Visionary planning is much appreciated
Editor:
On behalf of Na Keiki Hee Nalu O Hawaii, I thank Mayor Harry Kim for his vision and leadership in getting the community and developers together to plan and create a shoreline park at Kohanaiki, a part of an extended regional park, extending along the entire shore from Honokohau to the Airport.
I acknowledge and thank Angel Pilago, a man of great mana, power and vision, for fighting for over a decade at great personal sacrifice to preserve Hawaiian rights at Kohanaiki and in the entire state and for leading out community. I thank Rutter/KW Kohanaiki LLC, the owner and developer of Kohanaiki ("Pine Trees") for recently agreeing in writing to pay for, build and donate to the county a 128-acre park along the entire shoreline with over 121 parking spaces, a minimum of six showers and toilets, interpretive archeological exhibits, a canoe halau, camping areas, and free vehicular access, preventing pollution, and to pay for a third of the maintenance expenses, limited public use of the golf course and limiting the development in back to a low density residential plan, not a huge resort, all well beyond their minimum legal requirements to benefit our community.
I want to thank all the members of the "Working Group" of community members who gave their time and manao to create their vision of the park. I also thank Councilman Curtis Tyler for his full support and influence in convincing the developer to donate the park. It was my privilege to be asked to be involved in a groundbreaking planning process that should become the template for all development. I ask the public to support and help plan the park in the upcoming planning process before the County Planning commission. Na Keiki Hee Nalu O Hawaii is a tax exempt public charity whose mission is to promote family building activities, cultural preservation and community sustainability.
Jim Sogi