Hawaiian Homes
Maui project blessed

Joe Souki's opponent in
the state House race questions
Souki's role

By Gary Kubota
Star-Bulletin

WAIEHU, Maui -- On a central Maui plain overlooking sand dunes where early Hawaiians are believed buried, native cultural expert Charles Maxwell gave his blessing to a Hawaiian Homes project being built on historical ground.

"It is a place mentioned in many chants and songs," said Maxwell, who presided over the ceremony yesterday.

Lately, the site at $19.4 million, 109-unit Waiehu Kou 2 has also become a heated topic in the state House 8th District race between House Speaker Joseph Souki and his Republican challenger, Kalani Tassill.

Souki and Gov. Ben Cayetano canceled their attendance at the blessing.

Tassill has asked the state attorney general to investigate Souki's role in the selection of developer Everett Dowling for the Waiehu Kou 2 project.

Tassill, also president of the Paukukalo Hawaiian Homes Community Association, notes Souki's real estate company was initially listed as the agency representing Dowling in Waiehu Kou 2.

He said the project was not awarded to the developer with the lowest bid proposal.

Tassill notes Dowling and Souki have had previous associations. Dowling paid Souki $132,000 as a consultant in developing a Bishop Estate project in Pukalani.

Tassill criticized Souki for being involved in the Bishop Estate development while at the same time voting against a state House bill that would have limited commissions to Bishop Estate trustees.

Souki said his role as a real estate agent for the Waiehu Kou 2 project ended in May.

Both Souki and Dowling said Souki received no compensation for the Waiehu Kou 2 project.

Dowling said it was a shame Tassill was tainting a good project to try to get elected.

"It's all politics," Dowling said.

Tassill said Hawaiians would be better served by the development of self-help homes, and while Dowling proposed building 10, another developer proposed 33 self-help units.

Tassill said homes built during the first phase of Waiehu Kou cost about about half the price of the current phase.

Hawaiian Homes Chairman Kali Watson said builders presented different proposals for developing the site, and it wasn't fair for Tassill to compare one against the other.

"It's like comparing apples to oranges," he said.

Watson said Dowling's proposal was selected over the others because commissioners felt he offered the best plan.

Watson said some developers' projects cost less but did not offer as many amenities.

He said the commission from the sale at Waiehu Kou 2 was less than 1 percent, compared with the usual 6 percent.

Hawaiian homestead officials said in the first phase of Waiehu Kou, 39 lots were awarded and lot owners would build their own homes.