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Retired City Clerk Ray Pua sees the Office of Hawaiian Affairs' interest in the vacant downtown post office building as coming full circle for the Hawaiian people. OHA mulls
post office building
for new homeBy Pat Omandam
Star-Bulletin
Pua envisions the historic six-story structure as the home for OHA, as well as the permanent seat for a new Hawaiian nation.
"This would be the best place because it represents a cycle of history from the Kingdom of Hawaii with Iolani Palace ... the Territorial Building, the state Capitol and now the new Hawaiian nation," Pua said.
"That Hawaiian nation should be in the center of palace square with everybody else, and not on the fringes where OHA is presently situated," he said.
The interim OHA board yesterday appointed four trustees to an ad hoc committee to consider buying the building. Last month, negotiations that could have developed the 300,000-square-foot site for a proposed $45 million retail and restaurant center fell through.
OHA Chairman Clayton Hee said there may be no more appropriate site in the state for a new Hawaiian nation and urged trustees to consider "quick and thoughtful action" on what OHA should do before their interim terms expire Nov. 6.
Hee views the possible purchase as a "reallocation of the assets of the trust." Since it is federal property, the building could be part of a proposed federal reconciliation with native Hawaiians.
"I am here to encourage you before the end of the month to send a clear signal with respect to the direction and vision of this office which you hold." Hee reminded the board that the governor had asked the interim board to "be bold in your 60 days. ... This is part of it."
Trustees and OHA officials toured yesterday through the main floors of the 78-year-old building.
The vacant offices, hallways, stairwells and two large courtrooms were last occupied about two years ago. Trustees shuffled in and out of darkened rooms, impressed at the amount of space.
The building will not be offered to the public until a re-evaluation is done of the property, Frances Okazaki, a representative for the broker handling the project, told trustees. That review could take a couple of months, she said.
OHA is under some pressure to make a decision about a new headquarters because its 10-year lease at Pacific Park Plaza expires in February 2001.
Already, there are grumblings from some that the purchase of the post office site is a bad deal.
Former trustee Rowena Akana said OHA was approached to buy the building a few years ago, but a tour of the building then showed water damage and electrical problems. Also, the cost of renovation must be considered, she said.
"They've been trying to give that damn thing away, so why would Hawaiian beneficiaries be stuck with a nightmare like that?"
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