(BIVN) – A member of the Hawaiʻi County Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources Preservation Commission recently conducted a site visit of a Holualoa land parcel after the commission received a public suggestion that the land be considered for preservation.

The 6.86-acres of commercial land is owned by Bishop Estate. The TMK is 7-6-016-001.

“While it wasn’t a willing seller situation, as a courtesy to the applicant I did go by and take a look,” said Commissioner Susan Wells Fischer, who viewed the subject property during an April 16 site visit. She wrote:

Located on the mauka side of Alii Drive, across from Living Stones Church. Provides parking on church days and open space when the gates are normally locked. Old lava has been minimally graded into a rolling surface with lines painted on lava. Residents say a cement factory foundation is still visible in the rear of the property.

To the south are two well-known surf breaks: Banyan’s and Lyman’s. A surfer who has been an area resident since 1969 said parking for surfers was reduced by bike lanes added to both sides of Alii Drive. A small parking lot was added across from Lyman’s, the southernmost of the two surf breaks, but is reportedly used as often by drug dealers as by surfers. Local surfers prefer no additional parking.

The Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources Preservation Commission is currently reviewing multiple suggestions for acquisition, submitted by the public. The commission’s duty is to prioritize those lands and submit a list to the County administration as recommendations for purchase using the 2% land fund.