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| Signage mauka of Hwy 11 between Honu`apo and Na`alehu advertises the 5,880 acres for sale including the famous Moa`ula coffee lands. Photo by Julia Neal |
THE VALUE OF THE 5,880-ACRE coffee, pasture and oceanfront lands for sale by Lehman Bros is $13.59 million, according to a story in this morning’s Hawai`i Tribune-Herald. The Tom Callis story quotes realtor Joel LaPinta saying that Lehman Brothers Holdings, which took over the property during a foreclosure earlier this year, plans to sell all parcels in one batch. In addition to the famous Moa`ula coffee lands, the properties include a house across from the 76 gas station in Na`alehu and the adjacent house, formerly Becky’s Bed & Breakfast. They also include thousands in shoreline acreage above Waikapuna and pastures above Honu`apo on the mauka side of Hwy 11.
The Tom Callis story says, “the previous owner, WWK Hawai`i Holding, had planned to use the land to build high-end homes on large lots.”
The story states that “Lehman Brothers had agreed to loan it $105 million for the project, but that plan got shelved in 2008 when the lender went through bankruptcy, according to Pacific Business News. WWK Hawai`i Holdings had borrowed $43 million by the time the bankruptcy occurred. Lehman Brothers later acquired the land for $12.25 million at a foreclosure auction in June,” Callis reports.
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| Sen. Brian Schatz |
The Hilo representative for Kennedy Wilson, the real estate investment and marketing company selling the properties for Lehman, is Joel LaPinta. The Tribune-Herald story reports La Pinta saying that he has inquiries from interested parties and an appointment this week with a person from Honolulu to tour the lands. “I think the opportunity here is somebody can buy these lands in bulk and offer individual parcels over time.” Callis reports LaPinta saying, “We’ve moved away from the era of large-tract land owners.”
The story also quotes La Pinta saying that the coffee farms on some of the properties “create a lot of value,” but there’s still potential for some of the vacant land to be developed for residential."
The asking price remains undisclosed, and the website is kaucoffeeandranchlands.com.
See more at hawaiitribune-herald.com.
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U.S. SEN. BRIAN SCHATZ HAS CREATED a comprehensive resource center for the people of Hawai`i looking for information about Typhoon Yolanda and how to help the survivors. The website will be continually updated with the U.S. federal government’s response efforts and includes information about how people can find loved ones in the Philippines.
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| Presidential Medal of Freedom |
“The stories of loss and devastation coming out of the Philippines are shocking and heartbreaking, and the full extent of the ravage is not yet even known,” Schatz said. “I want the people of Hawai`i to have all the information possible about what’s going on in the Philippines as it becomes available.”
The continually updated Resource Center can be found at schatz.senate.gov/record.cfmid=348037.
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SEN. DANIEL INOUYE, WHO DIED LAST DECEMBER, will be honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in Washington next week. The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the nation’s highest civilian honor. The award is presented to individuals who have made especially meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors.
Inouye previously received the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest military award.
Find out more at whitehouse.gov.
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| Dr. Dennis Elwell presented the new state Scenic Byways logo that willsoon go up at educational signage sites along Hwy 11. Photo by Julia Neal |
Dr. Dennis Elwell presented the new logo for the statewide Scenic Byways program, which aims to educate locals and visitors about the geography, culture and natural history of the islands. Honu`apo Lookout could be the next educational signage place, following the recent installation of signage at South Point Lookout on Hwy 11. Educational kiosks and possibly coordinating with county and state government for restrooms along the scenic route are on the horizon. The byway committee is an effort of the Ka`u Chamber of Commerce, which also prints The Directory to Ka`u annually.
New scenic byways logo will soon go up at educational signage sites along Hwy 11.
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| Evan Enriques has earned a volleyball scholarship to Stanford. Photo from Julie Enriques |
According to Nancy Cook Lauer reporting for West Hawai`i Today, Michael Matsukawa, Ford’s attorney, asked, “Would 41 trees have an impact on the marketplace? We don’t know.”
Cook Lauer reports that board member Glen Hisashima “wanted to be sure Ford had disclosed her farming activities to the council and the public. He said he’d be hard-pressed to see a conflict if the activity is 'disclosed and part of her legislative duties.’”
The code states, “No officer or employee shall take any official action directly affecting a business or other undertaking in which that officer or employee has a substantial financial interest.”
See westhawaiitoday.com.
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KA`U NATIVE EARNS STANFORD UNIVERSITY VOLLEYBALL SCHOLARSHIP. This is the latest from Punalu`u mauka resident and Kamehameha School senior Evan Enriques, son of volleyball coach Guy Enriques and Julie Enriques. Evan, who is six-foot, two-inches tall, earns a 50 percent scholarship to play volleyball at Stanford University where he plans to study business. He was also offered scholarships from University of Hawai`i-Manoa, UCLA and USC. His high school career includes helping Kamehameha at Kea`au win the Big Island Interscholastic Championships for 2012. As a sophomore, he was named Player of the Year for the Hawai`i High School Athletic Association and also Most Valuable Player for BIIF in 2012 and 2013. He was also named MVP in the state tournament. Enriques made the all-state high school volleyball team for three years. His grade point average at Kamehameha is 4.0+.
Enriques played for an O`ahu volleyball team called Ka Ulukoa, which won the USA Volleyball National Championship for six consecutive years. The playoffs included taking on international teams. He also played on a Junior National Team and traveled to Mexico.
Evan was recruited by Stanford to be a libero, a back-row defensive specialist.
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| Palila: Original Hawaiian Lullaby, by Tanya Ibarra, of Pahala, is displayed in Hawai`i Nei 2013 exhibit. |
KA`U ARTISTS ARE AMONG the more than 300 Hawai`i Island artists featured in Hawai`i Nei, a juried exhibition at Wailoa Arts & Cultural Center in Hilo that features native species.
Artists from Ka`u with works chosen for the show include Tanya Ibarra, of Pahala, and Susan O`Malley, of Ocean View.
Also on display are works in various media by Kathleen Kam, who has taught art and painted murals in Ka`u, including those at Ka`u Coffee Mill. Her Palila Confection won first place in Palila Adult Professional category.
Several Volcano Village artists who have works in the show include Lisa Louise Adams, Margaret Barnaby, Emily Catey, Nancy Cheney, Lanaya Deily, Emily Herb, Caren Lobel-Fried, Chantelle Lucas, Claudia McCall, Liz Miller and Robert Peck.
The exhibit runs through Friday, Nov. 29. Wailoa Center is open weekdays except Wednesday morning. It is also open this Saturday only, 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
For more information, see hawaiineiartcontest.org.
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VOTING FOR NA`ALEHU SCHOOL COMMUNITY COUNCIL representatives ends tomorrow. Each family with children attending Na`alehu School received one ballot sent home with the oldest child in the family.
KA`U HIGH GIRLS BASKETBALL FOOD DRIVE AND TOURNAMENT takes place tomorrow and Saturday. Admission begins at 4 p.m. tomorrow and is $3 or two canned food items per person. The event continues Saturday at 9 a.m.
KAUAHA`AO CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH BAZAAR is Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Laulau plates, barbeque plates, hotdogs and kulolo will be available for purchase. For space rental, call 928-8039.
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
ALSO SEE KAUCALENDAR.COM AND FACEBOOK.COM/KAUCALENDAR.
