A private contractor will begin removing 86 trees from Waikiki's Kuhio Avenue today at a cost of up to $105,000, city officials said.

Mayor Mufi Hannemann ordered the tree removal in April in response to complaints that the large number of trees and the added landscaped medians created a safety hazard for bus drivers, firefighters and paramedics — among others — because the trees blocked signs and access for drivers and pedestrians.

Hannemann consulted with the environmental group The Outdoor Circle before making the recommendation to take out a little less than one-fourth of the 350 trees that now line the 1.6-mile stretch of the Waikiki thoroughfare.

Hannemann spokesman Bill Brennan said Royal Contracting Co. is handling the project, which is expected to take about three weeks. The company expects only minor traffic disruption during the process, he said.

The trees were planted as part of a $19 million beautification project on Kuhio championed by former Mayor Jeremy Harris.

Brennan said only six trees will be cut down; the rest will be dug up and replanted.

He said nine rainbow showers will be replanted elsewhere on Kuhio Avenue. The remaining 71 trees — 15 monkeypods, one coconut tree and 55 rainbow showers — will be transplanted elsewhere, Brennan said.

The Outdoor Circle's Bob Loy, director of environmental programs, said the organization was "deeply involved" in the decisions about the trees on Kuhio Avenue.

"We remain vigilant in monitoring the project," Loy said.

Reach Robbie Dingeman at rdingeman@honoluluadvertiser.com.