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11-5-09 Local Connections: Tannya Joaquin and Hawaii Kai - Kamilonui Valley http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/Global/story.asp?S=11453947
HAWAII KAI (HawaiiNewsNow) This growing community is home to 30,000 people, including me.
After 50 years of change the last of the old-time farmers are feeling the pinch.
A handful of pigs still call Hawaii Kai home. But, it wasn't that long ago when there were more pigs than people. More crops than condos.
"You may not know that Kalama valley was pig farms," said author Rich Budnick. "We've got houses there today. There are houses there today, but it was pig farms and in fact, that was the first place Hawaiians fought for land rights."
Budnick is author of "Hawaii's Forgotten History." He says the turning point came when developer Henry Kaiser started building.
"Hawaii Kai, which means seaward Hawaii, actually Kai is short for Kaiser," said Budnick. "Henry Kaiser being the founder of Hawaii Kai."
This is a look above Hawaii Kai today. You'll see all the development, but this all used to be considered unvaluable swamp land.
In the 60's, Kaiser began dredging Kuapa Fish Pond, and carving out a community around the marina and Maunalua Bay.
Today, they're a main attraction for residents, a favorite spot for families like mine.
The first families moved into the neighborhood in 1961.
We found that same house. Not much has changed. The only difference? The price. Asking price back then was around $30,000.
Today, you'd be lucky to get into this neighborhood for less than $2 million!
Kaiser also pioneered the country's first town homes. Terrace Lanais were sold for $19,000.
They're still there on Kawaiahae Street, but the area is filled in now with other marina-front properties, even a Costco.
Some say Hawaii Kai is too congested now, but it's nowhere near what Kaiser had in mind.
"Henry Kaiser wanted to promote Hawaii Kai with resorts, hotels and also a 50,000 seat baseball stadium," Budnick said.
Nonetheless, Hawaii Kai has undergone a huge shift from its rural roots.
In its hay day, 60 percent of Oahu's lettuce, pigs and flowers were grown here.
Farms were everywhere, including where Kaiser High is today.
My husband Alan, a '92 graduate witnessed new complexes sprout up across from campus.
"The developments that took place of all the bare land that sat there for all those years.All these homes and townhouses started popping up," Alan Joaquin said.
As developers built up and out, farmers got pushed farther and farther inland.
"We were pushed back into this valley here," said Kamilonui farmer Glenn Nii. "It was funny because everyday the road to get back into the valley would change because there's a house in our way. So okay, we have to go around the house to get back into the valley. Major change back here."
Many residents don't realize Hawaii Kai has 87 acres of farmland, right in their own backyard.
"(It's) the last stronghold for East Oahu," Nii said.
Last month, Kamilonui farmers organized this "Keep the Valley, Valley" day to let neighbors know they're here and want to stay.
"Keep the land ag is the main thing. We need sustainability in East Oahu," Nii said.
The Nii family has had nurseries since the 50's when the area was known as Koko Head.
But, the family tradition will likely end with his generation.
"My kids don't want to do it. They see the writing on the wall," Nii said.
All the leases are up for renegotiation next year, and end in 2025. The few farmers left fear rising real estate values will force them out and alter Hawaii Kai's landscape for good.
To some, Kamilo Nui Valley is irreplaceable open space and referred to as our little bit of country. To others, Kamilo Nui Valley is a natural watershed with unknown capabilities that should be explored and managed. Yet to others, Kamilo Nui Valley is a place to celebrate, teach and learn Hawaiian traditional practices of caring for the land, Mauka to Makai.
And to all, Kamilo Nui Valley and the farm lots above Kaiser High School are the last remaining agriculture lands on the East end of Oahu and should be protected, in perpetuity, for the future generations.
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October 19th, 2009
 It was over 5 years ago when Hawaii Kai residents filled the Hahaione School Cafeteria wearing green ribbons tied to their fingers. Hawaii Kai Neighborhood Board No. 1 supported City Council Resolution 04-198 – Reiterating support for the 1999 East Honolulu Sustainable Communities Plan including preserving agricultural lands on Kamilonui Valley. In 2010 the farmer's lease rent will be re-negotiated. Please show your support for the Farmer's by coming out to our Farm Day Event. There will be food, fun for the kids, and information on how vital this area is for the future generations of Hawaii Kai and East Oahu.
Hawaii Kai Neighborhood Board Minutes 2004 http://www.co.honolulu.hi.us/refs/nco/nb1/04/1julmin.htm
http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20091004/GETPUBLISHED/910030358/Celebrating+Kamilo+Nui+Valley+-+our+little+bit+of+country
 Opens at 10:00 a.m. with the blessed New Hope Hawaii Kai band performing “God Bless America”, followed immediately by:
Plant Sale and Farmers Market - 10 to 11 a.m.
Special Appearance: by music award winning band
Bounce House and Kid Games - throughout day !!!
Teach-In's - Guest Speakers
Community Organizations – Informational Booths
Guided Walking Tours
Kau kau available all day
Questions? Comments? Please contact Pam Kam, Community Liaison to Representative Gene Ward, @ 358-9145. See you on Saturday, October 10, 2009 !
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10-31-08
KAMEHAMEHA SCHOOLS PROMISES TO HONOR KAMILO NUI VALLEY FARMERS LEASES TO KEEP LAND IN AG, AS 2010 APPROACHES: click on link for the video: www.kitv.com/video/17854272/index.html
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5-11-2008 Mothers Day Plant Sale - Our First Fundraiser in the Valley
 A big Mahalo to all that supported our 1st LHKH fundraiser! It was great to get people back into the Kamilo Nui Valley. It was so amazing to hear how many folks had never seen the farm lots and were totally impressed that they could travel just around the corner and find themselves in a country setting. Remember, don't overwater the orchids!
HCR207 CLICK ON THIS LINK TO VIEW - A RESOLUTION TO PROTECT KAMILO NUI VALLEY
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 FEBRUARY 2007
For the latest regarding Kamilo Nui Valley, Hawaii Kai's "Undeveloped Country" http://www.eastoahusun.com/features0207/country.html written by: Hillary Cramer and Elizabeth Reilly.
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 Honorable Mayor Mufi Hannemann is surrounded by Kamilo Nui Valley Farmers Judy Nii (Left), and Thomas Yamabe (Right). AJ Halagao (left), is founder of www.welovehawaiikai.com and Elizabeth Reilly (right), is founder and spokeperson for Livable Hawaii Kai Hui. This photo was taken at the Mayors Town Meeting on June 12th, 2006 at Kaiser High School.
" OUR LAST LITTLE BIT OF COUNTRY"
 Hawaii Kai has almost reached full capacity. We would like to see a few wide open spaces left for the future children of East Oahu.
 On July 27, 2004 the Honolulu City Council Planning Committee voted to support Resolution 04-198. The Hawaii Kai Neighborhood board also voted to support it. The vote was unanimous.(The 2004 article is below - scroll down.) Recently, on October 25, 2005 the neighborhood board re-instated their support for Resolution 04-198....They agreed unanimously that Hawaii Kai should keep the Urban Growth Boundary intact and not shift it to accommodate more development. Please refer to our Hawaii Kai Neighborhood Board page to read the minutes for the October 25th meeting..
Pictured above are Judy and Glenn Nii - Glenn is President of the newly organized Farmer's Co-op !
Freedom to Report Real News
Keep Hawaii Kai Green
Farms Should Be Saved
By Thomas Yamabe II, 9/22/2005 8:55:16 PM
I would like to thank the panel speakers, farmers and community members for attending the Kamilonui Valley meeting on Sept. 20, sponsored by Livable Hawaii Kai Hui. I was very much impressed with the community turnout and the concerns they expressed.
I am in complete agreement with the East Honolulu Sustainable Communities Plan, which maintains Kamilonui Valley outside the urban growth boundary. Furthermore, this plan supports Mr. Henry J. Kaiser's commitment to maintain Kamilonui Valley as open space in perpetuity and keep it in agriculture as supporting use at no cost to the City.
I want to inform the public that I and other farmers who share the same purpose with Livable Hawaii Kai Hui, will continually stay in contact to help dispel some of the erroneous information that has intentionally or otherwise, been written. For example, I am one of the older farmers in the valley who believes in a well-planned community over short term economic gain.
I agree with how the community supports keeping the valley in for open space in perpetuity.
In an article dated Sept. 22, it states that Kamehameha Schools issued a lease agreement to the farmers co-op but this is incorrect -- I know of no lease agreement with the farmer's co-op but I do know there are individual lease agreements between each farmer and Kamehameha Schools through 2027.
Approximately 30-years ago, the development of this open area was understood by all parties involved, that Kamilonui Valley is part of a permanent plan for Hawaii Kai as are schools, parks, beach access and marina, which through use, provides a service to the community. It should not be the immediate current value of land but rather the value the valley holds for the children and grandchildren of tomorrow.
I sincerely believe that recognition of a well-balanced community plan will bring socio-economic benefits to all members of the community.
Thomas Yamabe II is a Kamilonui Valley lessee.
HawaiiReporter.com reports the real news, and prints all editorials submitted, even if they do not represent the viewpoint of the editors, as long as they are written clearly. Send editorials to mailto:Malia@HawaiiReporter.com
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Posted on: Sunday, August 1, 2004
Farmland decision cheered
By Suzanne Roig
Advertiser East Honolulu Writer
HAWAI'I KAI — Wearing green ribbons tied to their thumbs, about 50 residents filled the Haha'ione Elementary School cafeteria to show their support for keeping Kamilonui Valley in farmland.
They cheered when the Hawai'i Kai Neighborhood Board voted Tuesday night to support a City Council resolution backing the East Honolulu Sustainable Communities Plan, a blueprint for building in the community that designates the land as agricultural.
The measure had been heard earlier that day at the City Council Planning Committee, which made approval dependent on the community's vote. The resolution now moves to a full council vote Aug. 11 as part of a periodic city review of the plan.
Elizabeth Reilly, who has led a grass-roots community effort to keep the valley in farmland, turned in a petition with more than 1,500 signatures to the council and the neighborhood board.
Kamilonui Valley, home to about 15 farmers of vegetables and nursery plants, has become a battleground between residents who want the leased land to continue as farms and a developer who has offered to buy the farmers out so he can build 200 new homes.
"Kamilonui Valley is the last remaining agriculture land on the east end of O'ahu," Reilly said Tuesday night. "When it is gone, it is forever. It is part of the authentic character of our community. It is one of our distinguishing features, as is Koko Crater, our private marina and easy-access shoreline."
In the past five years, Hawai'i Kai has seen the construction of about 1,000 new homes, townhomes and apartments, and residents have urged lawmakers and the community to support keeping the valley in agriculture.
Stanford Carr, who proposes to build in Kamilonui Valley, could not be reached for comment.
However, Mike Jones, president of Schuler Homes Hawai'i, said new development has a place in any community.
With four housing projects in Hawai'i Kai recently completed or being built, Schuler Homes has heard its share of complaints from residents about traffic, Jones said.
But in the long run, new housing developments provide a steady customer base for existing businesses and attract new businesses to a community, he said.
"The more people, the more businesses are attracted to the area, and it keeps the businesses that are there healthy by ensuring that they have a strong customer base," Jones said.
The community's building plan is up for city review in a process done every five years. The city sets up meetings with key community members and will hold public meetings in the fall, said Manny Menendez, who represents the city at neighborhood board meetings and is a member of the Hawai'i Kai Neighborhood Board.
Menendez suggested that the community consider establishing a land trust for the 84 acres in Kamilonui Valley so the farmers — many of whom are in their 70s — can be compensated and the community can keep the land free from development.
"We owe it to ourselves to keep the land in open space," he said.
Reach Suzanne Roig at sroig@honoluluadvertiser.com or 395-8831.
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