LIHUE — County of Kauai officials will hold a public meeting tonight in Hanalei to gather input on a plan to transform an old, vacant courthouse in Waioli into a community center for the North Shore.
The $820,000 joint project between the departments of Public Works and Parks and Recreation calls for the renovation, redesign and upgrade of the historic Hanalei Courthouse that used to house judicial staff for the Hanalei district.
“I think it’s long overdue to have a county-funded facility for the public to use in Hanalei,” Kauai County Councilman Ross Kagawa said at a recent meeting on the issue. “They are a very important part of our island’s economy with our tourists and our residents, but I think they lack some things that other communities have and one of those things is a community center for meetings and other public events.”
Department of Parks and Recreation Director Leonard “Lenny” Rapozo Jr. said the history behind the 2.5-acre property dates back to Oct. 8, 1940, when then Gov. Joseph Poindexter issued an executive order establishing the courthouse.
After the Hawaii State Judiciary built the new complex in Lihue in 2006, all the other five district courthouses — Waimea, Koloa, Lihue, Kapaa and Hanalei — were closed and all hearings were transferred to the current judiciary complex.
A year later, the Department of Land and Natural Resources approved a request made by then Mayor Bryan Baptiste to use the courthouse building and the surrounding land for county and community purposes. A few months after that, the state approved an agreement with the county for it be used as a maintenance baseyard and for public affairs and recreation purposes.
At the time, county officials determined that major rehabilitation work, including building redesign work, asbestos removal, Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant upgrades and septic system improvements, would be required to reopen the building as a community facility.
Plans being considered by county officials call for the center to be used as a hosting site for youth and senior programs, classes, community events, public meetings and police and fire personnel in times of disasters.
The county Planning Department, Rapozo said, is also requiring the Department of Parks and Recreation to install walkways along the property and Kuhio Highway as a part of the ADA-compliant upgrades being considered at the facility.
In all, about $100,000 has been allocated for planning and design costs and up to $720,000 in renovation and construction costs are being projected for the facility, Rapozo said.
The public meeting on the proposals for the old Hanalei courthouse will be held at 6 p.m. at Hale Halawai Ohana O Hanalei, also known as the Hanalei Community Center, at 5-5299 Kuhio Highway.
Those who are unable to attend the meeting may send written comments to the Department of Parks and Recreation, 4444 Rice Street, Suite 105, Lihue, HI 96766.
Comments can also be sent to Soncy Tamashiro at stamashiro@kauai.gov. The deadline to submit comments is Tuesday, March 4.
The final meeting regarding the future of the former Hanalei courthouse will take place at 6 p.m. March 18 at Hale Halawai Ohana O Hanalei.
