Feasibility Study Underway for Kakaʻako Makai Cultural Center

In late February, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) announced its selection of AEA Consulting, an internationally recognized firm specializing in cultural strategy and planning, to conduct a comprehensive feasibility study for the development of a Native Hawaiian Cultural Center in Kakaʻako Makai — a project rooted in community, culture, and the revitalization of a Native Hawaiian presence in urban Honolulu.

Over the next six months, OHA and AEA will undertake a multi-phase process that includes market assessment, extensive community and stakeholder engagement, program and space planning, financial feasibility modeling, capital cost estimates, and an implementation timeline. Central to this effort will be meaningful engagement with beneficiaries, cultural practitioners, community leaders, and partner organizations to ensure the vision reflects shared aspirations and ʻike (knowledge).

“We look forward to gathering input and manaʻo at the outset of this process to ensure the cultural center is guided by community priorities and built upon a foundation of cultural integrity, financial sustainability, and lasting benefits that create enduring value for our beneficiaries,” said OHA Chair Kaialiʻi Kahele. “This project is about restoring connection — to place, to culture, and to each other.”

The study supports OHA’s long-term vision of revitalizing its 29 acres of Kakaʻako Makai property awarded to OHA in 2012 as a partial settlement from the state for unpaid Public Land Trust revenues.

Kakaʻako Makai was once a thriving coastal area and wahi pana where traditional fishing practices and ʻāina stewardship shaped daily life. Today, OHA envisions the area as a vibrant cultural gathering place that strengthens the community’s relationship to this history and shoreline.

The proposed cultural center is an opportunity to transform vacant land into a living celebration of Native Hawaiian identity, language, arts, and traditions. Beyond serving as a destination, it is envisioned as a welcoming space for education, intergenerational learning, cultural practice, and community connection — generating lasting social, cultural, educational, and economic benefits for Hawaiians and the broader public.

The Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs (AOHCC) has expressed strong support for a cultural center at Kakaʻako Makai, recognizing its potential to uplift lāhui, perpetuate culture, and serve as a gathering place for generations to come. OHA values the partnership and advocacy of the civic club movement and other community organizations that have championed the need for a dedicated cultural space in Honolulu for decades.

OHA approved funding for the cultural center in its biennium budget in June 2025. In September, OHA initiated the process of retaining culture and arts consultants to complete a comprehensive financial feasibility study, business plan, and public-facing presentation. After reviewing proposals, OHA selected AEA Consulting, which has more than 35 years of experience and has delivered over 1,200 strategic and feasibility studies across more than 40 countries. The firm has worked with prominent cultural institutions including the Smithsonian American Art Museum, The Grand Egyptian Museum, the Chickasaw Nation Exhibit C Gallery in Oklahoma, and the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center in Athens, Greece.

“The study will equip OHA with the data, community insight, and planning tools needed to make informed decisions about the scope, programming, sustainability, and long-term operations of a Native Hawaiian Cultural Center,” said Kahele. “Most importantly, it will ensure that this center reflects the voices and values of our people.”