MARLENE DE COSTA

The Road Map and diocesan land assets

The Diocese of Honolulu, under its civil title of Roman Catholic Church in the State of Hawaii, is a major landholder in Hawaii with 294 parcels consisting of over 3,000 acres. Our “Diocesan Road Map for Pastoral, Program, and Facility Needs 2008-2013” recognized the importance of using land assets wisely by identifying new parishes and facilities and management of land assets as a major area for action.

The Road Map called for the establishment of a new Diocesan Land Asset Management and Acquisition Committee (LAMAC). This committee was officially launched in late November 2008. Its 12 members, appointed by the bishop, all have distinguished real estate careers and represent all parts of our state. Two each are from the islands of Hawaii and Maui, one member is from Kauai, and seven are from Oahu. The composition of the committee reflects expertise in residential and commercial appraisal, corporate/institutional real estate asset management, individual real estate development and investment, and brokerage, land, and improved real property management. The committee intends to meet quarterly. The first two meetings have set the tone and strategy for the work ahead.

LAMAC was created to act in an advisory capacity to the Bishop of Honolulu through the Diocesan Finance Council on all real estate issues facing the diocese. Desired Road Map outcomes include Catholic churches that are accessible, adequate in size and number, and reasonably located relative to existing and projected population centers so Catholics can strengthen their faith and share in the sacramental life of the church.

LAMAC’s work involves developing an accurate inventory of all real estate holdings, focusing on related administrative issues, and evaluating the best and highest use of real estate not being actively used by parishes, including revenue maximization and uses of land needed to support the spiritual, educational and social ministries of the parishes and diocese. When leases need to be renegotiated and land acquisition for expansion is required, the committee will consult with the parishes and schools, honoring their canonical status.

It is the intention of the committee to create short- and long-term tactical strategies and plans for the acquisition and management of real estate belonging to the Diocese of Honolulu throughout our state. To accomplish this, LAMAC will spend the next few years focusing on both the immediate critical needs as well as the long-range issues.

Year one, 2009, is dubbed the “Year of Discovery.” The committee is reviewing all of the real estate holdings by island, verifying the accuracy of available data, identifying obstacles, and evaluating existing use and revenue levels, if any. The land holdings within the Kauai Vicariate were the first to be reviewed; Maui is scheduled for the June 2009 meeting; both vicariates on the Big Island of Hawaii are scheduled for September 2009; and the Oahu vicariates will be reviewed at the December 2009 and February 2010 meetings.

Year two, 2010, will be dedicated to matching needs, wants, voids and excesses. The committee will be developing integrated land management strategies for each vicariate and for diocesan real estate holdings.

Over the next three years (2011-2013), attention will be focused on formulating and making recommendations to the Diocesan Finance Council in the form of a land management plan that addresses, to the extent possible, actions set forth in the Road Map. These include parish realignments, new parishes and churches, mega churches, better locations for churches within parish boundaries, reducing overcrowding, considering retreat facilities, and working with Hawaii Catholic Schools.

Not all execution will wait for future years. As LAMAC moves forward, it will focus on and address, to the extent possible, real estate issues with deadlines and those that are critical issues.

The Diocese of Honolulu has been blessed with the gift of land as an asset, and we must use our gifts wisely in the service of God and each other.