Plans to build private condominiums on state land near the waterfront in Kaka'ako are on hold.

The Hawai'i Community Development Authority will wait to see if legislators pass any bills that inhibit its plan allowing residential use of the state land before deciding whether to go ahead with the controversial project.

Two bills that could kill the project recently advanced past the halfway mark of this year's legislative session, which started with a flurry of proposals intended to affect the agency's plan.

The agency, in an attempt to improve about 30 acres of state industrial property surrounding Kewalo Harbor, is considering a private proposal that would develop and sell high-rise condominiums on part of the site to help pay for surrounding public improvements.

Alexander & Baldwin Inc. is offering to build an extension to Kaka'ako Waterfront Park, a public hula amphitheater, farmers' market, shops, restaurants and two 20-story condo towers on the Kaka'ako peninsula makai of Ala Moana.

A&B would buy six acres of slightly inland property for about 630 condos, and would lease the rest of the roughly 30 acres under an agreement that would earn the state revenue.

The agency early last year solicited private development proposals, and in September tentatively selected A&B's plan as the best of six submissions that all contained residential use.

Residences are viewed by the agency as integral to creating more vibrant activity in the area, and as a way to pay for public improvements, including maintaining the existing Kaka'ako Waterfront Park.

The plan was met with some public support, but also drew criticism from area residents and users of the park who organized rallies, complained at agency meetings and contacted their legislators.

About 30, mostly Democratic, legislators introduced at least a dozen bills to alter the agency's power. The proposals ranged from abolishing the agency to allowing the Legislature to reject agency land sales.

The two bills aimed at derailing the project, House Bill 2555 and Senate Bill 2476, would hinder or prohibit the agency from selling land for condo development.

Two less intrusive bills — one adding two members to the agency's 11-member board, and another requiring legislative approval of agency community development plans — are still pending but probably wouldn't affect the Kaka'ako peninsula plan.

The House also passed a resolution urging the agency to rescind its tentative agreement with A&B and its request for proposals.

Legislative committees passed the two bills aimed at derailing the project earlier this month.

It is still too early to predict whether the measures will be successful, in part because the bills could face a veto by Gov. Linda Lingle, who supports the agency's land development initiative.

Some community members continue to oppose the plan and have testified in support of the two key bills.

"This land should be zoned for a public park and should not have commercial development of any type," said the family of Robert J. Medoff of Kailua in written testimony submitted March 1 at the last hearing on HB2555 before it was passed to the Senate.

"This land should be permanently set aside as a recreational park for the people, children and future generations of Hawai'i and her visitors," the Medoff family wrote.

Jean Toyama of Honolulu testified that if public money isn't available to improve the area, then improvements should come later when funding is available.

"Remember Magic Island?" Toyama said in written testimony at the same hearing. "Some elected official wanted to put a convention center there, others wanted hotels. ... Imagine if there were no park on Magic Island today, just hotels and a convention center."

Of the other 18 community members who submitted written testimony supporting HB2555, most were opposed to establishing high-rise condos makai of Ala Moana and critical of the little public input that went into forming the agency's vision. There was also concern about traffic in the area.

Daniel Dinell, agency executive director, testified in opposition to both bills addressing the agency's power to sell land, but said the agency will listen and be responsive to the Legislature and the public in how it carries out its mission to improve Kaka'ako.

Reach Andrew Gomes at agomes@honoluluadvertiser.com.