Posted on: Tuesday, May 28, 2002

North Shore land bought for park, spiritual retreat

Associated Press

A nonprofit group is buying 94 acres of former pineapple land on O'ahu's North Shore and wants to donate two-thirds of it for a state park.

A Charitable Foundation Corp. would keep the remaining 31 acres on the north rim of Waimea Valley to establish a nondenominational spiritual retreat.

The land is mauka of, but not adjacent to, Puu O Mahuka Heiau, which is a state park. Parks director Dan Quinn said the state has long sought additional land near the heiau.

The group has told the state Board of Land and Natural Resources that it wants to donate land for park use to create a public resource and preempt development on the ridgeline.

The foundation wants to establish the Kahi Malu Spiritual Sanctuary on the 31 acres it will keep. The sanctuary would include about 5,000 square feet of low-rise buildings including a meditation chapel, central hall, kitchen and dining room, office and sleeping quarters.

Uses of the sanctuary would include day and overnight spiritual retreats, yoga and meditation classes, gardening and outdoor activities on a donation basis.

The land board has approved the foundation's request for a public hearing and small-business impact determination study. Both are required to rezone 18.5 acres of the land from limited to general use to allow an access road from Maulukua Road. Before a public hearing, an environmental assessment would have to be completed.