Neighbor Island briefs

Advertiser Staff

Council to vote on Moloka'i plan

WAILUKU, Maui — The Maui County Council is scheduled to take a final vote today on a compromise revision of the Moloka'i Community Plan.

The updated plan was given preliminary approval Dec. 7 in a 5-3 vote.

Debate centered around a recommendation by the council's planning committee to redesignate 75 acres of shoreline land at the Kaluakoi Resort to open space.

The rejection of that recommendation leaves the Kaluakoi land in hotel and multifamily designations, but adds conditions to protect cultural sites.

The hotel designation would allow Moloka'i Ranch, which plans to take over the Kaluakoi Resort, the option of developing the area without seeking a community plan amendment or filing an environmental impact statement.

Keeping the 75 acres in hotel and multifamily designations was seen as a way of not discouraging investment on an island that has suffered from high unemployment and welfare rates.

Those in favor of the open space proposal said the land has many significant archaeological sites and it would be inappropriate to build hotels or condominiums in the area.

Missing hiker found injured

HILO, Hawai'i — A hiker had to spend two nights outdoors after falling about 30 feet, injuring his hip.

The accident happened Thursday while the 54-year-old man was hiking Pololu Valley in North Kohala, fire officials said. The man was unfamiliar with the terrain, which was wet and muddy.

Rescuers found the man after he was reported missing Friday morning. A stretcher was used to pull him up a 200-foot cliff.

However, darkness forced the man and two rescuers to spend Friday night at a temporary landing zone. The three were lifted out of the area by helicopter Saturday morning. The man was taken to Kohala Hospital where he was said to be in stable condition.