A proposed $16 million, 17-plus-acre project in Anahola aimed at helping Hawaiians become economically self sufficient is moving forward. At an April 23 meeting at a resource center of the Anahola Homesteaders Council in Anahola, federal and state officials and
A proposed $16 million, 17-plus-acre project in Anahola aimed at helping Hawaiians become economically self sufficient is moving forward.
At an April 23 meeting at a resource center of the Anahola Homesteaders Council in Anahola, federal and state officials and consultants plan to meet with representatives of the Anahola Homesteaders Council to discuss how to make “Project Faith” more energy efficient.
Design plans and other aspects of the project are likely to be discussed.
The April 23rd meeting is part of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Brownfields Economic Development Initiative, a nationwide project to revitalize properties with environmental contamination.
Among those invited to the meeting on Kaua’i are: Ferraro Choi, a consultant, and his staff, Bill books, John Fyfe and Joe Ferraro; Timonie Hood of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; Melissa Podeswa of the Department of Energy and Gail Suzuki-Jones of the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism.
Also invited to the gathering are: state House Rep. Hermina Morita; government officials Keith Kawaoka and Melody Calisay, Noel Akamu and Mike McElry of the state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands; LaFrance Kapaka, the Kaua’i representative from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and the media.
Of six communities in Hawaii chosen for participation in the Brownfields project, the Anahola project has been singled out as the premier project in the state, according to James Torio, one of the leaders of Anahola Homesteaders, which is spearheading the project.
The Brownfields projects help preserve energy, water and materials and create healthy indoor and outdoor environments, the EPA has said.
Government officials noted Anahola Homesteader’s resource center in Anahola is a welcomed example of recycling.
The center and a warehouse make use of steel I-beams, roof trusses and concrete blocks that were used in the movie “Six Days, Seven Nights,” which was filmed on Kaua’i and starred Harrison Ford and Ann Heche.
Recycling meant the materials were diverted from the Kekaha Landfill, helping to lengthen the facility’s life span, government officials said.
“Project Faith” is aimed at creating jobs, advancing Hawaiian entrepreneurship and providing facilities for education and training.
In addition, the facility will provide housing for kupuna, healthcare, human services, recreation and businesses.
The Project Faith site sits on state lands that were once leased to Amfac, JMB Corporation. The land is now under the jurisdiction of the state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands.
Anahola Homesteaders will be pursuing funds to clean up the site, which contains automobiles, tires, appliances, batteries and household goods.
The cleanup of the property and site work are scheduled to start this winter.
To date, Project Faith has received $487,000 over three years from the Administration for Native Americans to develop a design process for the Kaua’i project, Torio said.
The funds open the way for the Anahola Homesteaders Council to pursue low-interest loans, investment grants, federal funding and private finding for the project, Torio said.
Anahola Homesteaders has officially secured the use of the land for the project, having negotiated a 25-year licensing agreement with DHHL, Torio said. The award became effective Dec. 17, 2001. Based on incremental completion of Project Faith, Anahola Homesteaders could secure a general lease agreement with DHHL to use the land for a maximum of 65 years, Torio said.
