HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004-10-22 TPACIFICQUEST
A regularly advertised hearing on the application of PACIFIC QUEST CORPORATION
(SPP 04-012) was called to order at 2:17 p.m. in the County Building, Councilroom-
Room 201, 25 Aupuni Street, Hilo, Hawai`i, with Chairman Fred Galdones presiding.
PRESENT:Fred Galdones ABSENT & EXCUSED:Bill Thibadeau
C. Kimo Alameda
Earl Fujikawa
William Graham
Jeffrey McCall
Ren± Siracusa
Hannah Springer
Francis Smith
Ivan Torigoe, Deputy Corporation Counsel
Christopher J. Yuen, Planning Director
Norman Hayashi, Planning Program Manager
PhyllisFujimoto,StaffPlanner
Jeff Darrow, Staff Planner
And approximately 10 people from the public in attendance
APPLICANT: PACIFIC QUEST CORPORATION (SPP 04-012)
Special Permit to allow the establishment of a Special Treatment Facility for Youthon a
7.8-acre area situated within the State Land Use Agricultural District. The property is
located along the north side of Kaalaiki Road, approximately 6,500 feet mauka of State
Highway 11 and Honuapo Park (Whittington Park), Honuapo, Ka'u, Hawaii,
TMK: 9-5-15:15.
GALDONES:Commissioners, we are on Agenda Item No. 5. Applicant is
Pacific Quest Corporation (SPP 04-012). This is a Special Permit to allow the
establishment of a Special Treatment Facility for Youth on a 7.8-acre area situated within
the State Land Use Agricultural District. Jeff?
DARROW:Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Again, if I can direct your attention to
the location map, the area of this location is in the Ka`u District. Just for bearing, this
area here identified in white is Whittington Park in Honuapo. This white line traveling in
a north-south direction is the Hawaii Belt Road. This way would be towards Pahala and
this would be towards Naalehu, which is identified here in the different zoning colors.
This large green area is all Agricultural 20-acre parcels. Theres a road identified as
EXHIBIT C
Kaalaiki Road that travels from Naalehu all the way to Pahala; and its hard to see it but it
travels right here. The area of the location that were looking at is identified in red.
The Applicant in this case, Pacific Quest, is recommending a Special Permit to allow the
establishment of a Special Treatment Facility for Youth on 7.8 acres of land in the State
Land Use Agricultural District. This area is, the site plan submitted by the Applicant
shows a little bit closer what were looking at as far as the property goes. On the, just for
clarification, this road going through their property is identified as Kaalaiki Road,
although on other maps, especially the tax map key, it shows the road as traveling on the
property line. So there are some issues with the road well be looking at.
The proposed facility is identified as being in this area on the property and then these
areas here identified in the black-shaded areas are mainly set aside for farming for the
property.
The proposed facility, identified here, again, on the floor plan, is going to be made up of
a10-bedroomfacilitywithfouroffices,akitchen,classroomandalargemulti-purpose
room.
The facility will accommodate a maximum of 16 students ranging from the ages of 14 to
17; and the Applicant has mentioned in their application that a typical profile of a student
may involve students with learning disabilities, adoption issues, low self-esteem and
involvement with negative peer groups. Theyve indicated that they are going to be
seeking a license from the Department of Health to operate a Special Treatment Facility.
Just today, we had received a letter of opposition from Jeff Silva that has been passed out
to the Commissioners. And the Planning Director is recommending approval of this
request. Are there any questions?
GALDONES:Commissioners? Commissioner Graham?
GRAHAM:Jeff, I just wondered if you had a chance to drive that road from
Naalehu out so you can let us know what the road is like in the flesh kind of?
DARROW:I was able to pass around a couple of photographs. The road is
actually paved and I believe it was paved recently as a result of the, that 2000 storm
where it washed out the bridges. So they used that as kind of a bypass road, but it
appears to be paved at this time. I believe prior to that it was sort of a rough road but -.
GRAHAM:Its paved from Naalehu to the facility?
DARROW:Correct. Yeah, and as well to Pahala.
GRAHAM:Thank you.
GALDONES:Commissioner Springer?
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SPRINGER:Jeff, I wonder if you can discuss with us the Countys analysis of
that portion of Mr. Silvas letter that refers to A portion of Kaalaiki Road crosses my
private property and I am unwilling to accept the increased liability and risk to myself
personally of having such a facility with its inherent increased traffic and quasi-public
use of my private property.
DARROW:If its okay if I could defer that question to our Planning Director.
Thank you.
SPRINGER:Sure.
YUEN:Can I have a copy of the letter? Im trying to, Im not sure where
Mr. Silvas property is in relation to the application. Our tax maps say that there is a
governmentroadcalledKaalaikiRoad,running,anditshowsitasbeingagovernment
road from the Naalehu side, at least through this property and beyond -. When it gets
beyond this, when it gets further toward Pahala, there is a section of the existing road that
is not, that C. Brewer thinks is a government road and we are not ready to accept it as a
government road yet. However, from Naalehu to this property, there is a government
road, Kaalaiki Road.
SPRINGER:So there, it will be no increased liability to the, to Mr. Silva?
YUEN:I think, well, Mr. Silva is on the Pahala side of the property. Hes
on the Pahala side of the property. Im not sure if its a government road through
Mr. Silvas property. If it is, then he is not liable for anything that happens on it.
SPRINGER:But in your understanding of where Mr. Silvas property is, there
will be not traffic across his property to access the subject -?
YUEN:Its my understanding that they are lot closer to the Naalehu side,
as far as getting in and out.
SPRINGER:Okay. We can askthem when they come up. Thank you.
GALDONES:Commissioner Siracusa?
SIRACUSA:Thank you. I was wondering if, Jeff, do you have any information
as to whether Pacific Quest has a track record in running this sort of an operation for
youth?
DARROW:Im sorry, I dont have that information. Maybe we can defer that
question to them when -.
SIRACUSA:Okay, because, you know, they would still have to get a permit
from the Department of Health to operate such a facility. And Im wondering if we
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should make, if we decide to approve, if we should make that approval contingent upon
DOHs approval. Of course, maybe if they have a track record theyve run other kind of
facilities of this sort, then that would not be an issue; but without that information its
hard to tell.
YUEN:Its covered. Currently, theyre covered by Condition 4 of this
Special Permit, comply with all the applicable laws, rules and regulations and
requirements of the affected agencies. So to the extent that this operation needs a permit
from the Department of Health, they have to get it.
ALAMEDA:Just to clarify that. May I, Chair?
GALDONES:Commissioner Alameda?
ALAMEDA:SoifwewouldgrantthisSpecialPermitandtheDepartmentof
Health would deny this Applicant a license, then would that make this Special Permit
mute?
DARROW:At that point, they wouldnt be operating as a Special Treatment
Facility licensed by the Department of Health. They would have a use permit to be able
to operate a facility, a Treatment Facility for Youth; and Im not sure how we might want
to look at that issue.
YUEN:No, theyre applying for a type of facility that does require a
Department of Health permit, so the permit would not be in effect. There are things that
you can do, no -. They built, say, they start a, they build a house, theyre running a
facility, they have a license, the license gets pulled, then they cant run the facility
anymore. If we hear, and either the County Planning Department or the Department of
Health can say, Youre running an unlicensed facility, and theyre in violation of both.
Now, they still have a building out there. There are certain things that they can do with
the building that dont require a Department of Health permit and dont require a County,
that dont require a Special Permit. So they can do those things, or they could have
somebody live in the building, for example. But they could not run a -.
ALAMEDA:Right, right. So they could potentially, like some of the examples
will be rent it out, things of that nature?
YUEN:Yeah, they could rent it out. Theres a, the size of the building,
you can, you know, you have a limit of five unrelated persons in a dwelling, so you cant
make it a complete boarding house. The size of the building makes it physically possible
to do that. But, by the same token, if they came in for a building permit for a large house,
and thats what they came in for, then they could get the building permit for it.
ALAMEDA:The reason I asked is cause I used to work for the Department of
Health and we used to screen applications such as this. And if you look at the definition
for a Special Treatment Facility, you know, in the application thats provided, youll see
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that its counter to what the Applicant is proposing for it to be used. So like, and if I
could read that statement, if I may, Chair?
GALDONES:Proceed.
ALAMEDA:It says, We can included in this application the desire to operate a
Special Treatment Facility because our program is voluntary and deals only with high
functioning compliant students. You know, I mean, that statement already, Special
Treatment Facility from my purview is really for those youngsters who are not high-
functioning and who are non-compliant. So just at kind of at the get-go, I can tell you
that this is very unlikely that if they go with that reason, they wont get a license by the
Department of Health, under the definition of a Special Treatment Facility. Special
Treatment Facilities are those for a non-compliant, low-functioning, substance abuse,
mentally challenged, disabled. So, its kind of for the Applicant to be aware of that. You
dontwanttowasteyourtime,yeah?
GALDONES:Perhaps,CommissionerAlameda,whentheApplicantcomes
forward you could raise that with them.
ALAMEDA:Sure.
YUEN:Let me ask you this. If somebody set up a Special Treatment
Facility that required that the participants be voluntarily there and not involuntarily
committed, is that against the rules?
ALAMEDA:I think they could be voluntarily committed, so that wouldnt be
against the rules. Its just the whole purpose of a Special Treatment Facility. Cause the
purpose, there is a, I guess the philosophy in the Department of Health is that youngsters
shouldnt be raised in facilities, they should be raised in communities, in families. And
the only time a youngster should be put in a facility is if weve exhausted those prior
options. And, so, thats why Special Treatment Facilities are really for those very highly
restrictive types of placements. Its a residential placement almost. So it goes counter to
Department of Healths, I guess, philosophy of keeping kids in families and not letting
them be raised in a program.
YUEN:Okay. Lets talk about it with the Applicant when they come up.
SIRACUSA:It looks like weve got a conflicting definition of terms between
the Applicant and the Department of Health here; and, I dont know, its raising some red
flags for me. But I have nothing else to say about that at this time until we have a chance
to talk to the Applicant.
GALDONES:Further questions or discussions with Jeff on the application?
Seeing none, is the Applicant or its representative present with us today? Could you
please come forward? Could you please raise your right hand? Do you swear or affirm
to tell the truth on this matter now before the Hawaii County Planning Commission?
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MCKINNEY:I do.
KAISER:I do.
GALDONES:Could you please state your name, your residence address and
speak into the microphone so we can get you recorded, please, sir.
MCKINNEY:My name is Mike McKinney. Im the president/co-owner of
Pacific Quest; and my address is 96-1168 Kamani Street in Pahala.
KAISER:My name is Chris Kaiser and I live at 95-1120 in Naalehu, Puahala
Place in Naalehu.
GALDONES:Okay.Gentlemen,haveyoufolksreceivedacopyofthe
Background Report and the Recommendation?
MCKINNEY:Yes, we do have a copy of the Recommendation, yes.
GALDONES:Do you have any comments on those documents?
MCKINNEY:No.
GALDONES:Commissioners, any questions of the Applicants? Commissioner
Siracusa?
SIRACUSA:Yes. Id like if you would both give us a brief rundown on your
professional credentials to run a facility like this and, also, then, your, maybe your
comments regarding Commissioner Alamedas notation of the discrepancy in definitions
here.
MCKINNEY:Sure, sure. Well, Chris and I have both, and Ill let him speak for
himself but weve been in this industry for six or seven years on the mainland and
worked for a number of different programs, whether residential treatment centers or
where people call wilderness programs, worked as mentors, in a lot of different
capacities. Ive worked in the field, quite a bit, Ive also worked in management as well.
I think one of the reasons why we want to be licensed by the Department of Health is that
we want to have a lot of people on our staff that have amazing credentials, and we want
to be regulated.
The State of Hawaii doesnt really have anything in between. And where I look at the
Department of Health and where its, when they talk about Special Treatment Facilities, I
dont look at the definition as a student profile. This is the type of, I look at it as how are
we regulated, how do we have checks and balances, how do we hold these programs
accountable? Because Ive been in this industry for a long time and Ive seen bad
programs. A lot of them try and fly under the radar. A lot of them will get a house and
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call it something else. We want to be regulated, we want people to come out. We want
an opportunity for the public to come forth and give their impressions. Because, you
know, working with kids, you know, whether theyre extremely oppositional or a just a
little oppositional, you know, it does affect the community, we think in a positive way.
You know, we know that these kids are out there. Were looking to help them.
Throughout my career, Ive seen very punitive programs, Ive seen lockdown programs.
And, to me, that doesnt reach internal motivations that students really need in order to
have long-term success. Most of these programs are very behavioral-based, very short-
sighted where they whip the kids into shape. You know, I agree the facilities often are our
last resort.
We are kind of running, this is a working organic farm and residential treatment facility
which, like I said, really are, the way were looking at it is we will be regulated, we will
be,wecanhaveaPh.D.overseeingclinicalaspects.Wewillhave,youknow,allthe
departments regulating us, making sure that were doing the right thing. We want to be a
family for these kids who are having difficulties. We are shorter term, we can do short-
term and long-term. Wed like to be able to do a month or two months for kids who are
just kind of going in that direction. Wed also like to be able to spend up to a year with a
student that needs, you know, a little bit more work.
Were not in this for the money. Chris and I are Pacific Quest. We have a passion for
working with these kids. We have kind of developed our own way of modeling personal
responsibility, working with these kids as mentors, not as people who are going to tell
them what to do on how they should fit in. Many of these kids are very, very bright.
We also want to have a very stringent screening process where if you do have students
that really have clinical diagnosis, this program wont be appropriate. Now, Im sure
theres a, and weve been discussing that with the Department of Health. You know, Im
not sure, if you look at the documents, youre going to see what we are. But we wanted
to err on the side of being as regulated as possible, because I think we could probably do
something like this and call it something else. But I do want to work with the best
possible staff. I do want to do this above board and make sure that everyone feels
comfortable, because I think that the community of Ka`u has a need for this, other
surrounding areas, neighboring islands. We also want to operate it on a sliding scale.
These programs are expensive to run, but we would like to be able to subsidize especially
in our community of Ka`u because it really isnt a well-off community for the most part.
And I think a lot of the kids that need help, we will be able to provide scholarships for
them.
KAISER:Im the elder but Im the less talkative one so -. My experience
over the past 7-1/2 8 years has been working with primarily adolescents in, at-risk
adolescents, adjudicated in residential facilities, wilderness programs, foster homes, child
care homes, those kinds of places. My experience has all been in the field or with the
kids. Im not a therapist, Im not a manager, I pretty much work with kids. I think that
pretty much is all my experience. But, yeah -.
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GALDONES:Commissioner Siracusa.
SIRACUSA:Thank you. I have a follow-up question in that how would kids be
referred to your program and are you going to focus on local youth?
MCKINNEY:Well, like I said, it is expensive to operate these programs. In
order for us to get the license from the Department of Health, we will have to build the
facility, we will have to have our employees in place. So the costs are still a bit up in the
air. We work with a number of referring professionals from the mainland, from other
islands. Were relatively new to the Big Island. And since a lot of this is contingent just
upon the Planning Commission, we havent gone out shaking hands and saying, Hey,
weve a facility. Theres obviously a need for that. You know, as I said, I think what
we will, as we become legitimate, I think well reach out more to our own community
anditwillbeveryeasytofindstudentslocally.And,asIsaid,Ihavelotsof
relationships with referring professionals, as well as lots of families that Ive worked with
in the past that really have appreciated it. Theres a lot of word of mouth in this industry.
So it comes from a number of different areas, but we will certainly be working with the
local community.
KAISER:Yeah, County government as well and social workers. I mean,
theres a whole list of referring sources that we would basically go out and introduce
ourselves to, so that they could send the appropriate people to us.
SIRACUSA:My concern is knowing how many young people really need help
in lots of different ways to, in some way, assure ourselves that its not going to be, that
your facility is not going to be filled with youth, troubled youth from the mainland, when
we have so many here and they wouldnt be able to access a facility like this.
MCKINNEY:Sure. Once again, I think theres a bottom line, and we have to
bring in money. So we very well may have some people from the mainland. But, really,
what that will, money will do, it will be on a sliding scale. We certainly wouldnt
subsidize anyone from the mainland to come out here. We would like to use their money,
if needed, to subsidize the students here.
I think the other thing, too, that Id like to address is that, you know, a 16-bed facility is
not going to change -. But we would like to bring into this community our expertise and
help the community, also, establish kind of a community-based mentoring program, you
know. And we have a lot of different areas that we work in and, that work well with kids
and, so, trying to get the local community involved as well and have them really be a part
of, whether its Pacific Quest or we help design something thats more broad-based. And
maybe its not residential but maybe its a program where mentors take kids out and, etc.,
etc., so that -. You know, we really emphasize the community to our kids, to our staff
and, so, we want to be there and be a resource.
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KAISER:And I think the working farm enables us to do that because it
becomes a facility that can be used by not only the people that are staying there but others
as well.
MCKINNEY:Or maybe not used but, you know, we grow organic fruits and
vegetables and, you know, for the stuff that we dont use wed like to be able to give back
to the community. Weve already started affiliating with other farmers in the area where
we can do service projects and show the kids how different farms work, and provide a bit
of vocational skills, etc.
GALDONES:Commissioner McCall?
MCCALL:Sure. The question about, in your background information, you
note that youve been, it says that youve been in touch with all your surrounding
neighborsasrequiredbythisapplicationandallhaveexpressedtheirsupportforyour
program. So youre saying that all the people, Randal Cabral, John Cross, Al Galimba,
have all sent you letters of support? May I see the letters or -?
KAISER:No. Ive spoken to Mr. Galimba and Mr. Cabral, Mr. Cross.
MCCALL:And theyve all expressed their support?
KAISER:Yeah.
MCCALL:I mean, this is a very small community. I live in Ka`u. Im -.
KAISER:Mr. Cabral may not have. I dont know, lets -.
MCCALL:Okay. Mr. Cross is sitting right behind you. Mr. Galimba was
talked to last week. Are you sure that they have expressed their support for you?
KAISER:Yes. Ive spoken with them personally. Ive met Mr. Cross before
in his office. He said he was excited about it. We talked about trail maintenance and
other service projects. He volunteered to be a networker as far as his contacts in the area.
I saw Mr. Galimba at the Ace Hardware in Naalehu two weeks ago. He asked me how
things were going, I mean -.
MCKINNEY:I think one of things were just finding is, as, are the hearing
information got, people have kind of come out that were not aware of and -. You know,
well be happy to talk to anybody, but I just dont know everyone. So, I am, I mean,
obviously, I know Mr. Cross is in here, too, so I think -. Part of my concern is that the
data that kind of gets out to these guys is very, you know, were operating a Special
Treatment Facility, theres no background, theres no, you know, were running a farm.
Mr. Silvas letter mentions that, you know. So, I think theres a lot of, there have been
more discussions since a lot of times when spoke with these people -. So, Im certainly
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not going to vouch for where they stand right now. But as of, you know, we spoke to all
the people that -.
KAISER:Actually, now I remember Mr. Cabral, when I went to his office,
Mr. McCall, Randy Cabral said that he, we took a look at the map and he was listed on
the property tax web site as being, I cant remember it was a lessee of an adjoining
property. And then when I went in there and we spent time looking at the map, he said,
in fact, that that was an error and that he was not a lessee of an adjoining property, or I
cant remember what it was, but it didnt apply to him. So thats where Mr. Cabral stood.
MCCALL:Okay.
MCKINNEY:So, as I said, I cant vouch for everyones support. But before we
even sent out the first round of letters, we went around and spoke with everyone; and if it
wasnt,Hey,guys,thisisgreat,itwas,Idontcare.
MCCALL:Ithinkthatsalittledifferent,itsalittledifferentfromwhatyour
background says, though. It says that all your neighbors expressed their support.
MCKINNEY:Well, and I understand that; but I think the support of at least, Im
not, you know, sound, I dont think anyone really argues with working with kids. If
thats misleading, I apologize.
GALDONES:Commissioner Alameda?
ALAMEDA:Aloha, again. I wanted to just read and then, read you the
definition on Special Treatment Facility and then tell me how, cause Im just trying to
think, you know, how to be helpful to you so that you dont spin your wheels. And its a
documentation, I guess, you provided. It says, Special Treatment Facility means a
facility which provides a therapeutic residential program for care, diagnosis and treatment
or rehabilitation services for socially or emotionally-distressed persons, mentally ill
persons, person suffering from substance abuse, and developmentally disabled persons.
And the reason I bring it up is cause if you go back to your original kind of background
information, and Ill read it again that, We have included in this application the desire to
operate as a Special Treatment Facility because while our program is voluntary and deals
only with high-functioning, compliant students, and then it continues, its just not fitting
that definition. So whats your thoughts on that? Go ahead.
MCKINNEY:Well, I think the socially or emotionally-distressed would probably
be the area that would be most similar. I mean, thats a very subjective thing, you know,
as we do an intake process. There are, theres lot of paperwork, theres interviews -.
ALAMEDA:Right.
MCKINNEY:Theres reviewing of any kind of testing going on. So, you know,
these students are not referred, theyre referred to us for a reason. Now, whether they
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have a clinical diagnosis of oppositional defiance or not, its, you know,theyrehaving
difficulty in school. You know, you can tell from a more non-clinical subjective point of
view that this kid is going down the wrong road.
ALAMEDA:I guess its the term high-functioning. Its voluntary and deals
only with high-functioning -. To me, high-functioning encompasses of, you know -.
MCKINNEY:I think its high-functioning in the scope of the kids that are usually
going to special treatments so -.
ALAMEDA:Academically, like maybe they get good grades but they still kind
of naughty or -?
MCKINNEY:Well, we find mostly kids that were working with, and within
kindofthisframeworkandtheidea,istheyrebrightkids,theyrejustgettingmixedup
for whatever reason.
ALAMEDA:Right, right. Cause I think you mentioned earlier about Ka`u
needing, you know, some resources; and the resources really is for those low-functioning,
non-compliant youngsters out there. The high-functioning kids, you know, they pretty
much from my own inkling theyre going to be okay cause they got support and theres a
reason why theyre high-functioning. But its those other kids that I kind of worry about.
MCKINNEY:Well, and I guess its those kids that dont have the support, you
know, that can -. And like I said, its, Ive worked and seen a lot of kids that really are
bright and get it but they get lost for whatever reason, whether they have a great family or
a bad family. Adoption issues really tend to be a big thing that, you know, while maybe
not super clinical, it really affects kids and their happiness, their health, their
productivity, their impact on the community. So youre absolutely right, I mean, there
needs to be more facilities that deal with low-functioning students.
ALAMEDA:So what would your guys plans be then if you dont get that
special license from Department of Health? Just curious.
MCKINNEY:Well probably be an organic working farm. I mean, thats, as you
guys were kind of asking, this, to us, is contingent upon getting -. This is the first step
and then we get the license. So if we dont get the license, it really is, in my mind, kind
of moot. Were not going to operate a, you know, a Special Treatment, Unlicensed
Special Treatment Facility. And, you know, there are language in here, penalties, etc.,
etc.
ALAMEDA:Right, right. Okay. Thank you.
GALDONES:Further questions or comments to the Applicants? Commissioner
Graham?
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GRAHAM:Maybe I could ask this toJeff as much, in our Background Report,
where on page 3 it has floral, fauna, archaeological resources, it says that DLNR State
Historic Preservation issued a no-effect letter believing there are no historic properties
present because of intense cultivation. I know thisletter we got here today indicates that
theres a good chance of archaeological significance on this parcel. So we dont have a
copy of the State Historic PreservationDivision no-effect letter, and Im wondering if
you have any further information or if the Applicant has any further information -.
MCKINNEY:I have a copy of that letter; and, also, I just received this letter from
Mr. Silva a little while ago, maybe 30 minutes ago. But as I read it and in our discussions
with Mr. Cross, the area in question is not our property, its near our property. And Mr.
Cross had expressed a concern that maybe a septic system might get a leak in there. You
know, we certainly, and we wrote him a letter back saying that we would do everything
we can to, you know, make sure that doesnt happen. And, frankly, if its a concern, we
are,Idhappytomovethefacilityawayfromthat,theactualbuilding.ButIdohavea
copy of the -.
GRAHAM:Do you know if the State Historic Preservation people actually
came and dida site visit, or theyre just doing this from paperwork or something?
MCKINNEY:Not to my knowledge, no; and we dont even know where that site
is. Yeah, as I said, I think its off our property; and last we heard its been dumped,
covered up with sticks and trash, and -.
GRAHAM:Thank you.
GALDONES:CommissionerMcCall?
MCCALL:Well, I guess, my question, I think we probably, looks like were
going to have some testimony about this anyway. But my understanding on this property,
the lower portion of it, it was sugar cane land. The upper portion of it is big old
eucalyptus trees. It hasnt, as far as I know it has never been cleared. Most probably Im
assuming thats old kuleana, a kuleana parcel. I would think that at the very least we
need to get an archaeologist out there to look at it before we approve anything because
theres -. You know, I dont know if theres rock walls, probably gravesites, probably,
you know, a number of other things. And I would also, I would like to make sure that the
Waiubata Cave is protected. I think its, this is a very important resource that needs to be
protected; and, to tell the truth, I dont particularly want to see a building this big, you
know, 50 feet. Ive been to Waiubata Cave half a dozen years ago. I know its real close
to this property. I mean, if its 50 feet from it, Im not sure I really want troubled kids
roaming around there. The general idea on petroglyphs and, I mean, we have our resident
expert here, but the idea is to keep this as low key as possible to protect them.
MCKINNEY:Well, I mean, absolutely; and, first of all, well never have kids
roaming around. You know, we are, its very organized and structured. But, absolutely.
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I mean, you know, we contacted these guy. I was not aware of it, youknow, the need to
do any more than go along with what was required. Id be happy to have -.
MCCALL:Yeah. On your letter that you contacted them, it looks, did you, it
sounds to me like you said that this was all sugar cane land and had been previously
bulldozed, or previously cleared.
MCKINNEY:I dont recall the exact letter. I believe I just said were applying
for this Special Permit on this particular TMK and were asking for a -.
KAISER:Yeah, and the first that we heard about that place was when I met
with Mr. Cross and he mentioned the existence of it just makai of our property boundary.
I hadnt been able to find it but if hed been there, I mean, other than the fact that it was
all covered up -. So at the time we wrote the letter, we werent aware of, that there was
anythingonornearourproperty-.
MCCALL:Yeah.Myconcern,ofcourse,isforthemaukahalfofyour
property that I think an archaeologist would need to come out there and take a look at it
before -. Because I think theres, you know, even besides the Waiubata Cave, I think we
need to look at what else is on the property before we allow clearing and stuff.
GALDONES:Jeff, in Condition No. 4, on No. 3, would that take care of the
concern thats being raised by Commissioner McCall and, also, in the letter from
Mr. Silva in reference to petroglyphs?
DARROW:It could. But, again, as we were mentioning earlier, were
depending solely on the Applicant regarding, you know, finding any unidentified sites. It
appears that, at this point, there are sites in the area possibly, that are, you know, theyre
being identified; and we might want to look at taking a further step.
GALDONES:So the second sentence was, speaks of subsequent work proceeding
with the archaeological clearance, would be after they have identified the objects.
Commissioner McCall, are you okay with that language or are you advocating proposing
a much stronger language that the study be done before anything occurs?
MCCALL:I would, my recommendation would be, my thoughts would be, as
I say is done, say, like the Kona parcels and stuff where, you know, that we get before
anything is done, before we issue a permit that an archaeologist comes in and takes a look
at it. And then after the archaeologist has given his okay or shown what parcels or what
portions need to be preserved, then something like, like No. 3, then could come into
effect for anything that is found afterwards. But I think, in my opinion, we need to do an
archaeological study before any permits are -. That would be my preference.
GALDONES:Mr. Yuen, could this be considered a sensitive area that a condition
be placed upon the application?
13
YUEN:Yeah, based on what Im hearing, this is the sort of thing where we
normally would have some kind of archaeologicalstudy accompany the application. Our
standard practice is that we require an archaeological study unless they get this no-effect
letter from State Historic Preservation Division. Unfortunately, and theyre usually, Im
amazed at the amount of good work that they do with the staffing that they have, and
theyre usually pretty reliable about this. But it looks like they may have thought that the
whole site was cultivated. They will often issue these, they will usually issue no-effect
letters when it has been in sugar cane cultivation, other kinds of active farming, or there
has been a house there before, those kinds of things, and the ground has been completely
disturbed. I dont think that, I dont know that they would issue this letter where the site
had not been previously disturbed.
GALDONES:I see. Okay. Commissioner Springer?
SPRINGER:Sowoulditbepossibleforustorequestanarchaeologicalsurvey
before we continue on with this application, which is what I think Commissioner McCall
is leading us towards in his discussion?
YUEN:Well, its up to the Commission how they want to handle this. But
we could, you could either do it, you could do that or you could do it subject to, you
could approve subject to the work being done.
GALDONES:Commissioner Graham?
GRAHAM:My sense, were doing a lot of talk without having heard from the
public yet, which is probably our mistake, but my sense is that theres a lot of premature
things to this. It feels a little bit like a chicken and an egg. If you guys can get this
permit then you got something substantial to go back to the community with and, you
know, get some support, and get some licensed folks to work with you, and all like that.
But, on the other side, were kind of, Im sort of at least sitting here thinking Id like a
show on that you guys are a viable entity thats already done that work in the community
before we do this. So my sense is for that reason, as well as archaeological reason, its
kind of premature for us to be granting a permit at this time.
MCKINNEY:Well, if I can address that. I think that the Department of Health,
and Mr. Alameda maybe you know better than I do, but we are required to have these
people and these positions. Now whether thats Chris or me being the program director
or the clinical director, I mean that, its required to have that kind of professional staff.
We obviously have the experience. But what they do is kind of look at the nuts and bolts
of, you know, okay, you obviously have the credentials to operate a program like this.
And thats really why were going this route, so that we are, so that everyone can feel
comfortable that that will be addressed. But I cant hire all these people when the facility
is two years down the road.
GRAHAM:Yeah, but, I mean, my sense is not one of hiring but its the sense
of you having a couple of people that have done this kind of work in Hawaii that will
14
come in here with you and say, These guys will put together a programand I will assist
them and,you know, da de la la la, something that makes me a lot more comfortable
about where its going than where youre at at this point. Thats all.
MCKINNEY:Right. And thats why I think thats the area the Department of
Health really makes that determination, are you guys qualified to operate this. Whereas,
to my understanding this Commission is, is this an appropriate use of this land.
KAISER:Yeah, the license, your procedure with the Department of Health
is, as you can attest to, a pretty rigorous process. Theyre not giving out Special
Treatment Facility licenses without a lot of paperwork and proof.
ALAMEDA:Chair? And just to make it for the record, Im not speaking on
behalf of Department of Health. Its just my experience in working with them, with the
Child&AdolescentMentalHealthDivision,whichisprobablywhereyouregoingto
have to go to. Its going to require more than an evidence of staff. Youre going to have
to determine who your target population is going to be. And then if its going to be high-
functioning and compliant individuals, its very unlikely its going to fly. So its going to
be revamping of mission statement almost.
MCKINNEY:Well, and once again, I think it would be, you know, if we, we
have been speaking with them but in very loose terms because it is the chicken and the
egg. It has been difficult for us. You know, but, in fact, what we need is to change the
language of it and take out high-functioning. We are still going to screen our kids and
take the right kids for the right program, I mean, thats obviously very important.
KAISER:One other issue is that I believe, and I dont know exactly where in
the Department of Health license your requirements is that we have, that were, that its,
the zoning is, in effect, that we can do that there. So I think what were, if you can
enforce the things, were going to go to them, and theyre going to say, well, when you
get the Planning Commission to say its okay, then come back and -.
MCKINNEY:Yeah, we would have, I would have preferred to go to them first
and make sure that we can get that. Cause we have to build the facility before they will
even look at us. And the Department, you know, with the food service, and there are so
many, I mean, youre right, Mr. Alameda, its a lot more than just your staff. It is, you
know, you have documents this thick -.
KAISER:Policies and procedures -.
MCKINNEY:Talking to all that.
KAISER:So we are kind of in between the chicken and the egg.
YUEN:Can I just -. Can I just jump in for, with a couple of comments on
what were hearing. And this is, first of all, on the licensing situation, theres a level of
15
facility or program that you can have thats like this that doesnt need a license; and Im
not, its, and probably Commissioner Alameda knows a lot more about this than I do. All
I can say is that the line is a little vague as to what needs a license. Let me give an
example. If I have a friend whos having trouble with their teenage, teenager, and I say,
Why dont you have him stay with me for a couple of monthsand Ill see if I can
straighten him out, and even if theres an exchange of money for that, like they paid a
thousand dollars a month for it, I dont need a license to do that. They take him in a
home, you have this kid in your home and you dont need a license. And there are
programs, there are unlicensed types of programs, that get people, their parents were
exactly in this situation, typically the child will be very troubled but not meet the kind of
thing that gets you a health insurance, for example. Its not at a level thatll get a
placement to something like Kahi Mohala where youre placed, where youre actually
placed and then your health insurance covers it, or the State will cover it if youre on
Medicaid, or something like that; but the parent is not able to deal with the kid. There are
lotsof,thereareprogramslikethatthatareunlicensed.Allright?Andits,butata
certain point, I dont know where it is, you need to get a license; and when youre a
Special Treatment Facility, you need to get a license. All right?
So what theyre proposing to do is a licensed facility by the Department of Health. If
they came in with an unlicensed facility, they would still need, if they wanted to do one
of these programs but not be licensed, they would still need a Special Permit to do it in
the Ag District. Once you get past having the number of people that you could have at a
house, just as a house, like the example that I gave earlier, that would be me, my wife and
one other, and one other unrelated person in our house, and I dont need any kind of
permit to do that. But once, if theyd come in with an unlicensed program, they would
still need a Special Permit to do it, but they would not have needed this Department of
Health license.
As a Department, and on our side in making a recommendation, we would be more
concerned with the type of program, the people who are running it, the kind of person
that was there, the security, all those kinds of issues, because there isnt anybody else
whos really looking at it as an unlicensed program.
Now what were looking at and what gives us a degree of comfort is that theyre
proposing to be a licensed program. The Department of Health has a set of rules; and the
Department of Health will periodically check to make sure that theyre following the
licensing. Now thats one point on this question of licensing. And what theyre saying is
correct, they do need the Special Permit to get the license. They need the Department of
Health to issue the licenses, theyre going to need a site where they can do it. So we do
come first in that process.
The other point Id like to make is Im hearing you folks using the high-functioning in
two different senses. When they say high-functioning theyre not talking about you go
into a regular class in high school and you take the best, the best top half of the class as
high-functioning. Theyre talking about the people who are at the bottom, the kids who
are definitely having some kind of trouble who may have, they have significant
16
behavioral problems, theres some significant, or possibly substance abuse. I dontknow
if thats specifically their take on it. But within that group of people the more high-
functioning, the more high-functioning types within that group. Am I understanding you
correctly?
MCKINNEY:Yes.
YUEN:Okay. So theyre not talking about, and there are programs that
deal, that take kids who are, there are youth programs that are designed for kids that are
maybe leaders in high school and model students, and theyre designed to give them an
even extra boost. Thats not your program?
MCKINNEY:Were not that.
YUEN:Theirprogramisfortroubledkidsbutthehigherfunctioninggroup
within those troubled kids.
ALAMEDA:The only issue with that is compliance. See, you know, when they
say high-functioning compliant kids, a troubled kid and a compliant kid or behaviorally-
challenged kid and a compliant kid, I mean, thats two sides of the coin. How can you be
compliant and yet be a behavioral problem?
MCKINNEY:Well, there are so many kids who are very internalized. They shut
down, they stay in the room, they dont do, they dont interact with anyone -.
ALAMEDA:Right, right.
MCKINNEY:I mean, so, to me -.
ALAMEDA:So, yes, so youre not talking about the behaviorally acting out,
kind of external acting out? Youre talking like what Director Yuen was talking -?
MCKINNEY:Yeah, were not talking about the kids that are like running away,
or being unsafe, or -.
ALAMEDA:Youre talking internalized, youre talking like depression -?
MCKINNEY:Right.
ALAMEDA:Youre talking those kids who are more kind of reserved?
MCKINNEY:Yes. And there is always -.
ALAMEDA:So, yeah, if you kind of frame it like that, you might get a better
chance, I think; and, again, Im not speaking for Department of Health.
17
MCKINNEY:Well, and we were trying to make this as user-friendly as possible.
Cause I knew we were not dealing with the Department of Health, so to use a lot of
clinical terminology -. I was trying to kind of and I guess I didnt do a very good job, but
try to give you guys a sense of the type of kid that were taking.
ALAMEDA:And my only thing is, you know, just,like call a spade a spade if
its going to be used for a Special Treatment Facility for youngsters who are indeed
troubled. But then I still have issue with that cause you mentioned compliance in there,
or behaviorally-challenged, or the top of the bottom, you know, if its for that then let it
be known that its for that; and if, but if its not -. Then thats why I asked you, what is
your Plan B? If its going to be a farm dwelling then just tell us its going to be a farm
dwelling, you know, or whatever.
MCKINNEY:No, well, the program is a -.
GALDONES:Gentlemen -.
MCKINNEY:Oh, Im sorry.
GALDONES:Gentlemen, may I intercede here? Mr. McKinney, you are correct.
Youretryingtomakeitasuser-friendlyaspossibleinmakingthispresentationtothe
Commissioners. And, perhaps, we are taking, Im allowing it to go into a direction that
we probably should not be going into too much discussion, which is regulating the
clinical aspect of it. In the conditions, there is Condition No. 4 which speaks of rules and
regulations of the Department of Health that you need to comply with. The
Commissions responsibility is to decide whether your use is permitted for the land that
you want to use it for; and probably thats where we need to bring the focus back into. In
terms of the Department of Health, that is something youre going to have to deal with;
and its part of the condition that you have to comply with that also. Okay?
However, in the statement that was made by Commissioner McCall, then,
Commissioners, I think we seriously need to consider that, whether the archaeological
study needs to be done prior to any kind of work being done. And, so, perhaps in the,
when the motion is made or something, that we need to take a look at whether that would
be a condition that we should include in it. Okay? Are there any further questions? We
have beaten up these two gentlemen enough, maybe we need to give them a rest.
MCCALL:We still have public testimony.
GALDONES:Yes, I will proceed with that. If theres no further questions of the
Applicants, we have a gentleman from the public who have signed up, which is Jeff
Silva. Is there any other individual who wishes to testify besides Jeff Silva? Is Jeff Silva
in the house? Jeff? Gentlemen, could you allow him a seat there? You dont have to go
back, but you can sit there. Mr. Cross, you will be making a presentation, too?
CROSS:Yes.
18
GALDONES:Okay. Why dont you just come forward, sit next to Mr. Silva.
Any other individual wishing to testify on this subject matter?
Gentlemen, may I have you raise your right hand, please, to swear you in. Do you swear
or affirm to tell the truth on this matter now before the Hawaii County Planning
Commission?
SILVA:Yes, I do.
CROSS:Yes.
GALDONES:Mr. Silva, could you please state your name and residence address?
SILVA:MynameisJeffSilva.IliveinWoodValley,Ka`u.
GALDONES:Mr.Cross?
CROSS:JohnCross.ImwithC.Brewer&Company;andIlivein
Hakalau.
GALDONES:Okay. Mr. Silva, would you like to present your testimony?
SILVA:Yes, first, thank you, thank you very much for taking your time on
this issue. I would also like to point out that I own parcels approximately three-quarters
of a mile Pahala side of their property. And before I, Im actually going to read this letter
just to have it on the record. But I just want to point out, you were discussing the road
earlier, that Kaalaiki Road. The Naalehu side of that road is very rough in many places,
its dirt, theres a large crossing. I do know that John is going to testify so possibly he
can answer that question, whether the gulch repair has been completed or is in progress.
But I do know that ranchers who live in Naalehu drive from Naalehu to Pahala, and then
take Kaalaiki Road from Pahala all the way back to the area where theyre planning this.
So there is an issue where they are going to continue to use that, use the road between
Pahala and their property, because that is the smoothest and easier route.
GALDONES:Mr. Silva, could you care to go up to the map and show us what
exactly youre trying to tell us?
SILVA:Sure. Okay. Naalehu is here, Pahala is probably somewhere over
here. Pahala is approximately 10 miles from their property. Naalehu is about 4-1/2 by
the Kaalaiki Road. The Kaalaiki Road is a rough dirt gravel road, all the way from the
cemetery at the back of Naalehu. And it comes up through a real serious gulch crossing,
which Im not sure if that crossing has been repaired, but it was pretty dicey last time I
went through it about three months ago, continues up on a dirt road, and then turns to a
paved road. Probably, I dont know the distance there but its probably about a mile of
paved road before their property. By paved, yes, its paved but its pretty badly potholed.
19
Its used by cattle trucks, heavy trucks, trucks carrying gravel to maintain the roads,
Macnut trucks, you know, harvesting equipment. So this road is not exactly smooth; and
that actually continues all the way to Pahala in that state. There are numerous crossings
which were damaged in the 2000 flood, all along this area of Kaalaiki Road, all the way
to Pahala. And actually C. Brewer has repaired a lot of those just recently; but, you
know, the likelihood of them continuing to repair that is pretty slim, seeing as how
theyre almost done in Ka`u.
On this map its very difficult to see, but my parcels are right here; and thats just about
three quarters of a mile from their parcels. Does that clarify well enough?
GALDONES:Thank you, Mr. Silva. Mr. Silva, do you have anything else that
you would like to present to the Commissioners?
SILVA:IsitnecessarythatIplacethisintheoraltestimonyorwillyou
accept this as written testimony?
GALDONES:We have accepted it. You have presented it to the Commissioners
and we have accepted that into the record.
SILVA:Okay. Theres one other thing I would like the Commission to
consider, is the possibility that if there is indeed a liability issue for people on that road,
that every person or entity that owns a parcel adjoining the road be notified of the
progress in this case.
GALDONES:Mr. Silva, your property, where you mentioned it to us is about
three quarters of a mile from the campsite. They will be crossing through your property
if they are coming through Pahala?
SILVA:Yes, it will cross through two of my parcels. Both parcels have
some land above and below the road, so they would cross over two parcels.
GALDONES:Access through Naalehu, if they access through there they would
not cross your property at all?
SILVA:That is correct.
GALDONES:Thank you. Commissioners, do you folks have any questions of
Mr. Silva? Commissioner Springer?
SPRINGER:Question. You mentioned this Waiubata Cave?
SILVA:Yes.
SPRINGER:So its a named site thats known inthe community?
20
SILVA:Its a named site known in the community, yes.
SPRINGER:And is it associated with, what kind of name is Waibata? Is that
Japanese, or Hawaiian, or -?
SILVA:I have no idea.
SPRINGER:Or Japonified Hawaiian? I dont know. And it contains
petroglyphs. Are there any other known attributes regarding that cave or associated, sites
associated with it towards their property?
SILVA:To my understanding, Ive never been there, but it is 50 to a 100
feet makai of their boundary line. It is very close. As I mentioned, in my letter to the
committee, that it is very close to the boundary between the Honuapo and Hiona`a
ahupua`a,andthatpossiblyindicatesthatthatsanimportantarchaeologicalareaforme.
The Applicants also referred to, that there was some trash in the mouth of the tunnel or
the cave; and that has been attributed to someone whos doing some bulldozing and
didnt know that it was there and pushed some material into a low spot, and it has
partially entered the cave. Its not completely blocked off but it is partially in the cave;
and thats, from what Ive heard of people who have been there and visited the site.
SPRINGER:Thank you.
GALDONES:Commissioner Siracusa?
SIRACUSA:Is the parcel fenced at all, either the one on which this property
were talking about here or the parcel on which the Waiubata Cave is?
SILVA:To my knowledge, theres no fencing on the lower part of that
parcel. The Applicants will be better qualified to answered that.
MCKINNEY:There is some fencing but its really not within our property lines.
SIRACUSA:I was wondering if the concern about young people going across
the boundary line and accessing the cave might be mitigated by fencing.
MCKINNEY:And we would be happy to do anything like that. I mean, our
program philosophy really is a connection and respect for the land. And, so, its by no
means our intent to disturb any kind of sites; and thats why Ill also be happy to have
people come on the mauka side and look.
GALDONES:Seeing no further questions of Mr. Silva, Mr. Cross?
CROSS:C. Brewer is actively filling all of its land assets in the area; and
adjoining the two, the parcel, the subject parcel, we have two TMKs that are being sold to
others, one to a Mr. Ed Olson and another to Chris Manfredi. I just want to let you
21
know in that regard, when I received the letters from the Applicant, I forwarded those
letters to those buyers. It is more appropriate for those people who are going to be the
owners of those lands to make comments on the Applicants use of their parcels rather
than C. Brewer, who is in weeks away from not being an owner of the land.
My main reason for being here is regarding some of the comments that were made, or I
want to know whats happening with Kaalaiki Road, because Kaalaiki Road is, in our
opinion, a government road. And as Mr. Silva stated, the Naalehu side is definitely not
paved, its not improved and its a bumpy, nasty road; and were not going to be around
to maintain it anymore. The bridge collapsed, and the bridge exists on County
government land; and Im not about to repair a bridge on government land.
So weve done repairs to a crossing, but on our own land, so we can bypass that bridge.
But we get into that whole thing again, is that Kaalaiki Road is government and then at
timesitsprivate.IthinkourCountyneedstostepupandmakethisagovernmentroad
and maintain this road as a government road, and provide services to all the landowners
that adjoin Kaalaiki Road.
GALDONES:Mr. Cross, Im not going to talk about the road. But in terms of
archaeological sites and petroglyphs, the areas in there were once farmed as sugar cane
land?
CROSS:Okay. Mauka portion has pretty much always been out of cane,
never been in cane. Theres probably eucalyptus trees 50, 80 years old up there. Makai
side of Kaalaiki Road, at one time was in cane. Probably about 1940s it got removed
from cane because of shallow soil, and it got turned over to the ranch, Hawaiian Ranch.
So the jog in that property appears to have been done to include Waiubata Cave because
its -. You see that wide part, below there where the facility is going to be? Straight
down below that, yeah, right about there, thats the cave. And if youve seen these
books, Kwiatkowski, and all these petroglyph books, one of, this is, it has been
photographed, and thats the one with the long fingers, the enigma, petroglyphs. Thats
the cave. So its a very significant cave. Theres Maakaau cave is on Honuapo, on the
Naalehu side, but probably three quarters mile away. Theres a lot of caves in the area.
But, you know, I think theres ways that you can protect the cave or make it a feature. I
dont know, but it is important.
GALDONES:Thank you. Commissioners, any questions of Mr. Cross?
YUEN:I have a couple questions on the cave. How far does it go? How
far in does the cave go?
CROSS:Two hundred feet.
YUEN:Is there any projection mauka under this property that you know
of? Does it only go makai from this property?
22
CROSS:Its collapsed on the mauka side, probably just before their
property. When you get in the cave, youll stand up, you can walk. And, you know, the
pahoehoe sides, thats all glazed, thats where all the petroglyphs are. As you walk up,
you can feel air coming through the cracks in the cave, mauka, but then itscollapsed. So
I dont know where it goes beyond that. Certainly it goes up, up I dont know where.
YUEN:So if somebody dug a cesspool there, that would be, it possibly
could deposit into a, an extension of the cave, quite possibly.
CROSS:If I had any concern over this project, it was voiced to Chrisabout
that, specifically. When he sent me the, your, their plan and I saw where the septic tank
was, thats the first thing that came in mind. I was very concerned about that.
YUEN:Youknowanyreasonwhythemaukasidewasnotincane?
CROSS:Totalrock.Itsverypoor,poorsoil.
YUEN:IaskedNormantogooverandlookatmy,our-.Letmejustlook
at something here and then Ill -. If the other Commissioners have any other questions -.
I want to look at the map and, on the roads, the government road question.
GALDONES:Mr. McKinney?
MCKINNEY:I, we would be happy to move the building. I mean, if theres any
concern at all about destroying a cave, even one thats collapsed, I mean, I think what I
would like to do is move the building quite a bit to the west, maybe kind of, if I may, just
go up here. I think maybe around here might be a more appropriate location so that were
as -.
NOMURA:Microphone.
MCKINNEY:Im sorry. So were as far away from that area as possible.
KAISER:We had originally picked that part cause it was the furthest down
away from the road, before we knew about the cave. So that made the most sense to have
it away from the road so there wasnt a visual impact, you know, people driving by and
stuff like that.
MCKINNEY:And so many things are contingent upon people getting in and
looking at things, and whats going to be the best way, the septic guys and the water
guys, and all that kind of stuff.
GALDONES:Mr. McKinney, in reference to the road that Mr. Cross spoke
about, if the road is in that condition, then that is, your plan is to use that road access
23
through Naalehu. How do you plan to improve that so thataccessibility would be
something much more desirable than it is?
MCKINNEY:Well, Chris has been driving that road just about every day for the
last year. We have all 4-wheel drive vehicles, we probably have a couple of Suburbans,
so that we could go over anything we needed to. Its confusing, this, the whole road and
who owns what. Our property goes across the road. According to the last C. Brewer
survey map that we saw, and I based our site plan on that map, but that wash is repaired;
and I know Mr. Cross said its on his property. Im not sure what all the residents up
there are going to do. I mean, Im not, I dont, I understand theres some liability issue.
As a Special Treatment Facility, were going to have lots of liability insurance, theres all
that kind of stuff. But I just wonder, I assume this is a topic that every person that owns a
piece of property has to deal with, going through other peoples property. And I assume
were all going to come to some kind of agreement that were all going to allow each
othertogothrougheachothersproperty,orelsenoonecangettotheirland.
KAISER:Theconditionoftheroadis,Iwouldsay,Iwouldcharacterizeitas
fair. The gulch is repaired and its a little bumpy, but its not bad. I drive it almost every
other day.
GALDONES:Being that this is a road in limbo and Mr. Cross says that it should
be considered as a government road, we are not, if youre not successful in having it
designated as a government road, are you prepared to do some repairs so that families of
the children that you have there would be able to access it without a 4-wheel drive
vehicle?
MCKINNEY:Yes. I mean, thats certainly something wed be willing to
consider. I mean, were not a multi-million dollar organization where we can throw
around tons of money. I mean, as I said, I think its going to be the responsibility of all
the property owners up there to kind of get together. If its not government then there
should be probably some homeowners association. But, you know, we sent, weve got a
letter from the Department of Public Works who have no objections to the request and
did designate it as a government right-of-way. But we, certainly, will make it drivable -.
The other thing, too, is were not going to have a lot of traffic up there. Families dont
just get to come whenever they want and visit their children. You know, a lot of the kids
we get, theres family dynamic issues, too, so -. And that was one of the concerns raised
by Mr. Silva, was the amount of traffic, and we would be very limited in that respect.
KAISER:Yeah. Were not, the, our clients or students are not leaving the
facility everyday and driving down. And, so, were talking about maybe two or three
staff people to and from each day, so pretty minimal compared to whats already up there
on the road.
GALDONES:Mr. Silva?
24
SILVA:Thank you. I dont know, it doesnt seem likeits even being
addressed. But in my letter its mostly concerning emergency issues, okay, and, sorry,
theyre not coming from Naalehu in a big hurry. Okay? Theyre not. Theyre not
coming in a big hurry, neither Police, neither Fire. Any emergency services, if theyre
coming from Naalehu, its going to take time. And what the County is talking about
potentially approving is basically accepting that theyre going to rescue or help those
people in the time of an emergency. And with that road issue from either direction, that
is an issue; and I would like that to be addressed. Thank you.
GALDONES:Mr. Yuen?
YUEN:Can I ask Mr. Silva a question? Mr. Silva?
SILVA:Yes.
YUEN:Chris Yuen right here.
SILVA:Where? Im sorry. Im like where is that coming from?
YUEN:From above. Whats your tax map key number?
SILVA:Its 9-5-15:3, 4, oh, geez, 3, 4, 5, 10. And 13?
PUBLIC:Its 14.
SILVA:Its 14, 10 and 14, I believe. I can point them out on the TMK map
if -.
YUEN:The, there -.
SILVA:Theres a little grouping of seven parcels; and I own five of the
seven.
YUEN:Yes. Okay. Youre in the small parcels, relatively small parcels
on the Pahala side of this property?
SILVA:Correct.
YUEN:Yeah. Just for edification of the Commissioners, if I can describe
what my understanding is the situation of Kaalaiki Road as best as I can. There is a,
theres a continuous government road shown on the tax maps from Naalehu, and
eventually it gets over to Pahala. On the Naalehu side, and at least as far as where
Mr. Silvas property is, and I believe even to the Pahala side, that the road thats on the
ground is at least close to where the road is on the tax maps, the government road is on
the tax maps. The County does have a disagreement with C. Brewer as to the status of a
section of road between, on the Pahala side of this section of road, as to whether what
25
people drive and call Kaalaiki Road is the same as the governmentroad shown on the tax
maps.
GALDONES:Mr. Silva?
YUEN:And just to, on the question, roads in limbo, weve talked about it
before here in the PlanningCommission. The end result of the roads in limbo is going to
be that the County will be accepting jurisdiction overthe, over roads that are clearly
government roads. Theyre not private roads and well accept that theyre County rather
than State. However, there are roads that exist out there that are not government roads
that are canefield roads; and the County is not going to accept those. Thats where the, I
think there is still a difference where we are not convinced -. I know that C. Brewer has
submitted a map and submitted documentation to try to get the County to accept this
particular route of Kaalaiki Road as being a government road and, hence, a County road;
andwehaventacceptedthatforatleastaportionofit.Thatportiondoesnotaffecttheir
access on the Naalehu side.
GALDONES:Commissioner McCall?
MCCALL:A question to the Applicants. Is there a particular reason why you
have chosen this property for your facility? Seems to me that it would be better suited
on, perhaps, on a real government road, perhaps a little closer to, you know, to
civilization and -.
MCKINNEY:Well, I mean, theres a balance. I think there are a lot of people, I
think anyone applying for this kind of permit or license, I think theres always someone
that doesnt want troubled kids near them. So we tried to pick a place that was rural,
away from, you know, a big population, yet -. Pahala has a hospital. Weve, theres a lot
of infrastructure nearby. You know, so thats ultimately why we picked it. It was a good
piece of land that suited our needs in terms of size. We really wanted to incorporate the
farming aspect; and so thats why we chose it.
If I could just address the emergency services. To me, it seems like were very close to
emergency services as opposed to, you know, you can keep going out, out and out, and
the nearest hospital is far, far away. You know, as part of the licensing, you know,
theres going to have to be evacuation procedures, and this and that.
You know, we also work with private organizations. Were really looking at the highest
standards. One of the things is I wont rely on an ambulance coming to take a student
away that hurt himself. We will have vehicles that will get him or her to an appropriate
place. I dont, you know, my understanding is the hospital does have emergency care.
Were spoken with Dr. Carol Wilder who lives in Pahala and is a physician there, and she
has agreed to be a resource to us, if there is some after-hour crisis or anything like that.
So weve really done the best that we can. And were in very early stages but we will
continue to make sure that, you know, that we are prepared for absolutely any kind of
contingency.
26
GALDONES:Commissioner Springer?
SPRINGER:I have some, that was my question about evacuation and if you
would have vehicles or a proposal in place inthat event. May I ask a question of
Mr. Cross or Mr. Silva?
GALDONES:Proceed.
SPRINGER:Mr. Silva, in your letter you mentioned fire. Is fire something that
occurs in that region?
SILVA:Fires do occur on, you know, what, you know, regularity cant be
said; but theydo move pretty quickly there, especially if the winds are up.
SPRINGER:And I suppose that if there were a facility in place, the County Fire
Departmentwouldberesponsibleforrespondingtothatandmightneedtomoveina
manner more quickly than now given the population and the, how dispersed the folks are
in Ag land. I guess that would just be a concern to me about a fire management plan.
MCKINNEY:And theyve addressed us, you know, in a letter saying, you know,
this is what you would need to have and these kinds of requirements so that we could
address -. And once again, I mean, I dont think were going to be any more likely than
anyone else up there to start a fire. You know, we will have our, were certainly not
going to let all the children burn up. We would evacuate. And, so, we are going to have
contingencies for fire, for you name it. And thats where the Department of Health is
pretty, you know, thats part of the licensing requirement, is to go over all of those things
and have those bases covered.
SPRINGER:Thanks.
MCKINNEY:Sure.
GALDONES:Commissioners, further questions of Mr. Cross or Mr. Silva?
Gentlemen, you may be excused. Thank you.
SILVA:Thank you.
GALDONES:Mr. McKinney and Mr. Kaiser, do you have any further statements
that you would like to present to the Commissioners?
MCKINNEY:Id just like to thank you all for your time. I wish this was more
concrete. I wish I could give you all the answers that you want. Like I said, weve really
tried to have other departments utilize their staff and their administration to help put you
all at ease, that these things will be addressed.
27
KAISER:Yeah, thank you. I would just add to that sentiment that the
licensing procedure from the Department of Health is really a rigorous thing and that all
these administrations are things that we would need to comply with in order to get that.
Thank you.
MCKINNEY:If I could just say one more thing, too. To Mr.Silva, you know, I
appreciate your concerns and we really do want to be part of this community and have
peoples input; and it has been difficult to kind of find those people that may have
concerns and address them but we really do want to work to make sure, you know, our
liability is covered and caves are preserved, etc.
GALDONES:Commissioners, any further questions of the Applicants? Hearing
none, Commissioners, the Department recommends that the Planning Commission
approve the application with the conditions as stated. However, concerns raised by
CommissionerMcCallpossiblyissomethingthatwewouldliketoaddressfurtherinthe
conditions. What are the wishes of the Commissioners? Commissioner McCall?
MCCALL:Yeah, at this point in time, I am uncomfortable with approving a
Special Permit like this. I would like to see, I guess my preference, Id like to see what
the other Commissioners -, but my preference would be to defer action on this until an
archaeologist comes out there, takes a look at it and brings us a, you know, a proper
report of whats out there. I dont know what the rest of the Commissioners feel but -.
GALDONES:Commissioner McCall, if that is your, the concern that you have,
instead of holding it up, perhaps, you know, I recommend that you include that as part of
the condition, that an archaeological study be made and it be approved before anything is
done there, instead of holding, instead of deferring the application till the study is made.
Would you be comfortable with that approach instead?
MCCALL:To be truthful, at this point, Im not. Because I think theres a
potential for enough stuff there that may make this property unusable for their use; and, I
mean, I just dont know whats all there. I think between the Waiubata Cave next door
and potential stuff on it, I would like to see an archaeologist report before we approve a
Special Permit, rather than have a Special Permit approved and then, you know, and then
theyre twiddling their thumbs saying, you know, What are we going to do with this
building we just put up when we cant -?
GALDONES:Mr. Yuen, what would be your, the procedure proper in trying to
address Commissioner McCalls concerns?
YUEN:There are several alternatives. One is the Commission can defer
the application, ask them to have an archaeologist look at the property. What we would,
if you want to defer it completely until the archaeological report is done, what would
happen is that they would have an archaeologist look at the property -. The archaeologist
may do a quick look and request; and if there isnt anything on the site, he can re-request
a no-effect letter from State Historic Preservation. If there is something, if there are
28
sites on the property, then there isnt really an in-between in the process. Then you go
into a full archaeological inventory report which then has to be approved by Historic
Preservation; and then if there are sites that need to be preserved, then you have a
preservation plan. Thats one alternative. That does mean, it could mean a short
deferment while the archaeologist, theyd have to get an archaeologist here, the
archaeologist will have to look at it. If the archaeologist didnt find anything then he
would submit a second no-effect request to SHPD, and then they could be back here.
We would still have the cave to deal with. The typical, typically, thats not considered
their responsibility being off-site. The Commission can put in conditions to protect it
even though its off-site. But as far as SHPD, I believe they would not, they would ask
the archaeologist to look at the possibility that theres some cave entrance and that theres
some site, you know, extending onto their property. But if the entire cave and the
petroglyphs are off their property, they wont make them do anything about it. Okay, so
thatswhatthedeferraloptionis.Allright?
Thesubjecttooptionisthatyoucanapprovethis,subjecttotherebeingthis
archaeological work done. It wouldnt involve their possibly putting up the building
before finding out all this archaeological work, but it would be, because it would -. If
you wanted to go that route, we would word the condition so that there wouldnt be any
actual development or site disturbance of the property before the archaeological work had
been done. And then we would, then, it would be as I described before; and if there were
sites and they had to be preserved -, the typical thing is that the sites are preserved with
buffers around them.
I noticed from their site plan that their primary, that on the mauka side, which is
apparently the undisturbed site, they have organic gardening; whereas, on the makai side
is where they actually want to do the building. So if there were, assuming that its
scattered sites, the typical thing that will happen is that there would be preservation sites,
and therell be a buffer around it; and that if you were going to garden or disturb, you
would have to do it away from those sites. It wouldnt usually be a, unless theres
something like theres a heiau there, or some other large kind of site or complex of sites,
or a village site, it wouldnt be something that would be the, the whole area would be a
no-touch area. So those are the, that would be what would happen.
So, at this point, its up to the Commission. I agree that we should, from what youve
said and what weve heard, we should definitely do something. Its the Commissions
choice as to either way. I would be comfortable with either way.
Normally, we do want to see the archaeological study done before we bring it to you. In
this case we had the no-effect letter in hand, and so we did bring it forward to the
Commission.
On the, the protection of the cave is a tricky one. Facility or not, the cave can be
vandalized. If you tell the kids dont go in there, that may be the worst thing to do. I
dont know physically if its possible. People have different philosophies of these things
29
as far as how to handle them. I dont like barriers myself, but there have been caves that
have been closed off. I dont know if thats physically possible in this case or not. But
we, on the side of there being physical damage to the cave or leaching from the septic
tank, that Im sure can be handled by the design and the location of the septic system.
GALDONES:Commissioner McCall.
MCCALL:Just a question. If the archaeologist, he would come and, part of
my concern is -. You know, when I went and visited the cave, it was, you know, before
this property was broken off, in fact, my lines that I used to find the cave were the trees, I
believe, that is either part of this property or whatever. So, in my mind, the cave is on
this property, it may not be. And I dont know whether a proper survey has been done
but I would like tohave, at the very least, you know, have the archaeologist make sure
that this cave, if it is 50 feet off the property or just, you know, part of, in my mind, Im
notsurethatitisofftheproperty.
YUEN:Yeah,andthatsaverygoodpoint.Whicheverwaythe
Commission goes, we should definitely have an archaeologist look at this before theres
any disturbance on the site. The archaeologist would be responsible for locating the
property lines and locating the cave in relation to those property lines; and I would expect
that we should have some protective condition. How we actually handle that, I dont
know. It depends, we can expect more of the Applicant if its on their property than off
their property, though.
GALDONES:Commissioner Graham?
GRAHAM:I just wanted to say Im certainly in favor that we defer this and not
just because the archaeology, at this point, given all the concerns, like the road concerns,
given the fact that we dont have licensed professionals into this project already. Im
certainly not expecting that you have your Department of Health permit already. But I
dont like the idea of granting a Special Permit thats still, to me, highly speculative in
that we attach a lot of conditions so that if all these conditions were met, they can do it,
but that we dont really have, you know, high expectations that all these conditions will
be met. Id rather wait till were at the point where we have high expectations, in other
words, theyve done a lot more of the groundwork to begin with before I would feel
comfortable voting in favor of a Special Permit. So, to me, it feels quite premature still.
And I wouldnt want to load up a Special Permit or word it with lots of conditions which
may or may not be able to be met. Id rather just wait until we know weve got
something that can fly with a relatively good level of certainty, and then go for it. Thank
you.
GALDONES:There were three concerns that were being raised: One is the
archaeological study, the other is the road and, also, the staffing that you had mentioned.
If we decide that we are going to defer this, then in fairness to the Applicants the things
that concern us should be raised with them. So when it comes back before us, these
issues will be addressed, instead of having to defer it again. It wouldnt be fair to them if
30
we would do that to them. So if there are any others, I think that weshould raise them
with the Applicants if the choice is to defer that. Okay?
GRAHAM:Sure. And my sense about the community wasnot that they have
staffing in place but that there be community involvement saying that we support this,
and thered be some licensed people that come forth and say this is a good project, and
the specifics that Commissioner Alameda brought out are kind of addressed. Like this is
the way we think it will work, and all of that kind of stuff, I feel like needs to be a lot
farther down the path than what it is right now. Thats my personal opinion.
GALDONES:Okay. Commissioner Springer?
SPRINGER:I concur with the previous speakers; and thank you for reminding
us in giving direction to the Applicants of the concerns that we have so its very clear
whatsonthetablefordiscussion.WhiletheApplicanthadindicatedthattheir
background was obvious, its not obvious from the material that we received. So deeper
discussion of qualifications might be in order, perhaps discussion of the curriculum. But
I would concur with a deferral, but being very specific as to what our concerns are.
GALDONES:Mr. McKinney, you wanted to address that?
MCKINNEY:Well, I just wanted to address the staffing issue. Its my
impression that that is what the Department of Health is going to oversee. Thats why
were seeking this permit. So if they regulate us and they make sure we have the
qualified people, and that this, they grant a license that, you know, that weve proved not
just the curriculum and the staff, but all the hundreds of things that we have to do, Im
just not sure if this is the right forum to, you know, discuss staffing.
GALDONES:But I think what youre hearing, Mr. McKinney, is the
Commissioners want to establish some comfort level, if they can have a better view of the
total picture that would help them in making their decision. I dont think that they are
making that, its just my opinion, making that your requirement in making their decision,
but a better birds eye view would help definitely.
MCKINNEY:Sure, sure. I would be happy to provide that to you.
ALAMEDA:Chair?
GALDONES:Commissioner Alameda?
ALAMEDA:And, again, in tagging along, just things to be aware of next time is
probably, Im interested in getting some community kind of input on whether or not, a
kind of how they feel towards a Special Treatment Facility, but with the definition the
Department of Health uses. So if you share the term with them, you know, we want to
erect a Special Treatment Facility and then theyd ask, well, what does that consist of?
Then youd want to share with them what the definition the Department of Health has,
31
rather than, you know, your own conceptualization of that. This is kind of my thing
cause then, you know, when we get community input back, then Ill decide. I feel kind
of confident that the community, like were defining Special Treatment Facility in the
same way.
MCKINNEY:I understand.
GALDONES:Commissioner Siracusa?
SIRACUSA:Yes. In line with what Commissioner Springer was saying about
our wanting some assurance about the degree of competency, Im not sure if she was
referring strictly to staffing. I think it sort of goes back to my original question about
track record; and you said you had so many years of this and that, and that, and that. But
you never actually stated what university you went to, what, you know, degrees you got,
whatfacilitiesyouworkedat,thatsortofthing;andIthinkthatissortoftheinformation
that one would find on the resume. And I would like to suggest that you both, when you
come back to us, come with a complete resume with that sort of information so that we
can be assured that at least the two people who are spearheading this project have the
level of competency to know what theyre doing, and am able to hire the proper staffing
and deal correctly with the Department of Health, and everything else that that entails.
And I would, I, for one, would appreciate seeing a nice, you know, proper resume with
nothing, not the vague stuff but, I mean, specifics; and I would really appreciate that.
MCKINNEY:Sure.
YUEN:Id like to make a little comment here on the Commission. I
understand the feelings of the Commission and the things that theyre expressing. We
have to always be cautious, though, that our permits are based on the suitability of the
property for the project thats presented. Always keep in mind that the, that all of these
permits are transferable. They run with the land. They are not tied to the individuals
who are the applicants. So do not count on the particular, its not a question of the
qualifications of the particular individuals who are applying to you. Again, in this case,
we are dealing with a program that will ultimately, by the conditions of the permit, be
regulated by the Department of Health. But always keep in mind when you have an
application, dont grant it on the basis of who is the applicant in front of you, because
they can transfer this permit to another organization. For example, if we grant this permit
to this group today under the conditions that we had here and they decided not to run the
facility any longer, a completely different organization comes in but its still licensed by
the Department of Health and its still running a Special Treatment Facility according to
the guidelines of this permit, it doesnt matter to us as a Department or to the permit who
is actually the one thats out there.
GALDONES:Thank you, Mr. Yuen. Commissioner Fujikawa.
FUJIKAWA:Mr. Director, its the same process with the B&B, right?
32
YUEN:B&Bs, rezonings, commercial projects, theyre all not, theyre all
impersonal in that sense.
FUJIKAWA:Right.
MCCALL:Maybe -.
GALDONES:Commissioner McCall, youre prepared to make a motion?
MCCALL:Sorry, yeah. Well, maybe just one comment first to the Director. I
do, I understand completely what youre saying, I guess. And, perhaps, maybe part of
my feeling here is when I looked at their plan here, I looked, you know, it was called a
Special Treatment Facility, but I looked at it and said, you know, Sure looks like a 10-
bedroom bed and breakfast, or a youth hostel, or something like that. And the truth is if
wegiveaSpecialPermittothemforaSpecialTreatmentFacilityandtheyrenotable,no
offense, you know, not able to get Department of Health approval, it, we are going to find
our hands tied behind our back. And its going to be very hard not to give them approval
as a bed and breakfast, or something else on this facility. And, so, part of what Im
looking at is, is this size and type of facility, not necessarily Special Treatment Facility, is
this an appropriate use of this land? So -.
GALDONES:So with that said.
MCCALL:With that said, Id like to make a motion that we defer, lets see -.
In the matter of this Special Permit application (04-012) for Pacific Quest Corporation,
Id like to make a motion that we defer action on this item until they -.
GALDONES:Archaeological study -.
MCCALL:Until an archeological study is prepared, and I think weve also,
weve talked about some other things, but primarily the archaeological study.
GALDONES:Okay. Do I have a second?
SPRINGER:Second, and discussion.
GALDONES:The motion made by Commissioner McCall, seconded by
Commissioner Springer, that Pacific Quest Corporations Special Permit Application
No. 04-012 be deferred till such time that the archaeological study be made and the report
submitted for the Commissioners consideration. And in the application that will be
brought forth to the Commissioners it will also include some of the things that were
addressed in the discussions by the Commissioners that would be relevant. Because
Mr. Yuen mentioned that there are certain things that is not relevant to our consideration.
Discussion?
33
SPRINGER:So in that regard, and thank you, Director Yuen, for that reminder
about the nature of the permit and the relationship of the applicant to the Planning
Commission. But the issue of the roadways, if thats something specific that we can get a
better handle on -.
GALDONES:If that is also the purview of the Planning Commission, then that
was the request that was submitted by Commissioner Graham, that that be part of the
report that wouldcome back before the Commissioners. Commissioner Fujikawa?
FUJIKAWA:So that was the, is it something like the Applicant to come down
with something about maintenance agreement with the neighbors of the roadway?
GALDONES:I believe the concerns raised or the sentiments raised by the
Commissioners is to get some public response to their project.
SPRINGER:But I think in clarity with regard to responsibility for the road,
whetheritsCountygovernmentortheneighborhood,thelandownersadjacenttoit.
GALDONES:Yes.Anyfurtherdiscussion?Hearingnone,Jeff?
DARROW:Ihaveaquickquestion.Theroadissue,youwantedthatsubmitted
by the Applicants or by the Department, clarification on the road issue?
GALDONES:I think there are two aspects of them. One is the road is in limbo,
the other is the condition of the, the accessibility of the road. And if that is the purview
of the Planning Commission, then if something to that effect could be submitted. If its
not the purview of the Planning Commission, then that should not be part of the
requirement for their report back to the Commissioners.
TORIGOE:Well, Im sorry.
GALDONES:One moment.
TORIGOE:I just want to clarify what it is exactly youre asking again.
Number one, the archaeological study or some kind of archaeological review to be
submitted to you? The roadway issue, again, are you asking the Applicants then to try to
address whatever issues arose in todays hearing and then to report on their response to
that? And, thirdly, there was an issue of more generalized public responses, you want to
have the Applicant make another effort to let their neighbors know the nature of this
particular proposed project, as Commissioner Alameda was referring to the Department
of Healths definition of this type of facility? And then there was another issue as to
whether you wanted to have more of the professional background reported to you? And
as the Planning Director has noted you have to be careful not to make a decision based on
the particular qualifications of these applicants. I think I would also add, though, that you
do need to gather enough information so you have an idea what the nature of the facility
34
is like or it would be so you can gauge the impacts on the neighbors. Doesthat about
cover it?
GALDONES:I believe it does, Mr. Torigoe.
MCKINNEY:Im still a little confused about the roads.
GALDONES:Mr. McKinney?
MCKINNEY:You know, I asked the Department of Public Works and they gave
a response. It seems like if anyone can figure it out, C. Brewer could; and they cant.
Im not sure how -.
FUJIKAWA:I have a question.
GALDONES:Commissioner Fujikawa?
FUJIKAWA:When you purchased the land, what did your deed say, on access to
yourproperty?
MCKINNEY:Itsaid,allitsaidiswehavetoprovideaneasement,andIbelieve
thats 40 feet on each side of our, of the road in order to allow the road -.
FUJIKAWA:They described the road?
MCKINNEY:They described it as Kaalaiki Road. There are so many maps with
so many different views of where the road goes. Like I said, the best map that we could
find is represented as such where theres actually two pieces of our land that the road
goes through. I just dont know how Im going to be able to resolve that. I mean, I can
certainly try and do my best, but, you know -.
GALDONES:Commissioner Fujikawa?
FUJIKAWA:I think the road issue is very important for them to handle before
they present it to us.
GALDONES:Yeah, but I think what Mr. McKinney is saying, what is exactly do
you folks want him to report back to us, in what form and what fashion. It makes no
sense making him go out on a wild goose chase and we decide its not what were
looking for. So I think hes looking for some guidance what were looking for.
FUJIKAWA:Im afraid to -.
YUEN:I think on the County side, we can give you a definitive statement
of what the County considers to be a government right-of-way for the Kaalaiki Road, and
to determine definitively that it at least goes to their property from the Naalehu side.
35
GALDONES:Commissioner Graham?
GRAHAM:Yeah, I know Ive been speaking to the road issue; and Im not
trying to imply theres any little, Im not trying to imply the road has to be of a certain
quality in order for this application to be acceptable. But I would like you folks to be
able to present to us the road is in thiscondition in this area, access will be at a, you
know, along a certain way. In event of flooding, this is how these kinds of washouts
would be handled. It is expected so much time is going to take to get here and there. All
the little issues, if you can just lay it out. And then everybody thats involved, whether
its C. Brewer or the County, can say, Yeah, thats the way we understand it, too. Then
we have a piece of hard-fast information. We can say, Well, thats okay, or Thats
just too messed up, we dont think its okay. But we just dont have anything clear like
that to go on at this point.
MCKINNEY:So its more of the actual access, not the legal issue of who owns
whatandwhat?Itscanwegettoandfrom-?
GRAHAM:Thatsmoremyconcern-.
MCKINNEY:Okay.
GRAHAM:I dont know about other Commissioners.
KAISER:And photographs, or some video, or something to help that -?
GRAHAM:I dont think you need to do all that, as long as you can give us a
clear representation of how the access is now and how its likely be in the future after
floods and stuff like that, and get the other parties to know about it to say, Yeah, thats
right. Then at least we can go forward, cause we feel like we know. Thank you.
GALDONES:Mr. McKinney, Mr. Kaiser, you have a clear idea of what the -?
MCKINNEY:Relatively clear, yes.
GALDONES:Okay, as clear as can be. Okay. Further discussions,
Commissioners?
DARROW:Could I ask the Director a quick question, just so, you know, I can
get this clarified. You had mentioned from Naalehu to the subject property is considered
government road but beyond that to Pahala is unclear?
YUEN:Theres a certain point that were not convinced that what people
are using on the ground as Kaalaiki Road is the same as the government roads that are on
the maps and that are actually government roads.
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DARROW:Okay. Just for clarification, I happened to drive recently from
Naalehu to Pahala, it is a better road from the subject property to Pahala. So its just
whether or not, I mean, are we saying no access from Pahala to the subject property? I
mean, youre actually saying theyre going to have to access from Naalehu?
YUEN:When I look at this application, the thing that I look at is do they
have legal access and physical access in the same place. I was satisfied that they had that
from the Naalehu side. I am not sure that they have that from the Pahala side.
DARROW:Okay. But we wouldnt restrict them to be, to not be able to go to
the Pahala side?
YUEN:No.
DARROW:Okay.Thankyou.
GALDONES:Mr.Darrow?Areweprepared?Werereadyforthevote.
DARROW:CommissionerMcCall?
MCCALL:Aye.
DARROW:Commissioner Springer?
SPRINGER:Yes.
DARROW:Commissioner Alameda?
ALAMEDA:Aye.
DARROW:Commissioner Fujikawa?
FUJIKAWA:Aye.
DARROW:Commissioner Graham?
GRAHAM:Aye.
DARROW:Commissioner Siracusa?
SIRACUSA:Aye.
DARROW:Commissioner Smith?
SMITH:Yes.
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DARROW:And Mr. Chairman?
GALDONES:Aye.
DARROW:The motion passes for deferment.
GALDONES:Thank you, gentlemen.
The discussion ended at 4:10p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Sharon M. Nomura, Secretary
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