Excerpted from an article by Ilima Loomis Maui News
The state would purchase 65 acres in Waikapu for a major new Central Maui park complex, under a proposal being discussed Friday by the Board of Land and Natural Resources in Honolulu.
The state Legislature appropriated $9 million in bonds for the project earlier this year, and the administration of Gov. Neil Abercrombie approved and released the funding last month. The land board will discuss “preliminary approval in concept” for the state to acquire the lands, according to the agenda.
“What we’re trying to do is create a facility that has numerous different parks – soccer fields, baseball fields, softball fields,” said Senate President Shan Tsutsui, who helped get funding for the project approved.
In a separate project by the county, Mayor Alan Arakawa has said he wants to purchase 242 acres for a regional park nearby. The county has budgeted $4 million from the Open Space Fund for land acquisition and is in negotiations with Alexander & Baldwin for the property, which is located mauka of Kuihelani Highway south of Waiko Road.
The Waikapu parcel being considered for purchase is a vacant lot owned by Alexander & Baldwin in the Waiale master-planned community. The site is mauka of Kuihelani Highway, south of Pomaikai Elementary School. It is zoned as agricultural.
If the land board gives preliminary approval, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources could begin negotiating with A&B over the price, Tsutsui said.
He said the $9 million appropriation was planned to cover the purchase price and associated costs, planning and design, and construction.
He said the vision for the facility was to create a complex similar to the Central Oahu Regional Park, with numerous playing facilities and venues for a variety of sports and activities.