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| Six miles of Ala Kahakai Trail goes past Pohue Bay in the 16,000 acres for sale for $18 million on the Ka`u Coast. Photo by Peter Bosted |
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| Pohue Bay's anchaline ponds. Photo by Peter Bosted |
The entity handling the sale is Harold Clark's Luxury Big Island. The massive, rugged Ka`u land with Pohu`u Bay near Ocean View is a Featured Property, on
www.bigislandluxury.com, listed beside a brand new $15.9 million, six-bedroom custom home with 9,500 square feet at Mauna Kea Resort and a $4,950,000 residence at Kukio 64 in Kona.
Luxury Big Island's description of the 16,000 acre Ka`u property is as follows: "A secluded gem on the coast of the Big Island and the largest privately owned parcel for sale in the state of Hawai`i, with 6 miles of ocean frontage. The crowning jewel of the site is Pohue Bay, one of the most pristine bays in all of the Hawaiian Islands. With its natural white sand, palm trees and crystal blue water, many consider Pohue Bay to be one of the best beaches in all of Hawai`i. This bay is also the home and nesting site of the rare and protected Hawksbill Turtle." The real estate advertising claims that the "species is plentiful, adding to the distinctiveness of the site."
The West Hawai`i Today story by Max Dible mentions that the Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail runs along the coast through the property. The story says, "A massive piece of land in Ka‘u is up for sale and the future of the area is likely tied to the person or entity that ends up making the purchase." It mentions the nesting sites for endangered hawksbill turtles and "other culturally relevant features. It is privately owned and has been the site of multiple failed attempts to create extensive residential and resort developments stretching back to the 1980s."
The story notes that "the land has been on the county Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources Preservation Commission’s list of potential land acquisitions for several
years" and most recently was listed fifth on the priority list. Acquisitions of properties on the list are funded with about $4 million a year - two percent of property taxes generated on the island. Matching funds and grants from federal, state and private sources are often used.
The story states that Ka`u's County Council member Maile David "said despite county interest in the property, the asking price along with the sheer size of the parcel makes public acquisition a somewhat dubious proposition." David told West Hawai`i Today, “The price is extremely high. You have to consider maintenance that goes along with such a huge parcel. It’s a great idea to have the county purchase it, but it wouldn’t be meaningful if we couldn’t take care of the place in a meaningful manner.”
Past attempts at developing the property were made by Nani Kahuku `Aina, which proposed golf courses, condos, houses and a small airport. The earlier Riviera Resort proposal included a marina, hotels, condos, homes and golf courses. Both proposals stalled amid public opposition, finance and approval challenges.
A ROCK SLIDE THAT CRUSHED A CAR and injured a Ka`u school speech pathologist and a Ka`u school social worker in 2007 on Hwy 11 is going back the court of Circuit Judge Greg Namakura. The state Supreme Court returned the case of plaintiffs Leioni and Michael Patrick O'Grady whose car was slammed by a one hundred ton boulder near Kahuku Ranch, rolling the car over and sliding it upside down.
People & Land of Kahuku, Sun, June 18, 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. This free, guided, 2.5-mile, moderately difficult hike over rugged terrain focuses on the area’s human history. nps.gov/havo
Father’s Day Buffet, Sun, June 18, 4 – 7 p.m., Kīlauea Military Camp’s Crater Rim Café in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Prime rib, shrimp Alfredo, Asian-infused Hawaiian ono and more. $28 adults; $14.50 children 6 – 11. Open to authorized patrons and sponsored guests. Park entrance fees apply. 967-8356
Hawaiian Music Concert, Wed, June 21, 6:30 – 8 p.m., Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Komakakino share a love of hula, Hawaiian culture and singing traditional mele (songs) in the Hawaiian language. Free; park entrance fees apply.
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| Harold Clark's Luxury Big Island real estate company is offering the 16,000 acres around Pohue Bay for $18 million. |
The story notes that "the land has been on the county Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources Preservation Commission’s list of potential land acquisitions for several
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| Luxury Big Island says "many consider Pohue Bay to be on the the best beaches in the state." Photo by Megan Lamson |
The story states that Ka`u's County Council member Maile David "said despite county interest in the property, the asking price along with the sheer size of the parcel makes public acquisition a somewhat dubious proposition." David told West Hawai`i Today, “The price is extremely high. You have to consider maintenance that goes along with such a huge parcel. It’s a great idea to have the county purchase it, but it wouldn’t be meaningful if we couldn’t take care of the place in a meaningful manner.”
Past attempts at developing the property were made by Nani Kahuku `Aina, which proposed golf courses, condos, houses and a small airport. The earlier Riviera Resort proposal included a marina, hotels, condos, homes and golf courses. Both proposals stalled amid public opposition, finance and approval challenges.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter.
A ROCK SLIDE THAT CRUSHED A CAR and injured a Ka`u school speech pathologist and a Ka`u school social worker in 2007 on Hwy 11 is going back the court of Circuit Judge Greg Namakura. The state Supreme Court returned the case of plaintiffs Leioni and Michael Patrick O'Grady whose car was slammed by a one hundred ton boulder near Kahuku Ranch, rolling the car over and sliding it upside down.
The plaintiffs, represented by Wood Valley attorney Ron Self in a non-jury trial, claimed that the state was negligent when it cut the road through the mountainside, leaving rocks and a giant boulder with no place to fall but the highway. Michael Patrick O`Grady recovered from his injuries but Leioni O'Grady was unable to return to work.
The Ocean View residents, who worked at Na`alehu School and have since moved to Panama, sought millions of dollars in medical expenses, wages and future lost wages from the state Department of Transportation. In January, 2012, Nakamura held that the O`Grady case failed to prove that the state could have prevented the boulder falling if it had adequately adhered to its duties of analysis and maintenance to keep the highway safe.
However, the Supreme Court decided this January that Nakamura used the wrong analysis.
Hawai`i Tribune Herald this morning reported the court's finding: "Instead of considering whether the State's conduct was a substantial factor in bringing about the harm, the circuit court considered whether the State's performance of its duty would have prevented the rockfall from occurring."
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| People & Land of Kahuku is a free, guided hike on Sunday. Photo from Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park |
"A court may not frame its legal causation analysis in a manner that does not allow for multiple causes of a single injury," the Supreme Court concluded. The case could be tried again, plaintiffs willing.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter.
People & Land of Kahuku, Sun, June 18, 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. This free, guided, 2.5-mile, moderately difficult hike over rugged terrain focuses on the area’s human history. nps.gov/havo
Father’s Day Buffet, Sun, June 18, 4 – 7 p.m., Kīlauea Military Camp’s Crater Rim Café in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Prime rib, shrimp Alfredo, Asian-infused Hawaiian ono and more. $28 adults; $14.50 children 6 – 11. Open to authorized patrons and sponsored guests. Park entrance fees apply. 967-8356
Hawaiian Music Concert, Wed, June 21, 6:30 – 8 p.m., Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Komakakino share a love of hula, Hawaiian culture and singing traditional mele (songs) in the Hawaiian language. Free; park entrance fees apply.
