LIHU‘E — The representatives of Anaina Hou project in Kilauea cleared an important hurdle to get the amphitheater approved. Members of a nearby community association dropped a contested case against the proposed entertainment complex. “I’ve been frankly humbled by the
LIHU‘E — The representatives of Anaina Hou project in Kilauea cleared an important hurdle to get the amphitheater approved. Members of a nearby community association dropped a contested case against the proposed entertainment complex.
“I’ve been frankly humbled by the members of the community who have come forward and written letters and testified in the contested hearings, … people who have spent their lives in this community,” attorney Roy Vitousek said Tuesday at a Planning Commission meeting.
The commission in June had granted the Kalihiwai Ridge Community Association board a petition for a contested case. Board members said the project, including the amphitheater, would negatively impact the neighborhood.
After hearing about the petition several Kalihiwai Ridge residents came forward, saying they had never been notified of the board’s decision for a contested case, and that the board did not represent the community.
As the contested case hearing progressed, members of KRCA convened on Feb. 15 at a special meeting.
“In that meeting the members of the association, not Anaina Hou, voted to remove the board,” said Vitousek, representing Anaina Hou.
During the KRCA meeting in February the members elected new board members, who contacted Anaina Hou to notify that the Kalihiwai Ridge community supports the project, with some conditions.
However, a few Kalihiwai Ridge residents still see the Anaina Hou project as adversely impacting the area.
“They reached a settlement quickly,” Kalihiwai Ridge resident Mark Goodman said. “Now we have an agreement that doesn’t reflect the community of Kilauea.”
Goodman said if Anaina Hou really wanted to have an unbiased opinion, they should have encouraged the KRCA board to complete the contested case hearings.
But Vitousek said the hearings officer “from the very beginning” encouraged the parties to find a resolution.
Vitousek also had a different opinion about community support.
“I have never been part of a project where there has been as much heartfelt, widespread support in the community,” he said.
Deputy County Attorney Mauna Kea Trask said the area was upzoned to industrial area after 1992 Hurricane Iniki. A strip mall was proposed and approved for the area.
But over four years ago the land was bought by William and Joan Porter, who reached out to the community, and after many meetings put together a project based on what the community asked for.
Vitousek said it was the first time he has seen a developer reach out to the community to ask what they wanted.
The area was rezoned agricultural, and some project opponents have said an amphitheater does not comply with agricultural use.
Trask said the particular area approved for the project was not good for agricultural use, and it was used by the now-defunct Kilauea Sugar as a baseyard to store machinery.
“This was essentially the loudest place in Kilauea, up until Kilauea Sugar went under in the early 1970s,” Trask said.
The settlement reached between Anaina Hou and KRCA sets 19 conditions dealing with noise control, dust reduction, traffic management, water issues, hours of operation, emergency procedures, event scheduling and permits among other things.
The commission received the withdrawal of the contested case, but deferred for next meeting the decision on necessary permits.
On April 12 the commission is supposed to take action on the permits, and the public is allowed to testify.
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LIHU‘E — The miniature golf course in Kilauea has been operatingsince December. If all goes as planned the owners of Anaina Houproject in Kilauea may soon add an amphiteather and other uses tothe area.
William and Joan Porter bought 15 acres of land just north ofKilauea Town’s main entrance over four years ago.
The property’s previous owners had plans to build a shoppingcenter, a project opposed by the community, project manager MichaelKaplan said.
The Porters held public meetings, where the community said theywanted a place where they could have entertainment, conductagricultural activities, and also some kind of project that wouldhelp with transportation.
“All of our uses came out of public meetings,” Kaplan said.
But Anaina Hou in June stumbled on a contested case petitioned bythe Kalihiwai Ridge Community Association board. A new board onFeb. 15 dropped the contested case, giving the project a greenlight to becoming reality, as long as the county PlanningCommission grants all necessary permits.
The project’s Phase I is finalized. A miniature two-acre golfcourse and a Park & Ride facility are operating.
Phase II includes a 250-seat theater, a 250-seat amphitheater, acertified commercial kitchen and a conference room.
Kaplan said the theater will be roughly the size of the old Kilaueamovie theater, which has been shut down for years.
The amphitheater will be used for concerts. It will be located on ahillside.
“We’re going to put seats on the hill and form some sort ofamphitheater-style seating,” Kaplan said.
Kaplan said the amphitheater won’t be visible from the road, andthe acoustics will be designed to reflect the sound.
The conference room will have wireless capabilities, and couldpotentially become a Kaua‘i Community College classroom.
The certified commercial kitchen will be used for catering events,as a movie-night concession stand, and also for local farmers whowould like to rent it out to make value-added products.
