In researching the new Kakaako development, which is Kamehameha schools developing 9 blocks in downtown Honolulu, I found a lot of push back from locals stating that it’s hard for locals to find affordable housing and that no local can afford the $800K condos that are planned for this area.
It’s true that Oahu has some of the worst traffic in the country and we always seem to have road construction but will the news plans for development help or harm the local society?
Two big high rises in addition to office space, schools and residential buildings are all in the plans for Honolulu. But is this future of Hawaii really what the locals need? Being a Hawaii resident for over 30 years I like to think of myself as local but certainly not native. Those that have called Oahu home their whole life certainly see the downside to this large scale development. Is it all about money and revenue or will the planning committee consider the effects and drawbacks for the locals?
Kamehameha School Administrators had a civil meeting back in March where the big question was “who is this really for?” Hawaii’s largest private land owner has plans to transform a warehouse district into a vibrant community and has been working to gain support from a community that suspicious about the outsize development projects taking place in Honolulu’s urban core. This neighborhood is expected to grow from 20,000 residents to 30,000 residents by the year 2030. The development project is cited to include a 423 unit high-rise and a 209 unit midrise complex. In addition, over 29 acres of its land is designed to be developed into 2700 new dwellings. The goal is not necessarily to build more buildings but to transform a neighborhood.
The state office of Hawaiian affairs was denied in its bid to develop residential towers and of course, those in opposition rejoiced at the bill’s fate. However, House Speaker Joe Souki did say that they were looking forward to working to find solutions to help maximize the value of these properties. It looks like the future may still be in the hands of the public.
So, what do you think about these plans? Do you think it will benefit the neighborhood as a whole or simply add more congestion and frustration to locals and natives?
