HONOLULU (KHON2) — North Shore residents are speaking out against changes to a proposed gondola up Mount Ka’ala.
They said certain approved conditions are not being followed.
Conceptual plans for the gondola project’s conditional use permit (CUP) were greenlit by the Department of Planning and Permitting back in 2019 — North Shore Rep. Sean Quinlan said the community has been fighting it ever since.
“It’s insulting. It’s offensive. And you got to remember, Hawaii, we had the good sense to ban billboards 120 years ago. So if we ban billboards, why would we ever allow a gondola, a ski lift or tram on the side of a mountain,” Rep. Quinlan said.
The developer submitted a minor modification to the CUP in September, and the North Shore Neighborhood Board said it is concerning.
One issue is that the most recent modification request asked the DPP to remove previously required conditions, like more than 550 acres of land that was supposed to be reserved for forestry.
“It’s not a matter of, ‘oh, I bought this land and I can do whatever I want.’ There are regulations for a reason. You know, we can’t keep preaching sustainability and keep taking away the main thing. We need to be sustainable,” North Shore Neighborhood Board vice chair Racquel Achiu said.
The DPP is reviewing the modification request and said a public comment period is open until Thursday, Oct. 23.
“I think a project like this impacts everybody because it sets precedent. So please, I encourage everyone to please reach out, submit your comments to DPP regarding this project,” Achiu said.
Rep. Quinlan added he has already drafted a bill for the upcoming Legislative session that would ban all chairlifts and gondolas throughout Hawaii.
“I’m hoping that even if they’re CUP is granted, that if we ban gondolas statewide, that it would become retroactive. And just going back to the billboard thing, we banned billboards. We didn’t let the existing ones stay, we took them all down,” he said.
The general manager of Kaukonahua Ranch said in a statement:
“Kaukonahua Ranch’s minor modification application will significantly reduce the scope of the agribusiness project approved by the City and County of Honolulu in 2019. These reductions and changes are based on feedback from the Department of Planning and Permitting and the community:
– “Of Kaukonahua Ranch’s 2,400-plus acres, only a tiny percentage will be used for the agribusiness project’s structures, which is less than one one-thousandth (1/1,000th) of the whole Ranch. Almost all of Kaukonahua Ranch’s lands will continue to be utilized for raising cattle and other livestock, growing diversified agriculture, habitat preservation, and reforestation of native Hawaiian trees.
– “The footprint of the gondola that will transport agricultural workers and materials and guests across the Kaukonahua valley has been reduced by more than 50% from the originally approved design.
– “The modified gondola will now reach a lower elevation of only 1,250 feet, ending at a point on Kaukonahua Ranch’s property that is approximately 2,800 feet below and two miles away from the summit of Mt. Ka‘ala.
“We are committed to being good stewards of Kaukonahua Ranch and our goal is to provide the public with unprecedented access for hiking, biking, growing agriculture, enjoying nature, and experiencing cultural and education programs. Once our project is fully underway, it will create and sustain more than 200 jobs for North Shore residents and help support other businesses in the area.”
Mark “Skip” Taylor
Kaukonahua Ranch general manager