HPU's Kaneohe campus to expand

Is this type of expansion even allowed on conservation land? Hawaii Administrative Rules 13-5-22 to 13-5-25 states the types of things you can do on conservation land, and it doesn't seem to include this type of expansion.

A college is a worthy goal; however, it's still a commerical business, and thus not a suitable for conservation lands?

Moa Kaka wrote:

Is this type of expansion even allowed on conservation land? Hawaii Administrative Rules 13-5-22 to 13-5-25 states the types of things you can do on conservation land, and it doesn't seem to include this type of expansion.
A college is a worthy goal; however, it's still a commerical business, and thus not a suitable for conservation lands?

I can't quote specific administrative rules but would like to point out that HPU is not a commercial business. It is a non-profit. It also already has an old master plan on file with the DLNR.

Aloha

I guess it would have a master plan on file, before it was able to build the current buildings.

As for non-profits, I think they can still engage in commercial activity and make money. They just can't pay out dividends (unearned) to investors like corporations. The non-profits can only pay out salaries (earned)- but that doesn't mean you can't get rich at it. Heads of non-profit hospitals make millions, and the Red Cross CEO made over $600,000 in salary. But, I'm not a lawyer or accountant, so I realize I could be wrong.

Being a so-called non-profit has nothing to do with how they must treat the land. They are subject to the same law as anyone else.

Is HPU non-profit or not-for-profit?

Phoenix is for-profit and HPU is non-profit.

It's about the land, not who has it. If you were Hawaiian would it be OK to do whatever you want on conservation versus if you were not Hawaiian? That said, why should this land even be conservation? It's not a coastline or a watershed or a secluded valley in the middle of the island. What's to conserve? Maybe they will change the zoning to more accurately reflect the planned use. I support HPU's planned use for this land as Hawaii needs more higher education alternatives.

As for the Non-Profit question, it's a question of tax code classification, regulated primarily by the IRS and recently more aggressively by the State as to acceptable practices etc. Always subject to losing the tax classification if you do something wrong according to the all knowing IRS. Watch your step...