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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0077.010 2024-2026fl / Counci ail I I� CAI�1.71 From: Rebecca Melendez Sent: Tuesday, February 18, 2025 12:02 PM To: Council Testimony Subject: Oppose Bill 17 & 18 Attachments: Screenshot_20250217_140404_Chrome jpg; 20250214_171849jpg; 20250201_ 095608jpg Aloha Council, Both Bill's 17 & 18 are wanting to change zoning and Hawai'i Planning is for it. Hawai'i Planning IS NOT paying attention to Island Resources and Infrastructure. They support more developments rather than the safety of the island, and they choose to NOT listening to community voices. Please, be different and hear ourvoices. Bill 17 is zoning changes from Agriculture to Urban the Bill 18 is from Agriculture to single-family home. This is NOT okay because this will allow them to bypass the Environmental Impact Statement and the EIS is what keeps the island save. I've now seen these zoning changes many times in your meetings, and I'm learning this is how high -end and State lands bypass the EIS, through changing their zone in the county council. How is this safe for the island and it's community? Have you done any research on what is happening all over the island because the resources and infrastructure are being taxed right now, and you all have approved even more developments all over the island that haven't even started yet. How is continuing to approve even more developments when island resources and infrastructure can't handle the developments that are here now, and more developing has already been approved for the future. When do resources and infrastructure become a priority? I know of resident's who's water stayed on during a power outages last week and they had to pay for over 34,000 gallons of water that was washed. If the power didn't go out this wouldn't have happened and it goes out weekly in different areas all over the island because it's not making enough power for all of us. The resorts don't go out of power. It's the residents that have to suffer for lack of resources. How is it safe to continue to change zoning so they can bypass having to do an EIS when we have water isses, power outages, infrastructure issues...? It's NOT SAFE. 7 9 2025 I have given testimony several times showing this petition that keeps growing with more and more signatures daily https://www.change.org/p/help-big-island-resources-and-infrastructure-stay-safe-for- all-who-live-here-and-visit This petition now has 581 signatures of people asking you to STOP approving more developments because the Big Island doesn't have the resources or infrastructure for even more developments, especially when you all have approved years worth of developments that haven't even started yet, and the island doesn't have the resources and infrastructure for the developments that are here now Please, read these comments of people who have signed this petition: Supporter voices Help Big Island Resources and Infrastructure Stay Safe For ALL Who Live Here and Visit UKaleo 2 weeks ago Waipio valley is running out of water due to most of the north side of the island taking water from Kohala mountain for new development. This will kill the native wetlands, and one day fires will cover the forests in the mountain and the valley. Please stop this development before it's too late. Lily 6 months ago Hawaii island's infrastructure has already been overwhelmed by tourism, at the expense of local families being able to function and survive. We don't need or want more tourism development. ben 7 months ago Kona has been my home since I was born, and I refuse to see it be destroyed so one person (or school, in this instance) can make a little more money when they have so much land available to them at their fingertips. Keep our waters, animals, and our aina protected. We can't afford for this development to come to fruition, lest we lose even more of ourselves and culture. I'm so tired and hurt at all the desecration that Hawai'i has had to endure. Marcy 8 months ago 2 There is too much exploitation of precious land and resources Sherilyn 11 months ago Big Island needs healing and restoration so the people can live off of our own recourses. We must make sure our future generations will be cared for. We the people of this lands should not have to change our ways or lifestyle to accommodate others from the outside. Don't change us to your ways of liking to live. Don't like how we live then don't move here. Leasing our lands for $1 a year?! Can the people move in on your land for $1 a year without any permission?! We don't need no more improvements for infrastructure. Send everyone back to where they come from. Including ones with claims of being "LOCAL". Give all the STOLEN lands back to the people/descendants of their origin. Ones whom have KOKO or lineage are the true STEWARDS. Ocean and mountain access are limited due to outsiders buying stolen lands and making their own rules. By doing this they are stopping KANAKA as we rely on recourses to feed our OHANA. Construction is causing too much DESTRUCTION to our lands that provides Kanaka food and water. Too much taking from the people of the lands. ENOUGH with the DESECRATION and DESTRUCTION of our lands from MAUKA to MAKAI. It's far beyond PILAU ... This is abundance of HEWAM Read less Ryan 11 months ago There are too many reasons to list why I feeling strongly about immediately pumping the brakes on development island wide. It's irresponsible to continue what is happening. News Articles: 1) Hawaii Deals with Burgeoning Waste Management Problem As landfills face closure and waste -to -energy projects stall, various counties in Hawaii are dealing with waste management issues. Waste360 Staff January 10, 2020 "Hawaii Island is in the enviable position of having a landfill with anywhere from 20 to 100 years of capacity left to take in trash. But the island still wrestles with significant issues like plastic products that are no longer being recycled." his://www.waste360.com/landfiili/hawaii- deals-with-burgeoining-waste-rnainagernent-prolblem 3 2) "Big Island Now readers seem to agree that there's likely no single solution for slowing down the timeline of the West Hawaii Sanitary Landfill reaching capacity. The West Hawaii Sanitary Landfill, the only remaining landfill on the Big Island, is forecast to reach capacity within the next 20 to 25 years." https://bigislandnow.com/2023/09/17/4ug- island-now:poll-UQ-27-results-moire-than-one-solution-needed-to-Ihelo-extend-fife-of- west-Ihawaiu-lancifillll 3) Hawaii Island Has Decades of Landfill Space But Still Faces Challenges In Dealing With Its Waste Hawai'i Public Radio Published January 9, 2020 at 5:00 AM HST "Hawaii Island is in the enviable position of having a landfill with anywhere from 20 to 100 years of capacity left to take in trash. But the island still wrestles with significant issues like plastic products that are no longer being recycled. For the past four decades, trash from the east side of Hawaii Island has been dumped in a landfill outside of Hilo. But now trash from all parts of the island is being trucked to a facility north of Kona." Ig�ps_.//www.hawaiiiilpubViicrad'no.oirgJVocall-news/2020-01-09/Ihawaiu-islland- Ihas-decades-of-landfill-mace-lb_u t-stiiVll-faces-chall_leinges-iiin-dealing-with-fits-waste 4)"What happens to Hawaii Island's trash and recyclables? BY MICHELLE BRODER VANdyke HAWAII ISLAND PUBLISHED 11:30 AM ET DEC. 17, 2022 By Michelle Broder Vandyke Hawaii Island PUBLISHED 11:30 AM ET Dec. 1The future of the landfill The West Hawaii Landfill will be full in about 20 years. Finding a location for the next landfill is a concern, according to the DEM officials. They said it will be challenging to find a location for a future landfill because of stringent regulations and costs related to planning, environmental regulations, design and construction that will take many years to complete. It will also require community support." Ihttlps://slpectrumlocalnews.com/hi/lhawai/news/2022/12/15/what- Ih ens-to-hawaii-iLsland-s-trasslh-and-recyclables-- 5) "The overwhelming plastic waste Hawaii visitors leave behind By Natasha BourlinAug 24, 2023 Hawaii saw more than 9 million visitors last year. Those tourists' first stops are often big -box and convenience stores, where they buy bottled water, plastic sand toys, single -use bodyboards, noodles, floaties and inner tubes for their trips." htts://www.sfgate.com/hawaiii/article/Iplastic-waste-hawaii-visitors-lleave- beh i nd-18286076ph 1p 6) "A county commission drafts ordinance aiming to ban recyclables at West Hawai'i landfill By Megan Moseley September 6, 2023 - 1:00 AM HST * Updated September 6, 2023 -2:02 PM With the Hilo Landfill permanently closed in 2020, the clock is ticking for the island's sole dump. Commission chairperson Georjean Adams said it's a good time to start looking into solutions.." https://bigislandnow.coim 12023109/06/new-diraft-ordiinaince-aims-to-ban- urecyclables-at-west-hawaii-landfill/ Solution Ideas: Look into different solutions for the landfill issue such as, "Benefits of waste -to -energy 1. Waste -to -energy technology offers an alternative to landfills, providing a cleaner, more efficient way of disposing of waste while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. " https;//biotrux.com/what-can-we-use-instead-of-landfills/ Different Alternative to landfill htt.ps://betterimeetsirealiity_.comf the-diifferent- alteirnatives-to-landfill-waste-management-optiions/ Top 29 countries that have been efficient in minimizing waste https://www.openaccessgovernment.org/which-countries-are-the-most-efficient- at—rninimising- waste/96037/#:-:text=Switzerland%201have%20100%25%20waste%20recovery%2C%20desp ite%20bein.g%20in,while%20the%20other%2047%25%20is%20incinerated%20for%20eneirg ye The island has a lot of rain but it seems it is not going to were we can use it. 7) " Hawaii County issues mandatory 25% water restriction for North Kona August 7, 2023 - 5:21 PM HST A mandatory 25% water restriction has been issued for various communities in North Kona due to the failure of the Honokohau Deepwell over the weekend." lhttps://bigisllandnow.com/2023/08/07/hawaii-county-iissues-imaindatory-25- water-irestr_iction-foir-noirth-konal 8) "Hawai'i Water Supply Closely Monitored As Severe Drought Continues by Big Island Video Newson Nov 6, 2023 at 3:28 pm STORY SUMMARY HAWAI'I COUNTY - Officials say a special focus will be placed on the South Kohala Water System, which is more susceptible to drought conditions." h—Ups:.//www.bigislandvideonews.com/2023/11/06/water-supcl ply-oser irmionitored-as-hawai%CA%BBi-under-severe-drop ht Solution Ideas: A water solution would be to give tax breaks to every home in a raining area who installs a water catchment system. It rains a lot in many areas all over the island, can you pipe it to where it to where we can use it? Because it usually rains at the top. 9) "Big Island Concerns About Water Quality Prompt A Lawsuit Over A Kona Sewage Plant Kealakehe sewage plant discharges more than 1 million gallons of wastewater into a lava pit near the ocean. By Paula Dobbyn / February 6, 2024 Settlement talks are scheduled in an environmental lawsuit involving a county -operated Big Island sewage plant in Kona." httips://www.civilbeat.org/2024/02/concerns-about-wateir- __. ualit - rp ompt-a-lawsuit-over-a-kona-sewage-plant] 10) "Researchers find sewage from an oceanfront Big Island community reaches nearshore waters Hawai'i Public Radio I By Russell Subiono, Sophia McCullough Published December 20, 2021 at 5:56 PM HST There are nearly 50,000 cesspools on the Big Island, with tens of thousands posing a risk to water resources, according to the Hawai'i Department of Health." https://www.hawaiiipublicradio.org/the-conversation/2021-12-20/researchers- find-sewage-from-an-oceanfront-big-island-community-reaches-nearshore-waters 11) "Kona coast faces stark wastewater tradeoffs Current situation There are approximately 88,000 cesspools across the state, releasing more than 200,000 cubic meters of wastewater per day to the environment. hats://www.hawaii.edu/news/2021/09/10/kona-stark-wastewater- tradeoffs/ Solution Ideas: A solution to stop cesspool ocean waste pollution is give a tax break to every home who gets the Cinderella Incinerator Toilet and stops using their cesspools https://incineratingtoilets.com/us/�product/cinderella-comfort/ because this toilet can stop human waste pollution today and it doesn't need to be attached to the sewer system. There are many different kinds of toilets that can be used other than cesspools that do not need to be attached to the sewer system. Please make these toilets a priority to stop cesspool daily pollution. 12) "BIG ISLAND NEWS HECO restores power after initiating emergency outages on Big Island by: Elizabeth 'Ufi Posted: Jan 30, 2024 / 09:43 AM HST Updated: Jan 30, 2024 / 04:15 PM HST An unexpected loss of several large Hawaii Electric generators left some residents on Big Island without power for parts of the morning on Tuesday, Jan. 30." https://www.khon2.com/lbicl- i_slaind-news/heco-initiates-30-miry-rolling-outages-after-loss-of-generators/ 13) Hawai'i State News Update: Hawaiian Electric initiates rolling outages throughout Big Island February 13, 2024 - 5:23 PM HST * Updated February 14, 2024 -4:21 PM The emergency outages are being initiated in various areas around the entire island to prevent loss of power to an even greater number of customers. The timing and extent of the outages will depend on the amount of demand on the system and the availability of generators." his://Ibigislandnow.com/2024/02/13/hawaii-island-customers-asked-to- ireduce_-elect.ricit -use 14) "LOCAL NEWS HECO issues rolling power outages around Big Island by: Emily Cervantes Posted: Feb 13, 2024 / 05:11 PM HST Updated: Feb 13, 2024 / 09:12 PM HST Hawaiian Electric initiated rolling outages for Big Island after several large generators became unavailable and reduced output Tuesday night." ttps://www.khon2.com/local-news/heco-releases-conservation-alert-for-big-island/ 15) "Here's how power outages can have repercussions for Hawai'i's water supply Hawaii Public Radio I By Savannah Harriman-Pote Published February 13, 2024 at 10:59 AM HST Water departments on O'ahu and Hawai'i Island have advised customers to conserve water ahead of possible storm -related power outages this month. But what does the power grid have to do with the water supply? It is impossible to separate Hawai'i's power system from its water system, said Kawika Uyehara, deputy director of Hawaii County's Department of Water Supply." https://www.lhawaiipualbliciradiio.org/local-news/2024-02-13/resiidents-on-hawaiii- islannd—aaind-oahu-are-asked-to-coo_seirv_e-waterr-amid-.power-outages 16) U.S. Hawaii is "on the verge of a greater catastrophe," locals say, as water crisis continues By Li Cohen Updated on: April 11, 2024 / 8:23 AM EDT / CBS News In Hawaii, one of the most important sayings is ola i ka wai, "water is life" — a phrase that not only sums up what it means to exist on an island, but what it means to live, period. But now, one of the largest of the island chain's land masses is facing a triple threat to its sole freshwater source, and if it isn't addressed soon, one community member says, "we're in deep trouble." httlpS://www.clbsinews.coinm/news/hawaii-wateir-crisis-ciiiinmate-change/ This is a map of Power Outages on the Big Island. This map wouldn't have been created if Power Outages were not a serious issue on island. https://www.lhawaiianellectric.com/safety-and-outa. es ower-outages/hawaii- islland-outage-mao 17) "Hawaiian Electric is reporting that several large generators on the Big Island are experiencing a range of issues and may lead to the need for rolling outages if supply does not meet demand." https://www.reddit.com/r/BigIsland/comments/llbnuar3/hawaiian electric is reporting_ that several_lairge/?rdt=52660 18) "NewsHawaiian Electric asking Big Island customers to conserve power due to down generators March 25, 2024 • 11:49 AM HST According to the utility company, this is an usual situation as the large generators are experiencing mechanical problems resulting in a reduced output. The largest generator, an independent power producer that sells electricity to Hawaiian Electric, is offline with significant mechanical issues. The plant generates 60 megawatts or nearly one-third of the typical peak demand of 180 megawatts on the island." Ihttps://bigiislandnow.com/2024L03/2511hawaiian-electriic-askingbig-island-customers-to- conserve-poweir-due-to-down-generators/ Solution Ideas: The island gets sun almost year round on the west side, a big solar energy plant is an idea to help with power on island, and give tax breaks to homes who have solar panels. The island has a lot of wind in some areas, give tax breaks to homes that put up a wind turbine for their home https://www.tap5_usi,COIM/5kw-wiind-turbine?targetid=kwd- 84457499407286:loc- 190&rnatchtype=lb&device=c&carnpaignid=436128263&creative=&adgroupid=135130152083 9587&feediternud_=&loc physical inns=46213&loc interest ms=&ne_twork=o&dev_iicemodell =& iplaceirnent= &Ikeyvvo d top%205kw%20wind%20turlbine&target=&adposition=&trackid_u s_all to�5 bing&mld=H149003CQN&imsclkid =73110b126afe17dec9a36dff7cbaa414 The articles above show that Big Island resources are currently being negatively affected by all the developments, and there are years of new developments that has already been approved for the future. Resources issues need to be addressed before even more developments are approved that will add to the issues. We stand to say CREATE SOLUTIONS TO THE ISLAND'S RESOURCES before approving more development because this is an island, and if there is not enough resources for the developments that are here now, how will there be enough resources for the developments you have approved for the future? We stand and say NO DEVELOPING ON BURIAL GROUND. The history of the island needs to be preserved and the burial grounds need to be respected at all costs. We stand and ask to make it mandatory for vacation rentals and ALL resorts and hotels to provide drinking water machines to their guests to help stop all the empty water bottle waste on the island. We stand and ask to make it mandatory for vacation rentals and ALL resorts and hotels to provide shampoo, conditioner, body wash in bulk containers rather than continuously using small, different containers for every new guest, to help stop increase rubbish. There are mostly only 2 lanes throughout the entire Big Island and some places where cars cannot pull over if an ambulance needs to get by and traffic has seriously increased. If the island's population keeps increasing there will be hours and hours of constant serious traffic in the near future, how will ambulances get by in emergencies? Please address the traffic issue before approving more developments because the island doesn't have safe infrastructure for high traffic. What if there is a tsunami and people need to get to higher ground? Will they be able to get to higher ground in a safe time without the infrastructure to accommodate the increase in population? We stand and ask that you start increasing the infrastructure to accommodate the increased traffic before you approve more developments. We ask for another hospital to be built, as well as a trauma center and dive chamber to be put on the island to accommodate all types of injuries because of all the years of new future development that you have already approved, these buildings will be needed. Alii Drive has only two lanes and there are many developments in progress on this road, and we ask that you stop approving more developments on Alii Drive, to learn how all these future developments will impact this small road before continuing to approve more developments. This is an island and it would help the island to have a building stipulation in where the developer has to sell a high percentage to Hawaiians, and locals who have lived here for many years, to help keep the increase in population at a reasonable rate for the island's resources and infrastructure. We stand to say what are you doing about the growth in homeless on the island? We stand and ask that this be taken seriously. What about parking? All of the Big Island towns have parking issues, especially during high tourist seasons and especially Ironman. Parking Solution Ideas: The land at the bottom of Henry St. has been for sale for years and the town needs parking. Please can you look it this land for 2 to 3 story public parking and charge a reasonable rate? There is vacant land next to Lavern's in Kona town, can you build a parking lot there? There are many big black and white notice of application signs for land development all over the island and what will the island become if we don't start taking island resources seriously? PLEASE, OPPOSE ALL FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS BECAUSE ISLAND RESOURCES AND INFRASTRUCTURE NEED TO BECOME THE PRIORITY. 10 Besides island resources and infrastructure, the coral reef is being seriously affected from all the developments as well. DAR has a Report on ALL West Hawai'i Reef Including Keauhou Bay Coral Report to the Thirty -Third Legislature 2025 Regular Session Findings and Recommendations of Effectiveness of the West Hawaii Regional Fishery Management Area (WHRFMA) Page 8 "Additional anthropogenic impacts are wide-ranging and include coastal development, on -site waste disposal, urban, agricultural, and golf course runoff, boating and shipping, and marine debris, among others (Lecky, 2016)." Coral Reef Habitat Page 71 "Turf algae was the dominant benthic category observed with a mean cover of 69.52% ± 2.21(SE) across these 90 FAHU sites. Stony coral was observed with a mean cover of 14.01 % ± 2.70 (SE), followed by CCA (8.30 ± 1.99%) (Figure 49). Corals and other calcifying organisms (CCA and encrusting algae) are reef building organisms and are critical in the creation and preservation of the topographical structure of a reef ecosystem. While the amount of substrate occupied by mixed, grazed, and unidentifiable low relief algal cover (turf) outweighs the coverage of these reef builders, it will be important to track the coverage metrics of the reef builders through time as indicators of increasing or declining reef structure as well as overall coral reef health." Page 77 " 5.2.1 Environmental Stressors Though multiple stressors such as sedimentation, water quality, storm events and coral diseases are known to have an impact on coral health in West Hawai'i..." Page 78 "Trends in Coral Cover from 2003-2023 Benthic monitoring at 25 WHAP sites has shown a substanial decline in percent stony coral (ko'a) cover between baseline survey years (2003 (n=23)/2005 (n=2)) and the most recent surveys conducted in 2023 (n = 25). Mean percent cover across all sites (n=25) during the baselines years was 39.5% ± 2.3%(SE), and has since declined to 18.3% ± 2.2%(SE) in 2023, a mean relative loss of 53.2% between the baseline and most recent survey rounds (Figures 55 & 56, Table 11)." https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dar/files/2024/12/ar hrs188-2025.pdf DAR Reports that turf algae is the dominate coverage in West Hawai'i reefs. What is Turf Algae? "Algal turfs characteristically trap ambient sediments and smother corals and other competitors for space by gradual encroachment." Please, look at ALL the research above, and the over 581 signatures on the OPPOSING Petition, who stand for the safety of the island and it's community by STOPPING more development approvals. 11 Thank you, Sincerely, 12 2:04 O 0 O LTE 32%_ Q °o Change.org/p/help-h + Q change.org Help Big Island Resources and Infrastructure Stay Safe For ALL Who Live Here and Visit Message saved as draf`„ Michelle Melendez • 2 weeks ago Pua Nickles Big Island an Needs f Prioritize Resource andAt Infrastructure' • in ff � � r t, 1 ,%, dam m i y � "�w � •%. - : � �*�.'ti �r•M i ��. ���'' ... �F �. t A ;� ��� � \ \may y r W • a}� r p ►WPUAANUI� r k shy a l—^ This kind of traffic is,����� now daily, with years of already approved �M developments still coming n r- y ' A ' � 1 � � 9 _ ►J 1 _ r I I�..r