Officials Discuss Moving Ka Pua Project to Maili

By Liviu Oltean, Associate Editor

The multi-million dollar Ka Pua schools development project is now being considered for transfer to Maili, KITV reports.

The project was originally to be developed in Makaha Valley on land belonging to Jeff Stone. The landowner intended to donate 67 acres of land for the development of the project, but an agreement couldn’t be reached between Stone and Kamehameha Schools.

The proposed site near Maili Valley belongs to the Department of Hawaiian Homelands (DHHL). DHHL commented that the land in Maili is smaller, but it comes with key benefits for the Ka Pua project: it belongs to the state, it is more centralized and it is easier to develop.

Alapaki Nahalea, DHHL executive director, said that there will be a future meeting with Kamehameha Schools to assess the infrastructure and potential of the targeted area. At the moment, a part of the site is being used as transitional housing for the homeless and a foster care facility. These uses might be integrated into the Ka Pua project.

In regional news, Frito-Lay’s new distribution facility in Waipahu recently received LEED Gold certification from the U.S Green Building Council. The facility is the first industrial building in Hawaii to earn this certification.

The project was commended for implementing energy management systems that control facility equipment; using photovoltaics to generate 10 percent of the energy; utilizing energy-efficient windows and skylights; and installing high-efficiency Led lighting.

According to the company’s press release, the materials used for the development of the facility are recyclable, regionally manufactured and are of low levels of volatile organic compounds. The Jacksonville-based Haskell Co. handled the design of the project and acted as general contractor.