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The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART) is advancing its plan to acquire a family-owned property in Kalihi through eminent domain. This is a necessary step in completing the $10 billion rail line project. On May 23, HART notified the City Council of its intentions to seize the property at 1829 Dillingham Blvd., despite the owners’ objections.
According to the city’s Department of Corporation Counsel, HART has the authority to proceed with condemnations as long as the City Council does not object within 45 days of the notification. The Council did not take formal action to block the condemnation, so HART can now move forward with acquiring the property.
The matter will now go back to HART’s board of directors for a vote on acquiring the property through eminent domain. The board meeting is scheduled for July 20, but the agenda has not been posted.
The property, owned by the Takara family, is home to Service Printers Hawaii Inc., a commercial printer that has been in business since 1964. The total assessed value of the property is approximately $2.9 million.
Walter Takara, one of the owner’s sons, expressed his objection to HART’s efforts to take his family’s property. He emphasized the long history of the property being in their family and the strong relationship they have with Service Printers and the community.
HART initially pursued a partial acquisition of the property but later determined that a full acquisition was necessary to meet the project’s needs. The agency has been in negotiations with the owner since 2014 but has not received a response or counter-offer.
Efforts will continue to negotiate with the owner, but HART recommended the approval of a resolution for the condemnation action due to the project’s construction schedule. Any further delays would result in increased expenses for the rail project.
In a separate case, the Hawaii Supreme Court is currently considering an eminent domain action involving the planned rail station within Howard Hughes Corp.’s property in Kakaako. A ruling in this case could take months, and it will then proceed to Circuit Court for a jury trial.
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