Don’t sacrifice public oceanfront land just to raise money for maintenance

Friends of Kewalos (FOK), a community nonprofit dedicated to protecting and preserving Kewalo Basin Park for the benefit of recreational users, opposes the current proposals for commercial development of Kewalo Basin Harbor.

Kewalo Basin Park is the oceanfront playground for hundreds of kamaaina and malihini — whose activities there range from surfing, fishing and diving to enjoying the beauty of sunrises and sunsets in a relaxed setting.

This is the public’s “little piece of the country in the city,” an oasis from the hustle and bustle of urban life.

FOK was disappointed when the Hawaii Community Development Authority (HCDA) decided to put up three parcels of public land surrounding the harbor for long-term commercial leases without public input.

Two developers submitted and presented proposals to the HCDA board and the public at a July 9 meeting. I was saddened by what I saw.

“Massive” is how I would describe it.

It would be just too much development for such a small area, and would change the character of this magical place.

Eventually, the free public parking would be a thing of the past, making it harder for ordinary working people to access the ocean.

The plans include buildings up to 45 feet high, fancy restaurants, a wedding venue and parking structures (see bit.ly/1Uu7LJY and www.dbedt.hawaii.gov/hcda).

Why is HCDA doing this?

It needs money to pay for upkeep of the Kakaako Waterfront Park and Kewalo Basin Park.

HCDA needs the funds now because it lost a huge amount of lease revenues when lands were transferred to the state Office of Hawaiian Affairs in 2012 to satisfy the state’s long- standing obligation.

But it’s not right to sacrifice recreational uses on public oceanfront lands for activities that create revenue for park maintenance. One plan would even eliminate an existing public restroom and pave over existing park land.

Options we have suggested to HCDA include:

» Collect impact fees from developers of the major residential developments coming up in Kakaako Mauka.

» Transfer park maintenance to the city, which has a maintenance department.

» Pay for park maintenance from state general funds like all other public resources.

These options should be thoroughly vetted before leasing the land.

Once these public lands are leased for development, the likelihood of them returning to public park land and open space is very remote.

A recent study for improvements to Ala Moana Beach Park revealed loud and clear that the public does not want to commercialize the “people’s park.”

This same sentiment should apply to the Kewalo Basin area.

With huge density coming to the mauka side — 30,000 more residents in 30 high-rise condos — it makes total sense to keep the public lands surrounding Kewalo Basin Harbor as open space. We need to create a balance and support the huge influx of people coming to the area.

Ala Moana Beach Park is saturated with users on the weekends; more, not less, park space is badly needed.

FOK also supports the “Lei of Green/Shoreline Promenade” concept to connect Ala Moana Beach Park to Kewalo Basin Park and create a continuous shoreline walkway around the harbor to Kakaako Waterfront Park — a concept HCDA adopted in 2011 as a highlight of the Kakaako Makai Conceptual Master Plan.

We are not against development, as we would support responsible develop- ment such as small-scale businesses that support boaters and a working harbor.

The decision to proceed with commercial development is now in the hands of HCDA’s new board. We hope that it will do what’s right for this very special land, and leave a lasting legacy for the people of Hawaii.

It is too late for Kakaako Mauka, but it is not too late for Kakaako Makai.