Maui park plan WAILUKU >> Maui Mayor James "Kimo" Apana wants the county to acquire two controversial private developments and convert the sites to public use.
includes Paia land
The mayor wants to buy 2 private
parcels and restore Mokuula
and Mokuhinia PondBy Gary Kubota
gkubota@starbulletin.comApana hopes to turn a 5.7-acre parcel at the Old Lime Kiln site in Paia into a beach park, and preserve for future historic use a 0.48-acre site now planned for a shopping center in Lahaina.
At a Maui Council Land Use Committee meeting yesterday, Apana said shopping center officials estimate the property is worth $4 million.
He said he has not been in communication with owners of the Paia parcel and would probably proceed with condemnation of the land.
The Council would have to pass resolutions to authorize the purchases.
Apana said the county has the money to purchase the land through 20-year loans and could receive financial assistance from the federal government and a trust.
Apana said his administration eventually plans to develop a park from Baldwin Beach Park to Paia and does not want the park surrounding a residence at the Old Lime Kiln site.
"It would look really bad if we built one big park with a house in the middle," he said.
Eventually, Apana plans to acquire the remaining beachfront acreage in Paia owned by Alexander & Baldwin Inc.
A group of residents gathering some 1,300 signatures has opposed the three-house project on the beach and pointed out the Council's community plan calls for the land to be used for park and public purposes.
Old Lime Kiln owner Montana Beach LLC was recently ordered to halt construction of residences at the site in light of a county Corporation Counsel's opinion that it should not have received a shoreline exemption.
One of the owners was also ordered to vacate the premises.
Apana said his administration planned to acquire the Harbor Village shopping center parcel in Lahaina, with the idea of eventually allowing the site to become part of the restoration of Mokuula Island and Mokuhinia Pond.
About half of the Lahaina parcel extends over part of a former fish pond used by Kamehameha royalty.
The Kamehamehas lived on Mokuula Island in the pond.
The parcel, located mauka of King Kamehameha III School, currently has a house that is used as a restaurant.
Harbor Village officials want to build a two-story complex with 12 to 15 retail shops and a restaurant.
Apana said he is in favor of working with the nonprofit group Friends of Mokuula in developing plans for the historic restoration.
"It helps with our future. It helps with our identity," Apana said. "Maui County is at a crossroads."
Harbor Village developer Terry Lee said the owners were willing to talk about selling the land.
Thomas Welch, representing Montana Beach, declined to comment.
Council members are scheduled to discuss the two projects at a 9 a.m. Monday meeting in the Council chambers.
Maui County
