KILAUEA — The Kilauea Neighborhood Association is throwing its weight behind the plan to subdivide 120 acres on the Kilauea Plateau, but the group wants a seat at the table when it comes to developing the eight planned parcels. “Once
KILAUEA — The Kilauea Neighborhood Association is throwing its weight behind the plan to subdivide 120 acres on the Kilauea Plateau, but the group wants a seat at the table when it comes to developing the eight planned parcels.
“Once we support the subdivision, we don’t know where it goes,” said Yoshi L’Hote, KNA president. “Leaving it alone, we know it’ll be like that, but whatever the future development of Kilauea, it needs to go through a subdivision process.”
In a special meeting Wednesday night, the KNA voted unanimously to support the subdivision subject to KNA representation in establishing what they deem an adequate set of conditions formulated over the next few months that would help secure the best interests of Kilauea Town.
About 30 people attended the meeting.
“We can’t place unreasonable restrictions, but there is room to get guidance for this plan,” L’Hote said.
The subdivision conversation was sparked, for the fourth time over the past few years, because Kauai Community Federal Credit Union wants to build a new branch in Kilauea, across the street from the post office.
L’Hote said most Kilauea residents would welcome a bank in their neck of the woods, but there’s a catch. In order to sell the half-acre piece of land to KCFCU, the landowner, Bill Haye, has to subdivide the entire 120-acre property, located on the western half of the Kilauea Plateau.
“The county is supporting this subdivision with the bank’s proposal and the bank bringing in the infrastructure,” L’Hote said. “For the next many years we won’t see it fully developed, but we want to see the ability to develop.”
He added this subdivision would provide parcels that could be added into the county’s general plan as potential things that could happen for Kilauea.
“I feel this is our best opportunity,” said KNA member Beryl Blaich. “But we need to talk again as a community and talk about conditions.”
Haye representative Andy Friend said Haye has no plans to change the land’s use up too much because he’s working a “true farm” on the land and “he’s expanding.”
He also said none of the parcels that require access through the planned Kilauea bypass road would be sold until the road is created.
“You can’t sell parcels that have no access,” Friend said.
The plan is to dedicate half an acre piece for the Credit Union that would be dedicated for the potential Kilauea bypass feeder road, a piece would be set aside for a multi-use path, and five of the large pieces would be set aside for current or planned farming.
Two pieces on either side of the potential bypass road and closest to Kilauea town could potentially be sites for housing construction.
He explained the next step is now for Haye and the county to make an agreement on the conditions of the subdivision, which is the conversation in which KNA wants representation.
“This is an opportunity for us to create affordable housing for the town and a solution for transportation,” L’Hote said. “We’re eager to come up with a comfortable solution.”
