25-02-2025
Plans to revitalize prime real estate on Big Island moving forward
HILO, Hawaii (KHON2) — Another derelict building on Banyan Drive in Hilo shuts down for good. This as lawmakers move one step closer to creating a master plan to revitalize the surrounding old country club on Hilo's Banyan Drive is officially closed. According to the Department of Land and Natural Resources Land Division, Banyan Drive Management LLC terminated their lease as of 5 p.m. Feb. 24, and DLNR ordered the closure of the property effective 5:01 p.m.
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DLNR said all tenants were given notice and vacated the premises before the 5 p.m. deadline.
DLNR put up barriers Friday to prevent trespassing and other illegal activity and said they plan to maintain security there until they decide how to handle it.
It will likely be torn down like Uncle Billy's was less than 200 yards away, according to Hilo Rep. Sue Keohokapu-Lee Loy.
'That building has reached its lifespan and it'll be very challenging to rehabilitate that building. And ideally what we don't want is DLNR using precious resources through DOCARE just to provide security,' she explained.
Meanwhile, the push to revitalize Banyan Drive is gaining traction with HB818 breezing through the finance committee Monday afternoon.
The bill establishes the Waiakea Peninsula Community Development District, sets guidelines for Hawaii Community Development Authority tasked with creating a master plan for the area and gives the community a voice at the table.
'What the bill does is really just create that pathway for long range planning stakeholder conversations and really looking at iterations of a future for the peninsula,' Keohokapu-Lee Loy explained.
Early on, DLNR opposed the bill because it initially sought to transfer the land out of their perview.
'Our appreciation that you heard our concerns and you did delete the section transferring Waiakea Peninsula to HCDA,' DLNR Chairperson Dawn Chang said to the House Finance Committee during Monday's meeting.
Keohokapu-Lee Loy said discussions about conveyance of land from one state agency to the other will require further conversations.
The legislature set aside $1 million dollars last legislative session for the Waiakea Peninsula Master Plan that should be transferred to HCDA if the HB818 passes.
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