Welcome to the `Āina Haina Community Association
The `Āina Haina Community Association (AHCA) was founded in 1966 by residents committed to ensuring the quality of life and preserving the values that have made `Āina Haina one of the most desirable places in which to live on the Island of O'ahu. Today, our community numbers just under 25,000 residents with homes commanding some of the highest and most stable property values in Honolulu. With your continued support, active participation and the strong community and family spirit for which `Āina Haina is known, we will work together to sustain these values for generations to come. If you and your family have lived here as long as many, mahalo nui loa for your support.
If you are new to this area, e komo mai and please be sure to join the AHCA to help preserve a beautiful, safe and thriving `Āina Haina. Approximately forty percent of households in the community are members who elect an all-volunteer Board of Directors each year at the `Āina Haina Community Association General Meeting. All Directors live in our community -- some for generations.
During each program year spanning July 1 to June 30, the Board of Directors is tasked with ensuring that each tenet of the AHCA charter is upheld:
1. to promote the general welfare of the `Āina Haina area and its residents
2. to foster a positive community spirit and
3. to take informed action when necessary on community problems
If you are new to this area, e komo mai and please be sure to join the AHCA to help preserve a beautiful, safe and thriving `Āina Haina. Approximately forty percent of households in the community are members who elect an all-volunteer Board of Directors each year at the `Āina Haina Community Association General Meeting. All Directors live in our community -- some for generations.
During each program year spanning July 1 to June 30, the Board of Directors is tasked with ensuring that each tenet of the AHCA charter is upheld:
1. to promote the general welfare of the `Āina Haina area and its residents
2. to foster a positive community spirit and
3. to take informed action when necessary on community problems
PLEASE ATTEND
OUR GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
Wednesday, August 21, 2024, 7:00 pm
At a new location: Holy Nativity Church, next to AH Shopping Center
We will be voting for a new slate of Directors:
Nominees: President-Jeanne Ohta; Vice President-Melia Lane-Kamahele; Membership Secretary-Kathy Takemoto; Treasurer-Meymo
Rego; Directors-At-Large-Wayson Chow, Bill Kilcoyne, Marie Riley
and
there will be updates on issues we have been working on: Wailupe Stream, the Keikilani Circle hillside project, Commercial Wedding Businesses and Conservation Land on Manauwea Street.
See our August 2024 Newsletter here
OUR GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
Wednesday, August 21, 2024, 7:00 pm
At a new location: Holy Nativity Church, next to AH Shopping Center
We will be voting for a new slate of Directors:
Nominees: President-Jeanne Ohta; Vice President-Melia Lane-Kamahele; Membership Secretary-Kathy Takemoto; Treasurer-Meymo
Rego; Directors-At-Large-Wayson Chow, Bill Kilcoyne, Marie Riley
and
there will be updates on issues we have been working on: Wailupe Stream, the Keikilani Circle hillside project, Commercial Wedding Businesses and Conservation Land on Manauwea Street.
See our August 2024 Newsletter here
Problems with SB 3202-Relating to Urban Development/Act 039(2024)
1-no affordability language
2-overrides county rule, which should remain at the county level to address different needs and to reflect community concerns and ideas.
Although many community groups worked hard to oppose the controversial bill SB 3202, which requires counties to allow for at least 2 homes on a residential lot, the bill was passed by close votes in the House and Senate. The original version of the bill required a minimum of 4 homes on a lot.
Why we oppose this bill:
Click HERE to see the testimony AHCA submitted to the legislature
AHCA will continue to track the progress of the proposals at the City Council to respond to the requirements of Act 39. The City has until 2026 to make the required changes. We will update the community on the different proposals as they move through the City Council.
1-no affordability language
2-overrides county rule, which should remain at the county level to address different needs and to reflect community concerns and ideas.
Although many community groups worked hard to oppose the controversial bill SB 3202, which requires counties to allow for at least 2 homes on a residential lot, the bill was passed by close votes in the House and Senate. The original version of the bill required a minimum of 4 homes on a lot.
- The Star Advertiser reported that testimony opposing the bill outnumbered supporters by 3 to 1
- Legislators have said they received hundreds of emails in opposition to SB 3202
- The bill was fast-tracked in the Senate and received only one hearing in the House, which helped special interest groups
Why we oppose this bill:
- If this bill is about creating affordable housing, why is there no language in the bill to ensure affordability and to disincentivize investors and outside buyers from outbidding local families? Other states and counties that enacted similar legislation have included affordability and/or anti-speculation language.
- Former state legislator and real estate broker, Gary Hooser, writes in his blog, "Giving increased density to land owners and developers is a huge gift that immediately increases the value of their property - and should have strings attached." https://garyhooser.blog/2024/05/14/sb3202-bad-policy-for-all-islands-and-includes-a-hidden-provision-that-rewrites-the-kauai-county-charter/
- Affordable housing developer, Peter Savio, states, "If you think the cost of housing in Hawai'i is bad now, this bill will make it worse...It will not produce affordable housing for those who need it most, because there is nothing in the bill to address affordability." https://www.civilbeat.org/2024/04/hawaii-housing-on-the-verge-of-getting-a-lot-more-expensive/
- Star Advertiser:” Eliminating single-family zoning isn't an affordable housing policy” https://www.staradvertiser.com/2024/02/29/editorial/island-voices/column-eliminating-single-family-zoning-isnt-an-affordable-housing-policy/
- Our property taxes will increase because of the upzoning.
Click HERE to see the testimony AHCA submitted to the legislature
AHCA will continue to track the progress of the proposals at the City Council to respond to the requirements of Act 39. The City has until 2026 to make the required changes. We will update the community on the different proposals as they move through the City Council.
Wailupe Fire Station Transfer of Land
When the Honolulu Fire Department decided not to use property they had transferred from the Department of Education and the Department of Parks and Recreation, AHCA asked the city to reverse the land transfer. We believe that if HFD does not plan on using the property, the transfer should be reversed. In addition, AHCA found irregularities in the process the city used to transfer the land. In fact, by the time the community was informed about the new fire station, the transfer had already been completed. Regulations require that the adjacent neighbors to the property be notified about the change. When they were finally notified, the map that was attached was incorrect and did not show the forty foot driveway that extended down to Hind Drive. The board members of AHCA researched extensively about transferring land. Read a letter we sent to our elected officials that provides the reasons we opposed the transfer of land and why we requested that the transfer be reversed. The letter is long because it includes exhibits and maps. Read the letter here
We are currently concerned about the
Wakea Kai Condominium Project at
5203 Keikilani Circle,
near `Āina Haina Elementary School.
Update: Pu`uhonua o Wailupe, a group founded by lineal descendants
of the `iwi kupuna found on the property and Native Hawaiian cultural practitioners
is currently seeking to protect the `iwi and burial sites and caves with a grant from
the City's Clean Water and Natural Lands Fund, the same fund that helped
purchase the property on Upper Hao Street
The Clean Water and Natural Lands Board is waiting for approval of an Archeological Inventory Survey by the State Historic Preservation Division of the Department of Land and Natural Resources. The board is also required to conduct an appraisal of the property before taking any action.
For more information on Puuhonua o Wailupe click here
For more information on the Clean Water and Natural Lands Fund click here
To help keep the community informed, we have posted the following documents:
Declaration of Condominium Property Regime
Condominium Map
Rockfall Hazard Assessment
Geotechnical Report
OHA Request to DPP
DLNR Request to DPP
Read the Civilbeat Article "Aina Haina Residents Nervous about Hillside Development" here
Do you live on or near Wailupe Stream?
At our General Meeting on October 21, 2015 we heard the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) tell us that the Wailupe Stream flood mitigation project is now terminated because the cost/benefit ratio is less than 1. The alternative is a smaller project with a cost not to exceed $10 million. The terminated project was estimated at $30-40 million, so the new proposal is to only construct the highest priority flood solution. City and State partners must request the smaller project.
We are organizing a Wailupe Stream Committee, to be sure that the various issues along the stream are identified and addressed and so that community members have a say in the smaller project.
We also learned that the City is conducting a survey of problems along the stream that need to be repaired. The Wailupe Stream Committee will also work with the City to be sure their Facilities Maintenance Department is aware of problems.
In the mean time, the AHCA Board has requested a copy of the Cost/Benefit Analysis so that we know how what costs and factors where used in the analysis. When we receive that report, we will post it on this website.
If you are interested in joining the committee, please email AinaHainaAssoc@gmail.com.
AINA HAINA PREPARED
Preparing for...Responding to...Recovering from...Disasters
join the group, attend meetings and presentations
read more
UPPER HAO STREET Project
The City and County of Honolulu purchased the property and it is now zoned as Preservation. Thank you to everyone who helped!
for more information on the background and history click here
Floating rock
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Face Rock
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