Four candidates for Honolulu mayor said they think it's a bad idea for the city to condemn five Waikiki parcels to pave the way for Outrigger Hotels and Resorts' Lewers Street redevelopment project. Mayoral aspirants oppose
Waikiki condemnationBy Gordon Y.K. Pang
gpang@starbulletin.comFormer city prosecutor Keith Kaneshiro told a group of about 50 people at a mayoral forum in Makiki last night that there needs to be compelling public interest for the city to use its eminent domain powers to take away private property.
Members of the City Council's Policy Committee asked the landowners and Outrigger earlier this month to see if they could resolve their differences on their own before a January meeting.
"I could see if the government were to take away the land and use it to develop it, that's one story," Kaneshiro said. "But if government is taking away the land to help a private company develop the land and profit from the land, that's something else."
Mayor Jeremy Harris is backing the condemnation, citing the need for the Waikiki area to undergo a facelift in order to draw visitors as a benefit for all Oahu residents. Supporters of the condemnation note that Outrigger already has leases on each of the properties and would benefit from the $300 million project.
But Kaneshiro said the city could have a hard time winning the case in court.
Former Councilman Mufi Hannemann said allowing for the condemnation would "set a bad precedent."
Hannemann said he'd like to see the Lewers area redeveloped as part of an overall scheme for Waikiki and believes Outrigger has been a good corporate citizen. Nonetheless, "were I on the City Council and if I were chair and this request came down to introduce it on behalf of the administration, I would have sent it back special delivery," he said.
"Were I the mayor of the City and County of Honolulu, I never would have introduced this type of legislation ... until it was clear I had used all my persuasive powers to bring the parties to the table."
Waikiki Councilman Duke Bainum, who was among the Council members who voted to defer action on the condemnation, also said he has serious concerns.
Bainum said he's proud of the "profound changes" that have been made to improve Waikiki during his nearly two terms representing the area, such as the creation of an improvement district, and believes the Outrigger project would enhance the area immensely.
However, "I think it's wrong that we condemn land from private landowners and give it to another owner," Bainum said, noting that the property owners have had the parcels for decades.
"Government has become an intrusion in our lives -- the less government interferes in the business sector the better off we are," said Norbert Perez, a sales and leasing consultant for the Jackson Auto Group, making his first foray into politics.
Lt. Gov. Mazie Hirono and former Mayor Frank Fasi, also announced candidates for the city's top office, did not attend last night's forum held by the American Association of University Women. Hirono said she had a scheduling conflict while Fasi told organizers it was too far away from next September's expected election.
Harris is expected to resign in July to run for governor, triggering a one-time, winner-take-all special election to fill the remaining two years of his term.