The Aina Haina Community Association wants the city to revoke — instead of temporarily suspend — permits issued to developer Jeff Stone to construct homes on land where cultural sites might have existed.

The Planning Department suspended Stone’s permits on the Aina Haina project Tuesday after it received a letter from the state Department of Land and Natural Resources urging the city to halt work at the site and to require Stone to conduct an archaeological inventory.

Two single-family houses are being built at 1055 and 1057 Hao St.

The Department of Planning and Permitting met with representatives of the Historic Preservation Division and the developer Wednesday to address the suspension of the permits.

Planning Department spokesman Curtis Lum would not comment on what was discussed at the meeting. Stone could not be reached for comment.

"This is an explosive situation that should have never happened," said Wayson Chow, president of the Aina Haina Community Association.

Chow added that area residents had raised concerns well before the city issued permits, saying there were sites of cultural significance on the property. "People are just angry at the city and the state’s inaction and the failure to protect the public’s interest," he said.

George Atta, planning director designate, had said the site was not flagged by the Historic Preservation Division and that no records were found in the Planning Department’s files of historic sites of cultural significance on the property.

Aina Haina resident Danny Loui said he is relieved by the suspension of the permits but wants the city to do more. "We want the permits to be permanently revoked," he said.

Atta has said he hopes the matter is resolved within two months. If an agreement isn’t reached between the Historic Preservation Division and the developer, the Planning Department will make a decision on the project.