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Regional park proposed with West Maui Village plans

By Staff | Mar 20, 2014

The proposed 50-acre regional park would include soccer fields, baseball/softball fields, basketball courts, dog park, walking trail and restrooms.

NAPILI – With a grading permit recently issued, groundbreaking ceremonies for the latest condominium project on the West Side were held in Napili on Feb. 27.

Approved in 2007, West Maui Village is situated mauka of Honoapiilani Highway on 9.65 acres, the old Rainbow Ranch site, above the Napilihau intersection, just north of Maui Preparatory Academy.

Zoned light industrial, the design incorporates 158 one-, two- and three-bedroom townhomes in 25 buildings.

Square footage ranges from about 800 to 1,500 square feet.

There will be 12 affordable residences.

The property was purchased by the Bach Corporation (Utah) from Maui Land and Pineapple Co. Inc. with all entitlements.

Howard Kihune Jr. represents the developer.

“They (Bach Corporation) acquired the project. It closed back in November 2013. It will actually be about June 1 for them to start construction and go full-speed ahead, hopefully. It would probably take about 30 months to fully build out. We’re gonna work from one corner and go through the place,” Kihune advised the Lahaina News.

Buildings will be wood frame with stucco, rock fascia and tile roofs.

The architect is Clifford Planning and Architects out of Honolulu.

“Our architect, Janine Clifford, has done a great job in maintaining that plantation feel throughout the project by way of the exterior finishes,” Kihune observed.

“We won’t be touching the Cook Pines. We’re going to incorporate them into the landscaping design.”

There are two entrances to the property: one off Napilihau Road and the other off Hui Road C.

“We’re trying to build it green to some extent,” Kihune commented. “We’re trying to see if we can incorporate photovoltaic into the project. We actually even acquired some property just above this project. We may even think about putting a small little solar farm on that property that will supply the project.”

Solar farms can be built on ag lands, he added.

There will be a one-acre drainage basin abutting the site.

Designed by Ronald M. Fukumoto Engineering, the basin will capture all the water, he said. Overflow will be funneled along a concrete drainage-way to the culvert under the highway at the Napilihau/Honoapiilani intersection, Kihune explained.

“We have some park requirements,” Kihune noted. “We’ve initiated with Maui Land and Pine a proposal for a 50-acre regional park on the other side of Maui Prep.”

The regional park schematics include playing fields, two hard courts, play and passive areas and a dog park.

“It is not approved by the county; it is proposed, and County Council approval is required. The fact that the mayor, his administration and parks director is on board, we’re excited about it,” he said.

“It’s a nice piece of property; it affords really, really great view planes, and it will enhance the area,” Kihune concluded.