2018-09-24 BDHRA Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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TANIGUCHI: My understanding is that the reason that DLNR doesn't want to give up control of the land is they really don't have general funds to take care of other public lands. They have to rely on these kind of deals where the lease is generated to support the Department. They don't have general funds. If all of this money went into the general fund and yet they get an allocation to take care of all the rest of their expenses, I think they wouldn't care less. If, but because they keep that money for their operations they don't want to let go. But again, that's why maybe the approach gotta be you wanna enhance this, we gotta develop for you guys to do it. But we need help to get started. YEE: Absolutely. I think you described it right on there and I think that's why I sit close to Gordon and continually have these conversations over how do we try to make it work together. I understand Gordon lives on this island with us and he is invested into wanting to improve the situation, but he works within the system that he's in. HEIT: Correct. Unfortunately my hat is, there's a tight drawstring on it to keep it on because I do live on this island. I do care about what goes on here, and I want to see what's done pono for the land. You have to make it right. I work for a State agency, you know that outside a larger picture, I guess. So it's hard, you know, to convey the message to them. But I'm doing my best. I am trying to make it right, you know, to make sure that it does get done. And we're not just sitting around twiddling our thumbs doing nothing; we are looking at ways to try to get this resolved the best way we can. TANIGUCHI: But it takes too long. I mean, I'm not picking on you, it's just that it takes—lot of times, you know the best example I can give—analogy I can give is the Legislature; it takes six to eight years before you get anything. SELF: Microphone. TANIGUCHI: The best analogy's the Legislature. It takes six to eight years to get anything done that should have been done last year. You know, it just takes time and sometimes time works against you. HEIT: That's one of the frustrating things about bureaucracy and I can't make any apologies for it, yeah no, I can't, you know, it is what it is. GADDIS: Since Mr. Inouye arrived, we want to give him a moment to, or an opportunity to come up and say some things if he'd like to. Mr. Inouye? Why don't we start with five or ten and we'll see where we get here. Go ahead. INOUYE: Alright. Yeah, I'm Don Inouye and I appreciate the opportunity to be here and recognize the chairperson today and the Board members. You know, it's been a very hard situation in what we have. I remember when the carrot came out, that was in July 11, year 2011, and that was when Act 219 was passed. It opened the door for Uncle Billy's, Country Club, and Reed's Bay to apply for a lease extension, and there were certain conditions that were put in it and that was that we would be 100 percent hotel. But I had already started converting the building to a 100 percent hotel before that date. And the thing that really set me was because there was four leases that were expiring at the same time, and one of them was Naniloa. And Senator Inouye passed a bill that allowed Naniloa to have ten years' head start on this whole Page 14 of 19 Banyan Drive Hawaii Redevelopment Agency September 24,2018 Minutes