KILAUEA — The small, charming community on North Shore, known for its history of sugar cane plantation, presented a blueprint for the beginning phases of the Kilauea Town Expansion Project, which will shape the future of Kilauea.
On Thursday, June 27, the community attended a public meeting at Anaina Hou’s Porter Pavilion in Kilauea for the Kilauea Town Expansion Project. Approximately 200 Kilauea and North Shore residents gathered for an update that has created a buzz over the last couple of years.
Adam Roversi, Director of the Kaua‘i County Agency, led the meeting and reiterated to the community that the changes coming are going to focus on honoring the town’s history and preserving its character while also creating an inclusive community in Kilauea.
The meeting opened with a song from a group of Kilauea Elementary School students, who where joined on stage by former Kilauea Elementary School student and current Principal Fig Mitchell.
The performance was followed by the unveiling of the design of Namahana School. The school is set to become Kilauea’s first public charter middle and high school when it welcomes seventh and eighth graders in the fall of 2025 under the guidance of school leader Dr. Kapua L. Chandler.
The school’s website provides a virtual campus tour for potential students and the community to explore.
Chandler highlighted the key role the community has played in the journey of Namahana School.
“Standing before you once again, I’m reminded of how much this is truly a school by and for the community of Kaua‘i’s North Shore. These public gatherings bring together all the faces and families whose hopes we are working so hard to fulfill,” Chandler said.
“You have been with us every step of the way. Your voices have shaped our mission, vision and values, and you continue to inspire us as we enter this critical final stretch before opening next fall.”
Meeting organizers then turned their attention to a number of upcoming public safety projects and an ongoing residential development.
The public safety projects involve the construction of two new roundabouts. The first roundabout project is estimated to break ground in April 2025.
The Kolo Road mini-roundabout will be built at the intersection of Kilauea Road and Kolo Road. Plans also call for widening the existing crosswalk, along with two additional crosswalks that will be painted and and paved along Kolo Road.
The second mini-roundabout will be constructed in front of Ala Namahana Highway at the intersection of Keneke Street and Kilauea Road. Additionally, the entire strip of Kilauea Road reaching the Kilauea Point Lookout will be paved along with new sidewalks. The road that stretches to Kilauea Point Overlook will require a two-week closure.
Lastly, a new affordable housing and resident-oriented housing complex is on the horizon with some initial work having been finished.
The organization Permanently Affordable Living Hawai‘i’s (PAL) project has already completed the horizontal infrastructure and have installed septic systems for the homes. Construction of the homes is estimated to begin in late fall, but is currently pending due to permits.
Kauhale O Namahana will include a total of 11 homes. PAL will develop five homes and Kaua‘i Habitat for Humanity will develop the remaining six.
The PAL homes will include a two bedroom and one bath residence, two three bedroom and two baths units, one four bedroom and two bath unit and one five bedroom and two bath residence. Homes will be located across from the Kilauea Post Office and will feature views of Namahana Mountain and Kilihiwai Valley.
All PAL homes will be placed in a Community Land Trust and sold leasehold, making them permanently affordable for future generations. The units will be thoughtfully designed to ensure comfort, accessibility and will be energy efficient.
PAL homebuyers can begin to apply now, homebuyers will be selected from the county’s first-time homebuyer list.
Once the building permits are issued, PAL will begin the homebuyer selection process. PAL will select homebuyers through a priorities and preferences point system based on length of time on the list, how close you live and work to the project, if you are a service employee, essential worker, cultural practitioner, and other similar variables.
“The meeting exceeded my expectation. The level of enthusiasm and excitement of the community,” said Adam Roversi, Director of the Kauai County Housing Agency.
“We want to encourage everyone to get involved. We know people have work and family events, but we want to give everyone the opportunity to participate even remotely, we hope to do livestreams about future events, so more people even if you can’t be here directly can hear it and experience it, and they can participate through email or by sending us letters the old fashion way.
“We are not here to tell the community what they are going to get or what we are going to do, we really want your feedback to design this project specifically for Kilauea. Its got to suit the nature, the character, and the history of this place, and the community needs to know they have a voice in this.”
Residents seeking further information on the Kilauea Town Expansion Project can visit www.kauai.gov/OurKilauea. For information on enrollment for Namahana School or for a virtual tour visit, Namahana.org.
To support PAL’s mission or for further information on affordable living on Kaua‘i visit pal-hawaii.org/kauhale-o-namahana.
Government failure on housing. More of the same. We need smarter politicians.