Italian eatery proposed for vacant Kewalo building

A vacant building owned by the state and once used for charter boat operations at Kewalo Basin is being eyed for conversion to an Italian restaurant.

A Japanese-based company is seeking to negotiate a lease for the 3,000-square-foot building with the Hawaii Community Development Authority, the state agency that owns the harbor in Kaka­ako.

The company, Bellavita Inc., owns several Italian restaurants in Japan and has sought exclusive rights to negotiate a lease for the building with HCDA.

The agency is scheduled to discuss the proposal at a meeting Wednesday and could make a decision on whether to enter such negotiations at the meeting.

Bellavita, which is led by Masa­hiko Naka­mura, proposes renovating the building for its plan that includes outdoor seating facing the harbor’s front row largely occupied by charter fishing and tour boats.

Nakamura has a passion for Italian food and culture, and operates an Italian language and cultural center in Japan.

HCDA is considering the proposal as a way to liven up the waterfront. The agency also has received a separate proposal by two wedding companies in Japan to establish a wedding venue and a restaurant on a neighboring site at the harbor.

The wedding companies, Goodluck Corp. and Take and Give Needs Co., want to develop an area used for parking and once occupied by McWayne Marine Supply. HCDA’s board voted in August to let agency staff negotiate terms for a potential lease.

HCDA has said there would be a detailed presentation by the companies, two public hearings, an environmental review and community consultations before a lease could be approved for the wedding and restaurant development plan.