Hawaii Community Development Authority (HCDA) and Ford Island Properties (FIP) officials have agreed to work together to do all that they can to ensure that certain facilities located in the Kalaeloa District (District) remain open and available for use even as the Navy is transitioning out of the District.  The Navy and FIP are working out the details for the lease of 499 acres of Navy-owned land to FIP, and some in the community have expressed concern about the immediate and long term disposition of these facilities.  Recent speculation has the Bowling Center closing at the end of September and the Child Development Center by the end of 2008.

These facilities are located on 499 acres of land being conveyed to FIP in place of a previous development agreement for lands at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor.  Besides the Bowling Center and the Child Development Center, other facilities located on these lands in the District include the commissary, Touch-N-Go mini mart and gas station, Pointer and Pride Fields, tennis courts, swimming pool and fire station.  Since the closure of the Barber’s Point Naval Air Station in 1999, these facilities have been used by both military personnel and the surrounding community.

As the population in and around the District has swelled, these facilities have been interwoven into the fabric of the community.  “Ford Island Properties recognizes the importance of these facilities and we are deeply committed to doing all that we can to ensure they remain open for residents to enjoy,” said Steve Colón, Vice President of FIP.  “As the Navy phases out of the area our intention is to maintain and develop these and other critical facilities in balance with necessary redevelopment of Kalaeloa, to ensure it remains a vital part of the West Oahu community,”

“As the zoning and Local Reuse Agency for the District, HCDA, too, recognizes the importance of the facilities in the District and has been discussing this matter with FIP during the last few months,” said Anthony J. H. Ching, Executive Director of HCDA.  “HCDA is committed to working with FIP to secure the use of critical facilities for West Oahu and FIP’s commitment to work together with us is very encouraging.”

Ching added, “Our shared goal is to ensure a seamless transition for the user public.”

With respect to the Bowling Center and Child Development Center, the transition plan being developed by HCDA and FIP envisions that:

• Bowling Center:  FIP officials will work with the Navy to enter into an agreement with a private organization that will assume the operation and maintenance of the bowling center.  A private organization is interested in assuming the operations of the bowling center and has held discussions with FIP.  “HCDA will do everything it can to facilitate such an agreement”, said Ching.

• Child Development Center:  FIP and HCDA will each take steps to ensure that the child development center stays open.  “In the interim, FIP assures the public that the child development center will continue to be operated by the Navy’s Morale, Welfare, and Recreation department for the next six months”, said Colón.  Ching stated, “If a suitable private operator is not found by FIP after the lease with the Navy has been executed and the Navy’s involvement in the operations ends, HCDA will take action to acquire the site and continue its operations.

“We are encouraged that FIP’s sensitivity and commitment to the community needs with respect to the bowling center, child development center, and the other facilities in the District will help to ensure that these critical facilities remain open to the community.  We look forward to working with FIP and the Navy towards this goal”, said Ching.

A meeting with the Navy, the Governor, HCDA, FIP, and community representatives is being pursued to finalize a transition plan which will address the community’s concerns and needs with respect to the immediate and long term disposition of these facilities.