Big Isle residents
voice concerns over
charter school siteThe Council hears potential
neighbors’ fears of more traffic
HILO >> People told a Hawaii County Council committee yesteday that they oppose or back the Waters of Life Public Charter School operating on agricultural land south of Hilo.
Council Chairman Jimmy Arakaki said he wanted to allow both sides to "vent."
The school, also known as Wai Ola, bought the 28-acre former farm this summer, but its students so far only go on outings to it from another site.
School director Libby Oshiyama said the site on Ala Loop near Kurtistown was chosen because a farm is one of the best places to educate children.
"City penitentiary-like schools are very harmful even when they are built in the country," she said.
Neighbors said they don't want the school next door, citing concerns like traffic. Their attorney, Tom Yeh, said the school should get a county special permit or a use permit.
The county Planning Department says state law exempts the school from getting either permit.
"We all wish them well," said neighbor Shelley Hanaoka, then added, "This is a very bizarre little interpretation (of that law) here."
Neither Maui nor Honolulu has interpreted such an exemption to exist, she said.
County Attorney Lincoln Ashida conceded the interpretation is "problematic," but added, "It is defensible. It is not something that is way out there."
Ashida agreed to put an analysis of the law into writing, but suggested a lawsuit may be needed to resolve the question.
Volunteer school attorney Sandra Song said a permit won't solve the neighbors' concerns, such as traffic and pesticide residues. She suggested mediation.
School co-founder Arthur Shay made an impassioned plea for allowing the school to save children from drugs.
"If these children are not taken care of, they will come for you," he said.
Former farm owner Hamilton Manley said traffic was a problem before Wai Ola bought the property because of the much larger Kamehameha Schools campus down the highway.
He said he hadn't used "restricted chemicals" on the farm for at least 10 years.
Neighbor Ed Torrison said, "We pretty much agree they're providing a service. We don't feel that this is the right spot."
