Kapolei and the Ewa Plain are supposed to be home to Oahu’s “second city,” which critics say has been slow to develop. 

Instead of providing Oahu with another urban core, they say it’s only contributed to urban sprawl and more gridlock traffic as residents continue to commute into Honolulu for jobs. 

This was a main issue at hearings Thursday in front of the state Land Use Commission that will determine whether the 11,750 home development can move forward.

Hoopili opponents questioned the state Office of Planning about how the Hoopili development would contribute to the second city.

Kioni Dudley from Friends of Makakilo argued that the development would amount to another bedroom community. He grilled the Office of Planning’s Mary Lou Kobayashi about why her office is supporting the project and why it hasn’t done more to cultivate urban development. 

She responded that millions had been invested in the city, but that it wasn’t her office’s role to act as developers. 

“As someone who lives in the second city, we have a lot of problems and we are looking for solutions,” said Dudley. “What office would (lead planning efforts) if it’s not your office?”

Here’s some of the exchange from the hearing: