OHA must act to make most of Kakaako Makai

It’s been five years since the Office of Hawaiian Affairs received 30 acres of prime waterfront real estate in Kakaako, bursting with potential for cultural visibility and monetary enhancement. Unfortunately, the current boomtown occurring mere blocks mauka throughout Kakaako has failed to inspire much of a vision or direction for OHA’s Kakaako Makai parcels, which continue to sit woefully underused.

Land rich, but conceptually poor — that describes OHA’s present predicament for its Kakaako largesse. So, after nearly two years of apparent dormancy, it’s heartening to hear of renewed OHA movement on the acreage. In a series of community meetings last week, OHA has sought community input on ideas to develop a master plan for the nine lots, most which offer scenic panoramas of Oahu’s south shore.

“What would you create if you were given acres of prime waterfront land in downtown Honolulu today?” OHA asks in a video at oha.org/kakaako. “How would you lay the foundation for our keiki so they could thrive in the 21st century in a way that was pono (righteous) — a way that was truly Hawaiian?”

Wrapped in that inquiry is a complex mission for OHA: Kakaako Makai is its first opportunity for direct land development — a daunting challenge, no doubt — layered atop a foundational fiduciary duty to its Native Hawaiian trust beneficiaries. Its strategic priorities focus on “improving the conditions of Native Hawaiians in the areas of aina, culture, economic self-sufficiency, education, governance and health.“

It will be a true test of OHA leadership — and cohesion — to propel this project forward. It will take a stalwart vision, unity of purpose and steadfastness against doubters to get off the starter’s block, let alone complete the vision. Given chronic OHA in-fighting, which has unfortunately continued with recent squabbles, this will be no small task.

Just four months ago, for example, OHA’s board of trustees ousted its controversial chairwoman. Three years ago, it came close to ousting its CEO over garbled messaging with the U.S. government over Native Hawaiian sovereignty and federal recognition; he retains the job.

One positive recent decision for Kakaako Makai is that private residences have now been nixed from consideration. It’s the right decision. This prime waterfront space should remain accessible to the general public — to be enjoyed and traversed, and to provide enrichment for generations to come.

Residential development is banned on Kakaako Makai lands, under a 2006 state law reacting to an ill-fated proposal that sought to overdevelop and privatize the area with, among other things, three high-rise condos. In 2012, OHA received these 30 acres of Kakaako Makai, in a deal valued at $200 million to settle ceded land claims. Hoping to optimize the property, OHA tried in 2014 to strike down the residential ban; fortunately for the public, that bid was rejected.

Re-emerging today is an ideal opportunity for OHA and its trustees to do right by its beneficiaries. It needs to make the most of its nine parcels makai of Ala Moana Boulevard, which has the potential to be a true “people’s place” that marries Native Hawaiian culture with appropriate commerce. Perhaps constructive synergy can occur with the triumph and legacy of the Polynesian Voyaging Society’s Hokulea and Hikianalia, voyaging canoes returning this month from a three-year worldwide journey; or, partnerships in innovative projects with Kamehameha Schools, the University of Hawaii medical school or the nearby Hawaii Children’s Discovery Center.

The Kakaako properties should be a point of pride for OHA, to build excitement around. That’s why it was somewhat disappointing that last week’s series of community meetings seemed half- hearted, muted and underpublicized. For such a publicly consequential development as this, better community outreach and input should be built into this project going forward.

The recent feedback is intended to help OHA devise a conceptual master plan, with an environmental impact statement expected to start this month and be finalized in mid-2018. Soon after, proposals from developers could be sought for the first of OHA’s nine Kakaako parcels: the former Fisherman’s Wharf site.

The community at large should root for OHA and Kakaako Makai to succeed; spectacular success would bring a measure of poetic justice for historical misdeeds. Action on the promise now needs to move apace. Five years has too quickly come and gone, with little to show for it. OHA, and its Native Hawaiian beneficiaries, cannot allow the next five years, or more, to yield the same scant result.