Whatever
Happened To...
An update on past news
OHA seeks to renegotiate
lease for Hana Village
Market landQuestion: Whatever happened to the partially built Hana Village Market and its plans for retail stalls for local vendors?
Answer: State Office of Hawaiian Affairs official Richard Pezzulo said that before investing further in the construction of the marketplace in Hana, the agency wants to renegotiate the lease with the landlord Wainanalua Church.
Pezzulo said the current lease has a life of less than 20 years, and his agency wants to secure a lease for 40 years.
As the guarantor of $1.7 million invested in the project, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs is taking a more active role in managing construction of the shopping center.
While $3.5 million has been spent on the development, the project still needs an estimated $1.5 million for exterior and interior work, Pezzulo said.
The nonprofit Hina Malailena, which leased the 1.12 acres of land from the church in 1989, has been unable to complete construction.
Several factors contributed to the delay, including the church's opposition to serving liquor at a proposed restaurant.
Hina Malailena executive director William Chang said the composition of the church board has changed, and his group is now able to proceed with its original plan to serve liquor in a restaurant, but needs financial assistance since its funds have been depleted.
Pezzulo said he's waiting for an accounting of the back rent and property taxes from the church.
He said the Office of Hawaiian Affairs has also retained the Hawaii Alliance for Community-based Economic Development to put together a group of individuals in Hana to guide the project.
Pezzulo said the Hawaii Alliance has also been asked to identify a group that could take over management of the project, including fund-raising, construction and its operation.
"I think it's going to go ahead," Pezzulo said. "I don't think it's going to take long before we see something there."
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