1000 Friends of Kaua‘i is seeking donations to its legal fund, a news release states, after the organization filed a lawsuit against the Kaua‘i County Planning Commission. This lawsuit asks the court to: 1) find that environmental assessments should have
1000 Friends of Kaua‘i is seeking donations to its legal fund, a news release states, after the organization filed a lawsuit against the Kaua‘i County Planning Commission.
This lawsuit asks the court to: 1) find that environmental assessments should have been conducted before the county approved two large resorts — totaling 547 timeshare and hotel units — on the Waipouli shoreline, and 2) revoke the county’s approval of permits for those resorts.
The Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation, representing co-plaintiff Nani Rogers, has joined 1000 Friends in its legal efforts. The same issue had been heard earlier by Judge Watanabe in 5th Circuit Court, who declined to pull the permits, but declared a building moratorium, which is still in effect.
Meanwhile, the court case was suspended for a year for court ordered reviews by the county. No substantial changes in the situation occurred from these reviews and the case is returning to court Tuesday, the release says.
Although the group’s attorneys have generously agreed to represent 1000 Friends at a reduced rate, this litigation is costly nonetheless. So far 114 concerned citizens have contributed and their donations have carried the group through researching and filing a complaint, representation at six hearings, several lengthy depositions, voluminous research, thorough preparation and effective court presentations in court, the release says.
The group wants to protect Kaua‘i’s shoreline, cultural and scenic resources and island from the impacts of over-development.
1000 Friends of Kaua‘i is a Hawai‘i nonprofit advocating for and educating about moderate, responsible growth here since 1981.
“We have laws that are designed to guide development, but unless we can force county government to live within those laws and conduct the required environmental analyses, there is no doubt that these projects will be approved with few of the measures needed to mitigate their environmental impacts,” the group says in its release.
For more information, contact David Dinner at 808-639-7845 or Ken Carlson at 808-828-0175, or mail to 1000 Friends of Kaua‘i, P.O. Box 1434, Kilauea, HI 96754.
