OHA gets the real estate development bug
The latest property acquisition by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs sends a signal that OHA likes the landlord hat that it’s been wearing. Maybe it will become a regular part of its wardrobe.
In previous years and decades, the agency principally used financial investment strategies to grow its trust fund. Land investments were seen as part of a cultural and environmental stewardship mission — being part of the preservation of Waimea Valley, for example.
Maybe the office’s land settlement with the state, which conveyed 10 parcels of Kakaako Makai property to OHA, whetted its appetite for more of the same. And last week, trustees announced it had bought the Gentry Pacific Design Center, where it plans to move offices as space becomes available, saving on its rental in a Cooke Street highrise.
Step aside, land barons of Kamehameha Schools? Well, perhaps not yet. But it’s a start.
The evolution of surfboards, from alii to all of us
Ironically, it was channel surfing that caused us to stumble on this little gem this week: a History Channel show on surfboards, paying heavy tribute to its Hawaii origins.
It was a 2008 documentary from the Modern Marvels Extreme Gadgets series, picking up the story of surfboard evolution where it started, in second-century Hawaii. The alii used boards up to 26 feet long and weighing 150 pounds. The development of lightweight fiberglass was an event, therefore, that many weary enthusiasts of the sport could celebrate, and it made the boards affordable to us commoners.
Maybe this one got by some of the beach set who weren’t quick enough on the DVR button. It’ll surely run again — or folks can go online (history.com/shows/modern-marvels/videos/sports-gadgets-surf-board) and watch the clips. Enjoy, dude.
