Every Sunday, “Back in the Day” looks at an article that ran on this date in the Honolulu Star-Bulletin. The items are verbatim, so don’t blame us today for yesteryear’s bad grammar.
A hearing that may determine whether the Democratic leadership of the State Senate will blocK the March 8 auction for leasing Magic Island has been set for Tuesday at 2 p.m.
Sen. John A. Lanham, chairman of the Senate Lands Committee, said today the hearing was called after he discussed the Magic Island question with Democratic Senators.
"We are going to review the entire matter to determine if we need to ask for another postponement of the auction," Lanham said.
A previous auction of the lease scheduled by the State Land Director Jim P. Ferry for Jan. 31 was postponed after Ferry announced that two other bidders and a California firm are interested in leasing a portion of the 34-acre site off Ala Moana park for commercial-recreation use.
The remainder of the Island, including choice beachside property, would remain open for public use under a law to be administered by the Land Department.
A number of organizations and individuals, however, have protested that proposed commercial development will ruin Magic Island and that the entire area should be left open for public park use.
A group of 10 Republican Senators have already introduced a reso- lution asking that Magic Island be declared a beach-park recreation area. The Republicans have also told Ferry they will go to court … unless Ferry calls off the auction.
Ferry told the Star-Bulletin this week he has no plans to stop the auction and believes the Legislature will support him.
Rep. George Toyofuku, chairman of the House Lands Committee, told the Star-Bulletin yesterday his committee has no plans to halt the auction.
He said he generally endorses the concept of park-recreation use for Magic Island to help the State regain a portion of the millions of dollars spent in developing it.
House Majority Leader Howard Y. Miyake also said the Democratic leadership of the House will not try to interfere with the auction. …
Lanham said he has received a number of suggestions on developing Magic Island, from everything to a high rise resort to an airport for helicopters.
"We’re going to have to review all these ideas again," he stated.
"The public is invited if they want to come," Lanham said. "None of our hearings is secret."
