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Murashige, Laura
From: Melissa Fleming [mfleming@co.hawaii.hi.us]
Sent: Friday, June 29, 2007 9:54 AM JUL ~ N(~ ~ i
To: counciltestimony@co.hawaii.hi.us
Subject: FW: Kona Board of Realtors Members Support Smart Growth in Punalu"
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Attachments: Kona Board of Realtors.06.29.07.doc
From: Kay Kolt [mailto:kay4kona@yahoo.com]
Sent: Friday, June 29, 2007 9:26 AM
To: cohmayor@co.hawaii.hi.us; planning@co.hawaii.hi.us; Naeole, Emily; Yagong, Dominic; Higa, Stacy; Ikeda,
Donald; Yoshimoto, J; Ford, Brenda; Pilago, K. Angel; Hoffmann, Pete; governor.lingle@hawaii.gov;
repherkes@Capitol.hawaii.gov; repgreen@Capitol.hawaii.gov; repito@Capitol.hawaii.gov;
rephee@Capitol.hawaii.gov; repsay@Capitol.hawaii.gov; senenglish@Capitol.hawaii.gov; dlnr@hawaii.gov;
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cohinfo@co.hawaii.hi.us; director@co.hawaii.hi.us; Andy.Smith@hawaii.gov; Jacobson, Bob
Cc: Mike Drutar
Subject: Kona Board of Realtors Members Support Smart Growth in Punalu'u
Aloha,
Attached and in the body of this message, please find a news release some members of the Kona Boazd
of Realtors have sent to the media in support of the Sea Mountain Five at Punalu'u redevelopment.
I have included every quoted person's cellular contact information below. We welcome the chance to
talk with you about this important issue.
Sharly Ward, member of the Kona Board of Realtors
808.938.9533 -cellular
Kay Kolt, Kona Boazd of Realtors Board of Directors
808.960.8399 -cellular
Rollie Litteral, Ka`u resident, Kona Board of Realtors Board of Directors, and the group's smart growth
expert
808.640.0461 -cellular
Jackie Parkinson, Ka`u resident and Kona Board of Realtors member
808.443.3933 -cellular
Ed Lewis, Vice President of the Kona Boazd of Realtors
808.936.7212 -cellulaz
Ken Hughes, Kona Board of Realtors member
808.989.2133 -cellulaz ,,rr f~
Take Gaze, Comnw Mo. ~ T9'„
Kay Ref. To:
Ref. Dote
6/29/2007
Page 2 of 4
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 29, 2007 Contact: Kay Kolt
808.960.8399
- cellulaz
Kav4ko na(a~yah oo. com
MEMBERS OF THE KONA BOARD OF REALTORS SPEAK OUT FOR SMART
GROWTH,
STAND BEHIND SEA MOUNTAIN FIVE PROPOSAL TO REDEVELOP
PUNALU`U
Kona, Hawaii -Some members of the Kona Board of Realtors today announced they are in favor of the proposed
development by Sea Mountain Five at Punalu`u, and against Resolution 169-07 put forth by Council Member Bob
Jacobson as they are concerned about promoting smart growth.
"As Realtors, we have to protect the rights of real property owners," said Shazly Ward, member of the Kona
Board of Realtors. "This azea is already zoned for 2,800 units of development, and the developer is offering a
much less dense plan in keeping with what the community wants. We should all support this collaborative plan. In
addition, I remember what Punalu`u was like in the late 1970s. Beautiful -areal jewel. This development would
bring back that brightness in a balanced way that would protect the environment and culture, and provide new
jobs and opportunities for the people."
"We support the idea of smart growth, which in essence this development adheres to," said Kay Kolt, who sits on
the Board of Directors for the Kona Boazd of Realtors. "By providingjobs for the residents of Ka`u, this will
decrease traffic throughout the island, and provide a better quality of life for both those in Ka`u and in Kona."
Smart growth is a movement in the planning profession that is in some ways very common sense. It works to
create communities that reflect many past values. Elements of smazt growth include:
1. An emphasis on pedestrian-friendly designs and connectivity of streets so people can easily get to their
destination without taking circuitous paths.
2. Pedestrian/human scale of development.
3. The creation of a community, not a simple subdivision so that support services like convenience stores,
medical offices, public services and other community support services are located neazby, preferably within
walking distance which is usually defined as a quarter-mile radius.
4. Home designs that create a neighborly atmosphere
5. Building with nature, not against it. Avoiding excessive cuts and fill, heavy mitigation needs like big walls
and revetments, hazard-prone areas like flood plains, steep slopes, fault zones etc.
6. Plant with native vegetation to reduce excessive care and use of irrigation.
7. Cluster development to enhance community interaction and reduce the cost of infrastructure that is typical of a
sprawl development.
6/29/2007
Page 3 of 4
"As a resident of Ka`u, and a strong proponent of smart growth, I know this redevelopment will bring a balance of
jobs and development which is desperately needed -without this plan, Ka`u will become afifth-world country,"
said Rollie Litteral, who sits on the Board of Directors for the Kona Board of Realtors and is the group's smart
growth expert. "There aze no jobs here, nothing to keep anyone. People must drive hours to get to Kona or Hilo
for work, necessities. This plan provides amixed-use community, self sufficient so that the sidewalks azen't rolled
up at 5 p.m., which in tum encourages the use of drugs and alcohol. I see arguments for both sides, but I believe
this proposal for redevelopment addresses the community concerns while providing a future for all who live in
Ka`u."
Others commend the Sea Mountain Five redevelopment plan as one that will achieve what the residents want,
through private funds.
"Everyone recognizes the importance of preserving the historical and ecological-sensitive areas. I have spoken
with the developer and know they are committed to protecting these things that make Punalu`u so special," said
Jackie Parkinson, Ka`u resident and Kona Board of Realtors member. "I also support this plan because I believe
that a mix of cultural, residential and commercial is the best way for any place to grow, so people don't have to
get on the highway and drive 40 miles back and forth for their means. I feel very strongly about this; it's
distressing to watch the stalemate that is going on. If you compaze what both Ka`u Preservation and O Ka`u
Kakou are trying to do, everyone has the same vision. It's a matter of balancing the public and private needs and
funds to achieve the same goal. The Sea Mountain Five plan does this."
"Finally, the golf course is a perfect example of what is happening in Ka`u. We used to go there for fun on
Sundays -even friends from as far away as Hilo would come down to this gathering place. Over time, it's
disintegrated... the Club House was eaten away by termites. The course is losing its luster. That is what is
happening to Punalu`u. This area is a faltering development that needs to be redeveloped to incorporate smazt
growth principals to reach its full potential. I believe the Sea Mountain Five plan will do that."
Kona Boazd of Realtors Vice President Ed Lewis points to the growth that is currently occurring in Na`alehu as a
predictor of the future.
"Arbitrarily conserving 150 acres of land will do nothing to help manage the growth that is inevitable, and
currently is happening right now in this area," he said. "To capture more land, put it in conservation, and let it
waste away where development had initially been authorized and approved doesn't make sense. Na`alehu is
starting to grow, but it's not being done smartly. There is not the mixed-use component in place to match the
population - it is out of balance. The construction for the residential units is creating jobs right now, but that's
short-term and not sustainable over time for the families who live there. By creating a modest resort at Punalu`u
as Sea Mountain Five proposes, with restaurants and shops and a rehabilitated golf course, this will act as an
economic driver to provide local residents with jobs, so the people of Ka`u are not driving all over the island to
feed their family."
6/29/2007
Page 4 of 4
Others remember what Punalu`u once was, and believe the Sea Mountain Five proposal will return the area to a
thriving community.
"I remember Ka`u in the 1970s, it was a great example of a small agricultural community where everyone had a
job, and everyone had time to spend with their family," said Ken Hughes, Kona Boazd of Realtors member. "The
jobs were from the sugar industry and now they aze gone. Awell-planned resort will providejobs and clean up
and preserve one of the island's great places. This is a great chance for the district of Ka`u to become more
beneficial to those who live there."
Other Kona Board of Realtors members question who will pay for the failing infrastructure that currently serves
100 residences in Punalu`u.
"The sewer system is rated `marginally adequate'. The water system is ancient and failing. Who will pay to
replace these systems?" said Kolt. "Why not work with the developer to redevelop the decaying infrastructure
and revitalize the rotting buildings that are currently there, falling apart?"
"I went to Punalu`u recently and the natural beauty stole my heart," Kolt continued. "Then I went to the ladies
room and it is just filthy. The county is taking caze of it now. What does this say about the future of Punalu`u if
the County purchases the 150 acres?"
Sea Mountain Five Partners hopes to redevelop a 433-acre parcel of land in Punalu`u, which would revitalize the
Ka`u economy and protect the environment. The development is anticipated to create 517 new jobs in Ka`u, as
well as $735 million in economic input and $342 million in new household income. Sea Mountain Five is
partnering with world-renowned ocean explorer and environmentalist Jean-Michel Cousteau and his Ocean
Futures Society, to create marine and land protection programs as well as educational opportunities for the
children of Ka`u. The developer also is offering a community benefits package to support the hospital, schools
and other local institutions or community groups, providing millions of dollars to the area over the life of the
project.
Kay Kolt
808-960-8399
www.kay4kona.com
The fish aze biting.
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6/29/2007