Kakaʻako

Former Gov. Neil Abercrombie said he wants to set the record straight after hearing the Office of Hawaiian Affairs mischaracterize a ceded land settlement, dating back to a decade ago, as a deal that swindled Native Hawaiians.

State Rep. Scott Saiki has represented the Kakaʻako-Ala Moana district for nearly three decades. In 2012, he voted for a ceded lands settlement that gave the Office of Hawaiian Affairs land in Kaka’ako Makai. Now as the House speaker, does he see things differently?

State Sen. Sharon Moriwaki is calling for a “meeting of the minds” over a bill that would reverse a ban on residential development in Kaka’ako Makai, an Oʻahu area in her district.

Hakuone. Kakaʻako Makai. Kewalos. Whatever you know it as, the last open public shoreline in Honolulu is in a tug of war, mirroring a fight of close to a decade and a half ago. The Conversation spoke with two of the early organizers of a grassroots effort in 2005 that led to a ban on residential development in the area

Plans for the area have gone back and forth on residential development at least four times since 1985, said Craig Nakamoto of the Hawaiʻi Community Development Authority. The state transferred the lands to OHA more than a decade ago to settle a longstanding debt over ceded lands revenues. HPR's Kuʻuwehi Hiraishi reports.

Pa'akai is the Hawaiian word for salt. Pa’a means solid and kai means ocean. This week, The Conversation is exploring salt stories. We turn our attention to what used to be in Honolulu — and what is happening now in Kakaʻako.

The Conversation talked to OHA CEO Sylvia Hussey and COO Casey Brown about the vision for the 30 acres of land it received in Kakaʻako as a ceded land settlement from the state.

Hakuone — which translates to “sands of creation” — is the new name for a 30-acre swath of industrial land in Kakaʻako owned by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

Aupuni Space gallery in Honolulu's Kakaʻako has built a reputation for spotting up-and-coming artists. Adventuresome collectors find fashion and unique conversation pieces in the gallery and studio space on Auahi Street. HPR's Noe Tanigawa reports the latest show is designed to be a jolt of fun and color as we navigate the pandemic.

Nobody disputes that the annual Pow! Wow! Street Art Festival has left its mark on Honolulu. Every day people walk or park their cars alongside murals…