ANAHOLA — Ground for the Pi‘ilani Mai Ke Kai Hawaiian Homes Subdivision, Phase II was celebrated Wednesday and was attended by Gov. Neil Abercrombie, Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. and a host of dignitaries. The groundbreaking comes on the heels of
ANAHOLA — Ground for the Pi‘ilani Mai Ke Kai Hawaiian Homes Subdivision, Phase II was celebrated Wednesday and was attended by Gov. Neil Abercrombie, Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. and a host of dignitaries.
The groundbreaking comes on the heels of homeowners in the first phase of the 71-acre subdivision celebrating their home blessings, the latest taking place Tuesday night ahead of the Wednesday groundbreaking in the Anahola Hawaiian Homesteads complex.
Blaine Fergersrom, the Department of Hawaiian Homes Lands Information and Communications Office, said the 51 families who will occupy the homes will continue the legacy of Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalaniana‘ole who sought to rehabilitate his Native Hawaiian people by returning them to their ancestral lands.
Phase II of Pi‘ilani Mai Ke Kai is situated on 14 acres of former sugar cane land on the Anahola Beach side of Kuhio Highway entering from Lihu‘e.
“Today’s ceremony reminds us of the commitment we’ve made to the native people of this ‘aina, a commitment to work toward the betterment of the Native Hawaiian people,” Gov. Abercrombie said. “Prince Kuhio, a native of Kaua‘i, had the foresight to know Hawaiians would thrive if given an opportunity to return to the land. This vision is realized here, today.”
Homeowners of the Pi‘ilani Mai Ke Kai, Phase II were awarded an Undivided Interest lease for a 10,000-square foot residential lot in April 2006. The lease program was designed to provide lessees the time to prepare for home ownership while the subdivision was being developed.
The Phase II project received tentative approval in July 2012 with construction plans and specifications cleared in September 2012 opening the road for construction.
Infrastructure construction, the project construction being awarded to Earthworks Pacific headed by Jeffrey Fisher, president, will take place starting in October.
“I am proud to see the Anahola Hawaiian homestead community growing and thriving,” said Mayor Carvalho.
“There is a marketplace just up the road, there is a school nearby and today, we have this project, which is providing jobs for our people. This is a significant milestone on the road to a vibrant Kaua‘i.”
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development Agency awarded a grant to the nonprofit organization Na Kupa‘a O Kuhio, represented by Tommy Contrades, for work on the potable water system, in part made possible to Wentworth K. Rivera II who allowed an easement through his property to extend the Pi‘ilani Mai Ke Kai water system, Fergerstrom said.
Total infrastructure costs for the second phase of Pi‘ilani Mai Ke Kai is $4.68 million and includes mass grading, roadway construction, drainage system installation and utilities construction, states a DHHL release. The project also includes the construction of an offsite water distribution line and improvements to Anahola’s existing water distribution system.
“These homes not only represent an incredible opportunity for 51 families, but also the result of a successful collaboration among state, federal and private partners,” said Jobie Masagatani, chair-designate of the Hawaiian Homes Commission and the director of the Department of Hawaiian Homes Land.
Infrastructure work is expected to be completed by July 2013 with home construction to follow.
Phase I of Pi‘ilani Mai Ke Kai subdivision recently celebrated 36 homes in November 2009, with another four homes currently under construction.
Billed as affordable green homes, the first families moved in November 2009 into one of four home models, the smallest being a three-bedroom, two-bath model covering 1,056 square feet at a cost of $201,000 and the largest being a four-bedroom, two-bath model covering 1,539 square feet at a cost of $260,000.
Site improvements cost $9.03 million with $5.83 million being funded by the Hawaiian Homes Trust Fund and $3.20 million funded by the Native Hawaiian Housing Block Grant.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
