HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0348.003 2002-2004 r h .uu
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echo
d
Neighbors hire-~
law firm ire attempt
to block Wai Ola
~t
Sy Huroter Bishap
Tribune-hiw'ald
Neighbors have bogus to I
play hardball with a public t
charter school that wants to d
move into Mountain View. '
About 20 virtually all ~t
of the property owners on Ala
~ Loop have formed an associa- ~ ~
S
.--t tion and hired
r _ 9 u law firm to li
_ - block the ~ v
_ E school'smovc. - ~ t
~ ' The ~'ai 't t ~ t
(31a Public ,
i,~
oa
~ Charter .
(r W ~,j Z School would
rum the rural
~ C~0 ~ atmosphere of ARAKAKI
p the agrictdWrally zoned neigh-
` boyhood, said Ed Ton~ison, who
awns a nursery on Ala Luup.
The association's lawyer.
i Ben 1'sukazaki, also challenges
the county's position that it has
no authority to require pcnniLs
fur the L60-student uuhool ou
i.~l land zoned for agriculture.
fsukazaki said residents feel
I abanduncd by the county's fail- ~
are to require the. permits.
Officials' of the school, also
known as Waters of Life, i,~
announced plans this summer to I,,~
move from the Boys 8r virl~ti 3
C luh of Hilo to the 323-acre Sur,- ~3
shine Faun on Ala Loup. which
see scHtJC)L, I
Page 6
Q~mtn. No.
Ref. To-
Ref. Uate
SCHOOL: Neighbors like it, but not near them
From Page 1
was purchased as a permanent don't think (state) laws super- before it can occupy the building. Public Works Director Bruce
site for the school. Students cede ours." Meanwhile, do~em of etu- McClure said the students are
would study courses integrated Arakaki said he also will ask dents are being bused to the site not attending class iu the main
with a "working farm;' said state Rep. Eric Hamakawa and on daily field trips. Oshiyama structure, and the field trios are
Libb~~ Oshiyama, who was Sen. Russell Kokubun to attend said, calling opposition to the not within his jurisdiction.
appointed director of the school the hearing. "We want them school sad. The tuition-tree, K-i2 public
in August. involved. It's their law:" "We want very much to have charter school is 1 years old.
Torrisoq who helped speao- Tsukazaki claims a special a warm, positive relationship Charter schools operate inde-
head opposition to the school, permit is required under the with everyone." Oshiyama said. pendently within the state
said he and other neighbors laws of both the state and coin- However, the school has been Department of Education with
think "it's a great project, but ty since the government agen- rebuffed by neighbors bent on their own elected board of
this is not the right place to do ties regulate health and safety preventing them from moving directors.
it" issues_ "Moreover, (Wai Ola) is in. "Every time we try to talk, Neighbors on Ala Loop were
Association members also not exempt from compliance we're told, 'Pm not interest- surprised to Icarn of the
are bothered that the school is with the zoning laws of the ed."' school's move this summer via
bringing students to the site for County of Hawaii:' The ends of Ala Loop, asin- newspaper advertisements
school activities and is occupy- However, county Planning gle-lane paved county road less recruiting students. They were
ing structures without building Director Chris Yuen said Thurs- than a mile long, connect to the successful in delaying the
' permits, said Tsukazaki, who day that the county is sticking makai side of Volcano Highway school's planned opening Sept.
wrote to County Council Chair- to its position -established in (Route i 1) like a jug handle
man James Arakaki this week a 2000 case in Hawaiian Acres between mile markers 11 and The Ala Loop facility still
requesting that he bring [he also im°olving Waters of Life - {2. Ahout 30 students arrive by needs permits for improve-
matter up before the council. that state law exempts charter bus m work in the greenhouse menu related to the health and
Arakaki said Thursday he schoola from needing county daily. Oshivama said safety is,ucs. Tl~o n~hui,l',
will ask the counciPs planning permits. Administrative meetings are announced opening date, in
committee to look into the Yuen acknowledged "there is held in the front office and sin- October, is not realistic.
issues raised by Tsukazaki. more than one way to read" the dents may buy school shirts at the D4cClure said. "They haven't
Arakaki wants to question law. but sees no need to chance door, she said, but "we're not ter- even submitted the drawings Cor
county Corporation Counsel the county's position. If that tified For kids to come in here" the building yet:'
Lincoln Ashida about the coon- invites a legal challenge, a court She said health and planning Meanwhile, Oshiyama said.
ty's position and said he's con- can sort out the law, he said. departments have given the charter schools are "a real con-
cerned about giving away coon- Yuen said the county agrees school permission to conduct tribution to this community. We
ty authority. the school needs permits for the field trips. "It's a service are following all rules and
"You know my position: We improvements related ro public project:' she said. "We're not moving forward:'
dolt give up any powers uriless health, and said the school still bringing kids on campus to run Hunter Bishop can be reached ar
we have to;' Arakaki said. "I has those hurdles to overcome the school:' hunter@hawniin-ibune-hercdd.coni.
FUNDS: Usage of grant money will be evaluatecl
From Page 1