Over 100 members of the Laie Community Association (LCA) continued to demonstrate their concern by attending an April 24 meeting at the elementary school cafeteria to further discuss developing affordable housing and sustaining the economy in Koolauloa.

At the outset of the meeting LCA President Pane Meatoga [pictured at right] — who was wearing a bright yellow tee shirt promoting the housing and economy issues — explained the City and County of Honolulu is currently undergoing a five-year review of the Koolauloa Sustainable Communities Plan (KSCP), which was first adopted in 1999 and defines future land-use concepts on a rolling 20-year basis.

He added a consulting firm is working with the City through a Koolauloa Planning Advisory Committee (PAC), and urged the residents to get involved. "Through the process [so far], I feel the needs or wants of the community were never addressed," Meatoga said. "There was an overwhelming feeling I got that we wanted to leave the country, country."

"At our last LCA meeting, we decided we needed to step up," Meatoga continued. "We need to make our voices heard so that affordable housing will continue to be on the front burner of the Sustainable Community Plan."

He said the existing KSCP has designated space in Laie for additional housing and economic growth, "but it's never been developed…so tonight we ask for your support to push for initiatives within the Koolauloa area that have affordable housing components tied into them, and for the sustainability of the businesses that we have from Kualoa Ranch to Turtle Bay."

"Those businesses play a vital role in our community, and they tie directly to the housing initiatives," Meatoga said. "Throughout the process, there will be public hearings for us to make our voices heard."

"It's too early to say how many houses there should be, and who's going to get them. What we're saying is these developers should have an opportunity to have the land designation that they need. If it doesn't come through, it doesn't come through; but to close that opportunity to have affordable housing, we think is wrong."

"Your voice is needed, the voices of your family are needed," Meatoga said. "We're not giving up the fight, and after we tackle this issue, there are other problems."

Opening the meeting to discussion, Dawn Wasson echoed interest in affordable housing and economic sustainability "for our children and the generations to come in the future. We have to put in the time and discuss these things. We have to have open meetings. They have to be transparent," she said. "We have to look at what kind of community we want to live in."

"We already have an existing plan," said Verla Moore, asking that the language is such that the community can move forward when ready. "Let's face it, people, affordable housing isn't in the plan right now. We have jumped the gun because we're not sustainable. We don't have the income, and we don't have the economic basis to make that happen."

"We have to find ways so we can bring the economy up," she continued, pointing out the community cannot rely on the Latter-day Saint Church or Hawaii Reserves, Inc. (HRI) to do that.

"The thing that we've forgotten is that we're not going to please everyone, but everyone will have input into this plan; and when we agree as a majority on this plan, we then need to come to the City to back that plan."

Moore also noted the community has a clean slate opportunity: "We looking for the best uses and the way to fund them." For example, she said she would like to see "alternative energy and other economic bases" develop in the area

LCA board member Junior Ah You reported he called the City about the housing issue and was told, "We haven't heard that many people say they want affordable housing."

Laie resident and Hauula-based businessman Moa Mahe [pictured at right] — who along with three others purchased 455 acres of former Campbell Estate land about a year ago — reported the partnership, Malaekahana Hui West, has been working with other developers and community groups in Kahuku, and has also signed up approximately 500 people in its Affordable Housing Coalition [sign up at the top of this web page, or stop by the Koolau Business Center in Hauula Kai Center.]

"We want to take a proactive approach," he said. "We're not developers, we're your neighbors. Just like you, we want to do something about it."

At the close of the meeting, Meatoga indicated LCA will keep working and meet again on these issues.

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