Bill revises Kaka'ako project
By James Gonser
Advertiser Urban Honolulu Writer
A bill making its way through the Legislature would require that the developer the state selects for a 36-acre commercial project in Kaka'ako include a cultural marketplace creating a permanent venue for Hawai'i's artists and crafts people to showcase their products and talents.
Deborah Booker • The Honolulu Advertiser
But Dan Dinell, the executive director of the Hawai'i Community Development Authority, the state group overseeing the development, says a request for proposals for the project was released in January and 15 proposals have already been turned in. Adding a new requirement for the marketplace now is a bad idea, he said.
Fifteen proposals have already been submitted for development of a commercial project near the Kewalo Basin area of Kaka'ako. A bill introduced in the Legislature requires that the developer include a cultural marketplace reflective of the state as part of the project.
"(A marketplace) is already part of the project's goals and objectives," said Dinell, who has testified against the measure. "In the RFP (request for proposals) we are suggesting something like a farmers or public market, but we are not being prescriptive. We are not requiring it."
The guidelines for redeveloping 36 acres of state-owned land along the Kaka'ako waterfront suggest that the project include a farmers market that reflects Hawaiian culture and values.
Overall, the state envisions roughly 500,000 square feet of public and commercial space, 250,000 square feet of entertainment and retail space, about 300 residential units and parking.
The RFP also mentions the Kewalo boat marina's 29-acre harbor for potential redevelopment, such as additional slips.
Sen. Donna Mercado Kim, who introduced Senate Bill 1721, said the problem is that the cultural market is only being suggested, not required.
"For us that is very important, and it is the sense of the Legislature and the community that we would like this concept embedded into the whole proposal," said Kim, D-14th (Halawa, Moanalua, Kamehameha Hts.). "Unless it's specified by law, they may not consider it and we may end up with a Ferris wheel. I don't want it to be said at some point that the Legislature never really made it clear or they never got any direction or it wasn't put high on the list when we analyzed the bids.
"I really think that what sets us apart from the rest of the world is our cultural differences or our cultural ability to be this melting pot and we need to feature that."
Senate Bill 1721, to establish a permanent venue in Kaka'ako to promote Hawaiian culture and a place for vendors and artists to showcase their products and talents, will be heard at 2:45 p.m. Thursday before the House Finance Committee in State Capitol conference room 308.
HCDA is the state agency responsible for planning and developing state land in Kaka'ako, including the University of Hawai'i's new John A. Burns School of Medicine.
Hearing Thursday
Rep. Felipe "Jun" Abinsay said the latest version of the bill sets aside 10 acres of the development for the marketplace, which would be similar to Pike Place Market in Seattle, and parking spaces for customers.
Abinsay, D-29th (Kalihi, Sand Island), said a 2001 Legislative study about the concept shows it could bring in big money for the state, millions of dollars every year, if they also took over running the facility themselves.
"It's big time," he said. "If this is something that the state really wants, then let's go ahead and pursue it aggressively."
Kim said she will ask that the specific acreage set aside for the market and the state control be removed from the final version of the bill.
"That was not the intent," she said. "Also, it was never the intent that the state would pay for this. We always had in mind a joint public/private partnership as part of the overall plan for the Kaka'ako waterfront area in the RFP."
Dinell said he would like it left up to the authority to choose the plan that works best overall.
"One of the real important considerations here, and why we have been testifying to that fact that we don't need SB 1721, is that in order for development like this to work, you need to look at how all the parts work together," he said.
"Some parts may make more money than other parts. In order to create a gathering place there are some parts that may need to be supported by other more lucrative aspects."
The bids will be narrowed down to the top three to five by May, he said, when public presentation will be given.
"A bill that would have the state build and operate this thing is not a good idea," he said.
"Let us try and create enough incentives for a private developer to take on the entire risk and create something that has a unique Hawaiian sense of place."
Reach James Gonser at jgonser@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2431.
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