Hawai‘i Kai residents preemptively petition against high-rise

Residents in Hawai‘i Kai are urging Kamehameha Schools against hypothetical high-rise developments in Haha‘ione Valley.

Among the extensive land holdings of Kamehameha Schools are three properties in Hawai‘i Kai, adjacent commercial land parcels totaling about eight acres. Businesses such as 7-Eleven lease those three parcels, located between 6640 and 6660 Hawai‘i Kai Drive, from KS, although possibly not for much longer.

The leases for all three parcels expire in 2028. And while KS has not stated any plans for the properties following the expiration date, many residents are worried nonetheless.

 “Many people are assuming they do have a plan,” said Tom Cooper, a spokesman for Haha‘ione Advocates for Respectful Development (HARD), a volunteer community organization raising awareness about resident concerns regarding the future of the three parcels.

Because, while Cooper confirmed that KS has told HARD it has no current stated plans for the future of the parcels, eight contiguous acres of land directly at the mouth of Haha‘ione Valley could no doubt seem enticing for a possible high-rise development along Hawai‘i Kai Drive, he said.

“It’s like getting Boardwalk and Park Place in Monopoly for a developer,” Cooper said.

Cooper estimated there are perhaps 30 businesses located on the parcels. The westernmost contains a 7-11, a gas station and Boston Pizza; the middle one holds a business plaza that is home to numerous small businesses; and the easternmost parcel, the largest, contains the former Japan-America Institute for Management Sciences building.

While JAIMS permanently dissolved in 2024, part of the building is currently used as a preschool.

HARD’s concerns about a large-scale development are not mere NIMBYism, Cooper said, referring to an acronym for “Not In My BackYard,” which is often leveled at opponents of high-density housing.

“There is only one way in or out of the valley,” Cooper said. “In a major fire, such as the ones in Lahaina and L.A., if you add 200, 300, 400 new cars to traffic that’s already bottlenecked, it would be devastating.”

Of course, other concerns do include the impact to view planes within the valley, increased noise pollution and crime, Cooper added.

Furthermore, he said, the JAIMS parcel directly borders Haha‘ione Elementary School, and major construction next to the school could not only be a safety hazard for students — who, Cooper said, could try to explore a dangerous construction site — but would also have a deleterious effect on their education due to the chronic noise

HARD does not oppose respectful development, Cooper said. The group has met with the majority of property owners and residents in “the donut” (the ring of properties immediately surrounding the three parcels) and said that the majority seem to support converting the JAIMS building into a community center, a cultural center, or something else with social or community value.

For now, though, with nothing officially on the horizon, HARD is simply gathering support. Cooper said the group has met with "a key member" of the Honolulu City Council to be notified if and when any proposal for a zoning variance or other changes to the properties is submitted to the City and County.

At the same time, Cooper said HARD has circulated a petition among residents that has gathered more than 1,000 signatures, something he hopes will help sway KS’ eventual decision. That petition specifically requests that KS maintains the JAIMS building “nestled under the magnificent trees … for over 50 years” and that government groups not approve plans for buildings on the properties taller than the current developments.

Aloha State Daily reached out to Kamehameha Schools for comment.