Glory to Kaka'ako
Beverly Kai
There is a map that may or may not copy. But this whole thing is the
view from my lanai.
I am going to have to write to Whoever to protest the new facility being
a high-rise, however. It would be on the shore, walling off the
waterfront.
******************
Thursday, November 14, 2002
Kakaako aquarium
dream is reborn
The proposed facility would be
part of a research complex
By Dave Segal and Richard Borreca
des...@starbulletin.com rbor...@starbulletin.com
Plans to build a world-class aquarium for Hawaii have resurfaced with an
international development firm proposing to build a privately financed
facility in Kakaako as part of a marine research complex.
In the closing days of Gov. Ben Cayetano's administration, the Hawaii
Community Development Agency has revived a long-stalled plan of
Cayetano's to put a large aquarium on state land.
The aquarium project has been pushed by every governor since 1986, but
the projects have repeatedly failed.
Yesterday, the HCDA unanimously approved a request by KUD International
LLC to enter into exclusive one-year negotiations with the firm to lease
about 10.4 acres at the Point Panic area of the Kakaako waterfront from
the state to develop a complex that would include an aquarium of about
125,000 square feet.
COURTESY IMAGE
An artist's rendering of the area at Point Panic where the new aquarium
and marine research complex would be built.
It also would include marine research facilities for the University of
Hawaii and other tenants.
"We believe that this fits the vision that HCDA has with Cayetano and
(University of Hawaii medical school Dean Edwin) Cadman for a biotech
center," said Kip Kamoto, branch manager for Kajima Construction
Services in Hawaii.
KUD International, which built the San Francisco Giants' new baseball
stadium, Pacific Bell Park, has proposed building the complex for
approximately $200 million to $250 million. The cost does not include
parking, site preparation and land costs. The facility would incorporate
the existing Waikiki Aquarium and the University of Hawaii's marine
research facilities, such as the Pacific Biomedical Research Center.
San Francisco-based EHDD Architecture, which was hired to design the
complex, has designed the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Aquarium of the
Pacific, an addition to the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago and the National
Aquarium and Marine Biology Center in Kenting National Park in Taiwan.
"As far as the character of the (Hawaii) aquarium, we feel extremely
strongly that it will be an iconic building, be very visible and be a
symbol for Kakaako," said Duncan Ballash, an EHDD principal. "We're
looking at a taller building, somewhere near the height limits for the
site, because we want the building to give the area an identity.
"It really would be an anchor building for Kakaako," he said.
State information director Jackie Kido said the project had Cayetano's
support.
"The governor has been working with community leaders over the years to
get something like this going," Kido said.
The state will now start negotiations with KUD, a major international
construction firm, to develop, operate and finance the complex.
"Construction would probably be two years down the road for the whole
complex," Kamoto said. "This is still in its early preliminary stages."
KUD International is a subsidiary of Kajima U.S.A. Inc., which is a
subsidiary of Tokyo-based Kajima Corp.
© 2002 Honolulu Star-Bulletin --