The Office of Hawaiian Affairs expressed “deep disappointment” after state legislators failed to pass a bill that would have allowed residential development on three of its Kakaako Makai properties.

“The actions of the State House of Representatives are not pono,” said Kamana‘opono Crabbe, Ka Pouhana, OHA CEO.

The House this week drastically altered the bill sought by OHA, then later rejected the draft citing a lack of support from OHA.

“The proposed bill was never properly vetted and the public should have been allowed to weigh in on a plan with such broad changes. Our Trustees did not have the opportunity to properly consider the bill and could not have taken an official position on it,” Crabbe said in a press release late Friday.

OHA believes there is still a chance the bill could resurface before the end of session, which concludes Thursday.

image

Photo: Supporters of a bill that would allow the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to develop residential properties in Kakaako Makai, April 23, 2014. (PF Bentley/Civil Beat)

—Chad Blair

About the Author