A new Department of Hawaiian Home Lands subdivision plan would make 80 agriculture lots in Panaewa available to beneficiaries, including residents of the Makuu Farm Lots who faced relocation due to lava.
A new Department of Hawaiian Home Lands subdivision plan would make 80 agriculture lots in Panaewa available to beneficiaries, including residents of the Makuu Farm Lots who faced relocation due to lava.
A 445-page draft environmental assessment for the project says Makuu residents forced to leave due to advancing lava could move to the half-acre lots in addition to others on the wait list.
While the June 27 lava flow is no longer threatening populated areas, one of its branches was following a path months ago that could take it into the farm lots where 45 beneficiaries lease land.
The report, dated July 9, didn’t explain how the absence of a lava threat would affect the plan and the ability of Makuu residents to relocate. A call to a DHHL spokesperson wasn’t immediately returned.
The project involves subdividing five 10-acre parcels into 80 lots, each at least a half-acre in size.
The land is located on Auwae Road east of Prince Kuhio Plaza and Mahiai Street.
The document says the project would cost $5 million and take a year to complete. Work might start early next year.
The Makuu Farm lots are also home to a World War II-era bombing range. An ordnance removal project found one 60 mm mortar and 100 spotting rounds at the 640-acre site in 2011.
If lava reached the site, Hawaii County planned to create a 1,400-foot buffer zone.
Email Tom Callis at tcallis@hawaiitribune-herald.com.