The drumbeat of opposition over the latest state plans for Kaka'ako stepped up a notch this week when Congressman Neil Abercrombie renewed his campaign to abolish the state agency in charge of redevelopment.

This puts the heat on the Hawai'i Community Development Authority to demonstrate its ideas for redeveloping the waterfront makes sense for the community at large, and that it honors the original intent for the area: public lands developed and managed for maximum public use.

Critics say that overarching goal has been forgotten as the agency strives to maximize economic value of the properties it controls.

The authority argues that a first-class project focusing on public use of the waterfront (including open space and biotech research facilities) would be nearly impossible without the economic support of commercial development behind it. That development would include residential apartments, restaurants and other uses.

That's an understandable argument. Still, it runs afoul of those, such as Abercrombie, who fear this crown jewel of public land is about to be lost to the highest bidder.

As plans move forward, the only answer to critics that will make sense is a rock-solid promise that the principle of public use first will be honored.

Abercrombie is correct: The original vision was for a place where ordinary people could work, live and play. That's a vision still worth honoring.