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Your Voice Matters.
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Feature - Projected State Spending Growth

Monday, January 09, 2006

Kakaako Madness

The Honolulu Star-Bulletin had an article today detailing the continuing efforts of some groups to stymie commercial and residential development in the Kakaako area.

About 40 of its members and supporters attended a meeting at Kewalo Basin Park yesterday to discuss their continued opposition to the sale of public land on the waterfront. The group also wants more public input in any decisions made by the Hawaii Community Development Authority, an agency charged by the state to help develop Kakaako's waterfront.

There is a supreme irony at work here. The 2000-2001 DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & TOURISM report on the Hawaii Community Development Authority says:

The Hawaii Community Development Authority (HCDA) was established by the legislature in 1976 to plan and implement the timely redevelopment of Community Development Districts in urban areas throughout the State, as designated by the Legislature.

And the first mission of the HCDA?

The Legislature designated the Kakaako area as the first Community Development District, recognizing that it was relatively underdeveloped and underutilized. Furthermore, the Legislature determined that the redevelopment of Kakaako offered a great opportunity to address the need for more housing, parks, open areas, and new commercial and industrial space in urban Honolulu. HCDA's goal for Kakaako is to create a conveniently located community that is attractive and safe, with the ability to provide for housing, recreation, and places to work, shop and socialize. HCDA was empowered with comprehensive planning, development, and financing authority to implement a range of programs to revitalize Kakaako.

The irony here is almost comic. In 40 years the HCDA has been unable to implement a redevelopment plan for a district that was its first and primary project. But can the HDCA really be blamed? A prime example is the opposition to any plans currently being proposed. None are good enough and the demands for concessions just grow and grow. In the meantime the area just continues to rot.

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