Court denies Hokuli'a request

Advertiser Staff

HILO, Hawai'i — The Hawai'i Supreme Court has denied requests that it expedite an appeal of the ruling that halted the Hokuli'a luxury housing development in Kona last year.

Work on the 750-lot subdivision was halted in September 2003 after 3rd Circuit Judge Ronald Ibarra ruled that the project was an illegal use of agricultural land.

Developer 1250 Oceanside Partners appealed Ibarra's decision last month, and both Oceanside and Big Island county officials asked for an expedited decision to resolve the issue.

The Supreme Court denied both requests for expedited appeals in decisions dated Dec. 23. The court did not say why the requests were denied.

"We remain hopeful that the Supreme Court will decide the Hokuli'a appeal promptly," said John De Fries, chief executive officer of 1250 Oceanside Partners, in a written statement issued yesterday. "The issues raised in this case need to be resolved in the near future for the benefit of the entire state, Hawai'i County and the Kona community among many others."