No decision on Punalu‘u Village

Hundreds of people gathered Thursday at the County Building in Hilo to express their opposition to a proposed development for the Punalu‘u area of Ka‘u.

Dozens testified before the Windward Planning Commission, which met to decide whether to grant a special management area permit to developer Black Sand Beach LLC.

The permit would allow Black Sand Beach to build a roughly 225-unit “residential and commercial community,” called Punalu‘u Village, on a 147-acre parcel. The price tag is estimated between $200 million and $350 million.

Following hours of sometimes emotional testimony, and with many still awaiting their turn to speak, the commission voted to continue the meeting at another time.