Jesse Souki is executive director of the Hawaii Community Development Authority, a state agency that has oversight of land uses in Kakaako, Kalaeloa and Heeia — the latter being a site where preservation more than development is the concern.
However, rising condo towers draw particular focus to Kakaako, as well as discussion around affordable housing needs. Through various HCDA revenue sources and its development rules, Souki said, something approaching a third of the homes will be for residents earning at or below 140 percent of area median income (AMI).
The fact that the rail project is planned to route through this downtown district also raises its profile. Souki’s most recent prior job was director of planning, permitting and right-of-way for the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation. Still a true believer in rail, he maintained transit can be a “great equalizer,” easing access to and through communities.
He also served as director of the state Office of Planning and deputy director of the state Department of Land and Natural Resources. There’s a familial link to government, too: His grandfather’s cousin is House Speaker Joe Souki. He is married and has a 3-year-old son.
One of Souki’s favorite escapes is running, and on his courses through the district he’s noted some reduction in homeless encampments. In the parks, for example, increasing public activity is among the strategies to address the problem, although a balance must be struck, he said.
“While the public may perceive a certain individual as ‘homeless,’ he or she has the right to use the park so long as the rules are followed,” Souki, 43, added. “Enforcement is just one management tool we use.
“We are also looking at activating portions of the park through programming and improvements. A well-used park is less likely to end up falling into disrepair.”
Question: Developers are unhappy about new rules on affordable housing. How do you answer them?
Answer: The intent of the rule amendments is to create a longer-lasting supply of moderate-priced homes for sale or rent. Two programs are being amended: required reserved housing and voluntary workforce housing.
Work on amending the Kakaako Reserved Housing Rules started more than a year ago. Since then, the authority has been working with the community and developers on refining the amended rules that will be offered for final comments at public hearings.
Generally, stakeholders are supportive of the compromise proposal that, one, brings the average affordability of units in the reserved housing program to 120 percent of area median income, though people making as much as 140 percent of the area median income would still qualify for units; and, two, lengthens the authority’s buy-back period.
However, there has been pushback on the voluntary workforce housing program amendments. Amendments include applying the provisions of the reserve housing program to the workforce housing program. Under existing rules, the voluntary workforce housing program does not have buy-back and shared-equity requirements.
Q: You’ve mentioned that making parks more active can help deter homeless encampments. How do you see the problem throughout the community, though?
A: I think the issue of homelessness is since the beginnings of society; it’s just something a community has to deal with, especially in urban settings. I don’t think we’ll solve it completely, but there’s a concerted effort by the governor’s office and the homelessness coordinator, and they’ve helped a lot.…
It used to be a lot more homeless that you’d see, but I think a lot of them have found services through the governor’s homeless coordinator and that program.
Q: So you sound hopeful. There’s some progress?
A: There’s some progress, and we have the homeless shelter down by the park that provides some opportunities for folks. … Next Step, and then we have the Family Assessment Center in the park, which helps folks get to the services they need.…
Q: Can the master plan for the Kakaako Waterfront Park be jump-started? It seems stalled.
A: Planning is a long but rewarding process if done right. Once the authority adopts the master plan, it will allow us to amend regulatory documents that would allow the projects specified in the master plan.
The projects and uses were identified after careful consideration and public input. The Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the Makai Parks Active Use Master Plan was accepted by Gov. David Ige on Nov. 4, 2016. The plan includes approximately 46 acres of land in three parks: Kakaako Waterfront Park, Kakaako Gateway Park, and Kewalo Basin Park.…
The Kakaako Makai Parks Active Use Master Plan, based on the FEIS, was presented to the authority for adoption at its March 1 meeting. The authority decided that it wanted to explore elements of the master plan before its adoption. We hope that a modified draft master plan is ready for the authority’s consideration at its May or June meeting.
Q: So far, what are the successes of redevelopment in Kakaako? Where would you say the goals have fallen short?
A: The Kakaako Community Development District was created in 1976 by the state Legislature. The Legislature directed the authority to follow specific development guidance policies for the district.
Under this directive, the authority has succeeded in many ways. For example, development of the district has resulted in a community that permits an appropriate land mixture of residential, commercial, industrial, and other uses.
We are also working with the city to complement its network of bike lanes, and the district’s development policies allow developers to build in a way that takes advantage of the two transit stations proposed in the district.
More than 30 percent of residential units built since the late 1980s are affordable. This includes units affordable to working families with moderate-incomes and low-income rentals. This is made possible by the authority’s 20 percent reserved housing requirement, its voluntary workforce housing program, and the authority’s investment in low-income rental projects in the district.…
Q: What challenges remain with the redevelopment of Kalaeloa? Have infrastructure issues been overcome?
A: The authority’s three districts are unique. The Kalaeloa Community Development District is approximately 3,700 acres. It was created so the authority could act as the local redevelopment authority to facilitate the redevelopment of Barbers Point Naval Air Station in accordance with the community reuse plan.
The district includes various owners and uses, like the military, private developers, airport, veterans, social service providers, small business owners, beaches, parks, archaeological resources, federal, and state and city agencies. Although the Navy no longer has a mission in the district, they still own an estimated 1,100 acres and all the utilities.
The authority owns very little land in the district, and most of the land it does own is not developable. With the support of area legislators, the authority is working with stakeholders in the district to convey, repair, and upgrade vital public facilities, such as energy, roads, and water.
We hope to program much-needed public facilities improvements in the coming years.
Q: Overall, would you say the board has done better at keeping developers to the district rules?
A: Since I started a few months ago, we have not had any new members. I can say that opinions of authority members are diverse. Diversity of opinion is what you want in any public board. Members work very hard at ensuring their decisions are reasoned and based on adopted rules.
During my career, I have advised, presented before, and served on various public boards and commissions. Serving on a board as a volunteer member is probably the most challenging position to have. The workload is considerable and complex.
My staff and I do our best to ensure that authority members have the information and analysis they need to use their judgment to make the right decision for the districts they serve. It is an honor to work with them.
