Nearly 600 community residents from the Ko’olauloa community–including Laie, Hauula and Kahuku– participated in Envision Laie workshops this week, held in BYU-Hawaii’s Cannon Activities Center.
From 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, identical workshops were held to gather opinions from community members on sustainability and possible expansion of residential and retail locations, as well as the BYU–Hawaii campus.
Lead consultant Robert Grow and his planning team worked with Fregonese Associates to present options to community members and design a program to obtain feedback. After a short presentation, the workshop attendees were invited to answer a handful of questions regarding their concerns and the vision they have for the future of Laie. They used an instant polling system that provided immediate results, allowing all present to see how the group voted on each question. The attendees were then given the opportunity to work in small groups around a map of the region to decide the best places for residential, business, education, retail, and other types of expansion.
Between Tuesday and Wednesday nights, over 500 community members worked on 61 maps and placed over 10,000 stickers denoting their opinions for new development.
On Thursday evening, the planning experts reconvened with the community to present what they had learned from the workshops and answer questions. Through his presentation, Grow explained that he and his team learned that:
- The top concerns for community members are affordable housing and expanded job opportunities for the local community.
- Many community members want to explore alternative energy resources.
- Expansion of the BYU-Hawaii campus is important for long-term sustainability.
- Most groups showed new development beyond the current Rural Community Boundaries.
- There is strong support for Cane Haul Road as an alternative to Kamehameha Highway.
- The community has enthusiasm about a bike and pedestrian pathway connecting the communities of Hauula, Laie, and Kahuku.
- 90% of community members placed new development in Malaekahana.
- 68% placed new development in Kahuku.
Grow explained that the process is just beginning, and it will take the involvement and action of all community members to move in the needed direction.
For more information and continual updates, visit www.EnvisionLaie.com.