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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0687.074 2004-2006 NAKAMOTO, OKAMOTO 6 YAMAMOTO ATTORNEYS AT LAW, A LAW CORPORATION ROY K. NAKAMOTO I97 KAPIOLANI STREET TELEPHONE (B 081961-0641 ALAN M. OKAMOTO HILO, HAWAII 96720-2697 FA% (908935-3072 ]FREE I. YAMAMOTO HENRY T. NAKAMOTO ALANCdNOYHAWAII. COM Via hand delivery May 16, 2006 Angel Pilago Chairman, Planning Committee County Council RE: Application for Zone Change to Project District Applicant: Hiluhilu Development, LLC Dear Angel: Attached herewith are copies of letters supporting the project that were submitted to the Land Use Commission and the Planning Commission in 2004 and 2005. Thank you very much. Very truly yours, Alan M. Okamoto Enclosures Co~n? No. G D ~•1 Ref. Ta h RE,f. i.ate FO/U/R SE~ApSONS R~E'SORT/ . ~tlHlR(?! RI ~lGAll['Rf ./GR !~/H!//lIl ~ "f ~ _ ~ I ~ i I~~ ~ i,.-i1~f11~ KATHLEEN HORRIGAN c<oe~.t at.~ ~(j' q C. November 18, 2004 Land Use Commission Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism State of Hawai` i P.O. Box 2359 Honolulu,HI 96804-2359 Dear Members of the Land Use Commission: I am writing in support of Hiluhilu Development's petition for a district boundary amendment from agricultural and conservation to urban. As General Manager of the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai, my primary interest in having this petition approved is the proposed move of the University of Hawaii campus from its current location in Kealakekua to a more accessible area for our employees. Our company offers a reimbursement incentive for employees who continue their educations within their chosen fields in the resort industry. Since the majority of our employees live either in Kailua-Kona or Waikoloa, the proposed site for the new university would be an ideal central location. I am certain that a great majority of our employees will be more motivated to continue their training and education if offered a shorter drive to the campus. Additionally, since recruitment of qualified people is an on-going process here at Four Seasons, we look forward to having a larger, more qualified group of graduates to consider for employment. Our goal would be to provide internships and management training programs for university students. I ask the Land Use Commission to approve the boundary change requested. This is a crucial step in the long-awaited development of expanded higher education opportunities in our community. Sincerely, Kathleen Horrigan KH/rc I'. 11, Illl\ 1_'67, h 111.1 1-hll\ II \II vl,~ {.i. I ~ 1 'I'I'. L: Ill lllil .~-_°.i-1111!! ll F\\: lillllll .~-'.~-;11111 nuo.l~lui-r.umn.rnw i,u llU l'h.l "'II III \IIiIF>. O\1. I'llllihill'll 1. rv~nvrvn ~ccn racsorz. use cu4lrt~ssiul~ December 1, 2004 3n H e~ ab Land Use Commission State Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism P.O. Box 2359 Honolulu, HI 96804-2359 RE: A03-744 Hiluhilu Development -Petition for District Boundary Amendment from Agricultural and Conservation to Urban Aloha Members of the Land Use Commission, This letter is in support of Hiluhilu Development's petition for a district boundary amendment from Agricultural and Conservation to Urban. The Kohala Coast Resort Association favors the amendment because of the project's intended support for the initial and continued development of a University of Hawaii Center in West Hawaii. ('Ihe Kohala Coast Resort Association represents eight hotels and four resort areas along a 20-mile stretch of the Big Island's leeward coast. The resorts and hotels directly employ close to 6,000 island residents and estimate that directly and indirectly they provide jobs for around 14% of the island's workforce. Workforce development and ongoing training programs are vital to the visitor industry. 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 the agreement between University of Hawai i and Hiluhilu Development calls for the University to lease space from Hiluhilu in the initial stages of its development at rates comparable to leases the University currently pays. The ability to lease space at this site will allow Hawai i Community College to relocate its University of Hawaii Center in West Hawaii to this more centralized location years sooner than it could if it had to develop its own property. The relocation will provide access to affordable education for many residents who are unable to make the commute to the current Kealakekua location, but are in need of additional education and training. Hiluhilu's plans to construct initial infrastructure to support the further development of the University Center will significantly reduce the basic infrastructure needed by the University for its land. This public-private partnership will save the State millions of dollazs and greatly shorten the timeline for construction of a campus on the University's 500 acres. 1n support of this crucial step in the long-awaited development of expanded higher education opportunities For West Hawaii, the Resort Association asks the Land Use Commission to approve the boundary change as requested. Sincerely, Charles Park General Manager, Hote! Operations HrIPII~A lil'Afl~i F7?INI:E IiU'ftil /,,e,.~, IN/l KCr~F/ll H H(i i (a u? 'Inl F.unr.i n., Ilrl cr: huh.d.r tl•a,r. I-Lnr ri ou"1.. ,.r IVU 11 wua F..i fc.i.q Ill i, r, hrL da (u.cd, hl.m .~u 'rr. L1 lacldu nu IRII$) w7-1111 4.i, IKII%I ~%11 y1i' li'rplo me i1II1Sl N1~~:'r~r I'.r~ I8U%I S:0.!:.-1111 4~ HAWAII COMMUNITY COLLEGE University of Hawaii J tf Associated Students of University ojHawai`i - Hawaii Community College ~'C ~ ~ ~'1 December 9, 2004 Mr. P. Roy Catalani, Esq. Chairperson State Land Use Commission Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism P. O. Box 2359 Honolulu, HI 96804-2359 Dear Chair Catalani and Members of the Land Use Commission: Re: A04-744 Hiluhilu Development, LLC (Hawaii) The student government of Hawaii Community College is in support of Hiluhilu Development's request for a district boundary amendment from agricultural and conservation to urban for its lands in north Kong. The resolution addressing this matter, and signed by our President, is attached. Sincerely, l Qs ley n Coo r Senat est Hawaii Associated Students of the University of Hawaii -Hawaii Community College (ASUH - HawCC) 200 WEST KAWILI STREET HILO, HAWAII 96720-4091 TEL: (808) 933-3480 FAX: (808) 933-3692 An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Institution ASUH-HawCC Student Government Resolution 04-101 Title: West Hawai i Campus Development Whereas, the ASUH-HawCC Student Government represents all registered students of Hawaii Community College; and Whereas, the majority of students enrolled at the University of Hawaii Center in West Hawaii are Hawai i CC students; and Whereas, the University Board of Regents selected a 500-acre parcel of land for a permanent UH campus in 1991, but the development of this site has been hampered by a lack of capital improvement funds to provide adequate water, roads, sewage treatment, and other supporting infrastructure; and Whereas, Hiluhilu Development, LLC owns a 725-acre parcel of land adjacent to the north boundary of the University's site; and Whereas, in 2002, the University entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with Hiluhilu Development, LLC to consult and discuss joint development opportunities for the adjacent properties; and Whereas, the agreement between the UH and Hiluhilu calls for the University to lease space from Hiluhilu in the initial stages of the development, which would allow Hawaii Community College to relocate its UH Center in West Hawai i to this centralized location years sooner than it could develop its own property, thereby providing access to affordable education to many residents who are unable to commute to the current location in Kealakekua; and Whereas, under this agreement, Hiluhilu will construct the initial infrastructure to support the further development of the UH Center in West Hawaii, thereby significantly saving the State millions of dollars and greatly shortening the amount of time the University will need to construct the campus on its own 500 acres. Now, Therefore, Be it Resolved by ASUH-HawCC that the students of Hawai i Community College support Hiluhilu Development's petition for a district boundary amendment from agriculture and conservation to urban, and Be it further resolved that the ASUH-HawCC present the Land Use Commission with a copy of this resolution and request their favorable action on this petition. Sig tur • ~ 9-b ~ Keala Pihana Date President, ASUH-HawCC . . ~ACADEMY~ ~~J~C'rr November 30, 2005 r;!,:,, 1 r r J~1 COUIIty Phuwing COmIIIisSIOn Fred Galdones, Chairman 25 Aupuni Street, Suite 3 Kilo, HI 96720 Dear Mr. Chairman and Commission Members: I am writing on behalf of Huslalai Academy in support of Iiiluhilu Development's request for project district caning. We recognize the Hiluhilu Development's project includes construction of roads and that will support development of the proposed University of Hawaii West Hawaii Campus. This commitment to the University's development will benefit the larger West Hawaii community in several ways including additional roads, infrastructure, housing and the campus itself which will enhance greater access to a broader community due to its new location. The value of the higher educational services that a new U H West Hawaii Campus will bring to the communities of West Hawaii is immense. These services are based on the unique mix of highly qualified personnel and a school commitment to the higher educational needs of the business community. In short, this cannpus will provide greater access to excellent educational opportunities and therefore will produce well-educated, talented, and responsible future entrepreneurs and employees for our community. The rapid growth is West Hawaii has created not only the noel for more higher education classrooms but also a need for particular segments of higher education to support out growing diverse businesses. The University of Hawaii is an established, well rued educational and community center whose growth will continue to benefit the families and businesses of the greater West Hawaii communities Commissioners, please support the I-Iiluhilu Development's request for project district Mahalo nui loa, Felicity Johnso Principal ~~$ti js "Nualalai Acadenry is an Equa! Oppominiry Provider" 744966 KEALAKAA ST., KAILUA-KONA, HI 96740 PHONE (808) 326-9866 FAX (808) 329-9542 www.hualalai.org /~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 Karen K Cot+eeo, R(S) Clark Realty Corporation -Waimea 65-1279 Kawaihae Rd., #109 I{amuela, HI 96743 (808) 887-0887 My name is Karen Cobeen. I am a real estate agent with Clazk Realty in Waimea When I first heazd about the Palamanui project, I was skeptical about yet another housing development being added to an already well-developed area of the Big Island; especially in proximity to South Kohala and Waikoloa Village where congestion is a major concern of many of my clients. My clients are largely local working people; people who currently must commute one or more hours one way to work; people who must have all adults in the home on a job to pay the high cost of housing on the leeward side. After doing some minimal research and talking to Mr. Gioncometti, I am impressed at the wholesome nature of this project; that it encompasses so much for the community it serves and the larger surrounding area. It offers a diversity not currently in the area and puts to the best use land that is otherwise not in genuine agricultural use now. This also brings an educational element that is extremely beneficial to my clients together with an opportunity for homes that will hopefully be within the reach of my client base. I am now an enthusiastic supporter of this development. I am looking forward to seeing this new community break ground and a maturing of ideas as to what the development will embrace. I would urge this body to recommend this project to the County Council. Thank you for allowing me to offer my comments. Respectfully submitted, Karen K. Cobeen, R(S) ~ ~ 17132004 ~ ~ ~A ~ Land use Commission ti'' Department of Business, Economic Development dt Tourism ur ~ ~w State of Hawaii P.O. Boa 2359 Horrohilu, HI 96804 Subject A03-744 Hiluhilu Dcvelopunent, Petition for District t# Botmdary Amendment from Agricultural and Coa~ervatimt w N~!~i to Urban M~~~ Dear Members of the Land Use Canrmission: I am writing in support of Hiluhilu Development's petition for a district boundary aanendment fiom agricultural and conservation to urban. I am in favor of this action baxuse the project will add value to our community's quality of life through its support for the initial acct co~inued development of the University of Hawaii campus in West Hawaii. As President of the Rotary Ciub of Kona, I ennvey the Club's support as well as my own. For the past fifty-six years, the Rotary Club of Kowa has supported our youdr, the community and the Vocational Service Bridge that connects the two. When a community fails to support its youth and fails to emphasize education as a vehicle to a better lift, it limits that community's economic and cultural growth. It is extremely important, E ~ that m~e of our youth see more options and opportunities available to o..::~ them. Today, too many of our High School student see graduation from 12° grade as a completion of their education. ?vmav~as Servke Above Self R~ I understand that the agreement between the University of Hawaii a~ Hiluhilu development calls for the University to lease space from Hiluhilu r in the initial stages of the development at rates comparable to the current ~ ones. The ability W lease space at this site will allow Hawaii Community College to relocate it's UH Center in West Hawaii to this centralized location years sooner than it could by developing its own .A m...t ~ar property. This will provide access to affordable education to many of our ~~a. community's residents who are unable to commute to the current location rom s is Kealal[ekua, but who are in need of additional education and training. o.~ ~b,,,d., Hiluhi~u's plans to construct the initial ~ to support the further Development of the UH Center in West I3awai'i will significantly reduce ~a the amount of basic ~ needed by the University for its own Y~ land It is my ~mderstaadiag that this will save the State millions of dollars and greatly shorten toe amount of time the University will need to N,.~.a. a.. ~ construct the campus oa its own 500 acres. .~~.,a. The Rotary Club of Kona and 1, request the Land Use Commission to approve the boundary change requested. This is a crucial step in the long u.c ~ awaited development of expanded higher education opportunities in our `"i'"~°it community. ~ s~ wd,ra rim wNd wn Sincerely, Yana lewk ? ~ /J n / President Rotary Club of Kona paay mornnuad ~ Gkm E. EsOrs ww amcamo ebde TMryvn wa ~sa~ca~o OvaAri wag - ' Service Above Self 1 • . Community O niz~ io r Educational Dev pment Wes[ Hawaii P.O. Box ~ Keal kek ail 96750 t ~ M~~I Testimony for LUC Meeting regarding Hiluhilu Developn~ ur! COMM~It7q My name is Diana Nui. I am a retired administrator for 'The Kamehameha Schools and have lived on this island since 1976. Today I wish to explain the role of the Conununity Organization for Educational Development or COED in assisting the University in the past and then Lionel Kutner, another past president of our organization will give testimony on our position regarding the proposed mutually supportive role of Hiluhilu and the University of Hawaii. This will only take a few minutes of your time but is important in establishing that we have more than a passing interest in this partnership and have been active over a period of many years in lobbying for wider programs and a real campus in West Hawaii. In the late 80's and in most of the 90's COID held public meetings regarding the various strategic plans, lobbied HELCO to limit their growth below the proposed new campus, held vision meeting involving many community leaders to establish community educational needs, hosted public Regent visitations, published a newsletter informing our members of University progress in various areas, lobbied for a nursing program, sent out countless newsletters and finally provided speakers to various community groups regarding the proposed permanent campus sites. COED provided transportation to these sites for approximately 200 interested community members so they could see for themselves the choices facing the Regents. We also hosted a final community meeting where the various organizations voiced their choice of the present site. It was said that this was the first time in the history of Kona that the community agreed on something. When it became clear that the new campus was on the legislative back burner, COED became inactive for several years. This new development possibility has prompted us to hold several meetings with interested community members and past COED members. Community members meeting with us have been: Monty Richards, past Regent, Dr Billy Betgin, past Regent, Dr. Waiter Kunitake, past Director of UH West Hawaii and ~ COED members David Garcia of Liliuokalani Trust, Dr. David Holzman, retired UHWest faculty member, Ken Clewett, University of the Nations; Lionel Kutner and myself. Lionel Kutner will present the consensus reached in these meetings. /1 group of atizens dedicated to banging quality post-secondary education to West i lawan DtC 9't~4 COED Community Organization for Educational Development trr~. ~ ure co+~~A.~+ Testimony before Land Use Commission Hearing on Thursday, December 9, , Hapuna Prince Beach Hotd. For I-Iiluhilu's Palamanui development My name is Lionel Kutner and, as Diana just said, with her I was co-founder and rccar[ring President of COED, the Community Organization for Educational Development, during the 1980's and early 1990'x. I spear is Support of Hiluhilu's intern to provide the communities of West Hawaii with a practical start to building a University. First, let me say I am honored to represent this august, diverse collection of concerned personalities who have come together again as COED, to foster UH expansion here. Many of these arc more eloquent in this cause than I. We agree the University Center's activities should move north at the soonest opportunity, so it will be more accessible to Kohah>, Waimea and Waikoloa students and faculty as well as those from Kona. We are grateful for this proposal. It is an opportunity fbr West Hawaii and for the University system and we appreciate the work Iiiluhilu has done so far to partner with the State. We Gave reviewed the second version of the UH Memorandum of Understanding with Hiluhilu and accept that it is an outline at this stage, a work in progress. Detail to be determined. The written commitmert by Hiluhilu provides the University with hook up capability for essential services not yet availabk on these lands; road access, potable water, wasterwater treatmeru facility, power, phone and cable. This hook-up would be at the point where their pedestrian friendly, village-commercial property abuts State land. The northwest point of the University's 500 acre `square' Primary parcel In conversation as recently as yesterday, however, Hiluhilu's planners felt they could enwrre these services were provided, along with some build out of the proposed "Main Street", ezteadiug several hundred feet south from the planned Palamanui village. That extension is important. By coming farther south along this corridor we can see a signifidat benefit to the University, and this thinlang gives grrrat relied because I don't think that northwest comer is necessarily where a planner would start to design our University campus. r Envisage if you will, eventually, a handsome, trce lined boulevard stretching from the commercial cerrter along this corridor to the entrance of the campus, perhaps along the whole exte~ of the allocated parcel, along its makai boundary. The question becomes: what is a fair contribution to the commuaityT How much of this might Palamanui reasonably offer to build, in the near future, so the University can start its own campus developmem sooner, rather than later and, at a place which is of value to its long term build out? Is that a tenth of a mile? Two tenths? Three temhs would be an equivalent stretch to the recer?t Kukui plantings at the mauka boundary of Makalei Estates. (Landscaped five or six years now and already notable along the Mamalahoa Highway.) It's a personal flashback, but years ago we remember when CCECS had free accommodation down at Keauhou Beach Hotel, then moved to rented accommodation, about 600 s.f. in Kainaliu, then to the present location in Kealakekua. We certainly regret that our Education Centre these years later is still paying rent (now 5250,000 round figures) and would like to be sure their next move, in 2007, goes well beyond merely ch~ginq landlords. I wouldn't dwell on that, but it is possible for a skeptic to read their current MoU in that IigM. I think, while we are all really grateful for an opportunity to deliver Educational services at a more central place, on the slopes of Hualalai, we sce significant benefit to thin developer, over time, in having a vibrant University for his first tenant and then his neighbor, and we invite Hiluhilu to give back in the most tangible, practical manner, bringing critical infrastructure into the University's lands. Our support for developing the Palamanui village-commercial concept, therefore, is conditional. We hope, when the.Commission considers granting a change of zoning for Hiluhilu's parcel, this would be made contingent and conditional on building a significant section or `stubb out' of the road and services the University will need, along the north-south arterial called "Mid-Level" or "Main Strcet" on the Keahole to Keauhou plan, at the time the road connection is made to Oueen Ka' ahumanu Higl?way In that way, the West Hawaii communities will receive the benefit of a jump start, when our legislators work to obtain funding for the permanent campus. Finally, we are really pleased to know we have been presented with an exciting opportunity to plan for a permanem university campus in West Hawau. We want to sce that in our lifetimes.