FL MORRIS / FMORRIS@STARBULLETIN.COM Mayor Harris gave his year-end speech yesterday.

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Harris touts
decade of endeavors

The mayor says his achievements
have reinvigorated the city

Honolulu Mayor Jeremy Harris bid adieu to the city yesterday after a decade in office, recounting his accomplishments and creating what he called a "renaissance of Honolulu."

Harris' legacy In his speech last night, Honolulu Mayor Jeremy Harris highlighted what he considers his accomplishments during his 10 years as mayor of Honolulu. They include: » Waikiki improvements: Kuhio Avenue, Ala Wai Promenade, Kapiolani Bandstand projects, and Sunset on the Beach and Brunch on the Beach » Hanauma Bay visitors center » Sports tourism: Waipio Soccer Complex, Central Oahu Regional Park » Expansion of city parks by 4,000 acres » Knowledge-based industries: Asia-Pacific Urban Technology Institute, Asia-Pacific Environmental Summit » Kapolei development » Vision design teams » Bus Rapid Transit » Recycling » Waste-water treatment upgrades » Alternative and renewable energy initiatives: alternative fuels for city vehicles, use of alternative energy for city buildings and smart buses » Fiscal sustainability » Safer city: increase in Police and Fire Department manpower and stations

"Our goal has been clear: to spark a renaissance on this island, a new Honolulu, to build a city that was a great city, to be recognized around the world as a cosmopolitan city, a model city, a truly sustainable city," he said.

Harris spoke without a prepared speech or notes. He used a Power Point presentation with color photos to underscore the highlights of his 2 1/2 terms as mayor.

Harris decried the state of Honolulu when he arrived 34 years ago. He recalled how, as a teenager, he first stepped into City Hall to lobby then-Mayor Frank Fasi to build more sewage treatment plants.

The 54-year-old spent the last 10 years as mayor and the previous nine years as city managing director under Fasi.

Harris delivered his half-hour speech at 6:30 p.m. at the Mission Memorial Auditorium next to Honolulu Hale. The city paid KHON-TV between $3,000 and $4,000 to have the speech televised live.

The mayor credited and thanked his Cabinet and city employees for the accomplishments of his administration.

Harris took credit for transforming Waikiki from what he called Third World conditions and bringing local residents back to the district with programs like Sunset on the Beach and Brunch on the Beach.

As he listed his legacy, Harris pointed to Hanauma Bay's transformation from a tourist attraction to a nature learning center.

He cited the development of the Waipio Soccer Complex and Central Oahu Regional Park.

He said his community-led Vision Teams also helped make improvements to Kaimuki, King Street, Chinatown and Kailua.

Harris also took credit for improving the transit system with the controversial in-town Bus Rapid Transit alignment.

As for environmental initiatives, the former marine biologist pointed to the $1 billion in improvements to the city's waste-water treatment facilities and the city's efforts to develop renewable energy and recycling.

He also pointed to the city's fiscal health. He said expen- ditures grew only about 18 percent during his time in office, compared with spending increases of 140 percent and more in prior decades.

"I am proud to say ... we have been rated now as the most livable city on the planet," Harris said to applause from the audience.

During the speech, Harris made no mention of the Campaign Spending Commission's three-year investigation into illegal campaign contributions, with dozens of donors including engineers, contractors and attorneys being charged with violations of campaign finance laws in federal and state courts.