“It’s not that I don’t like ResortTrust. You just got the potato at the end of the game,” Board of Land and Natural Resources member Keone Downing told the company’s representatives on September 14. “One potato, two potato, three potato, … Continued
On September 14, the state Board of Land and Natural Resources approved the purchase of 2,800 acres of conservation and agricultural lands in Wahiawa from Dole Food Company, Inc., for $15 million. The lands are slated for a variety of … Continued
“The Waikoloa Highlands project you see today is unusual.” In this way did Steve Lim, attorney for the developer, prove himself master of the understatement. Lim made the comment to the Land Use Commission at its meeting of September 6, … Continued
This time, they were ready. When the state released five male, captive-reared endangered Hawaiian crows (`alala) into the Pu`u Maka`ala Natural Area Reserve on December 14, 2016, managers found out the hard way that some of them weren’t ready to … Continued
If Bones Could Nest… Environmental assessments are often written with less care and attention than environmental impact statements. The August 8 Environmental Notice includes a couple of EAs that provide ample evidence. Consider the draft EA prepared for an after-the-fact … Continued
News flash. Hawai`i County has too much affordable housing. That, anyway, was the position that appears to have been staked out by the county’s Office of Housing and Community Development (OHCD) during the final months of the administration of Mayor … Continued
Saved by the storm! Thanks to Hurricane Lane, the state Land Use Commission was spared the need to make a critical decision on the stalled-out plans to develop a 398-lot residential subdivision on land just upslope of Waikoloa Village. On … Continued
Spread of Rapid `Ohi`a Death in Puna May By Hindering `Amakihi Population In 2001, Environment Hawai`i reported on research by U.S. Geological Survey entomologist Dennis LaPointe and colleague Carter Atkinson suggesting that climate change-induced temperature increases will likely shrink the habitat … Continued
Hawai`i Sierra Club Takes Aim At Kahala Hotel’s Beach Uses How much money has the Kahala Hotel & Resort made off state lands covered by a permit that restricts its usage to recreation and maintenance? Similar to resort hotels throughout … Continued
On August 15, the Honolulu City Council brought the long-delayed revision to the Ko`olau Loa Sustainable Communities Plan closer to final adoption, and a major landowner in La`ie closer to being allowed to build hundreds of new homes. The council … Continued