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Newsletter

Catch up on what’s happening in Kaka’ako. View our latest monthly newsletter here.

Previous Newsletters photo courtesy of HCDA

Historic Ala Moana Pumping Station

The KIA members and guests who attended the General Membership Meeting on Wednesday, August 26th, were treated to three great presentations. Bobbie Lau, KIA President, ran the meeting and was very appreciative of those who took time to attend.  KIA Board member and KIA’s webmaster, Peterson Rosario, recorded the entire meeting for those who were unable to be there in person. You can watch the video above.

The first speaker was Stanford Carr of Stanford Carr Development.  He talked about the past, present, and future relating to Kakaako. The “past” is Halekauwila Place which was completed in April 2014 and had all 204 rental units filled by last September in this restricted rental building. It was under budget and ahead of schedule so they reinvested by working with HCDA, City & County, and Dept. of Land and Resource to restore Mother Waldron Park, redid the irrigation, installed turf, and built two basketball courts.  Residents and neighboring senior rentals have adopted the park every last Saturday of the month for a community workday. Located on the corner of Halekauwila and Keawe, there are retail shops on the ground floor. They have 950 PV on their 5th floor rooftop, which generates 800 to 1,000 kilowatts of energy per month, which is a savings of $8,000 to $10,000. The building also manufactures hot water in a tank at the rooftop, using solar panels.

Stanford talked about his “present” projects in Kakaako: Keahou Place and Keahou Lane. They will be located on the block owned by Kamehameha Schools at Halekauwila, South, Pohukaina and Keawe streets. This project will also include the rail coming through Kakaako. The video will show the property layout as projected. The “future” will be Hale Kewalo, a 128 unit family rental project on Kona and Piikoi streets, with 27 one-bedroom, 72 two-bedroom, and 29 three- bedroom family units. Stanford hopes to break ground in a year.

Lindsey Doi is the acting Asset Manager and Compliance Assurance and Community Outreach Officer of the Hawaii Community Development Association did a brief overview of what is happening with HCDA. She provided her monthly newsletter, which KIA includes in their monthly newsletters. There are a number of projects under construction currently, with some completed. The new developed are spread out throughout Kakaako. Newly completed since 2012 was about 1,600 units (58% of those units were designated for qualified income families, reserve or affordable housing targeting families making under 140% of the area median income. There are 1,700 units coming up in the Symphony Honolulu, Waiea, The Collection, Anaha, and 801 South Street, with 408 units (23%) being reserved housing.  Recently permitted are 988 Halekauwila, 803 Waimanu, Keahou Lane, 400 & 440 Keawe, Ward Gateway, Vida, Artspace, and Ae`o. Of the 1,550 units, 801 are reserved housing. See the video for more information on the existing low income housing in Kakaako, of which there are 1,278 units.

HCDA has been working on the homeless plight in Kakaako. Lindsey reported on how they are working with a number of government, nonprofit and businesses, although they are not a social service agency. Since 2008, they have had a job training program, which employees homeless residents from the Next Step shelter for park services. HCDA also has a security deposit match program to help get people into housing, as well as a laundry and shower program. The bike path connection strategy was also a part of Lindsey’s presentation.

John Whalen is an urban and regional planner whose professional career extends more than four  decades in both government and private practice. He is the HCDA Chairman of the Board and provided a powerpoint on the Board’s issues and priorities for 2015, which are:  Affordable Housing, Homeless Encampment, Parks & Shoreline, Protect Industrial Services/Small Business, TOD Overlay, and HCDA Operations.

KIA General Membership Meeting