Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 30, Number 11, 1 November 2013 — HCDA will not compromise with OHA on their plans for Kewalo Basin, even though OHA is a major stakeholder (HCDA PART 2) [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

HCDA will not compromise with OHA on their plans for Kewalo Basin, even though OHA is a major stakeholder (HCDA PART 2)

On March 1, 2009, the Hawaii Community Development Authority (HCDA) assumed the management of the Kewalo Basin Harbor fromthe Department of Transportation and hired ALMAR Management Ine. (a Califor-nia-based marina operator), to oversee day-to-day harbor operations. On June 7, 2012, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported that HCDA agreed to lease the 143-slip harbor in Kakaako for 50 years to Almar Management Ine. and a partner doing

business as KB Marina LP. The Almar partnership would hnanee $22 million in repair work to replace all piers and docks and would increase boats slips from 143 to 243. Almar anticipates the upgrades taking five years to complete and would pay HCDA about $45 million in rent over 50 years. Is this what the state considers a fair price? These are ceded lands and OHA beneficiaries and state stakeholders will end up losing out. Who is benefiting from this deal? As I mentioned in my last eolumn, OHA received a letter from HCDA on Aug. 6, 2013, stating HCDA will not compromise with OHA on their plans for Kewalo Basin, even though OHA is a major stakeholder. The HCDA and their many controversial plans for Kakaako have made frequent headlines in the media lately, but most of us are in the dark about what exactly the HCDA is and who is really in charge. Whatisthe HCDAP The 1976 state Legislature created HCDA to revitalize urban areas that were underused and deteriorating. The Kaka'ako Community Development District covers 600 acres within Piikoi, King and Punehhowl Streets and Ala Moana Boulevard, as well as the waterfront fromKewalo Basin to Forrest Avenue. (Source: http://dbedt.hawaii.gov/hcda/about-hcda/) HCDA is attached to the Department of Business, Eeonomie Development and Tourism (DBEDT) for administrative purposes and their mission is to create "vibrant" communities within Kakaako and encourage new investment by building essential puhlie infrastructure such as roadways, utilities and parks that are necessary for redevelopment.

Who are its members? HCDA's Kakaako Authority is composed of members from the puhlie and private sectors. They include: Four "ex officio" voting members from state departments: 1. Dean Seki, comptroller, Accounting and General Services; 2. Kalbert Young, director, Budget and Finance; 3. Richard Lim, DBEDT director; and 4. Glenn Okimoto, director, Transportation. The governor also appoints mem-

bers from a list of names submitted by the Honolulu City Council, the Senate president and the House speaker. At-large member: 1. Brian Lee, director of Research and Communications, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. Community members: 1 . Miles Kamimura, president, Paeihe Property Group; 2. Lois Mitsunaga, CFO, Structural Engineer at Mitsunaga & Associates ine.; and 3. VACANT. Cultural specialist: 1 . VACANT. An executive director serves as the CEO and is appointed by HCDA members. lmportant to note What is sorely missing here is disclosure. • Do the members of the Authority, especially those from the private sector, have any conflicts of interest? • Do they represent any clients that would benefit from any development projects being considered for Kakaako or are they themselves in a position to benefit from any developments? • Are they contributing to any political eampaigns in 2014? • Should HCDA have sole power over planning, zoning and directly promoting eeonomie development in Kakaako? These are the questions the community should be asking this Authority. Aloha Ke Akua. ■ Interested in Hawaiian issues and OHA? Please visit my website at www.rowenaakana. org for more information or e-mail me at rowenaa @ oha. org.

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