Ford Island plan No one attending Wednesday night's first public hearing on the Navy's multimillion-dollar development plans for Ford Island had any objections.
passes first test
The Navy's proposal draws
little opposition at a public hearingBy Leila Fujimori
lfujimori@starbulletin.comBut George Ahtou testified before about 50 people at Aliamanu Intermediate School, saying he would be interested where and from whom the U.S. government procured title to Ford Island and the chain of title until the present day.
The native Hawaiian also questioned the chain of title to all the properties the Navy plans to sell or lease to pay for the development.
"I question the validity of their title," he said after the hearing. The properties "probably belong to the kingdom of Hawaii."
The Navy plans to build new structures or adapt historic ones to provide administrative office space, a training complex, up to 420 family housing units and up to 1,000 units of bachelor-enlisted quarters to replace inadequate units in outlying areas.
Also on the drawing board are proposals to preserve historic buildings for museum-type displays on Ford Island, part of the Pearl Harbor Naval Complex, designated a national historic landmark.
The Navy also proposes to lease 75 acres on Ford Island for private development, which could include a historic visitor attraction.
After past media reports on the development, the Navy failed to receive any calls or letters in opposition.
"We've already been working with any competing interests," said Navy spokeswoman Jane Campbell, referring to various historic preservation societies interested in the historic aspect of Ford Island.
The only others testifying at Wednesday night's hearing were military dependents who asked the Navy spare the stables and keep them as part of the recreational facility with the adjacent golf course and the four little league baseball fields at the former Barbers Point Naval Air Station.
The golf course at the former air station will be retained along with various industrial and support areas.
The Navy proposes to lease 6.6 acres at Halawa Landing to support private developer operations on Ford Island for any historic visitor attraction, and 322 acres at Iroquois Point/Puuloa Housing; and to sell 515 acres at the Naval Magazine at Waikele and 675 acres at the former Barbers Point air station.
The Navy is accepting written testimony until Aug. 27. Comments should be sent to Naval Facilities Engineering Command Pacific Division, 258 Makalapa Dr., STE 100, Pearl Harbor 96860-3134, Attn: Stanley Uehara.