Castle & Cook sets Koa Ridge development plan in motion

By Andrew Gomes
Advertiser Staff Writer

Castle & Cooke Inc. is pushing ahead with long-term plans to build 6,000 homes and a medical mall in Central O'ahu as part of its proposed Koa Ridge project.

Koa Ridge — between Waiawa and Mililani above Waipio-Gentry and west of the H-2 Freeway — would consist of a variety of homes, including senior facilities, neighborhood shopping, jogging trails and a medical-care complex operated by Wahiawa General Hospital.

Castle & Cooke hopes to begin development in 2008 and build out the project over 20 to 40 years, according to Harry A. Saunders III, senior vice president of Castle & Cooke.

Saunders, who shared the rough plans with members of the Hawai'i Developers' Council yesterday, said the company has been working for the past few months on getting a city land-use designation that would make way for rezoning much of the area.

"We have to plan for the future," Saunders said. "Our population is changing. Baby boomers are getting gray."

Saunders said Castle & Cooke is delivering about 400 homes a year on O'ahu, and will run short of land for residential development in areas such as Mililani, projected to be built out in six to eight years, and Royal Kunia, projected for completion in two to three years.

"Timing says that if we want to continue our existing operations, we will need additional lands," he said.

Castle & Cooke will be going to neighborhood board meetings and community and business groups to present its Koa Ridge proposal, though Saunders noted that plans are very rough because they are long-term.

Under the city's most recent Central O'ahu Sustainable Communities Plan, updated in April, new homes would be limited to 11,000 through 2025 in Mililani Mauka, Royal Kunia, Waiawa subdivisions, plus a makai portion of the proposed Koa Ridge project.

Andrew Gomes can be reached at 525-8065, or at agomes@honoluluadvertiser.com.