Projects and Initiatives
Grove Farm Water Purification PlantNēnē Habitat
Pikake Subdivision
Ecological Restoration
Grove Farm Water Purification Plant
In September of 2005, Grove Farm proudly celebrated the opening of its new, state-of-the-art surface water purification plant on Kaua‘i.
The Water Purification Plant project through its planning, design and construction phases was entirely privately built and financed. The nearly $9,000,000 investment was a result of the private-public partnership between Waiahi Water Company, LLC. (a division of Grove Farm), and the County of Kaua‘i, Department of Water, to develop the Kapaia Reservoir water source.
The Grove Farm Water Purification Plant processes water collected at Kapaia Reservoir, via the Hanamā‘ulu Ditch system and delivers water to the Department’s Līhu‘e-Hanamā‘ulu-Puhi Water Systems. The initial capacity of the plant is 3,000,000 gallons of water per day.
As planning for this project began in the late 1990’s, the plant took many years to come to fruition. Due in part to its innovative partnership, Grove Farm and the County’s Department of Water had to resolve a number of logistical issues to ensure the project’s viability.
Numerous tests were conducted to ensure that stringent health standards were met and to ensure that the quality and aesthetic properties of the water was up to code and met the Department of Health’s requirements.
In addition to fulfilling Grove Farm’s obligation to provide a water source for its new residential and commercial properties, the company is also ensuring that Kaua‘i’s island community has critical access to water in the Lihue-Hanamā‘ulu-Puhi areas for years to come. Grove Farm understands the vital role its purification plant will play in the future of Kaua‘i and is proud of its continued commitment to the community.
Nēnē Habitat
On an area adjacent to the Grove Farm Water Purification Plant and the Kapaia Reservoir, Grove Farm is creating a sustainable habitat, complete with native grasses and shrubs, for nēnē geese to safely migrate.
In early 2006, in collaboration with the appropriate State and Federal agencies, and after extensive research, improvements to the area began.
Grove Farm’s long term goal is to develop these habitats to the point where the nēnē can flourish and eventually be taken off the endangered species list for the island.
Pikake Subdivision
In 2006, Grove Farm sold 179 lots in its Pikake subdivision. The 88 lots in the first phase of Pikake averaged 10, 200 square feet, while the 91 lots in Phase II averaged roughly 11,300 square feet. Grove Farm is proud that 95% of all of Pikake subdivision's land sales were to local buyers. As part of its ongoing effort to increase positive community building, Grove Farm presented every land owner with a gift certificate for three trees or shrubs of their choice from a local nursery, in addition to a pikake shrub. Grove Farm also presented each owner with several neighborhood decals to assist in setting up a Community Watch program.
In order to try and discourage speculation in land sales and the quick "flipping" of property which results in higher costs for would-be buyers, Grove Farm has instituted a shared appreciation clause in its property sales.
In addition, Grove Farm went the extra step to build a wall to reduce the traffic noise from Nuhou Street for Pikake residents, as well as to improve pedestrian safety. Although the wall and sidewalk was built at considerable expense, Grove Farm also ensured that the wall would enhance the area by commissioning unique mosaic artwork panels by renown Hawaii artist, Leah Kilpatrick-Rigg, that were installed at intervals along the wall.
By incorporating the color of Kaua'i (purple) into each panel, the 15 mosaic panels feature a variety of local plants such as pohinahina, taro, 'akia, as well as a Mokihana and maile lei. Grove Farm also ordered customer panels that depict a pikake lei and flower buds to welcome residents and visitors into its namesake "Pikake" neighborhood. To see samples of Leah's other mosaic artwork, go online and visit: www.leahkriggmosaics.com
Ecological Restoration
Grove Farm has partnered with the Boy Scouts of America - Aloha Council, Girl Scout Council of Hawaii, National Tropical Botanical Garden, Kaua`i Community College, Makauwahi Cave Reserve, and the local community at large to create a native-plant reforestation project on Grove Farm land near 'Iliahi, or the Caleb Burns Home. The ecological restoration initiative entails clearing invasive species from the area and replacing those plants with native and Polynesian-introduced plants, trees and shrubs.