HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 428 Draft 02 2024-2026COUNTY OF HAWAI`I
STATE OF HAWAI`I
RESOLUTION NO. 428 25
A RESOLUTION URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION TO
PRIORITIZE AND EXPEDITE THE RESTORATION OF ISAAC KEPO`OKALANI
HALE BEACH PARK AT POHOIKI IN PUNA.
WHEREAS, the 2018 Kilauea volcanic eruption partially inundated Isaac Kepo`okalani
Hale Beach Park and buried the adjacent Pohoiki Boat Ramp in sand and volcanic debris,
depriving the community of one of the few publicly accessible recreational areas in Lower Puna;
and
WHEREAS, prior to the eruption, the beach park served as an important gathering place
for `ohana, cultural practices and workshops, fishing, surfing, camping, and other community
activities; and
WHEREAS, following the Department of Parks and Recreation's presentation of a
proposed budget and conceptual park plan in October 2021, a County -community collaborative
hui — Revitalize Puna Resilience Capacity Areas and Co -Chairs — raised concerns over
preliminary proposals and insufficient engagement with lineal descendants and area `ohana,
prompting a robust collaborative engagement process for the park's restoration and
revitalization; and
WHEREAS, after nearly a year of engagement — including meetings with Pohoiki area
ohana, in -person and virtual planning sessions with the broader Lower Puna community, and
coordination with governmental partners — a revised park improvement plan was submitted to
the Federal Emergency Management Agency in May 2022, with a subsequent implementation
framework, Revitalize Pohoiki, unveiled in October 2022, a copy of which is attached hereto as
"Exhibit A," and
WHEREAS, the Revitalize Pohoiki plan established guiding principles of lokahi (unity
and oneness), `auamo kuleana (shared responsibility), and kiho`iho`i (restoration and return to
wellness), key areas of restoration focus, and a detailed timeline to ground the entire process of
planning, design, construction, and long-term stewardship; and
WHEREAS, Isaac Kepo`okalani Hale Beach Park was initially scheduled to be restored
by the end of 2023, a timeline that was subsequently delayed to December 2026; and
WHEREAS, a community meeting was held in July 2024 to gather feedback on
preliminary park restoration concepts to inform a Draft Environmental Assessment, which was
provided to the Department of Parks and Recreation by a private planning consultant, The
Limtiaco Consulting Group, in December 2024; and
WHEREAS, the restoration timeline is now further postponed to December 2028, more
than a decade since the eruption, and spanning three mayoral administrations; and
WHEREAS, the continued delay raises serious concerns regarding the lack of urgency
for a community that was directly impacted by lava inundation and continues to experience
prolonged recovery, particularly with respect to restoring access to this wahi pana for `ohana,
keiki, and kupuna; and
WHEREAS, visitors are already frequenting Isaac Kepo`okalani Hale Beach Park, often
venturing into hazardous, culturally sensitive, or privately owned areas due to the absence of
restored facilities, infrastructure, and directional signage, thereby increasing safety risks and
placing additional strain on the area; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAI`I that the
Parks and Recreation Director is hereby urged to prioritize and expedite immediate review,
comment, feedback, and finalization of the Draft Environmental Assessment, an Archaeological
Management Plan, and a Preservation Plan so that the project may advance to the next phase of
the planning and design without further delay.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Parks and Recreation is urged
to work in coordination with the Department of Finance and the Kilauea Eruption Recovery
Division to finalize a project budget and identify appropriate funding sources, so that
construction may commence expeditiously upon completion of final design, permitting, project
competitive bidding, and contract award.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council encourages the pursuit of public,
private, and philanthropic partnerships to support the long-term management, programming,
stewardship, and sustainability of Isaac Kepo`okalani Hale Beach Park.
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the County Clerk shall transmit a copy of this
resolution to the Honorable C. Kimo Alameda, Mayor of the County of Hawaii; Clayton S,
Honma, Parks and Recreation Director; Diane T. Nakagawa, Director of Finance; and Douglas
Nam Le, Recovery Officer, Planning Department.
Dated at Kona , Hawai`i, this 23rd day of January , 2026
INTROD CED BY:
CO MEMBER, COUNTY OF HAWAPI
COUNTY COUNCIL
County of Hawaii
Hilo, Hawaii
I hereby certify that the foregoing RESOLUTION was by
the vote indicated to the right hereof adopted b the COUNCIL of the
County of Hawaii on January2% 2026
ATTEST:
TY CL CHAIRPERSON & PRESIDING OFFICER
ROLL CALL VOTE
AYES1
NOES
ABS
EX
GALIMBA
X
HUSTACE
X
INABA
X
KAGI W ADA
X
K.ANEALI`t-KLEINFELDER
X
KIERKIEWICZ
X
KIMBALL
X
ONISHI
X
VILLEGAS
R
6
0
3
0
Reference: C-662.2/G0EAC-9D__
RESOLUTION NO. i �
(DRAFT 2 )
3