HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 1470.000 2006-2008Harry Kim
Mn3~or
Dixie Kaetsu
Mnnngtitg Director
Barbara Kossow
Depul3~ Mnnnging Director
County of Hawaii
25 Aupuni Street, Room 215 • Hilo, Hawaii 96720-4252 (808) 961$21 I • Fax (808) 961 b553
KONA: 75-5706 Kuakini Highway, Sui[e 103 • Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96740
(808)329-5226 • Faz (808)3265663
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September 22 2008
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Honorable Pete Hoffrnann, Chairman
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and Members of the County Council =~ `.-;, t i
County of Hawaii -"
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333 Kilauea Avenue = ~''
Hilo, Hl 96720
Dear Chairman Hoffinann and Members:
South Kohala Community Develooment Plan
As required by Chapter 4, Sec. 6-4.3(C), Hawaii County Charter, transmitted herewith for the
County Council's consideration and action are the Planning Commission's letter and enclosures
regarding the above-referenced matter.
Sincerely,
Harry Kim
Mayor
Enclosures
cc: Planning Department
Comm. No. ~ Y'! 0'
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Ref. To:
Ref. Dare 2 4 2005
County of Hawaii
PLANNING COMMISSION
Aupuni Center • 101 Pauahi Street, Suite 3 • Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Phone (808)961-8268 • Fax (808)961-8742
September 19, 2008
Pete Hoffmann, Chairman
and Members of the County Council
County of Hawaii
333 Kilauea Avenue, 2"d Floor
Hilo, HI 96720
Dear Chairman Hoffmann and Council Members:
SUBJECT: South Kohala Community Development Plan (SKCDP)
The Planning Commission conducted public hearings on August 22, 2008, September 4, 2008,
and September 19, 2008 to review the Prefinal Draft of the SKCDP as submitted by the SKCDP
Steering Committee and its consultant, Townscape, Inc. At its meeting on September 19, 2008,
the Commission voted to send a favorable recommendation of the SKCDP to the County
Council.
Enclosed for your favorable consideration is the draft bill adopting the SKCDP along with the
Planning Department's Background and Recommendation Report. We have also included
eleven (11) copies of the SKCDP.
For your information, transcripts of the hearings will be forthcoming shortly.
Sincerely, ~ \
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Rodney Wa abe, Chairman
Planning mmission
Enclosures
cc: Planning Department-Kona
Lincoln Ashida, Esq.
COUNTY OF HAWAII PLANNING DEPARTMENT
SOUTH KOHALA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN (SKCDP)
BACKGROUND REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION
INITIATOR: PLANNING DIRECTOR
BACKGROUND
RECOMMENDATION
On June 25, 2008 the South Kohala Community Development Plans (CDP) Steering
Community approved sending the Prefinal Draft of the South Kohala CDP to the Hawaii
County Planning Commission with a positive recommendation.
The Planning Director recommends that the Planning Commission send a favorable
recommendation to the Hawaii County Council for adoption by ordinance for the South
Kohala Community Development Plan. The accompanying draft bill is provided for your
favorable consideration.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN PROGRAM
Chapter 15 of the County General Plan provides the regions azound the island with the
opportunity for the creation of CDP. The General Plan requires that the CDP's shall be
adopted by the County Council as an ordinance, giving the CDP the force of law.
The CDP process offers a forum for receiving Community input into managing growth,
delivery of government services, resources preservation and any other matters relating to
the planning area and integrating this input into Goals, Objectives, Policies, and Actions
as they apply to specific geographical regions around the Island
INITIATING THE SKCDP PLANNING PROCESS
In the spring of 2007, the Planning Department formed a review committee to evaluate
"Statements of Qualifications" submitted by Planning Consultants on the County of
Hawaii's "Professional Services List" to serve as Planning Consultant in the development
of a Community Development Plan for South Kohala (SK). The committee chose the
consultant, Townscape, inc., to work with Planning Department staff and the community
to create of the SKCDP.
The following objectives for the SKCDP were included in the Scope of Work that was
approved by the Planning Department and agreed to by Townscape, Inc.
• Provide Project Coordination by periodically updating and maintaining an overall
work plan and schedule for the SKCDP.
• Provide Stakeholder and Community Outreach by working with the CDP Team to
plan and host four (4) public meetings on the SKCDP process and products.
ATTAQ-I: Corms. 1470
Bill 369
• Coordinate Focus Group meetings to capture local knowledge and expertise on
priority planning issues
• Work with the Steering Committee to develop and incorporate a vision statement,
community values, and guiding principals into the CDP
• Develop a Community Profile and Environmental Concept Plan based on Profiles
that were developed by the Community Readiness Program (CRP) Team for
South Kohala.
• Develop strategies and action plans for addressing priority issues for the most
critical land use/community development issues for South Kohala.
• Develop a series of iterations of the SKCDP beginning with Working Papers,
followed by a Preliminary Draft, a Public Review Draft, a Prefinal Draft, and
culminating with the Final Draft once the SKCDP is approved by the Hawaii
County Council.
• Provide technical support through the SKCDP approval process by assisting the
Planning Department with presentation(s) to the Planning Commission, and
County Council and incorporating amendments.
THE PLANNING TEAM
Townscape, Inc., Planning Consultant
• Bruce Tsuchida, Principal-in-Charge
• Andrew Choy, Planner
County of Hawaii (COH) Planning Department
• Chris J. Yuen, Planning Director
• Allen A. Salavea, Project Manager
• Christian Kay, Planner
COH Office of the Mayor
• Roy T. Takemoto, Special Assistant to the Mayor
Department of Research and Development
• Jane Testa, Director
• Alex. Frost, Hawaii County Resource Center .
COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION
Over the last three years, a number of activities oriented around the Community.
Readiness Project (CRP) and the SKCDP were provided to inform the South Kohala
community about the CDP program, develop capacity in the district, and ultimately
gather input from community members. The activities were designed to be accessible to
all residents keeping in mind those who worked out of district, which necessitated the
need to hold meetings in locations and at times that fit various schedules.
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As a result, many of the residents of South Kohala participated in either or both the CRP
and SKCDP planning process, which are the processes that facilitated the creation of the
SKCDP.
COMMUNITY READINESS PROJECT (CRP)
The Planning Department, in collaboration with the Department of Research and
Development, recognized that broad-based public participation in the planning process
was critical in developing community buy-in to ensure implementation of Plan.
The CRP process consisted of over 60 small group meetings that took place during 2006
and 2007, which were conducted by trained local facilitators in South Kohala. These
meetings were offered on-demand, scheduled throughout South Kohala, and were
targeted to ensure balanced demographic and geogaphic participation of residents.
Over 1,200+ community members, roughly 9% of the total population participated in the
"talk story sessions." The CRP data served to help the Steering Committee to prioritize
the community's input and select four Priority Issues that would be the focus of the
SKCDP.
COMMUNITY MEETINGS
It was decided early on that community meetings would be held in South Kohala during
the SKCDP planning process to help facilitate the following goals; 1) Create and
maintain a relationship between the community and the planning team, 2) Introduce and
make visible the members of the SKCDP Steering Committee to the community, 3)
Describe the planning process and estimated timeline, and 4) Create a feedback loop to
the community to keep them appraised of the latest developments as the planning process
progressed.
Meetings were held with support from Waimea Elementary School, The Department of
Health, and Waikoloa Elementary School, all of whom provided their facilities on
separate occasions. The community meetings were held in Waimea on the following
dates:
• August 29, 2007
• February 12, 2008
• May 20, 2008.
Complimentary community meetings were also held in Waikoloa on:
• August 30, 2007
• February 15,2008
May 22, 2008
An estimated 500+ people attended the three pairs of meetings and we anticipate a large
number of residents to attend a fourth pair of community meetings to celebrate the
unveiling of the approved SKCDP.
FOCUS GROUPS
In order to gather input from a diversity of community members, Focus Groups (FG)
were formed for four communities in South Kohala: Waimea, Waikoloa Village,
Kawaihae, and Puako.
Invitation to attend FG meetings was open to the public and people could begin attending
meetings even after the group had been formed and were engaged in the planning
process.
Each Focus Group met several times to discuss and decide on the issues, strategies, and
action plans for their individual community. The meetings were held in the South Kohala
district at the community center, elementary school, senior centers, and other locations.
Eighteen FG meetings were held from October 2007 through May 2008. The FGs were a
key force behind the SKCDP planning process and provided tremendous amounts of
energy and time to collect data and provide input to the planning consultant. This
facilitated the creation of Working Papers released in February 2008, which are the basis
of the SKCDP.
THE SKCDP STEERING COMMITTEE
The COH Mayor and the Hawaii County Council appointed citizens to serve on the
SKCDP Steering Committee (SC), representing a cross section of the South Kohala
community. The Steering Committee played a critical role in overseeing and guiding the
planning process as the SKCDP was being developed. The SC met monthly on the fourth
Wednesdays of the month at duly noticed meetings that were conducted under Sunshine
Law. The SC members are as follows:
WILLIAM BERGIN JACQUI HOOVER BOB HUNTER
TOM KELLY POHAI KIRKLAND OLANI LILLY
ROBBY ROBERTSON RILEY SMITH RUTH SMITH
SHERMAN WARNER MARGARET WILLE
The SC and planning team reviewed the Working Papers along with input from
community to refine the elements needed to begin the iterative process of drafting the
SKCDP. Here is a quick synopsis of the timeline in developing the SKCDP:
• February 2008 -Working papers released to SC and FG members. Also
presented to the public at the community meeting held in South Kohala on
February 12 & 15, 2008 for feedback and comment.
• March 11, 2008 -Preliminary Draft released to the SC and FG members for
comment and feedback in preparation of the Public Review Draft.
• May 7, 2008 -Public Review Draft released to the community.
• June 10, 2008 -Public comment period extended to this date to accommodate
public participation.
• May 2008 through June 2008 -Additional SC meetings scheduled to
accommodate the time needed to incorporate public input received.
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• June 25, 2008 -The SC approved sending the Prefinal Draft of the South Kohala
CDP to the Hawaii County Planning Commission with a positive
recommendation..
In the final stages of drafting the Prefinal Draft, the SC had the difficult task of bringing
together all of input and elements and evaluating each item for validity relative to
community need. This was a momentous responsibility assumed by the SC, whose
performance was outstanding.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH
In an effort to keep the community updated of the status of the SKCDP planning process
as it progressed and increase public participation, the planning team and the SC looked
for promotional opportunities beyond publicly noticed meetings. Here is a summary of
activities that was accomplished during the SKCDP planning process.
• August 2007 to present -Posted all SC and community meeting materials as well
as FG notes on the Hawaii County Resource Center's website to facilitate public
access to these documents.
• August 2007 to present -Collaborated on a regular basis with contributing writers
to have articles and meeting dates included in the West Hawaii Today and the
other periodicals.
• August 2007 to present -Collaborate with the Waimea Community Association
to periodically send out information to over 4,000 e-mail subscribers about the
SKCDP.
• March 2008 -Provided information about the SKCDP at the Cherry Blossom
Festival in Waimea (will again be attending in 2008).
• May 2008 -Sent out an information letter and three page summary along with a
community meeting flyer to all postal recipients in South Kohala (approximately
9,500 pieces mailed out).
• May 2008 - .Over 250 copies of the SKCDP Public Review Draft placed in
locations in Waimea, Waikoloa, Puako, and Kawaihae for community members to
obtain a copy, review, and provide feedback to the SC or planning team.
• July 2008 -Provided copies of the SKCDP Prefinal on CD to community
members by placing at convenient locations in the South Kohala district.
• July 2008 -collaborated with the Waimea Community Association and the
Waikoloa Community Development Corporation to print up 140 copies of the
South Kohala Prefinal CDP for distribution to community members.
• August 2008 -Sent out an information letter containing 6 month timeline of the
approval process and how to provide public input to all postal recipients in South
Kohala (approximately 9,500 pieces mailed out).
VISION, GOAL, VALUES
SOUTH KOHALA CDP VISION STATEMENT
• The people of South Kohala are united by our love and reverence for the beauty
and peace of our land and waters and by our respect for the richness of our
various cultures and traditions.
• We desire to preserve the past, thrive in the present, and dream about a future that
honors economic viability and environmental responsibility which is sustainable
and desirable for current and future residents.
• We are blessed to live in one of the most unique, exquisite places on the planet,
and we know it.
• We promise to plan to do everything possible to live responsibly and wisely on
this sacred island for current and future generations.
• Our actions aze guided by our Hawaii State motto: "Ua mau ke ea o ka aina i ka
pono" -the life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness.
SOUTH KOHALA COMMUNITY VALUES
• We are a family oriented place.
• We love the old stones about our people and places and want them to live on in
the hearts of our children.
• Our Hawaiian and Paniolo pasts contribute to our unique sense of place.
• We honor the kupuna by accepting the values and concerns of Native Hawaiians
who have known for centuries the limits of island resources and the need to
protect the aina.
• We understand that the natural and cultural resources of South Kohala are unique
and to be cherished.
• We embrace rural values and lifestyle.
• The puu of South Kohala aze of great cultural and scenic value and are loved by
all.
• We treasure gathering places revered for cultural, historical, and social reasons.
• We enjoy moving about the South Kohala landscape: on foot, by bicycle, and on
horseback.
SOUTH KOHALA TODAY
GENERAL PHYSICAL SETTING
South Kohala has two distinct physical environments, each with its own kind of natural
beauty: the green and lush mountainous region in the north and the rugged, dry landscape
in the south. The mountainous region, which includes the town of Waimea, includes a
plateau between the Kohala Mountains and Mauna Kea. The Kohala Mountains provide a
backdrop of rolling hills and volcanic puu covered with pastures and forests kept green
by fog, fine mist, and rain.
The second distinct physical environment is distinguished by pale yellow vegetation,
beige to red-brown rock formations along the coast, and barren black lava fields. Amid
these rugged and desert like conditions, there are pockets of white sand beaches along the
rocky coast. Waikoloa Village, along with the major resort areas, is located in the dry
southern region of the district.
LANDFORMS
The major landforms of the South Kohala district and their distinguishing characteristics
include:
Kohala Mountains: The Kohala Mountains were created from the eruptions of the
Kohala Volcano. The Kohala Volcano last erupted approximately 60,000 years ago. The
oldest lava has been dated at 460,000 yeazs old. The volcano is extinct and in the
erosional stage of its life cycle. Its eastern windward flank is chazacterized by great
erosional valleys, spectaculaz waterfalls, and dramatic sea cliffs. The rubble of a dramatic
landslide extends fifty miles out on the ocean floor. The mountain's leeward
southwesterly side is within the South Kohala district. This side of the mountain is more
gently sloping and smooth. The town of Waimea, pasture lands, and farm lands exist on
these gentle slopes. The summit elevation of the Kohala Mountains is 5,480 feet. Puu:
The Kohala Mountain rift zone extends southeastward from its summit into the district in
the vicinity of Waimea. The last eruptions were moderately explosive and formed a series
of large cinder cones (puu) that accent the Kohala Mountain and plateau in the
surrounding area of Waimea. A number of puu are also scattered along the Saddle Road
and are associated with Mauna Kea.
Coastal beaches dot the otherwise rocky, jagged coastline. Sandy beaches can be
found near Anaehoomalu, Waialea Bay, Puako, Hapuna State Pazk, Kaunaoa, Mauumae,
and Ohaiyula (Spencer Beach Pazk). There are several man made beaches located at the
resort nodes. Much of the coastline is defined by old lava flows that have entered into the
ocean.
Marine seascape: The diverse coral reef communities that occupy the nearshore
waters of South Kohala distinguish the district from other districts on the island. These
unique marine environments support an extensive reef system populated by a variety of
species. Tidal pools, rock formations, and ancient fishponds are also prominent features
of South Kohala.
GENERAL DEVELOPMENT PATTERNS IN THE DISTRICT
South Kohala's general land development pattern varies greatly between the district's
two main population centers: Waimea Town and Waikoloa Village. Waimea Town is a
rural community that has a long and proud history. It is situated on a plateau of the
Kohala Mountains.
Waikoloa Village is a relatively new, more urbanized residential community. Waikoloa
Village was originally designed to be a retirement community when it was developed in
1971. However, due in part to the expansion of upscale hotels, restaurants, and shops
along the South Kohala coast, and the corresponding housing needs of these employees,
Waikoloa Village has evolved into a suburban community for residents of all ages.
Community members from Waikoloa Village note that the Village is isolated from other
surrounding aeeas due to its location away from a major highway. There is currently only
one access road, Waikoloa Road that connects Waikoloa Village to other areas in the
district.
A third key location in the district is the Kawaihae area_ Although sparsely populated,
the Kawaihae area is home to the only recreational small boat harbor in northwest Hawaii
and the only commercial harbor in West Hawaii. The harbor area is a major
transportation and activity node, handling both traffic generated from harbor activities
and traffic from North Kohala, Waimea, and the resort areas that must al] pass through
the,Kawaihae area at the intersection of the Queen Kaahumanu Highway, Akoni Pule
Highway, and the Kawaihae Road. Three large destination resorts are located along the
Queen Kaahumanu Hwy. The Mauna Kea Resort, Mauna Lani Resort, and the Waikoloa
Resort are situated along South Kohala's coastline. Each resort node consists of lazge-
scale, high-end hotels, shops, restaurants, and high-end residential units.
Just north of the Mauna Lani Resort is the small residential coastal village of Puako.
Today Puako mainly consists ofsingle-family homes that have been built along either
side of Puako Beach Drive. A significant number of single family homes aze operated as
vacation rentals in Puako. The village is also home to the historic Hokuloa Church,
founded more than a century and a half ago by the Reverend Lorenzo Lyons. The Puako
Petroglyph Field is located between the Mauna Lani Resort and the Puako Beach Lots.
The key planning implications related to South Kohala's physical setting
include:
• South Kohala is a large land area -Providing adequate public services and
infrastructure over such a large area will be challenging.
• The physical settings and development patterns throughout the
district are diverse and distinct -There are several regions in the district that
have unique features both physically and in the way that the regions have
developed over time. The CDP recognizes the unique qualities in these regions
and does not plan for the district in a "one-size fits all" approach.
SOUTH KOHALA YESTERDAY: A HISTORICAL OVERVIEW
Anthropologists and archaeologists estimate that the first settlers arrived in the South
Kohala region sometime between 750-1000 AD. The warm coast and beaches on the
western boundaries of the South Kohala district were used seasonally by early
Polynesians who eventually migrated to the cooler plateau. Descendents of these early
Polynesian explorers established fishing villages on the leeward coast of the district and
along the western extremities of the plains and began cultivating lo'i kalo terraces along a
series of streams at the southern base of the Kohala Mountains. Construction of the
Waimea field system may have involved clearing and burning of the native forest. South
Kohala, in particular Kawaihae and Waimea, was an important political region on the
Island of Hawaii. Many high ranking Alii regularly visited the area and held court here
even up to the time of Kamehameha and his son Liholiho. (Clazk, 1986) Towards the mid
19th century and on into the 20th century, the district was heavily influenced by the
paniolo way of life. Toward the latter half of the 20th century, the development of three
world class resorts in the district shifted the.district's economic base from agriculture to
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tourism which has influenced land use and development patterns over the last several
decades.
LAND USE
State land use districts, County of Hawaii Land Use Pattern Allocation Guide (LUPAG)
and the County of Hawaii Zoning Code set forth policies and standards to guide the
location, type, and intensity of different land uses in particular areas and regions.
The Land Use Pattern Allocation Guide (LUPAG) of the County is a graphic expression
of the General Plan, particularly those elements of the General Plan relating to land use.
However, the LUPAG is not the entire General Plan. It is not a zoning map; rather the
LUPAG estimates the future acreage allocation for a particular land use and is meant to
serve as a land use guide for the County. Generally, future developments must be
consistent with the LUPAG map.
Approximately two-thirds of the land in the district is designated as Important
Agricultural Land (IAL) or Extensive Agricultural land by the LUPAG. The General Plan
defines Important Agricultural Lands as those lands with better potential for sustained
high agricultural yields because of soil type, climate, topography, or other factors. IAL
was determined by including lands identified as "Intensive Agriculture" on the 1989
General Plan LUPAG map, lands identified by the Agricultural Lands of Importance to
the State of Hawaii Study as "Prime" or "Unique," lands identified by the Land Study
Bureau's Soil Survey Report as Class B "Good" soils and lands classified as "fair" for
two or more crops, on an irrigated basis by the USDA NRCS study of suitability for
various crops. The General Plan defines Extensive Agriculture lands as lands that are not
capable of producing sustained, high agricultural yields without the intensive application
of modem farming methods and technologies due to certain physical constraints such as
soil composition, slope, machine tillability and climate. Other agricultural uses such as
grazing and pasture maybe included in the Extensive Agricultural category.
South Kohala also has the highest acreage allocation for open area lands with 14,074, the
highest acreage for Urban Expansion with 12,264, and the second highest allocation of
IAL with 51,000 acres. The Hamakua District has the' highest allocation of IAL with
78,023 acres.
The LUPAG has12,264 acres for urban expansion in South Kohala. The majority of the
lands slated for future urban expansion are located near the resort areas, Waikoloa
Village, and the Kawaihae area. A smaller acreage of land is designated for urban
expansion in the Waimea area. Of the total 29,142 acres designated by the County for
urban expansion across the Big Island, 42% of those acres are in South Kohala.
Important planning implications related to Soufh Kohala's land use
include:
The majority of the district is designated as agriculture by State and
County -The majority of the land in the district is designated as agriculture.
However, the majority of these agricultural lands are designated as "extensive
agriculture" by the County rather than IAL. Future development pressures will
inevitably impact these "extensive agricultural" lands to be developed for other
uses besides agriculture. These "extensive agriculture" lands, although not
important for agricultural production, may still be important for other reasons
such as open space preservation, environmental and scenic values, and therefore
preservation of these lands should be considered.
• South Kohala has the highest amount of lands designated as "Urban
Expansion" by the County LUPAG when compared with other County
distrlCts - -It appears that the County is anticipating that significant urban
growth and development will occur in South Kohala in the future. The urban
expansion areas in South Kohala are primarily located around the Waikoloa azea
and Kawaihae azea. This lazge Urban Expansion acreage should be reevaluated
during the next County General Plan update.
DEMOGRAPHICS, LOCAL ECONOMY, AND POPULATION
CHARACTERISTICS
According to the 2000 Census, South Kohala was the fourth most populated district in the
County. However, it was the fastest growing district from 1980 to 1990 and the second
fastest growing district from 1990 to 2000.
Economic Characteristics
Mauna Kea Resort, Mauna Lani Resort, and the Waikoloa Beach Resort, the three resort
complexes in the district, account for 40 percent of all hotel rooms within the County.
Between 1980 and 1998, ten properties within these resorts were developed totaling
3,400 visitor units. South Kohala hotels are some of the County's largest employers,
employing residents from all over the County. There are several new projects being
planned these resorts. The Mauna Kea Resort is tentatively planning to develop
recreational amenities such as a golf course and 135 large acreage residential lots with
associated infrastructure and commercial use on its "Ouli 2" property. Stanford Carr is
planning to develop 516 hotel units, three golf holes and related support facilities within
the Mauna Lani Resort.
Eco-tourism, nature-tourism, and ag-tourism aze growing sectors in the tourism market.
Encouragement of these tourism markets would be consistent with the community vision
and values. Establishing hiking, biking, and equestrian trails will promote economic
activities consistent with these values.
Although tourism is currently the leading economic industry in the district, the area is
also well known for cattle ranching, vegetable production, and other forms of agriculture.
Waimea is one of the most productive areas for vegetable crops on the Big Island.
Cabbages, tomatoes celery, lettuce, daikon (radish), peppers, broccoli and carrots are just
some of the vegetables grown. Experiments are being conducted on different crops as
well as on the improvement of those presently grown. The highly varied climatic
conditions on the wet east side of Waimea and the dry west side of the town allow for a
variety of crops to be grown.
Further expansion of the agricultural industry, including more truck farms, faces many
challenges. This industry, faced with competition for resources from tourism and other
urban forces, needs governmental assistance. (County of Hawaii General Plan, 2005)
There has been a continuing trend of small farmers going out of business because of two
primary factors: 1) the market price of land has risen dramatically in the last decade
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encouraging farmers to sell their land; and 2) a lack of younger generations wanting to
take over their family's farm. The cattle ranching industry utilizes most of the land area
within the district with pastures situated on the higher slopes of the mountains and
extendir}g down to the sea. Pazker Ranch, one of the largest privately owned ranches in
the world, has its headquarters in Waimea. The Ranch has approximately 230,000 acres
of grazing land that supports 45,000 to 50,000 head of cattle. (Waikoloa Highlands EIS,
2006) Feedlots once allowed ranchers to raise cattle from birth to full maturity. The
closing of all feedlots within the County has resulted in the export of 90 per cent of all
cattle to mainland feedlots.
The Canada-France Hawaii Telescope on Mauna Kea has its base facility in Waimea. The
base has a staff of 51 and an annual operating budget of $6,200,000. As several planned
telescopes are built on Mauna Kea, additional base facilities may choose to locate in
Waimea. Waimea is also home to the headquarters of the W.M. Keck Observatory on
Mauna Kea, the lazgest optical and infrared telescope in the world. The headquarters
employs about 80 people and has an annual operating budget of $10,000,000. (County of
Hawaii General Plan, 2005)
The educational sector includes Hawaii Preparatory Academy (HPA) with a current total
enrollment of 600 students in grades K through 12, which includes 175 boarders from
grades 6 through 12. In addition, Parker School is a day school with an enrollment of 300
students. Waimea Elementary School had an enrollment of 650 and Waimea Middle
Public Conversion Charter School had an enrollment of 400 students in 2008. Kanu O Ka
aina Public Charter School in Waimea has an enrollment of approximately 150 students.
Waimea has three performing arts venues: Kahilu Theatre, Gates Performing Arts Center
at HPA, and Pazker School Auditorium. In Waikoloa Village, Waikoloa Elementary and
Middle School is the lazgest employer with an enrollment of 625 students in 2008 and 75
employees.
The North Hawaii Community Hospital is the 14`h lazgest single employer in the County
with 269 employees. (County of Hawaii Data Book) The hospital opened in May 1996
and serves approximately 30,000 residents and visitors of the northern region of the Big
Island which includes the districts of South Kohala, North Kohala and parts of Hamakua
and North Kona. The hospital is anon-profit entity that is community owned.
(www.northHawaiicommunityhospital.org) In addition to the North Hawaii Community '
Hospital's efforts to become a "total body wellness center", there are numerous holistic
and alternative health practitioners in this District. Likewise, the resort hotels market
wellness and therapeutic vacation packages.
Housing
During the period 2002-2005, Hawaii's housing market was red hot. However, from
2007, the housing market began to slow across the State, due in part to the nation-wide
"sub-prime loans" problems. While more recent data was not available during the writing
of the CDP that is South Kohala specific, it is important to note that the housing market
nationally has slowed considerably. Hawaii's housing market has also shown signs of
slowing down. By mid 2007, home prices inmost areas of the State were flat or slightly
lower than their 2006 highs. While home prices have not risen as rapidly as earlier in the
decade, many residents still consider the price of homes to be high.
The key planning implications related to South Kohala's demographics
and economy include:
The population of the district has increased significantly over the
last two decades. The County General Plan projects that the current
population of the district will almost double by 2020 if current trends
continue -Given past and future population trends in the district, the underlying
planning question that these trends raise is "where will all these new people live
and how will the district support this housing expansion with sufficient
infrastructure and public services?" If the population of South Kohala increases
per the County's General Plan, more public services and facilities will be needed
to accommodate this future growth. Services such as schools, fire, police,
medical, and various social services as well as more infrastructure, including
roads, sewer, water, and electricity will need to be provided. There may need to
be an overarching policy in regards to moderating future population growth for
South Kohala.
The resort areas in South Kohala are not only major employers in the
district, but these resorts -are some of the biggest employers in the
entire County -Both residents of South Kohala and residents who live outside
of the district work at the resorts. These large employment and visitor centers
need adequate infrastructure to accommodate the large number of guests and
employees. Workforce housing near these resorts would reduce daily commute
time for hotel employees and also reduce traffic along the major highways.
• Agricultural related industries are still a major part of the district's
economy -While tourism is South Kohala's largest economic engine, the
district still has a viable agriculture industry in the Waimea area. However, for
agricultural businesses to remain viable in the future, steps need to be taken to
help these businesses deal with the pressures of urbanization, rising land prices,
and a labor pool that is in decline.
• Cost of housing has risen significantly -There is a great need to provide
affordable housing throughout the district.
CULTURAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES
Coastal Resources
Land-based sources of pollutants, such as sediment and nutrients, are among multiple
factors threatening the quality of coastal waters and coral reef ecosystems in Hawaii.
These pollutants make their way into the ocean via surface water runoff and seepage from
ground water.
The Pelekane Bay Watershed has been classified by the State DOH as a "Category I
watershed," a watershed in need of restoration. The marine environment and coral reefs
of Pelekane Bay have been severely stressed because of worsening water quality. The
Pelekane Bay watershed has been significantly altered with the construction of the
Kawaihae Harbor in the 1950's and 1960's. In 2004, Pelekane Bay was listed as an
impaired body of water under the federal Clean Water Act because of high turbidity and
excess sediment. The State DOH listed the Pelekane Bay Watershed as a priority
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watershed, in most urgent need of restoration in 2004. In 2003, DOH recorded turbidity
in the bay to be close to 18 times the allowable water quality standard. (Pelekane Bay
Watershed Sediment Runoff Analysis, 2007)
Waters off of Hapuna Beach Park and Spencer Beach Park are also on the list of DOH
impaired water bodies. However, these two sites are not nearly as heavily polluted as
Pelekane Bay.
The health and condition of South Kohala's coral reefs has been affected by both natural
and man made events. Natural disasters such as tsunami, storms, and lava flows have all
had a significant negative impact on coastal reefs over time. Man made events have also
impacted the health of coral reefs in a negative way such as the dredging of reefs to cleaz
waterways for boats or development and through the introduction of feral ungulates such
as goats. The feral ungulates over graze and remove the vegetative cover on land. During
rain events, the lack of vegetative cover causes soil to run off into the ocean and smother
the reefs.
NATURAL DISASTERS AND HAZARDS
Wildfires
Dry invasive grasses, especially fountain grass, cover much of the inland and coastal
azeas in the southern portion of the district. The dry, dense, biomass of grass is an easily
combustible fuel that carries fire quickly over lazge areas. Also located in these areas are
small groves of kiawe trees, which are scattered throughout the landscape. Wildfire is a
major threat to the health and safety of most South Kohala residents and is the most
frequently occurring natural hazazd in the region. Wildfires can be defined as any non-
structural fire in a wild area. The district's gusty winds, naturally dry and hot climate in
the southern and coastal regions, and the lazge amounts of fountain grass that grow in
these azeas not only increases the likelihood of wildfire occurrence, but also contributes
to the rapid spread of fire. In July 2007, a brush fire burned over 9,300 acres near the
Waikoloa Rd. and Mamalahoa Hwy. junction. Also, in October 2007, nine fires were
stazted by arsonists, including a wildfire that spread over 1,000 acres near the Puako
community.
The dryland forests that once thrived in the region are lost, primarily due to wildfire.
Hawaii Island's dryland forests are one of the most endangered habitats in the world.
These native habitats support many Hawaiian cultural activities. As wildfires wipe out
more native habitat, invasive grasses invade these areas and the wildfire cycle continues.
Remnants of the old dryland forests exist near Waikoloa Village. An intact, but seriously
threatened, dryland forest containing rare native Wiliwili trees and native and endangered
Uhiuhi trees exists just south of the village. The trees range in age from 5 to 600 years. A
significant portion of the forest is cared for by the Waikoloa Village Outdoor Circle's
Waikoloa Dry Forest Recovery Project. The project area is about 250 acres.
South Kohala has all the required elements for a wildfire disaster. It is possible that
during extreme fire conditions with dry fuels and high winds, fire fighters, equipment,
and water supplies can become depleted as numerous homes ignite and bum. Fire crews
cannot simultaneously evacuate residents and effectively take suppression action in a
subdivision of homes that are igniting within a few minutes of each other.
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Suppressing wildfires in unoccupied range or open lands or forests is expensive. These
costs increase significantly when firefighters must concentrate resources to save property
and lives in developed azeas. For instance, the expenses for suppressing the 2005
Waikoloa fire were more than $250,000. These costs aze ultimately born by taxpayers.
The County Department of Public Works (DPW) has maintained a list of heavy
equipment needed for fighting wildfires and updates this list on a weekly basis so that the
equipment can be mobilized when needed. DPW strategically pre-positions the fire
fighting equipment to prepare for wildfires according to the time of yeaz or around
special occasions such as long weekends. The Hawaii Wildfire Management
Organization (WHWMO), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, has been working cooperatively with
the Big Island Wildfire Coordinating Group and other agencies to increase community
awareness about wildfire mitigation hazards. Several communities have begun to
implement wildfire management strategies including Waikoloa, Puako, and Waialea Bay.
The HWMO has received wild land urban interface and other grants to build an island
wide inventory of wild fire resources, create fire history maps, install dip tanks, conduct
hazard assessments and research on mitigation, and to develop community fuelbreaks.
Primary government agencies involved in these efforts with HWMO include the County
of Hawaii Fire Department and the State Department of Land and Natural Resources
Division of Forestry and Wildlife. (County of Hawaii Drought Mitigation Strategies,
2004)
There are no County regulations that require residential subdivisions to participate in
wildfire mitigation programs. County regulations for new subdivisions to reduce wildfire
hazards, such as requiring adequate fire truck access, hydrant placement, and water
system sizing are in place.. While building codes have been recently revised, the design
of subdivisions and new developments can be improved to prevent wildfire disasters and
costs to the public, e.g strategic use of green spaces and landscaping, placement of dip
tanks, etc. Also, the management of fuels, primarily grasses, on the landscape needs to be
addressed to reduce risks to neighboring communities and costs to the taxpayers.
Earthquakes
Hawaii Island experiences thousands of earthquakes each year; the majority of the
earthquakes are so small that they can only be detected by sensitive instruments. The
most recent major earthquake on the Big Island occurred on October 15, 2006 when a 6.7
magnitude earthquake and magnitude 6.0 aftershock struck the Big Island. The
earthquake caused significant damage to infrastructure in South Kohala. The earthquake
damaged Piers 1 and 2a at Kawaihae Harbor, severely limiting the amount of cargo and
marine traffic that the harbor can accommodate.
The earthquake also caused significant damage to the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel. The hotel
has been closed due to earthquake related damage and does not plan to reopen until
November of 2008. Many of the hotel guests patronized the small shops and businesses
in the Kawaihae area. The hotel's closure has caused the loss of jobs and has significantly
reduced the number of people, who have patronized local businesses in the last yeaz.
In Waimea Town, there is a concern that future earthquakes may catastrophically damage
the County reservoirs that are located above the town. With the recent Kaloko Dam
tragedy on the island of Kauai, which resulted in the loss of lives, and the recent
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earthquake that occurred on the Big Island, it would be prudent for the County to
consider establishing an early warning system for the reservoirs above Waimea Town.
Currently there is an emergency action plan that is in place in case of flooding caused by
reservoir water overflow from heavy rains, but there is no early warning signal or siren in
place, should there be significant damage caused to the reservoir by earthquake or other
events. Damage to the County reservoirs above Waimea Town is discussed in more detail
in section 2.5.5.
General Community Readiness
To date, a small number of South Kohala residents have undergone CERT training. The
Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program educates people about disaster
preparedness for hazards that may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster
response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and
disaster medical operations.
During times of emergency, children who are attending school could be cut off from
access to either their parents/legal guardians or their homes. This was the case during
recent fires near Waikoloa Village and Puako. Students and parents in these areas were
cut off from each other. There is a need to provide for safe transport and / or housing for
students should natural disasters occur when schools are in session.
Unexploded Military Ordnance (UXO)
From 1943 to 1953, the U.S. military utilized 130,000 acres of land with at least 40
percent of the area being used for training with live military munitions. Following the
deactivation of Camp Tarawa and Waikoloa Maneuver Area, the Department of Defense
performed cleanup activities in accordance with the "Explosive Ordnance Details for
Disposal", a series of safety and health standards from the 1940s to 1950s, the time in
which this cleanup was done. In 1954, two Parker Ranch employees were traversing the
former training area and were fatally injured as they encountered UXO. Within the last
decade, UXO has been found at Waimea Middle School and near homes in Waikoloa
Village.
"FUDS," the Formerly Used Defense Sites program, addresses potential risks on lands
formerly owned or controlled by the Department of Defense prior to 1986. The FUDS
program is administered and implemented nationally by the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers and within the Pacific Islands by the Honolulu District. The Waikoloa FUDS
area covers 137,000 acres with approximately 50,000 acres considered "high risk." Most
of the "high risk" land is near Waimea, in the vicinity of the old Camp Tarawa. To date
the Army Corps has cleared about 8,000 acres of land and removed approximately 1,800
pieces of live munitions. It's estimated that to clean up the entire 137,000-acre Waikoloa
FUDS area will cost $680 million over the span of 50 years or more. Teaming with
experts from the Army Corps' Huntsville Military Munitions Center of Expertise and its
contractors, innovative "packages" of sensing technologies have been developed in order
to efficiently scan beneath the surface throughout the Waikoloa Maneuver Area FUDS.
WATER RESOURCES
South Kohala Aquifer System Areas (ASYA)
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The primary source of data for the following section on water resources is from the
DRAFT Hawaii County Water Use and Development Plan Update: Hawaii Water Plan
completed in December 2006. Another information source was a report prepared by
Waimea Water Services Inc. for the County Department of Water Supply entitled
"Hydrolgeologic study of the Waimea High Level Ground Water," dated Februazy 2001.
The Kohala Aquifer Sector Area (ASEA) has two Aquifer System Areas that cover
portions of South Kohala, the Waimanu ASYA and the Mahukona Aquifer System Area
(ASYA). The West Mauna Kea ASEA only has one ASYA, the Waimea ASYA and the
North West Mauna Loa ASEA only has one ASYA, the Anaehoomalu ASYA.
An aquifer's `Sustainable Yield' refers to the estimated maximum amount of water
that the aquifer can safely produce. Extracting amounts of water greater than the
sustainable yield may irreparably damage the aquifer. It should be emphasized that
sustainable yield numbers are only estimates. These estimates should not be considered
as the exact amount of groundwater that can be safely utilized. In many regions with high
sustainable yield numbers, groundwater cannot be utilized because it would not be
economically feasible to install water systems to deliver water to users.
Current water usage in Table 2.12 (page 21) includes water use from County
Department of Water Supply (DWS) systems, private water systems, agricultural use, and
irrigation use, including use of reclaimed waste water and water use from domestic rain
catchments. Table 2.12 distinguishes between current water use that includes agricultural
water use and current water use that does not include agricultural water use. As can be
seen in the table, agricultural water use accounts for a significant percentage of current
water use inmost ASYA. It is also important to note that current use for the ASYA's of
Waimanu, Mahukona, and Anaehoomalu, includes users from outside the district of
South Kohala as well. The Waimea ASYA is the only ASYA that exclusively serves
South Kohala.
Water demand estimates aze based upon current County Zoning and County Population
Projection C for the year 2025 (please reference section 2.4.1 of the SKCDP in regards to
population projection C). Estimates for the County Zoning and population projections
take into account future water demand that includes and does not include agricultural
water use.
There is a tremendous difference in water projections if agricultural lands are not taken
into account when looking at the County Zoning designations. The future estimates of
water use that include agricultural use in the County zoning assume irrigation of all lands
zoned as agriculture by the County. This includes lands that are currently zoned as
agriculture by the County but are not in active agricultural production, including the areas
in the district that aze very dry, rocky, and have topography that would make viable
agriculture extremely difficult without substantial investments in improving the land such
as extending irrigation systems, removing rocks, and massive grading.
The estimates that include agricultural use assume that all of these lands will be watered
at a rate of 3,400 gallons of water per acre per day, hence the significantly higher
estimates. The estimate that takes into account no agricultural use makes the assumption
that those lands that are currently designated as agriculture by County zoning and are not
being currently used will remain OPEN, unused, and un-watered. Future realistic
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estimates for water use in the district is somewhere between the high number that
includes agricultural use and the low number that does not include agricultural use.
Neither of the estimates that include or do not include agriculture use, when taken by
themselves, paints a complete picture of projected future water demand in the district,
hence, both numbers are given. A more complete and detailed explanation of future water
use projections can be found in the 2006 Hawaii County Water Use and Development
Plan Update. ,
Future projected water demand based upon current County zoning designations exceeds
ASYA. Sustainable yields in the Mahukona ASYA and Waimea ASYA if agricultural
demand is taken into account. If future agricultural water demand is not taken into
account, future projections for water demand do not exceed the sustainable yields of any
of the four ASYA. Future projected water demand based upon population projections for
the year 2025 does not exceed the sustainable yields of the ASYA's.
The Waimanu ASYA can safely accommodate water demand in all of the future water
demand projection scenarios. However, the Waimanu ASYA is not being currently used.
Furthermore, considering the Waimanu ASYA as a viable and economically feasible
source to meet future demand may not be practical. Waimanu ASYA incorporates lands
that are not readily accessible by vehicles and thus it would be a difficult area to develop
groundwater sources.
Also, there is the environmental and cultural concern of diverting water from this
conservation watershed area to another watershed area. Lastly, consideration must also be
given to the current and future water demands of North Kohala as much of the Waimanu
ASYA encompasses lands in the district of North Kohala. Also in 2001, the County
DWS conducted hydrogeological studies ofhigh-level ground water in Waimea. The
purpose of the studies was to evaluate the potential of the high-level aquifer system to
supply Waimea Town and South Kohala's coastal communities. The study involved an
area of 122,023 acres from the summit of the Kohala Mountain to the 5,000 foot
elevation of the northern slope of Mauna Kea. The study concluded that there are ample
ground water resources of good quality within the study area that could be used to supply
water to Waimea and the other coastal communities in the district. However, utilizing
these high-level ground water resources will require the DWS to construct more water
delivery infrastructure such as new wells, storage facilities, and transmission lines.
(Hydrogeologic Study of the Waimea High-Level Ground Water, 2001)
Water Delivery Systems
The Waimea Water System primarily services the Waimea and Puukapu area. From
Waimea Town, the system extends along Mamalahoa Highway westward and runs down
Kawaihae Road for about eight miles. From Waimea Town, the system extends eastward
to the two connections at the Haina Water System at the South Kohala district boundary
near Mud Lane. The water system spans three aquifer sector areas; but the majority of the
service area is within the Kohala ASEA, including the majority of Waimea Town, and the
areas north'of Mamalahoa Highway from Kawaihae to the Kamuela Highlands
subdivision. Improvements to the system have increased reservoir capacity and enlarged
the distribution pipelines. The primary water sources for the Waimea Water System are
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from the Waikoloa Stream and Kohakohau Stream diversions. (Hawaii County Water
Use and Development Plan Update, 2006)
Because of the variations in stream flow, the Waimea Water System has four large
reservoirs (Waikoloa Reservoirs) that can store a total of 158.5 million gallons of
untreated water, (Hawaii County Water Use and Development Plan Update, 2006)
However, during the October 2006 earthquake two of the four reservoirs were damaged.
One reservoir had to be completely drained and the other damaged reservoir can only be
filled to half of its normal capacity. The County is awaiting FEMA funding to help with
reservoir repairs. Until then, the reservoirs can only store about 79.25 million gallons of
water, or about half of their full capacity. During dry climatic periods, water use
restrictions have been put in place for longer periods of time because of the reduced
reservoir storage capacity. The Waimea Treatment Plant currently provides 2MGD to
Waimea residents via the Waimea Water System.
Originally, the Lalamilo Water System was designed to service Kawaihae, but has since
expanded to service other coastal areas including Puako and the Mauna Kea and Mauna
Lani Resorts. The system includes two booster pump stations and nine storage tanks.
Water is transported via a six inch pipeline from the Waimea Water System down to
Kawaihae and more or less follows Kawaihae Road. As the Lalamilo Water System
expanded to accommodate the new coastal developments south of Kawaihae, high level
exploratory deep wells were drilled along Kawaihae. Road in order to supplement the
limited supply of water from Waimea. The water was of mazginal quality and had high
chloride content. Water from these wells was blended with fresh mountain water to
supply the coastal developments. In 1977, the State drilled exploratory wells on its
Lalamilo lands. These wells and subsequent additional wells were drilled with financing
from the developer of Mauna Lani Resort. The water in these wells was of good quality
and was also included as pazt of the system. Two Parker Ranch wells replaced the two
Kawaihae wells that serviced the Lalamilo Water System during the latter 1990s. (Hawaii
County Water Use and Development Plan Update, 2006)
The Waikoloa Water System is a private system. The system services Waikoloa Resort as
well as Waikoloa Village. The average daily use for the water system is 4.5 MGD. Five
wells located within the West Mauna Kea ASEA provide potable water for all of the
developments in the resort area and in Waikoloa Village. (Hawaii County Water Use and
Development Plan Update, 2006) Currently, there are two wells in Waikoloa that are
being repaired due to the current drought situation. If dry weather conditions continue to
persist, there may be a need to transfer water from the County DWS Lalamilo Water
System.
Waimea Irrigation System
The Waimea Irrigation System is managed by the State Department of Agriculture and
has been operational since the early 1970s. The system's water sources are the summit
watersheds of Kohala Mountain starting with Kawainui and followed by Kawaiki,
Alakahi, and Koiawe Streams. Currently the irrigation system has 117 users who draw
0.906 MGD of water to imgate 587 acres of land. (Agricultural Water Use and
Development Plan, 2003) The imgation system consists of a diversion from these
streams via the Upper Hamakua Ditch directing the flow of water into the 60 MG
Waimea Reservoir. An additional reservoir, the 100 MG Puu Pulehu Reservoir, provides
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overflow storage for the Waimea Reservoir and also for diverted upstream flow. Water is
transmitted in the system over two miles via 24-inch and 18-inch diameter pipelines.
(Hawaii County Water Use and Development Plan Update, 2006)
There is sufficient storage in these reservoirs to maintain an average service flow in the
system for approximately 100 irrigation days. However, the major problem of the
Waimea Irrigation System is an insufficient agricultural water supply during excessive
periods of drought caused by inadequate collection, storage and distribution facilities.
Excessive seepage losses occurring along the existing transmission ditches cause
deterioration of the linings, tunnels and flumes. The system's existing storage capacity is
inadequate for meeting irrigation water demand during frequent dry periods and for
effective application of water to diversified crops. Furthermore, the region serve by the
Waimea Irrigation System is the heart of the cattle industry, but the system lacks a
supplemental livestock water system for low or drought periods. (Agricultural Water Use
and Development Plan, 2003)
Additional water sources for the Waimea Irrigation System include the high level aquifer
which has been tapped for agricultural emergencies at the State Department of
Agriculture's Puukapu well, and there is a private well at the Waimea Country Club.
(County of Hawaii General Plan, 2005)
The key planning implications related to South Kohala's cultural and
natural resources include:
• The numerous cultural and historic resources within the district
should be identified with appropriate signage if signage for these
resources does not currently exist -Examples of possible signage include:
signage identifying cultural sites, signage identifying different types of winds and
rain and the corresponding Hawaiian names of each or signs that identify the wide
variety of flora and fauna within the district. More importantly, signs should
educate readers about the respectful protocol and appropriate stewardship of these
cultural and natural resources.
• Watershed management programs for the watersheds of South
Kohala should be developed for those watersheds in which a
stewardship program does not currently exist -Watershed management
programs could establish pollutant load limits on each land use in the watershed
in order to safeguard the marine water quality of the South Kohala coast. The
watershed management program could also establish pollutant load limits for each
watershed. The program could also outline specific actions for consistent
monitoring of marine water quality.
• Future coastal developments should take into consideration global
sea level rise and plan Accordingly -While the issue of sea level rise is not
at the forefront of many people's minds, it is still a factor that should be taken into
consideration when planning for future coastal developments in the long term.
• Brush fires are a huge potential natural hazard in the district -The
district's predominantly dry climate combined with the large amounts of fountain
grass increases the risks that brush fires may occur.
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There are specific areas in which South Kohala has the potential to
improve community readiness in the event of natural disaster -
Specific areas for increasing community preparedness include: providing more
CERT training opportunities for residents, installing a reservoir warning system
above the Waimea Town, or establishing a program to ensure safe transport and
shelter of students during and after natural disaster events.
Currently there are enough water resources to accommodate
existing water demands in the district. However, the Waimea water
delivery system infrastructure is presently stressed due to the 2006
earthquake damages and during drought conditions.
Accommodating future water demands will likely require major
capital improvements to expand the capacity of existing water
systems- There will be enough water resources to accommodate the General
Plan's projected population growth to the j+eaz 2025 and beyond. However, future
projected water demand based upon full build out of current County zoning
designations exceeds for the Mahukona and Waimea ASYAs in the South Kohala
District for the projections that include and agricultural water use. Future growth
may require the Waimanu ASYA to be developed. It is the largest ASYA in the
district in terms of sustainable yield. But currently, the Waimanu ASYA is only
being used minimally. A feasibility analysis should be undertaken first to
determine whether it is economically feasible to pump water from the Waimanu
aquifer. Depending upon the capital improvement expenses and environmental
impacts it may not be economically feasible to access water from the Waimanu
ASYA.
INFRASTRUCTURE AND PUBLIC FACILITIES
Within most areas of South Kohala, the level of infrastructure and public facilities has not
kept pace with population growth over the years. Congested roadways occur in several
areas of the district. Also, several areas in the district such as in Waikoloa Village and
Puako need new roads for emergency access. There aze no truck runaway lanes on
Kawaihae Road and Waikoloa Road. This is a serious safety issue as many semi-trucks
travel along these roadways. In the case of Kawaihae road, a seven mile, road at a grade
exceeding 10% without truck runaway lanes is dangerous. Conditions along Waikoloa
Road can be just as dangerous, with sharp turns, steep grades in some azeas, and little or
no paved shoulders.
Wastewater disposal, particularly in coastal communities such as Puako has also become
a concern. The need for more parks and community recreation areas is a district wide
concern. South Kohala is home to some of the best white sand beaches on the island. On
weekends and even during some week days, beach parks are highly frequented. Provision
of adequate infrastructure and facilities is needed to accommodate the large numbers of
beach park goers. Also, in the Kawaihae area, the expansion of a reliable potable water
delivery system is needed in order to provide for more commercial, residential, and
recreational uses around the harbor area. There is also a concern that utility lines block
scenic view planes. Lastly, as the population of the district continues to grow, South
Kohala will need a new middle school and a new high school.
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The key planning implications related to South Kohala's infrastructure
and public facilities include:
In general, given the current level of population, already approved developments, and
future population estimates, significant upgrades of infrastructure and public facilities will
need to be provided, including:
• New wastewater treatment and disposal facilities
• Increasing roadway connectivity in Waikoloa and Puako
• Reducing traffic congestion in Waimea
• Truck Runaway lanes along Kawaihae Road and Waikoloa Road
• Assessing the adequacy of water available, especially in light of the CDP's
emphasis on promoting agriculture, in addition to providing adequate water
transmission and storage facilities
• Increasing the amount of potable water for Kawaihae
• Consider under grounding future utility lines to preserve scenic view planes
• Providing adequate recreational facilities and pazks;
• Providing adequate infrastructure and facilities for beach parks and other coastal
recreational facilities
• Anew South Kohala High School and one or more elementary and middle
schools will be needed to accommodate a growing population
SOUTH KOHALA TOMORROW
DISTRICT-WIDE POLICIES
OVERVIEW
In their initial meetings, the South Kohala Steering Committee was asked to prioritize
land use issues for the entire district based upon the results of the Community Readiness
Process. While the district faces many more issues than those that are listed below, it was
necessary to focus on top priority issues in order to develop actionable plans, for the
CDP. The priority issues that.the Steering Committee selected were, not in any order of
priority, [he following:
• Preserve Culture/Sense of Place
• Traffic and Transportation
• Affordable Housing
• Emergency Preparedness
• Environmental Stewardship and Sustainability
At a subsequent Steering Committee meeting, priority issues for four South Kohala
communities were discussed: Waimea, Waikoloa Village, Kawaihae, and Puako. It was
then agreed that the CDP would focus on planning for these four communities, rather
than attempting to develop Action Programs on a "district-wide" basis. In effect, then, the
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"South Kohala Community Development Plan" became a collection of four distinct
community plans.
Although the CDP planning process focused on specific issues for the four communities,
there were a number of ideas and concerns that were raised that have applicability to the
entire district of South Kohala. These policies are still subject to further discussion with
the Planning Department and with other County agencies and departments. The policies
presented below are intended to guide future developments in the district rather than
address specific short-term actions. These ideas are organized by the priority issues that
were initially chosen by the South Kohala Steering Committee. The Steering Committee
acknowledged other important General Plan topics that because of time constraints were
not specifically identified in this CDP. Until such time as these topics can be addressed in
more detail for South Kohala, the more general policies, standards, and courses of action
listed in the General Plan provide some framework for possible action strategies. (See
Appendix D of the SKCDP)
GENERAL POLICY N0.1: PRESERVE THE CULTURE AND SENSE OF PLACE
OF SOUTH KOHALA COMMUNITIES
Related sub-policies are:
• Preserve Cultural and Historic sites and structures.
• The County Planning Director is requested to submit a draft of a bill to the
County Council that sets out a concurrency management system for South
Kohala. ~
• Provide for more developed park space and recreational facilities in South
Kohala.
• "Time Share" developments shall only be allowed within the boundaries of the
District's three major destination resorts: Waikoloa Resort, Mauna Lani Resort,
and Mauna Kea Resort.
• The County shall coordinate with the State Department of Education to develop
plans for a public high school within the South Kohala District
• It is recommended that the Planning Department provide opportunities and
forums for public review and comment for all subdivisions, PUD's, plan
developments, and cluster developments, proposed in the District of South
Kohala.
GENERAL POLICY 2: PROVIDE FOR THE TRANSPORTATION AND
CIRCULATION NEEDS OF THE SOUTH KOHALA COMMUNITY AND FOR
COMMUTERS TO/FROM SOUTH KOHALA.
Related sub-policies are:
New major roads in the District shall incorporate "complete street" standards,
including provisions for vehicular traffic, pedestrians, bicycles, and public
transportation, except in the case of extreme mitigating factors.
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Establish bicycle, pedestrian, and equestrian travel ways to link up the
communities within the District (Waikoloa Village, Waimea, Puako, Kawaihae,
and the resort nodes) while also establishing alternative travel ways within the
individual communities.
• Build safe roads.
• Identify and establish transit corridors for future mass transit service within the
district.
GENERAL POLICY NO. 3: PROVIDE AFFORDABLE AND WORKFORCE
HOUSING RESOURCES FOR LOW AND MODERATE INCOME INDIVIDUALS,
FAMILIES, AND FOR THOSE RESIDENTS OF SOUTH KOHALA WITH
SPECIAL NEEDS.
Related sub-policies are:
• 3.1 The County shall establish policies and programs for the implementation of
affordable and workforce housing projects in those areas of the island where such
projects are most needed, including Waimea and Waikoloa Village.
• 3.2 The South Kohala Community shall organize one or more community-based,
non-profit entities that can partner with the County Office of Housing and
Community Development and with other non-profit organizations and for-profit
contractors and developers to provide affordable housing units.
• 3.3 The County shall work toward the development of housing for senior citizens
and assisted living facilities in South Kohala.
• 3.4 The County shall provide more opportunities for low income housing and
transitional shelters.
GENERAL POLICY NO. 4: DEVELOP PROGRAMS AND STANDARDS THAT
WILL PROTECT THE SOUTH KOHALA COMMUNITY FROM NATURAL
HAZARDS, INCLUDING MAJOR STORMS, FLOODING, TSUNAMI, LAVA
FLOWS, AND WILDFIRES
Related sub-policies are:
4.1 The County shall develop plans and programs for emergency routes so that
people can safely move away from life-threatening natural hazards.
• 4.2 Adopt development standards and community plans that mitigate wildfire risk
and maximize responder safety, where wildfire danger is present.
4.3 Government agencies should consider providing more emergency shelter
facilities in South Kohala.
GENERAL POLICY NO. 5: DEVELOP GUIDELINES AND PROGRAMS THAT
PROMOTE ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP AND THE CONCEPT OF
SUSTAINABILITY
• 5.1 Proposed uses of natural resources shall be duly evaluated by the responsible
public entities to ensure that each such use is consistent with the sustainable long-
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term health of the eco-system, including the direct and indirect impact on coastal
waters.
• 5.2 The County shall require water conservation measures and plans for new large
scale development projects (i.e. residential and agricultural subdivisions, resorts,
commercial and industrial centers, etc.) in South Kohala
• 5.3 Ensure the quality of South Kohala's ground water resources and marine
resources.
• 5.4 Prohibit the installation of future injection wells in Special Management Areas
if wastewater is NOT treated to an R-1 level of water quality.
• 5.5 Preserve visually and environmentally important open space grasslands, ocean
views, views of the puu, and South Kohala's unique "Five Mountain Views" of
the Kohala Mountains, Mauna Kea, Mauna Loa, Hualalai; and Haleakala.
• 5.6 The County should encourage and promote LEED standards for buildings and
neighborhood design by providing incentives for projects that achieve a LEED
certification level of "Silver" or higher.
• 5.7 Increase Enforcement of the County Lighting Code and modify the existing
code as necessary.
• 5.8 The County should develop or collaborate with other agencies and
organizations to develop watershed management programs for the district of
South Kohala.
• 5.9 Water quality monitoring should be considered on a district-wide basis.
• 5.10 Encourage the County to review and revise as appropriate rules and
guidelines that will reduce flooding and erosion that may occur from developing
on steep slopes.
• 5.11 Promote Alternative Energy. South Kohala is blessed with strong winds and
ample
• 5.12 Incorporate the concept of"Sustainability" as defined in the State of Hawaii
"2050 Sustainability Plan" in all future planning and projects in South Kohala.
• 5.13 Support policies and programs that promote the concept of food
Sustainability.
WAIMEA TOMORROW: WAIMEA CONCEPTUAL PLAN & POLICIES
The Waimea Town Conceptual Plan presents in graphic and narrative form general
guidelines for the long-range - 20+ year look-ahead -future of Waimea Town. During
the course of the Community Readiness Process and Waimea Focus Group meetings, five
main concerns were consistently voiced:
• Preserving Waimea's "sense of place"
• Moderating the pace of growth and change in Waimea
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• Wise management of natural resources and important agricultural
lands
• Development of affordable housing
• Timely construction of transportation and circulation improvements
This Conceptual Plan is presented as an important linking step between the Focus Group
discussions and the resulting "Planning Notes" (November 2007) and the more detailed
Action Programs that the CDP Team has developed on specific plan elements, including:
1. Strategies to "save the pu'u"
2. Strategies for preserving small farms, small ranches, and open spaces in
East Waimea, and expanding farming activities
3. Plans for implementing walkways and bikeways along major roads
Based on input from the Community Meetings and Focus Group Meetings; the South
Kohala Steering Committee meetings, and planning studies undertaken to date, suggested
Overall Policies for Land Use in Waimea Town aze:
Waimea Policy 1. PRESERVATION OF WAIMEA'S SENSE OF PLACE shall be
the principal, overazching land use policy for Waimea. This policy shall be implemented
through measures for responsible growth, and through the preservation and protection of
important lands and resources, including important cultural and historic sites and
structures, important agricultural lands, and visually and environmentally important open
space areas in Waimea Town.
• Strategy 1.1 Protect the Puu of Waimea
• Strategy 1.2 Acquire Critical Open Space Areas
• Strategy 1.3 Protect important cultural and historic sites, structures, and
landscapes
• Strategy 1.4 Encourage small-scale farming through expanded tax credits
• Strategy 1.5 Expand the Lalamilo Farm Lots
• Strategy 1.6 Recognize and protect significant trees and other plants in Waimea
• Strategy 1.7 Encourage design and architectural guidelines that promote
Waimea's paniolo heritage
Waimea Policy 2. "RESPONSIBLE GROWTH" shall be an overarching land use
policy for Waimea. Adequate infrastructure, including roads, water supply, electrical
power, drainage structures, schools, and parks, shall be provided by public and/or private
entities before any large-scale new residential or commercial projects can be considered
for approval by the County. _
• Strategy 2.1 The County should carefully evaluate and condition, as appropriate,
any rezoning that would negatively impact important agricultural lands or
culturally, visually and environmentally important open spaces or resources in
Waimea
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• Strategy 2.2 Work with Parker Ranch to phase the "Pazker 2020" Development
• Strategy 2.3 Revise the County Subdivision Regulations and Planning Department
policies and enforcement procedures to ensure that agricultural subdivisions aze
created.for agricultural purposes and are not used for rural residential purposes
without rezoning Strategy 2.4 Amend the County of Hawaii General Plan
"LUPAG" map by reducing the acreage of "Low Density Urban" land in Waimea
Town
• Strategy 2.5 Develop a secondary commercial center on the east end of town
Waimea Policy 3. ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP shall be an overarching
land use policy for Waimea. Land use decisions shall be based on wise management
practices for forests, watersheds, natural drainage ways and streams, native ecosystems,
and important agricultural lands.
• Strategy 3.1 Protect Important Agricultural Lands
Waimea Policy 4. DEVELOP AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR WAIMEA. County
Government and the Waimea community shall work with major azea land owners,
including the State of Hawaii, Parker Ranch and the Deparhnent of Hawaiian Home
Lands, to plan and implement affordable housing projects for low and moderate income
people of Waimea.
• Strategy 4.1 Develop a Waimea Affordable Housing Program
• Strategy 4.2 Encourage policies that would provide more affordable rental units in
Waimea
Waimea Policy 5. TIMELY IMPLEMENTATION OF NEEDED CIRCULATION
AND TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENTS. The County Govemment shall
coordinate and work with the community and with state and federal agencies toward the
timely construction of priority circulation and transportation improvements, including
pedestrian, bicycling, and public transportation, improvements in order to alleviate severe
traffic congestion that is impacting Waimea Town.
• Strategy 5.1 Plan, design, and construct walkways and bikeways within the
existing rights of way of the main Waimea Roads: Kawaihae Road and
Mamalahoa Highway
• Strategy 5.2 Support the implementation of the Waimea Trails and Greenways
Project
• Strategy 5.3 Plan, design, and construct a system of equestrian trails for Waimea
• Strategy 5.4 Plan, design, and construct a system ofmulti-purpose paths and trails
for Waimea
• Strategy 5.5 Implement short-term traffic mitigation improvements in and around
Waimea Town Center
• Strategy 5.6 Design and construct the Parker Ranch Connector Road
• Strategy 5.7 Design and construct the Lalamilo Connector Road
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• Strategy 5.8 Work with the State Department of Transportation to resolve the best
alignment for the proposed Waimea/Kawaihae Road Bypass Highway
WAIKOLOA VILLAGE TOMORROW: WAIKOLOA VILLAGE CONCEPTUAL
PLAN & POLICIES
The Waikoloa Village Conceptual Plan presents in graphic and narrative form general
policies and strategies for the long-range - 20+ year look-ahead -future of Waikoloa
Village, with emphasis on:
• Providing needed community facilities for a growing town
• Environmental Stewardship, Sense of Place, Open Space
• Providing transportation and circulation improvements in a timely
manner
• Affordable housing and smart growth
During the course of the Community Readiness Process and Waikoloa Focus Group
meetings, these priority issues were consistently voiced. This Conceptual Plan is
presented as an important linking step between the Waikoloa Focus Group discussions
and the resulting "Planning Notes" (November 2007) and the more detailed Action Plans
that the CDP Team has developed for specific plan elements, including:
1. Construction of a second access road to Queen Kaahumanu Highway
2. Location and funding for a Waikoloa Community Center and Community
Park
3. Location and potential phasing for a future Middle School, second
Elementary School and High School
Based on input from the Community Meetings and Focus Group Meetings, the South
Kohala Steering Committee meetings, and planning studies undertaken to date, suggested
overall Policies for Land Use and Environmental Management in Waikoloa Village are:
Waikoloa Policy 1. PROVIDE INFRASTRUCTURE AND FACILITIES FOR A
GROWING COMMUNITY shall be an overarching planning policy for Waikoloa
Village. The County shall work closely with the Waikoloa Village Community and area
developers such that funding for important infrastructure projects and community
facilities is provided.
• Strategy 1.1 Plan, Fund, and Construct a Community Center and Community Park
• Strategy 1.2 Plan, Fund, and Construct Needed Public Schools: Elementary,
Middle, High
• Strategy 1.3 Plan, Fund, and Construct a Community Library
• Strategy 1.4 Develop a Major Commercial Center for Waikoloa Village with
shops, stores, and small business opportunities
• Strategy 1.5 Manage and Expand the Potable Water System
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• Strategy 1.6 Manage and Upgrade the Wastewater Treatment and Disposal
Systems
• Strategy 1.7 Provide more emergency facilities
Waikoloa Policy 2. ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP, SENSE OF PLACE,
OPEN SPACE shall be an overarching land use policy for Waikoloa Village. Land use
decisions shall be based on sustainable management of the open grass lands and natural
resources of the Waikoloa area,
• Strategy 2.1 Support Projects and Programs for Environmental Restoration and
Alternative Energy
Waikoloa Policy 3. PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION AND CIRCULATION
IMPROVEMENTS IN A TIMELY MANNER, including roadways, bikeways, and
pedestrian paths, and with very high priority given to the construction of a second access
road connecting Waikoloa Village to Queen Kaahumanu Highway.
• Strategy 3.1 Plan, Fund, and Construct a Second Access Road to Queen
Kaahumanu Highway
• Strategy 3.2 Fund and Construct the Paniolo Avenue Extension
• Strategy 3.3 Upgrade the Emergency Access Road from Hulu Street to Queen
Kaahumanu Highway
• Strategy 3.4 Plan, Fund, and Construct Walkways and Bikeways
• Strategy 3.5 Develop a Master Circulation Plan for Waikoloa Village
• Strategy 3.6 Implement traffic safety improvements along Waikoloa Road
Waikoloa Policy 4. ENCOURAGE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND SMART
GROWTH by concentrating development in areas that aze already zoned for Resort,
Residential, Commercial, and Industrial growth, or azeas that are otherwise appropriate
for businesses that address the needs of this
• Strategy 4.1 Implement the County's "Kamakoa" workforce housing project
• Strategy 4.2 Plan and eventually develop some of the "Industrial" land near
Waikoloa Village Center
• Strategy 4.3 The visually and environmentally important open grasslands in the
Waikoloa area should be protected from development that would have negative
environmental impacts
• Strategy 4.4 Revise the County Subdivision Code and Planning Department
policies and enforcement procedures to ensure that agricultural subdivisions are
created for agricultural purposes and are not used for rural residential purposes
without rezoning
• Strategy 4.5 "Ag-zoned" lands west and so~lth of Waikoloa Village that are
designated as "Alternate Urban Expansion" lands in the County General Plan and
"Ag-zoned" lands north of the Village shall remain in "A-Sa" and "A-20a" zoning
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until already RS-zoned lands at Waikoloa Village have been substantially
developed
KAWAIHAE TOMORROW: KAWAIHAE CONCEPTUAL PLAN & POLICIES
Suggested overall Goals for Land Use for the Kawaihae Community are
Kawaihae Policy 1. CREATE A BALANCE OF RECREATIONAL,
COMMERCIAL, AND INDUSTRIAL USES AROUND THE HARBOR AREA
WHILE PRESERVING THE CULTURAL AND HISTORIC IMPORTANCE OF
THE AREA
• Strategy 1.1: Encourage State DOT to build the Kawaihae Road Bypass through
the Kawaihae area
• Strategy 1.2: Encourage the development of a regional industrial park at
Kawaihae
• Strategy 1.3: Support DOT Commercial Harbor expansion mauka of Akoni Pule
Highway
• Strategy 1.4: Expand commercial activities around the harbor azea
• Strategy 1.5: Expand recreational activities around the hazbor area and encourage
canoe club activities
• Strategy 1.6: The County shall encourage and support revitalization of
Kawaihae's cultural and historic resources
• Strategy 1.7: Mitigate the effects of industrial sprawl around the harbor and
industrial areas
• Strategy 1.8: Decide on site locations for a community center, affordable housing,
and school
Kawaihae Policy 2. ESTABLISH ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF POTABLE
WATER FOR THE KAWAIHAE AREA
• Strategy 2.1: Complete the development of the Ouli Well Field and transmit the
water from Ouli to the Kawaihae area
• Strategy 2.2: Conduct studies to analyze the economic feasibility of constructing a
desalination plant and the environmental impact a desalination plant may have on
the surrounding environment
Kawaihae Policy 3. IMPROVE THE MARINE WATER QUALITY ALONG THE
KAWAIHAE COAST
• Strategy 3.1: Engage the Queen Emma land managers, Parker Ranch, Department
of Hawaiian
• Home Lands, National Park Service, watershed experts and the Kawaihae
community in a program to re-vegetate the mauka areas of the watershed and
reduce erosion and sedimentation
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• Strategy 3.2: The community and County shall coordinate with the Army Corps
of Engineers and State agencies to dredge Pelekane Bay
• Strategy 3.3: The County of Hawaii shall work closely with State and Federal
Agencies and with the Kawaihae community to design solutions to restore ocean
circulation along the Coast through the creation of a washout channel
Kawaihae Policy 4. IMPROVE TRAFFIC SAFETY FOR VEHICULAR AND
NON-VEHICULAR TRANSPORTATION ALONG AKONI PULE HIGHWAY
• Strategy 4.1: Reduce the Speed Limit from 35 mph to 25 mph along Akoni Pule
Highway in the vicinity of Kawaihae Harbor as indicated on the Conceptual Plan
Map
• Strategy 4.2: Prohibit parking along the shoulder of Kawaihae Road to allow
more room for pedestrians and bicyclists
• Strategy 4.3: Form an agreement with DLNR to utilize the land by the old cattle
loading area for overflow parking from local businesses
• Strategy 4.4: Construct pedestrian paths and bikeways along Akoni Pule Hwy.
through the Kawaihae corridor and add appropriate signage to increase safety
PUAKO TOMORROW: PUAKO CONCEPTUAL PLAN & POLICIES
Suggested overall Goals for the Puako Community are:
Puako Policy 1. MANAGE THE EFFECTS OF GROWTH AND
DEVELOPMENT The County Government shall work closely with the Puako
Community to manage the effects of growth and development in a responsible manner.
• Strategy 1.1 Preserve the historical integrity of Puako
• Strategy 1.2 Mitigate the impacts of development within the Puako Community
• Strategy 1.3 Mitigate the impacts of development in the surrounding area
• Strategy 1.4 Mitigate the impacts of surrounding land uses on historical and
cultural resources."
Puako Policy 2. MITIGATE THE RISKS OF NATURAL DISASTERS The County
Government and the Puako Community shall work with other State and Federal agencies
to reduce the risk to life and property from natural disasters.
• Strategy 2.1 Support the construction of the Paniau Evacuation Route
• Strategy 2.2 Maintain existing fuel break behind mauka houselots
• Strategy 2.3 Establish a fuel break between Queen Kaahumanu Highway and the
northeastern section of Puako Beach Drive
• Strategy 2.4 -Mitigate flooding from Kamakoa Gulch
• Strategy 2.5 Encourage more community participation in hazard mitigation
activities and emergency response training
• Strategy 2.6 Upgrade existing emergency warning signals to have back up
electrical power in the event that a power outage occurs
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Puako Policy 3. ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP The County Govemment and
the Puako Community shall work with other State and Federal agencies to protect and
manage the rich coastal and near shore marine environment.
• Strategy 3.1 Work with Mauna Lani Resort, County Department of
Environmental Management, and other State and Federal agencies on possible
construction of a sewer system for the Puako community
• Strategy 3.2 Encourage the development of the University of Hawaii Kalakaua
Marine Center on the pazcel of land near the Puako Boat Ramp
• Strategy 3.3: Consider a wide range of management options for the Puako forest
• Strategy 3.4 Community and County should collaborate with various State and
Federal agencies and various non-profit organizations to shaze information and
provide community resources to manage and protect Paulo's ocean resources
• Strategy 3.5 Future development and uses need to take into consideration water
quality and promote proper watershed management
Puako Policy 4. INCREASE TRAFFIC SAFETY The County Govemment shall
work closely with the Puako Community to improve traffic safety. Important related land
use strategies for the Puako Community are summarized on the following pages:
Strategy 4.1 Consider and decide upon effective and appropriate strategies to
improve traffic safety within the community
• Strategy 4.2: Improve traffic safety for vehicles merging onto Queen Kaahumanu
Highway from Puako Beach Drive
CDP IMPLEMENTATION
CDP IMPLEMENTATION COMMITTEE
Throughout the community development plan process residents expressed concem that
other critical issues were not being addressed during this initial CDP process. There was
also concem that acommunity-based entity be created to oversee implementation of the
plan recommendations. At the time of this writing, Bill 297, regarding the establishment
of Community Development Plan Action Committees, had recently been passed by
the County Council and was awaiting signature from the Mayor. The CDP Action
Committee will consist of nine community members from the particulaz CDP area. The
actual text of the bill is located in Appendix I of the SKCDP.
The bill specifies the duties of the CDP Action Committee to be the following:
1. Provide ongoing guidance and advocacy to advance implementation of the CDP
goals, objectives, policies, and actions;
2. Broaden community awareness of the CDP;
•3. Build partnerships, as appropriate, with governmental and community-based
organizations to implement CDP policies and actions;
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4. Provide timely recommendations to the county on priorities relating to the county
operational budget and the CIP budget and program;
5. Receive periodic briefings from the planning department on pending and
approved permit applications involving property located within the planning area,
and on other issues related to the CDP;
6. Receive briefings from other county agencies, as requested, on priority actions
identified in the CDP, which briefings maybe integrated and consolidated by the
mayor's office or the planning department into a plan of action for the
forthcoming year and a status report on the current year's plan of action;
Monitor the progress and effectiveness of the CDP including the need for CDP
revisions based on emerging statewide plans, new technologies, innovative ideas,
or changing conditions;
8. Review and make recommendations on interim amendments to the CDP;
9. Serve as the steering committee, as set forth in the General Plan, in any
comprehensive update of the CDP;
10. Provide recommendations to amend the General Plan;
11. Carry out other duties specified in the CDP and / or in agreement with the
Planning Department.
ADDITIONAL DUTIES OF CDP ACTION COMMITTEE
In section 16-6-11 of Bi11297, the bill states that other duties specified in the CDP and/or
in agreement with the Planning Department, can be assigned to the CDP Action
Committee. Below are suggested additional duties of the South Kohala CDP Action
Committee:
• Review and comment on various types of development applications including
subdivisions, PUD's, plan developments, and cluster developments, on a timely
basis and provide a public forum for these reviews.
Coordinate with the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands regarding DHHL
developments as well as any proposed CDP actions that may impact DHHL
Lands. Coordination with DHHL should also include partnering with or assisting
DHHL on issues of mutual concern.
Establish Standing Committees and/or Ad-Hoc Committees on subject matters
related to CDP implementation. Committees may include members of the public
as well in order to promote broader participation in the implementation process.
IMPLEMENTATION MATRIX
The Implementation Matrix provides a list of what actions need to be taken to implement
the South Kohala CDP, along with who should do the implementing, and approximately
how much it will cost. For a full description and related tables, please refer to section 8.2
of the SKCDP.
MONITORING PLAN
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Chapter 9 outlines the "indicators" that can be used to monitor the effectiveness of the
policies and programs of the South Kohala CDP. An "indicator" is something that helps a
community to understand where it is, which way it is going, and how far it is from where
it wants to be. Indicators in the South Kohala CDP will be used to serve as an information
resource to provide a snapshot of current community conditions and trends based on
selected quantitative and qualitative data gathered from a variety of sources.
A report card will answer each evaluative question below with the following grades:
+ Good trend or progress
~ No change or holding steady
-Bad trend or no action
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