In a belated attempt to boondoggle the system and to further delay a vote on City Council Bill 1, Hawaii Reserves Inc. recently presented its slightly revised plan to expand the urban growth boundary into the Malaekahana section of the Laie ahupuaa.

Its transparent attempt to somehow sell the community on its newfound responsibility of providing homes and jobs for people of the area, while peddling market- price homes to newcomers with more money, was met with resounding opposition. Concerned area residents delivered fact after fact against HRI’s attempt to disguise building for profit rather than for the people of Laie.

In a 1992 environmental impact study done by the firm G70 for HRI, it was determined that any area north of the flood control stream would add massive traffic problems, as well as sewer and water problems. Having local traffic come out onto the heavily congested Kamehameha Highway would require a stop light and add to flow issues.

The additional burden put on the city for providing additional infrastructure, such as wastewater, is exasperated due to the flood control channel that would need to be crossed to provide services. That fact coupled with the Mormon Church’s actual ownership of all lands being considered, would leave the city with no way to recoup costs from a tax-exempt organization. So in effect the community pays for HRI’s profit-based development.

That same detailed study stated that the problem with promising area-based affordable housing was that it’s impossible to guarantee residents that they would get the designated houses because of anti-discrimination laws. Another barrier mentioned was that the area’s economic base makes it very difficult for people who want housing to afford it. The economic opportunities in the Laie area pay significantly less than anywhere else on the island.

HRI has openly stated to the Deseret News newspaper that it is building homes for new buyers. HRI is the Hawaii face for the Utah-based Deseret Management Corp., owned and operated by the Mormon Church in Salt Lake City. To date, the majority of building in the Laie area by these entities has been for profitable enterprises that bring in little or no tax revenue because they are held in ownership by the church.

If HRI truly wants to provide for its community, rather than expand the growth boundaries to facilitate more future construction, it is time to get honest with the public and the people of Laie. If the concern for the people of the area is genuine, it is time to put forth a future proposal inside the growth boundary to feature higher-density, lower-cost alternatives like apartments or townhomes that could be funded through church and available government programs that were mentioned in that EIS almost 30 years ago.

Partner with the talented work force of the area to offer “sweat equity” programs for home ownership. Hawaii Reserves has to translate to its owners in Salt Lake that here in Hawaii, there is a kuleana to take care of its people and the neighboring communities before it comes back to the trough to feed again.

We as a community cannot vote for expanded growth boundaries and any building until HRI understands it has to put a log on the fire before it can feel the benefit of heat.

Now is the time to approve Bill 1 in its original form, which retains current boundaries for urban growth in the Koolauloa area. The overwhelming citizen input, the mayor’s backing of the bill and the recent backing of the Star-Advertiser’s editorial say it is time to quit juggling politics and vote the true will of the people.

Alan Poh, of Kaaawa, is managing partner for the ShirtsInk Kuleana project, which teaches native youths entrepreneurship via screenprinting.