Conference will address Waikiki’s past, future

Community support is sought for Waikiki 20/20, an upcoming planning conference aimed at setting a vision for the next two decades in the district, which is one of the most densely populated communities in the state as well as its top tourist destination and economic center.

The conference, which will be held Oct. 16 from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the Liliu Theater at the Hawai‘i Convention Center, is the first time since 1992 that the public and private sectors will come together on this scale to plan for the Waikiki’s future.

Twenty years ago, with the help of many concerned residents and businesses, the Waikiki Improvement Association held the inaugural Waikiki 20/20 Conference, said Rick Egged, president of WIA, which was established 40 years ago to represent a cross section of business, government and community members interested in improving Waikiki.

"This is an important effort that will help make Waikiki more livable and more attractive to residents and visitors for years to come," Egged said. "We’ve come along way since 20 years ago, and we would like to continue the discussion and re-engage the community about Waikiki’s future."

The conference will provide a review of Waikiki from where it has come to where it is going, said Eric Masu­tomi, a WIA executive team member, who as a former state employee was tangentially involved in the last effort.

"If you recall back in the early ’90s, at the time of the last conference, Waikiki was really on a down-slide as a resort destination. The conference addressed concerns about Waikiki’s future and its ability to sustain its role as a major economic generator," Masu­tomi said. "It made a difference."

Positive changes following the last conference include the more than $4 billion in investments that have been made in Waikiki since 2001, Egged said.

Hoteliers like Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott, Outrigger and Starwood have made substantial improvements. In addition, renovations at the Royal Hawaiian Center, DFS Galleria, redevelopment of the Waikiki Center and the building of Waikiki Beach Walk have improved the region, he said.

Loosening of a restrictive 1976 land use ordinance and of signage rules for the Waikiki special district also have created opportunities for new growth, Egged said.

"Few of these things would have taken place without the last conference," said Bob Finley, chairman of the Waikiki Neighborhood Board. "Without planning you just kind of muddle along. The WIA, the visitor industry and Waikiki residents need to have goals for the future. This is a good place to start."

This time around, more than 25 speakers will bring the community together to review what has been accomplished since Waikiki’s inaugural planning conference and to begin planning for the critical district’s next 20 years. Speakers will address topics ranging from the Waikiki Beach nourishment program to upgrading Waikiki amenities and common areas, residential development and challenges, retail expansion, transportation, energy, public health, homelessness, and crime and safety. The WIA Annual Meeting, which will be held from 4 to 7:30 p.m., will piggyback on the Waikiki 20/20 Conference.

While the WIA continually plans for the future of Waikiki, the conference will be a chance for others to have input, said Jim Steiner, who is an asset manager for a number of Waikiki family-owned properties and WIA chairman.

"The event is open to the public. Anyone can buy a ticket and attend. The intent is to get ideas and input from a broad cross section of people. Waikiki is for everyone," said Steiner, whose great-grandfather was one of Waikiki’s first residential property owners and whose grandfather grew up in the neighborhood.

To that end, young professionals, 40 years old and under, also have been invited to participate in a round-table discussion to express their views on conference topics, said Carlie Woodward-Dela Cruz, property manager for the Bank of Hawaii Waikiki Center and the Pacific News Building.

"It should be interesting to get their perspective about what they think of where Waikiki has come and where they see it going based on the sessions and their own experiences," Woodward Dela-Cruz said.

The goal is to develop a working plan in the six to eight months following the conference, Egged said.

During that time, monthly forums will recap what was discussed in each session and will be used to develop a new 20-year plan for Waikiki, he said. Dates, times and locations for the forums will be announced later.