Question: Back in May, the Howard Hughes Corp. stated in Kokua Line that it was evaluating “the opportunities for recycling materials” from Ward Warehouse (808ne.ws/kline5917). Have these salvaging plans been finalized? What are some of the details in these plans?
Answer: Yes, the developer has partnered with its contractors and the nonprofit organization Re-use Hawai‘i to salvage material from the old shopping center, said Todd Apo, vice president for community development for Hughes Corp., which is transforming the Kakaako neighborhood into Ward Village, with luxury residential high-rises and upscale shops.
“Re-use Hawai‘i is working directly with our contractor Layton Construction Co. to salvage various parts of Ward Warehouse. They have started work by removing doors, equipment, shelves and other fixtures throughout the buildings. They will then work with the cooperation of Tajiri Recycling & Demolition for the major part of the salvage, which will include the large wood beams that run throughout Ward Warehouse. Tajiri is assisting by modifying their effort to help salvage and load the beams for Re-use Hawai‘i. We are expecting to salvage and reuse approximately 45,000 linear feet of lumber and, in total, about half of what otherwise would have gone to a landfill,” Apo said.
Re-use Hawai‘i is a licensed contractor that specializes in deconstruction and sells some of what it salvages at its Kakaako warehouse, which is open to the public. Learn more at reuse hawaii.org.
Several readers have emailed asking for an update since the last of Ward Warehouse’s tenants exited by the end of July, ahead of the demolition of the former retail and restaurant complex at Ward Avenue and Ala Moana Boulevard. Luxury housing will rise in its place.
The whole complex hasn’t been torn down yet, and “we are working with both the Honolulu Fire Department and Honolulu Police Department to allow them to use the location for training exercises before the remaining parts of the building are demolished,” Apo said.
Helicopters return
Numerous Hawaii Kai readers wondered why helicopters were flying around Kamehame Ridge last spring; they were doing work for Hawaiian Electric Co.
So here’s a heads-up from the company: HECO is scheduled to have helicopters flying near Mariner’s Ridge and Kamehame Ridge today and Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., said Brandi Crabbe, a community relations specialist for HECO.
This time the flights are part of “fire-guarding” work in an area that has had brush fires in the past. Crews will be applying fire-retardant paint to 63 utility poles, four of which are not accessible by land, Crabbe said. The helicopter will transport workers and equipment between those four poles and the landing zone on Kamehame Ridge.
The helicopters won’t fly over any populated areas while carrying loads, and the work won’t disrupt electrical service, she said.
Mahalo
While shopping at Kahala Mall on Saturday, I met a kind gentleman, Derrick Choy, who shared his table with me so I could rest while waiting for my family. In talking to him, I mentioned that I had just shopped for some toys to give away to children who “earned” points for their behavior and performance while attending our church on Sundays in Waipahu. A few minutes later he returned from the same store with a bag of similar toys, adding to those I had purchased to be distributed on Christmas Eve. He was such a humble “angel” and his generosity will definitely be “passed forward” to help kids in the “Pupu district.” — Mahalo, Joyce
