North Shore NewsDespite pouring rain, over 350 of the North Shore community raised a collective voice against Kennedy Wilson’s proposed subdivision of Mokule’ia Ahupua’a, the North Shore’s largest (2780 acres). On February 14, 2018, the North Shore Neighborhood Board held a Special Meeting at the Waialua Community Center where Beverly Hills developer of exclusive luxury properties, Kennedy Wilson presented their Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
The Ag 2 farm-zoned Dillingham Ranch has long been a cherished and virtually untouched landmark important to both ancient and modern Hawaiian culture. Not one of the more than 40 members of the community spoke in favor of the proposed Kennedy Wilson subdivision proposal. There were contentions that Iwi Kūpuna (bones of Hawaiian ancestors) still exist on the site and that known heiau must remain undisturbed and accessible. Many passionately voiced opposition to the underlying “fake farm” flagrant abuse of the Ag 2 zoning spreading across the North Shore, where Ag 2 large houses end up being vacation rentals. Concerns about the rapid disappearance of our precious and accessible open spaces and places to house horses were numerous. There were also calls to demand that our legislature and City Council enact new, more restrictive laws for subdivisions.
Key concerns expressed were:
1) The Risk to Hawaiian Endangered Species; destroying the unique habitat the Ranch provides as home to Hawaii’s most endangered species, including the Hoary Bat, (trees that house them are to be cut down) the Hawaiian Snail, Coots, the Iwi bird and the Albatross.
2) Wastewater Runoff; People were not clear how wastewater runoff was addressed, which would pollute the surrounding rivers, streams, and ultimately our coral reefs as well as the risk of polluting the largest aquifer on the North Shore which lies beneath the Ranch. This aquifer provides fresh drinking water to more than 120 households currently, and would also have to serve the 70 new lots/residences proposed as part of phase one for this subdivision. The developer estimates that once the development is complete, water use will increase by more than nine times above current levels, further risking dangerous aquifer depletion.
3) Increased Traffic; An outdated Traffic Assessment was used by Kennedy Wilson in their proposal. Existing roads serving this part of the North Shore were never designed to handle the increase in traffic already seen in recent years (for the last two years more than one million more tourists come to O’ahu than the year before). Construction of the subdivision and the nearly doubling of households using these roads will over-burden and potentially destroy this already inadequate system.
4) Kennedy Wilson currently provides the residents of Mokuleia their water through an antiquated, substandard delivery system. This system is unable to run any fire hydrants, leaving the residents exposed to fire hazard. Kennedy Wilson stated they have no intention to fix this.
After the community voiced their concerns, every one of the 13 members of the North Shore Board present expressed an opinion, all strongly against the Development. A motion was made and seconded to OPPOSE the Kennedy Wilson Subdivision. A roll call vote resulted in a unanimous rejection the Subdivision Project. The impassioned crowd cheered and applauded the unanimous decision of the Board. On Valentines Day, the North Shore came together as one!
Not one of the speakers spoke in favor of the development.
Sincerely, Concerned Citizens of the North Shore