HomeMy WebLinkAboutGail, Emily
Emily T Gail
68-3941 Moana Place 3002
Waikoloa, Hi 96738
808 896-6780
October 19, 2026
Re: Bills 186 and 187 — Waikōloa Green
Dear Members of the Hawaiʻi County Council,
I am writing again regarding the proposed Waikōloa Green development, Bills 186 and 187. My
original concerns about Waikōloa Green remain: limited road access, wildfire evacuation risks,
and questions about adequate water resources. Those concerns have not diminished. However, as
the discussion has evolved, the affordable housing component has become increasingly
important to me as well. I recognize the tremendous need for affordable housing on our island,
particularly for the many people who travel long distances each day to work at our resorts. I
understand and appreciate the concern expressed by council members who want these working
families to live closer to their jobs.
However, I question how much this particular development will accomplish toward meeting that
need. If I have done my research correctly, with approximately 400 multifamily units proposed
and a stated 20% affordable housing requirement, we may be looking at the equivalent of only
80 affordable units, depending on how that requirement is fulfilled. The remainder of the
development, including the agricultural lots, would largely be market-rate housing.
There's a difference between approving a large development and solving a housing
problem.
That raises an important question: Are we approving of a major development because it
meaningfully addresses our affordable housing shortage, or because affordable housing is one
component of a much larger project?
Before approving a development of this magnitude, I hope the Council will look carefully at how
many genuinely affordable homes will be provided, who will qualify for them, and whether the
overall benefits justify the long-term impact on the residents of Waikōloa Village.
I respectfully urge you to vote against Bills 186 and 187 as presently proposed.
Thank you for your consideration and for the time and thought you are giving these important
decisions.
Emily T Gail
Waikōloa Village, Hawaiʻi