Posted on: Saturday, May 21, 2005

Palamanui project gets boost

By Andrew Gomes
Advertiser Staff Writer

A Big Island development partnership has received state land-use approval to proceed with a proposed 725-acre Palamanui project near Kona International Airport comprising homes, a hotel, golf course and a temporary campus for the University of Hawai'i Center, West Hawai'i.

The state Land Use Commission voted unanimously at a public hearing Thursday to reclassify the Palamanui land from agricultural and conservation to urban use.

Developer Hiluhilu Development LLC, a venture between investment broker Charles Schwab and local contractor Guy Lam, still needs county zoning approvals. If zoning is granted, the project could break ground next year.

Hiluhilu plans to build 845 homes, about 120 hotel units and the golf course on its land mauka of the airport.

The developer also has agreed to build classroom facilities for UH that will be used until the university can build its own campus on 500 acres of state-owned land just south of Palamanui. Hiluhilu agreed to build classrooms on its land so the college center can start as early as 2007.

Also part of the development plan is construction of a mauka-to-makai road from Mamalahoa Highway to Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway to help alleviate traffic between the airport to Kailua, Kona.

Reach Andrew Gomes at agomes@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8065.