People often ask why I'm involved with the Kaka'ako waterfront development. "What are you giving up, as a Hawaiian, to favor developing this land?"

My answer: Nothing.

For years, Kaka'ako has been used as a dump, neglected and abandoned, and it will remain a dump unless we do something. Yes, this is urban Honolulu's last remaining shoreline. But we must ensure that this area is carefully and thoughtfully developed for the benefit of our residents. It is a golden opportunity — that's why I'm involved.

A&B Properties' plan calls for large, wide-open parks, better access to the ocean for all, and most importantly to me, a permanent home for Hawaiian arts and culture.

What are we being asked to give up for this?

Just six of the project's 30 or so acres to be sold for residences — to pay for the creation, for local people, of new park space and a cultural center. And, the moneys received for these six acres as well as ongoing income from new shops and restaurants will be new revenues for the state that can be used to fund additional public benefits.

The state owns 200 acres in Kaka'ako Makai. I think selling 3 percent of the total acreage is a fair exchange. How many good things are free?

Besides, the residential component is vital to creating a real community there, one that is active 24/7 and doesn't go dark at night.

To people who oppose developing a community in Kaka'ako Makai, have you been down there after dark? Right now, it's just plain scary. Homes in the area will ensure the parks remain welcoming day and night. This rundown, aging and largely inaccessible area can be transformed into a place we will all want to go — a place teeming with people and activity.

Throughout all of Hawai'i, there is no Hawaiian cultural center. Our host culture is the very essence of these Islands, yet we have no center to support and celebrate Hawaiian cultural practices and traditions.

In 2001, I lobbied the state Legislature to create an Office of Hawaiian Culture & Arts that would undertake this project. However, there are always more pressing priorities for our precious tax dollars, such as educating our children, providing aid to the homeless and hungry, and improving our highways, airports and harbors. So if we want a Hawaiian cultural center, it will take a private developer partnering with the state and the community to make it happen. A&B's plan for Kaka'ako offers us a golden opportunity.

Will view planes be affected? Where are you looking from? Even now, from much of the area you cannot see Diamond Head from ground level. In any case, the proposed condominiums are set back two football fields from the ocean and are only 20 stories tall, less than half the height of Nauru Tower, and just 16 feet taller than Aloha Tower.

A&B's plan leaves our shoreline untouched, and increases picnic space so the surfers, body boarders and fishermen can enjoy it. In addition, A&B proposes to add more free parking spots for a total of 280 stalls. This is a huge improvement over the less than 60 spaces available now.

Why has A&B taken such great pains to ensure there is plenty of parking? Because they want this to be, first and foremost, a place for the residents of Hawai'i. A place like Ala Moana Beach Park where we can barbecue, talk story and play in the ocean.

Most exciting for me is the vision for a cultural center, a permanent home for the things that make Hawai'i unique. Halau from across the island will have a permanent place for education, training, exhibition and performance — instead of always scrambling to find practice space in church basements, in people's apartments, wherever — and performing venues.

I also see it used for other Hawaiian performing arts and, of course, by other ethnic and cultural groups and local performers. The goal is to have a well-used facility with significant community use and draw — again, contributing to the energizing of this new "urban village."

But, most importantly, the facility will make sure this project has a strong connection with our Hawaiian culture and will honor all that makes Hawai'i such a special place. That's what sets A&B's proposal apart in my mind. That's why I'm involved.

So, do we let it remain a dump? With this great alternative — this great opportunity — we'd be crazy to do so. We have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Vicky Holt Takamine is kumu hula of Pua Ali'i 'Ilima and a consultant to the A&B Properties team selected by HCDA to develop the Kaka'ako Waterfront Project. She wrote this commentary for The Advertiser.