Council hears tough questions as city nominates Kevin Auger to lead new Housing and Land Management department

Kevin Auger, the mayor's nominee to lead the new Department of Housing and Land Management, told the Honolulu City Council on Thursday that housing is an administration priority and that his office intends to move rapidly to create a pipeline of new units — but several council members pressed him for clearer plans on communication, community engagement and project financing.

Auger, introduced during the meeting as “director designate of the Department of Housing and Land Management,” said the department was formally established May 1 and has been building capacity since. “Working closely together with council members and your staffs is a paramount priority for us,” Auger said, and described three priorities he planned to present to the council committee: the department’s new housing platform, the department’s strategic plan and a follow-up on activities completed since January.

Council members asked detailed questions about where the department was in executing that strategy. Council member Tupelo asked Auger to list the three items he would present to the housing committee; Auger answered: the recently established platform, the…