E xpansion plans at Hilo total 9.38 acres. According to the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development’s June 23 issue of “The Environmental Notice,” the Hilo Harbor Private Lands Acquisition and Development draft environmental assessment states “the acquisitions of parcels would allow for the expansion of the Hilo Harbor facility so that improvements can be made to help alleviate traffic congestion and improve mobility along a section of [Kalaniana‘ole Street in South Hilo].” HILO HARBOR UPGRADES Harbor currently involve the acquisition of five privately owned parcels of land that The Wilhelm Group LLC (TWG) was awarded a five-year, $4 million contract in January 2021 by the Hawaii Department of Transportation, Harbors Division for real estate devel- opment services to support the acquisi- tion of private lands at various harbors around the state, including those adja- GROWING PAINS Upgrades continue at Hilo Harbor amidst a debate over acquiring adjacent lots BY PAULA BENDER
At Hilo Harbor, white fuel tanks and Matson shipping containers are in close quarters. Plans to expand the harbor include the purchase of five privately-held neighboring properties. PHOTO BY CLAUDINEVM / ISTOCK.COM
an environmental assessment for the state’s Harbors Division. Chang’s slides included information about $15 million to $17 million in funds provided by Gov. Josh Green’s admin- istration, which some attendees mistakenly believed was the combined assessed value of the properties in question. Attendees who spoke at the meeting said that sum significantly undervalued the land. Greg Gadd, president and principal broker of Big Island Homes and Land Co., owns two 1.03-acre parcels on the Hilo side of the harbor through his own company, 595K LLC. Airgas Gaspro owns the third parcel on the Hilo side, which is 1.02 acres. And the owner of two parcels on the Keaukaha side of the harbor entrance is Sparks and Boschetti LLC, with one parcel at 5.55 acres and the other at 0.74 acres. Gadd said during the meeting that there are six businesses that will be displaced, including a church. Actively conducting business are Hilo Auto Sales & Rentals, Hilo Food Hub, Maikai Auto Body & Paint LLC, Ocean Front Kitchen, Service Rentals and Supplies Inc. and Zion’s House of
cent to Hilo Harbor.
Expanding the harbor across Kalaniana‘ole Street in Hilo will
increase cargo yard capacity to support operations, create stacking and stor- age lanes for semi-trailers and create a ground transportation staging area, roadway improvements and increased yard space for interisland and over- seas cargo operations and other improvements. CONCERNED PROPERTY OWNERS AND LESSEES At a June 23 public meeting at Keaukaha Elementary School, attend- ees viewed a slide presentation by Jared Chang, planning manager of Bowers + Kubota, the consult- ing firm responsible for preparing
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48 | BUILDING INDUSTRY HAWAII | OCTOBER 2023
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