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Catch up on what’s happening in Kaka’ako. View our latest monthly newsletter here.
Historic Ala Moana Pumping Station
Board Highlights
Although the Hawaii Pacific University project at the Aloha Tower Marketplace is not in Kakaako, the KIA Board knows that this area will be impacted by students, staff, and faculty. Sam Moku, VP of HPU, said that there are over 7,500 student graduates and undergraduates; and since they started in 1965, have over 40,000 alumni across the world, with 17,000 in Hawaii. They have a big presence in downtown Honolulu, as well as their Hawaii Loa campus and are partnering with the Oceanic Institute in Waimanalo. The Aloha Tower Marketplace will be a mix of commercial, educational and public spaces. The second floor’s goal is to have 300 bed spaces for students, calling them the lofts, with 24-hour security. Faculty suites will also be available on the second floor. Barnes & Nobles will be on the lower front level, with Hooters and Gordon Biersch remaining. HPU is looking to open by the Fall of 2015 for residents. HPU’s 50th anniversary in also in 2015.
The second presentation at the October 8th KIA Board meeting was made by the developer of Artspace Projects. The Ola Ka `Ilima Artspace Lofts will be built at 1025 Waimanu Street and will include an eight-story, 84 affordable live/work units (one, two, and three bedroom) for low-income artists and their families earning from 30% to 60% of the area median income. There will be more than 20,000 square feet of community and green space, including an outdoor gardening area and community room, available to residents, partnering non-profit organizations, and the surround community for rehearsals, exhibitions, performances and events. Approximately 4,000 square feet will be reserved for PA`I Arts & Culture Center and will combine classroom space and flexible space for teaching and performing Hula, music, and other traditional practices.
KIA received a letter from Townscape, Inc. Environmental & Community Planning regarding the initial consultation for the planned renovation of the Historic Ala Moana Pump Station. They are preparing an Environmental Assessment (EA) for the planned renovation of the property at 240 Keawe Street. There are three buildings located on site: 1990 Pump Station, the screen House, and the 1940 Pump Station. HCDA is proposing to rehabilitate the historic station for use as a senior community resource center. Comments will be received by Gabrielle Sham at gabrielle@townscapeinc.com or call 536-6999.
KIA News
Congratulations to KIA Board member, Bobbie Lau of The Howard Hughes Corporation on her promotion to Senior General Manager.
Fisher Hawaii has a great tabloid for their “Fall Into Savings!” sale at 450 Cooke Street. It was in the early October MidWeek but the sale ends November 3rd. They are not only the place where families go for school supplies, but check out their office supplies and discounted rates!
Under the leadership of John A. Burns School of Medicine’s Dean Jerris Hedges, MD., the University of Hawaii’s multidisciplinary research into why some of Hawaii’s residents live the longest while others struggle to get beyond their 50’s will continue. The $15.4 million, five-year renewal comes on the heels of a successful foundation laid in the first four years of the RMATRIX* grant, a centerpiece of how investigators across UH Mānoa are focusing health research on an essential theme: how to make the lives of people in the state’s multi-ethnic population better.
A View of Kakaako by Sherry Goya
This is the view of Olomehani Street in Kakaako Makai as I was on my way to the Children’s Discovery Center in October. So many questions came to mind….why are they blocking the sidewalks, do they need a permit to pitch a tent, how come the Sit-and-Lie bill did not include Kakaako, right next door to Waikiki??? As I drove around much of Kakaako, everywhere else looked serene, clean, and enlightening, with building art to bright the area. Should KIA be concerned about the homeless in Kakaako Makai? Did our August 27th KIA General Membership Meeting do nothing but give information unsubstantiated by action? Everyone, especially our panelists should be ashamed of allowing this area to escalate to what it looks like in the pictures. However, when speaking to Tony Ching, HCDA Executive Director, he believes with the City’s assistance, the homeless should be out of the area by the end of the year.
KIA Member Changes
Hawaiian Beauty Products, Ltd. has moved to 1375 Dillingham Blvd, #104; Honolulu, HI 96817
Changes to the 2013-2015 KIA Membership directory should be directed to Sherry Goya, KIA Executive Director at sgoyallc@aol.com. Notice will be made in future newsletters and changes will be made on the KIA website.
HCDA News
HCDA said they are continuing its public outreach for the master planning of active use facilities at the Kakaako Makai parks. The first round of open houses was held last month, and the second round of public meetings is scheduled for Thursday, October 30 and Saturday, November 8. Please join them to provide your comments and learn more about what's being proposed for the Makai parks, or weigh in online at: http://kakaakomakaiparks.mindmixer.com/.
Two public hearings have been schedule to consider a development petit for a proposed luxury condo tower called Vida. Hearings will be held Nov. 12 at 9:30am and Dec 17 at 9am at 461 Cooke Street. Local development firms Kobayashi Group and the McNaughton Group have proposed the 39-story tower on 3.4 acres of KSBE land bordered by Ala Moana, Koula and a closed off portion of Auahi streets. They are not seeking to deviate from any HCDA rule.
This is the link to the October HCDA newsletter for updated information: http://dbedt.hawaii.gov/hcda/newsletters/.
Are you opening a new location? Got a fundraiser you’d like to promote? If you do and would like to share it through our monthly newsletter, please contact Sherry Goya for more information.
