Developers outline
Kakaako plans

By Jerry Tune
Star-Bulletin

Snowboarding in Kaka-ako?

That's the vision of one of six separate groups that presented their development plans for 18 acres of state land near Kewalo Basin in Kakaako.

The ideas included a high-tech park, botanical garden, sports club, and an entertainment park with an indoor snowboarding attraction.

The developers presented their ideas yesterday to the Hawaii Community Development Authority.

The state board will narrow this list next month and final development decisions will be made in June.

Development is expected to start next year.

Competition for the five parcels included some similar ideas for retail, restaurants, and farmer's markets. Potential developers for the area are:

Ohana Foundation ACDG, LLC, headed by Don Graham Jr. and Annie Chan, one of the owners of ESS Technology Inc. of Fremont, Calif. The high-tech park would include 700,000 square feet in three towers around the Children's Discovery Museum. The buildings would include an education training center, research and development center, and space for start-up companies. Developers expect some of the tenants to come from Silicon Valley where rents are rising.

Kewalo Project Development Ltd., headed by D.G. "Andy" Anderson. This proposal would include an open-air restaurant, Ferris wheel, merry-go-round, mini-golf course, and places for tour boats.

Ratkovich & Kagawa Inc., headed by Jim Ratkovich, a Pasadena, Calif.-based developer, and Kathleen Kagawa, involved in hotel, retail and entertainment businesses in Hawaii. "Coconut Landing" would include shops, public gathering space for music and dance, a botanical garden, a sports club and offices, fish market, and a family attraction.

Imperial Associates, Seaborn Projects Inc. and Zelman Retail Projects Inc., headed by Imperial Associates and James W.Y. Wong, who developed Paradise Park. "Kewalo Waterfront Village" would include a biotechnology research center, retail shops specializing in nature and outdoor adventure, a farmer's market, a fish market, and a cultural education facility.

Coastal Rim Properties, Glacier Sports Centers, and Spectrum Group is headed by Coastal Rim Properties and Franco Mola, a Honolulu housing developer. Developers have a commitment from Gotcha clothing to develop a 173-foot-high, indoor snowboarding ride with Olympic-sized runs. Surfing and water sports are also part of the plan.

Victoria Ward Ltd., headed by Mitch D'Olier. The Kakaako landowner wants the Fisherman's Wharf site for retail, entertainment, a restaurant, and a farmer's market. The Kewalo development could be tied to the Ward Warehouse area by a pedestrian overpass.

The makai lands owned by the state are designated in five parcels with a potential for 1.34 million square feet of commercial space. No residential or hotel use is allowed in the makai area. The five sites are in an area between Ala Moana, Ohe Street, Olomehani Street, and the ocean frontage at Kewalo basin.

The parcels are available for development at various times as existing leases expire.