COM 0687.074 2004-2006 - Laserfiche WebLink

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rv~nvrvn ~ccn racsorz. use cu4lrt~ssiul~ December 1, 2004 3n H e~ ab Land Use Commission State Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism P.O. Box 2359 Honolulu, HI 96804-2359 RE: A03-744 Hiluhilu Development -Petition for District Boundary Amendment from Agricultural and Conservation to Urban Aloha Members of the Land Use Commission, This letter is in support of Hiluhilu Development's petition for a district boundary amendment from Agricultural and Conservation to Urban. The Kohala Coast Resort Association favors the amendment because of the project's intended support for the initial and continued development of a University of Hawaii Center in West Hawaii. ('Ihe Kohala Coast Resort Association represents eight hotels and four resort areas along a 20-mile stretch of the Big Island's leeward coast. The resorts and hotels directly employ close to 6,000 island residents and estimate that directly and indirectly they provide jobs for around 14% of the island's workforce. Workforce development and ongoing training programs are vital to the visitor industry. The hotels and resorts would welcome the opportunity to work with a West Hawaii University center that could offer higher education, training and intern programs in conjunction with the Travel Industry Management School at the University's Manoa Campus.) The Association's understanding is the agreement between University of Hawai i and Hiluhilu Development calls for the University to lease space from Hiluhilu in the initial stages of its development at rates comparable to leases the University currently pays. The ability to lease space at this site will allow Hawai i Community College to relocate its University of Hawaii Center in West Hawaii to this more centralized location years sooner than it could if it had to develop its own property. The relocation will provide access to affordable education for many residents who are unable to make the commute to the current Kealakekua location, but are in need of additional education and training. Hiluhilu's plans to construct initial infrastructure to support the further development of the University Center will significantly reduce the basic infrastructure needed by the University for its land. This public-private partnership will save the State millions of dollazs and greatly shorten the timeline for construction of a campus on the University's 500 acres. 1n support of this crucial step in the long-awaited development of expanded higher education opportunities For West Hawaii, the Resort Association asks the Land Use Commission to approve the boundary change as requested. Sincerely, Charles Park General Manager, Hote! Operations HrIPII~A lil'Afl~i F7?INI:E IiU'ftil /,,e,.~, IN/l KCr~F/ll H H(i i (a u? 'Inl F.unr.i n., Ilrl cr: huh.d.r tl•a,r. I-Lnr ri ou"1.. ,.r IVU 11 wua F..i fc.i.q Ill i, r, hrL da (u.cd, hl.m .~u 'rr. L1 lacldu nu IRII$) w7-1111 4.i, IKII%I ~%11 y1i' li'rplo me i1II1Sl N1~~:'r~r I'.r~ I8U%I S:0.!:.-1111 4~