Following demolition of the former Hilo Tropical Gardens, Kamehameha Schools officials say they will take a closer look at the management plan for their Keaukaha properties that could help identify future land uses. ADVERTISING Following demolition of the former Hilo
Following demolition of the former Hilo Tropical Gardens, Kamehameha Schools officials say they will take a closer look at the management plan for their Keaukaha properties that could help identify future land uses.
Operators of the gardens on Kalanianaole Avenue, which included an ice cream shop and hostel, ended their lease with the school in August 2015. Demolition of the vacant buildings started this month and is expected to be finished in September or October.
Kamehameha Schools’ Hawaii Island representatives say they don’t have immediate plans for the property, which will be covered with grass until a future use is determined. But they will be looking again at the 235 acres they own in the area known as Honohononui and intend to conduct more outreach with the Keaukaha community.
“Quite a bit of it is probably unknown, but it will be fleshed out as we do more work with the community and our local businesses,” said Marissa Harman, Kamehameha Schools’ Hawaii Island asset manager.
The property is zoned commercial/resort.
She said the Honohononui Management Plan, which covers land bordering the Keaukaha homestead, Hilo International Airport and James Kealoha Beach Park, was completed a few years ago shortly before Kamehameha Schools finished its strategic plan through 2040. Harman said the school wants to take a look at it with a “fresh set of eyes” in context of the larger vision.
“We’re basically in refinement mode,” she said, later adding, “Now this basically creates an opportunity for us. The point we are at is assessing that opportunity.”
The management plan includes the following components: coastal resource management, rural economic development, education/community zones and agricultural lands.
The former gardens location is one of two areas listed as being sites for commercial leases.
Kilohana Hirano, East Hawaii regional director of asset management for Kamehameha Schools, said the goal is for Native Hawaiians to feel at home in the area, which includes fostering cultural identity.
“We’d like to make this place somewhat of a gathering place for Native Hawaiians so they don’t feel like, ‘Oh, I don’t belong here,’” he said.
Among the ideas proposed by the Keaukaha community were using the site for a night market or food trucks, Harman said.
Hirano said the lands once supported about 4,000 people and the coastline there is thought to be the area where the kumulipo, or creation chant, was first used.
Leanne Okamoto, East Hawaii land asset manager, said they needed nine permits to tear down the vacant buildings, which is why demolition didn’t start sooner.
Regarding the 1.6-acre landscaped garden, she said the trust did a report on the flora and fauna but didn’t find many unique species.
“We did try to keep as much native plants as we could,” Okamoto said.
Many of the plants were in poor condition, according to the report.
Crystal Kua, Kamehameha Schools spokeswoman, said the entrance to a lava tube on the property was covered after there were no archaeological findings.
The Honohononui land also includes the Hilo Yacht Club.
Spencer Oliver, yacht club manager, said its 55-year lease expires June 30, 2018, and the club is negotiating a new contract with Kamehameha Schools.
Email Tom Callis at tcallis@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
