HCR 184: Authorizing the Hawai‘I Community Development Authority to CONDUCT A STUDY TO CONSIDER residential, hotel, and other land uses for THE kaka‘ako makai AREA AND UPDATE THE KAKA‘AKO COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT MAKAI AREA MASTER PLAN ACCORDINGLY.

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

Authorizing the Hawai‘I Community Development Authority to CONDUCT A STUDY TO CONSIDER residential, hotel, and other land uses for THE kaka‘ako makai AREA AND UPDATE THE KAKA‘AKO COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT MAKAI AREA MASTER PLAN ACCORDINGLY.

     WHEREAS, the Hawai‘i Community Development Authority (HCDA) intends to update the Kaka‘ako Community Development District Makai Area Master Plan and administrative rules in 2025; and

     WHEREAS, the planning process will include community and stakeholder engagement, infrastructure assessment, traffic impact analysis, soil contamination assessment, sea level rise analysis, and cultural and historical analysis; and

     WHEREAS, although the Makai Area Master Plan was updated in 2023, it did not contemplate residential, hotel and other uses, nor did it consider soil and geotechnical analysis, cultural and historical analysis, view plan impact of potentially higher densities, and sea level rise on building design and siting; and

     WHEREAS, in updating the Makai Area Master Plan, the HCDA should include a robust community and stakeholder engagement process, infrastructure assessment, traffic impact analysis, soil contamination assessment, sea level rise analysis, and cultural and historical analysis, among other planning consideration; and

     WHEREAS, the State continues to suffer from a shortage of affordable housing with fewer families able to afford to buy or rent a home in the State, while Native Hawaiians suffer disproportionately from this lack of affordable housing; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2025, the Senate concurring, that the Hawaii Community Development Authority is authorized to conduct a study to consider residential, hotel, and other land uses for the Kakaʻako makai area in conjunction with the updating of the Kakaʻako Community Development District Makai Area Master Plan and update the plan accordingly; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that in conducting the study, the HCDA shall:

     (1)  Consult with the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation; Office of Hawaiian Affairs; Department of Planning and Permitting of the City and County of Honolulu; University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa John A. Burns School of Medicine; Department of Transportation; Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Department of Education; and the Kakaako Makai Community Planning Advisory Council; and

     (2)  Hold a public hearing at which all interested persons may submit data or opinions, orally or in writing, in conjunction with the hearing prior to submitting the results of the study to the Legislature; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that notice of the public hearing shall be published at least thirty days prior to the hearing and shall include:

     (1)  The date, time, and place of the hearing;

     (2)  A statement of the topic of the hearing; and

     (3)  A description of where, when, and how the study may be viewed by the public; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the HCDA is requested to submit an interim report of the results of the study considering residential, hotel, and other land uses for the Kakaako Makai Area to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2026 and a final report no later than December 31, 2026; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Director of  Transportation; Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Superintendent of Education; Executive Director of the Hawaii Community Development Authority; Executive Director of the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation; Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs; Dean of the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa John A. Burns School of Medicine; Director of the Department of Planning and Permitting of the City and County of Honolulu; and the Chair of the Kakaako Makai Community Planning Advisory Council.

Report Title:

HCDA; Study to consider residential, hotel, and other land uses for the Kakaako Makai area

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

Authorizing Hawai‘I Community Development Authority to CONDUCT A STUDY TO CONSIDER residential, hotel, and other land uses for THE kakaako makai AREA.

WHEREAS, the Hawai‘i Community Development Authority (HCDA) intends to update the Kaka‘ako Community Development District Makai Area master plan and administrative rules in 2025: and

     WHEREAS, the planning process will include community and stakeholder engagement, infrastructure assessment, traffic impact analysis, soil contamination assessment, sea level rise analysis, and cultural and historical analysis; and

     WHEREAS, although the Makai area plan was updated in 2023, it did not contemplate residential, hotel and other uses, nor did it consider soil and geotechnical analysis, cultural and historical analysis, view plan impact of potentially higher densities, and sea level rise on building design and siting; and

     WHEREAS, in updating the Makai Area Master Plan, the HCDA should include a robust community and stakeholder engagement process, infrastructure assessment, traffic impact analysis, soil contamination assessment, sea level rise analysis, and cultural and historical analysis, among other planning consideration; and

     WHEREAS, the State continues to suffer from a shortage of affordable housing with fewer families able to afford to buy or rent a home in the State, while Native Hawaiians suffer disproportionately from this lack of affordable housing; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2025, the Senate concurring, that the HCDA, in conjunction with the updating of the Kaka‘ako Community Development District Makai Area Master Plan, is authorized to:

     (1)  Consult with the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Department of Planning and Permitting of the City and County of Honolulu, University of Hawaii at Manoa John A. Burns School of Medicine, Department of Transportation, Department of Business Economic Development and Tourism, Department of Education, and The Kakaako Makai Community Planning Advisory Council; and

     (2)  Conduct a study to consider residential, hotel, and other land uses in the Kakaako Makai Area which shall include a public hearing before submitting the study to the Legislature. Notice of the public hearing shall be published at least thirty days prior to the hearing and shall include: (a) the date, time, and place of the hearing; (b) a statement of the topic of the hearing; and (c) a description of where, when, and how the study may be viewed by the public. All interested persons may submit data or opinions, orally or in writing, in conjunction with the hearing.

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the HCDA shall submit its study considering residential, hotel, and other land uses for the Kakaako Makai Area to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2026; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Executive Director of the Hawaii Community Development Authority, Executive Director of the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation, Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Director of the Department of Planning and Permitting of the City and County of Honolulu, Dean of the University of Hawaii at Manoa John A. Burns School of Medicine, Director of the Department of Transportation, Director of the Department of Business Economic Development and Tourism, Superintendent the Department of Education, and the Chair of The Kakaako Makai Community Planning Advisory Council.

Report Title: 

HCDA; Study to consider residential, hotel, and other land uses for the Kakaako Makai area.

STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1696

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2025

RE:   H.C.R. No. 184

      H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

     Your Committee on Water & Land, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 184 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING HAWAI‘I COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY TO CONDUCT A STUDY TO CONSIDER RESIDENTIAL, HOTEL, AND OTHER LAND USES FOR THE KAKAAKO MAKAI AREA,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to authorize the Hawai‘i Community Development Authority to conduct a study to consider residential, hotel, and other land uses for the Kaka‘ako Makai area and to update the Kaka‘ako Community Development District Makai Area Master Plan accordingly.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i; Hawai‘i Association of REALTORS; Imanaka Asato; and Hawaii Building & Construction Trades Council.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Friends of Kewalo; Hawaii's Thousand Friends; Kakaʻako Makai Community Planning Advisory Council; and four individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Hawai‘i Community Development Authority and Airlines Committee of Hawaii.

     Your Committee finds that the Hawai‘i Community Development Authority intends to update the Kaka‘ako Community Development District Makai Area Master Plan (Master Plan) in 2025.  Your Committee further finds that when the Master Plan was updated in 2023, it did not contemplate residential, hotel, or other uses.  Your Committee believes that considering residential, hotel, and other uses when updating the Master Plan is essential to address the State's ongoing affordable housing crisis.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Requesting the Hawai‘i Community Development Authority to provide an interim report on the results of its study no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2026 and a final report no later than December 31, 2026;

     (2)  Amending its title; and

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water & Land that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 184, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 184, H.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water & Land,