Posted on: Saturday, May 17, 2003

EDITORIAL
'Fishing village' gets a new lease on life

Given the problems it has faced and knowing that it was a pet project of the previous administration, Gov. Linda Lingle might have been tempted to simply stop a proposed "fishing village" complex on the Honolulu waterfront.

Happily, she didn't. And now this promising project appears to be back on track.

Setting aside politics, it is clear that the village could be an important part of a gradually improving harborfront that will be an attraction for visitors and residents alike.

In an article on the project's future by staff writer Johnny Brannon, Lingle and former Gov. Ben Cayetano take potshots at each other over the project. That's to be expected.

But animosities aside, both Cayetano and Lingle agree that the village could be a showcase project.

We also agree.

The idea was to consolidate various fishing and related businesses in one location, similar to facilities at Seattle and San Francisco. It would be a combination of working fishing enterprises, fish wholesalers, restaurants, shops and more.

The project has been delayed after officials found unanticipated ground pollution at the 16-acre site, on piers 36 and 37. Lingle released $1.4 million to get rid of the contamination and make final improvements.

It will be money well spent.