Honolulu Mayor Signs Sidewalk Bills

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell has signed into law several bills that would affect the sidewalks of Waikiki and other parts of the island of Oahu.  Bill 42 made it illegal for people to sit or lie on Waikiki sidewalks 24 hours per day.  Bill 43 prohibited people from urinating and defecating in public places in Waikiki.  Bill 46 made it illegal for people to urinate or defecate in public areas in the rest of Oahu.  Offenders who violate these new laws could be fined up to $1,000 and/or up to one month in jail for the petty misdemeanor.

Caldwell noted that he also intends to sign Bill 48 which would ban sitting and lying from 5:00 AM to 11:00 PM in Chinatown, downtown, McCully-Moiliili, Waipahu, Kalihi, and Kailua. Bill 48 still needs to be heard by the City Council's Zoning and Planning Committee and will need a final vote by the full City Council before coming to the Mayor's desk for his signature.

Opponents of the bills argue that they are unconstitutional and immoral.  They believe that the government is criminalizing being homeless and feel that the money spent enforcing these laws would be better served by building more housing and providing more services for those who need it.  Several organizations have stated that they would challenge the constitutionality of these bills in court.

Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser, 9-17-2014, www.staradvertiser.com
Posted by Jeff Uyemura-Reyes, Principal Broker, REALTOR®
Global Executive Realty, LLC
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Filipino Supermarket to Open on Oahu in 2014

Seafood City Supermarket has announced that they will be opening up their first store in Oahu sometime in 2014. Based out of California, Seafood City caters primarily to Filipino customers, and plans to build their first Hawaii supermarket in the Waipahu Town Center.  The market will be just over 38,000 sq ft in size.  Retail experts believe this is an excellent move by Seafood City, especially since based upon the 2010 census data, more than 60 percent (16,000 residents) of Waipahu's population is Filipino.  Furthermore, the census reports that Kunia and Ewa Village, two nearby neighborhoods, are home to another 11,000 Filipino residents.

Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser, 7-19-2013, www.staradvertiser.com
Posted by Jeff Uyemura-Reyes, Broker-in-Charge, REALTOR®
Global Executive Realty, LLC
www.myhawaiihomesearch.com
www.myhawaiicondo.com
www.myhawaiidreamhome.com

Honolulu Rail Project – City Under Attack for Construction on Land Not Yet Owned

Opponents of the Honolulu Rail Project are criticizing city officials for starting construction this past summer on land that the city did not own. According to rail documents which were made public, there were two sites in Waipahu and Kapolei where crews started putting in guideway columns and grading land in an effort to keep the rail project on time and on budget. However, while the city intended to acquire both properties at a later date, they did not own the land at the time of construction.  City officials argued that this is a “standard practice for larger parcels where we gain a legal right of entry pending closing on the sale.” Officials also noted, “On a project of this size it is critical to keep things moving so that we are on time and on budget.”

Currently, the city has stopped all construction after the Hawaii Supreme Court had ruled that an archaeological survey of the entire 20-mile route was needed before construction could resume. It is estimated that this delay, which could last eight to ten months, will cost tax payers $7 million to $10 million per month.

Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser, 9-30-2012, www.staradvertiser.com
Posted by Jeff Uyemura-Reyes, Broker-in-Charge, Realtor®
Global Executive Realty, LLC
www.myhawaiihomesearch.com
www.myhawaiicondo.com
www.myhawaiidreamhome.com