Miloliʻi Community Enrichment and Historical Center

United States Housing and Urban Development Congressional Grant (EDI) through United States Senator Daniel K. Inouye

In 2003 United Stateʻs Senator Daniel K. Inouye visited the fishing village of Miloliʻi on a official trip touring the various native Hawaiian communities in the South Kona region. Senator Inouye spent several hours in Miloliʻi visiting with its residents, listening to their concerns and having lunch at the Miloliʻi halau. One of the communities needs that was brought to his attention was the lack of a dedicated community center to help the community address its educational and social issues. Touched by Miloliʻi, its people, their simple life and aloha when he returned to Washington DC he championed a $298,000.00 appropriation in the 2006 Congressional budget to plan, design and build a community center for Miloliʻi. The appropriation was managed by the United States Office of Housing and Urban Developmentʻs Economic Development Initiative Special Projects Grants Division through its recipient Paʻa Pono Miloliʻi Inc.

The Miloliʻi Community Enrichment and Historical center is a multipurpose community center situated on State-owned lands that will be the primary gathering space for public meetings, cultural activities, and educational and recreational programs. In 2013 Paʻa Pono Miloliʻʻi Inc. entered into a 65 year lease with the State of Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources to develop 4 10,000 SF lots on which the facilities will reside. In order to break ground on the project Paʻa Pono Miloliʻi and its staff spent two years to complete the design and planning process. In order to get the release of funds from HUD and the building permit from the County of Hawaiʻi, and the lease from DLNR, Paʻa Pono Miloliʻi completed:

  • Federal Environmental Impact Assessment
  • State Chapter 343 Environmental Impact Assessment
  • National Historic Preservation Assessment
  • State Historic Preservation Assessment & Archaeological Survey
  • Section 106 and Cultural Impact Assessment
  • Special Management Area Permit
  • Conservation District Use Permit
  • County of Hawaiʻi Planning Department Approval
  • County of Hawaiʻi Building Department Approval

The design and planning team that Paʻa Pono Miloliʻi Inc. worked with over a two year period was:

  • Farber and Associates
  • Lewellyn Architectural and Design
  • Honua Consulting
  • Robert C. Smelker & Associates
  • Island Survey (Hilo)
  • Engineering Partners (Hilo)

The first and second phases of the project were awarded to JCP Construction of Hilo who broke ground on the project in August of 2013. The entire project is estimated to be completed in the Fall of 2015 and when completed will feature:

  • 3200 Square Foot Community Center (Enclosed and Open Air)
    Classrooms
  • Historical Library
  • Staff Office
  • Gift Store / Concession Area
  • Certified Kitchen
  • Menʻs and Womenʻs Restrooms
  • Double Guest House Facility With Showers
  • Storage Facility
  • Hale Waʻa & Workshop
  • 25 Stall Parking Lot with 5 ADA Stalls
  • ADA Compliant Entrance and Exit Walkways and Ramps
  • Potable Water Storage Facility
  • Photovoltaic Power Supply System
  • Native Hawaiian Landscaping

Project Location:

Miloliʻi Beach Road
Miloliʻi, HI 96704

Ahupuaʻa: Hoʻopūloa
District: South Kona
Island: Hawaiʻi

Tax Map Key No.: (3) 8-9-014: 038, 039, 040, and 041.

Size: 40,000 sq. ft. (0.918 acre).

The total estimated cost of the project is $1 Million Dollars.

Paʻa Pono Miloliʻi Inc. is currently seeking and securing additional funding to complete the Miloliʻi Community Enrichment and Historical Center. We are accepting contributions exclusively for the construction of the center and all donors will be recognized on a plaque at the entrance to the facility. If you are interested in becoming a donor please contact project manager Kai Kahele directly at 808-783-4069 or email: paaponoinc@gmail.com. You can also make a donation through our Pay Pal link. ALL donations of any monetary value are greatly appreciated.




Click on the links below to view the documents and plans associated with the Miloliʻi Community Enrichment and Historical Center: