Small Business News
April 2005 | Online Edition
Ritzy development or functional port? That is the dilemma facing Honolulu Harbor as developers and maritime interests vie for harbor space. The desire to develop the area into a boutique attraction goes contrary to the need for shipping space. Follow the money and the HCDA.
Live Nude Girls at Honolulu Harbor
By Anne V. Stevens, Office Manager for
State Senator Gordon Trimble
There’s something missing in Honolulu Harbor. “What’s missing?” you ask. There’s plenty of water in the Harbor. There is misperception at the legislature and in the Lingle administration that water is all that is necessary for the maritime industry to thrive. And since Hawaii is surrounded by water, everything in the maritime industry should be fine. But it’s not. What’s missing in Honolulu Harbor is pier space and infrastructure for the many new ships that would like to deliver products and cargo to Hawaii.
Several recent newspaper articles have detailed the entry into the shipping market by new players such as Pasha Line (auto carrier), the Hawaii Superferry and new cruise ships from Norwegian Cruise Line. Behind the scenes, other carriers have made inquiries about entering the Hawaii market. However, some perspective shipping companies have been told there is no room for their ships due to overcrowding in the harbor. Competition in ocean freight will bring many benefits to Hawaii’s consumers. Lower prices, new jobs, leisure opportunities and a wider variety of products all result from competition and expansion in the maritime industry.
Unfortunately, two of the busiest piers in Hawaii and which serve the entire state’s transportation system, were put under the control of the Honolulu Community Development Authority (HCDA) in 1990, unbeknownst to the Harbors Division and without the opportunity for public testimony. The significance of this situation is that HCDA is focused on development of “people places”, i.e. shopping malls, hotels, pedestrian parks, etc. along the waterfront. The Harbors Division concentrates on providing the wider, public service of ensuring cargo and freight is delivered to all the citizens of Hawaii as well as opportunities for Hawaii’s exports to the Far East and the mainland.
Although HCDA and their sister organization Aloha Tower Development Corp. (ATDC) publicly profess to understand the importance of the harbors to our state, in their respective Boards’ mind, cargo ships, their cargo, back up lands and infrastructure, should be out of sight. It’s great to have plenty of toys, food, building materials, appliances, autos, gasoline, and newspapers, but who wants to look at some dirty old containers around the Harbor?
The dreams of the developers that HCDA and ATDC serve, should be in the forefront of the waterfront, like Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, San Francisco’s Fisherman’s Wharf, New York City’s South Street Seaport. Those mainland cities have giant commercial harbors or other harbors down the coast to move cargo. Unfortunately for Hawaii, we have a few very small commercial harbors already at capacity—no room for the dream if we want to keep receiving our stuff.
The perception of HCDA and ATDC reminds me of a comedy skit by comedienne Elaine Boosler, called “Live Nude Girls”. In the skit, Elaine describes a scene in a nightclub, where the men in her entourage buy into the dream represented by beautiful girls dancing naked on the stage. “We can’t touch’em, we can’t talk to’em, but they’re dancin’ for us. So what do we do? Giv’em more money”.
The developers are dancin’ for the citizens of Hawaii. Will we buy into their dream?
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