Conference to discuss development opportunities, environmental issues along rail line

News Release from City and County of Honolulu September 15, 2015

The City and County of Honolulu and the state Department of Health will host a joint conference to address development opportunities and environmental issues along the city’s 20-mile rail transit line.

The Hawaii Brownfields Forum #7 will be held Tuesday, Sept. 22, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Neal Blaisdell Center. The conference is free and open to the public, although registration is required. To register, please see http://bit.do/Hawaii_Brownfields_Forum.

The workshop is designed for landowners, developers, real estate brokers, environmental professionals, and others with an interest in making sure Honolulu gets the most from the rail project. Because many areas along the rail line and stations have a history of industrial activities, landowners need to be sure their property is safe for redevelopment. This workshop will help them understand these issues, their responsibilities, and the resources available to help them get the job done. In addition to Brownfield redevelopment, the conference will discuss transit-oriented development (TOD) opportunities.

“In addition to providing an alternative to the worst traffic in the nation and creating greatly needed affordable housing, rail presents an opportunity to address longstanding environmental concerns through the redevelopment of Brownfield sites along the rail alignment,” said Mayor Kirk Caldwell. “This is a chance to heal the land and leave future generations with a cleaner, greener, and healthier Oahu.”

Workshop participants include Brennon Morioka, deputy executive director, Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation; Harrison Rue, Community Building and TOD administrator; Keith Kawaoka, deputy director, DOH Environmental Health; and developer Stanford Carr.

“Because many areas along the rail line and stations have a history of heavy industrial activities, it is essential that landowners make sure their property is safe for redevelopment,” said Keith Kawaoka, DOH deputy director of Environmental Health. “This workshop will help them understand these issues, their responsibilities, and the resources available to help them get the job done.”

The workshop also is sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Center for Creative Land Recycling, and the American Planning Association.

For those unable to attend, the workshop will be streamed live on the Internet. To learn more, please log on to http://bit.do/Hawaii_Brownfields_Forum. For more information, call Melody Calisay, DOH, at 586-4249.

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