Laserfiche WebLink
DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY AND SURROUNDING AREA <br /> 12. Subject Property: The property consists of approximately 6.5 acres located along the <br /> South Hilo coastal sea bluffs. The roughly square-shaped subject parcel is comprised of <br /> relatively level tableland, with elevations ranging from 45 to 150 feet (14-46 meters) <br /> above sea level (asl). A hog wire fence line defines the boundary between the subject <br /> parcel and the adjacent parcel to the south. The Honomu Stream flows through the <br /> Malamalamaiki Gulch where it empties into the sea along the northern edge of the subject <br /> parcel. The former route of the Hawaii Consolidated Railroad, evidenced by a deep cut <br /> in the terrain, extends northwest to southeast along a portion of the parcel's western <br /> boundary. <br /> 13. Surrounding Land Zoning/Uses: The subject parcel is bounded to the east by rocky <br /> coastal cliffs and the Pacific Ocean, to the north by the steep sided Malamalamaiki <br /> Gulch, to the west by the Mamalahoa Highway right of way, and to the south by an <br /> undeveloped parcel. Besides the road, all parcels in the vicinity of the project site are <br /> within the County of Hawaii A-20a zoning district. <br /> 14. Soil Type: Soils within the study area are classified Hilo hydrous silty clay loam on 10% <br /> - 20% slope. These strongly acidic soils dehydrate irreversibly into fine gravel size <br /> aggregates and have formed over basalt that originated from Mauna Kea Volcano 64,000 <br /> to 300,000 years ago. These soils have historically been used for the cultivation of <br /> sugarcane. <br /> 15. Land Study Bureau's Detailed Land Classification System: The project site is listed <br /> as both "E" (Very Poor) and"C" (Fair). <br /> 16. Agricultural Lands of Importance to the State of Hawaii (ALISH) System: The <br /> project site is listed as both"unclassified" and "1" (Prime) on the ALISH Map. <br /> 17. Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM): The entire property above the pali is classified in <br /> Flood Zone X. <br /> 18. Flora/Fauna Resources: A biological survey of the subject parcel was conducted in <br /> August 2020 in preparation for the proposed project. The survey reviewed U.S. <br /> Department of Agriculture and Geological Survey air photos from 1954, 1965 and 1977 <br /> which indicate that most of the subject parcel was formerly cultivated in sugarcane; after <br /> -3- <br />