Department of Land and Natural Resources

For Immediate News Release: October 25, 2019

BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD FOR DEVELOPMENT OF PARCELS AT ALA WAI SMALL BOAT HARBOR

(Honolulu) –  Two proposals were received for the development of parcels of land at the Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor on O’ahu. After review, neither of the proposals was selected.

For now, the DLNR Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation (DOBOR), has concluded the Request for Proposals (RFP) process and it expects a new and potentially revised RFP will be reissued at a later date.  

The original RFP was published in April of this year, making available four parcels of land, consisting of approximately 5.65 acres, and two moles (a manmade pier). Four applicants qualified to submit proposals, but by the Sept. 30 RFP deadline, DOBOR had only received two proposals.  

The Ala Wai RFP Selection Committee, composed of individuals from the public and private sector, declined to approve either. The first proposal did not follow the process outlined in the RFP, making it ineligible for consideration. The other proposal did not meet DOBOR’s or the Selection Committee’s development objectives.

“Residents and visitors deserve a facility that serves everyone, is inviting, and offers amenities that are in demand,” said DLNR Chair Suzanne Case.  “I fully support the committee’s decision to take a step back, study the process and come up with a new plan.”

DOBOR leadership is in the process of speaking to the qualified applicants to determine what challenges they faced in the RFP process and what recommendations they might propose to ensure a viable project that meets the goals of both DLNR/DOBOR and the public.  DOBOR will offer a new RFP for harbor development after these discussions conclude.

“DOBOR remains committed to harbor projects to maintain and improve all of its boating and ocean recreation facilities across Hawai’i,” said Ed Underwood, DOBOR Administrator. “We want to do this right and we’re looking for a win-win proposal.”

There is no set date for when DOBOR will petition the Board of Land and Natural Resources for approval to issue a new RFP.

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Media Contact:
Dan Dennison
Senior Communications Manager
(808) 587-0396
[email protected]