On either end of the state, opposition is voiced against planned residential developments

HILO and POIPU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Two residential developments are drawing opposition from neighboring residents and Native Hawaiians who are voicing concerns over damage to cultural sites and overdevelopment in rural areas.

The developments are located in Punaluu in the Ka’u District on Hawaii Island, and in Poipu on Kauai.

At a public input meeting in Hilo Thursday, so many people came out against the Punaluu project that the session had to be rescheduled to allow more testimony.

Those who did testify were overwhelmingly against the project.

“My kupuna has cried because malihini keeps coming and taking,” said one man dressed in a malo. “We never give ‘em to you you guys, we never!”

Commission members were taking testimony before taking action on developer Black Sand Beach LLC’s permit request. It wants to build 225 residential and short-stay units, rehabilitate an old golf course from a previous resort, and also dedicated part of the nearby coastline as a conservation area.

Ka’u residents had already spent last weekend protesting against it.

“They’re gonna constantly take. They’re gonna give us crumbs, tell us you can go clean our condos, you can go work in our hotels and you can go mow our lawns for your golf course, and then next thing you know, they gonna build houses,” another testifier told the commission. “Ka’u is a farmer community and a ranching community. It’ll kill Ka’u.”

Native Hawaiians are also concerned that cultural sites will be damaged or destroyed.

“It is home to our kupuna burial grounds and cultural artifacts that must be protected and respected,” said another testifier. “Any development in this area would not only desecrate the sacred sites, but also disregard the cultural heritage of our people.”

“We’ve seen how this type of thing plays out,” said Wilhoite, testifying via Zoom. “It’s not to the benefit of the community. It’s to the benefit of the outside entities.”

Meanwhile, over 300 miles away across the island chain, residents are fighting to save a cultural site in Poipu known as Kaneiolouma.

“I live there all my life, and I see how there’s a lot of energy in there,” said Billy Kaohelaulii, a steward of Kaneiolouma. “It’s a quiet, holy place, you know.”

Kaohelaulii helped uncover and clear the site which includes a heiau, along with evidence of housing and a large structure in the center that is the only remaining ancient makahiki area in the state.

But the group Friends of Mahaulepu said that developer Meridian Pacific plans to build 279 luxury condo homes next to the site, and use the heiau land as a natural water retention basin.

“They’re actually offering it up to hold their excess water when they cover their 28 acres in concrete, and that’s pretty bizarre if you’re trying to protect the place,” said group president Bridget Hammerquist.

Hammerquist also said Kauai County had offered assistance in keeping the land cleared, but no longer does so, which has allowed it to become overgrown once again.

“And it’s said because it’s one of the few heiaus that is with the housing, the hale, with the fishpond. It’s all one site,” she said.

Friends of Mahaulepu has filed for a preliminary injunction against the county and the developer to stop the project. A similar vow is being made against the Punaluu development.

“We need to keep Ka’u, Ka’u, to keep this area of the coastline undeveloped and no matter what, people will be here to fight for it,” another testifier told the planning commission. “Even if you do approve it, we won’t let it happen.”

Calls to Black Sand Beach LLC were not returned. HNN is also awaiting a response from Meridian Pacific.

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