Maunawili Community Association

Maunawili Community Association Minutes July 3, 2001

Minutes July 3, 2001

Maunawili Community Association
Regular Meeting Minutes
July 3, 2001, 7:00 p. m.
Maunawili Neighborhood Park Pavilion
Present: Jim Corcoran, Rose Faria, Virginia Fine, Ed Gomes, Jim & Rochelle McArthur, Linda Ure
Call to Order: at 7.02 p.m. by Ed Gomes, President
Approval of Minutes: Minutes of June 12, 2001 approved as circulated.
Old Business:
A. Update on Weinberg Foundation Funding expanding scope due to concerns with Luana Hills Properties - Jim Corcoran:
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 Clubhouse, 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.
B. Reimbursement of Expenses related to Luana Hills Properties letter delivered to Weinberg Foundation, Baltimore.
C. Pot Luck and Community Meeting:
1. Write letters of invitation to Elected Representatives to include Mayor Jeremy Harris, Councilmembers Holmes and Bainum, Senators Bob Hogue and Fred Hemmings, Representative David A. Pendleton to attend Pot Luck and Community Meeting July 28, 2001 at Maunawili Valley Neighborhood Park for awards.
2. Write letter to invitation to Weinberg Foundation Trustees to attend Pot Luck and Community Meeting July 28, 2001, at Maunawili Valley Neighborhood Park for awards.
3. Write letter to Castle Medical Center to provide a static display of health at Pot Luck and Community Meeting July 28, 2001.
4. Write letter to MCBH, HPD and HFD for inclusion in Pot Luck and Community Meeting July 28, 2001at Maunawili Valley Neighborhood Park for Static Displays of programs and equipment. (A.) Fire Trucks at Potluck letter to HFD (B.) Police Department Neighborhood Security Watch display letter (C.) Wetland in a Box at Maunawili Pump Station letter to invite to pot luck (1)
5. Contact Neighboring Community Associations in newsletter with inclusion of additional printing of flyers to be distributed by said communities: Kukanono, Pohakapuu, Olomana and Maunawili Estates.
6. Arrange for Supplies: flatware, tables, plates, cups, bowls, table cloths / Sound System / Stage
7. Request / ask / Dr. Paul Brener to give history, or excerpts from Twisted Mountain
D. Tour of Old Government Road letter of request to Chuck Burrows
E. (1) Garage Sale Update flyer approval and map given to Rose for Via for addresses
(2) Muse Update Read Town Crier confirm details on Wetland in a Box
Treasurers Report: Balance is $2,076.51
New Business: (1) Virginia Fine's neighbor grubbing, grading in vicinity of stream, check with TMK for permits with C&C. (2) Lights at Pavilion -still not on. Check with C&C, April and Department of Parks. (3) Future Paving of Auloa Road announcement from C&C budget details.
Adjournment: There being no further business the meeting Adjourned at 8:10 p.m.
Submitted by Linda C Ure, Secretary
Text prepared for Web page by Linda Ure MCA Secretary

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