COM 0687.074 2004-2006 - Laserfiche WebLink

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/~0`IGTIGI COGISf" RESORT ASSOCIATION November 28, 2005 ~ ' ~ 1 i 5? . Mr. Fred Galdones, Chairman ' Hawaii County Planning Commission County Planning Department 25 Aupuni Street, Ste 3 Hilo, Hawaii 96720 1tE: Hiluhilu Development Petition for Change of Zone Aloha Mr. Galdones &c Members of the Hawaii County Planning Commission, This letter is in support of Hiluhilu Development's petition for a zoning change at the site of their Palamanui development in North Kona, adjacent to the proposed University center in West Hawaii. The Kohala Coast Resort Association represents eight hotels and four master-planned resort areas along a 20-mile stretch of the Big Island's leeward coast. The resorts & hotels directly employ approximately 6,000 Big Island residents, and estimate that directly and indirectly provide jobs for at least 14% of the Island's workforce. Personnel development and ongoing training programs are vital to the Visitor industry. As such, 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 that Hiluhilu will be constructing roads and infiastructure to benefit the University's development, and will initially provide a' temporary home for the college in Palamanui until a permanent campus is built on the adjacent 500 acres. In support of another crucial step in the long-awaited development of expanded higher education opportunities for West Hawai i, the Resort Association respectfully requests the Planning Commission to approve the zoning change as submitted. M alo nui, 'Thos Rohr li'`~BF~O President 69.275 Waikoloa Beach Drive, Waikoloa, Island of Hawaii 96738 • Telephone (808) 886-4915, Facsimile (808) 886-1044 Email: kohcra~aloha.net • Website: www.kohcra.org