So I've been meaning to make this video for a while, as someone who has lived in Kakaako for several years. Mahalo to Representative Scott Saiki for joining me to talk about Kakaako and what it's like to live here. For many, Kakaako appears to be a place just for wealthy people, but that's not true. There is a good mix of people here in the area that is reflected in the residents and businesses. So what do you think of Kakaako?
Mahalo Chris for this video! I rent in Kaka'ako. I'm not rich (I don't even own a car). I live in one of those aggressively nondescript 30 year old buildings that Scott mentions. It's full of wonderful people. A significant portion are kupuna who have been here nearly as long as the building has. People say "Hi" to each other in the elevator. They hold doors for each other. There's often free stuff (food, household goods, etc) in the lobby for anyone to take. The neighborhood is full of local small businesses - where it's not unusual for the owner to be behind the counter. The beach is far more local people than tourists. BBQing on the weekends. Reading a book and eating dinner after work on the weeknights. Appreciating the true value of where we live… It's crazy how prevalent the idea that Kaka'ako is only rich people is. When I tell people where I live it's not really a matter of if they'll react badly. It's a matter of how open they will be about it. Is it going to be a weird eye roll or will they just say something outright? You see it here in the comments. It's immediate. Knee jerk. There's no reference to any points in the video. Just the same tired empty platitudes. That's not to say that Kaka'ako (and all of Honolulu) doesn't have a massive problem with class inequality. Everywhere *needs* genuinely affordable housing. No where *needs* luxury housing. It would be naive to think that there's been zero shady business happening with the all the luxury development. The thing about corruption (and anything else that relies on the disproportionate power that comes with wealth) is that it's impossible to fight it if the people who are most hurt by it are too busy waving their superiority at each other to get truly organized.
Mahalo for the insightful comment. Like Speaker Saiki mentioned, the new buildings get all the attention because they are new and shiny, but there are a lot of older and smaller buildings in Kakaako. And just as not every building is a luxury condo, not every business in the area is a boutique. It's an interesting mix.
I love the convenience and walkability of living in Kakaako, specifically Ward Village. So many good restaurants and eateries, plus walking distance to Ala Moana mall. Hopefully in the coming years, more sidewalks will be added especially down Queen St.
As a born/raised local, when hearing Kaka'ako, immediate flashbacks to busy industrial corridors, businesses & traffic. Think the 2 Main minuses in/around Kaka'ako is roadway conditions & area flooding...UGH! Another is property value. If high-rise developers & big-box corporations continue to migrate in, how are small businesses & area housing expected to succeed/flourish & grow?
@@HelloFromHawaii.... Couldn't be any Worse than it is now, especially from Keawe/Pohukaina All the way to Kamani...& all streets in that corridor. Roads are beyond Atrocious!-smh
The last time I walked thru Kakaako, I felt like it was turning into a self-contained community, where people live in high-rises, are just walking distance from resources (food, AKA Bodegas, shopping, pubs, entertainment, etc.) Add rail and you have a community much like those in NYC, where people live in self-contained communities, and never need cars to get anything. If you need to get to work or go outside the community, just catch the subway/rail, and you're downtown, UH, Ala Moana, etc. Kakaako can be the first such communities in Honolulu, and new community hubs will grow again connected by rail: Kalihi/Dillingham anchored by Palace Saimin and Costco (like the Lower-Eastside), Downtown/Chinatown anchored by Chinese Community Center and businesses (like Wall Street).
Mahalo for the comment. I think a lot will depend on how far the rail goes. I believe it's currently stopping at South Street, which means it won't reach most of the condos in the Ward area. Would love to see it connect to Ala Moana and then to Waikiki and UH.
@@HelloFromHawaii I believe the rail is not for us but for our children and our grandchildren. In that respect, I am confident that when the rail arrives, and people see how much better it is compared to sitting in traffic, more extensions will be developed (Think HRT and Fasi taking it over to create The Bus). But that, like the revitalization of areas like Kakaako, will take generations.
This was a cool video. learned a lot about Kakaako from there. Lived here for 2 years and I love it here. Its great to see you walking right past my building! Mahalo!
Mahalo for the comment. It's a great place with lots of history. Some of our conversation about the history had to be cut out for time, but lots of good stuff I learned.
My piano store used to be in Kakaako, first in Ward Warehouse, then forced to leave when Ward Village tore it down and put up a tower only rich folks, perhaps from Japan, could afford. I sure miss being able to look out our store windows and watch the parades on Ala Moana, or walk across the street to Ala Moana beach park to take a break. We moved the store to Cooke St., but a few unfortunate events in the economy caused the shop to close about 15 years ago.
@@HelloFromHawaii Lunch, everyday, L & L burger. Not plate lunch - veggie burger for mainland guy trying to stay trim. Left Honolulu when housing market crashed, plus my wife wanted to see grandkids grow. She still misses her job at Queen's Medical. Loved her co-workers.
First off, it's great to see that you've kicked your cold Chris! Secondly, it's nice to see Representative Saiki walking the neighborhood he represents. I think that more politicians should walk their neighborhoods...get the feel of it from the people's standpoints. Kakaako has really changed over time. Even when I was in the mainland from 1982 - 1992, I could see the gradual changes every time I came back to the islands. And through the past couple of decades, the industrial part of Kakaako has really grown smaller, as businesses have changed the landscape there, and condo development has multiplied. Gone are the days of Ward Warehouse and the small 'pop's fix-it shops' are all going away. Let's hope one day soon, the government finds money in the cushions of their couch, enough to finance Skyline rail to travel south of Kakaako (bah hah hah).
Yeah, it's great that I'm over my cold. That was nasty for a while. And I'm glad that Speaker Saiki joined me on this walk. I learned a lot about Kakaako and it was nice to get out and see some of the side streets.
@@HelloFromHawaii Saiki must be a walker like you are. The pace you guys kept up with was crazy. I would've been huffing and puffing by the time you guys sat down. If it was me, I would've been sitting down for the rest of the video...can't help it, I'm slightly lazy.
It would be great if you consider going back further in time. My family lived in the area you just walked and my family was closely associated to the Ward family during the depression era. Before I was four years old, I would walk the same route that you walked with my grandmother. The whole area can be so different For each person as it depends hi on the percent value and lifestyle. Open one of the ultra luxury, Howard Hughes condos and I have such a different perspective of what the both of you shared. Before my grandfather died at 99 years old, I drove him through the area which you just walked that he raised his family of six children, and I have to tell you he was a little heartbroken. Thank you for the video!
Mahalo for sharing. I also have family ties to the Kakaako area. I believe there's a mural at SALT that has a picture of my family and their grocery store. I'm sure the area has changed since your grandfather's time. It's changed so much since I went to preschool at Muriel near Ward. Sometimes I miss the old places.
I’d love to live in Kakaako. But I thought it really is an area for the ultra wealthy, so this video was enlightening. Back in the day, it truly was an industrial area. Thanks so much for covering this topic and posting this video.
While there are luxury condos in Kakaako, there's a mix of housing options for a spectrum of incomes. Again, I live in the area, but wouldn't consider myself ultra wealthy. I'm driving a 20 year old car 😆
Loved this video. You might be onto a longer series. Walk and chat with reps from other neighborhoods. It was really fun seeing the neighborhood. When I was young Kakaako was almost all industrial. My last visit home enjoyed going out for grinds there.
I've been thinking about this for a while. It just took a long time to plan because of our schedules. I'd like to visit other parts of the State and talk with representatives. Maybe more videos like this in the future.
That's what I was trying to share in this video. I could have probably explained Kakaako myself, but I really wanted to hear what someone else had to say.
That was so interesting! Who would think of saying they own the streets? Would you? That’s. Crazy. I can think of other places that look interesting, too, like Kaimuki. (Just a small hint.) I wish you’d repeated your representative’s name at the end. He was a treasure trove of great history. Thanks to both of you for a fascinating few minutes.
Love Kakaako, also my home for the past few years 😍 The walkability of it is one thing I like best. Being able to walk for groceries or when I go out for food at SALT or ward village 🚶🏻♀️It’s also where all the affordable housing is at right now, really great options and new high rises as well! Also love the farmers market and community events held at SALT.. makes it a fun place to live!
It's a great place to walk to things. Lots of grocery stores like Whole Foods and Down to Earth. Two weekly farmers markets. And really close to the beach and Town.
Interesting conversation...but difficult to ignore all the upscale high rises and reconfiguration of Ward Warehouse. Imagine that Park Lane has estate homes worth $20 million. It's the legislative branch that approved all the buildings that the average local family could never afford. At one time, there was a building height limitation, but now look at the skyline. There was recently an article that a teacher couldn't find a place to live because rent was $3000/month. Priced out of Paradise!
Mahalo for the comment. I read that article too. Renters are going to feel the pinch because of rising rents. Not sure where they will go if they are renting in Town and can't afford it anymore.
My Grandparents lived in Kakaako many years ago when it was a Japanese ghetto. A man would walk by carrying a pole on his back balancing two buckets, selling Manapua. The neighborhood were all poor. The kids would run around playing a game called "Bang Make". A different time.
I would've asked him more about the infrastructure of Kakaako. So much has been developed already. He mentioned it's the government's responsibility. Has the infrastructure been upgraded to support the condos already up? Engineers and architects I talk to tell me "no".
That's a great question. I'm not sure the infrastructure, as built, was meant to handle this many residents. I'm also not sure if there are plans to upgrade the infrastructure in the near future.
This was very interesting; especially the bit of history behind the roads.....a bane in Hawai'i, on all islands. That being said, I wonder how they balance the 'gentrification' that is occuring (and may only increase) with the 'opportunities', cost of living vs income?
That's a great question. I actually think we're starting to see more of that near Ala Moana and some of those condo/hotel towers. That will be an interesting neighborhood in a few years.
I've been doing a lot of educating myself about the history of Hawai'i, since the US takeover, as well as before modernity, all the way back to the ancient times. I personally hope to see Hawai'i secede from the Union at some point and go back to being a constitutional monarchy, or even just its own sovereign nation. I can't see a single net positive that has come from US statehood, and I am personally an America-First voter. I don't know if this will ever happen, but for the future of this beautiful land, and for the Hawai'an people, I hope that it does, although I think it will take many generations to un-do the damage statehood has wrought upon it. I'm sure you like to keep things somewhat apolitical here, but maybe someday you may want to do a video addressing statehood. I would definitely be interested in hearing your take.
The day AFTER Hawaii secedes from the Union, either the Russians or the Chinese will be planting a flag on Waikiki…and if some fool thinks that life is actually bad in Hawaii under the US…
Scott is the speaker of the house and is running for reelection this year; its going to be a close race and it could lead to the losing of his seat to Kim Coco Iwamoto. While I personally do not care; this is just an FYI since Scott decided to show up on the channel.
I’ve been noticing a lot of Muslims lately in Kakaako and people from Israel also at UH etc it seems besides all the people moving here from the Continent and all the many out of state plates on cars are also these groups moving here
30 years ago, Kakaako area was just industrial, and I still feel kind of that feeling though there are many buildings. You just walk around the sidewalk. I have no idea why people want to live the area. I would rather live the condos in KAPIOLANI park area if you have to pay a million in Kakaako. Ridiculous.
And this is what I think a lot of people fail to understand. I live in Kakaako and I wouldn't consider myself rich. Sure, there are wealthy people that live in Kakaako, but you could say that for most parts of Oahu (those who are house rich). There's a mix of residents here and I think it's important to remember that.
There are small pockets of affordable units here and there. It's challenging, though, because the starting prices for affordable units have gone up. I bought a place that was reasonably priced. No way I could buy an affordable unit these days.
@@HelloFromHawaii we had to leave Hawaii because my daughter was not doing well in public school. When we were there we had affordable housing. $1,700 for a 1 bedroom in 96813. That's not really affordable if your on a 1 income situation. We moved to the Pacific Northwest where she is thriving. We have a much nicer 2 bedroom! And an affluent (Asian) area. But when she finishes High school I'm going back home. I'm just wondering how much worse it can get fast forwarding 10 years.
Try taking a video at night to show how many vacant condo units are in Kakaako.There are a lot vacant because many units are not owner occupants. Many of the units are used as vacation homes for out of state/foreign owners.
I have visited Hawaii 9 time, since I was a kid. and now I am a grown up with a Kid. Last time I visited Hawaii, I found that Kakaako is the place I want to live in. But it seemed too expensive about the living cost. As a foreigner, where to look for moderate houses? I am giving a at least a year try.
Thanks for the question. You might consider renting in the area first. That way you get used to Hawaii and the area. At that point, you can then decide where you'd like to live. You might like the Windward side or Central Oahu.
Which buildings are the affordable places? Or is it those old decrepit 2 story walk ups? 😂 Did he talk about his future plans for kakaako or did I miss that? More high rises? More not that affordable affordable condos? Or just the fact that the city got back ownership of the roads? Then what, is he planning on putting in sidewalks? Fixing the drainage issues?
There’s a couple of buildings with “affordable rentals”, I check it out last year and was about $2500 for a small 2 beds 1 bath condo, nothing special, just prettier buildings compared to the 2 story walk ups you’re talking about.
There’s actually a fair amount of affordable housing units in this area that are quite nice. Small and mostly mid rise buildings, but not too bad given the amount you’re paying in rent. There are also newer high rise affordable buildings coming out as well! My only problem with the affordable housing program is the parking situation 😅 (limited street parking or garage parking for $290 a month).
There is a big development called Ulana that will be popping up soon. I believe it is nearly 100 percent affordable (granted, take that term "affordable" as a relative term). That will provide a big influx of people at different income levels near the Ward area. The project is coming up nicely and you can see it in the background at the end of my video about the condo trap. In terms of what's in the future, I believe Speaker Saiki mentioned continuing to support the plan for mixed use, whether it's diverse housing options and/or businesses. And I believe the City is now responsible for the maintenance of the roads. If they are reading this, please add a sidewalk to Queen Street. 😆
There aren't too many homeless in Magic Island. There used to be a lot of homeless near Kakaako Waterfront Park several years ago, but the streets are clean there now.
You need to get off the rich vs us discussions. You are aware that in the U.S. about 1% of the population owns half the country's wealth right? And that 98% of all Lanai is owned by a single Mainlander?
So I've been meaning to make this video for a while, as someone who has lived in Kakaako for several years. Mahalo to Representative Scott Saiki for joining me to talk about Kakaako and what it's like to live here. For many, Kakaako appears to be a place just for wealthy people, but that's not true. There is a good mix of people here in the area that is reflected in the residents and businesses.
So what do you think of Kakaako?
Mahalo Chris for this video!
I rent in Kaka'ako. I'm not rich (I don't even own a car). I live in one of those aggressively nondescript 30 year old buildings that Scott mentions. It's full of wonderful people. A significant portion are kupuna who have been here nearly as long as the building has. People say "Hi" to each other in the elevator. They hold doors for each other. There's often free stuff (food, household goods, etc) in the lobby for anyone to take. The neighborhood is full of local small businesses - where it's not unusual for the owner to be behind the counter. The beach is far more local people than tourists. BBQing on the weekends. Reading a book and eating dinner after work on the weeknights. Appreciating the true value of where we live…
It's crazy how prevalent the idea that Kaka'ako is only rich people is. When I tell people where I live it's not really a matter of if they'll react badly. It's a matter of how open they will be about it. Is it going to be a weird eye roll or will they just say something outright? You see it here in the comments. It's immediate. Knee jerk. There's no reference to any points in the video. Just the same tired empty platitudes.
That's not to say that Kaka'ako (and all of Honolulu) doesn't have a massive problem with class inequality. Everywhere *needs* genuinely affordable housing. No where *needs* luxury housing. It would be naive to think that there's been zero shady business happening with the all the luxury development. The thing about corruption (and anything else that relies on the disproportionate power that comes with wealth) is that it's impossible to fight it if the people who are most hurt by it are too busy waving their superiority at each other to get truly organized.
Mahalo for the insightful comment. Like Speaker Saiki mentioned, the new buildings get all the attention because they are new and shiny, but there are a lot of older and smaller buildings in Kakaako. And just as not every building is a luxury condo, not every business in the area is a boutique. It's an interesting mix.
When I think about Kakaako I think about the sinkholes that will likely swallow buildings over the next hundred years...
There were some sinkholes nearby, but they were repaired.
I love the convenience and walkability of living in Kakaako, specifically Ward Village. So many good restaurants and eateries, plus walking distance to Ala Moana mall. Hopefully in the coming years, more sidewalks will be added especially down Queen St.
As a born/raised local, when hearing Kaka'ako, immediate flashbacks to busy industrial corridors, businesses & traffic. Think the 2 Main minuses in/around Kaka'ako is roadway conditions & area flooding...UGH! Another is property value. If high-rise developers & big-box corporations continue to migrate in, how are small businesses & area housing expected to succeed/flourish & grow?
It would be nice if Queen Street had a sidewalk. I'm sure roadwork would be a nightmare, but it would be worth it.
@@HelloFromHawaii.... Couldn't be any Worse than it is now, especially from Keawe/Pohukaina All the way to Kamani...& all streets in that corridor. Roads are beyond Atrocious!-smh
The last time I walked thru Kakaako, I felt like it was turning into a self-contained community, where people live in high-rises, are just walking distance from resources (food, AKA Bodegas, shopping, pubs, entertainment, etc.) Add rail and you have a community much like those in NYC, where people live in self-contained communities, and never need cars to get anything. If you need to get to work or go outside the community, just catch the subway/rail, and you're downtown, UH, Ala Moana, etc. Kakaako can be the first such communities in Honolulu, and new community hubs will grow again connected by rail: Kalihi/Dillingham anchored by Palace Saimin and Costco (like the Lower-Eastside), Downtown/Chinatown anchored by Chinese Community Center and businesses (like Wall Street).
Mahalo for the comment. I think a lot will depend on how far the rail goes. I believe it's currently stopping at South Street, which means it won't reach most of the condos in the Ward area. Would love to see it connect to Ala Moana and then to Waikiki and UH.
@@HelloFromHawaii I believe the rail is not for us but for our children and our grandchildren. In that respect, I am confident that when the rail arrives, and people see how much better it is compared to sitting in traffic, more extensions will be developed (Think HRT and Fasi taking it over to create The Bus). But that, like the revitalization of areas like Kakaako, will take generations.
This was a cool video. learned a lot about Kakaako from there. Lived here for 2 years and I love it here. Its great to see you walking right past my building! Mahalo!
Mahalo for the comment. It's a great place with lots of history. Some of our conversation about the history had to be cut out for time, but lots of good stuff I learned.
My piano store used to be in Kakaako, first in Ward Warehouse, then forced to leave when Ward Village tore it down and put up a tower only rich folks, perhaps from Japan, could afford. I sure miss being able to look out our store windows and watch the parades on Ala Moana, or walk across the street to Ala Moana beach park to take a break. We moved the store to Cooke St., but a few unfortunate events in the economy caused the shop to close about 15 years ago.
Interesting. Yes, the Ward area has changed so much and it continues to change. Must have been a nice view for those events on Ala Moana.
@@HelloFromHawaii Lunch, everyday, L & L burger. Not plate lunch - veggie burger for mainland guy trying to stay trim. Left Honolulu when housing market crashed, plus my wife wanted to see grandkids grow. She still misses her job at Queen's Medical. Loved her co-workers.
First off, it's great to see that you've kicked your cold Chris! Secondly, it's nice to see Representative Saiki walking the neighborhood he represents. I think that more politicians should walk their neighborhoods...get the feel of it from the people's standpoints.
Kakaako has really changed over time. Even when I was in the mainland from 1982 - 1992, I could see the gradual changes every time I came back to the islands. And through the past couple of decades, the industrial part of Kakaako has really grown smaller, as businesses have changed the landscape there, and condo development has multiplied.
Gone are the days of Ward Warehouse and the small 'pop's fix-it shops' are all going away.
Let's hope one day soon, the government finds money in the cushions of their couch, enough to finance Skyline rail to travel south of Kakaako (bah hah hah).
Yeah, it's great that I'm over my cold. That was nasty for a while.
And I'm glad that Speaker Saiki joined me on this walk. I learned a lot about Kakaako and it was nice to get out and see some of the side streets.
@@HelloFromHawaii Saiki must be a walker like you are. The pace you guys kept up with was crazy. I would've been huffing and puffing by the time you guys sat down. If it was me, I would've been sitting down for the rest of the video...can't help it, I'm slightly lazy.
It would be great if you consider going back further in time. My family lived in the area you just walked and my family was closely associated to the Ward family during the depression era.
Before I was four years old, I would walk the same route that you walked with my grandmother.
The whole area can be so different For each person as it depends hi on the percent value and lifestyle.
Open one of the ultra luxury, Howard Hughes condos and I have such a different perspective of what the both of you shared.
Before my grandfather died at 99 years old, I drove him through the area which you just walked that he raised his family of six children, and I have to tell you he was a little heartbroken.
Thank you for the video!
Mahalo for sharing. I also have family ties to the Kakaako area. I believe there's a mural at SALT that has a picture of my family and their grocery store.
I'm sure the area has changed since your grandfather's time. It's changed so much since I went to preschool at Muriel near Ward. Sometimes I miss the old places.
I’d love to live in Kakaako. But I thought it really is an area for the ultra wealthy, so this video was enlightening. Back in the day, it truly was an industrial area. Thanks so much for covering this topic and posting this video.
While there are luxury condos in Kakaako, there's a mix of housing options for a spectrum of incomes. Again, I live in the area, but wouldn't consider myself ultra wealthy. I'm driving a 20 year old car 😆
Loved this video. You might be onto a longer series. Walk and chat with reps from other neighborhoods. It was really fun seeing the neighborhood. When I was young Kakaako was almost all industrial. My last visit home enjoyed going out for grinds there.
I've been thinking about this for a while. It just took a long time to plan because of our schedules. I'd like to visit other parts of the State and talk with representatives. Maybe more videos like this in the future.
Thanks for the vlog! Pretty cool to get the different perspectives of one place.
That's what I was trying to share in this video. I could have probably explained Kakaako myself, but I really wanted to hear what someone else had to say.
That was so interesting! Who would think of saying they own the streets? Would you? That’s. Crazy.
I can think of other places that look interesting, too, like Kaimuki. (Just a small hint.)
I wish you’d repeated your representative’s name at the end. He was a treasure trove of great history. Thanks to both of you for a fascinating few minutes.
Mahalo for the suggestion. Kaimuki would be a fun place to walk around.
Thank you Chris, thank you Scott.
🤙
Love Kakaako, also my home for the past few years 😍 The walkability of it is one thing I like best. Being able to walk for groceries or when I go out for food at SALT or ward village 🚶🏻♀️It’s also where all the affordable housing is at right now, really great options and new high rises as well! Also love the farmers market and community events held at SALT.. makes it a fun place to live!
It's a great place to walk to things. Lots of grocery stores like Whole Foods and Down to Earth. Two weekly farmers markets. And really close to the beach and Town.
Kakaako back in the 90s had a completely different vibe, especially at night.
Representative Scott is the most helpful representative of the state i ever heard back from
Muah💋
Interesting conversation...but difficult to ignore all the upscale high rises and reconfiguration of Ward Warehouse. Imagine that Park Lane has estate homes worth $20 million. It's the legislative branch that approved all the buildings that the average local family could never afford. At one time, there was a building height limitation, but now look at the skyline. There was recently an article that a teacher couldn't find a place to live because rent was $3000/month. Priced out of Paradise!
Mahalo for the comment. I read that article too. Renters are going to feel the pinch because of rising rents. Not sure where they will go if they are renting in Town and can't afford it anymore.
TY for this episode, now I have another place to visit next time I fly to Oahu!
It's a great place to visit and walk around during the day.
@@HelloFromHawaii do you have an episode(s) with local favorite places to eat?
My Grandparents lived in Kakaako many years ago when it was a Japanese ghetto. A man would walk by carrying a pole on his back balancing two buckets, selling Manapua. The neighborhood were all poor. The kids would run around playing a game called "Bang Make". A different time.
Mahalo for sharing. I actually have family ties to Kakaako. My relatives had a grocery store.
I would've asked him more about the infrastructure of Kakaako. So much has been developed already. He mentioned it's the government's responsibility. Has the infrastructure been upgraded to support the condos already up? Engineers and architects I talk to tell me "no".
That's a great question. I'm not sure the infrastructure, as built, was meant to handle this many residents. I'm also not sure if there are plans to upgrade the infrastructure in the near future.
Yes and Queen Streets flooding is unreal.
This was very interesting; especially the bit of history behind the roads.....a bane in Hawai'i, on all islands. That being said, I wonder how they balance the 'gentrification' that is occuring (and may only increase) with the 'opportunities', cost of living vs income?
That's a great question. I actually think we're starting to see more of that near Ala Moana and some of those condo/hotel towers. That will be an interesting neighborhood in a few years.
Mr. Saiki seems like one nice braddah, but he’s still one democrat. Nothing will get better until we elect a republican. Great video. Mahaloz🤙🏼
There are candidates from both major parties this year in the local elections. Hopefully voter turnout improves.
I've been doing a lot of educating myself about the history of Hawai'i, since the US takeover, as well as before modernity, all the way back to the ancient times. I personally hope to see Hawai'i secede from the Union at some point and go back to being a constitutional monarchy, or even just its own sovereign nation. I can't see a single net positive that has come from US statehood, and I am personally an America-First voter. I don't know if this will ever happen, but for the future of this beautiful land, and for the Hawai'an people, I hope that it does, although I think it will take many generations to un-do the damage statehood has wrought upon it. I'm sure you like to keep things somewhat apolitical here, but maybe someday you may want to do a video addressing statehood. I would definitely be interested in hearing your take.
The day AFTER Hawaii secedes from the Union, either the Russians or the Chinese will be planting a flag on Waikiki…and if some fool thinks that life is actually bad in Hawaii under the US…
Mahalo for the comment. You bring up an interesting point and maybe it will be something I will talk about in the future.
Scott is the speaker of the house and is running for reelection this year; its going to be a close race and it could lead to the losing of his seat to Kim Coco Iwamoto. While I personally do not care; this is just an FYI since Scott decided to show up on the channel.
I’ve been noticing a lot of Muslims lately in Kakaako and people from Israel also at UH etc it seems besides all the people moving here from the Continent and all the many out of state plates on cars are also these groups moving here
Left Hawaii in 2001, moved to Michigan. In this video I can no longer recognize any thing in Kakaako. So much has changed it's mind boggling! Yikes!
It's changed a lot since 2001. Most of Ward is gone from that time. Still miss Sports Authority.
30 years ago, Kakaako area was just industrial, and I still feel kind of that feeling though there are many buildings. You just walk around the sidewalk. I have no idea why people want to live the area. I would rather live the condos in KAPIOLANI park area if you have to pay a million in Kakaako. Ridiculous.
A melting pot??????????? How about a pot of rich bastards????
There's actually a mix of people who live here.
That “mixed use” is not happening l. Get ready for the Uber Rich from other places besides Hawaii
Seems like Scott is a real fast walker!
We were going fast 😆
I live and own a home in Kakaako - Ward Village. I’m not rich. I love it brah 🤙
And this is what I think a lot of people fail to understand. I live in Kakaako and I wouldn't consider myself rich. Sure, there are wealthy people that live in Kakaako, but you could say that for most parts of Oahu (those who are house rich). There's a mix of residents here and I think it's important to remember that.
Percentages.... what percentage was, and what percentage is now.... and projected percentage will be in the future....
Percentage?
Lots of affordable housing there
There are small pockets of affordable units here and there. It's challenging, though, because the starting prices for affordable units have gone up. I bought a place that was reasonably priced. No way I could buy an affordable unit these days.
@@HelloFromHawaii we had to leave Hawaii because my daughter was not doing well in public school. When we were there we had affordable housing. $1,700 for a 1 bedroom in 96813. That's not really affordable if your on a 1 income situation. We moved to the Pacific Northwest where she is thriving. We have a much nicer 2 bedroom! And an affluent (Asian) area. But when she finishes High school I'm going back home. I'm just wondering how much worse it can get fast forwarding 10 years.
Try taking a video at night to show how many vacant condo units are in Kakaako.There are a lot vacant because many units are not owner occupants. Many of the units are used as vacation homes for out of state/foreign owners.
That would be interesting. I'd want to film a time lapse and see what the lights say.
Wen I was living der, I look at kakaako like mapunapuana area
I have visited Hawaii 9 time, since I was a kid. and now I am a grown up with a Kid. Last time I visited Hawaii, I found that Kakaako is the place I want to live in. But it seemed too expensive about the living cost. As a foreigner, where to look for moderate houses? I am giving a at least a year try.
Thanks for the question. You might consider renting in the area first. That way you get used to Hawaii and the area. At that point, you can then decide where you'd like to live. You might like the Windward side or Central Oahu.
Next video. Kim Coco Iwamoto on the harsh reality of Kakaako.
If I'm going to continue with this series, it will probably be one video per area.
Thank you for a great video! Man,You guys really walked a lot.lol
Yeah, we covered a lot of ground.
Which buildings are the affordable places? Or is it those old decrepit 2 story walk ups? 😂
Did he talk about his future plans for kakaako or did I miss that? More high rises? More not that affordable affordable condos? Or just the fact that the city got back ownership of the roads? Then what, is he planning on putting in sidewalks? Fixing the drainage issues?
There’s a couple of buildings with “affordable rentals”, I check it out last year and was about $2500 for a small 2 beds 1 bath condo, nothing special, just prettier buildings compared to the 2 story walk ups you’re talking about.
There’s actually a fair amount of affordable housing units in this area that are quite nice. Small and mostly mid rise buildings, but not too bad given the amount you’re paying in rent. There are also newer high rise affordable buildings coming out as well! My only problem with the affordable housing program is the parking situation 😅 (limited street parking or garage parking for $290 a month).
There is a big development called Ulana that will be popping up soon. I believe it is nearly 100 percent affordable (granted, take that term "affordable" as a relative term). That will provide a big influx of people at different income levels near the Ward area. The project is coming up nicely and you can see it in the background at the end of my video about the condo trap. In terms of what's in the future, I believe Speaker Saiki mentioned continuing to support the plan for mixed use, whether it's diverse housing options and/or businesses. And I believe the City is now responsible for the maintenance of the roads. If they are reading this, please add a sidewalk to Queen Street. 😆
what about the farmers market
There are two good farmers markets in the area. One on Wednesdays at Blaisdell and the other one by Ward and Ala Moana on Saturdays. We like both.
Wow! You walking fast
😅 Yeah, I should have slowed down
You guys walked far in this video! Lol
Yeah, he was fast. 🤙
I think of a slum with hundreds of homeless people when I think of it. Magic Island loaded with homeless.
There aren't too many homeless in Magic Island. There used to be a lot of homeless near Kakaako Waterfront Park several years ago, but the streets are clean there now.
Is your friend in a race ?
There's an election this fall.
You need to get off the rich vs us discussions. You are aware that in the U.S. about 1% of the population owns half the country's wealth right? And that 98% of all Lanai is owned by a single Mainlander?
He needs to get off this CPA mobility push. He's not exactly serving Hawai'i with that.
I'm not familiar with that. What is that?