Back in 1976, there was a significant concern from the residents of Waikiki that the area was being developed too quickly and that it would become an "urban jungle" filled with too many hotels and touristic attractions. That year, the Waikiki Special District Land Use Ordinance was put into law, restricting the height, density, and setback requirements for much of Central and West Waikiki. This neighborhood, now known as the "backside of Waikiki", is suffering from deferred maintenance which includes boarded-up building, inexpensive rental units, vacant lots covered in weeds, and illegal parking lots. Owners of properties are frustrated that the zoning requirements are too strict and that they are unable to make the necessary changes to their property to improve its value.
Over the last two years, members of the community including the Waikiki Improvement Association and the Waikiki Neighborhood Board have been working with the city to get this part of Waikiki rezoned. Their hope is that by doing so, there will be truly positive change in these areas. One investor who owns a building in this area, Eric Sacks, stated that the new amendments to the law would make it easier for owners like himself to make improvements. Sacks noted, "When I got the building, there were squatters living in it. Empty buildings are attractive nuisances. They attract homeless people, vandals and drug users. I've been told by businesses on Kalakaua that they are thankful that we bought the building. A police officer told me that it was really a bad place before, but that they haven't had recent calls."
