The Howard Hughes Corp. plans to start construction this fall on its multimillion-dollar redevelopment of Kewalo Basin Harbor between Downtown Honolulu and Waikiki, according to the state agency regulating development in the city’s Kakaako area.
The Texas-based developer’s Kewalo Basin Harbor LLC selected Honolulu-based Sea Engineering Inc. to do the work after issuing a design-build request for proposals in late October.
The marine-related engineering, construction and diving services firm, which was founded in 1973 by University of Hawaii graduate students, was chosen by The Howard Hughes Corp. (NYSE: HHC) in February over Hawaii Harbors Constructors, a joint venture between Hawaiian Dredging Construction Co. Inc. and Healy Tibbits Builders Inc.
Almar Management Inc., a California marina operator that previously leased the harbor from the Hawaii Community Development Authority before Howard Hughes took over in September, also responded to the RFP.
Howard Hughes is in negotiations with Sea Engineering and is projecting five months of design with harbor repair construction starting in the fall, according to the HCDA, which noted that the harbor is operating at near full capacity.
Sea Engineering is proceeding with the final design of the repairs and obtaining necessary pre-construction permits for harbor jetty repairs, the state agency said.
The developer declined to specify what type of investment would be going into the land part of the redevelopment, although it has been previously noted that a $20 million investment would go into renovating the harbor itself, including the boat slips and other infrastructure.
Howard Hughes has said that the redeveloped harbor could include a fresh fish restaurant and an oceanfront community center on the makai, or ocean, end of the harbor, which sits directly across from its 60-acre Ward Village master-planned community.
The developer has been holding community meetings to come up with ideas for the project, which includes upgrading restrooms, adding food service and a convenience store for boaters, security and other improvements.
Kewalo Basin currently has 144 boat slips i n various states of disrepair and is in need of an overhaul, according to the HCDA, which assumed control of the harbor in 2009.
Duane Shimogawa
Pacific Business News