HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0687.017 2004-2006 Lionel Kutner
P.O. Box 205
Captain Cook, Hawaii 96704
Mr. Pilago, Chairman
Planning Committee,
County of Hawaii March 21, 2006
Re: Zoning request by Hilu Hilu for Palamanui
COED Testimony in Suaoort of Rezoning
For those who are not familiar, COED is the acronym for Community
Organization for Educational Development, which formed in the mid 1980's
to support the development of higher education in West Hawaii. I served as its
President for a number of years, during which we worked with the community
and the Board of Regents to identify and set aside the 500 acres of Kau for the
University's future needs in the region.
Today I want reiterate COED's support for Palamanui, as we had testified at the
Land Use Commission hearing lat year.
Attached for the record is a letter written in February, when the proposal to
relocate to DHHL's Kealakehe parcel surfaced. We do not feel that should or will
happen.
However, there is now a great deal of confusion caused by the Mayor's recent
proposal and, in light of that sudden turn of events, I respectfully request a full
public hearing, in Kona, in the evening for the public to learn what underlies it.
As of now, the Board of Regents has a commitment to
? employ its own land, to accept initial road infrastructure plus utility links
from the Palamanui development and to
? early use of purpose-built space in the first phase of the Palamanui village
-commercial area.
? This supportive arrangement would continue until the University finds
resources to build its own facility.
We feel this is a uniquely advantageous opportunity for the communities of West
Hawaii, including those of North and South Kohala. We view Palamanui as a truly
valuable partner for the University.
Our dealings with the representatives of Hilu Hilu were very encouraging.
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When we asked for assurance there would be road access where this would most
benefit the University, they reorganized their plan. Before the Land Use
Commission they committed that and more, by offering to build the community a
long stretch of the mid lateral, know as Middle Main Road, connecting to
Ka'iminani as well as the link to Queen Ka'ahumanu.
This is the kind of benefactor we need in West Hawaii to help foster the growth
of Higher Education. The day will soon come when community college courses
are not enough for West Hawaii. We have to prepare for a bright bright,
stimulating cultural and educational future in West Hawaii.
The pace of our population increase and the intellectual accomplishments of the
growing malihini contingent in Kohala and Kona as a whole, and their ongoing
interest in advanced courses is going to dwarf offerings an adjunct community
college will provide. We can't cramp ourselves into that model much longer. Our
vision of a growing University presence in the region is the right one long term
and, having a supportive neighbor of this caliber will mean a lot.
I think this will become clear if the Committee will provide for full community
participation in a Kona hearing.
Respectfully submitted,
Lionel Kutner, for COED
Lionel Kutner
P.O. Box 205
Captain Cook, Hawaii 96704
Editor,
UH West Hawaii Campus Location
Thank you for rebuking Mayor Kim and his administration for their latest maneuver,
iinvolving the future of higher education for the Big Island's West side population
(Editorial on Friday, Feb 3). From a man elected because he wants citizens to trust their
Government more, it is very depressing to discover such insensitivity. Perhaps he is
unaware of our journey.
It is almost 20 years since our community itself focused on the need for an expanded
University presence and, through COED, went carefully, thoroughly, through all the
appropriate steps to determine the best place for a campus.
Input was gathered from all sectors, including a comprehensive needs survey,
facilitated by West Hawaii Today and data predicated on population projections for
2010. Six options received considered review by educators, employers, elected
representatives, the Office of State Planning, the UH Board of Regents; and then 500
acres in the land division (ahupuaa) of Kau was selected, above the airport.
Many concerned people contributed, working consistently over a number of years. At
the time, it was said to be the one thing everyone in Kona agreed on and the first time
consensus was known in the modern Kona community.
As COED president, I consulted with Governor Waihee, who saw the logic, approved our
assessment of West Hawaii's future, recognized current need and saw the potential for
developing a significant UH campus. 500 acres of Kau was set aside by the legislature.
Though the initial investment would be very modest, basic facilities, dealing first with
the urgent vocational needs of our community, we later envisaged a wide range of
study courses -reflecting the likely population increases in our region by 2010 and
those areas of advanced study especially suited to Kona's unique location. Students
from Kapaau and Waimea in Kohala and from all of Kona down to Miloli' i would be
served, sparing us long travel commutes to Hilo or temporary relocation there, as
happened in the 1980's, then the 1990s.
Our vision was postponed -early in the `90s, when State coffers were constrained -
mainly due to the cost of infrastructure at the unserved location. But this community
held its vision, with the help of the Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce, and found the
opportunity to bring it forward again, when the Schwab/Lam team developed a plan for
Palamanui on the adjacent tract. These akamai men offered to bring infrastructure to
the 500 acres and to build initial facilities, so the Community College could relocate
from mauka. At the community's urging, our 2004 UH Board of Regents revisited the
issue and signed an Understanding. The State Land Use Commission considered this
long term benefit to West Hawaii, when granting Palamanui reclassification for its lands,
and gave permission to proceed.
Wonderful testimony to the dogged persistence of leaders in our community and the
continuing wisdom of the UH Regents! Good policy, good planning; all in the bright
light of day.
For Mayor Kim and Mr. Kane to conjure some kind of deal for a lesser facility, close to
congested Kailua, without any reference to the obvious, articulate, active stakeholders,
flies in the face of all we hope for when we participate in community planning.
I don't trust their process, don't support their `new' location and call on our community
to implore the UH Board of Regents to stay focused on their agreement; to start our
21~t century campus above the airport, on the 500 acres of Kau.
Lionel Kutner,
COED (Community Organization for Educational Development)
February 5, 2006