LIHU‘E — A 1002-acre resort, residential and commercial project at Kukui‘ula in Po‘ipu could have detrimental impact on Native Hawaiians on Kaua‘i, members of a Kaua‘i County Council Planning Committee were told Thursday. In addressing the council at the historic
LIHU‘E — A 1002-acre resort, residential and commercial project at Kukui‘ula in Po‘ipu could have detrimental impact on Native Hawaiians on Kaua‘i, members of a Kaua‘i County Council Planning Committee were told Thursday.
In addressing the council at the historic County Building, Rupert Rowe identified himself as a kanaka maoli (the indigenous people of Hawai‘i), and said approval of the project proposed by Kukui‘Ula Development Co. Hawaii could disrupt the Native Hawaiian culture.
Development has drastically altered the rural lifestyle of Kaua‘i, said Rowe, adding, “Let’s put all this (the proposal) nonsense aside.”
Contending the quality of life in South Kaua‘i has suffered because of traffic congestion and lack of infrastructure, Rowe recommended the project be put off for 50 years.
Rowe also said the kanaka “never had a chance to voice our concerns (about the project).”
He added that he represents the silent majority of Native Hawaiians who have not attended meetings to voice their concerns.
Council vice chair James Tokioka said he has attended numerous meetings with the public on the issue, and that he had not heard of Rowe’s claim prior to Thursday’s meeting.
“But I am willing to meet with them (Hawaiians). I would like to do that,” Tokioka said after the meeting.
Rowe also contended the Kukui‘ula project, if approved, will cause property assessments and property-tax bills to spiral, forcing longtime residents off their properties.
“The local people feel the pain that is happening there (in South Kaua‘i),” said Rowe, a Koloa resident.
But council members are seeking a remedy, and are reviewing recommendations from a county tax-reform task force aimed at keeping tax bills down and allowing longtime property owners to stay on their land.
Mike Roberts, vice president of Kukui‘Ula Development, said his company has “done all the required archeological survey and inventory, and we have done all the archeological data recovery.”
In addition, company leaders have developed archeological-preservation plans that are required by the Historic Preservation Division of the state Department of Land and Natural Resources and the Kaua‘i County Historic Preservation Review Commission, Roberts said after the meeting.
A cultural-impact assessment for the project also has been done, and has been “signed off” on by both the state and county agencies, Roberts said.
“We have done those studies, and we have the blessing of both agencies,” Roberts said.
Leaders for the project are seeking amendments to zoning designations for the proposed 1,002-acre project, on which are proposed 1,500 dwelling units.
The developer also is seeking council approval to expand the project’s Visitor Destination Area (VDA) designation for the project from 160 acres to all 1,002 acres. However, only a much-smaller core area would be set aside for timeshare units.
Staff Writer Lester Chang may be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 225) or mailto:lchang@pulitzer.net.
