PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY BRYANT FUKUTOMI / BFUKUTOMI@STARBULLETIN.COM The struggle
over growthAs Kapolei nears the fulfillment
of its intended destiny as Oahu's
"second city," residents question
the wisdom of rapid growth
A bronze statue of Kapo, the Hawaiian goddess of hula and sorcery, watches over her namesake city, Kapolei, welcoming all who come to Oahu's newest urban center.
Kapolei has long been branded Oahu's "second city," but is the designation more a reflection of strong growth or of advertising sorcery? And what does it mean to those who have chosen to make their home in Oahu's fastest-growing area?
JAMES CAMPBELL ESTATE
Residential growth has outpaced commercial in Kapolei.
Kapolei
DEMOGRAPHIC SNAPSHOT>> Kapolei is the fastest-growing city in the fastest-growing region in the state. West Oahu grew 89 percent from 1990 to 2000.
>> Kapolei is a young community. The median age of residents is 31.
>> Kapolei residents have money to spend. The median income is about $61,000.
>> Most Kapolei households own their own homes. About 70 percent of the population are home owners.
>> Kapolei residents are educated. More than 83 percent have high school diplomas or have completed higher degrees.
>> Kapolei is an attractive place for families. More than 84 percent of households are family households, with an average of 3.6 members.
The answers depend on who is asked. Some point to the city's phenomenal population and residential construction growth, as well as its burgeoning commercial real estate market, as proof that the city has achieved critical mass and is on its way to becoming the next urban center.
During the past decade, investors have poured $3 billion into West Oahu, which includes Waipahu, Ewa, Ewa Beach, Makakilo, Kapolei, Nanakuli, Waianae and Makaha. They've bought homes and opened up more than 2,000 businesses, which have created about 15,000 jobs in the Kapolei region alone. And, last year, the city closed on 11 major commercial land deals -- a 120 percent year-over-year increase. There's finally enough growth to spur the city on to achieving the goals first outlined 25 years ago when its master plan was conceived, and that's a positive thing, some say.
But others have expressed concern that revving up development will undermine the quality of life leaders first envisioned when Kapolei was conceptualized as Oahu's newest city. Kapolei's a great place to live, but it has plenty of growing pains that need to be addressed, they say.
If new residential and commercial developments come into the community, some wonder where the children of these homeowners will go to school and how Kapolei's already overburdened infrastructure and service agencies will handle more traffic. Kapolei has finally got an engine driving economic development, but the train shouldn't leave the station unless the people get on board, said Shad Kane, a member of the Friends of Honouliuli, an organization that advocates balance between West Oahu's development and quality of life.
"There needs to be a concern for the impacts that construction and residential and economic development have on the community that lives in the area," Kane said. "The area is growing quick and it's growing faster than its support services. Everyone wants beautiful homes, meaningful employment and a better quality of life, but there is problem with traffic and our schools are over- loaded." Kane said these concerns have caused discussion at community meetings to stretch into the wee hours of the morning, prompting some residents to propose moratoriums on development and to oppose projects like the University of Hawaii's planned expansion into Kapolei; or to question how the region will be able to handle congestion if the Navy stations a carrier at Barber's Point.
"This isn't a new issue, it's something we've been dealing with for last six to eight years," said Maeda Timson, chairwoman of the Makakilo, Kapolei, Hono Kai Neighborhood Board. "The problem is that they put the cart before the horse."
Although Kapolei's resurgence in commercial development has taken some residents aback, the growth shouldn't surprise anyone who lives in the region, said Robert Tong, who has lived in Makakilo since 1972.
"People can't come out here with blinders on and not see what they are getting into. It's no surprise as to what projects are coming up," Tong said. "The master plan was created at least three decades ago."
Developers had big plans for Kapolei, but most planned commercial development stalled when Hawaii's economy soured due to the Asian crisis, the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, SARS and the war with Iraq, said Jeff Stone, developer of Ko Olina resort, the area's largest employer.
"We've gone through a long arduous stall where world events and economies caused a lot of projects not to get off the ground," Stone said. "Now, we have some really progressive groups moving forward and we are just starting to see the turnaround."
Ko Olina's growth during the past four years is an indication that change is happening, Stone said. The resort, which contributed $4 million to the state's economy four years ago, will contribute $30 million this year, he said.
Now, as Hawaii's economy continues to improve, West Oahu is primed for expansion because it has more available land and lower prices than any other region in Oahu. Great demographics is another reason investors are eyeing the Kapolei region, said Donna Goth, president of Aina Nui Corp.
While Honolulu's population was shrinking, West Oahu's base grew 89 percent from 1990 to 2000, significantly outpacing the United States' 13 percent population rise, Goth said.
The population is expected to continue its upward trend with growth in Kapolei projected to reach 100,000 by 2010, she said.
"People are coming out here because it's the only side of the island where you can buy a home and be part of a new city, that's the really exciting thing," Timson said.
Kapolei's strong population growth also could help create more jobs in the region by making it more attractive for businesses to go west, said Mike Fitzgerald, president and chief executive officer of Enterprise Honolulu.
Commercial real estate specialists also have forecast that the region will see an upswing in capital investments as its industrial and office real estate markets begin to take off. A drive through Kapolei shows a balance of commercial and residential construction. There's a Home Depot poised to open in mid-March and at least four new restaurants, including a Chinese and an Italian restaurant operated by the owners of Assagio, will be opening in the next 12 to 18 months, Goth said.
There's also talk of construction in several niche markets, including a private school called Pacific Island Academy, a senior living facility, an amphitheater, an aquarium and possibly a theme park, she said.
Timson, who has lived in Makakilo since 1972 when life was so quiet in West Oahu that residents used to watch the sugarcane burn on Farrington Highway for entertainment, said although development has changed West Oahu, much of it has been good.
"Once we pass through the traffic and get home, the quality of life is good," Timson said. "We've got the most beautiful sunsets and we've got everything we need within 10 minutes.
"We shouldn't let the things that need improvements hinder us from remembering that we have a wonderful city."
