Save Pali Lanes

03/27/2024

HCR167 - urging Alexander & Baldwin to restore and reopen Pali Lanes bowling center. This is our message that we sent out to members of the House committee on Water & Land. Join us, write to YOUR elected officials and tell them to hold a hearing!

Aloha,

My name is Christian Arakawa. I am a founding member and the president of Team . For the past 6 years I have worked within the Kailua community to help save our communities gathering center, Pali Lanes. We fought tirelessly trying to save our bowling center. We worked with the Kailua Neighborhood board, the Honolulu City Council, the state legislator, local activists, the community, and much more to do so. We gathered enough evidence and support to be registered as a Hawaii Historical landmark. We had support from the bowling community across the country. In 2019 Professional Bowling Association (PBA) telecaster and hall of fame bowler, Randy Pedersen came to Pali Lanes, donated bowling gear to our youth program and gave a speech. We worked with schools, the special. Olympics of Hawaii, senior groups, local businesses, and much more.

I can continue to go on and on about our work, our support, about my committee, achievements we have made.

Me and my committee and full of dedicated local residents who will stop at nothing to save our communities gathering center. We are calling that HCR167 is scheduled for a hearing. I have talked to literally thousands of people since we started this campaign over 6 years ago.THe majority of the people want the bowling alley saved. To this day, I get calls and texts from people asking on updates and when the bowling center will reopen. I still get emails about people requesting reservations.

The people have spoken, we want Pali Lanes to be reopened. We want Alexander & Baldwin to be held accountable, we want them to speak publicly about their plans and decision. They said in a press release that they would “Preserve and keep bowling in Kailua”. Their most recent plans for the property seem to go against what they promised. But more importantly, it goes against what the community wants. They need to be held accountable.

Linda Ichiyama Representative Mahina Poepoe Representative Sonny Ganaden Mark Jun Hashem Dee Morikawa Representative Gregg Takayama Kanani Souza

02/23/2024

This is wrong and disgusting. Catch us on KITV4 news as we continue to fight Alexander & Baldwin

Island News has learned that the owner of the shuttered bowling complex is making some moves to redevelop the property.

05/19/2023

This Saturday would have been Pali Lanes 62nd anniversary. The bowling alley has sat empty for nearly 2 years. We the community deserve action and response from . We need to hold them accountable for their actions. I’m 2019 they said they would “preserve and keep bowling in Kailua”. They are failing miserably. A&B give the community answer. A&B stay true to your words.

12/06/2022

This is amazing!
From Hawaii News Now “But up until now she had never come up with an aloha shirt that featured a print inspired by a building.

“I think people loved the fact that it was something a little bit different,” she said.

It’s different because it’s not your typical floral fashioned shirt. Oaks was inspired by the concrete blocks that give the old Pali Lanes building in Kailua its iconic look.

The idea for the breeze block design came from Oak’s architect friend.”

“When he first approached me about doing some shirts, it was when there was this big movement behind trying to save the Pali Lanes,” she said.

For her, the Pali Lanes project was personal. She was a big fan of the bowling alley. And breeze block adds another dimension to her design, and that’s good for business.

Mahalo Roberta Oaks, Hawaii

For her, the Pali Lanes project was personal. She was a big fan of the bowling alley.

06/30/2022

One year ago, Pali Lanes closed forever. 365 days. The keys were handed over to Alexander & Baldwin (A&B) and the power to the property was disabled. For one year the property has sat vacant. We have attached pictures showing Pali Lanes before we closed and after we closed. Since we closed, the property has sat empty and in dismay. There is a huge fence that blocks off nearly the entire parking lot. There is painted plywood that blocks off the iconic rainbow arch wall. The roof is cracking and near the front door there is graffiti. We are at a lost of words. Why is A&B failing to keep the property up to par? Pali Lanes is a historic building. There is an obligation for the property to be maintained, they are not. A&B said they would keep Pali Lanes in Kailua, it has been closed for 1 year. A&B said they would keep bowing in Kailua, the only public bowling alley in the entire Windward side has been closed for 1 year. A&B needs to be held accountable for the actions and their own words. We as community are tired of being bulldozed by A&B. We must hold them accountable.

06/26/2022

06/22/2022

Today, for the first time in over a year, we issued a press release. Why? Nearly one year ago Pali Lanes shut down forever. Since Pali Lanes has shut down many in our community have reached out to A&B as to what they are planning to do the bowling alley. The response: next to nothing. As stakeholders in our own community, we deserve to know what A&B is planning in doing to our bowling alley. In August 2019 A&B said they are looking at ways to keep bowling in Kailua as well as Pali Lanes. It has been nearly three years since that statement and currently Pali Lanes is closed and there is no public bowling alley in Windward Oahu. A&B needs to be held accountable to their own words.

05/30/2022

May 30, 2021, one year ago today we celebrated Pali Lanes 60th anniversary. With the help of our awesome team committee, we gathered as one community to celebrate our community gathering center, our beloved bowling alley. It was a day full of festivities. Friends and families alike came out to bowl. Our bowlers in our bowling community came from across the island to celebrate. We had an amazing guest singers, speakers, and food! Honolulu city council member gave us a letter from the . We had amazing prizes from so many different local business. Our prizes ranged from small little nicknacks, gift baskets, Hawaiian style clothes, and our grand prizes: bowling balls and a roundtrip for 2 to Maui courtesy of . We could go on and on about how awesome our 60th birthday party fundraiser was. But we want to end it by saying thank you! Thank you to our community members. Thank you to our donors and sponsors. Thank you to the volunteers who made this event possible. Thank you everybody for celebrating with us. We miss you Pali lanes!

05/20/2022

Today would have been Pali Lane's 61st anniversary. Nearly 1 year ago on June 30, 2021, Pali Lanes shut down. The loss of Pali Lanes greatly impacted our community. Pali Lanes was much more than just a bowling alley, it was truly the gathering center of Kailua.
It’s been nearly 1 year since Pali Lanes closed, what’s going on with the property? If you have driven past Pali Lanes recently, it is fenced off so nobody can enter the bowling alley and most of the parking lot. On August 9, 2019, A&B said that they intended to preserve Pali Lanes and Bowling in Kailua. Is A&B going to keep their words? Since Pali Lanes closed nearly 1 year ago no new plans have been made, and nothing new has happened to the building (the exterior at least). A&B has made no announcements as to what they want to do with Pali Lanes, despite the community asking.
While the committee to save Pali Lanes has been inactive, we still care about Pali Lanes. We want our bowling alley back! We know how important Pali Lanes is to you, your family, and our community.
We would personally like to see A&B stay true to their words. They said they intended to keep Pali Lanes and Bowling in Kailua. A&B, stay true to your own words and keep Pali Lanes and Bowling in Kailua!

07/08/2021

We’re you able to read the letter to the editor written by Christian Arakawa? If not it’s below. It’s great! In it, he ask a question that many of us have, what is Alexander & Baldwin planning on doing to the property? As stakeholders in our own community we deserve answers.

From the Honolulu Atart Advertiser:

The Kailua community deserves to know what Alexander & Baldwin are planning to do with the Pali Lanes property. For 60 years Pali Lanes served the community. Now that it is closed, there are more questions then answers, as to what the future holds for the property. There have been many rumors but nothing permanent. The Kailua residents deserve to know what will happen to the property. Will the property benefit locals or tourists? In an A&B August 2019 press release A&B stated that they intend to keep bowling in Kailua. Well are they? Are they going to stay true to their own words or go back on their words and hurt more locals? The community already lost an iconic business. A&B should tell the community what they intend to do to the property.
Christian Arakawa
President, Team Save Pali Lanes.

07/03/2021

I am a bowler at pali lanes thats what keeps me going, what if the situation was switched and A&B got something taken from them that kept them going and being alive, thats what the bowlers and the people from kailua are trying to do. We are trying to keep us alive and the seniors and special needs. So A&B if you have any heart and soul please leave Pali Lanes to the community so we can stay alive. You have so much money let us be and find somewhere else. Save Pali Lanes

This was sent to us by a former regular house bowler at Pali Lanes. This person has asked to stay anonymous. Pali Lanes is more than bowling. To many bowlers (like this one) bowling is their life. Pali Lanes is their second home. We lost more than a bowling alley. We lost a way of life. Please do the right thing and

06/29/2021

Today is the final day of operation for Pali Lanes Bowling Center. We’d like to thank the community for allowing us to serve you for these past 60 years. Without you we could’ve never accomplished this amazing feet. It is a sad day that none of us wish would’ve ever come but sadly it has. Today we will open at 2 PM and shut our doors for the very last time at 12 midnight today. Last call is 11 PM and we are first come first serve no reservations. Although we are closing we ask that you not stay silent. We know we all love Pali Lanes and don’t want to see it go. Please call or write to our local city or state elected officials. Call Alexander & Baldwin and tell them Pali Lanes needs to stay open. Share your own personal story on social media, right to the Midweek the star advertiser. We cannot let this happen. Pali Lanes is integral to our community and we need it to stay. Although today’s our last day open we hope to one day be able to serve you again. Mahalo for 60 years