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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, January 19, 2006

Save Our Kaka'ako to lead rally against development

By Eloise Aguiar
Advertiser Staff Writer

MARCHING TO CAPITOL

Protest Kaka'ako land sale/development

8 a.m. Monday

Kaka'ako Waterfront Park

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In a final attempt to influence a government agency, opponents of a development at Kaka'ako waterfront will march to the state Capitol on Monday, taking their objections to the Legislature on the day Gov. Linda Lingle makes her State of the State address there.

Save Our Kaka'ako, a coalition of community groups, has asked Lingle to speak to the group after her address at 10 a.m. in the House Chambers.

The march follows months of objections over the development in Kaka'ako, one of the last undeveloped shorelines between Kewalo and Honolulu Harbor. Plan opponents have won concessions but they say more needs to be done.

Alexander and Baldwin Inc., which was selected in a competition by the Hawai'i Community Development Authority to develop a $650 million project on about 30 acres of state land in Kaka'ako, has revised its plan in response to community concerns.

HCDA is expected to vote soon on whether to proceed with that plan, which includes selling public land under two proposed towers that will be built near the Children's Discovery Center.

Initial reaction to the revised plans were mixed. Some of the groups' concerns have been addressed but other people still say that the state should not sell the public land.

"This is pretty much our last stand before they make a decision," said Ron Iwami, president of the Friends of Kewalo Basin Park Association.

March organizers are hoping that 1,000 people show up to let HCDA, legislators and the governor know they oppose the sale of public lands and that HCDA must be reformed, Iwami said.

"If we let this sale happen a precedence will be set to sell other public lands that HCDA controls and more towers will be built," he said. "These oceanfront public lands must be preserved for our keiki and their keiki to enjoy as we have."

Reach Eloise Aguiar at eaguiar@honoluluadvertiser.com.