Punaluu Update (Ka'u development) (Hilo: hotels, purchase, property taxes)

[cynmkolohe]

Hawaii Tribune-Herald :: Hilo, Hawaii (http://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/articles/2007/07/06/local_news/local03.txt - broken link)
"Time to Consider--Kim to Council: Hold off on Punaluu Vote"

This is an article in today's local paper detailing new developments in the County Council's action on a proposal to purchase Ka'u land in order to prevent the Sea Mountain Five group from building 2 hotels/approx. 1,050 residences in the area.

Basically, the mayor is asking to delay the vote: "Earlier this week, Kim cited the need to step back and try to reach a compromise that is acceptable to a higher percentage of Ka'u residents..."

An important issue for anyone living in/considering a move to Ka'u. Is this area going to retain it's rural sense of community, which includes a host of economic/social issues, or will developers eventually get the go ahead to build, which raises another set of issues all together...loss of cultural sites, environmental concerns, property taxes, etc....This is a tough one, and a critical step in determining the future of the South Point communities.