He blamed Mayor Jeremy Harris for pushing a plan that would bring high density, overcrowding and blight to the tourist mecca.

"This program comes from the top. It's the mayor's program," said Bremner, former president of the Waikiki Improvement Association.

About 100 people attended the Waikiki Area Action Association forum, at Waikiki Community Center. Six offered testimony.

Bremner also accused Harris of pushing the proposed design district amendments to get them to the City Council before the November elections.

He indicated a court battle is likely because the amendments would illegally bypass the city's planning process.

Bremner said the city's plan would bring population densities to Waikiki comparable to central Tokyo or New York City.

What little open space remains in the area would be lost to reduced building setbacks and vending stalls, he said.

"This is giving the Department of Land Utilization director complete discretion to reduce open space requirements," Bremner said. "The ratio of open space to people is going to go down."

Instead of bolstering the economy, the proposed amendments will destroy it, he said.

Bremner also noted that the city's ailing sewer system would not support any new construction and would have to undergo major repairs beforehand.

Patrick Onishi, director, city Department of Land Utilization, and Christina Kemmer, city director for Waikiki Development, denied that the process is illegal.