September 09, 2009
Pre-Assessment Consultation
The County Department of Parks and Recreation is conducting Pre-Assessment Consultation for the forthcoming Draft Environmental Assessment (EA). We are soliciting input from government agencies and interested citizens regarding potential environmental impacts associated with the project, and other issues that should be addressed in the EA.Download a copy of the Pre-Assessment Letter
Click here to view the Kailua Park 3D Model
The Draft EA is expected to be completed in about two months, and will then undergo a 30-day public review. You will also have an opportunity to comment at that time. Please send any preliminary comments to Kimura International, Inc. by Monday, October 5, 2009.
Send comments by email or in writing to:
Ms. Leslie Kurisaki
Kimura International
1600 Kapiolani Boulevard, Suite 1610
Honolulu, Hawaii 96814
Input from the first meeting
During the second half of the public information meeting, the audience was invited to break into small brainstorming groups that focused on current park activities:
Group members were asked to identify the positives and negatives of current park conditions, and their ideas for the future. The groups recorded their thoughts on flip charts and then reconvened and shared their ideas with the general audience. Click on each group above to see their thoughts.
Community Voices
Below are comments received by Kimura International from the community concerning this project. The opinions and views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of the Department of Parks and Recreation or the County of Hawaii.
Youth Activities
Students from the International Christian School in Kailua-Kona were able to attend the public information meeting, and offered an insight into what they would like to see included the master plan. Click on the picture to the left for a larger image.Passive Recreation
Comments were made by Mr. Walter Kunitake, son of Mrs. Kiyono Kunitake, a lifelong Kona resident and advocate of preserving the pristine old Kona airport shoreline. Mr. Kunitake commented that his late mother was instrumental in securing $200k to build the jogging path after the airport closed in the late 1960’s. He noted how his mother worked extensively with former Governor John Burns and for 25 years, lobbied legislators to stave off development at the site, and preserve the Old Airport as a passive park.
Together with Mr. Jerry Rosten, Mrs. Kunitake worked hard to establish two public beach access trails through the adjacent private residential area.
Mr. Kunitake said that open space should be maintained at this district park. Expansion of more active sports can and should be directed to a new regional park.
He noted that we’re off to a good start with this planning effort, which he felt could be a win-win situation.
Kona Bay Estates
Kona Bay Estates is the oceanfront, gated community located directly makai of the park. The following issues of concern were identified by Ms. Vicky Nardone, a Kona Bay Estates owner/resident.- When Kona Bay Estates was created, there was an agreement with the Dept. of Parks & Recreation (P&R) that the Association would provide pine trees that the and the County would plant and maintain along our bordering property line as a buffer from the park.
- Three years ago, P&R removed 7 pine trees as part of Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) improvements at the park. Although the former P&R Director promised that the trees would be replaced, this has not been done.
- Trees were approximately 20 years old, over 60 feet tall, and provided a visual buffer between park and residences
- Kona Bay Estates owners were not notified prior to tree removal
- Remaining open space creates visibility up to Queen K Highway
- Gap leaves abutting lot no buffer, leading to a substantial decrease in property value
- Feral cats are fed in the park next to our adjoin boundary, creating a nuisance and health concerns for residents
- Homeless persons sleep, drink, shoot up and snort drugs just steps away from our doors each and every night
- Park lights are left on at night long after events have ended, and glare into our bedrooms
- Music amplifiers are allowed to be ramped up at sports and other community events causing many of us to have to leave our own homes to get away from it
- You need to make sure that the interests of the property owners of the 42 lots in Kona Bay Estates are protected in the Kailua Park Master Plan
- Before any new plan is approved, you need to address:
- Signage to notify park users of our private property
- Noise mitigation
- Visual impacts
- Effect of park lighting on residents
- Traffic mitigation
- Mitigating overnight use
- Mitigating criminal activity
