The Office of Hawaiian Affairs is refocusing its efforts on its lands at Kaka’ako Makai in hopes of building residential and commercial buildings.
It is reclaiming its history by renaming the area “Hakuone” and Wednesday evening kicks off a series of public meetings to get input on the future of the area.
The Conversation talked to OHA CEO Sylvia Hussey and COO Casey Brown about the vision for the 30 acres of land it received as a ceded land settlement from the state.
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On OHA's development plan for Kakaʻako Makai
CASEY BROWN, OHA COO: We just started to work on a master plan. The first step of any master plan is due diligence. So we really took steps in help with contracted consultants to study the land that we have. It took a lot of assessment, you know, going back to historical documents, because we've been trying to get these plans not only activated, but to get them to be a well-valued asset for our beneficiaries. But the only thing that can do that is if we look at it at its highest and best use. But as we're starting to develop this master plan, it first started with a big push to do all our due diligence. There's a lot of issues with any land anywhere in our state, and so our lands are no exception. We have to uncover what issues that are there that have always existed there, and then figure out a way on how to manage those issues.
On why OHA wants to change zoning laws to allow residential developments
BROWN: Part of our kuleana as land stewards for our beneficiaries is to be able to realize the value of these lands, which were given to OHA to satisfy past-due debts by the State of Hawaiʻi. To realize that value requires the right zoning to be in place. Without that right zoning, without permitted uses to build residential, for example, we will never realize the value of that land.
BROWN: We want to incorporate a live, work and play concept there so that means mixed-use. That means we hold residential in a high place, in high regard, and especially affordable as we think about the type of residential we want to build. But we also envision mixed-use there. So retail. We also envision ways to bring about that Hawaiian sense of place, cultural center — and how do we do that in a way that makes sense. We have to balance the needs for our beneficiaries. We have to balance proper stewardship of our assets.
On pursuing legislation again in the upcoming session
SYLVIA HUSSEY, OHA CEO: In the legislative session in 2021, we already pursued a residential — to allow residential uses there. We also pursued height increases there to benefit. The things that we are advocating for are good for everybody, all the owners and all the parcels, we're not the only ones there on that side of Ala Moana. And so we approach it as what is good for Hawaiians is good for Hawaiʻi. You know, to have mixed-use, which we already have approvals for, we can already pursue commercial, as well as any other kind of allowable mixed-use purposes. So I see it as we've already started that signals and very clearly, what the desire is there in Kakaʻako Makai, the specificity of those parcels. The 2023 actions that Casey is talking about with the board is, again, two years have gone by, we have received more information, we have received, you know, more insights into the condition of the acreage that we received. And so to finally put that forward in some legislative measure is for the board to decide before the end of the year. So we anticipate that that will come to the board very soon.
On planning for sea level rise in Kakaʻako
BROWN: Climate change is definitely on our radar. And so in any development plans and future plannings, we're gathering intel, you know, there's experts out here that have material on that that we're connecting with. And really, with the climate change for our parcels, we have to be concerned about any kind of flooding, right. So as the sea level rises, whenever we have a storm, you know, years in the future, they have 100-year models and 200-year models that are being projected right now. And so we rely on some of that input.
HUSSEY: Climate change isn't just OHA's issue, right? It's the entire south shore of the island. All of Hawaiʻi should be concerned as an island state, we also should be concerned about the impacts of climate change. So to that point, we're as responsive as any other landowner on the shore. But it shouldn't be like it's only OHA's responsibility. It's all our responsibility to be mindful of that kind of — and from the university and others who are there who are already thinking about that proposing, designs the city, you know, climate change commission, there are many people working on this effort and putting forward models, information and being collaborative.
This interview aired on The Conversation on Nov. 30, 2022. The Conversation airs weekdays at 11 a.m. on HPR-1.
