Kamehameha Schools eyes Haleiwa parcel

Kamehameha Schools is evaluating whether to reacquire city-owned parcels in Haleiwa, part of the same property that D.G. "Andy" Anderson wants for a boutique hotel.

The city obtained four of the six parcels from Bishop Estate, now known as Kamehameha Schools, through condemnation in July 1970 to expand Haleiwa Beach Park. The expansion never occurred and the parcels remain undeveloped.

The city has asked Kamehameha Schools to indicate by today whether it is interested in purchasing the land.

Spokeswoman Ann Botticelli said the nonprofit is still weighing the city’s offer. "We have told the city we’re interested in considering it," she said.

The city also is considering selling the six parcels, zoned as preservation l and on the mauka side of Kamehameha Highway, to Anderson, another abutting property owner.

The city notified Kamehameha Schools about a month ago that it was preparing to sell the land.

Botticelli said the parcel, if purchased, would be used for cultural, educational and/or agricultural activities consistent with the organization’s North Shore Master Plan.

If Kamehameha Schools does express interest, the estate would be given time to develop plans to present to the North Shore Neighborhood Board, a process that would likely take several months, according to a city spokesman.

From there, the city would evaluate and decide whether to formally offer the parcels for sale to abutting property owners. Any sale would require approval from the City Council.

Anderson told the city in May of his interest in acquiring a single city-owned parcel next to Jameson’s By The Sea Restaurant, the land under which he bought last month. The city said it is not interested in selling a single parcel, but is considering selling the six parcels as a group.

Anderson plans to develop a hotel reminiscent of the Haleiwa Hotel, which opened in 1898, and what he called "a private public park" next to the hotel for open markets, luaus and weddings.

Anderson presented his plan Tuesday night at a North Shore Neighborhood Board meeting. Despite the large number of opponents at the meeting, Anderson said he will proceed with his interest in the land.