Maunawili Community Association

Windward Regional Park

Jul 10, 2001

New Homes??? New Golf Course??? and/or Regional Park in Maunawili???

Councilmember Holmes approached the Maunawili Valley and surrounding Communities for
support in placing the Luana Hills Properties on the City & County Facility Map with the designation of a Windward Regional Park in March and April 2000. The Community support was given from the Olomana, Maunawili Estates, Maunawili, Pohakapu, and Kukanono communities as well as the Kailua Neighborhood Board. The property was placed on the City's facilities map and given a park symbol so that funds could be leveraged in the City & County Budgeting process. However, the Luana Hills properties were subsequently purchased by the Weinberg Foundation/HRT on December 29, 2000 from Pan Pacific Properties, Inc. Although the Maunawili Community Association has requested the Weinberg Foundation to meet with the community since November, 2000, the Foundation has not met with ether the community nor the Neighborhood Board to this date. The Weinberg Foundation has been active in our community in other ways and has donated $3 million to the Castle Medical Center Annex and the Annex will be named for the Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Foundation Medical Annex.
The City & County has, as of May 23, 2001, placed $10.1 million in the budget to purchase the Conservation and Preservation land surrounding the Luana Hills Golf course and Club House along with a Conservation Easement to access entry to the proposed City & County Windward Regional Park. This does not to include the existing golf course, the undeveloped golf course, or the Club House building. During testimony at the May 23 hearing on this issue, Mr. Kurahashi, representing Weinberg/HRT says that Weinberg does not plan to build houses on the undeveloped golf course property in reply to query by Councilmember Duke Bainum. [It was previously stated by Mr. Kurahashi that Weinberg was studying the possibility of developing the undeveloped golf course property]. Councilmember Holmes said that the City's retreat from purchase of the Golf Club came about as a result of a meeting between Mayor Harris and a Mr. Enomoto on Friday, May 18, 2001 (apparently representing Weinberg Foundation/HRT). It is understood that a conservation easement would allow access to the existing trails that connect to the Luana Hills Property and while Mayor Harris, Duke Bainum and Steve Holmes support no development in Maunawili Valley (also in the Ko'olaupoko Sustainable Communities Plan ) there is no defense against WF/HRT building on their property, e.g. 1 estate house each 2 acres. It was pointed out that Mr. Enomoto and Mr. Dornbush have been engaged in development in the past. There is still a chance WF/HRT could build in Maunawili Valley. As no developable land purchase are earmarked by City & County monies, the only restriction on building to 2006 remains in the court documents to be interpreted to 2006 or 2012.
Possible citizen and visitor uses for the property are : Windward Community Center, to include Park, Botanical Garden, Cultural Retreats, small camping grounds, equestrian trails, botanical garden, dog park (bark park), walking & hiking trails, group meeting facilities, family picnicking, community gardens, etc. It has been suggested that a 9-hole golf course could be used as a Junior Golfer's learning center. While there are many things the land can be used for, it must be remembered that the land is Ag- 2 zoning (1 house every 2 acres = about 75 houses) and there is no written commitment from Weinberg/HRT that they will not develop the property. Small changes in AG-2 land regulations requires more farming than a token papaya tree and banana bush.
The MCA sent a representative, Dr. Rochelle McArthur, to the National Weinberg Foundation Headquarters outside Baltimore Maryland to hand carry a letter from the Community Association with a copy to the local Weinberg Foundation. She reported that she was able to deliver the letter on May 23rd but was unable to talk to Ms. Shrewsbury until May 24th and that was by phone conversation. Ms. Shrewsbury stated that the National headquarters does not generally interfere with local actions of Weinberg Foundation.
DLNR has not yet voted on the Old Government Road that was turned over to Luana Hills owners in 1985-7 Historically, the C&C cannot deed Old Government Road, which is owned by the people of Hawaii, to Luana Hills property owners.
It appears that $10.1 M is set aside by C&C to purchase conservation, preservation, and easement, all not developable
by the landowner anyway. That means that WF/HRT will, in effect, receive the Luana Hills Golf Club (the Clbhouse, 18-hole course, and the undeveloped course) for free. WF/HRT paid approximately $10 million in December, 2000, the City will provide $10.1 for the non-golf course property and a "conservation easement." The Mayor's Vision Teams (of Waimanalo and Kailua) are discussing this property along with adjacent parcels and their uses but have not yet approached MCA or KNB # 31 for dialogue on the impact to the MCA community.
As of 2002 there will be a new Mayor and a new City Council. The language in the budget needs to be more specific as to what is allowed and what is not allowed on behalf of the taxpayers.
This combined communities meeting on July 28 will address further development in our behalf, that of buying 900 acres and a conservation easement for 10.1M when Weinberg paid 10M for the 1084 acres of property. Is there a possibility of conflict of interest between members of the City Council and Weinberg Foundation? A possible need for legal advice could be looked into by the communities. Invitations to the community gathering are be extended to Mayor Harris, Duke Bainum, Steve Holmes, and Weinberg Foundation Representatives. Certificates and Awards are being prepared for the gathering.
Please attend the July 28 Pot Luck of the Combined Community Associations to address these speakers and make your position known to the Board members so that the Board can act in your best interests. Please feel free to call, write, fax or e-mail board members with your comments. Plan to attend the Pot Luck Saturday July 28th from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 pm. at Maunawili Valley Community Park on Maunawili Road.