still allowing limited service access for nearby businesses,” Dos Santos-Tam emphasized.
### Management and Timing of the Project
If adopted, the city’s Department of Transportation Services would oversee and coordinate the use of the future pedestrian mall. Bill 48 would officially add Chaplain Lane Mall to Honolulu’s list of downtown malls, alongside College Walk, Fort Street, Kauluwela, Kekaulike, Kila Kalikimaka, Sun Yat Sen, and Union malls.
The conversion is slated to take effect on December 1, according to the bill.
### Community Input and Support
During the recent Council Zoning and Planning Committee meeting, no public testimonies were offered for or against Bill 48. However, written testimonies expressed support from key community members.
Ross Isokane, a member of the Downtown-Chinatown Neighborhood Board, endorsed the pedestrian mall, citing a neighborhood resolution promoting more community events as part of ongoing revitalization efforts. He noted, “I believe converting Chaplain Lane into a pedestrian mall can further this objective.”
Isokane also voiced concerns regarding the lack of traditional community events in Chinatown, such as legacy holiday block parties, which have not occurred over the past three years. Notably, Hallowbaloo 2025, initially planned for Fort Street Mall, will not take place this year. He mentioned challenges with city permitting processes as a potential barrier for event organizers.
Honolulu resident Dylan Armstrong also supported Bill 48, highlighting the inefficient use of space in Honolulu, much of which is allocated to road paving and parking. He stated, “Chaplain Lane is used for both.”
Armstrong sees downtown and Chinatown redevelopment as a “greatest and most dynamic opportunity” to improve Honolulu. He called the pedestrian mall bill “a very small step towards that improvement and very little to lose in its changes to the urban grid, being a narrow alleyway.”
He encouraged the City Council not to fear small victories but to continue pushing for improvements.
Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s administration has indicated support for Bill 48.
### Next Steps
The Zoning and Planning Committee voted unanimously (3-0) to advance Bill 48, with Council members Radiant Cordero and Tommy Waters absent from the meeting. The full Honolulu City Council will review the measure’s second reading in due course.
### Future Plans for Downtown Streets
Council member Dos Santos-Tam noted that no other pedestrian malls are currently being pursued in downtown Honolulu beyond Chaplain Lane. However, there are plans to explore “shared streets” — roadways redesigned to allow cars, bikes, and pedestrians to coexist safely. Such shared streets are common on small side streets in Japan and Europe.
### Additional Downtown Revitalization Efforts
In July, Dos Santos-Tam introduced legislation to improve downtown by revamping an existing special improvement district aimed at boosting public safety and economic revitalization in an area long affected by crime, homelessness, and business closures.
By October 1, the City Council passed Bill 51 to rename the Fort Street Mall Special Improvement District as the Downtown Honolulu Business Improvement District (BID). Modeled after the Waikiki BID, it will provide enhanced cleaning, safety patrols, landscaping, improved lighting, signage, street furniture, and coordinate festivals and activities to enliven downtown.
Under the updated BID, nonresidential property owners within the district’s boundaries—covering 2,088 parcels—will contribute to a $1.9 million annual budget through special assessments. Residential properties are exempt.
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The pedestrian mall proposal for Chaplain Lane is poised to be a promising step toward making downtown Honolulu safer, more vibrant, and economically active, reflecting coordinated efforts by city officials, community members, and local businesses.
https://www.staradvertiser.com/2025/10/20/hawaii-news/new-pedestrian-mall-eyed-for-downtown-honolulu/
