Views sought on Kaka'ako's future
By Mary Vorsino
Advertiser Urban Honolulu Writer
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Residents are being asked to weigh in on the future of Kaka'ako Mauka, whose population is expected to skyrocket through 2030 as more condominiums and businesses move in.
Dozens, including business people and homeowners, have spent the last year coming up with a revised long-term plan for the area. The next step is seeking comments as part of a supplemental environmental impact statement, which will take a year to complete.
Once the supplemental EIS is complete, the Hawai'i Community Development Authority — the quasi-state agency that oversees the development of Kaka'ako — will decide whether to approve the long-term Kaka'ako Mauka plan.
The draft Kaka'ako Mauka plan calls for:
The original mauka plan was completed in 1982.
"The plan and rules are about 20 years old, so you can understand why they're relatively out of date," said Teney Takahashi, interim executive director of HCDA. "One of our responsibilities is ... regulating the kind of development that happens in Kaka'ako. In order to fulfill that responsibility, we need some set of uniform standards to administer."
Kaka'ako mauka encompasses 450 acres and is bounded by Pi'ikoi, Punchbowl and King streets, and Ala Moana Boulevard.
By 2030, the population of the fast-growing district is expected to jump to 30,000 from just 6,000 in 2000, according to Census and state estimates. The number of housing units is expected to grow to 20,000, from 4,200, the figures show.
The mauka plan comes as the community and the HCDA also are in the process of considering the future of Kaka'ako Makai, which covers about 220 acres and spans from the 'ewa end of Kewalo Basin to the start of Honolulu Harbor.
KAKA'AKO MAUKA
To comment on the draft Kaka'ako Mauka plan or the upcoming supplemental environmental impact statement, call Susan Tamura at the Hawai'i Community Development Authority at 587-2870. Written comments can be sent to HCDA at 677 Ala Moana Blvd., Suite 1001, Honolulu, HI 96813.
The deadline for comments is Jan. 22.
A copy of the draft plan and other documents are available at www.hcdaweb.org.
Reach Mary Vorsino at mvorsino@honoluluadvertiser.com.
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