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Committee backs Banyan Drive redevelopment district, keeps lineal descendants in advisory role
Summary
The committee recommended passage of HB 2616 with HCDA and OHA amendments and provision for lineal descendants to participate in planning, generally as advisory members rather than voting board members; HCDA told lawmakers it will run a community master-plan process this summer.
The House Committee on Water and Land recommended passing HB 2616 (Banyan Drive community development district) with amendments and adopted many HCDA and Office of Hawaiian Affairs suggestions while clarifying governance and community participation.
Craig Nakamoto, executive director of the Hawaii Community Development Authority, told the committee HCDA is concurrently undertaking a Banyan Drive master planning process and plans a community visioning session this summer. Nakamoto said HCDA expects to include community input in a master plan and recommended structuring the new district’s governance similar to existing HCDA districts.
Office of Hawaiian Affairs public-policy advocate Sharde Freitas urged including cultural specialists and lineal descendants in the authority, recommending the governor appoint cultural specialists and consult with OHA. Multiple lineal descendants and stewards — including Terry Napiahi and local co‑founders — described ancestral ties to the land and urged that lineal descendants have substantive roles in planning.
Members asked whether the bill’s language would leave only a single lineal descendant on the authority. Nakamoto said HCDA would be open to lineal descendants serving on a community advisory council and supported more representation in advisory roles but cautioned against adding additional voting seats to the board to keep consistent board composition with other HCDA districts.
Chair Mark Hashem said the committee will take HCDA’s and OHA’s suggested amendments; the committee voted to pass HB 2616 with those amendments and to include provisions for lineal-descendant participation primarily through advisory mechanisms tied to the master planning process. The committee’s recommendation advances the bill to subsequent committees for further consideration.
