Waipi'o Lookout Draft Environmental Assessment

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PART 2: ALTERNATIVES 2.1 No Action Alternative Under the No Action Alternative,the County of Hawaii would not purchase the Rice Property, which would probably be bought by a private buyer. As few similarly situated and endowed properties are available,failure to acquire the Rice Property would limit the County's ability to improve public safety and safeguard the resources of Waipi`o Valley. The County of Hawaii therefore considers the No Action Alternative undesirable. 2.2 Alternative Locations or Strategies At any given time,there are usually several properties for sale in the Kukuihaele area, including vacant lots that might be adapted for some of the proposed uses. However,the location of the Rice Property is unique and unmatched by that of any other nearby property. Most properties in the area contain occupied, single-family dwellings, and their utility for public use is poor. None of the properties have the particular and critical advantages of the Rice Property in terms of location, size and views. Therefore,no alternative sites have been identified or advanced in this Environmental Assessment. Some of the goals for safely managing public use and enjoyment of the gateway to Waipi`o Valley could be accomplished without purchase of additional property. A ranger station could be set up at the existing Waipi`o Valley Lookout, although because of space considerations other uses such as picnicking would be displaced. Restrictions on parking at the lookout could be imposed,if a parking lot/shuttle system could be developed within about a mile of the lookout. Any such arrangements would be inconvenient to users and difficult to enforce, and thus likely ineffective. After careful consideration of alternative strategies,the County does not currently envision any plans that would be worthy of consideration in an Environmental Assessment as an alternative to the proposed purchase. 5 Environmental Assessment, Hawaii County Purchase of Rice Property at Waipi`o Lookout