The Pana‘ewa Farmers Market could be expanded under a proposed plan for a resiliency hub in Hilo.
According to an environmental assessment published Sunday, the Keaukaha Pana‘ewa Farmers Association plans to build a “resiliency and agricultural innovation hub” on Railroad Avenue.
The hub would be located on the same 10-acre parcel owned by the state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands where the farmers market is held every Saturday.
The hub would consist of six modular pavilions designed for various purposes. Some would act as space to host activities and workshops, another would house a commercial kitchen, and others would be used to store farm equipment. The pavilions would be connected by an elevated lanai and centered around a central open space intended for demonstration activities such as hula.
Surrounding the hub would be other agricultural demonstration areas, a playground, and a 70-stall parking area. The full facility would cover about 17,490 square feet.
According to the assessment, the hub would be used to improve community food security and help improve the distribution of resources in the event of a disaster.
“As an isolated island in the Pacific, evacuation to a neighboring state to escape impact or seek shelter is not an option,” according to the assessment. “If Hawaii’s airports or harbors are significantly damaged, access to assistance and supplies could be delayed. In this event, it is projected that individuals and families must rely on a minimum of two weeks of their own emergency supplies and resources. A high hazard exposure, coupled with physical and social vulnerabilities, underscores the necessity to anticipate and prepare for future disaster events.”
Keaukaha Pana‘ewa Farmers Association President Maile Lu‘uwai told the Tribune-Herald that the project has been in the works in some capacity since 2019, and the need for such a hub was highlighted during the pandemic in 2020 and 2021.
“The community decided that we need our own open space,” Lu‘uwai said. “We’re part of a homestead community, but we have no facility, no place where we can all come together.
“And if there was a disaster … what would we use as a shelter?” Lu‘uwai went on. “The last hurricane we had was scary. If it had hit, there’s people in Pana‘ewa whose homes would have been flattened.”
Lu‘uwai said the design for the facility isn’t finalized yet, but added that it should be built to withstand hurricanes. She also said that after it is built, the KPFA will try to secure funding to train volunteers to help with disaster response.
So far, no preliminary construction cost has been published, because the design hasn’t been finalized, Lu‘uwai said. But she said she hopes to streamline the preliminary plans to keep costs down, and seek federal funding and other grants to cover as much of the costs as possible.
“We don’t need anything fancy, we just need a functional facility,” Lu‘uwai said. “We don’t have a million-dollar benefactor.”
Lu‘uwai said construction could begin by 2025, with this year and next spent finalizing the design, securing funding, conducting community outreach, and obtaining other necessary permits and documentation.
With the assessment anticipating no significant environmental impact, a 30-day public comment period is in effect until May 8. The assessment can be viewed at tinyurl.com/y78h25bb, and comments can be submitted to RAIH@g70.design.
Email Michael Brestovansky at mbrestovansky@hawaiitribune-herald.com.