QUESTIONS ABOUT THE HPP PARK

[Patricia]

But it will be greatly defrayed 

How much do you think it would be per person?  
If HPP raises the road fee by 10% again next year (and the year after, and after) would we save anything?

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Aloha

I agree. Hawaiian Paradise Park Owners Association will continue to raise road fees as long as there is nothing and no one to stop them. But what I am referring to, when I say defrayed, is that if the county contributed equitable to maintenance fees, that money coyld help to address the additional costs of thousands of park patrons (not just Hawaiian Paradise Park owners) that will be adding to the wear and tear on the private roads.

[Obie]

"that money coyld help to address the additional costs of thousands of park patrons (not just Hawaiian Paradise Park owners) that will be adding to the wear and tear on the private roads."

There are County Parks in Pahoa and Keaau.

Where are these thousands coming from ?

[Patricia]

"that money coyld help to address the additional costs of thousands of park patrons (not just Hawaiian Paradise Park owners) that will be adding to the wear and tear on the private roads."

There are County Parks in Pahoa and Keaau.

Where are these thousands coming from ?

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Who pays to maintain, repair and improve the roads in Pahoa and Keaau?

[HiloJulie]

First and foremost, I wish to exalt on the highest possible terms that I am NOT blaming or exonerating anyone or entity with my opinion below:

Now, with respect to the deeded parcel, what were the terms and conditions of that actual transfer of ownership from HPPOA to the County? I would assume that there must have been some rather lengthy legal agreement drawn up that would spell out the requirements of each party (HPPOA and the County) including the payment or nonpayment of road fees as well as the stipulated amounts at that time as well as any future escalation of said fees.

Further, in the absence of any requirement to pay these road fees on the deeded land ownership transfer, then the County would automatically assume the same obligations as any other HPP lot owner and those road fees would indeed be due and payable.

Having said that, and regardless of what the amount the County would be obligated to pay, i.e. the current $435.00 or the $435.00 X 20, in accordance with Article XI, Section 6, the Road Committee has the right to lien said property 60 days after the payment becomes due, plus interest and other associated collection costs.

So, if the County is indeed liable to pay road fees and has not, has the Road Committee filed a lien on the property?

And if not, why not?

In looking up information about this whole HPP Park situation, I ironically found this thread from almost 14 years ago right here on PunaWeb, authored by none other than PunaWeb's owner, Rob Tucker. CoH to HPP: Trust Us.

No truer words were ever spoken - especially the last two sentences! 

In legalese, a "handshake, gentlemen's agreement or a promise" are all worth the single piece of paper it SHOULD have been written on!

[Patricia]

First and foremost, I wish to exalt on the highest possible terms that I am NOT blaming or exonerating anyone or entity with my opinion below:

Now, with respect to the deeded parcel, what were the terms and conditions of that actual transfer of ownership from HPPOA to the County? I would assume that there must have been some rather lengthy legal agreement drawn up that would spell out the requirements of each party (HPPOA and the County) including the payment or nonpayment of road fees as well as the stipulated amounts at that time as well as any future escalation of said fees.

Further, in the absence of any requirement to pay these road fees on the deeded land ownership transfer, then the County would automatically assume the same obligations as any other HPP lot owner and those road fees would indeed be due and payable.

Having said that, and regardless of what the amount the County would be obligated to pay, i.e. the current $435.00 or the $435.00 X 20, in accordance with Article XI, Section 6, the Road Committee has the right to lien said property 60 days after the payment becomes due, plus interest and other associated collection costs.

So, if the County is indeed liable to pay road fees and has not, has the Road Committee filed a lien on the property?

And if not, why not?

In looking up information about this whole HPP Park situation, I ironically found this thread from almost 14 years ago right here on PunaWeb, authored by none other than PunaWeb's owner, Rob Tucker. CoH to HPP: Trust Us.

No truer words were ever spoken - especially the last two sentences! 

In legalese, a "handshake, gentlemen's agreement or a promise" are all worth the single piece of paper it SHOULD have been written on!

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Aloha. Perfect and well said.

[AinaAKai]

I once saw a video after a bunch of hooligans drove through HPP shooting, the lady, a resident of HPP said, "It's not a park and it sure as hell ain't paradise".

[HiloJulie]

Park for HPP is at least 4 years from completion
By MICHAEL BRESTOVANSKY Hawaii Tribune-Herald | Friday, October 4, 2024, 12:05 a.m.

The first public park in Hawaiian Paradise Park won’t be finished for four years at the very earliest, Hawaii County officials said Wednesday.

The Department of Parks and Recreation held a community meeting in HPP on Thursday to discuss the subdivision’s long-awaited district park, a project that has been in development since 2018. The project would be built on a county-owned parcel on Kaloli Drive between 25th and 26th avenues.

Parks and Rec Director Maurice Messina said at the meeting that the project has taken so long because of a lack of available resources following years of reduced budgets for his department. He said that when was appointed director, he chose to not undertake any new large-scale projects until the department could make progress toward addressing years of deferred maintenance at other park facilities around the island.

But even as the project finally begins to move forward, it will still be years before HPP residents can enjoy the park. Parks and Rec planner James Komata said even the most “favorable timeline” for the park would require 12 months to 18 months to complete a final design, another 12 months to 18 months to complete the permitting process, and another two years to complete construction.

Puna Councilwoman Ashley Kierkiewicz said she hopes the entire park will be completed in a single phase of work, rather than be split into multiple phases that each themselves take years to complete.

“Have you ever seen phase two actually happen?” Kierkiewicz asked, prompting laughter from attendees.

However, the project has a steep price tag: more than $80 million, according to preliminary cost estimates.

Kierkiewicz said the county will seek federal grants and will appeal to the state Legislature next year to secure funding, and wondered aloud if any philanthropic-minded billionaires happen to live in HPP.

When attendees asked why the county hasn’t attempted to secure funding in the years since the project began development, Komata said that the county “can’t get funding for a half-baked project.” Until a final design is completed and a final cost is calculated, the county can’t solicit funds.

As outlined in a preliminary design, the 20-acre park could include facilities such as a pool, skate park, community center, baseball diamond and more. Meanwhile, the park also would require new water and electrical infrastructure, as well as substantial parking space. The preliminary design includes more than 200 parking stalls.
Attendees at Wednesday’s meeting were largely positive about the prospect of a new park, with several residents noting they were late attending the meeting because they had to pick up their keiki from the next closest public park, the William “Billy” Kenoi District Park in Pahoa.

The biggest concern residents had about the park was security. On one hand, attendees said, with too little fencing, feral pigs will be able to enter the park freely and wreak havoc. On the other, too much fencing could run counter to the park’s goal of being a welcoming public space.

“We shouldn’t be designing a fortress,” said one attendee. “We don’t want to design a project to keep the homeless out. How many homeless people do you even see in HPP?”

Komata said additional public meetings will take place as the project progresses.

A draft environmental assessment for the park is expected to be completed within the next month, which will trigger a 30-day public comment period. A final assessment could be completed by early 2025, which will allow the county to finalize the design.

Email Michael Brestovansky at mbrestovansky@hawaiitribune-herald.com.

Interesting points from above:

"“Have you ever seen phase two actually happen?” Kierkiewicz asked, prompting laughter from attendees."

"...and wondered aloud if any philanthropic-minded billionaires happen to live in HPP."

How about it - - - HOTPE???  TomK??? Moderator 2???

[Patricia]

I once saw a video after a bunch of hooligans drove through HPP shooting, the lady, a resident of HPP said, "It's not a park and it sure as hell ain't paradise".

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Aloha

Have witnessed that type of hooligan behavior in other neighborhoods too (and not just in Hawaii). 

My family and I are fortunate. We have great neighbors and we all try to look out for one another. Most of the community ugliness, unfortunately, stems from differences of opinion and violations (unintentional or not) regarding the use of Owner road fees.

[Obie]

Most of the ugliness and differences of opinion come from you fanning the flames.
You and your supporters are in the minority !

[TomK]

It'd be nice if we could not be subjected to full-on all-caps shouting in the subject title. I understand why it's done, but it's considered yelling and rude in the online community.

It's not a big deal, but why? Is it simply a "look here" tactic so you can get responses? Or a newbie who doesn't know better?