Kakaako

   Adventuresome culture buffs have a new experience waiting as Hawai‘i Opera Theatre unveils its first production in Kaka‘ako.  The warehouse space that houses Night Market and other events will be transformed to tell a particularly contemporary tale of deceit.  HPR’s Noe Tanigawa reports.

Hawai‘i Opera Theatre presents “Siren Song”, six performances only through March 29th.  Street Grindz vendors will offer refreshments.  

Over the next couple decades, as many as 30 mid and high-rise buildings are expected to pop up in Kaka‘ako. And as HPR’s Molly Solomon reports, art is often playing an important role in the marketing of this real estate.

The Honolulu Printmakers have invited a dynamic young Chicago team to jury their new exhibition, and a splinter group is half way through wrapping a major Honolulu building site in thousands of prints.  HPR’s Noe Tanigawa surveys the activity.

The Honolulu Printmakers’ 87th Annual Exhibition opens Wednesday with festivities and a DJ.  

All are invited to the Opening Reception: 
Wednesday, February 25, 5–7 pm

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs is looking to the community for input on how it should use the 30 acres of O‘ahu land in Kaka‘ako Makai. The state agency has been holding a series of public meetings across the state. HPR’s Molly Solomon attended the first one in Kaka‘ako and has this report.

You can submit testimony online here until March 31st. The schedule of remaining public meetings is below.

Hawai‘i Island

Tuesday, Feb. 24 – Hilo – 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

UH Hilo Ho‛oulu Terrace Room 127

Lately HPR has been examining how arts and culture are playing a key role in kakaako’s development.  In this latest installment, Noe Tanigawa headed to the community’s center, Mother Waldron Park, to chat with the founder of Pow!Wow!, the street art festival that’s changed the look of the neighborhood.

Find out about POW!WOW! Hawai'i 2015

   In the last five years, the Street Grindz team has done a lot to create Kaka‘ako’s current lively image.  Their events, Eat the Street and Honolulu Night Market, attract thousands to the area and now, HPR’s Noe Tanigawa reports on what’s next for some lucky vendors in the Kamehameha Schools side of Kakaako.

Food, music, and vendors of all kinds will gather for a Street Grindz "Rogue Christmas” tomorrow, Saturday night, December 20th, at 449 Cooke Street from 6 to 11pm.  

  Earlier this week, we visited the young entrepreneurs of Art and Flea who have moved their flock of fledgling creatives to a new shop called MORI in Ward Warehouse.  Today, HPR’s Noe Tanigawa reports on how plans for the Ward Village neighborhood are shaping up.

Click to find out more about the Ward Village development on their website.

Check here to find out more about community events sponsored by Ward Village.

Five days a week, city workers hit the streets to conduct sweeps on Honolulu sidewalks. It’s part of a controversial ordinance that went into effect last July, that allows officials to clear streets occupied by the homeless and their belongings. HPR’s Molly Solomon was there as one was taking place in Kaka‘ako Thursday morning, where some believe a "Hawaii Five-0" shoot is to blame. 

For the past three and a half weeks, five professional artists and thirty O‘ahu children have been transforming a ten thousand square foot warehouse space in Kaka‘ako. HPR’s Noe Tanigawa found the combination of planning, hard work and openness to change is a creative way to operate.

PRESENT Project artists and students invite the public to an open house tonight, September 24th, to explore the works-in-progress. Dive into the “Nest” at 445/449 Cooke Street across Fisher’s, from 6:30-10pm.  An End of Residency Party is set for September 30, 6-10pm.

  Kaka’ako Agora, a warehouse space on Cooke Street, is opening full time this week with films, live printmaking, discussion sessions and the Honolulu Night Market.  HPR’s Noe Tanigawa takes a look at what’s in store.

Another major development in Kaka’ako was approved today by the Hawai’i Community Development Authority.  This one features more than 600 residential units and space for the community’s first grocery store.   HPR’s Wayne Yoshioka reports.    

The Hawai’i Community Development Authority reviewed plans for another major development project in Kaka’ako yesterday…this one across South Street from the Circuit Court Building parking garage.   As HPR’s Wayne Yoshioka reports, the latest proposal is a complex venture involving two commercial builders and the Honolulu rail transit project.     

It’s been over eight months since the owners of Antique Alley were forced to close their doors. The local shop was popular among collectors and vintage enthusiasts alike, who were devastated to see the store leave its Kapiolani location of more than 25 years. But, as HPR’s Molly Solomon reports, the shop has found a new home in the heart of Kakaako.

Antique Alley is set to reopen March 21 - 23 from 12 - 5 pm. Their new store is located at 1030 Queen Street. For more information, call 941-8551.

Kakaako is getting a technology makeover. Kamehameha Schools announced that they will be providing a free wireless network to anyone who wants to connect. The project stretches from Ala Moana Boulevard and South, to Halekauwila and Cooke Street. HPR’s Molly Solomon reports.

POW! – that’s the impact art can have on a person, like a punch in the face. WOW! – That’s the reaction people have to art. Pow Wow is the biggest art event to hit Hawai’i in recent memory and over a hundred artists are painting their way through Kaka’ako this week. HPR’s Noe Tanigawa reports.

Pow!Wow!Hawai’i  continues with three exhibitions, art and music lectures and performances, classes, parties and live painting throughout Kaka’ako, closing Saturday night. 

2013 was a big year for Kakaako. Six new residential and commercial buildings were given the green light. That’s three times more than were approved the year before. And it's focused attention on a government agency: the Hawaii Community Development Authority. HPR’s Molly Solomon reports.

2013 closed with a wave of proposed developments, particularly on Maui and O’ahu, where   commercial development has, at times, meant a clash between culture and change.   An installation on view now at the Honolulu Museum examines the history of sand mining on Maui, linking it to the cement being poured on O’ahu.   HPR’s Noe Tanigawa reports.

Residents in Kakaako are urging developers to slow the pace of new building plans. Those include a 46-story high rise and a 10-story parking garage, planned for the site of the old Honolulu Advertiser building. Neighbors are worried the new tower will bring more cars on the street and only make traffic in the area worse. HPR’s Molly Solomon was there and has this report.  

Development plans for 8 high-rise towers in Kaka’ako have been approved, with at least 3 more in the pre-application process. Older warehouse-type buildings will be demolished to make way for the new 400-foot towers. But as HPR’s Wayne Yoshioka reports, one classic structure in the area has been spared from demolition and will serve as a headquarters for redevelopment.

Plans to build 2 more high-rise buildings in Kaka’ako   won unanimous approval today, bringing the total to eight 400-foot towers approved for construction in Honolulu’s so-called “Third City.” As HPR’s Wayne Yoshioka reports, the developer won major concessions or modifications to state building rules.

Sales were brisk Monday for the newest Kaka’ako high-rise development project, The Collection, scheduled to be built on the corner of South Street and Ala Moana Boulevard, site of the old CompUSA building. HPR’s Wayne Yoshioka reports.  

The Hawai’i Housing Finance and Development Corporation estimates the state needs more than 30,000 affordable “for-sale units” or rentals to meet current demand. One state-backed venture in Kaka’ako, in the heart of O’ahu’s construction boom, is nearly half way to being completed. HPR’s Wayne Yoshioka reports.

The Hawaii Community Development Authority approved another permit application today, marking the 8th high-rise in Kaka’ako to be granted a green light by the state agency in less than one year. HPR’s Wayne Yoshioka reports.

The Hawaii Community Development Authority approved construction plans for another high-rise condominium tower in Kaka’ako today, and also allowed the builder to make a number of modifications.   HPR’s Wayne Yoshioka reports.   

Honolulu’s Kaka’ako is a neighborhood that will be transformed over time. Kamehameha Schools’ master plan calls for seven residential towers, with an expected 2,750 new units over the 29 acre plot of land. But in the mean time, what happens to the small businesses already in the area? HPR’s Molly Solomon spoke with some and has this report.

Honolulu's Kaka'ako neighborhood is buzzing with anticipation for the return of Pow Wow Hawaii. The week-long art festival brings a splash of color to Honolulu.

  Pow Wow co-founders Jasper Wong and Kamea Hadar say they anticipate as many as 100 local and international artists. They'll take to the streets starting Saturday, using blank warehouse walls as a canvas to share their cultural stories. Jasper and Kamea say none of this would be possible without the strong support of the community. 

Interisland Terminal’s R&D rung in the new year with a big renovation. HPR’s Molly Solomon caught a preview of the remodeled space and has this report.

You can see the new space for yourself at R&D’s re-launch party. It takes place tonight at 6:30 and you can buy tickets to the event or submit a donation.