OHA pitches plan for $32M cultural center

Also seen as possible seat of government for Native Hawaiians
By Andrew Gomes
Advertiser Staff Writer

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs proposed yesterday to build a $32 million Hawaiian cultural center — the first of its kind in the state — and office complex in Kaka'ako that could one day serve as the headquarters for a Native Hawaiian government.

Outside areas would include taro fields, canoe hale, classrooms, a place for the practice of celestial navigation, an imu and a hula-performance area.

The connected office facilities would provide 60,000 square feet of space for OHA and other users in a three-story building next to a 180-stall parking area.

"We are the host culture, yet we have no cultural center that we can call our own," said Clyde Namuo, OHA's administrator, who announced the plan yesterday.

The proposal comes just as the "Akaka bill" for federal recognition of Native Hawaiians is gaining traction in Congress. If the bill becomes law, it could eventually lead to the establishment of a Native Hawaiian government, which could take over the Kaka'ako facility from OHA.

OHA plans to finance the project mostly with its own money and is looking at a variety of options to do that, including issuing bonds. OHA initially requested the state help to pay for half of the project, but settled on a $6 million request. "The trustees felt that because we are looking at a community center, there should be a state contribution," Namuo said.

Namuo presented the plan yesterday to directors of the Hawaii Community Development Authority, the state agency that controls the 5.2-acre state-owned parcel on which OHA wants to build.

OHA, which spends about $1 million a year to lease office space in a commercial building at 711 Kapi'olani Blvd., has been looking for several years for a permanent headquarters for itself and a range of private groups that assist Hawaiians.

Previous searches resulted in consideration to buy the historic downtown post office and federal building, and integrating an office complex with the historic Ala Moana sewage pump station building in Kaka'ako.

No offer was made on the federal building, and density requirements on the pump station property would have required OHA to build a 200,000-square-foot building costing $200 million, which Namuo said was more than the agency was willing to spend.

The new Kaka'ako site, because of its low-density requirement and location fronting the ocean, was seen as an opportunity to add the cultural center to the office headquarters plan.

Kumu hula Vicky Holt Takamine said she has been advocating creation of a Hawaiian cultural center for years.

"It's about time that OHA and the state took some action on that," she said.

"Hawai'i is one of many sand-and-sea destinations and tourist attractions, but the unique thing is the Hawaiian culture and spirit," Takamine said. "There is no showcase and cultural center to meet the needs of our Hawaiian community."

Haunani Apoliona, chairwoman of OHA's trustee board, said trustees are excited about the plan.

"We don't want to just put up bricks and mortar for something the trustees and business part of OHA would use, but also something the community would gain from by visiting the site — a site where people will come to find renewal."

Wesley Yoon, an architect with Architects Hawaii representing OHA in conceptualizing the plan, said the center would be a perfect cultural "bookend" to the state's redevelopment effort along the Kaka'ako waterfront between Kewalo and Honolulu harbors.

"It would enhance the site and the development of Kaka'ako," he said.

The development agency is reviewing proposals to develop mainly commercial elements including retail, entertainment and residential condominiums on 36 acres fronting Kewalo Harbor on the diamondhead side of Kaka'ako Waterfront Park.

Other projects in the area include the recently opened University of Hawai'i medical school and a planned cancer research center.

The site sought by OHA is at the 'ewa edge of the park and makai of the cancer research center site. The parcel is occupied by a warehouse leased to tenants on a month-to-month basis mainly for storage, which generates about $50,000 a month in rental revenue.

Under the Hawaii Community Development Authority's long-range plan for the property, the warehouse is identified to be knocked down and redeveloped for commercial use.

At yesterday's meeting, development agency board members did not raise any concerns about OHA's proposed use. Namuo said he was encouraged by the initial response, and that OHA will proceed with a more detailed feasibility study on the site.

Then OHA would come back to the development agency to seek approval for the project and to negotiate terms to lease or acquire the property.

Namuo said that if plans progress smoothly, it would take 2 1/2 years before the project could be completed.

Two bills introduced in the Legislature seeking state general obligation bond financing for the project did not advance earlier this session.

Reach Andrew Gomes at agomes@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8065.

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