2 Big Island developments
go before commission today

KAILUA-KONA » The state Land Use Commission was slated today to consider two large-scale developments proposed for the Big Island.

Anthony Ching, the commission's executive director, said the panel was to take action on Hiluhilu Developments' request to urbanize 725 acres in state conservation and agriculture districts to build Palamanui.

The project, proposed by a partnership of investment broker Charles Schwab and Keauhou-Kona Construction Corp., would include 845 dwellings, an 18-hole golf course and a university village that would include a temporary campus for the University of Hawaii-West Hawaii Center. There would also be a 120-unit visitor accommodation.

Meanwhile, Kamehameha Investment Corp. will go before the commission seeking a 90-day extension on its request to redesignate 488 agriculture acres in Keauhou to "rural district." It is part of a plan for an $800 million facelift of the 2,400-acre resort area.

Kamehameha needs more time to finalize agreements with the state Office of Planning and the Hawaii County Planning Department, Ching said.

The Hiluhilu project has been designed around cultural and natural sites, including a dryland forest, other indigenous and endemic plants and numerous caves, including one used by ancient Hawaiians to collect water.

"We have a pretty good handle on the forest," said Guido Giacometti, spokesman for Hiluhilu. "We're setting aside 65 acres, and the state is surveying the lands to the north to see how far it goes."

Once Hiluhilu receives the commission's approval, the project will seek proper zoning from the county, probably "project district," which would allow the developer flexibility in creating smaller or larger lots to suit its needs, Giacometti said.

Hiluhilu still hopes to lease quarters for the University of Hawaii-West Hawaii Center by the fall of 2007, Giacometti said.