02-08-2015, 11:53 AM
From the Orchidland web site:
"In the early 1900’s the Puna lands were used primarily for raising cattle. The land was marginal at best for farming and ranching, so in the late 1950’s the property owners decided to subdivide and sell off most of this land. The developer’s permits were issued for Orchidland Estates, Hawaiian Paradise Park, Hawaiian Acres, and several other subdivisions all at the same time. It should be noted that this “time” was before Hawaii became a state. By getting the permits under the rules of the Territory of Hawaii, the developers were able to avoid the more strict requirements of the U.S. Federal Government. We ended up with some huge subdivisions of ¼ to 3 acre parcels, agriculturally zoned, with private roads, and no utilities or services provided."
I'm not sure the "county" in anything that resembles it's current configuration had anything to do with paved roads, electricity, water, sidewalks, sewage, streetlights, or parks. These subdivisions exist because developers wanted to make money, and pre-statehood bureaucrats wanted tax revenue.
"In the early 1900’s the Puna lands were used primarily for raising cattle. The land was marginal at best for farming and ranching, so in the late 1950’s the property owners decided to subdivide and sell off most of this land. The developer’s permits were issued for Orchidland Estates, Hawaiian Paradise Park, Hawaiian Acres, and several other subdivisions all at the same time. It should be noted that this “time” was before Hawaii became a state. By getting the permits under the rules of the Territory of Hawaii, the developers were able to avoid the more strict requirements of the U.S. Federal Government. We ended up with some huge subdivisions of ¼ to 3 acre parcels, agriculturally zoned, with private roads, and no utilities or services provided."
I'm not sure the "county" in anything that resembles it's current configuration had anything to do with paved roads, electricity, water, sidewalks, sewage, streetlights, or parks. These subdivisions exist because developers wanted to make money, and pre-statehood bureaucrats wanted tax revenue.