Hawaii Community Stories
Kohala
By The Sea (KBTS) is a developed gated community situated approximately
32 miles north of Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii. KBTS covers approximately
77 acres. The general topography is a gentle slope of nine percent. However,
there is a large gulch that runs through the middle of the community. This
gulch is a particular fire hazard because of the keawe trees and haole koa
brush within it. The keawe trees are known firebrand carriers. There are
73 home sites; ten homes have been constructed and 30 more homes are in
different stages of completion. KBTS has underground utilities, paved roads,
hydrants, and setbacks.
KBTS sits in a very high fire-risk area and flammable vegetation within
the community is a concern. The KBTS community is surrounded and intermixed
by bunchgrass, which produces fast moving and intense fire conditions. The
strong onshore winds that persist every day make this community prone to
wildfires. In October 1993, a wildfire destroyed six structures in the subdivision
adjacent to KBTS. There are at least 43 home sites that are vacant and covered
with the bunch grass. The gulch within the community has large keawe trees
and low haole koa brush. The keawe trees are known to be carriers of firebrands.
However, the existing homes are at very low risk to wildfires. The community
association has strict ordinances that require homebuilders to use fire-resistant
roofs such as Class A roofing.
Some
of the plants used by KBTS residents in their Firewise landscaping efforts
are succulents and native varietals. These include naupaka, ice plants,
hearts & flower, spider lilies, queen emma lilies, and asparagus fern, and
broumiliades among others. Fabio Franzo, a member of the Kohala by the Sea
Firewise Committee, is also a landscape architect and lent his expertise
to the community effort. “We’re very pleased to receive national Firewise
recognition for our efforts,” says Franzo. “We’re concerned about brush
fires and want to do what we can to protect our property.”
The community has one functional point of egress and ingress. There is a
paved road on the north side that ties into the adjacent community of Kohala
Estates. This road could be used as an escape route. Another escape route
is being planned on the south end of the community. A volunteer fire station
is located approximately 1.5 miles from the community.
A
Firewise workshop for KBTS residents was conducted on January 17, 2004.
As part of the Firewise Committee’s public education campaign, it mailed
or hand delivered information kits containing brochures, checklists, and
local newspaper articles to every landowner in KBTS. Firewise videos were
distributed throughout the community by the Firewise. The architect for
KBTS also received Firewise videos and the Firewise construction checklist.
Now when property owners submit plans to build in Kohala by the Sea, they
are given the Firewise construction checklist and the “How to Build a Firewise
Home” video. Part of Kohala By The Sea’s Firewise plan includes seeking
grant funding to remove kiawe trees from a gulch that runs through the community.
Kohala by the Sea is the first community in the state of Hawaii to achieve
Firewise Communities/USA status.
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