Waimea housing
draws flak

A 400-home project for Hawaiians
has some in the ranch
community concerned

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By Rod Thompson
rthompson@starbulletin.com

WAIMEA, Hawaii >> The state Department of Hawaii Home Lands is planning a $28 million, 400-home community at Waimea on the Big Island in the next three years, but some people worry that Waimea cannot handle such growth.

"That's a frightening pace of development," said John Ray, president of the Waimea Community Association.

In comparison, Parker Ranch plans 700 more homes, but over a 20-year period, he said.

Waimea's public schools were designed for 700 students, but now have 1,200, he said. Waimea has no public high school, and there are no plans for one, he said.

The community association will hold a "town meeting" at 5:30 p.m. tomorrow at Kahilu Town Hall, where Hawaiian Homes officials will discuss the plan.

The homes would be built by the department or by owner-builders by mid-2005 in a 232-acre semi-circle around the existing Lalamilo Houselots subdivision, just off the road to Kawaihae. By 2010, 33 acres of commercial and industrial space would follow.

Kanani Kapuniai, president of the Waimea Hawaiian Homesteaders Association, said Waimea has no more than 8,000 residents now. An additional 400 homes could mean 1,500 more residents, she said.

"You're talking about a massive subdivision for this size of community," she said. But she also said many Hawaiian Homes beneficiaries are overdue to be awarded land.

Kapuniai said she believes many people favor an alternate proposal for 160 lots up to one acre each.

Kaipo Kincaid with Hui Kako'o said her organization supports native Hawaiian beneficiaries seeking to receive land but is not certain what proposal would be best.

The project land contains 73 archaeological and burial sites, she said. Fewer homes would mean fewer people receiving land but also less disruption of cultural sites, she said.

An environmental impact statement on the project is due by November.