VIDEO: Mayor Eyes 200 Acres for Olowalu to Puamana Parkway

[flashvideo file=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMqf8AMgpao /] By Wendy Osher

Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa is hopeful that a significant portion of the long-discussed Pali-to-Puamana Parkway can be secured for the county.

“There’s a very strong possibility we’ll be going to council shortly with the proposal from the Makila Land Company and Associates for the purchase of that property…  If everything works out correctly, we’ll probably go to the county council for funding,” said Mayor Arakawa.

The approximate 200 acres of land starts near the landfill in Olowalu, and continues north to Puamana.

Arakawa said the county has been working for years to create the coastal park that is envisioned to stretch from the Pali to Puamana upon completion.

Olowalu town, file photo by Wendy Osher.

The Olowalu to Puamana parcel up for discussion is along the ocean.  By purchasing the property, Arakawa said, the county would be able to create a park along the coastline.

“This would preserve the entire coastline for the community forever,” said Mayor Arakawa.

Costs associated with the project, Arakawa said, would come when a public disclosure is ready to be presented to the County Council.

“This is a project that was the number one desired project in the county for a number of years. We have pursued this as an administration,” said Arakawa who noted that the Ukumehame portion has already been acquired by the county for the first phase.

“We’re working with the Olowalu Land Company to look at the center phase,” said Arakawa.  “We’ve also been working with the state to create the new state highway.  We would probably be acquiring the roadway alignment for the new state highway at the same time.”

In terms of the Olowalu to Puamana parcel, Arakawa said, “We are in the final stages and we will probably be making a proposal to the county council very shortly.”