WAIMEA — Kikiaola Land Company is holding a series of small group meetings to gather public input on its development plans for 600 acres on Kaua’i’s Westside. “Rather than making assumptions, we need to hear from people in the community
WAIMEA — Kikiaola Land Company is holding a series of small group meetings to
gather public input on its development plans for 600 acres on Kaua’i’s
Westside.
“Rather than making assumptions, we need to hear from people in
the community what they value, what they want to see preserved, what they want
to see changed, and what economic opportunities we might be able to help
provide,” said Linda Fayé Collins, Kikiaola Land Company
president.
“We’re trying to provide economic opportunities for our Westside
residents, while at the same time preserving as much as possible what people
value about the lifestyle here,” she said.
The small-group meetings are
scheduled depending on group availability. Groups or individuals interested in
scheduling meetings with Kikiaola can contact the company’s community affairs
consultant, Evelyn Cook, 822-1781 or 338-1900.
The Waimea Plantation
development master plan involves about 600 acres of Fayé family land
between Waimea and Kekaha.
Major features of the master plan include a
heritage center at the old sugar mill site, which will feature a museum and
marketplace; a golf course and driving range; residential lots; commercial and
retail space; an assisted living center; expansion of Waimea Plantation
Cottages; a Native Hawaiian cultural center; a health club and spa; equestrian
facilities; and more.
“These are the major elements of the plan, but plans
can change, and we are open to ideas that will help preserve the Westside while
allowing us to make the best use of our land,” Collins said.
Response at
the first two meetings was positive, she said, and like future meetings the
first two were deliberately kept small to allow everyone in attendance a chance
to speak.
Because some people are not comfortable speaking in public, the
company is also planning a door-to-door survey of the Waimea area to try to
ensure that all segments of the population are afforded a chance to let their
opinions be known about the project.
