Document Actions
August 2007
HIGHLIGHTS OF AUGUST 1, 2007 HCDA MEETING AND PUBLIC HEARING
Following is a brief summary of actions taken and the public hearing conducted at the August 1, 2007 meeting of the Hawaii Community Development Authority (HCDA).
Appointment of HCDA Interim Executive Director
The Authority appointed Teney Takahashi to serve as the HCDA Interim
Executive Director. HCDA Executive Director Daniel Dinell
resigned his position effective August 3 and will return to the public
sector after three-and-a-half years of public service with the
Authority. Takahashi will serve as the interim director until the
Authority selects Dinell’s replacement. According to HCDA
Chairperson Michael Goshi, Takahashi is well suited for the
responsibilities the position carries. “During his eight years with
HCDA, Teney Takahashi has distinguished himself both as a manager and
in his role as director of planning and development,” said Goshi.
“Teney excels at solving problems and getting positive results quickly
and creatively and managing diverse groups of employees and
consultants.”
In addition to his work with HCDA, Takahashi has 30 years of experience in real estate planning and development and has worked extensively in all of the areas HCDA touches, including master planning, project management, and planning and development of commercial and residential property.
During his time with Castle & Cooke Properties, Amfac/JMB, HEI’s Malama Pacific Corporation, and the Princeville Corporation, Takahashi oversaw land acquisition and entitlements, infrastructure planning, and financing. His responsibilities involved the management of as many as 500 employees and oversight of as much as 3,000 acres of land, including properties for hotels and recreational, residential, commercial, industrial, and public utility uses. Takahashi holds an MBA from the University of Hawai‘i and a Bachelor of Science degree from the U.S. Air Force Academy.
Public Hearing on Kewalo Basin Rules
Sixteen people testified at the HCDA’s second public hearing on proposed administrative rules for Kewalo Basin. The Department of Transportation-Harbors will relinquish jurisdiction of Kewalo Basin to the HCDA on September 1, 2007. The proposed rules, regulations, charges and fees for Kewalo Basin will govern the use and operation of Kewalo Basin under HCDA. These rules, which were drafted with extensive stakeholder input, are considered necessary and desirable to facilitate the public’s use and enjoyment of Kewalo Basin. The proposed rules defined permissible activities regulate operations within the harbor and set forth procedures for obtaining leases and related fees.
The first public hearing on the proposed rules was held on March 7, 2007, at which time there was considerable testimony in opposition to the Rules. Since that time, the Kewalo Ocean Activities (KOA)—an organization representing Kewalo Basin tenants—has been meeting with HCDA staff and an Authority subcommittee to revise the proposed rules. An evening community meeting was held on May 29, 2007 to afford the public an opportunity to comment on the proposed rules. During the process, the Authority subcommittee and HCDA staff considered tenant input and made appropriate changes to the draft Rules with the intent of balancing the competing interest and to best protect the public health and safety, as well as the value of Kewalo Basin.
At the August 1, 2007 hearing, the majority of testifiers spoke out against certain provisions of the proposed rules. Issues raised included: mixed usage of Kewalo Basin Harbor; transfer fee and limitation of liability; a two-tier rent structure; increases in parking fees and ticket booth rental rates; and that Kewalo Basin should remain under DOT management.
The proposed Rules are organized in four chapters as follows: