Ige Announces Nominees to Kakaako Development Board
Still missing is a cultural specialist — the position has been vacant for a year and a half.
Gov. David Ige has announced most of his selections for board members of the Hawaii Community Development Authority, a state agency that is in charge of managing land in Kakaako, Kalaeloa and Heeia.
The nominations include former Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting Director John Whalen and former Kualoa Ranch executive Tom McLaughlin. The Senate must confirm the bulk of the nominees by March 1 in order for the boards to keep conducting business.
The Legislature approved Act 61 last year which, among other changes, revamps HCDA’s boards to diminish the governor’s influence on the body. The current Kakaako board has been highly criticized for disregarding local opposition to luxury developments.
Missing from Ige’s list of nominees are one at-large member and a cultural specialist. The spot for a cultural specialist has been vacant for about a year and a half.
During that time, the agency has approved numerous projects, one of which is currently being sued for supposedly not adhering to historic preservation laws.
The state directors of finance and transportation will also serve on HCDA as ex-officio members. This year, the Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting director and the chairperson of the Hawaiian Homes Commission will also be nonvoting members of the board.
Here’s the full list of HCDA nominees:
At-Large Member, Nominated by the Senate President
John Whalen; Expiration Date: June 30, 2019
At-Large Member, Nominated by the Speaker of the House
Tom McLaughlin; Expiration Date: June 30, 2018
Heeia Community, Nominated by the Honolulu City Council
Donna Camvel, Resident; Expiration Date: June 30, 2017
Amy S. Luersen, Resident; Expiration Date: June 30, 2019
Brett N. Prejean, Area Small Business or Non-profit Representative; Expiration Date: June 30, 2018
Kalaeloa Community, Nominated by the Honolulu City Council
Michael J. Golojuch, Sr., Resident; Expiration Date: June 30, 2018
Shirley S. Swinney, Resident; Expiration Date: June 30, 2018
Dean Capelouto, Area Small Business or Non-profit Representative; Expiration Date: June 30, 2017
Kakaako Community, Nominated by the Honolulu City Council
William Oh, Resident; Expiration Date: June 30, 2019
Jason T. Okuhama, Resident; Expiration Date: June 30, 2017
Steven J. Scott, Area Small Business or Non-profit Representative; Expiration Date: June 30, 2017
Of note: announcing the picks was released on a Friday, in keeping with the Ige administration’s odd habit — albeit, earlier in the the day than usual.
Cindy McMillan, spokeswoman for the governor, said Ige announced the nominations Friday because the list was completed late Thursday. “Given the short timeframe, we needed the list to get to the Senate without delay,” she said.
That said, Ige announced his labor director
