Buyer awaits landowner’s decision on land beneath Koloa Camp homes

Developer Peter Savio is waiting to hear from Grove Farm Co. on his offer to purchase the land at Koloa Camp on Kauai to help a group of tenants stay at the homes they’ve lived in for decades.

Tenants have less than a month on the property after the landowner issued an eviction notice to vacate by March 8. In the latter part of January, Savio sent a letter to Grove Farm expressing his interest in purchasing the land at its appraised value.

"We’re just waiting to hear back from Grove Farm. They’re the landowner. It’s their decision to say yes or no," he said.

Grove Farm Senior Vice President Mike Tresler could not be reached for comment.

Koloa Camp tenants, meanwhile, are anxiously waiting to hear whether Grove Farm will accept Savio’s offer.

In November, the landowner sent a 120-day eviction notice to make way for a proposed 50-unit housing residential subdivision. Grove Farm plans to break ground in April.

Savio said he plans to help Koloa Camp tenants purchase their homes as he did for tenants of Poamoho Camp on Oahu.

In 2004, Savio agreed to acquire the land under Poamoho Camp north of Wahiawa after Del Monte Fresh Produce decided not to renew its lease with the landowner, George Galbraith Trust. Three hundred tenants faced eviction.

Savio obtained a $2.6 million loan from First Hawaiian Bank to purchase about 90 acres of land that include the 34-acre Poamoho Camp. His plan involved selling back the homes to tenants for $95,000 to $100,000, or half the market value.