The Office of Hawaiian Affairs announced today that it selected AEA Consulting to conduct a feasibility study for a proposed Native Hawaiian Cultural Center in Kaka‘ako Makai, launching what officials describe as a community-driven planning process for the long-discussed project.
Over the next six months, OHA and the firm will carry out a multiphase study that includes a market assessment, community and stakeholder engagement, program and space planning, financial modeling, capital cost estimates and an implementation timeline. The process will include outreach to beneficiaries, cultural practitioners, community leaders and partner organizations.
“We look forward to gathering input and manaʻo at the outset of this process to ensure the Native Hawaiian 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,” OHA Chair Kaialiʻi Kahele said in a statement. “This project is about restoring connection — to place, to culture, and to each other.”
The study is part of OHA’s broader vision to revitalize its 29 acres in Kakaʻako Makai, which consists of nine parcels awarded to the agency as part of a partial settlement from the state for unpaid Public Land Trust revenues. Historically, the area was a coastal hub known for fishing practices, stewardship of aina and storied wahi pana. OHA has said it envisions the property as a cultural gathering place reconnecting the community to that history and to the shoreline.
Plans for the proposed center include space for education, intergenerational learning, cultural practice and community events, with the goal of generating social, cultural, educational and economic benefits for Native Hawaiians and the broader public.
The Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs has voiced support for the project, describing it as an opportunity to uplift the lahui and create a gathering place for future generations. OHA said it values the long-standing advocacy of the Hawaiian Civic Club movement and other community groups that have pushed for a dedicated cultural space in Honolulu.
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“We are honored to support OHA in shaping a project of such cultural, historical, and community significance,” said AEA Consulting Principal Daniel Payne, who will lead the project. “Through thoughtful engagement and rigorous analysis, this study will help lay the groundwork for a center that is both culturally grounded and operationally sustainable.”
OHA approved funding for the cultural center in its biennium budget adopted June 29. The agency began seeking consultants in September to complete a financial feasibility study, business plan and public-facing presentation. AEA Consulting, which has more than 35 years of experience and has completed over 1,200 strategic and feasibility studies in more than 40 countries, was selected after a proposal review process.
The firm’s past clients include the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the Grand Egyptian Museum, the Chickasaw Nation Exhibit C Gallery and the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center.
“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,” Kahele said. “Most importantly, it will ensure that this center reflects the voices and values of our people.”