Amid towers, Howard Hughes builds a green space

Welcome to the impossible.

Howard Hughes Corp., master developer of Ward Village, broke ground Tuesday on a 1.5-acre great public lawn in Kakaako, the first half of an envisioned 3-acre central public plaza. When completed as expected in January, the grassy park with some trees and landscaping will be a promised venue for public uses such as outdoor movies and yoga classes.

It’s a welcome step, given that Howard Hughes had balked last year when the state ordered January’s lawn completion as a condition for approval of its fifth tower in the area, A‘ali‘i. “The (deadline) is impossible to accomplish under any realistic scenario and would allow only for the demolition of buildings and the clearing of the area for temporary open space, with no features or amenities that enhance the experience for the community,” the developer had objected then. And here we are.

Visitor need access to USS Arizona Memorial, ASAP

Since last week, the USS Arizona Memorial has been closed to visitors due to needed ramp repairs. Here’s hoping that the National Park Service can quickly put in place a short-term fix that will open up access.

Each year, 1.5 million visitors view a moving 23-minute documentary — screened at World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument’s visitor center — that precedes the boat ride. More poignant is a visit to the USS Arizona Memorial’s Shrine Room marble wall, inscribed with the names of the 1,177 men killed aboard the vessel on Dec. 7, 1941.