About 100 people have voiced concern or opposition over a plan to develop state land along the Kewalo waterfront, but the developer pursuing the project said the number of objections it has received so far is relatively small given efforts to solicit feedback.

Alexander & Baldwin Inc., which a state agency tentatively selected in September to develop a mix of public and commercial uses including three condominium towers on state land, yesterday briefed the agency about the public response to the $650 million redevelopment plan.

Concerns ranged from using state land for residential condos and increased traffic to whether a pedestrian bridge over the Kewalo channel might affect surf breaks.

A&B said others expressed fear that abundant free parking for ocean and park use would be lost, that boat slip fees would rise, and that land would be lost for growing a fledgling bioscience industry.

"A firestorm is starting up now," said Tek Yoon, a Kaka'ako resident who attended yesterday's meeting and called the state's largely commercial vision for the area a tragedy. "Open space was a critical issue for this area as far as I can remember. I don't know about today."

The public response to A&B's plan is considered integral to the state effort to improve its largely industrial property between Kewalo and Honolulu harbors. That's because no information was publicly disclosed about most of the dozen or so competing proposals received by the state Hawai'i Community Development Authority before the agency tentatively selected A&B's plan.

A&B proposes developing 36.5 acres of state land around Kewalo Basin with 947 condo units, a hula amphitheater, farmers market, restaurants, stores, marina improvements and the pedestrian bridge.

The company said the plan's most controversial element — the condos — is needed to pay for public elements like the amphitheater, which is projected to cost $12 million to build and will operate at a loss.

As part of the development process, the agency required A&B to solicit public input that would help the company refine its conceptual plan before agency board members vote on whether to proceed with the project.

A&B last month established a phone hot line (596-4645) and Web site (www.kakaakowater front.org) to solicit questions and comments. A&B also has met with about 30 elected officials and held 10 meetings with area residents, businesses, users, landowners and special interest groups like the Sierra Club. More meetings are planned.

Of responses received from the hot line and Web site through October, A&B said 15 respondents expressed support, while 50 opposed some or all of the project. Another 50 expressed opposition at the meetings.

Meredith Ching, A&B vice president of government and community relations, said the 100 objections represent less than 5 percent of the 2,100 people who sought out information on the hot line or Web site.

"There are those who want to see the cleanup of the aging industrial area after so many years," she said.

Ching said positive comments referred to aspects of the project including Hawaiian cultural elements, opening up parts of the Kewalo waterfront now closed to public access, the farmers market and building homes closer to where people work.

Chris Wade, owner of Pacific Paradise Divers, said he hopes to benefit from the project by obtaining a Kewalo boat slip that he hasn't been able to get from the state.

"I'm actually very interested in the further development," he said. "I think it will be a good thing. It's going to be a more utilized waterfront area, with more amenities, better security. There's some scary guys wandering around (the waterfront now)."

But Ron Iwami, a Honolulu Fire Department captain who lives in Manoa, would rather see the whole redevelopment site made into a park.

Iwami said he formed a grass-roots group in May called Friends of Kewalo Basin Park Association, and has signed up about 500 members who oppose A&B's plan at Kewalo.

"I've been surfing there over 35 years," he said. "I was there way before (Kaka'ako Waterfront Park) when there was haole koa and a foot trail. With this change coming, enough is enough. It's going to change the whole character of the park, and the locals will not go."

Reach Andrew Gomes at agomes@honoluluadvertiser.com.