State moves forward with plan to acquire HPU’s former Windward Oahu home

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – A plan for the state to take over Hawaii Pacific University’s former campus in Kaneohe is moving forward.

The 123-acre property has potential for housing in student dorms and as a temporary headquarters for the state Department of Health.

If the deal goes through, it could mean demolition of dilapidated Kinau Hale on Punchbowl, which has been the department’s headquarters for decades.

Gov. Josh Green hopes to replace the obsolete, asbestos-ridden building with the 60,000 square foot administration and classroom facility at the Hawaii Loa campus.

“The Department of Health can’t continue to house its people at Kinau Hale for much longer,” Green told Hawaii News Now. “That has to change, so I’m looking for options in real time.”

There is some urgency because HPU’s lease from Adventist Castle ends this month.

“Right now we are in advanced discussions with Adventist castle to lease and then very potentially, buy that property,” Green said.

State Sen. Chris Lee has been involved in planning for the site for years and got $21 million into the budget to buy the entire 123-acre property.

In April, he said state ownership is preferable to private investment.

“We’d rather it go toward public community purpose and be maintained properly, then have the communities have to fight against some other proposal that would be unpopular,” Lee said.

Lee said the purchase is a bargain for the size of the property and the quality of the well-maintained buildings and Green agrees.

“It’s an acquisition well worth making for the state because of all of our needs,” Green said.

Beyond the need for a temporary DOH headquarters, the campus’ six dorms, surrounding a large cafeteria and meeting facility, have lots of potential.

The discussion has included ideas like affordable housing or mental health transitional beds.

“That’s another option,” Green said, adding, “We need more community input before we do those kind of things.”

There are other challenges, too.

Much of the property is open space, which would be managed by the state Land Department, potentially as a park. Dampness and heavy vegetation will demand continuous maintenance.

Assuming the DOH headquarters one day returns downtown, the governor said the Alii Place office tower, on Richards and Hotel Streets, could be bought and repurposed for state offices.

Because many of the questions will take time to resolve, Lee said the state may have to sign a lease to acquire the property to ensure its maintained while the deals and plans are finalized.

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