COM 0372.192 2024-2026 - Laserfiche WebLink

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ELEMENT 2. ECONOMY Article 1. General. Section 2-1-1. Findings and purpose. The County finds that economic conditions shape how Hawaii Island residents live, work, and remain rooted in their communities. Employment opportunities, wages, business viability, cost of living, and access to essential goods and services directly influence household stability, community well-being, and the County's ability to provide public services over time. Economic conditions do not exist in isolation. They are closely interconnected with land use patterns, housing availability, infrastructure capacity, transportation systems, natural resource stewardship, and public services. Decisions made in one area of the General Plan inevitably affect economic outcomes elsewhere, underscoring the need for coordination across County policies and investments. While many economic forces originate beyond the County's direct control, County actions play a meaningful role in shaping local economic conditions. Through land use decisions, infrastructure investment, workforce development, regulatory practices, and partnerships, the County can influence where economic activity occurs, who benefits from it, and how resilient the local economy is to external shocks. Hawaii Island's economy has historically relied on a single dominant industry, evolving from plantation agriculture to tourism. The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the risks of overreliance on a narrow economic base and highlighted the importance of diversification, local capacity, and economic stability rooted in community needs. The County further finds that long-term economic prosperity depends on working within the island's physical, cultural, and ecological limits. Economic activity must be aligned with the island's community carrying capacity, infrastructure constraints, labor force realities, and the stewardship of `aina and community resources. Growth that exceeds these limits can undermine quality of life, strain public systems, and erode the very conditions that support economic opportunity. In light of these findings, the purpose of the Economy Element is to provide a coherent framework for County decisions that affect economic activity. This Element guides policies and actions that support diversification, strengthen local and community -based economies, improve economic resilience, and ensure that economic development contributes to the long-term well- being for Hawaii Island residents.