HALEIWA, Hawaii (KHON2) — The North Shore first responders hub across from Sharks Cove could become a reality.
Mayor Blangiardi announced that the City intends to purchase the land after years of back and forth with one of the landowners.
Since 2023, North Shore residents have been advocating for a first responder hub instead of a commercial retail hub.
“There’s been a huge community effort, and it’s even gone global in terms of over 8,500 people signing a petition,” explained North Shore resident and Save Sharks Cove Alliance member Denise Antolini.
She and others have been in talks with the Mayor’s team about the idea of a first responders hub, which would add an ambulance for the district, and be a world-class facility for Ocean Safety.
“We know how important safety is having some of the biggest surf in the world, we have the best water men and women working at ocean safety and we know we need more ambulance presence, even fire and police when you’re looking at rural communities and that stretch of highway,” explained Honolulu City Council Member Matt Weyer, who represents the North Shore.
Just a few months ago, there were discussions of using the land as a 34,000-square-foot shopping center, but during the State of the City, Mayor Blangiardi announced the city’s intent to purchase the land for the hub instead.
“These plans are subject to a negotiated sales price with the current land owner but this facility would be transformative for our north shore communities,” he said during his announcement.
“It’s really been more than a year of his [Blangiardi] team and his hard work and dedication to see where the opportunities were to make it a win-win for the landowner and for the community,” Antolini added. “So he finally made a breakthrough in the last couple of months, and we’re incredibly grateful his team worked really hard on this.”
The land sits across from Sunset Beach fire station and one of the busiest ocean rescue areas on the island with no lifeguard tower.
“This really is going to be a home base for our North Shore lifeguards and increase first responder presence in that community which is going to reduce response times and increase access to lifesaving care,” Weyer added.
The City Council’s budget bill has set aside $26 million for the land. The entire sale, including the price, is still under negotiation with the landowner.
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“I think the investment is really valuable and needed, and with that in mind we need to be open to what the final price is going to be,” Weyer continued.
KHON2 reached out to the landowner’s attorney for comment but has not yet heard back.