The Kailua Urban Design Task Force was created in 1994 to develop a vision for the Kailua central business district for the enjoyment of both residents and visitors. Since its inception KUDTF has been a positive guiding force in the community with its continued dialogue with Kaneohe Ranch.

Over the years, KUDTF has provided expertise, public testimonies and incalculable hours of service towards improving the quality of life in Kailua Town.  One project included the various islands and greenery placed on the median of Kailua Road (pictured above).  In 2008, KUDTF updated it's Guidelines for Urban Design, including architectural styles, colors, features, art and materials. 

The Guidelines include:

• Colors: beige, sand, aqua blues, greens, burgundy and dark blue awnings.
• Architectural Materials: natural wood, lava rock, sand-colored stone/concrete, beige brick and tile/metal roofing
• Architectural Features & Lighting:  Decor that highlights windsurfing, palm trees and local flowers and lighting that enhances architectural features.
• Architectural Styles:  Stucco exteriors, plantation style with shed roofs, careful mixture of wood & brick, wood shingles and siding and tile roofs.
• Artistic Features:  Mosaics, bas-relief, sculpture, fountains and mosaics on sculptures.
• Greenery:  Canopy trees, palms, shade for street cafes, shrubbery, shade trees for parking lots, and lots of flowers.

For KUDTF, there are a variety of methods for their decision making processes. Each method was created to serve people. The values of the community are the fundamental foundation on which the task force utilizes towards its outcomes. Such methods include public discussion, surveys, data collection, and the latest 3D representations.

The task force is best known for:

• Remaking the Town sign
• Planting and lighting the entranceway triangle and median
• Planting the Hamakua/Kailua Road intersection
• Installing medians on Kailua Road
• Undergrounding utility wires
• Installing park benches around Kailua Town

Recently Discussed Projects:

The Kailua Town sign was first put up in the laste 90s as the first project of the Kailua Urban Design Task Force.  Initally, the task force wanted to design a logo for the town, which after various discussion groups and meetings, materialized into the mosaic-tiled Kailua town sign on Kailua Road. 

In an effort to update and preserve the sign, KUDTF has been working on new ways and placements for the sign to integrate it into the architectural stylings of Kailua TownClick on the picture to the left to view it more closely.

More recently, the Kailua Urban Design Task Force has formulated a plan for more walkable Hamakua Marsh. Building on the Hamakua Marsh restoration efforts of the State of Hawaii and local residents, this proposal seeks to enhance the pedestrian/cyclist experience and allow greater appreciation of this valuable environmental resource. Click on the picture to the left to view the walkway renderings more closely.