1188!Bishop!Street!Suite!907!
Honolulu,!Hawaii!!96813!
Phone:!(808)!529Y0404!
!!!!!!Fax:!! (808)!440Y7206!

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April!18,!2019!
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To!Whom!It!May!Concern:!
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Re:!!HCDB!Response!to!Issues!Raised!by!the!Stop!HMOM!Coalition!
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In!an!email!dated!April!4,!2019,!the!Coalition!raised!five!concerns.!!Following!is!HCDB’s!response!
organized!under!the!Coalition’s!headings.!
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Zoning&Variance&
Contrary!to!the!Coalition’s!assertion,!the!HMOM!project!actually!advances!the!City!and!County!
of!Honolulu!General!Plan!and!the!Waianae!Sustainable!Communities!Plan!(WSCP).!!The!General!
Plan,!in!Chapter!IV,!Objectives!A!and!C,!Policy!1!seeks!to!provide!decent!housing,!a!choice!of!
living!environments!and!a!variety!of!homes!at!different!prices!!(affordable!rents)!for!residents!
of!Oahu.!!!
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In!a!letter!dated!September!15,!2016!to!Hawaiian!Community!Development!Board,!the!City!and!
County!of!Honolulu!Department!of!Planning!and!Permitting!(DPP)!determined!the!project!is!
consistent!with!the!WSCP!that!supports!residential!infill.!!The!reason!the!WSCP!supports!
residential!infill!development!strategies!over!those!that!develop!undeveloped!lands!is!to!
maintain!the!rural!character!of!Waianae.!The!existing!site!already!has!10!houses!on!it!and!
within!a!residential!community.!The!development!will!retain!six!of!the!houses,!and!replace!five!
with!the!twoYstory!multiYunit!buildings.!It!is!not!taking!or!using!agricultural!land.!
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DPP!determined!the!project!is!consistent!with!the!WSCP’s!vision!for!Waianae!and!the!
residential!land!use!policy,!which!supports!“small!twoYstory!apartment!buildings!and!various!
low!density!community!support!facilities.”!!Section!3.15!of!the!WSCP!supports!development!of!
transitional!shelters!and!affordable!housing!projects!in!Waianae!due!to!the!availability!of!vacant!
land!that!is!already!designated!and!zoned!for!such!uses.!!Section!3.82!supports!the!project!
because!it!will!use!existing!land!within!the!Rural!Community!Growth!Boundary.!
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The!Coalition!also!asserts!the!variance!allowing!the!project!is!somehow!in!contradiction!to!the!
Maili!Watershed!Management!Plan!Final!Report!(MWMP)!at!page!70,!which!makes!references!
to!the!General!Plan!and!the!Waianae!Sustainable!Communities!Plan,!and!calls!attention!to!the!
prohibition!on!new!developments!makai!of!Farrington!Highway!and!the!need!to!preserve!and!
restore!stream!corridors.!!The!HMOM!project!is!neither!makai!of!Farrington!Highway,!nor!
directly!adjacent!to!the!Ma’ili’ili!Stream.!!It!is!near!the!Ma’ili’ili!Channel,!which!the!MWMP!
distinguishes!from!the!stream,!and!there!is!property!owned!by!DHHL!located!between!the!
project!site!and!the!channel.!

 HCDB!Response!
April!19,!2019!
Page!2!of!6!
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Flood&Zone&and&Sea&Level&Rise&
The!Coalition’s!precise!concern!related!to!the!fact!that!the!project!will!be!located!in!a!flood!
zone!is!unclear.!!The!area!is!already!urbanized,!and!the!neighboring!properties!will!also!be!
affected!by!being!in!the!flood!zone!and!any!impacts!of!potential!sea!level!rise.!!That!said,!even!a!
one!meter!sea!level!rise!is!unlikely!to!affect!the!project!due!to!the!current!elevation!of!the!
property,!and!the!project!incorporates!landscaping!features,!pervious!surfaces!and!raised!
buildings!to!address!potential!impacts!from!flooding!due!to!sea!level!rise!or!other!factors.!In!
addition,!underground!basins!will!be!constructed!to!address!water!discharge!generated!by!the!
project.!!The!project!itself!does!not!exacerbate!the!potential!for!flooding!in!the!area!because!of!
specific!design!elements!in!the!project!that!anticipate!and!mitigate!the!concern.!
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HMOM&Planned&Near&Endangered&Species&
Contrary!to!the!Coalition’s!assertions,!the!project!is!not!located!next!to!the!Ma’ili’ili!Stream,!
which!is!distinguished!from!the!concrete!channel,!and!therefore!not!the!subject!of!the!MWMP!
note!that!a!mating!pair!of!the!Hawaiian!Stilt!was!observed!in!near!the!stream.!!Further,!the!U.S.!
Fish!and!Wildlife!Service!did!not!list!the!Hawaiian!Stilt!in!its!list!of!endangered!species!that!may!
be!impacted!by!the!project!during!the!environmental!assessment,!and!Dr.!Art!Whistler!
concluded!in!his!Biological!Survey!of!the!site,!“Because!the!site!is!so!disturbed,!there!is!no!
suitable!habitat!for!any!native!animal!species,!and!no!federally!designated!critical!habitats!are!
present!at!the!site.”!
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HMOM&Plans&Lacked&Due&Process&/&Transparency&
The!Coalition!asserts!area!residents!were!not!“adequately!informed”!of!the!project!and!had!no!
say!in!the!development!and!planning!process.!!HCDB!complied!with!all!requirements!for!public!
notice!and!presentation!of!the!project!to!the!NanakuliYMaili!Neighborhood!Board!at!both!the!
committee!and!full!board!level,!which!provided!additional!public!notice!about!the!project!by!
referencing!it!on!its!meeting!agendas.!!HCDB!also!presented!the!project!plans!to!the!Waianae!
Neighborhood!Board,!which!vetted!and!also!unanimously!voted!in!support!of!the!project.!The!
process!of!conducting!the!environmental!assessment!provided!opportunities!for!public!
comment,!including!the!publication!of!the!draft!environmental!assessment!on!the!State!Office!
of!Environmental!Quality!Control’s!website.!!The!DPP!spent!a!year!thoroughly!vetting!the!201YH!
application!prior!to!adoption!and!approval!by!the!Honolulu!City!Council,!which!included!public!
notice!and!opportunities!for!public!comment.!Details!about!the!project!is!also!on!HCDB’s!public!
website!http://hawndev.org.!
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HCDB!is!improving!an!underutilized!area!encumbered!with!old!dilapidated!homes!built!in!the!
1930s!with!a!wellYplanned!affordable!housing!project!for!the!people!of!Waianae.!The!one,!two!
and!three!bedroom!units!within!six!twoYstory!buildings!are!well!designed,!will!be!built!of!quality!
materials!and!have!energyYefficient!appliances.!There!is!a!resource!center,!park!area,!sufficient!
offYstreet!parking,!security!fencing!with!cameras!and!an!onYsite!resident!manager!who!will!live!

 HCDB!Response!
April!19,!2019!
Page!3!of!6!
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onYsite.!Tenants!are!required!to!follow!strict!rules!and!regulations!and!are!subject!to!evictions!
for!serious!violations.!HCDB!is!using!a!seasoned!and!wellYrespected!company!that!manages!a!
large!number!of!similar!projects!throughout!the!State!of!Hawaii.!
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Safety&&&Health&Concerns&
A!52Yunit!garden!style!housing!complex!!is!hardly!a!“large!scale!project”!that!“will!create!a!
potentially catastrophic public health and safety issue for the County and State.”!The!
traffic!study!conducted!as!part!of!the!environmental!assessment!found!no!significant!impact!to!
the!vehicular!or!foot!traffic!in!the!area!as!a!result!of!the!project.!If!there!should!be!a!tsunami!
warning,!there!should!be!adequate!government!notice!and!an!opportunity!for!Maili!residents!
to!move!to!higher!ground!using!Mailiili!Road,!which!is!adjacent!to!the!project!site.!We!will!make!
access!over!our!project!so!people!can!use!Milikami!Street!to!access!Farrington!Highway!to!make!
an!immediate!UYturn!onto!Mailiili!Road.!.!!
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In!another!email!dated!April!10,!2019,!the!Coalition!posed!a!series!of!questions.!HCDB!
responds:!
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Question:--How-did-TMK-87001016000-get-sold-for-$100-to-HCDB-or-Laulima-Development?!
Response:!!HCDB!is!not!sure!how!the!Coalition!came!to!their!understanding!of!the!sales!price,!
but!HCDB!purchased!the!property!for!$2.25!million,!as!is!noted!on!the!City!and!County!of!
Honolulu!Department!of!Budget!and!Fiscal!Services!Real!Property!Assessment!Division’s!
website.!
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Question:--What-evidence/affidavit-do-you-have-to-show-us-that-you-notified-all-the-TMKsbordering-the-property-in-accordance-with-the-Department-of-Planning-and-Permitting,-ZoneChange-Application-Check-List?-Why-were-neighbors-bordering-this-project-not-personallyinformed-by-USPS?!
Response:!!Neighbors!bordering!this!project!were!not!personally!informed!through!the!USPS!of!
HCDB’s!February!2017!presentation!to!the!NanakuliYMaili!Neighborhood!Board!because!HCDB!
was!not!required!to!do!so.!!!
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On!June!30,!2017,!the!City!and!County!of!Honolulu!Department!of!Planning!and!Permitting!
published!revised!instructions!and!requirements!for!zone!change!applications!that!now!include!
a!requirement!to!“provide!written!notice!of!the!presentation!to!all!adjoining!Property!Owners.”!
These!rules!were!not!in!effect!when!HCDB!made!its!presentation!before!the!board,!and!when!
it’s!application!was!submitted!in!2016,!it!followed!DPP’s!check!list!form!for!the!201H!process,!
which!was!ultimately!accepted!and!approved!by!DPP!and!the!City!Council!!
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 HCDB!Response!
April!19,!2019!
Page!4!of!6!
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Question:--How-is-it-that-the-Honolulu-City-Council-could-approve-a-plan-that-did-not-do-its-duediligence-and-was-not-fully-vetted-for-studies-where-the-safety-of-residents-is-of-muchconcern?--Ms.-Pine-please-address-this.--!
Response:!!The!environmental!assessment!process!examined!these!key!issues!and!
the!development!plan!addresses!all!anticipated!safety!considerations,!particularly!as!it!relates!
to!the!Coalition’s!assertions!over!potential!sea!level!rise,!where!the!science!is!still!not!certain!in!
terms!of!projected!impact,!and!the!potential!for!tsunamis!or!flooding.!!The!County!Department!
of!Planning!&!Permitting!thoroughly!vetted!Hale!Makana!O!Maili.!!The!following!is!the!key!
dates:!
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1. !June!2016,!HCDB!begins!Chapter!343!Environmental!Assessment!review!process!and!
201H!Application.!Consultants!were!hired!to!conduct,!1)!An!Affordable!Rental!Demand!
Study,!2)!Drainage!Study,!3)!Phase!1,4)!!Archaelogical!Study,5)!Biological!Survey,6)!
Cultural!Impact!Assessment!&!7)!Transportation!Assessment.!!!!!
2. August!6,!2016,!HCDB!sends!preYconsultation!letters!to!various!federal,!state,!and!
county!agencies!regarding!Draft!Environmental!Assessment!(Draft!EA)!of!Hale!Makana!O!
Maili.!
3. September!15,!2016,!DPP!responds!to!HCDB!request!comments!for!Draft!EA.!!
4. February!7,!2017,!HCDB!presents!project!to!Waianae!Neighborhood!Board,!which!
unanimously!approves!the!project.!
5. February!13,!2017,!DPP!received!Phase!1!of!201H!Application!&!determined!project!was!
eligible.!
6. February!10,!2017!HCDB!submitted!Draft!EA!to!OEQC.!
7. February!23,!2017,!Draft!EA!published!in!The!Environmental!Notice.!!30YDay!Comment!
Period!Begins.!
8. February!28,!2017!HCDB!presents!project!to!the!Planning!&!Zoning!Committee!for!the!
NanakuliYMaili!Neighborhood!Board,!which!approves!and!forwards!the!Project!to!the!
full!Board.!!
9. March!21,!2017!HCDB!presents!project!to!NanakuliYMaili!Neighborhood!Board!and!
thereby!satisfies!201H!neighborhood!board!presentation!requirement.!
10. March!28,!2017,!Draft!EA!30YDay!Comment!Period!Ends.!
11. May!12,!2017!HHFDC!transmits!Final!Environmental!Assessment!(Final!EA)!and!Finding!
of!No!Significant!Impact!(FONSI)!to!OEQC.!
12. June!8,!2017!OEQC!posts!Hale!Makana!O!Maili!in!The!Environmental!Notice.!
13. October!30,!2018,!Honolulu!City!Council!Adopts!and!Approves!201H!application.!!
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Question:--How-did-the-Maili-Watershed-Management-and-Waianae-Sustainability-Plan-play-arole-in-developing-HMOM?--!

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April!19,!2019!
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Response:!!During!the!environmental!assessment!process,!these!plans,!along!with!others!
pertinent!to!the!area,!were!considered.!!The!City!and!County!of!Honolulu!Planning!and!
Permitting!Department!specifically!provided!a!letter!indicating!that!the!proposed!project!was!
consistent!with!the!General!Plan!and!advances!the!Waianae!Sustainability!Plan!objectives!of!
protecting!Waianae’s!rural!character!through!inYfill!developments!in!areas!that!are!already!
urbanized,!and!by!creating!muchYneeded!affordable!housing!opportunities!for!the!area’s!
residents.!
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Question:--What-studies-did-you-do-for-the-ingress-and-egress-of-Kulaaupuni,-Kaukamana,Kakalena,-Milikami-Streets-for-vehicular-and-pedestrian-traffic?-Where-are-thesestudies?--Please-show-us.!
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Response:!!A!traffic!study!was!included!in!the!Environmental!Assessment,!which!is!publicly!
available!through!the!website!of!the!State!of!Hawaii!Department!of!Health!Office!of!
Environmental!Quality!Control.!!http://health.hawaii.gov/oeqc/!
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Question:--What-kinds-of-infrastructure-improvements-will-be-made-for-the-neighboringMilikami,-Kakalena,-Kulaaupuni-and-Kaukamana-Streets-especially-where-vehicular-andpedestrian-traffic-is-concerned?-!
Response:!!Infrastructure!improvements!that!are!required!are!part!of!the!plan.!!Additionally,!
the!project!will!be!fenced!in!with!specific!points!of!entry!for!both!vehicular!and!pedestrian!
traffic.!!The!project!should!have!minimal!impact!on!the!vehicular!and!pedestrian!traffic!on!
Milikami!Street,!and!may!have!some!increase!in!pedestrian!traffic!on!Kakalena!Street!as!people!
access!public!transportation!options!along!Farrington!Hwy.!!!
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Additional-Statement:--These-are-just-a-few-of-our-concerns.-Certainly-the-questions-above-are“tip-of-the-iceberg“.--There-are-many-concerns-that-are-offshoots-of-the-above-questions-and-aretoo-many-to-list.Response:!There!is!a!housing!crisis!in!Hawaii,!on!Oahu!and!particularly!on!the!Waianae!
Coast.!!For!the!last!18!years!and!presently,!HCDB!has!committed!itself!to!being!part!of!the!
solution!to!this!crisis,!and!is!developing!a!project!that!not!only!advances!the!Waianae!
Sustainable!Community!Plan,!but!develops!the!project!in!a!manner!that!provides!residents!with!
a!quality!project!that!enhances!the!area,!but!more!importantly!provides!affordable!housing!for!
our!people.!We,!as!a!nonprofit!developer,!have!reason!to!be!proud!of!what!we!do.!
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This!project!takes!property!that!has,!in!part,!been!utilized!as!a!site!for!illegal!dumping!of!trash!
and!has!planned!to!turn!it!into!a!viable!option!for!providing!quality!housing!at!affordable!rates!
for!the!community.!.!!Our!experience!at!Hale!Makana!o!Nanakuli,!and!other!projects,!
demonstrate!that!we!have!a!proven!record!of!developing!and!managing!these!projects!to!

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April!19,!2019!
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minimize!any!negative!impacts!to!the!surrounding!community!while!meeting!a!direct!and!
urgent!need!for!the!families!in!the!community.!
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Mahalo!for!the!opportunity!to!address!these!concerns!in!detail.!!We!look!forward!to!bringing!
affordable!housing!options!to!Maili!through!the!development!of!Hale!Makana!o!Maili.!
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Sincerely,!
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Kali!Watson!
!!