Major Hawaiian-culture center proposed
| Recommendations of the Economic Momentum Commission (Adobe Acrobat required) | |
| • | Host culture |
| • | Social needs |
| • | Infrastructure |
| • | Natural resources |
| • | Sustained economy |
| • | Workforce/education |
By Sean Hao
Advertiser Staff Writer
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To maintain Hawai'i's economic momentum, the state should consider building a major Hawaiian-culture center in Waikiki, repealing the gas-cap law, taxing real estate speculation and replacing the airport's Wiki Wiki Shuttle with an air-conditioned people-mover.
Those are just some of the 31 proposals put forward yesterday by the state Economic Momentum Commission headed by Don Horner, president and chief executive of First Hawaiian Bank. The 31-member, bipartisan commission was set up by Gov. Linda Lingle in June to seek ways to keep Hawai'i's economic expansion on track.
Among the major themes addressed in the proposals the commission will focus on were:
Commission members will meet next week to possibly narrow and prioritize their proposals before briefing the public next month. They will then collect public opinion on the proposals before taking a vote on final recommendations later this year.
"These are draft ideas," Horner said. "These are definitely not final."
Initial reaction was mixed.
Waikiki Improvement Association President Rick Egged said he fully supports the idea of creating a Hawaiian culture center in Waikiki.
"It comes down to where do you put it and who's going to pay for it," Egged said.
Herb Conley, managing partner of Coldwell Banker Pacific Properties, said he would want to know more details about the commission's proposal to tax the reselling of a home within one year.
"The question that might be posed is that there could be numerous reasons that individuals might need to, or be forced to sell within a year that would not be speculating," Conley said. "There's no question that we need to come up with additional and creative solutions for affordable housing. The question is how do you do it?"
Egged also voiced his support for a new people mover at the Honolulu International Airport.
"I think that's a very important economic initiative," he said. "That Wiki Wiki Shuttle is a disgrace."
The Economic Momentum Commission is among several groups formed over the years to address such economic development issues. Whether plan proponents will be successful in pushing the commission's recommendations through the Legislature, city councils and other agencies remains to be seen.
The criteria used to craft proposals include whether the ideas can gain broad public acceptance, are economically feasible, benefit the majority of Hawai'i's people and can be accomplished within six years.
Among the commission's 31 members are House Speaker Calvin Say, D-20th (St. Louis Heights, Palolo, Wilhelmina Rise); Senate President Robert Bunda, D-22nd (North Shore, Wahiawa); David McClain, University of Hawai'i interim president; Dee Jay Mailer, CEO of Kamehameha Schools; and Mitch D'Olier, president and CEO of Kaneohe Ranch Co.
Reach Sean Hao at shao@honoluluadvertiser.com.
