Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 31, Number 5, 1 May 2014 — A MATTER OF PRINCIPLE [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

A MATTER OF PRINCIPLE

OHA disappointed in defeat of bill that would have allowed residential development on its Kaka'ako Makai properties

By Garett Kamemoto The Office of Hawaiian Affairs expressed its deep disappointment after state legislators failed to pass a bill that would have allowed residential development on three of its Kaka'ako Makai properties. "The actions of the state House of Representatives are not pono," said Kamana'opono Crabbe, Ka Pouhana, Chief Executive Officer of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. The House of Representatives

drastically altered the bill sought by OHA, then rejected that draft citing a laek of support from OH A, effectively killing Senate Bill 3122. While OHA had sought residential entitlements on three of its properties, the last-minute House proposal would have allowed residential development on eight lots, only two of whieh are owned by OHA. No puhlie hearings were held on the revised bill. "The proposed bill was never properly vetted and the puhlie should have been allowed to weigh in on a plan with such broad

changes. Our Trustees did not have the opportunity to properly eonsider the bill and could not have taken an official position on it,"

Crabbe said. "Throughout this process, we have promised that we will be good stewards of the land and to do the

right thing. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs will not abandon its principles for the sake of political expediency," Crabbe continued. The state Senate had proposed allowing OHA to have residential entitlements on two lots fronting Ala Moana Boulevard, but reluctantly agreed to the House plan after mueh discussion. As of press time, there was still a ehanee the bill could resurface before the end of session. "We ask the Legislature to reconsider their actions and allow lawmakers to vote yes or no on the merits of our proposal without adding entitlements for other properties," Crabbe said. "That is simply the right thing to do." OHA thanked its many supporters who testified for the proposal to allow residential development on its properties and the many lawmakers in both the House and Senate who worked to try to win passage of its legislation. ■

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