Video: Lawmakers lead charge against Japanese billionaire Gensiro Kawamoto’s museum plans

HONOLULU—In response to Japanese billionaire Gensiro Kawamoto’s plans to establish an art museum on his Kahala Avenue properties, Rep. Barbara Marumoto and Sen. Sam Slom held a public discussion following residents’ resistance to the idea.

“I question whether one can start a museum in a residentially-zoned area without a variance,” Marumoto said. “I am not certain Kahala residents want such a facility in their neighborhood.

Marumoto listed a background of Kawamoto’s history in Kahala, and Slom presented a strategy for Kahala residents to make their case against the museum.

In an effort to rally community members to speak out as strongly on issues as people from other neighborhoods such as Waipahu, Ewa Beach, and Mililani, Slom said: “Nobody’s mentioned the 800 pound gorilla in the room tonight. That 800 pound gorilla is, for the most part, the people outside of Kahala and East Oahu don’t give a rip about you. They perceive you as old rich white people, and they don’t care.”