State of the City address: Honolulu mayor discusses housing, Ocean Safety and more
HONOLULU (KHON2) — Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi took the stage at the Mission memorial Auditorium shortly after 6 p.m. on March 18 to deliver his State of the City address, highlighting his vision for Honolulu's future, including accessible housing, transportation and more.
Blangiardi kicked off his speech by highlighting outmigration from the islands, calling the migration 'unprecedented' and linking it to the high cost of living in Hawaiʻi.
Honolulu Fire Department celebrates 117th graduating recruit class
The mayor highlighted the creation of the Department of Housing and Land Management, marking the first time in almost 30 years that Honolulu has a fully-staffed housing department.
The new department will be led by current executive director of the Office of Housing, Kevin Auger, who will become the new department's director. Cat Taschner will serve as the new department's deputy director.
'For most of the past year, Kevin, Cat and their teams have already been working as a single unit, completely rethinking our housing strategy,' Blangiardi said. 'Together, they have reestablished a housing platform at the city that is geared toward execution rather than policy, toward development rather than deliberation and toward results rather than rhetoric.'The new housing plan is composed of two key components according to Blangiardi, with the first component being transforming underutilized city properties into affordable housing projects.
Blangiardi says that at least 10 properties around Honolulu have already been identified as underutilized, as they have been 'sitting around for years, with no plan or strategy.'
The transition of these 10 properties will bring nearly 2,000 new affordable housing units to the island according to the mayor.
The second key component to the new plan involves financing the development, with the city's housing team looking at using multi-family taxable revenue bonds to help.
Bill to develop Kakaʻako dies in State Senate
Blangiardi also highlighted offering more leasing options, making it easier for government services and nonprofits to lease city properties to help serve residents.
'We cannot call housing our top priority and then insist on the status quo when it comes to our leasing rules,' Blangiardi said. 'Making smart revisions to Chapter 38 will have a wider impact than just housing.'
The mayor also noted the city's acquisition of Iwilei Center, which will be turned into a mixed-use community with at least 2,000 new additional units, all geared toward affordable living.
'With Iwilei Center, we are making good on our promise to build an equitable community where all residents, regardless of income, have the same opportunities to live, work, shop, learn and play as everyone else,' he said.
'Chance at new beginnings,' Iwilei kauhale community blessed
While the transformation of Iwilei Center will take years, the mayor mentioned maximizing resources by having the center serve as a homeless shelter in the meantime, to help ease the pain of homelessness on Oʻahu communities.
Blangiardi also discussed expanding Skyline into Kalihi, and eventually into Downtown Honolulu and Waikiki by 2031. The second segment of Skyline operations from Aloha Stadium to Middle Street will open in October of this year.
In addition to housing and transportation, Blangiardi also discussed expansion of Ocean Safety procedures, particularly on the North Shore.
Audit reveals Honolulu rail system falls short of ridership goals
'We are announcing tonight our intent to purchase a highly-coveted piece of land across the street from Shark's Cove for the creation of a world-class first responder hub,' Blangiardi said. 'These plans are subject to a negotiated sale price with the current landowner, but will be transformative for our North Shore communities.'
According to the mayor, the new hub will serve as a base of operations for lifeguards on the North Shore, while also featuring a brand new ambulance station aimed at reducing emergency response times.
While on the topic of first responder accessibility, Blangiardi said that EMS needs to focus specifically on medical response to remain efficient, which is one of the reasons Ocean Safety is slated to become its own agency.
Honolulu's new Ocean Safety Department plans to bring major upgrades to lifeguard services
'We were confident that we could run EMS more efficiently. In that effort, it became quite apparent that EMS needed to focus specifically on medical response, and that Ocean Safety had earned the right to be its own first responder agency,' Blangiardi said. 'However, I want to be clear, in executing our vision, I strongly support Dr. Jim Ireland as the director of Emergency Services.'
The mayor also went on to address concerns regarding federal funding, saying that Honolulu's major programs have avoided federal cuts for now.
'I want to be clear: as of today, none of our major programs have been impacted by federal cuts, including funding from the [Federal Transit Administration] for our rail project,' he said.
In light of political and economic uncertainty, Blangiardi ended his address with a message of perseverance.
'For the first time in years, our people of hope. They believe in this place for what it is, and for what it can be,' Blangiardi said. 'We believe in it too, and we promise to work until the last minute of our last day to deliver.'
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Yahoo
Huber Heights announces plans for new music venue, hotel, restaurant
HUBER HEIGHTS, Ohio (WDTN) — During his State of the City address, Mayor Jeff Gore revealed plans for several new developments in Huber Heights. Mayor Gore announced three major developments coming to the city in the next few years. Walls installed at Huber Heights Buc-ee's site First, a new indoor music venue will be coming to Executive Boulevard. The 56,000 square foot 'cutting edge performance space' will be able to accommodate 3,500 guests for a variety of events and shows. The venue is estimated to open in 2028. Additionally, a new hotel will open adjacent to the venue, featuring two restaurants within. Gore says the venue and hotel will further establish an entertainment district for Huber Heights, offering 'a dynamic hub for conferences, expos, and special events.' Finally, Dublin Pub will open a new location, Dublin Seven, offering upscale Irish cuisine, live music and more. This restaurant will also be located within the entertainment district. Mayor Gore says these announcements are a major step forward for Huber Heights. 'These announcements are all wonderful signs of our momentum, and each represent the kind of city that we're building together,' said Gore. 'One that values connection, celebrates progress and plans boldly for our future.' Mayor Gore also praised the city's growth in the past year, stating 30 new businesses opened in Huber Heights last year, and 22 have opened so far this year. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Yahoo
3 new businesses coming to Huber Heights; Neighbors ‘feel good' about continued development
Multiple new businesses will be opening in Huber Heights. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] News Center 7's Malik Patterson attended the State of the City Address and spoke with community members about the new additions LIVE on News Center 7 at 11:00. TRENDING STORIES: 1 dead, at least 2 others hurt after homemade fireworks cause explosion at Ohio home Invasive stinging insect that could cause death spotted in Ohio Authorities looking for 3-year-old girl believed to be taken by grandmother Huber Heights Mayor Jeff Gore delivered the State of the City address Monday evening, promising expansion and growth for the community. Gore said the city has plans for a new indoor music center, hotel and Dublin Pub. 'Really, none of this would mean anything if we didn't have the support of the community behind us,' Gore said. Leo Jordan has lived in Huber Heights for 20 years and has watched it develop. 'I feel really good about Huber Heights. And what's happening out there,' Jordan said. 'We're just close to anything you could possibly want. It's right here at your fingertips.' News Center 7 will continue to follow this story. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Yahoo
First day of Cox Convention Center demolition marks major change to downtown OKC
Downtown dwellers and visitors will have to sharpen their navigation skills as the building formerly known as the Myriad and the Cox Convention Center goes through major demolition this week. The north wall and the pedestrian skybridge are currently scheduled for removal during the week of June 9-13, leading to lane closures on Sheridan Avenue. The demolition process is expected to last through the rest of the year. There haven't been any delays because the work has been all interior so far, said Kristen Torkelson, arena communications liaison. The work is being done as the city prepares to present renderings for the new NBA arena that will be built in the footprint of the old convention center. The renderings are expected to be shown during Mayor David Holt's State of the City address on June 16, Torkelson said. More: Exclusive: OKCThunder Films pays homage to OKC icon in new film premiering at deadCenter Sheridan Avenue, from Robinson Avenue to E.K. Gaylord Boulevard, is closed. The Century Center parking garage can be accessed by the southbound lane on N. Broadway Avenue, and one westbound lane on Sheridan Avenue is open. People staying at the Wyndham Grand Hotel can access it by making a U-turn at the end of N. Broadway Avenue. The OKC Streetcar is temporarily shut down, but Embark will operate a dedicated shuttle bus along a modified downtown loop. Riders should allow for extra travel time as real-time tracking won't be available. The city said in a news release most of the sidewalk around the center remains open, with some portions closed, but accessible ramps are open at all four corners. More: Cox Convention Center demolition to start by April; memories to be preserved As the process keeps going, Midwest Wrecking, the demolition company contracted by the city, is working to remove debris from inside the building and tearing down steel from the walls to recycle it, Torkelson said. After the north wall and the sky bridge is down, work will start on dismantling the east and west walls and then work toward the center of the building. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OKC Cox Convention Center demolition begins with sky bridge