CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARBULLETIN.COM
A blessing and dedication ceremony was held yesterday for the first two tenants in the state's new fishing village at Piers 36 to 38 of Honolulu Harbor. A red fish, part of Shinto ceremonies for the tenants, was in the foreground as Akira Otani, United Fishing Agency's owner, broke ground.
Fishing village
lures first tenantsThe delayed, over-budget
project is on track to
open next summer
By early next summer, the first two anchor tenants in the state's long-delayed and over-budget commercial fishing village will be moving into new buildings at Piers 36 through 38.
Yesterday, a Shinto priest blessed the project and the site where the United Fish Agency is beginning construction on a $3 million, 15,000-square-foot facility at the edge of the pier, where boats can unload their catch and tourists will be able to watch the fish being sold at auction.
Pacific Ocean Producers, a fishing and marine supply business which also operates longline fishing boats, is spending $3.5 million to build a structure next to the fish auction to house its operations and a new restaurant specializing in local seafood.
Jim Cook, co-owner of Pacific Ocean Producers, said his company added the restaurant to its plans because it is excited about the potential of the project to attract visitors and educate them about Hawaii's fishing industry.
CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARBULLETIN.COM
The state spent about $18 million to develop this site from Piers 36 through 38 as the state's commercial fishing village, about $12 million more than the original estimate. The first two anchor tenants will move in next summer.
The state spent about $18 million to develop the fishing village, about $12 million more than the original estimate. It was originally scheduled to be occupied in 2000, but undiscovered methane contamination prevented the state from signing leases with tenants.
The state is spending about $1.4 million to vent the methane gas rising from petroleum-contaminated soil at a multi-use building on the site and at the Pacific Ocean Producers site.
At yesterday's ceremony, Gov. Linda Lingle praised the two companies for sticking with the project despite the delays, and company officials praised Lingle for getting the project back on track.
"This is so exciting," Lingle said, noting that tourists and residents will be able to watch the fish auction and then buy fresh fish purchased at the auction from retail stores nearby.
United Fishing Agency hopes to move from its present 5,000-square-foot facility at Kewalo Basin on May 1. Pacific Ocean Producers is expecting to move on June 1.
CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARBULLETIN.COM
Gov. Linda Lingle and Akira Otani, owner of United Fishing Agency, participated in a Shinto ritual yesterday.
Rod Haraga, head of the state Department of Transportation, said an appraisal was just completed on the 16.5-acre property and the state will start negotiating with tenants who want to occupy the 32,000-square-foot multi-use building, which has been empty since it was finished in 2001.
Haraga said he hopes tenants can move into the building sometime after methane mitigation work is completed in the summer.
When the whole site is leased, the state hopes to collect as much as $1 million a year in lease rents. The money will go to the state harbors special fund.
"The project will pay for itself," Haraga said. "It's just a question of how many years it will take."
