Episode 46: New Homelessness Coordinator and the Iwilei Center

This week, Mayor Rick Blangiardi joins host Brandi Higa on the One O’ahu Podcast to announce his new Homelessness Coordinator and discuss the purchase of Iwilei Center. Plus, what to expect in this year’s State of the City Address and the subsequent Town Hall Tour.

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A New Homelessness Coordinator

In a decisive move to address the pressing issue of homelessness on O‘ahu, Mayor Blangiardi announced the appointment of Sam Moku, his former Chief of Staff in the Mayor’s Office, as the new Homeless Coordinator for the City’s Department of Community Services.

Sam Moku brings a wealth of knowledge, leadership, and commitment to public service, making him the ideal candidate for this significant role.

Moku previously served as Director of the Department of Community Services under Mayor Peter Carlisle.

Iwilei Center

In a momentous transaction, the City and County of Honolulu closed the deal on the Iwilei Center, located on a sprawling 3.8-acre parcel, representing a $51.5 million dollar investment in affordable housing and Transit Oriented Development.

“We’re looking at a complete transformation of that area,” explained Mayor Blangiardi.

Situated adjacent to the future Kūwili Skyline station in Iwilei, this property was identified as the “Activity Node” in the Downtown Neighborhood TOD Plan, adopted by the Honolulu City Council in September 2017 and revised in July 2020, which was created after almost a decade of extensive community engagement and input.

Acknowledging the impact on existing tenants, the Mayor assured that the City remains sensitive to the needs of the community.

2024 State of the City Address

This year, Mayor Blangiardi will be delivering his State of the City Address from the Neal S. Blaisdell Center’s Pikake Room on Thursday, March 14.

“This is about our deliverables,” said Mayor Blangiardi. “This is about holding us accountable. This is about doing the things we said we’re going to do and for that matter, in some cases, telling people what they can expect from us so they can hold us accountable.”

Similar to last year, Mayor Blangiardi and his Cabinet will embark on a Town Hall Tour in the weeks following the Mayor’s State of the City Address. This year’s schedule includes 13 meetings in neighborhoods throughout O‘ahu. More details will be announced soon.