The announced today that the future Barack Obama Presidential Center will be located on Chicago’s South Side. The foundation, led by close family and friends of President Obama, will be responsible for all aspects of the building, construction, design and planning processes for the Obama Presidential Center.

The president and first lady recorded a video announcing their decision to bring the Presidential Center to Chicago’s South Side. The president emphasized their deep gratitude and appreciation, saying in part, “Not only will we be able to encourage and effect change locally, but what we can also do is to attract the world to Chicago. That’s where I was able to apply that early idealism to try to work in communities, in public service. The people there, the community, the lessons that I learned they’re all based right in this few square miles where we’ll be able to now give something back, and bring the world back home after this incredible journey.”

The foundation also intends to have a presence in Hawaiʻi and at in New York, as both are locations important to the president’s past and essential to the foundation’s future activities.

“Hawaiʻi presented a compelling and high-quality plan,” said Maya Soetoro-Ng, the president’s sister, a member of the foundation’s board of directors and University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa assistant professor. “I am thrilled to tell you that the foundation also plans to establish a presence in Hawaiʻi. Our foundation team is excited to begin developing joint programs with the and other local partners. We are just starting the process of building a platform to advance the work of the president and first lady after they leave the White House. But I know I speak on behalf of my brother when I say we are so pleased that Hawaiʻi will be a part of it. And I’m looking forward to working with everyone in Hawaiʻi to bring this project to life.”

Hawaiʻi Governor David Ige stated, “We’re pleased that President Obama’s Foundation is planning for the president to conduct work from his home state and look forward to continued discussions about future opportunities in Hawaiʻi.”

While the foundation will work closely with its South Side neighbor, the , it also plans to collaborate with each of the three other finalist universities—, the University of Hawaiʻi and the .

“The University of Hawaiʻi is looking forward with great enthusiasm to working with the foundation to discuss the potential for Hawaiʻi based programs, said University of Hawaiʻi President David Lassner. “This is an incredible opportunity for our students, faculty and staff and the entire state and will only enrich the educational experience here at the university.”

Hawaiʻi officials submitted a written proposal to host the Barack Obama Presidential Center in Honolulu on December 11, 2014. The development of Hawaiʻi’s response to the request for proposal (RFP) was coordinated by the University of Hawaiʻi with the full backing of the State of Hawaiʻi, the City and Council of Honolulu and numerous community partners, including the nonprofit group, Hawaiʻi Presidential Center.

“President Obama is part of our Island family,” said Hawaiʻi Governor David Ige. “We humbly suggest that Hawaiʻi is the best place to build his presidential center. With our rich cultural heritage, mature visitor industry, and Asia-Pacific ties, we believe we can help President Obama create an institution that will carry forward his important work on a global stage.”

“Hawaiʻi has really come together to develop an exciting proposal,” said Lt. Governor Shan Tsutsui, whose office has been leading this effort on behalf of state government. “We look forward to partnering with the foundation to develop this dynamic institution as well as welcoming the president and his family home to the Islands.”

Hawaiʻi envisions a future-learning presidential center that cultivates young leaders and brings people together to solve global problems. Building on concepts included in Hawaiʻi’s initial proposal submitted in June, this RFP response includes four principal program components—a K–12 Global Youth Leadership Academy; an action-oriented convening institute; a ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ center for community organizing and an interactive, issues-based visitor center.

“We are proposing a presidential center that not only commemorates Barack Obama’s legacy, but also advances innovation, research and education,” stated ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ President David Lassner. “The president will continue to build upon his legacy once he leaves the White House, and this institution will help him continue to make a difference, not just in Hawaiʻi but throughout the United States and around the world.”

In preparing this submission, Hawaiʻi’s bid team sponsored independent research and reached a number of important conclusions:

• A presidential center in Honolulu will have a pronounced economic impact, creating 1,000–2,000 jobs in the construction period alone, depending on scale, and generating $25–$40 million in additional state and city tax revenue. After its first 10 years of operations, the institution will have catalyzed more than $2 billion in new economic activity.
• Because of the Hawaiian Islands’ robust visitor market, Honolulu’s favorable demographics, and the proposed site, which is centrally located between Waikīkī and downtown, experts predict Hawaiʻi will host one of the most visited presidential institutions in the United States.
• Hawaiʻi’s proposed programs will have independent revenue streams, which will enable them to operate on a self-sustaining basis once the facility is built.
• Forward-leaning design and engineering will allow the Obama center to achieve Living Building Challenge certification—beyond LEED Platinum—and serve as a model of resiliency and sustainability in coastal environments.
• Hawaiʻi is well positioned to assist a capital campaign led by the Obama foundation by activating donors on the West Coast and throughout the Asia-Pacific region.

In September, the University of Hawaiʻi was selected as one of four finalists to host the Obama Center, along with Columbia University, University of Chicago, and the University of Illinois at Chicago. The president and first lady are expected to make a decision on a location or locations in early to mid 2015. The Barack Obama Foundation will then lead a capital campaign and supervise design, construction, and program operations.

• ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ New story:
• ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ New story:

Hawaiʻi’s bid to host the Obama Presidential Center is the product of a broad-based effort. The proposal is being formally submitted by Governor David Ige, Lt. Governor Shan Tsutsui, Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell, ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ President David Lassner, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz, U.S. Senator Mazie Hirono, U.S. Representative Tulsi Gabbard, U.S. Representative-elect Mark Takai, and Hawaiʻi’s steering committee. This statewide effort is also supported by a local advisory council and core institutional partners, including the East-West Center, Hawaiʻi Community Development Authority (HCDA), Hawaiʻi State Department of Education, Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Harold K.L. Castle Foundation, Kamehameha Schools and Punahou School.

U.S. Senator Schatz, who has been involved in Hawaiʻi’s bid since 2009, says, “Hawaiʻi is putting forward a truly compelling proposal. We believe this institution looks forward to the future, embodies Hawaiʻi’s values, and has a global outlook.”

U.S. Senator Hirono echoes her congressional colleague’s sentiment, stating, “President Barack Obama is keiki o ka ʻÄå¾±²Ô²¹; born, raised and molded in the melting pot of Hawaiʻi. It is only natural that Hawaiʻi serve as the home of the future Barack Obama Presidential Library. As America’s ‘Gateway to the Pacific,’ Hawaiʻi is a vital bridge to our partners in the Asia-Pacific. Establishing a presidential institution of dialogue, diplomacy and learning would play a lasting role in the Obama legacy.”

To host the presidential center, the State of Hawaiʻi, through HCDA, has set aside approximately eight acres of a near-shore property in Kakaʻako Makai that features sweeping views, proximity to ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ and other educational facilities, abundant green space, and accessibility by bike, car, bus and soon, rail.

“The Obama center in Kakaʻako will be the centerpiece of a more connected walkable community,” said Honolulu Mayor Caldwell. “It will energize our waterfront from Ala Moana Beach Park through Kakaʻako Waterfront Park, becoming a source of civic pride for all of Honolulu.”

To explore the full potential of the site, Hawaiʻi’s steering committee commissioned three conceptual designs by renowned architectural firms working in local-national partnerships: Snohetta and WCIT Architecture; MOS and Workshop-HI and Allied Works. Ferraro Choi detailed the structure’s Living Building Challenge potential.

These conceptual designs are not meant to be prescriptive, as the architects who will ultimately design the Obama presidential center will be selected in a separate process supervised by the Obama foundation. Rather, these conceptual designs are distinct expressions of what is possible on an urban site with spectacular mauka-to-makai views. Select renderings of these concept designs are available on the .

For more information on Hawaiʻi’s efforts to host the Barack Obama Presidential Center, please visit .

The issued a request for proposal on September 15 to the , , and , all of which submitted their qualifications to host the future Obama Presidential Library earlier this year.

“We are thrilled to advance to the next stage of dialogue and planning with the Barack Obama Foundation,” said University of Hawaiʻi President David Lassner. “The University of Hawaiʻi will take the lead in developing a formal response to the foundation’s request for proposal and will work in close collaboration with the state, city and other community partners.”

“Hawaiʻi envisions an action-oriented institution that not only honors the legacy of the forty-fourth presidency, but also highlights Hawaiʻi’s multicultural heritage, forges collaborative solutions to global problems, and attracts and inspires the next generation of leaders,” said Hawaiʻi Lt. Governor Shan Tsutsui, who has led the local effort on behalf of the governor’s administration.

“We are excited that Honolulu has been selected by the Barack Obama Foundation as one of the finalists to host the planned Barack Obama Presidential Center,” said Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell. “We look forward to continuing our partnership with the university and the state in this endeavor and welcoming our keiki o ka ʻÄå¾±²Ô²¹ home to Oʻahu.”

Responses to the request for proposal are due on December 11, 2014.

For more information on Hawaiʻi’s efforts to host the Barack Obama Presidential Center, please visit .

—A ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ Presidential Center Initiative news release

The University of Hawaiʻi is leading the charge for a Barack Obama Presidential Center in Honolulu, and state government, business and community leaders are lending their support.

They gathered in the nation’s capitol on inauguration weekend to attend the Hawaiʻi Presidential Center Inaugural Gala and start the effort to raise money for the project.

The crowd of about 300 consisted mostly of Hawaiʻi residents, former island residents and people with Hawaiʻi ties. They included Hawaiʻi’s congressional delegation; AOL Founder Steve Case; educator, author and President Barack Obama’s sister Maya Soetoro-Ng; county mayors and ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ President M.R.C. Greenwood, who is among those leading the effort to secure the Obama Presidential Center in Honolulu.

“Some thought this was an impossible dream. I’m here to tell you that we can do this and we’ve been encouraged by the President. We are committed to doing this with all of you, because there is no way we could do it without you,” Greenwood told an energized crowd.

“We are committed to doing everything we can to build a center that will advance collaborative solutions to global problems and cultivate a new generation of community leaders. The center will carry forward the President’s work,” Greenwood said.

ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ leads Hawaiʻi bid for presidential center

“The idea was hatched by a bunch of ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ professors sitting around a kitchen table,” said Connie Lau, president and chief executive officer of Hawaiian Electric Industries, a major sponsor of the gala.

“We want to thank the university for leading our state’s efforts in bidding for the Hawaiʻi Presidential Center. But ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ cannot do it alone. All of us have to pitch in and do our part. This will bring to Hawaiʻi significant economic, educational and environmental benefits. It will teach and inspire children and our visitors throughout Hawaiʻi,” Lau said.

Soetoro-Ng, who is also a ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ faculty member, arrived at the fundraiser gala after attending a string of other inaugural festivities.

“I think Hawaiʻi has put together a wonderful proposal, it’s insightful, thoughtful and I know that regardless of the outcome, that my brother will want to take a hold of all of the people and the resources and the ideas that Hawaiʻi brings. I am looking forward to having my home be part of the rich conversation about the future,” Soetoro-Ng said.

Hawaiʻi’s congressional delegation pledges support

Hawaiʻi will have to compete with Chicago, President Obama’s other hometown, for a piece of the presidential center.

U.S. Representative Colleen Hanabusa suggested the dueling states share the center.

“He calls both places home. I know the president will want to have part of his legacy with us,” Hanabusa said.

“Hawaiʻi has unique assets that it brings to this conversation. The whole community in Hawaiʻi is supportive of this effort and we’re in the conversation on the national level. So we have to stay unified and make our best case at the appropriate time,” said U.S. Senator Brian Schatz.

“President Obama and his advisors should strongly consider building a piece of his presidential legacy in Hawaiʻi. I know Hawaiʻi is a special place to him, and Hawaiʻi residents are proud to call him one of their own. I will work closely with other members of the Hawaiʻi delegation in moving the Hawaiʻi presidential center initiative forward,” said U.S. Senator Mazie Hirono.

Read more about the gala and view a slideshow of photos from the event on Greenwood’s blog,