Roya Sabri | Hawaii 24/7 Reporter

On Thursday, July 18, the Leeward Planning Commission heard three applications from the list of new business at its regular monthly meeting. Between two rezoning applications for a five-acre and a two-acre parcel sat the controversial Hualalai Partners of Kona (HPK), LLC, application.

Approximate area of Hualalai Partners subdivision within red boundary (photo from google maps)

The application requests State Land Use Boundary amendment from agricultural to urban and a change of zone from agricultural five-acres (A-5a) to single-family residential-15,000 square feet (RS-15). The parcel is less than 15 acres in North Kona, southwest of the intersection of Kahului-Hienaloli Road and Hualalai Road, north of the Sugar Cane Lane subdivision.

Commission Chairperson Brandi Beaudet suggested that the commission move the second agenda item last, seeing 21 testifiers signed up to speak on that issue and only one signed up for each of the other two.

After seeing favorable recommendations from the Planning Department for all three applications, commissioners passed the first two agenda items after little discussion with a favorable recommendation. The third did not follow precedent.

HPK amended the plan according to requests from previous public meetings. It added a 10-foot wide easement of open green space from Hualalai Road and adjustment of housing density into a gradient with larger lots near Hualalai.

However, even with the amendments, testimonies remained close to their scripts. Testifiers represented Kona Orchards, Heights on Hualalai, Hualalai Colony and Pualani Estates. The two main concerns were: traffic and quality of life.

Nearby residents shared concerns about increasing traffic onto Hualalai by 43 families and eventually through the neighborhoods of Pualani estates and onto Puapuaanui.

A resident of Pualani Estates said Puapuaanui already has speeding and traffic problems. Testifiers living along Hualalai Road paralleled safety concerns on what many described as a “narrow and winding” thoroughfare originally engineered by donkeys working on nearby farms.

Some illustrated their concern with personal anecdotes. Among the observations and experiences were: car accidents, at least one dozen abandoned cars, flooding, debris, pot holes, dips, short shoulders, eight blind curves, limited guard rails and poor visibility.

Others shared their love for the road. After a few testimonies cautioning commissioners of Hualalai’s risks, Normita Error, resident of Kona Orchards said, “I actually enjoy driving Hualalai Road.”

Carroll Moran-Fuller joined her sentiment in describing the “charming rural entry to Holualoa.”

“It gives me peace and serenity,” said Moran-Fuller.

Cindy Coats, a local artist, argued the developer is trying to “sell the country life” while “selling it out.”

Later, the commission discussed issues of fair share, road improvements and drainage issues with the developer, planning department and public works. Ultimately, the planning commission postponed the vote despite Beaudet’s rebuttal that the commissioner’s role was simply “to reinforce either side of the story.”

Commissioner Thomas Whittemore made the call after asking for more time to get “further clarification prior to making a recommendation.”

Reflecting on the result, Error said, “We scared (the commission). They felt like they could not pass (the application) on with all the comments from the public.”

After testimony, one of the landowners said, “The public is divided. Some say they like the road and some say it’s a death trap.” The paradox seemed unsolvable assuming a Res-15 rezoning.

Normita Error clarified: discussion after testimonies focused on Hualalai Road as the main issue. “But I think the main issue was density,” she said. She hopes commissioners will see the solution and unfavorably recommend the rezoning at its next meeting in September.

Commissioners will conduct the meeting Sept. 26 at West Hawaii Civic Center.