LIHUE — The Hanalei Plantation Resort project has entered a new phase with the publication Monday of its environmental impact statement preparation notice. The notice, filed by Ohana Hanalei LLC, is a step toward acquiring permit applications to redevelop and
LIHUE — The Hanalei Plantation Resort project has entered a new phase with the publication Monday of its environmental impact statement preparation notice.
The notice, filed by Ohana Hanalei LLC, is a step toward acquiring permit applications to redevelop and develop the Hanalei Plantation Resort in Princeville and Hanalei.
The project includes a hotel and residential lots on 65.5 acres just north of the Hanalei River.
Herman Tuiolosega, senior planner and acting director of the Office of Environmental Quality Control, said amended requirements to the state Environmental Policy Act would have allowed Ohana Hanalei to go directly to the draft EIS phase without a statement to show support.
The Honolulu-based development group, however, instead produced a 100-page report.
“They went way beyond what was required of the EISPN and that is to their credit,” Tuiolosega said.
Michelle Swartman, director of Land and Community Development for Ohana Hanalei, said the EIS is the right thing to do, especially since plans address managing several areas, including the Puu Poa Marsh and Waileia Stream, and the restoration of the ancient Kamoomaikai Fishpond.
The decision, she said, was based on the group’s sensitivity to the environment and a sense of kuleana for the place.
“It is our responsibility to take care of the place and our commitment to do the EIS is an indication of that understanding,” Swartman said. “We truly believe that once our plans are in place that we will leave it better shape than we found it.”
Part of the draft EIS, expected to be completed this spring, will produce a traffic study and answer other infrastructure questions.
As of now, it does not appear to present any issues with the Princeville Major Master Plan, since the new project can be incorporated with existing utilities in place for water, sewer and drainage from three generations of previous tract developments.
The project is proposed for land owned by Pierre Omidyar, the eBay founder and developer.
Plans include a hotel, restaurant, spa, and 86 single-family bungalows. It is a proposed additional 34 units along the Kaukaniunu ridge line that has brought strong community opposition.
Carl Imparato, a Hanalei Bay Coalition member and past Hanalei-to-Haena Community Association president, said this next step will be helpful if it gives a realistic, visual depiction of the impact of the ridge line project.
The objective, he said, is to ensure that any development does not distract from the natural panorama.
“No one in the Hanalei groups that I am aware of is trying to prevent the project,” Imparato said. “We are trying to fight a portion of the development in the view plane from Black Pot to the Hanalei Pier.”
The concern is what Imparato calls the use of impressionistic architectural renderings to minimize the actual visual impact.
The renderings, he said, do not accurately depict the density and visibility of units on the ridge from the Hanalei perspective.
“That is pretty close to looking like a residential subdivision,” Imparato said. “The other side of the river is just 120 feet away and the renderings don’t show that and hide the visual impact.”
People who have testified against the development on that ridge, he said, are not opposed to the development but feel the ridge portion would negatively impact the visual character of Hanalei.
The 30-day comment period ends on Jan. 7.
Written comments can be submitted to Prep Notice preparer, Earl Matsukawa, AICP, at Wilson Okamoto Corporation, 1905 S. Beretania Street, 4th Floor, Honolulu, Hawaii 96826.
Comments can also be sent in to eispn@hanaleiplantation.com
