Kakaako – Historic Hawaii Foundation

The Honolulu Fire Museum and Education Center Opens & Offers Free Tours

Preservation in the News: The new Honolulu Fire Museum houses a fascinating array of firefighter-related artifacts and some incredible history. Not to be missed! CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARADVERTISER.COM The upper floor of the museum was once was the dormitory of the old Kakaako firehouse. September 11, 2015 Honolulu Star Advertiser by Star Advertiser staff The new Honolulu Fire Museum and Education Center will open to free tours starting Sept. 19. The one-hour guided tours, which will highlight the department's history, will continue every third Saturday of the month from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. "It's going to be a guided tour with a real firefighter who's going to give the history of our department and show exhibits," said firefighter Kendall Ching. The Honolulu Fire Museum and Education Center is at 620 South St. Tours are available by reservation only. More information is available online at www.honolulu.gov/hfd/communityrelations.html, or call 723-7167. CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARADVERTISER.COM A melted helmet worn by Honolulu firefighter Ken Yamamoto during the Chevron gasoline fire on Aug. 15, 1980, is on display in the museum, above. Yamamoto was engulfed in flames but escaped with minor injuries. CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARADVERTISER.COM A Honolulu Fire Department engine that responded to the Pearl Harbor attack on Dec. 7, 1941.

Kakaako residents want a state agency to void a permit for a skyscraper

STAR ADVERTISER SEPT 20 - Beatrice Shiroma, 91, a resident at Royal Capitol Plaza, joined a protest in September to oppose a plan to build an additional tower at the 801 South St. condominium project. Neighbors and other opponents of the project plan another sidewalk protest today. Hui mounts legal fight against condo By Andrew Gomes Honolulu Star Advertiser, January 17, 2014 - Neighbors of a planned Kakaako workforce housing condominium tower approved by a state agency last month are appealing the decision, calling it an abuse of discretion that violates state law and numerous agency rules. The association of apartment owners at Royal Capitol Plaza recently filed a legal petition against the Hawaii Community Development Authority, asking to invalidate a development permit for the second phase of the project at 801 South St. Royal Capitol residents retained Honolulu attorney Carl Varady, and he filed the petition Jan. 2. "The actions of HCDA in approving the Phase II permit were clearly erroneous, arbitrary and capricious, and characterized by both an abuse of discretion and a clearly unwarranted exercise of discretion," the petition said. Allegations in the petition are far-ranging. They include contentions that the HCDA's approval of the permit was predetermined before public hearings, that the traffic impact from the 1,700 parking stalls in 801 South's two phases constitutes a public nuisance, that HCDA rules violate the state Constitution and that the Legislature improperly delegated authority to the agency. HCDA Executive Director Anthony Ching reserved comment and said state attorneys are reviewing the petition. The developer of 801 South, Downtown Capital LLC, led by local affordable housing developer Marshall Hung, declined comment given that the petition was filed against HCDA. The $400 million [...]