Seaview, Hawaii – Video by David Corrigan

Only a day after Hawaii County issued the Seaview Performing Arts Center for Education – or SPACE – a cease and desist order, the Puna community rallied during a passionate community meeting.

The meeting, originally scheduled for February 27th but postponed thanks to the tsunami scare, was attended by hundreds, many of whom were vocal in their support for SPACE. The weekly Farmers Markets and Night Bazaars have been cancelled, since the county says the activities are beyond the scope of their Special Use Permit. According to founder Graham Ellis, seen speaking at the podium in this video, community meetings like the one on Saturday are also a violation.

SPACE says the original permit for activities at the Seaview location was based on a vision for a community arts center that provided a home for the Hiccup Circus. However, when SPACE began to expand its community activities by holding farmers markets and performances, some neighbors reportedly complained to the county. The cease and desist order followed.

On Saturday, supporters and board members said they hope to expedite the process of having SPACE conform as one of Puna’s recommended Village Centers as laid out in the Puna Community Development Plan, which would be a first under the CDP process.  Many at the meeting clamored to persuade Mayor Billy Kenoi, who has already exempted classes held at the location for the HAAS charter school from the cease and desist order, to make an exemption for the other unpermitted activities.

SPACE is a 501 IRS non-profit managed by Hawaii’s Volcano Circus, the same group that manages the Village Green Society Ltd, which owns the property.

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