The 1976 State Legislature created the HCDA to plan for and to revitalize urban areas in the State which lawmakers find to be in need of timely redevelopment.  These areas, designated as “Community Development Districts”, were determined to be underused and deteriorating, but with the potential, once redeveloped, to address the needs of Hawaii’s people and to provide economic opportunities for the State.  In creating the HCDA, the Legislature also designated the Kaka‘ako area of Honolulu as the Authority’s first Community Development District, recognizing its potential for increased growth and development and its inherent economic importance to Honolulu as well as to the State.  Lawmakers found that Kaka’ako was significantly underdeveloped and underutilized relative to its central location in urban Honolulu.  The Legislature foresaw that the redevelopment of Kaka’ako would offer tremendous opportunities to address the need for more housing, parks, and open areas, as well as new commercial and industrial space near downtown Honolulu.

Major accomplishments to date in Kaka'ako:

• Creation of 1,388 affordable housing units where there were none before.
• Forty-seven acres of parklands exist today, up from 1.7 acres in 1976.
• Over $2 billion in private sector investment due to $203 million in infrastructure improvements.
• More housing, parks, public facilities and investments are on the way.

The Hawaii Community Development Authority has also assumed the role of redevelopment authority for the 3,700-acre Kalaeloa Community Development District (Kalaeloa).  The 2002 State Legislature adopted legislation to transfer redevelopment responsibility for Kalaeloa from the Barbers Point Naval Air Station Redevelopment Commission to the HCDA.  The bill also added five new members to the Authority to represent the Kalaeloa District. 

HCDA Organization

            The HCDA is established as a public corporate entity attached to the Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism for administrative purposes.  The Authority is composed of 16 voting members from the private and public sectors who oversee HCDA operations and establish policies to implement its legislative objectives.   (The five Kalaeloa members vote only on Kalaeloa matters and the other 11 members vote on both Kaka’ako and Kalaeloa issues.)   Four members are ex officio, voting members from the following State departments: Accounting and General Services; Budget and Finance; Business, Economic Development & Tourism; and Transportation.  In addition, the Governor appoints three members from a list of names submitted by the Council of the county in which a community development district is situated as well as four members-at-large.   The five Kalaeloa members include:  the Chair of the Hawaiian Home Lands Commission; the Director of the City Department of Planning and Permitting; two community representatives (one each appointed by the Governor and the Mayor of Honolulu); and a Hawaiian cultural resources specialist.  The HCDA Executive Director serves as the chief executive officer and is appointed by the Authority members.  The HCDA staff includes personnel from several professional fields including planning, engineering, architecture, development, finance, public information and administrative services.

Current HCDA Members (Click here)

General HCDA Flyer  (Click here)

HCDA Financial Audit for Year Ended June 30, 2005  (Click here)