Opponents of a proposal to build two residential high-rises on state land near Kewalo Basin demonstrated yesterday at the Capitol in hopes that lawmakers will halt the development.

The rally, which drew about 75 participants and a handful of legislators, was held in part to support several bills still being considered for passage, including one that would bar the Hawai'i Community Development Authority, the agency that oversees the land, from selling property.

The key bill, House Bill 2555, passed House committees earlier this year and on Tuesday was passed by the Senate Ways and Means Committee in an amended version that also prohibits residential use of the land.

Because the bill was amended, a House and Senate conference committee would need to agree on changes. Some lawmakers said broad bipartisan support for the legislation gives it a good chance of passing.

"It does not make sense to sell public land when the state is running a (budget) surplus," said Sen. Gordon Trimble, R-12th (Waikiki, Ala Moana, Downtown).

Rep. Anne Stevens, R-23rd (Waikiki, Ala Moana, Kaka'ako), said she believes that the opposition group, which has held one previous rally at the Capitol and others at Kaka'ako Waterfront Park, has made an impression on her colleagues.

"I believe they have struck a chord," she said.

Rep. Kirk Caldwell, D-24th (Manoa), introduced HB2555 and wants to preserve the property for public use. He encouraged supporters to continue their efforts that have gone beyond testifying before committees considering the legislation.

"We believe in what you're doing," he told supporters at the rally.

Michael Kliks, a member of the grass-roots organization Save Our Kaka'ako, said the rally — which yesterday included music, impassioned pleas and a nearly five-minute poetry slam on the subject by Kewalos surfer Josh Echemendia — is a powerful way to express the group's position.

"It's engagement," Kliks said. "It forces the lawmakers to come down to talk to us."

The bill, however, could ultimately fail, and even if it passes may face a veto by Gov. Linda Lingle, who supports the agency's land-development initiative.

Daniel Dinell, Hawai'i Community Development Authority executive director, has testified against the bill and in a statement yesterday said the agency believes the vision for a "live, work, learn and play" community is supported by a majority of the public, including users of Kaka'ako parks.

"Our common goals are to: remove the eyesores and abandoned warehouses that now dominate the area; expand existing park and open spaces and public parking; complement the new John A. Burns School of Medicine and future life sciences complexes; expand recreational, entertainment and housing options for our residents; and create a gathering place that brings together the people of Honolulu," Dinell stated.

A&B is offering to build an extension to Kaka'ako Waterfront Park, a public hula amphitheater, farmers' market, shops, restaurants and two 20-story condo towers on the Kaka'ako peninsula.

A&B would buy six acres of slightly inland property for the condos with about 630 units, and lease the rest of the land under an agreement that would earn the state revenue.

A&B and the agency say the condos are needed to help pay for the public improvements, including maintaining the existing Kaka'ako Waterfront Park, and are integral to creating more vibrant activity in the area.

A subcommittee of agency directors endorsed the project in January, but the agency has said it is holding off from making a final decision to see what happens at the Legislature.

A few other bills that could affect the agency but not necessarily derail the A&B project are still alive, including one that adds two members to the agency's 11-member board, and another requiring legislative approval of agency community-development plans.

The House also passed a resolution urging the agency to rescind its tentative agreement with A&B and its request for proposals. Bills that did not advance included one that would have abolished the agency.

Reach Andrew Gomes at agomes@honoluluadvertiser.com.