Jeremy Harris - Legacy

Legacy

Much like his predecessor Mayor Frank F. Fasi, Harris leaves the City & County of Honolulu with a long-lasting legacy of his own. He built the Marine Education Center at the Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve, instituted the Waikiki Revitalization project that changed the look of Waikiki's main thoroughfares, Queen's Surf Beach, Kuhio Beach, Kapiolani Park Bandstand, established torchlighting ceremonies and hula performances every night at Waikiki and started Brunch on the Beach. However, critics of Harris, including his successor Mufi Hannemann, contend that these programs came at the expense of basic city services and infrastructure.

Harris has the distinction of being the only mayor to be elected more than once as United States Public Administrator of the Year by the American Society of Public Administration. Twice, Honolulu's The Bus was honored as America's Best Transportation System. Other foremost national societies named Honolulu first on the list of Kid Friendly Cities as well as the most digitally and technologically advanced city in the United States.

Harris made waves on the international stage as the founder of the Mayors' Asia-Pacific Environmental Summit. Delegates in 1999 that included over 400 leaders from the Asia-Pacific Rim nations voted to establish a permanent Secretariat in Honolulu in Harris' honor. Harris also established the Pacific Islands Environmental Symposium, China-U.S. Conference of Mayors and Business Leaders, Asia Pacific Urban Technology Institute and the Japan-American Conference of Mayors and Chamber of Commerce Presidents.