HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0465.004 1994-1996Stephen K. Yamashiro '
Mayor
------ -- ---
William G. Davis
Managing Director
Henry Cho
Deputy Managing Director
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25 Aupuni Street, Room 215 • Hilo, Hawaii 96720 -4252 • (808) 961 -8211 • Fax (808) 961 -6553
KONA. 75 -5706 Kuakmi Highway, Suite 103 • Kailua -Kona, Hawaii 96740
(808) 329 -5226 • Fax (808) 326 -5663
October 25, 1995
cr'
Honorable Keiko Bonk - Abramson, Chairwoman r;
and Members of the County Council
County of Hawaii _
25 Aupuni Street
Hilo, HI 96720
ry
Dear Chairwoman Bonk - Abramson and Members:
Re: Puna Community Development Plan
As required by Chapter 4, Sec. 5- 4.3(C), Hawaii County Charter, transmitted herewith for the
County Council's consideration and action is the Planning Commission's letter and enclosures
regarding the above - referenced matter.
Sincerely,
P ashi
Ya
AK:syw
LPunaCO 1.May
Enclosures
cc: Planning Commission
Planning Director
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Ref. Date- ` IIiI
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Stephen K. Yamashiro
Mayor
Cour V of pAnfunii
PLANNING COMMISSION
25 Aupuni Strmt, Room 109 - Hilo, Hawaii %720.4252
(808) 961.8288 Fax (808) %1.615
October 25, 1995
Honorable Keiko Bonk- Abramson, Chairwoman
and Members of the County Council
County of Hawaii
25 Aupuni Street
Hilo, HI 96720
Dear Chairwoman Bonk - Abramson and Members:
Re: Puna Community Development Plan
The Planning Commission, after duly held public hearings on June 7, 1995, July 12, 1995 and
October 10, 1995, voted to forward a favorable recommendation to the County Council that the
Puna Community Development Plan (May 1995) be adopted, with amendments as recommended
by the Planning Director and Planning Commission on October 10, 1995.
A copy of the staff background, transcripts of the public hearings, the Planning Commission's
Resolution No. 95 -2, and a copy of the Puna Community Development Plan (October 1995),
including revisions, are enclosed for your information. We are also transmitting a copy of the
Mainstreet Pahoa Strategic Plan for your information and appropriate action.
Sincerely,
& . " . /_j I
Kevin M. Balog, Vice Chairman
Planning Commission
AK:syw
LPunaC0l.pc
Enclosures
cc: West Hawaii Office
The Honorable Stephen K.
Planning Director
Yamashiro, Mayor
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Stephen K. Yamashiro
Mayor
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PLANNING COMMISSION
25 Aupuni Street, Room 109 • Hilo, Hawaii %720.4252
(808) 961.8288 Fax (808) %1• %15
PLANNING COMMISSION
RESOLUTION NO. 95 -2
WHEREAS, the Genera Pl an f or the County of Hawaii states as a policy that "The
County shall develop in cooperation with community residents, community development or
regiona pl ans for all of the districts or combination of districts and shall periodically review and
amend these documents as necessary or as mandated "; and
WHEREAS in 1990 the County of Hawaii embarked on the formulation of the Puna
Comm unity Devel Plan and
WHEREAS, the T ech nical Re Report of the Puna Community Development Plan,
lanuari1002 provides the initial groundwork, which detai the social, economic and
environmenta data for the Puna district; and
WHEREAS the Puna Community Development Plan has been the result of extensive
community and citizen participation; and
WHEREAS, the goals an d objectives of the Puna Community Development Plan reflect
the desire of resi dents to maintain Puna's high level of homeownership while expanding
agricultural and oth er economic opportunities and providing necessary pu improvements and
community facilities to "retrofit" Puna communities whil preserving Puna's rural environment.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Planning Commission that the
Puna Community Development Plan be adopted as the official document to guide development and
to assist community and business activities and decisions in the Puna district.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this resolution be transmitted to the
County Council and the Mayor.
Dated at Hilo, Hawaii this 10th day of October, 1995.
ABSENT & RXCUSED
Edward Crook, Chairman
Eddie Alonzo Kevin M. Balog
ABSENT & EXCUSED
Isaac Fiesta 1 ry IGataya
ct
Melvin Martinson Lin McIntosh
Leonard Tanaka
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COUNTY OF HAWAII PLANNING DEPARTMENT
BACKGROUND REPORT
PUNA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN
CHRONOLOGY
1. The County of Hawaii Planning Department contracted with Community Management
Associates in June 1990 to develop the Puna Community Development Plan (Puna
CDP) in two phases. The original contract amount was for $114,000 (Account No.
010 - 141 - 5141.81 -115). The contract was amended in November 1990 to change the
completion date from June 1990 to June 1991. A second time extension and an
increase in contract amount were granted in November 1991 to change the completion
date to June 1992 and increase the contract amount by an additional $75,000, for a
total contract amount of $189,000. The most recent time extension was granted in
December 1992, changing the completion date from June 1992 to June 1993.
2. Phase I of the Puna CDP entailed data- gathering and issue identification in a
preliminary report, which was entitled the Technical Reference Report of the Puna
Community Development Plan. The Technical Reference Report was produced,
accepted by the Planning Department and made available to the public in
January 1992.
3. Phase II entailed the preparation of the Puna Community Development Plan, including
but not limited to the following considerations, as stated in the consultant services
contract: economic indicators such as population, employment, industrial,
agricultural, housing and commercial development; housing potential; commercial
potential; visitor accommodation potential; the future of agriculture; evaluation of
ATTACHMENT TO M-U 465.04
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potential recreational facilities; evaluation of public services, public buildings and
community services; and methods to improve traffic circulation in the district.
Phase II also required the development of alternative development plan
possibilities including: a statement of objectives from the General Plan and from
public reactions; zone guide maps, where applicable, with explanations of the
relationship between the General Plan, existing zoning and any proposed zoning
changes; architectural character and urban design in the district, where applicable;
functional and design characteristics of open spaces, rights -of -way, public utilities and
facilities, and landscaping; preliminary recommendations as to development and
design objectives and criteria for the area; preliminary sketches, where applicable, to
illustrate alternative development plan possibilities and the development and design
objectives and criteria; a preliminary implementation program of the Puna CDP
through the zoning code, and, where applicable, through the subdivision, housing and
building codes of the County, including a recommended Capital Improvements
Program schedule needed to fulfill the objectives of the Plan, as well as an estimated
completion period; a preliminary draft report including the bases and a comparative
analysis for the alternative development plan proposals; coordination of findings and
recommendations with State and County plans or studies; extensive community and
citizen participation in the planning area to solicit public input, discussion and support
for plan alternatives; and a final report. The Consultant was directed to coordinate
the community participation aspect of the contract with the State Judiciary's Center
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for Alternative Dispute Resolution, the Puna Community Council and other
organizations.
4. In preparation for the production of the Technical Reference Report of the Puna CDP
between September 1990 and June 1991, the Consultant team conducted public
workshops once a month, called the Puna Community Development Plan Forum with
an ad hoc group of interested Puna residents. The Consultant team also made
community presentations, upon request, before various community organizations in
that same time period and in the following year. Focus groups and task groups were
also formed around important planning topics such as Transportation, Trails,
Infrastructure, Hazard Zones, Risk Perception, Flooding, Parks, Agriculture and
other topics to develop community solutions to Puna's planning problems. In April of
1992 in preparation for the production of the first draft of the Puna CDP, four public
workshops were held to review preliminary findings and three alternative development
scenarios for the district: suburban, urban center and rural village.
5. As part of the data - gathering process of Phase I, the Consultant team conducted
Community Brainstorming Sessions at all of the community association presentations
held in 1990 and 1991. Residents were asked what they liked or didn't like about
their neighborhoods. In addition, they were asked to identify which items from this
list would affect their children in the future. Those in neighborhoods directly affected
by the lava flows through Kalapana were asked to identify good and bad things that
happened during the lava flow. Several groups were additionally asked to envision
what their neighborhoods would be like in twenty years. Also, as part of the Phase I
3
data - gathering process, the Consultants conducted an informal Community Survey
which was distributed at various community meetings. A total of 72 responses were
collected and compiled. A range of questions were asked, such as homeownership,
occupation, localized flooding and distance to the nearest fire station. The results of
both the Brainstorming Sessions and the Community Survey are summarized in the
Technical Reference Report of the Puna CDP.
6. The first draft of the Puna CDP was produced by Community Management Associates
in June 1992 for the Planning Department. The Puna CDP project remained dormant
from June 1992 until January of 1995 when the Planning_ Director instructed the
Consultant to begin work on a new (second) draft of the Puna CDP.
7. Four new community workshops were held in February 1995 to discuss the first draft
of the Puna CDP and to elicit public comment, to assist in the preparation of the
second draft of the Puna CDP.
8. The second draft of the Puna CDP was produced by the Consultant under the
direction of the Planning Department at the end of May 1995, and made available to
the public.
9. To date, the Consultant has prepared the following:
A. Technical Reference Report, first draft (June 1991), Puna Community
Development Plan.
B. Technical Reference Report, final (January 1992), Puna Community
Development Plan.
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C. Inventory of Puna Subdivisions, Table 9F, Technical Reference Report, final
(January 1992), Puna Community Development Plan.
D. Infrastructure Financing for Nonconforming Subdivisions, for Puna
Community Development Plan (June 1992).
E. Report on Infrastructure Scenarios for the Substandard Subdivisions
(June 1992).
F. Puna Community Development Plan, first draft (June 1992).
G. Notes from Puna CDP Draft Review Workshops (summary of public workshop
comments, February 1995).
H. Puna Community Development Plan, second draft (May 1995).
The Goals and Objectives of the Puna Community Development Plan (page 1 -5 of the
Plan) are as follows:
Rural Character:
• Small town atmosphere.
• Agricultural lands and agricultural opportunities for large and small farmers.
• Areas for people who want to "get away from it all."
Lifestyle:
• Prevention of "fatal impact" developments that may price low - income lifestyles
out of the area.
• Conveniently located services and workplaces.
• More pedestrian- friendly neighborhoods.
• Pluralism: all kinds of people welcome in every neighborhood.
5
Environment:
• Identified and preserved historic sites, especially Hawaiian cultural sites.
• Pristine native forests.
• Native flora and fauna habitats co- existing in and alongside developed areas.
• Low environmental- impact land use and transportation patterns.
Opportunity:
• Regulatory environment of opportunity for entrepreneurs.
• Quality neighborhood jobs with family- enhancing features like childcare and
eldercare.
• Alternative tourism development: make assets of environment and owner -
operations.
• Opportunities for large- landowner development, without prohibitive regulatory
costs.
Security:
• Land use patterns and building regulations that minimize risk from natural
hazards.
• Escape routes.
• Better roads.
• Water supplies.
• Improved fire and police protection.
• Flood prevention and improved drainage.
• Infrastructure, but without excessive costs that would eliminate affordable
housing.
Planning:
• Proactive rather than reactive planning.
• Vision of build -out.
11. The following presents the major recommendations of the Puna Community
Development Plan, which are based on extensive community input and planning
analysis of Puna's land use and socio- economic problems and opportunities:
Land Use:
• Consider an island -wide study of the applicability of Transfer of Development
Rights (TDR) and other land use planning tools to help resolve the land use
problems of the non - conforming subdivisions in Puna and elsewhere on the
island.
• Promulgate a new Rural Town District (RTD) zoning designation that provides
for the preservation of the traditional character of existing rural towns and the
development of new towns of similar character.
• Encourage the creation of a community-based planning process for Pahoa,
Kea`au, Mountain View and Volcano, as well as village design guidelines.
• Encourage W.H. Shipman, Ltd., to participate in a Rural Town District
process for its master planned development mauka of the Volcano Highway
(above Shipman Park).
7
• Encourage the use of a Project District for the King's Landing area that brings
together Hawaiian cultural preservation, environmental protection, flexible
land use and eco- tourism development.
• Encourage planning for a new civic and commercial center for Puna at
Waikahekahe, which is the geographical center of the Central Subdivisions.
• Bring State Land Use District designations more into conformity with lot sizes
and actual land uses in Puna. (See Proposed Land Use Changes Chart and
Maps in the Puna Community Development Plan, second draft.)
• Seek ways to separate and buffer agricultural and residential uses within
existing subdivisions.
• Consider an amendment to the County Zoning Code to establish a minimum
three -acre lot size for new agricultural subdivisions where a change of zone is
required, with an exception for subdivisions of five lots or less.
• Collaborate with Mainstreet Pahoa to develop old Pahoa as a service area for
Pahoa residents and as an historic district.
• In the Kilauea east rift area, encourage the distribution of community activities
in a manner which minimizes risk and discourages commercial development.
• Consider designation of light industrial areas, to meet the needs of the
residents of the east rift area, in the State lands between Pahoa and the Central
Subdivisions along a new connector arterial from Pahoa to "Nine and a Half
Road. "
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• Encourage the distribution of new development in the east rift area in such a
way that minimizes risk.
• Distribute any new geothermal development in the east rift area in very low
densities along the rift to minimize investment losses from single lava flow
events.
• Consider zoning approximately 1,000 acres for a new light industrial park at
Waipalani in the general area mauka and makai of the Kea`au Solid Waste
Transfer Station.
• Encourage County funding of a Puna Roadway Master Plan that establishes a
regional roadway network, identifies roadway improvements and new roadway
• Consider rezoning subdivisions with lots under one acre to Residential and
initiating State Land Use District boundary amendments to Rural or Urban.
• Develop a master plan for a system of trails and associated natural area
corridors, starting at Hilo Airport.
• Support the development of low- impact, home -based eco- tourism facilities,
e.g., bed and breakfast establishments and lodges at appropriate locations in
the district.
• Encourage the development of small- scale, trail- accessible lodges along the
Puna coastal trail, but with the shoreline left undisturbed.
• Collaborate with the National Park Service, the State and private landowners
to develop a master plan for preservation and restoration of the forest.
Transportation:
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corridors and recommends roads for County dedication.
• Upgrade subdivisions' entrance roads -- Kuauli, South Kulani, South Kopua,
South Glenwood - -on an incremental basis.
• Encourage the State to plan and implement a rural arterial corridor extending
from the upper end of Kahakai Boulevard near Pahoa to the top of Ainaloa
Boulevard and then through Hawaiian Acres at "Nine and a Half Road" to
Kuauli at Volcano Highway, then through the upper part of Kurtistown below
Happy Homes, to connect with Komohana Street Extension.
• Plan for and seek seek design funding for implementation of the Central
Subdivision Corridor as shown in the General Plan facilities map.
• Design upper ( "Nine and a Half Road ") and lower (14th or 15th Streets)
laterals and the Central Subdivision Corridor to comply with federal
Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) requirements and to
become eligible for ISTEA funding.
• Study the feasibility of extending Pikake Road in Orchid Land east to cross
Highway 130 and to intersect with the lower parkway (14th or 15th Streets) as
the transportation spine of a future light industrial/technical park at Waipalani.
• Work with the County Department of Public Works and community groups to
dedicate Railroad Avenue, Volcano Trail, Puna Trail and similar routes for
bicycle /pedestrian routes.
• Promulgate new standards for rural roads comparable to the standards in effect
before the 1967 Zoning and Subdivision Codes. Begin a cooperative program
10
to bring candidate Puna subdivision roadways up to standard for dedication to
the County.
• Collaborate with the subdivisions for gradual County acceptance of appropriate
subdivision collector streets.
• Collaborate with community groups to designate the Puna Coastal Road and
Pohoiki (Mango) Road as historic and scenic roads.
• Expedite Kea`au Bypass Road.
Economic:
• Request the County Department of Research and Development to encourage
collaborative efforts by commodity and other agricultural groups and agencies
to form a regional agricultural task force to coordinate agricultural resource
management, infrastructure and research for Puna farmers.
• Encourage the designation of agricultural buffers based on State ALISH
designations, to serve as green belt areas, within which subdivisions of
agricultural lands for residential purposes is prohibited.
• Support State funding for the development of agricultural water systems
designed to meet the needs of Puna farmers.
• Encourage the amendment of the County tax code relating to forestry, pasture
and agro-forestry, to provide greater incentives for sustainability, flood control
and protection of native species.
• Encourage the prohibition of subdivision of agriculturally zoned land in Puna
into lots smaller than three acres, except for subdivisions into five lots or less.
11
• Collaborate with the State Department of Land and Natural Resources and
community groups to implement a district -wide system of trails, historic roads
and railroad rights -of -way, starting at Hilo Airport.
• Encourage the State to construct an access road and boat ramp on the lava
accretion land next to Kapoho Bay.
• Ask the State Department of Transportation to consider constructing a ramp or
small boat harbor at Maku`u.
0 Consider promulgating new zoning classifications for industrial uses
which create the specialized environments attractive to desirable
industries, such as communication and "back office" industries.
• Consider development of free trade zones in future Puna industrial areas.
• Conduct and implement pro- active land use planning for geothermal
designation for the rift zone areas of Puna.
0 Study the use of Transfer of Development Rights (TDRs) to reduce density in
the rift zone due to the presence of geothermal development and to transform
some residential rights to direct -use, e.g., waste heat industries, if appropriate.
Natural Hazards:
• Study the use of Transfer of Development Rights (TDRs) to reduce residential
densities in the area of subsidence and environmental pollution in Kapoho.
• Consider increasing the State Conservation District and County Special
Management Area boundaries in areas subject to subsidence.
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• Encourage the funding of a risk analysis study of Lava Flow Hazard Zones
(LFHZs) 1 and 2, as a basis for land use, building code and infrastructure
policies and remedies appropriate to risk.
• Study the use of Transfer of Development Rights (TDRs) to reduce Residential
densities in LFHZs 1 and 2.
• Seek means to direct Pahoa's development laterally rather than downslope, to
lower potential property damage from lava flows.
• Encourage provision of two or more escape routes from every residential area
and regular emergency response tests.
• Support National Park acquisition of recent lava flow areas adjacent to
National Park boundaries.
• Study the use of Transfer of Development Rights (TDRs) to reduce residential
densities in areas subject to severe flooding in upper Puna.
• Ask the Department of Public Works to collaborate with subdivisions and the
Natural Resources Conservation Service to inform lot owners and developers
of the presence of drainage problems and recommended practices to minimize
and mitigate flooding.
• Seek State and federal funding for a comprehensive flood control and drainage
study of the upper Puna drainage area including Hawaiian Acres and Orchid
Land.
• Consider initiating a task group including residents from the two associated
drainage patterns of Kurtistown/Kea`au and Hawaiian Acres /Orchid Land
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flooding, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Natural Resources
Conservation Service, with the objective of choosing one drainage channel to
accept flood waters and working toward future drainage improvements.
Housing:
• Plan, design and build a corridor of secondary public roadways and water
mains into the central corridor of the Central Subdivisions, as a starting point
for clustering of service and pedestrian areas.
• Encourage planning for future multi - family residential areas near future
commercial centers in the existing subdivisions.
Education:
• In the east rift area, consider developing smaller community elementary
schools near the centers of population in the subdivisions instead of increasing
school facilities in Pahoa. Consult with the U.S. Geological Survey to place
schools with a minimum of risk from lava flow.
• Encourage the State to cooperate with the subdivisions in early selection of
sufficient neighborhood school sites to accommodate the future build -out of the
subdivisions.
Protective Services:
• Consider replacing the police substation in Pahoa with a 24 -hour staffed
mobile center.
• Cooperate with master planning in subdivisions to reserve sites for fire /police
centers in planned rural town centers.
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1 •.
• Collaborate with subdivisions to locate and reserve future police and fire
facility sites to meet safety standards for response times for future build -out of
permitted development.
• Carefully limit future County expenditures in new police /fire station facilities
in Pahoa and elsewhere in Lava Flow Hazard Zones 1 and 2, except for
necessary repairs and maintenance.
Government Operations:
• Plan for a future new full- service civic center at Waikahekahe.
• Collaborate with subdivision associations to locate future government service
center sites in conjunction with community master planning.
Health and Sanitation:
• Seek planning and funding for a future hospital at Waikahekahe to be
developed first as an out - patient clinic and medical offices.
• Encourage the County and State to collaborate with the subdivisions to locate
and reserve future sites for recycling, waste disposal and resource recovery.
Public Utilities:
• Plan for the location of a main utility corridor along the Central Subdivision
Corridor.
• Develop new water sources and a major water main delivery system along the
Central Subdivision Corridor, as well as fill stations and dedicated tanks for
fire fighting.
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• Consider instituting graduated water rates which reflect the cost of energy for
pumping uphill.
• Collaborate with the State Department of Agriculture to develop agricultural
water systems suitable to meet the needs of Puna's diversified agriculture
industry. Encourage the State to assist agricultural water cooperatives using
aboveground water delivery systems in agricultural areas.
• Collaborate with local community associations in Rural Town District planning
to designate "dispersed infrastructure" or "off -the- grid" areas to preserve
lifestyle choices or to support alternative energy systems.
• Consider a study of the relative costs and risks of one or two transmission
corridors and centralized sources versus multiple small ones for long -term
reliability of the energy grid in Puna's natural hazard areas.
• Encourage the development of reliable and economical cellular telephone
service.
• Encourage the State Department of Health to inform builders at the time of
building permit of the long -term prospects for central sewers so that new
dwellings may be placed to facilitate any future connection.
• Encourage the State Department of Health to anticipate and mitigate the long-
term problems of transition from present septic requirements to compliance
with the federal Clean Water Act.
Public Facilities:
• Plan a future regional park at Upper Maku'u.
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• Plan for district parks adjacent to future high school sites.
• Collaborate with subdivisions to set aside community park sites to serve areas
with 5,000 to 10,000 permitted population as part of community -based master
planning.
• Collaborate with community groups to set aside and develop neighborhood
parks, neighborhood trails and nature corridors.
• Collaborate with community groups to produce a long -term master plan for
coastal park facilities and access.
• Complete development of the County's Puala`a recreation area in lower Puna.
• Collaborate with the State's Na Ala Hele program and community groups to
develop an inventory and master plan for a Puna trail and bikeway system.
Energy:
• Support efforts of subdivisions to establish and recognize "dispersed
infrastructure" or "off -the- grid" areas.
• Collaborate with community initiatives to develop model "non- emission" or
other experimental and alternative transportation routes.
• Locate future sewage treatment, green waste /biomass and energy production
sites for cooperative processes and convenience, e.g., at Glenwood, Kea`au,
Waipahoehoe and Maku`u.
Environmental Quality:
• Encourage placement of new development inland to protect coastal
environmental quality.
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• Consider the use of Transfer of Development Rights (TDRs) to reduce
residential densities in areas of subsidence and coastal pollution.
• Consider the use of TDRs to protect important forest lands in upper
Puna.
• Collaborate with subdivisions containing lots smaller than one acre to educate
owners about and plan for the future requirement of central sewers.
• Support the creation of an interagency committee of government agencies and
the community to propose short-term policy, education and permitting
procedures for lava cave conservation and public safety.
• Consider requirement of cave safety approval as part of County Department of
Public Works grading permits and State Department of Health individual
wastewater system approvals.
• Support development of a lava cave management plan.
• Encourage the State Department of Land and Natural Resources, Historic
Preservation Division to conduct comprehensive field surveys to identify sites
of historic significance in Puna.
• Collaborate with subdivision associations to institute volunteer community
historical survey boards to facilitate identification and protection of sites within
subdivisions and devise acceptable means to assist owners in the protection of
sites.
• Restore traditional place names, e.g., Kurtistown's traditional name is Ola`a;
Ihope Road was Ola`a Back Road.
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Support public education, protection and access to traditional Hawaiian trails
that connect or pass through sites of natural beauty and historic or
environmental significance.
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TRANSPORTATION
Primary Arterial
to be widened
Secondary Arterial i �..
as shown in General Plan
Secondary Arterial
new proposed /modified
Collector Roads
to be adopted and /or"'
improved by County
Dedicated Bike/Ped Trail ,*
COI..MUNITY
FACILITIES
Existing
Elementary School and Library ES L
10 year plan period
Long Range
ES L
Intermediate/High School I/HS/DPk
& District Park
.®
]VHS/D]k
:ommunity/Neighborhood Park Pk
Pk
Beach Park/Shoreline Access Pk/A
E/A
Hospital or Medical Center MC
�,
me
Fire/Police F/P
FIP
Volunteer Fire VF
VF
Boat Ramp
T TTIT .ITUP.Q
Existing
Electical Generation and Corridors
10 year plan period
Long Range
Water Tanks/Pump Stations w
^~
Q
Sewage Treatment Plants None
Transfer/Recycling Centers 4-
Sewage/Recycling/Biomass/ None
Electric Generation Center
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Land Use District Changes
AGRICULTURE TO RURAL
A GRICULTURE TO URBAN
TO URBAN UPON RURAL 0
TOWN DISTRICT DESIGNATION
General Plan LUPAG
Change Area
Rural Town 0
(Medium Density, Approx. Location,
Subject to Rural Town District designation)
NEW RURAL TOWN DISTRICT CODE
1/4 mile Diameter : Civic Center with Public Plaza/Market Place at
Center Commercial Area to include upstairs apartments.
1/2 mile Diameter: To Become More Dense, and Mixed Use. Cottage
Industry. Growth Boundary for Urban Use.
1 mile Diameter. To remain as is, Ag or Residence, with Improvement
Districts for water line extensions. May have Light industry/technical
or office in 10 acres of area.
Less Dense, Existing Ag and /or Residential Use: Few Improvements.
For low cost rural living and subsistence.
Enforcement of Ag Dwelling Requirements if in Ag District
Zone Guide
ZONE Changes
Shown as repeating lines of type.
ML = Light Manufacturing
MG = General Manufacturing
OPEN = Open Zone
PROJECT DISTRICT = Project District Area
H = H Suffix New Overlay Zone for Hazard
• No rezoning or subdivision to increase density.
• Full disclosure at sale and /or permitting.
Existing zoning to remain
rs 9 open
• •
)F Inventory
OI Puna SllbdivIS1U11s
prox.
Land
°
Sulxlivr„on (Year approved)
tax Map Keys
,9 Lots
Lot time
Told
Acre
Use
District
County
Zoning
Road
Blahs
Water
Status
Dis:ttiter
Miles to
Tole- Dec -
Ihwanan Orchid Island Estates (1955) 1 -1- 2,3,43,46 - 51,53 -5G 205
3 ac + -
700
A S
A- la
PA 1 I
Catch
1
LF 3
Serv lteS
3 5
phone tnrtl
Mau
Mauna Loa Estates (1960 -65)
1 -1 -6 to 12
893
20,000,1'
550
Urban
RS -20
PAdues
Catch
e
LF3 e
- Volcano
5 - Volcano
some som e
Royalllawauan Estates (1959)
Ohua Estates
1 -1 -13 -19,43 -53,56
1,640
25 -5 ac
630
Ag
A- la
County
Catch
LF3e
25- Volcano
sonic so me
some
(1960)
Fern Forest (1955)
1 -1 -60 to 64
1
756
25- 3 ac.
230
Urban
RS -10
County
Catch
LF 3 e
1.5 - Volcano
sonic
some some
Fem Acres [Crescent) (1958)
-1 -20 to 34
1 -1 -35 to 42
2,579
2,021
3 ac
2
9,000
Ag
A -3a
PAdues
Catch
LF 3 e
G+ - MI.View
sollie some
Eden Rock Estates (1960)
1 -1 -72 Io93
1,309
ac
1 ac
4,000
2,000
AS
Ag
A -3a'
PAdues
Catch
LF 3 e
4+ - Mt View
wale some
b
Royal Goc/etes 1973
( )
I 1 66 ro 7/, 102 rn 1181.617
/ rrc
1.827
S
Ag 2
A- la
A- l
PAdues
Catch
LF3 c
5+ - Mt. View
some none
a
Kehena Beach Estates (196-1)
1
199
25 3 ac.
52
Ag*
a
A -1 a*
County
LF 2 one
no acc•e.,.,
Catch
LF2 ES
10+ -Pahoa
o
Pat Pat Oc enn Fro t (1963)
1 -2 -28,29
142
20- 3 etc.
38
Cott* 2
RS ?*
LF 2
no access
some none
KcrluIxino Shore., (?)
Puna Beach Palisades (1973)
I - - parr of'l7
1 -2 -33
44
25 ac
15
Uibrrn
RA- 5*
gore
LF 2 gone no ac•cea.,
Kolapana Geudetrr (1960)
all
1 -2 -11 to 16
72
738
20,000 J
< 20
36
153
Ag*
AS -la*
County
Catch
LF2 ES
10+ -Pahoa
some none
Kalapana Black Sand (1962)
1 -2 -19 to 27
918
ac
7.750sf
202
Urban
RS 75
LF2 gone
noac•ces%
Kala pana Se:iview Est. (197 1)
1 -2 -34 to 41
693
< 25 ac
166
Ag*
A
A- la
PA
Catch
LF2 ES
25 -Pahoa
aIP some
l� l:uu Estates (1960)
1 -3 -1 1 Io 44
2,266
1 ac
2,400
*
Ag
A -3a
A
County
PA
Catch
LF2 ES
8+ -Pahoa
wine none
`
I .Im Puna Gardew, (1973)
1 -3 -45 all
118
1 •1c
130
-1 a
clues
Catch
LF 1 ES
2 5+ -Pahoa
al I al I
b
\V,, 1V, t (1953)
1 all
177
3-3 5
527
Ag
A la
County
Catch
LF I CS
3 Pahoa
1 4) file 1 0111c
NanawaleEslates(1960)
1 -4 -29- 33,74- 77,79 -89
4,239
ac
.25 -•I,,c
1,134
Ag*
Ur /Ag
A -3a"
[IS IO /AICty
P vol
&P
Catch
P /Catch
LF 2 es
LF2
4 -Ilawn Bch
I+
none none
I lacvaiian I lohdays Estates (1959)
1 -4 -35 to 44
9
3 89 .ac
366
Ag
A -5a
Private
Catch
LF 2
-Pahoa
2 Pahoa
alP urine
o
'
K anu,h,ku Village (' ?)
Kaix>ho Beach Lots (1954)
1 - 4 -34 all
1-1- 10,11,25
36
S 3 ac
23
Urban
IZS- 15
County
County
e
LF 2 e
2 - Pahoa
:11P Borne
all all
Vacationland 1 & 11 (1963)
& 26
1-1-71 &72
135
293
25 -1 2ac
20 -3 2ac.
50
497
Ur /Ag
RSIO /AI PAdues
P /Catch
LF 1 EST 8 - Pahoa
,all'r mate
n
Vacat,onland 111 (1965)
1- 4- 2,7,27,68,69 &70
191
2- 25ac.
GO
Ur /Ag
RSIO /AI
P/ suit
P /Catch
LF I EST 9 - Pahoa
:111 Borne
Kawho Papaya Farm Lots (r)
1 -4 -78 all
40
3 1 •,c
130
Urban
RS 10
P/ suit
Catch
LF I EST
9 - Pahoa
all
n
I Ltwanan 1 .— (Iise
' Park (1959)
15 I S to G2
8,543
I ac */-
9,469
AG
AS
A-3 a
A- la
Pr Iv ttc
Pis
County
I !' 2 C
12 I'tl,o a
r none.
I lawauan Parks (1961)
1 -5 -63 to 75
973
2- 5 ac
all - 1-113 Urban
A- I a'
clues
County
Catch
Private
LF 3 es
LF 2 c
2+ - Kee:na /Pali
withnt
soma some;
Ilawauan Beaches (1961)
1 -5 -76 to 87
1,017
2- Sac
1,416
Urban
A- la-
County
Private
LF2 e
subd
near
al I al I
M
l
1 lawaiian Shores (1961)
1 -5 -88 to I 11
1,532
2- 5 ac
ttl w/ 1 -IB Urban
A -1 a*
County
Private
LF 2 e
near
all all
l
t
Kaohe Homesteads (' ?)
1 -5 -01 all
96
3 ac
1,325
Ag
A- la
r
Catch
LF 2
l
al some
t
1 - anSerine Acres (?)
1 -5 -part of 115
71
5 acre
71
Urban
RA- 5a
Private
County
e
LF 2 e
-Pahoa
I -Pahoa
„ o1e
dl
16
Orchid Land Estates (1955)
1-6-5 to 12,62,63 &64
2,491
.5,1 ac.
5,670
Ag
A- 3a
PvoUsuwt
CSWty
LF 3 e
w,Uun
all
Tik, Gardens (1962)
1 -6 -part o1`4
481
2- 25 ac
120
Ag*
A -1 a*
Private
Catch
LF 3 e
1 - OrchidLand
most sonic
b' b
Aumlon (1959)
I law,,iran Acres
1 -6-65 to 99
3,637
2- S ac.
1,160
Ag*
A - IA*
Private
Catch
LF3 e
I - Orchid Land
sonic some
all
(195S)
Mauna L•tni Lols (r)
1 -6 -13 1o 61
1 &25
3,944
98
1 8-3 ac
12
Ag
A 3 1 `
P vol
Catch
LF 3 e
I+ MV /htuiistn
,ome
"late u,nle
-40
'y
Orchul Isle. Estates (196 1)
1-8-20 to 35
905
1 ac
25 3
101
292
Urban
RA 5•,
Private
Catch
LF 3 c
2 Mt VIt W
u�nic u>nie
Aloha Estates (1961)
1- 8- 361063
1,846
ac
25 -3 tic
593
Ag*
Ag*
A - 1:1*
A- la'
I'rrvate
Pr
Catch
LF 3 e
3 5 M1' View
ulnae none
Hacilic Rinichsu iti11. view Manor(1971)
1 -8 - 1o 85
606
25- 3 ac
145
Ag
A - 5a ,
Iva
Private
Catch
Catch
LF3 c
3 - Mt View
u,me so rite
Glenwood Subdivision (1962)
1 -8 -73 & 74
152
25- 3 ac
53
Ag*
A- la
Private
Catch
LF 3 e
LF 3
2 -Mt View
2 View
ummc some
Pacific Paradise Development (1961)
1 - 8 - 64, 65 & 66
209
20ac
49
Ag*
A - 5a"
Private
Catch
e
LF 3 c
-Mt
2 S - Mt View
some sonic
Hawaie Island Paradise Acres (1960)
1 - 3 - 14 to 19
449
20ac
100
Ag*
A - 5a^
Private
Catch
LF3 c
2.5 - View
u>n,e mate
I'acilie Paradise Gardens (1973)
1 - 8 -69 1072
423
20
95
Ae*
A - 5a'
County
County
Is 3 e
1 5 - Mt View
some some
Cyrubidium Acres (196S)
1 -9 -18 & 19
ISO
5 -S ac
172
Ag F
A -20a*
Private
Catch
LF 3 e
15 Volcano
all all
l lexmruiea ('t)
19 20:111
52
20ac
12
Ag*
A I.1•
County
Catch
LF 3 e
1 S Volcano
some 1 0111c
l
Italic Covered by lain
ac acre
* noriconlcxtuutg
PA =
P=
LF—Lava f lazard Zone
a I al l —
Private
Private
e /E= earthquake
risk
voUsint=
vohu,l.uY dtx:,ti/1.1
-slut in pruSresz)
Asso:aahon
S= subsidence
risk T= ttinnaim
risk
jr
41 � I
7a
- 5 c
Y
v
c* TT
s
A
0
CL U) .. ....
cc
146 Puna Commmuntry Development Plan: TECHNICAL REFERENCE REPORT 9 Land Use
Summary of Recommendat'
2.1 LAND USE 1 0
2.1.1? CDP Courses of Action for Land Use in Puna
• New planning and development tools should be
considered and enabled in a timely manner to provide
the maximum opportunity for public benefit and savings.
They should include Transfer of Development Rights
(TDR), land readjustment, community land banking,
lease partnerships, redevelopment districts and
concurrency. These tools could be used in combination
with public funding, improvement districts, Tax Incre-
ment Financing and Community Facilities Districts to
expand the solution choices for Puna's non - conforming
subdivisions. These tools are defined in Section 3.1.2.2.
• Promulgate a new Rural Town District (RTD) zoning
designation that provides for preservation of the tradi-
tional character of existing rural towns and provides for
the development of new towns with similar traditional
character and pedestrian scale. The Rural Town District
is further described in Section 3.1.2.2.
- Provide incentives, in the form of financial and
technical assistance, to subdivisions and towns, to carry
out community master - planning for use of the Rural
Town District designation.
• Encourage creation of a community -based planning
process for Pahoa, Kea'au, Mountain View and Volcano,
to plan preservation, restoration and redevelopment as an
RTD, but in such a way that no new development fronts
on Highway 11 or Highway 130.
• Encourage development of village design guidelines
for Pahoa, Kea'au, Mountain View and Volcano in
cooperation with village residents.
• Bring State Land Use designations more into confor-
mity with lot sizes and actual uses in Puna. (See State
Land Use and County General Plan Changes maps and
chart in Section 3.3.)
2.1.2.1 Courses of Action for Agricultural Land Use
from the GENERAL PLAN:
• Assist in the provision of water in agricultural areas.
• Assist in the further development of diversified agricul-
ture in the district.
CDP Recommendations:
- Collaborate with community groups to develop ways to
separate and buffer agricultural and residential uses
within existing subdivisions. For example, use transfer of
development rights to increase residential density and
decrease agricultural density; encourage organic farming
to buffer residential and general agriculture, light industry
or mixed uses.
- Consider amendment to the County Zoning code to
establish a minimum three -acre lot size for agricultural
subdivisions, where a change of zone is required, with the
exception of subdivisions to five lots or less.
• Encourage collaboration between agricultural and other
economic interests to master -plan interrelated land uses,
such as the integration of trail corridors, bed and break-
fasts, small restaurants, and farmer's markets into
agricultural communities.
- Encourage W.H. Shipman, Ltd., to participate in an
RTD process with Kw%istown, Happy Homes, Iwasaki
Camp and Nine and a Half Mile Camp to plan an RTD to
include a master planned development that a new town
of Olaa is formed, well off Highway 11, which maintains
and enhances the traditional character of the area.
• Encourage the development of a comprehensively
planned Project District for the King's Landing and
Kea'au coastal areas which brings together Hawaiian
cultural preservation, environmental protection including
nene habitat, and eco- tourism development.
• Encourage landowners and developers to work with
the Puna community to plan a new civic and commercial
center for Puna at Waikahekahe, which is the geographi-
cal center of the Central Subdivisions. Based on such a
plan support State Land Use Boundary amendments,
General Plan LUPAG Map changes and rezoning.
- Support local food production and competitive market-
ing for local consumption.
2.13.1 Courses of Action for Commercial Develop-
MCI
from the GENERAL PLAN:
• Centralization of commercial activities in Pahoa shall
be encouraged.
• Expanded commercial services to meet the needs of
populatign growth in the Puna district shall be encour-
aged in the area of Kea'au.
• Rehabilitation of existing commercial development in
appropriate locations shall be encouraged.
Puna Commmunity Development Plan 2nd DRAFT Courses of Action
Summary of Recommendations
2.1 LAND USE
2.1.3 LAND USE: Commercial cont. Transfer Station. Set -aside should include sufficient
• Appropriately zoned lands shall be allocated as the need buffer area as agriculture and/or open zoning to create a
arises. park like industrial environment, and to avoid conflicts
between industrial uses and eco•tourism corridors which
CDP Recommendations: start at Hilo airport.
• Collaborate with community and landowners to
masterplan approximately 600 acres for a new commer-
cial and public service center at Waikahekahe, with up to
half for civic, recreation, and education.
- Encourage development of research and educational
institutions in conjunction with industrial areas.
mmawsry o
• Collaborate with Mainstreet Pahoa to develop old Pahoa
as a service area for Pahoa residents and as a historic
district, including alternative access via traditional trails
and railroad rights -of -way.
• In the Kilauea east rift area, encourage the distribution
of community activities in a manner which minimizes
risk and discourages commercial development.
• Encourage well - planned residential and proportionate
neighborhood commercial development as part of a Rural
Town District, with all supporting public facilities and
services, in theW.H. Shipman, Ltd., property mauka of
Shipman Park.
2.1.4.1 Courses of Action for Industrial Development
from the GENERAL PLAN:
- The County shall identify sites suitable for future
industrial activities.
CDP Recommendations:
• Consider designation of light industrial areas to meet
the needs of the east rift area in the State lands between
Pahoa and the central subdivisions, along a connector
arterial from Pahoa to "Nine and a Half Road."
• Neighborhood light industrial uses should be distributed
to minimize risk in the east rift area.
• The only regional industrial uses that should be allowed
in the east rift area are those associated with geothermal
development. They should be distributed in very low
densities along the rift to minimize investment losses
from single lava flow events.
• Collaborate with subdivisions to plan neighborhood
light industrial centers which provide convenient and
pedestrian uses.
• Consider zoning approximately 1,000 acres for a new
light mdustial park at Waipalani, in the general area
stretching mauka and makai of the Kea'au Solid Waste
from the GENERAL PLAN:
- Appropriately zoned lands shall be allocated as the
need for multiple family residential development in-
creases.
CDP Recommendations:
• Support the development of alternative housing
ownership strategies which provide options for low -cost
and more accessible home ownership.
• Collaborate with subdivisions to plan neighborhood
centers which incorporate appropriate multi- family
residential opportunities.
11.6.1 Courses of Action for Single - Family Residen-
1W
from the GENERAL PLAN:
• The County shall work with community groups to
explore possible avenues for financing infrastructural
improvements within the nonconforming subdivisions.
• Encourage and aid the agricultural industry in continu-
ing to provide employee housing.
• Improve and develop roadways, water and sewerage
systems, and other basic facilities necessary to encourage
development of lands suitable for residential use.
CDP Recommendations:
- Consider rezoning subdivisions with lots under one
acre to Residential and initiating State Land Use District
boundary amendments to Rural or Urban unless steps are
taken to lower densities.
- Collaborate with subdivision community associations to
differentiate land uses according to the principles of the
General Plan.
2 Puna Community Dev ent Plan 2nd DRAFT
if 4r I*
Summary of Recommendat'
2.1 LAND USE
2.1.7.1 Courses of Action for Resort district, instead of resort zoning.
from the GENERAL PLAN:
• The development of visitor accommodations and any
resort development in the district shall complement the
character of the area and be consistent with the General
Plan.
• Consider the development of small family or 'bed and
breakfast' type visitor accommodations and small -scale
retreat resort development.
CDP Recommendations:
• Encourage the development of small- scale, trail
accessible, lodges along the Puna coastal trail, but with
the shoreline left undisturbed, except by access. Sug-
gested locations are Papa'i, Ha'ena, Kahuwai, Pohoik►,
Kehena.
• Collaborate with subdivision associations and property
owners to find means to compensate landowners if open
space dedications are desired which "take" the use of
whole parcels or significantly lower value and use for
which there are investment - backed expectations.
- Develop a master plan for a system of trails and
associated natural area corridors, starting at Hilo airport,
to support eco- tourism development in Puna, while
showcasing its natural resources.
• Support the development of low- impact, home -based
eco - tourism facilities, e.g., bed and breakfast establish-
ments and lodges, at appropriate locations throughout the
TABLE 2.1.10.2 ZONING ALLOCATION ACRES
2.1.9.1 CDP Courses of Action for Public Lands
- Collaborate with the National Park Service, the State
and pnvate landowners to develop a master plan for
preservation and restoration of the forest which integrates
the land use patterns and economy of the settled areas
with the health of the forest.
Zone
Island
Actual Use
Model
ACJ1000
Puna Now: 30,000 people
Zoned Acres AcJ1000
Zoning Allocation Needs
Deficit (Excess)
Now Year 2005
30,000 pop. 40,000 pop.
SF Residential 154
IncludingNon- conforming .Subdivision
2,684
r 8,080
89
269
1,936
(3,460)
3,476
(1,920)
MF Residential
22
4
0
656
876
Resort
11
1
0
329
439
Commercial
11
59
2
271
381
Industrial
44
479
16
841
1,281
Resid. /Ag
11
1 625
21
(295)
(185)
Agricultural
8,773
1 198,796
6,627
64,394
152,124
Puna Commmunity Development Plan 2nd DRAFT Courses of Action 3
Summary of Recommendations
2.2 TRANSPORTATION
2. 1 . 1 CDP Recommendations for Transportation
Mile Road — on an incremental basis, in conjunction
with upgrading of subdivision collector roads.
from the GENERAL PLAN:
• Primary arterial rights -of -way providing access to the
district should be increased as necessary where they pass
through relatively undeveloped lands.
- The present Puna Coast Road, eventually to connect
with the Chain of Craters Road, should be developed as a
scenic parkway along the coast. Alignment should
basically follow the existing road from the Kalapana end
of the Chain of Craters Road to the proposed extension of
the Saddle Road to the vicinity of the Hilo Airport.
- A new road alignment to connect the junction of the
Kapoho - Pohoiki Roads with the Pohoiki area should be
constructed. This alignment will eliminate a series of
curves in the present road.
- Consider, in conjunction with community associations
and the property owners, the use of a variety of mecha-
nisms to provide intrastructure in the non -conforming
subdivisions.
• Major collector roads should run from:
Opihikao to the Puna Road.
Volcano Road to the coast parkway along the Puna -
South Hilo boundary.
Volcano Road to the Saddle Road above Hilo along
the existing Kulani Road.
Upper portion of the National Park to a point approxi-
mately 2 miles west of Kalapana.
- Provide for general aviation and small boat harbor
facilities as the need arises.
CDP Recommendations:
- Encourage County funding of a Puna Roadway Master
Plan that establishes a regional roadway network,
identifies roadway improvements and new roadway
corridors, and recommends roads for County dedication.
• Study the feasibility of widening Highway 130 to a
four -lane arterial between the Pahoa Bypass and the
planned Keaau By -pass, and of eliminating frontage
access.
- Upgrade of subdivisions' entrance roads — Kuauli,
South Kulani, South Kopua, South Glenwood, and 22.5
• Encourage the State to plan and implement develop-
ment of a rural arterial corridor extending from the upper
end of Kahakai Boulevard to the bottom of Hawaiian
Acres, and then through Hawaiian Acres at "Nine and a
Half Road" (between Nine and Ten Roads) to Kuauli,
then through the upper part of Kurtistown and below
Happy Homes, to connect with Komohana Street Exten-
sion in Hilo.
• Plan for and seek design funding for implementation of
the Central Subdivision Corridor as shown in the Gcneral
Plan, seeking State and federal assistance.
- Plan for and seek design funding for a mid -level
parkway below Highway 130 from Hawaiian Beaches to
Hilo, at the level of 14th or 15th Street through Hawaiian
Paradise Park, instead of along the coast.
• Design upper ( "Nine and a Half Road ") and lower (14th
or 15th Streets) laterals and Central Subdivision Corridor
to preserve options for later conversion to street car or
light rail, and to otherwise comply with ISTEA require-
ments for rural arterials.
• Study the feasibility of extending Pikake Road in
Orchid Land east to cross Highway 130 and to intersect
with the lower parkway, as the transportation spine of a
future light industrial/technical park at Waipalani.
• Work with the County Department of Public Works and
community interest groups to dedicate Railroad Avenue,
Volcano Trail, Puna Trail and other suitable routes for
bicycle/pedestrian routes.
• Promulgate new standards for rural roads comparable
to the standards in effect before the 1967 County Zoning
and Subdivision Codes. Begin a cooperative program to
bring candidate Puna subdivision roadways up to stan-
dard for dedication to the County.
- Collaborate with the subdivisions for gradual County
acceptance of apprpriate subdivision collector streets.
• Collaborate with community groups to designate the
coastal road and Pohoiki (Mango) Road as historic and
scenic roads. Consider making the Mango Road one -
way, and developing an additional corridor in the
opposite direction, to preserve its character.
4 Puna Community Dev ent Plan 2nd DRAFT
., Summary of Recommendati
2.2 TRANSPORTATI
• Design transportation routes to integrate with regional
and local bicycle /pedestrian networks.
• Urge the State Department of Transportation to de%clop
a new boat ramp facility at Kapoho Bay on lava accretion
- Support community initiatives to plan Rural Town land, and to consider a small boat harbor at Makuu.
Districts with land uses which provide for less auto -
dependence and more transportation choices for resi- - Expedite Keaau bypass road.
dents.
2.3 ECONOMIC
2.3.2 Courses of Action for Aericulture
protection of native species in keeping with the goals of
the General Plan.
from the GENERAL PLAN:
- The County shall assist the further development of the
agricultural industry by providing support services, such
as cooperation with other agencies in developing man-
power training programs, protecting important agricul-
tural lands, and requesting and providing necessary
capital improvements.
- The overseas capacity at Hilo's General Lyman Field is
extremely important to the development of Puna's export
crops. The County shall continue to encourage the
further development of this facility.
CDP Recommendations:
• The County Department of Research and Development
should encourage collaborative efforts by commodity and
other agricultural groups, and state and federal agricul-
tural agencies, to form a regional agricultural task force
to coordinate agricultural resource management, infra-
structure, research and other institutional support in a
manner that maintains confidentiality for farmers and
commodity groups.
• Encourage the designation of agricultural buffers,
based on State ALISH designations, to serve as green belt
areas, within which subdivisions of agricultural lands for
residential purposes is prohibited.
- Support the expansion of the freight facility/marshalling
yard/storage facility in Hilo to serve expanding industry.
• Support state funding for development of agricultural
water systems designed to meet the needs of Puna
farmers.
• Encourage the amendment of the County tax code
relating to forestry, pasture, and agro- forestry, to provide
greater incentives for sustainability, flood control,
- Encourage the prohibition of subdivision of agricultur-
ally zoned land in Puna into lots smaller than three acres,
except for subdivision into five lots or less.
• Support efforts to legislate regulations for the certifica-
tion and labeling of organic produce in Hawaii.
2.3.3 Courses of Action for Tourism
from the GENERAL PLAN:
- There is potential for limited visitor facilities in the form
of small accommodations and support facilities, such as
natural areas, botanical gardens, and limited commercial
facilities. Resort growth should enhance and be in
keeping with this area's rural character.
CDP Recommendations:
- Collaborate with the Department of Land and Natural
Resources and community support groups to implement a
district -wide system of trails, historic roads and railroad
rights -of -way, starting at Hilo airport, integrated with
other transportation corridors and local community trail
systems. (Also see Environment and Recreation sections,
Zone Guide Map, and trail system map in map section.)
- In overall land use planning, insure the integrity of
continuous corridors compatible with eco- tourism, such as
the combination of trail corridors within open space
reserves, naturalized drainways, and connection with
services and accommodations in town centers and more
remote areas, as well as the National Park.
• Support community initiatives to plan for and implement
special regulations and designations to accommodate and
integrate eco- tourism development into local community
land use planning.
Puna Commmunity Development Plan 2nd DRAFT Courses of Action 5
Summary of Recommendations
2.3 ECONOMIC
13.4 Courses of Action for Fishine
from the GENERAL PLAN:
- The fishing industry in Puna should be assisted by the
County through a cooperative effort with State and
Federal agencies.
CDP Recommendations:
2.3.6.2 Courses of Action for Geothermal
From the General Plan:
- The County shall support the development and utiliza-
tion of geothermal resources and by- products consistent
with environmental, social, economic and other goals
expressed elsewhere in the General Plan.
• Encourage the State to construct an access road and
boat ramp on the lava accretion land next to Kapoho
Bay.
Ask the State Department of Transporation to consider
the possibility of constructing a ramp or a small boat
harbor at Maku' u.
2.3.5 CDP Courses of Action for industry
• Designate for gradual rezoning suitable industrial lands
around Kea'au, including ample area for buffers and
retention of natural areas to maintain a park -like environ-
ment.
• Consider promulgating new zoning classifications for
industrial uses which create the specialized environments
attractive to desirable industries, such as communication
and "back office" industries, which would provide
quality employment for Puna residents.
- Consider development of free trade zones in future
Puna industrial areas.
- Include an option for small parks for specialized
industry in a new Rural Town District zone designation.
• Assist the Research Corporation of the University of
Hawaii in acquiring land adjacent to geothermal explora-
tion sites to expand research programs or uses of geother-
mal by- products.
CDP Recommendations:
- Conduct and implement pro - active land use planning
for geothermal designation for the rift zone areas of Puna.
- Study the use of Transfers of Development Rights
(TDRs) to reduce density in the rift zone and to transform
some residential rights to direct -use, e.g., waste heat
industries, if appropriate.
- Support the development of an incentive program,
within an operative overall energy management program
for the County, that would increase the use of electric
vehicles, thereby storing energy and allowing increased
use of geothermal energy in off -peak hours.
2.4 NATURAL HAZARDS
- Study the use of Transfer of Development Rights
(TDRs) to reduce residential densities in the area of
subsidence and environmental pollution in Kapoho.
• Consider increasing the State Conservation District and
County Special Management Area boundaries in areas
subject to subsidence.
.9n, ar M61 rlmwmg
• Study the use of Transfer of Development Rights
(TDRs) to reduce residential densities in LFHZ I and 2.
- Seek means to direct Pahoa development laterally rather
than downslope, to lower potential property damage from
lava flows.
- Encourage provision of two or more escape routes from
every residential area and regular emergency response
tests.
• Encourage the funding of a risk analysis study of
LFHZs 1 and 2, as a basis for land use, building code and
infrastructure policies and remedies appropriate to the
risk. Consider the option of low -cost, low-risk housing,
such as traditional Hawaiian "thatched roof' housing.
- Support National Park acquisition of recent flow areas
adjacent to park boundaries.
6 Puna Community Dev ent Plan 2nd DRAFT
ti
0 Summary of Recommendat'
4 NATURAL HAZAR
2.1.3,2 Courses of Action for Flooding severe flooding in upper Puna.
from the GENERAL PLAN
• As urbanization increases within the district, the
drainage systems designed for the existing village areas
shall be implemented. These systems are designed to
collect and transport surface runoff through the commu-
nuies.
• Provide improvements as shown by the County of
Hawaii "Drainage Master Plan" and the "Mountain View
Drainage Study."
• Support development of the Glenwood/Mtn. View
Watershed project.
• Encourage diversified agricultural farmers to partici-
pate in Soil and Water Conservation District Programs.
CDP Recommendations:
- Study the use of Transfer of Development Rights
(TDRs) to reduce residential densities in areas subject to
- The Department of Public Works should collaborate
with subdivisions and the Natural Resources Conserva-
tion Service to inform lot owners and developers of
drainage problems, the effect of development on drain-
age, and recommended practices to minimize and
mitigate flooding.
• Seek State and federal funding for a comprehensive
flood control and drainage study of the upper Puna
drainage area including Hawaiian Acres and Orchid
Land.
• The County should consider initiaung a task group,
including all stakeholders in the two associated drainage
patterns of Kurtistown/Kea`au and Hawaiian Acres/
Orchid Land flooding, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
and the Natural Resources Conservation
Service. The task group should, if possible, choose one
drainage channel of the two to accept the flood waters
and to focus on future improvements to most effectively
prevent future flood damage.
2.5 HOUSING
2.5.2 Courses of Action for Housing
from the GENERAL PLAN:
• Encourage the maintenance and rehabilitation of the
existing housing stock to maintain the viability of
existing communities.
• Aid and encourage the development of a wide variety
housing choices for this area.
• Since the sugar company has lands zoned for residen-
tial use within existing urban areas, they should be
encouraged to make these lands available on the private
market.
- Consider and encourage the use of a variety of mecha-
nisms to provide the necessary infrastructure in the
nonconforming subdivisions.
CDP Recommendations:
• Plan, design and build a corridor of secondary public
roadways and water mains into the central corridor of the
central subdivisions, as shown in the General Plan, as a
starting point for clustering of service and pedestrian
areas.
• Encourage planning for future multi- family residential
areas near future commercial centers in the existing
subdivisions, in collaboration with these communities.
Puna Commmunity Development Plan 2nd DRAFT Courses of Action 7
Summary of Recommendations
2.6 PUBLIC FACILITIES
1.6.2.2 Courses of Action for Education Acreage needed (DOE standards):
Elementary with playground: ten acres
from the GENERAL PLAN: Intermediate/High School complex: 40 acres
- Improve existing school complexes to meet the
standards established by the Department of Education.
- School facilities shall be made available to the
community for recreation and other compatible uses
during and after school hours.
General Plan Recommendations continued:
- Encourage the implementation for relocation and
development of a new elementary complex in Pahoa.
- Encourage improvements to pedestrian access
between the village of Pahoa and the school and
library facilities.
- Encourage expansion or development of community -
school library complexes at Pahoa and Mtn. View.
CDP Recommendations:
- In the east rift area: Instead of increasing the school
facilities in Pahoa, consider developing smaller
community elementary schools near centers of
population in the subdivisions. The United States
Geological Survey should be consulted so that schools
can be placed with minimum of risk, i.e., schools may
be located laterally rather than directly mauka or
makai of population centers, and in smaller than
normal modules.
- Encourage the State to cooperate with subdivisions
in early selection of sufficient neighborhood school
sites to accommodate the future build -out of the
subdivisions, in order to avoid later condemnations.
- Schools sites should be reserved at the following
locations over the next fifteen years, with develop-
ment to proceed as needed:
Elementarv/librarv
Royal Hawaiian /Ohia Estates 22.5 mile
Eden Roc/Fern Acres Waikahekahe
Ola'a Hawaiian Paradise Park
Nanawale
Intermediate & High School
22.5 mile Waikahekahe
Hawaiian Paradise Park
fj
.,
•
- Subdivisions should be encouraged to do long -tcrm
planning for additional school facility locations that may
ultimately be needed for permitted development.
2.6.3.2 Courses of Action for Protective Services
from the GENERAL PLAN:
- A review of the possibility of 24 -hour fire service for the
entire district should be conducted and expansion of public
office facilities should be considered in accord with district
needs.
- Police services and facilities should be expanded to meet
the needs of the district.
CDP Recommendations:
- Consider replacing the police substation in Pahoa with a
24 -hour staffed mobile center.
- Cooperate with master planning in subdivisions to reserve
sites for fire/police centers in planned rural town centers.
- Collaborate with subdivisions to locate and reserve future
police and fire facility sites to meet safety standards for
response times for future build -out of permitted develop-
ment. At those sites, build dedicated water tanks for fire
protection.
- Support new volunteer fire stations in Nanawale, Hawaiian
Beaches, and Orchid Land, located at the sites of future
county fire/police stations.
- Plan for new fire/police stations at Waikahekahe, to be
centrally located to serve the new population centers in the
subdivisions.
- Carefully limit future County expenditures in new police/
fire station facilities in Pahoa and elsewhere in Lava Flow
Hazard Zones 1 and 2, except for necessary repairs and
maintenance. (See Natural Hazards section.)
from the GENERAL PLAN:
- Expand and improve facilities as necessary.
CDP Recommendations:
- A new, full- service civic center should be planned for the
Puna Community Dev nt Plan 2nd DRAFT
•' *ummary of Recommendati
2.6 P C FACILITIES: Gove ent Operations
future at Waikahekahe, to be developed first as a center
for social service outreach and processing.
- Collaborate with subdivision associations to locate
future government service center sites in conjunction
with community master planning. These may be devel-
oped gradually in conjunction with fire, police and
community services.
CDP Recommendations:
- A future hospital should be sought for Waikahekahe, to
be developed first as an out - patient clinic, medical
offices, and social service provider center.
- The State should cooperate with the subdivisions to
reserve future health service center sites.
- Encourage the State and County to consider locating
"back office" services in Puna, and to support neighbor-
hood technology work centers for public and private use.
2.6.5.2 Courses of Action for Health and Sanitation
from the General Plan:
- Maintenance of cemetery sites shall be improved.
- The County and State should collaborate with subdivi-
sions to locate and reserve future sites for recycling,
waste disposal, resource recovery and energy production
options.
- The County and State should collaborate to develop
legislation which provides disposal fees for vehicles at
the time of purchase and business opportunity for
removal and recycling of abandoned vehicles.
2.7 PUBLIC UTILITIES
2.7 .1 CDP Courses of Action for Public Utilities age the State to explore the possibility of assisting
agricultural water cooperatives using aboveground
- A main utility corridor should be located along the delivery systems in agricultural areas.
Central Subdivision Corridor, as shown on the County
General Plan Facilities Map.
- The County should collaborate with subdivisions to
locate Rural Town Districts to reduce the cost of provid-
ing utilities.
1.7.2.2 Courses of Action for Water
- Standards for water tanks should be adopted by the
State Department of Health as well as the County.
- Collaborate with local community associations in Rural
Town District planning to designate "dispersed infra-
structure areas" and other alternative utility districts to
preserve lifestyle choices.
from the GENERAL PLAN:
- Improve inadequate water systems.
- Water source investigation and exploration should be
continued in order to provide service for anticipated
needs.
CDP Recommendations:
- Develop new sources and a new major water main
delivery system along Central Subdivision Corridor.
Along it, place fill stations and dedicated tanks for fire
fighting.
- Consider instituting graduated water rates which reflect
the cost of energy for pumping uphill.
- Collaborate with subdivisions to set aside "dispersed
infrastructure" or 'off- the - grid" areas for alternative and
experimental energy systems.
- Consider a study of the relative costs and risks of one or
two transmission corridors and centralized sources versus
multiple small ones for long -term reliability of energy
grid in Puna's natural hazard areas.
- Collaborate with local communities in designating
certain areas as "dispersed infrastructure communities,"
based on agreement among landowners.
- Encourage development of reliable and economical
- Collaborate with the State Department of Agriculture to cellular telephone service.
develop agricultural water systems suitable to meet the
needs of Puna's diversified agriculture industry. Encour-
Puna Commmunity Development Plan 2nd DRAFT - Courses of Action 9
Summary of Recommendations
2.7 PUBLIC UTILITIES
2.7.5.2 Courses of Action for Sewer
from the GENERAL PLAN:
- The use of cesspools shall be discontinued in coastal
areas where cesspools do not function satisfactorily to
meet water quality standards. Individual household
aerobic treatment units approved by the State Health
Department and the County of Hawai'i could be utilized
in these areas. Future sewerage systems for the Puna
area would then naturally commence with service to the
lower coastal areas.
CDP Recommendations:
• Encourage the State Department of Health to inform
builders at the time of building permit of the long -term
prospects for central sewers for the dwelling being
constructed so that the dwelling may be placed on the lot
to facilitate connection if and when it is required.
• Collaborate with the subdivisions and the Big Island
Resource Conservation and Development Council to
evaluate potential for alternative low -flow treatment
systems for small communities as opposed to large
central systems.
• Encourage the State Department of Health to anticipate
and mitigate the long -term problems of transition from
present septic requirements to compliance with the
federal Clean Water Act.
• Locate and reserve sites for future sewage treatment
plants where they will be needed
- As much as possible, install adequate toilets and
treatment systems at coastal recreation areas.
2.8 PUBLIC FACILITIES: Recreation
2.8.2 Courses of Action for Regional and District Parks
from the GENERAL PLAN:
• A swimming pool should be provided in Pahoa in
cooperation with the Department of Education.
CDP Recommendations:
• Plan a future regional park at Upper Maku'u.
- Set aside areas for district parks adjacent to future high
school sites.
from the GENERAL PLAN:
- As population increases and need arises, neighborhood
parks in large subdivisions between Kea'au and Pahoa
should be provided and improved.
CDP Recommendations:
• Collaborate with subdivisions to set aside community
park sites to serve areas with 5,000 to 10,000 permitted
population as part of master planning, in conjunction with
planning for elementary schools.
• Collaborate with community groups to set aside and
develop neighborhood parks, pocket parks and neighbor-
hood trail and nature corridors.
10
from the GENERAL PLAN:
• Implement the County of Hawai'i Park Development
Plan for the Kalapana -Kaimu area
• Recommend that the State develop the ancient canoe
landing site area as a recreation site.
- Recommend establishing a wilderness camp and park
reserve on State -owned land east of Kaimu.
• Recommend the establishment of beach reserves at
Kehena Beach and Opihikao (west of Opihikao junction).
• Recommend that the State expand the MacKenzie State
Recreation Area.
• Develop and expand the Isaac Hale Beach Park recre-
ation area. Provide trail access to Keahialaka Springs and
Pond and Mahinaakaka Heiau.
- Develop the Kapoho Tidepools as a marine park.
Establish a small scenic park overlooking Kapoho and
provide minimum facilities.
• Develop recreational areas along the coast between Hilo
and Kapoho, including areas at Papai, HA'ena (Kea'au),
Kaloh Point, Keonepoko Nui, Honolulu Landing, and
Nanawale.
Puna Community De#ent Plan 2nd DRAFT
mary of Recommendat'ft 2. &MC FACILITIES: RMFation
• Establish small scenic viewpoints along the Puna Road to
overlook the nft zone and Kaudeau, Ke'eke'e and the 1955
lava flows.
CDP Recommendations:
• Collaborate with community groups and the State on the
restoration or provision of basic recreational support
amenities wherever there is heavy recreational use of the
coastline. If the area is unsafe, provide facilities at the
nearest practical safe shoreline access point.
• Collaborate with community groups to produce a long-
term master plan for coastal park facilities and access to
accommodate the future build -out population.
• Complete development of the County's Puala'a recre-
ation area in lower Puna.
• In collaboration with the State's Na Ala Hele program
and community groups, develop inventory and master
plan for a Puna trail and bikeway system. (See list under
Names, Sites and Corridors.) (See also Transportation
Section.)
2.9 ENERGY
CDP Courses of Action for Energy
• Collaborate with subdivisions to create viable town
centers aligned along future public transit routes central
to potential population. Implement land use patterns
which cluster uses in pedestrian-scale town centers.
• Support efforts of subdivisions to establish and recog-
nize "off- the -gnd" or "dispersed infrastructure" areas.
• Collaborate with community initiatives to develop
model "non- emission" or other experimental and altcrna-
tive transportation routes.
• Locate future sewage treatment, green waste/biomass
and energy production sites for cooperative processes and
convenience, e.g., at Glenwood, Kea'au, Waipahoehoe,
and Maku' u.
2.10 ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
.,
• Coastal environmental quality should be protected by
encouraging placement of new development inland.
• Consider the use of Transfer of Development Rights
(TDRs) to reduce residential densities in areas of subsid-
ence and coastal pollution.
. Consider the use of TDRs to protect important forest
lands in upper Puna.
• Participate with the National Park Service, State and
private landowners in regional forest protection and
restoration.
110.3.2 CDP Courses of Action for Lava Caves
• Support creation of an interagency committee including
the following:
State of Hawai'i:
Department of Health (DOH)
Department of Land and Natural Resources
(DLNR) and subagencies.
County of Hawaii:
Department of Public Works
Planning
Civil Defense
Federal:
Natural Resources Conservation Service
National Park Service
• Collaborate with subdivisions containing lots smaller
than one acre to educate owners about and plan for the
future requirement of central sewers.
• Support local communities in the preparation of
community master plans which provide for retention of
continuous natural corridors and reserve areas large
enough to maintain ecosystem integrity.
Community:
Hawaii Speleological Survey
Subdivision Associations
Puna's Hawaiian Kupuna
to propose short-term policy, education and permitting
procedures for cave conservation and public safety.
• Consider requirement of cave safety approval as part of
County Department of Public Works grading permits and
DOH individual wastewater system approvals.
• Support development of a cave management plan.
Puna Commmunity Development Plan 2nd DRAFT Courses of Action 11
Summary of Recommendations
2.11 HISTORIC SITES AND NATURAL BEAUTY
21 1 T, AM re r, M
tT.
- Encourage the State Department of Land and Naural
Resources, Historic Preservation Division to conduct
comprehensive field surveys to identify sites of historic
significance in Puna.
• Collaborate with subdivision associations to institute
volunteer community historical survey boards to facili-
tate identification and protection of sites within subdivi-
sions and to devise acceptable means to assist owners in
protection of sites.
• Restore traditional place names: Kurtistown's tradi-
tional name is Ola'a. lhope Road was Ola'a Back Road.
Other instances of replacement of traditional names
should be corrected.
- New town centers created in the subdivisions should be
given traditional Hawaiian names.
• Support public education, protection and access to
traditional Hawaiian trails, that connect or pass through
sites of natural beauty and historic or environmental
signif cance.
12 Puna Community D ent Plan 2nd DRAFT
F
PLANNING COMMISSION
COUNTY OF HAWAII
MINUTES
JUNE 7, 1995
The Planning Commission met at 10:00 a.m. in the County Building,
Councilroom, Room 201, 75 Aupuni Street, South Hilo, Hawaii, with
Chairman Wilton Wong presiding.
PRESENT: Wilton Wong ABSENT: Ex- officio Member
Eddie Alonzo Milton Pavao
Kevin Balog (Left at 7:30 p.m.)
Edward E. Crook
Isaac Fiesta
Mary Katayama (Left at 4:15 p.m.)
Melvin Martinson
Lin McIntosh
Leonard Tanaka
Virginia Goldstein, Planning Director (Left at
12:27 p.m. and returned 2:30 p.m.)
Connie Kiriu, Staff Planner
Daryn Arai, Staff Planner
Susan Gagorik, Staff Planner (Left at 5:45 p.m.)
Ann Usagawa (From 5:30 p.m.)
Fred Giannini, Deputy Corporation Counsel
Casey Yanagihara representing Ex- officio Member
Donna Kiyosaki
The Commission deferred administrative matters and the approval
of the minutes until later on the agenda.
SPECIAL PERMIT 549 The Commission took up this item at
KONA CHURCH 10:02 a.m. with approximately 150 people
OF CHRIST from the public in attendance.
HONOKOHAU 2ND,
NORTH KONA
CHAIRMAN: Agenda Item No. 1 is the continuation of the
application of KONA CHURCH OF CHRIST for ah amendment to
Condition No. 6 of Special Permit No. 549, which allowed the
establishment of a church and primary school facilities and
related improvements. The amendment is to allow an increase in
the maximum enrollment.frot 60 to 200 students at the primary
school. The property is located along the southeast side of
Palani Road, approximately 2,100 feet makai of the Palani Road -
Hawaii Belt Road intersection, Honokohau 2nd, North Kona,
TMK: 7- 4- 06:37. Mrs. Gagorik.
GAGORIK: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, per
a letter dated June 2, 1995, we have distributed to you a request
from the Applicant that the meeting be continued to the next Kona
Janice M. Mahuna, noting no date for argument has been set as
yet.
Status of Project Assignments - Commissioner Alonzo said
tonight's meeting is the latest development for the Puna
Community Development Plan. Commissioner McIntosh complemented
Commissioner Tanaka on his swift resolution of the outstanding
zoning violations matter, noting the County Council received a
bill for their consideration.
Review of Existing Hold Harmless Condition on Permits and
Possibility of New Condition Relating to Recovery of Attorney
Fees - Mr. Giannini said Corporation Counsel Wurdeman has always
advised the Planning Commission against putting hold harmless and
attorney's fee recovery conditions in the permits the Commission
grants. He said although the Department of Land and Natural
Resources imposes such conditions in issuing Land Licenses, the
conditions were not adaptable to the permits the Planning
Commission grants inasmuch as the State owns the property that
would be leased and they have a proprietary interest as a
landowner to have protection and insurance against people coming
on their property.
County Council's Proposal for the Planning Commission to become
an Advisory Body - Commissioner McIntosh noted that at the last
meeting, the County Council did not obtain the required six votes
to have this proposal put on the ballot; however, she suggested
the Commission express their strong feelings, if any, to the
Council prior to their taking a second and final reading.
Commissioner McIntosh expressed her concern that the Council did
not thoroughly review all the ramifications of this proposal,
noting if all decisions will be made by the Council the only
recourse the public has is to the Third Circuit Court rather than
to Board of Appeals.
MINUTES It was moved by Commissioner McIntosh
and seconded by Commissioner Balog that
the minutes of April 26, 1995 be
approved as circulated. Motion was
unanimously carried by a voice vote.
RECESSED The Chair called a short recess at
5:55 p.m.
RECONVENED The meeting reconvened at 6:12 p.m.
PUNA COMMUNITY The Commission took up the following at
DEVELOPMENT PLAN 6:12 p.m. with approximately 50 people
from the public in attendance.
The Chair introduced the Commissioners and staff to the public.
138
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•
CHAIRMAN: Just to set the tone and the agenda for
tonight, the Commission has been in meetings since this morning
at to o'clock; and we got through at 6 o'clock with an hour for
lunch. At this point, we have received all of the background
information, the technical report, plus the second draft that's
the subject of tonight's meeting.
At this point we would like to ask if you have written testimony
to submit, if you could submit your testimony and perhaps give a
quick summary of the body of the testimony. That would help us a
lot here in trying to get through all of the public testimony in
a reasonable amount of time. With that, if I could ask Ann to
proceed, please.
USAGAWA: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. My name is Ann
Usagawa. I am a staff planner with the Planning Department and I
serve as the staff coordinator on the Puna Community Development
Plan project.
The Puna Community Development Plan has been a long -time in the
making. We have the community to thank for all of your many,
many hours of devotion to public workshops, and focus groups and
tax groups; and many of your ideas we have incorporated into the
plan that you have before you. We do apologize for the fact that
the second draft of the Puna Community Development Plan, the red
cover book, they wanted to distinguish the color so that you'd
know that this is a new draft, we apologize that the printing,
the rewriting and the printing was delayed. So the printing was
only completed less than two weeks ago. And so people in the
community as well as public agencies are only obtaining their
copies right now.
For this reason, Mr. Chairman, the Department is recommending
that the public hearing on the Puna Community Plan be continued
until the next Planning Commission hearing scheduled in Hilo
right here in this room, scheduled for July 13th at 6 p.m.
•CHAIRMAN: Thank you very much. Let's see, perhaps I
could swear all of you at once. Those wishing to testify on this
agenda item, if you could please stand so that I may swear you
in. Do you swear or affirm to tell the truth on all matters
before this Commission?
TESTIFIERS: I do.
CHAIRMAN: Thank you very much. First to testify, Dan
Laine, Gary Jung, John Olson, Ed Clark. If all four of you could
step up to the front, please. When providing testimony, if you
could state your name, resident address, and proceed with your
testimony. Speak directly into the microphone. Mr. Laine first,
please.
139
LAINE: Hello. I have copies here of my testimony.
Who shall I give this to?
CHAIRMAN: To staff. Thank you. Yes.
LAINE: My name is Daniel Laine. I'm the president
of the Orchidland Community Association; and I'm a real estate
broken by profession. The microphone isn't working.
CHAIRMAN: If you could speak, put the microphone
directly in front of you.
LAINE: How about this?
CHAIRMAN: That's good.
LAINE: Okay, thank you. Again, my name is Daniel
Laine. I'm the president of the Orchidland Community
Association, and I'm a real estate broker by profession. I'd
like to read a statement.
We only received the latest draft of the Puna Community
Development Plan a few days ago and need more time to thoroughly
review and discuss what has been proposed. With little or no
infrastructure in place, Orchidland Estates has a lot to gain or
lose through a Puna Community Development Plan. There are a
number of very worthwhile proposals and ideas in the plan which
we agree, with which we agree, but there are also some items we
strongly oppose.
Orchidland Estates is composed of approximately 2,491 lots,
mostly 1 to 3 acres in size and covers 5,670 acres. It has 42
miles of substandard private roads jointly owned by the lot
owners. Orchidland Estates is one of the original non - conforming
subdivisions created in 1958, when there were few regulations,
policies or guidelines regarding this sort of large land
development. It has no land of any kind or size set aside for
-parks, schools, community centers, or commercial areas. The
original developer went out of business over 20 years ago. There
are over 450 homes already in the subdivision with more going up
every month, and the closest public school or county park is 4 to
8 miles away down a busy and dangerous highway.
We agree that Puna is rural in nature and that most people would
like to keep that rural flavor with some reasonable improvements
rather than become more urban or suburban. We agree that long
term planning is more cost effective and gives much better
results versus decisions made in a crisis situation where the
priorities tend to be more short term. We agree there needs to
be some zoning changes allowing cluster types of development
including commercial and light industrial areas to provide more
conveniences, services and employment for our people. We
140
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emphatically agree that parks, police and fire stations should be
provided to the non - conforming subdivisions and paid from the
County General Fund. The sooner the better.
What we strongly disagree with is the concept and need for the
central subdivision corridor which is presented in the plan.
This corridor, 20 miles long, starting in Hawaiian Paradise Park
and ending in Volcano, is the heart of the Planning Community
Development Plan, and "makes everything else possible." The
Board of Directors of the Orchidland Community Association has
unanimously voted to oppose this idea of a central subdivision
corridor. The corridor is not needed, will be impossibly
expensive to acquire and construct,.and will lead to another form
of strip development from the commercial areas which are proposed
to be clustered along its length. If this proposed corridor ever
did come into existence, it would greatly accelerate the pace of
urbanization of Puna. How could it not? This is contrary to the
current County General Plan regarding Puna, and the wishes of
many residents, that Puna remain a, maintain a rural,
agricultural character. What has attracted so many people to
Puna in the first place is the affordability of land.
Encouraging large capital improvement projects could greatly
increase taxes through special assessments and force many people
to sell their property. Land speculation would increase
dramatically. This plan centered on a central subdivision
corridor would actually greatly accelerate the build out of Puna.
The proposed central subdivision corridor, with its four lane
highway, would have extremely negative effects on Orchidland
Estates as it would increase traffic tremendously and further
strain our infrastructure and quality of life. If ever actually
built, this corridor would blur and eventually eliminate any kind
of distinctive character the different subdivisions have, and
result in a situation similar to the mainland, where towns.,
indistinguishable from one another, line similar sorts of
roadways. Certainly, an access road is needed for transportation
and emergency access from lower to upper Puna but not in the form
of a central subdivision corridor. An access road could be
constructed just east of Ainaloa Subdivision and run all the way
up to Volcano with feeder roads going into the various
subdivisions. No commercial development would be allowed along
this scenic road.
Planning rural towns along the corridor towards the rear of the
various non - conforming subdivisions where few people live makes
no sense. All of these subdivisions have much higher
concentration of homes at the front of these subdivisions, near
Highway 11, not at the back. More of the people who favor
development tend to live at the fronts of these subdivisions,
whereas people seeking to be away from development tend to be
more at the back of the subdivisions.
141
The cost of acquiring the land and building such a corridor would
be enormous and has not been adequately covered or disclosed in
the Puna Community Development Plan and must not be
underestimated. Twenty miles of land 300 feet wide would have to
be obtained for the right of way, and almost all of the land is
in small 1, 2 and 3 acre lots. This could mean hundreds of
condemnation suits to acquire the land which would be a very
expensive and extremely time consuming process.
Adopting this proposal of a central subdivision corridor would
cast a cloud on the title of thousands of lots possibly affected,
and further burden the lot owners.
Community Management Associates suggests that federal funds,
under the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act, or
ISTEA for short, might be available to fund 80 percent of this
project as it would, in theory, connect rural town centers. The
state and county would supposedly pick up the remaining 20
percent. But these rural town centers don't exist and couldn't
possibly exist at these locations until the central subdivision
corridor is built. How could this project qualify for ISTEA
funds if the rural town centers don't yet exist? Isn't this
putting the cart before the horse? Is Community Management
Associates suggesting that property in the sparsely populated
rear of the subdivisions be upzoned from agricultural to
commercial in order to qualify for these federal funds? Is it
really likely, in these times of federal, state and county
deficits, that large amounts of money would be become available
to fund something like the central subdivision corridor?
The ISTEA program and other similar programs could easily be cut
back or eliminated at any time. It is very likely that
government funds will never be found to develop this central
subdivision corridor. Certainly, the individual lot owners
cannot be expected to foot a bill which could exceed a hundred
million dollars. If these corridors are not developed, it throws
the entire Puna Community Development Plan into disarray because
-according to the plan, this one project "makes everything else
possible." The County Planning Department has said that once the
Puna Community Development Plan is in place, the individual
subdivisions would then plan their own rural town centers to fit
into it. If the Puna Community Development Plan is adopted and
the subdivisions plan to locate their rural town centers along
the central subdivision corridor as suggested by Community
Management Associates and this corridor never gets built, where
does that leave the subdivisions? Are we going to base the heart
of the Puna Community Development Plan on constructing a highly
dubious and expensive capital works project whose funding is
doubtful at best? Locking the future development plans of the
pre- existing subdivisions to an extremely expensive project that
will probably never be built is worse than having no plan at all.
There do not seem to any kind of contingency plans in the Puna
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Community Development Plan if the funding for this central
subdivision corridor cannot be found. Is this good, professional
planning?
I understand no one in Community Management Associates has any
kind of degree or accreditation in urban planning. The reason I
bring this up is that we find Community Management Associates
process of gathering information questionable. When the
Community Management Associates representative first gave a
presentation of different plans for the development of Puna to
the Orchidland board of directors more than three years ago, she
basically told us which scenario we would want to support, which
is the one you see here in the Puna Community Development Plan.
A few months later, the Orchidland Community Association called a
town meeting of Orchidland residents to discuss the proposed
Plan. Community Management Associates' presentation included a
somber prediction that if current rates of growth continued,
every lot in Puna would be built on by the year 2017, and we must
start planning for this immediately. No mention was made of the
2,000 lot subdivision Shipman intends to build in Keaau or other
large land developments in the works which would significantly
slow the pace of growth in Puna. They painted a pretty grim
picture of unchecked, unplanned growth with no supporting
infrastructure. The three possible scenarios of urban, suburban
and rural development were presented. The presentation was made
in such a manner that it was almost impossible for anyone not to
favor Community Management Associate's proposed rural
alternative. They were`not very receptive to critical comments
about the rural plan, especially concerning the central
subdivision corridor. The facilitator gave a twenty minute
speech supporting Community Management Associate's rural plan,
and spent much of that time ridiculing the county. This did not
contribute to the free flow of ideas. It appeared that Community
Management Associates had already reached a conclusion about what
the best development plan was for Puna and was gathering
information and holding meetings to support their concept.
Alternative ideas were not encouraged. The meeting had the
feeling of being stage- managed to reach a desired conclusion
which was to support Community Management Associates' proposed
rural development plan. Concerns expressed about the proposed
central subdivision corridor never found their way into either
the first or second draft of the Puna Community Development Plan.
Orchidland Estates property owners pay over three quarters of a
million dollars every year in property taxes and receive only
rudimentary fire and policy services from the county for it. Our
residents pay additional county taxes on gasoline to maintain
county roads, even though our private roads egress directly onto
the state highway. Now part of this proposed Puna Community
Development Plan suggests that if we want the same kind of
improvements for our community, we will have to pay substantial
special assessments on top of the taxes we already have to pay.
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Orchidland Estate property owners have paid many millions of
dollars over the years in taxes, and all that money has been
spent to pay for improvements and services in Hilo and other
areas of the Big Island, and not in Orchidland. We are
disappointed that the Puna Community Development Plan does not
deal with this issue, but seeks to maintain the status quo of
taxing the non - conforming subdivisions to pay for county services
and improvements elsewhere. It's time the county faced up to its
obligations and responsibilities and directly aid all of the non-
conforming subdivisions by giving grants and sponsoring low
interest loans to their community associations. The Puna
Community Development Plan should also include a plan to help the
non - conforming subdivisions improve their roads immediately and
in the future by distributing to them a proportion of the tax
collected by the county on the sale of gasoline.
The Puna Community Development Plan needs to be revised, reworked
and re- submitted with more attainable, realistic goals. It
should be supervised by professionals with proper accreditation
in urban planning who will gather data in an unbiased manner.
The people of Puna deserve a better community development plan,
one which is flexible enough to deal with an uncertain future.
The Puna Community Development Plan should focus more on how to
utilize and improve what is in existence, rather than seeking to
re -draw the map of the whole district through impossibly
expensive capital improvement projects which probably will never
be built. The Development Plan and the county could look at the
non - conforming subdivisions as townships, and aid them
accordingly. These are fledgling rural communities and should be
allowed more voice and support in planning their own future,
rather than having it dictated to them. Each community has its
own particular wants and needs, and the ones most familiar with
them are the various community associations. The county should
provide funding for each community association to evolve their
own development plan and then incorporate these into the Puna
Community Development Plan. The individuality of our various
-communities would be preserved and the lifestyle of our people
would be protected and not seriously disrupted. It would be far
more affordable and practical to work within the existing
framework of Puna than to attempt to radically change the
district. The Puna Community Development Plan must be adaptable
enough to encompass the unexpected and contain realistic
proposals to improve the Puna district both immediately and in
the future. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN: Thank you, Mr. Laine. There's no need to
applaud. Everything Mr. Laine says is going to go on record, and
each of you will have a chance to provide testimony. At this
point, could Ann Usagawa show us the corridor that Mr. Laine is
referring to.
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USAGAWA: Yes, Mr. Chairman. I'm going to ask our
consultant, Bonnie Goodell, President of Community Management
Associates to point out the central subdivision corridor on the
map.
GOODELL: Let me orient you to the map first.
CHAIRMAN: Use the microphone, please.
GOODELL: Let me orient you first to the map. In this
map, Hilo is up here, and Cape Kumukahi is down here. Kehena is
here. Pahoa is right here. Keaau is here. Volcano is up here.
Okay, the central subdivision corridor Mr. -Laine was referring to
is this one right here. It was taken from the County General
Plan Facilities Map; and this is what we call the central
subdivisions.
CHAIRMAN: Thank you very much. Mr. Laine, could you
quickly summarize some of your concerns on the, you mentioned
critical comments about the rural plan. Can you quickly
summarize some of the concerns there.
LAINE: Yes, certainly. We feel the whole plan is
too expensive and, therefore, will never be implemented. If it
is implemented, it would greatly accelerate the build -out of
Puna. The County needs to work with the subdivisions and the
communities of Puna and give them, and give back a proportion of
property taxes and gas taxes to allow them to come up with their
own development plan. And as far as what I was proposing, an
alternative to the proposed corridor, is basically a road could
be constructed from just each of Ainaola Subdivision in what was
formerly the Puna Forest Reserve, not very far in, perhaps a
quarter mile, and feeder roads could reach all of the
subdivisions. This would basically be a transportation road and
would not have any commercial development. If, you'd like I could
show it to you.
CHAIRMAN: Please.
LAINE: Basically, from Highway 130, if this road -.
USAGAWA: Dan, use the mike -.
LAINE: Thank you. If this road is indeed required,
which again is somewhat questionable at this point, it could
basically avoid the subdivisions and have a route, sort of like
this. I mean, again, if this is required with feeder roads going
from the various subdivisions into this proposed access road,
again, what I was thinking of is that no commercial development
would be allowed along it. The commercial development would be
allowed by, for the subdivisions to come up with their own plans,
and they could basically locate their cluster development
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anywhere they wanted to. But a road basically going from here up
to volcano would allow access from the lower to the upper part of
Puna.
CHAIRMAN: Thank you very much, Mr. Laine.
USAGAWA: Mr. Chairman?
CHAIRMAN: Yes.
USAGAWA: Might I address some of Mr. Laine's questions
and concerns?
CHAIRMAN: Perhaps at this point we want to concentrate
primarily on public testimony and get through that, and you'll
have a chance to -.
USAGAWA: Okay.
CHAIRMAN: Answer some of these. Mr.- Gary Jung, please.
JUNG: I am Gary Jung, co- chairman of the Community
Action Committee of Paradise Hui Hanalike, the owners association
of Hawaiian Paradise Park.
This committee is responsible, among other things, for the long -
range planning of Paradise Park. Paradise Hui Hanalike has
recently submitted to the County Planning Department a master
plan for the future development of Paradise Park. We began
working on this plan in October of 1 93 and it was passed by the
membership of Paradise Hui Hanalike at the May 1 95 meeting. The
plan was submitted to the Planning Department on June 1, 1995.
We are here tonight to testify in favor of a Puna Community
Development Plan. As a community, we have been deeply involved
in the process of planning for the future. Through the
experience of the past year and a half, we have gained an
-appreciation for the necessity of long -range planning.
It is our opinion that the County of Hawaii and the residents of
Puna would be well served by a plan that establishes guidelines
throughout the Puna area that are sorely needed and yet allows
for individual subdivisions to independently plan for their
futures.
The second draft of the Puna Community Development Plan was made
available to us only last week. A preliminary review is very
encouraging, however, we feel as though we have not had time to
do the detailed analysis and consultation that a plan of this
complexity requires. We do feel as though the second draft has
perhaps more detail than may be necessary for a plan that we view
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as a flexible framework for the future rather than a definitive
document.
It is also very important, in our view, that the subdivisions be
shown in the plan as a blank slate so as to allow for their
individual plans to fit into the Community Development Plan
without requiring an amendment.
It is our opinion that a community plan is a major step forward
for the Puna area. We support the concept as proposed. There
will be changes and improvements as we move forward, however, we
feel that this is part of the process and will result in a
community plan in which we may all take pride.
CHAIRMAN: Thank you, Mr. Jung. Commissioners,
questions? If not, Mr. John Olson.
OLSON: Yes, thank you. It has been my experience
that almost everyone can find something within a plan which they
like, i.e. the town center concept, bikeways. Conversely,
criticism, excuse me, my glasses are getting fogging up here.
Conversely, criticism of the plan in other sections can be easily
as found. As you've just heard road placement has been one of
the most widely expressed concerns that I have heard.
Unfortunately, I believe most of the criticism is based on the
failure of the understanding of the latitude of the individual
communities would have in their ability to amend the plan later
on down the line. Each of the subdivisions are in a position to
draft their own plans, to place such things as town centers, bike
paths and traffic corridors within certain limits. I think that
it's important that everyone understands the concept of the plan;
and I would hope that the Planning Department would make
available in the next 30 days personnel who could more thoroughly
explain to the communities and to individuals the latitude that
they have in the drafting and implementation of their own plans
for their communities.
The last thing I would like to add to this, I'm going to try to
cut this down because I know there are a lot of people who want
to testify, I'm hoping that this planning process will not end in
a resolution. I hope that this planning process will move
forward and will be passed into law. Previously, plans that have
been submitted and gone before the Council and have been passed
out as resolutions have not been binding. And that, that lack of
formality the community has paid for. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN: Thank you, Mr. Olson. Mr. Clark.
CLARK: Yes. My name is Edward Clark. I'm president
of the Keaau Ag Lots Community Association. I'm president also
of the Keaau Community Improvement Association. And I have been
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past president of the Puna Community Council. In fact, this
whole planning process was begun with Virginia Goldstein a number
of years ago with the Puna Community Council cooperating and
holding public hearings so that we might begin the process of
developing a consensus within our community.
So this plan as is represented here today is the development of
many years of effort within the community. And so I wish to
emphasize that it is not simply something that came to your table
today and has no history behind it. It is the best effort as far
as I can tell from the people that I have met in the process of
this community in finding ways to resolve their own problems, and
finding ways, mechanisms, procedures, goals that reflect their
own objectives, their own wishes. So this is, as much as
possible, a community project on the table. I don't know of
another project of its nature in our entire island. But it
certainly represents the best effort of those people who have
given their time and given their effort over years to produce a
document that reflects what they believe to be best for the
community.
So, like Jon Olson, I urge upon you that this document be adopted
in law, not as resolution. We have had previous documents
submitted for adoption and we have paid heavily for their non -
adoption. They were well -done documents. They were not as well
perhaps considered as this one. But if we had adopted them when
they were current, they would have guided development in a far
more beneficial way than has happened. We cannot afford to go
blindly into the next century. And blindly is the term I use
because without the guidance of this very important document that
details not only where we are but where we need to go, we will
simply be the subject of any kind of developer or development
that comes along. More likely than not, we will go to full
build -out. And the only thing that stands in the way of full
build -out is the kinds of alternatives that are outlined here.
We in our communities would like to preserve the rural character
of our Puna district. It doesn't mean that we don't want town
-centers. We want them within our communities. We want a real
viable community. And the only way you can have that is to plan
for it. It can't happen in the way that this area has been
chopped up and distributed by the developers that came in in the
1 60s. This was a failure on the part of the Planning Department
if it even existed at that time. We need the work of a real
progressive plan; and that',s what we have before us today.
Dissenting opinions will be heard tonight and in the future, and
they need to be considered because, as well as the benefits of
the plan. There will be, of course, those who find that there
are defects in it, at least in their opinion. So we can all
benefit by hearing those concerns. But that should not prevent
us from adopting a sensible, a rational plan for the future that
is just extremely important for this whole entire community.
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I heard a comment about accreditation. I heard some concern
about whether or not this had the full implementation of people
who had been trained in the field. I know the people who were
involved in this, and I know the people in the Planning
Department who have given their time and their effort to this,
and there could not have been a better research document or one
which will stand the test of a full scientific or the credibility
test of whether or not it is within the purview and the
perspective of modern planning precepts. And I thank you.
CHAIRMAN: Thank you very much, Mr. Clark. Next to
testify, Lori Pasco, Ole' Fulks, Adrian Barber, Howard Wright.
If you could all come forward, please.
PASCO: Good evening. My name is Lori Pasco, PO Box
224, Volcano. And I'm here to speak in favor of the passage of
the Puna Community Development Plan. I and others in the
community have been attending meetings for five years to work on
this plan. The issue for me is sustainability. The auto -
oriented sprawl of or current conventional development will
result in huge costs for taxpayers and for residents. It is
already starting. The congestion in our highways is the result
of not having more work places, schools and services conveniently
located to where we live. In order to have things near where we
live and in order to work with each other, we must have water to
town centers in the centers of our subdivisions and we must be
able to get to each other neighborhoods without going out on the
highway.
The most important part of this plan for making our subdivisions
work is the central subdivision arterial and water main. This
corridor is the basic infrastructure that will allow us to turn
our subdivisions into real functional communities. This corridor
will allow us to have parks and schools that our children-can
ride their bikes to. It will allow older people to stay in the
community and remain independent. It will allow us to develop
jobs we desperately need in our communities. This corridor will
allow us to build new schools instead of multi -lane highways to
distant overcrowded schools. It will save everyone, especially
the Big Island taxpayers, a lot of money over the next 20 years.
It will allow us to maintain our rural small town life style. It
is time to start making up for 40 years of bad or no planning.
Community Management Associates and the County Planning
Department have prepared this plan to finally start that process
of recognizing our subdivisions as communities and applying the
same standards to them that are applied to other communities,
standards of livability, convenience, and educational and
economic opportunity. The important thing about this corridor is
that it can probably be built with very little County tax money
because it would qualify for many Federal programs which would be
149
available because this is good planning and so it fits their
regulations.
I want to thank the Planning Department for proposing this plan
and for what is in it. And I ask that this plan please be
passed; and I thank you for the opportunity to express my views.
CHAIRMAN: Thank you very, very much. Mr. Ole' Fulks,
please.
FULKS: Yes, I'm Ole' Fulks; and I live and farm in
Orchidland. I'm here to strongly support in principle this Puna
Community Development plan, although I haven't had a chance to
fully go through the new draft. And I would like to ask how,
what's the cut -off date for written testimony?
CHAIRMAN: At this point in time, the recommendation is
that we continue the public hearing in order for the consultant
and Planning Department staff to take into consideration some of
the testimony that we're receiving tonight and some of this
testimony that we may receive on July 13th. That's kind of the
process at this point. It's pretty much an open ball game.
FULKS: Okay, cause I do want to spend a little time
with the plan, go point by point, and put something in written,
but.
CHAIRMAN: You have that in writing?
FULKS: I don't have anything written yet. So -.
CHAIRMAN: Okay. Could you summarize those points for
us?
FULKS: Well, I do have some points I want to give
you tonight; but I do want to also submit something in writing
after this.
One thing I'd like to address this, this central corridor that
was already talked about. And I'd like to say that I've studied
this corridor situation quite a bit. And I think that what is
presented is the best plan, although it does have down sides. I
think there's a lot of problems with the Makuu Ahupuaa being
used. I don't want to spend your time going through all those
problems, but one of them for Orchidland is that Orchidland
doesn't have any access to Makuu. So we would be left out on
that mauka -makai access, and we have a real problem in the
central subdivisions with mauka -makai access at this time. So I
think it's very important that we get some kind of a central
corridor, even though I grant you as Dan Laine has brought up
there are down sides to it.
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I believe on page 2 -18 of the Plan is, I think it's the page that
talks about the geo resources; and I have two comments on that.
I believe that the Plan says something like that right now geo is
supplying 50 percent of the grid or the power being used on the
island; and I think that is, I think even the Geothermal Alliance
would agree that that is absolutely too much. I think probably
the decimal point has been mixed up and it should read 5 percent.
Five percent I think would be a believable figure.
Also, it makes a statement something to the effect that
geothermal will not reduce the amount of oil being shipped to the
islands because of the need for gasoline, but it would reduce the
amount of fuel oil being shipped to the Big Island. And I think
that statement is deceptive. I think it needs something added
there to the effect that it says fuel oil will be reduced coming
the Big Island, it will have to be shipped overseas because when
they produce the gasoline the fuel oil is a byproduct that has to
be dealt with somehoe. So that would mean more shipping
overseas, more chance of oil spills when you reduce the amount
being used here in the islands.
One glaring thing that's missing in the Plan is Keaau, which is
our hub in Puna. This is a very important community and it's
not, addressed hardly at all in the Puna Community Development
Plan. I think an addendum needs to be added to deal with Keaau.
I would like to see the Plan adopted as an ordinance. And I
believe that covers what I have to say tonight.
CHAIRMAN: Thank you very much, Mr. Fulks.
Commissioners, questions? Mr. Adrian Barber.
BARBER: Members of the Planning Commission, my name
is Adrian Barber. I am president of the Puna Malama Pono, a non-
profit corporation dedicated to the proposition, "Preserving the
good in Puna." I am also a member of the Geothermal Asset Fund
Rules Committee and a member of The Big Island Rainforest Action
-Group. I am a resident of Leilani Estates, and I work in Lani
Puna Gardens a few hundred feet from the fence line of Puna
Geothermal Venture's plant, acursed plant in my experience.
I am here to testify to one thing. Neither I nor the
organization that I have the honor to serve will support any plan
that in any way foresees a,future for geothermal development or
the heavy industrialization of East Hawaii. Period. Personally,
I would like to say that I resent the hijacking of a perfectly
good idea, the idea of planning for the future, by the Mayor and
his appointees, the Planning Director and the Deputy Planning
Director. I am constrained to use mild terms like appointees but
it is a difficult constraint for me. I would like to use terms
like "lacky" or "running dog," but I won't. These people well
know the degree of resistance there is and has been from the very
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beginning to this misbegotten project. This resistance goes back
many years, at least to 1978, and is based on much bitter
experience of health and safety hazards imposed by the effects of
legal and illegal emissions of poison gas by PGV and its
predecessors.
Geothermal has proved itself to be, without doubt, a horror in
every imaginable way and if it were not for the support of a few
people in power like the man who used to be the counsel for PGV,
Mr. Steven Yamashiro, our Mayor, this project would have been
terminated long ago. One can only speculate as to the motive
that keeps these powerful people ignoring the health and safety
of the residents affected by the poisons emitted by PGV and
insisting upon inserting support for this deadly development into
projects like the Puna Community Development Plan over the loud,
one might even say strident, objections of much of the community
surrounding the plan. Nor do we intend to give up our land to
the twisted desires of greedy developers and their unscrupulous
political partners. We shall continue to resist this invasion of
our constitutional rights by, as it says in the Declaration of
Independence, "Whatever Means Necessary."
Many good people have invested their time and creative energies
in this Plan and I am saddened to see it perverted in this manner
by the Mayor and his "appointees."
Thank you for so patiently listening to me and Aloha from Puna.
CHAIRMAN: Thank you, Mr. Barber. Mr. Howard Wright.
WRIGHT: My name is Howard Wright. I live in Hilo now
but I did live in Puna and will undoubtedly be one of those
people going back contributing to the final build -up, although I
have to admit I'm horrified by that total build -up and its.
prospects.
I notice here that a lot of
the plan is a very good plan
endeavor some people are go
I think that's just part of
on the whole, I think this i
read, perhaps the best. I
state agencies in the State
several hundreds, community
involved in planning efforts
money for it, and I must say
enormous bargain with only p
paid enormously larger amoun
plans that were much worse.
whatsoever for attacking the
have done enormously better
whose works I've read. So I
the commenters agree in general that
i . But it's obvious that in any such
ng to be very angry about some parts.
the game, that's how it happens. But
s one of the best plans I've ever
have been both a commenter for various
of California on many, perhaps
plans of various sorts. I have been
where I was the person paying out
that the County had gotten an
aying $190,000 for this. I certainly
t of state and federal monies for
I certainly think there's no grounds
credentials of the planners. They
than with a lot of people with PhDs
think the Planning Department or the
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•
Planning Commission should congratulated on having such a good
plan. I don't think there's anybody who won't find something
wrong with it. That's just in the nature of things. And I would
like to see the process continued, and I second the comments of
especially Mr. Clark and several other people here saying that
this needs to be a continuing process. The details have to be
worked out. No one can be expected to be perfect at this time.
Thank you.
CHAIRMAN: Thank you, Mr. Wright. Thank you very much
all of you. Mr. Hugh Matthews, Rene Siracusa, Athena Peanut, Del
Pranke, please come forward. Begin with your name, resident
address and speak directly into the microphone, please. Mr. Hugh
Matthews.
MATTHEWS: Okay, I'm Hugh Matthews. I'm the, uh, 15-
2759 Aholeohole Street in Hawaiian Shores Recreational Estates,
and I'm the president of the Community Association. And we
haven't had this very long to really study it. I spent a lot of
time going over it and highlighting a few things. And in looking
at the map up here, the RA is, just doesn't exist really. It
looks like we've been kind of red - lined; and I think that goes
back to Zone 2 and Zone 3 designation. And I'd just like to try
and understand the, a couple of things here. We need to, take a
look at our Zone 2. And I'd like to understand how the USGS and
the State and the County, also, I guess, feel that we shouldn't
be building at all in a so- called hazard zone. And then I really
need to understand why that we went ahead and built a huge
reinforced concrete tank and put in four plus maybe five miles of
cast iron waterline running all the way down to our new beautiful
multi - million dollar school at Keonopoko in a Hazard 2 zone area.
I don't really understand that. They're telling us we shouldn't
be building down there and yet they're spending millions and
millions of dollars to do it. And Hawaiian Shores Recreational
Estates goes back a long ways. I think it was originally brought
about in 1 61 but it didn't begin to build up the recreational
side until about 1 69 perhaps. And at that time, all the roads
were done to the County standards, but then they changed the
standards.
And 3. or 3.3.1 your, your proposed land use changes, well, you
can see Zone 1 is based on 65 percent chance of coverage in 50
years. And we seem to get a little lumped in Zone 2 and, Zone 1
and Zone 2 are all together. And if that's the criteria, I'd
like to know how in the world, what would the criteria be for
Zone 2 alone? I don't know why we got grouped together. Would
the criteria then be 100 years or what? I don't know. The
average long -term mortgage runs about 30 years and the life of a
home is probably 50 or 75 years. And it's kind of hard to
understand. It looks like we've been, insurance wise and
everything else have been red -lined where we are. I really have
a problem with it. And we do need the comprehensive planning.
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But, and 2 -21 of this particular thing, it says here, "CDP
Courses of Action for Lava Flow .Encourage the funding of a risk
analysis study of LFHZs 1 and 2, as a basis for land use,
building code and infrastructure policies and remedies
appropriate to the risk. Consider the option of low -cost, low -
risk housing, such as traditional Hawaiian `thatched roof'
housing." My goodness. That's quite a statement. We need a lot
longer to study this; and we really do need a real comprehensive
planning thing. But our particular area has been left totally
out of the entire loop, and it's hard to understand. I really
don't know what more I have to say.
CHAIRMAN: Thank you very much. Mr. Matthews, were you
involved in the community hearings and -?
MATTHEWS: We tried to get involved with the Puna
Community Council; and we were advised by the attorneys that we
couldn't do anything in a political nature, so we submitted what
we had. We can have some further testimony from Bob Ross. He,
at that time, was president and perhaps has more knowledge than I
do.
CHAIRMAN: Okay, thank you very much. Rene Siracusa.
SIRACUSA: Thank you. My name is Rene Siracusa. I'm a
resident of Kaohe Homesteads; and I'm also president of Puna
Outdoor Circle.
As a resident of Kaohe Homesteads, which is in the process of
creating a community association, I would like to say that the
information about that area on this chart, the Inventory of Puna
Subdivision Chart, is incorrect. I raised this at a previous
meeting and I see it has not been adjusted. The lot size here
says three acres. In actual affect, the minimum lot size in
Kaohe Homesteads is five acres and there are lots as large as
several hundred acres in extent. It says County Zoning is Ag -la.
In actual affect, the zoning is Ag -5 in Kaohe. Road status, and
-here's a question mark. The answer is limbo. We are on
catchment. We are three miles to Pahoa, not one. There is no
telephone service and no electricity. We also are not
represented in this plan. We are an area that prefers to be
ignored by infrastructure. Thank you very much.
CHAIRMAN:
Thank you very much.
SIRACUSA: I will now give you the testimony for the
Puna Outdoor Circle.
CHAIRMAN:
Okay.
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SIRACUSA: To cut it down as quickly as much as I can, I
would like to say that we do feel we need more time to adequately
comment on the plan and would appreciate a continuance.
In principle and in general, we approve of this plan. There are,
however, certain parts to which we take exception, and we would
like to go on record here as to our position. Now I have spelled
out on a page by page, line by line kind of breakdown. I will,
since you have that in my written testimony, I will slide over a
lot of things and just do some of the highlights.
We do not consider a "vision of build -out" to be a goal or an
objective, but rather a nightmare, and something to be avoided.
Although we should be prepared for the eventuality, we should
focus our energies on ways to mitigate and prevent build -out,
using an array of strategies, such as TDR's, land banking, tax
incentives for native forest, downzoning, etc. Since
infrastructure cannot keep pace with present development, and we
have seen that as a fact of life, and since we envision no way
that it will be able to do so in the future, it behooves us to
employ a variety of means to prevent this from happening.
We would also like to see another goal added to this section on
page 1 -5, and that would be phrased as, "Community initiated
plans and community approval of plans, as implementation of
grassroots democracy and self - determination."
Let's see, okay, page 2 -11, CDP Recommendations for
Transportation the second paragraph which favors conversion of
the Puna coast road to a "scenic highway" is not supported by the
Puna Outdoor Circle. A highway would require much widening and
destruction of ancient rock walls and beautiful old trees, and
would mar the beauty and character of the coastal area, which is
the whole reason a scenic highway has been considered in the
first place. But your, by putting a highway in there, you would
kill the beauty that the highway was there to display.
We do not agree on page 2 -12, we do not agree with the
paragraph 2 under CDP Recommendations, as to the widening of
Highway 130 to four lanes, as this will encourage development and
hasten build -out. We do, however, agree with elimination of
frontage access to make traffic flow more smoothly.
On page 2 -15, 13, excuse me, the fifth paragraph, second
sentence, we are the organization which got the grove of 601
mango trees protected under the exceptional tree ordinance. The
Mayor's Arborist Advisory Committee, with whom we work closely,
and the Planning Department, in December of 1991, referred to a
letter by Donald Tong, recommended that the Mango Road be closed
entirely to motorized traffic, and that an additional wide,
straight, two -way corridor be developed roughly parallel to it.
Making the Mango Road one -way as is recommended in the Plan would
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not solve the problem of a narrow winding road with tight curves
for trucks that are towing fishing boats to and from the Pohoiki
Ramp.
On page 2 -15, ECONOMIC: Agriculture, CDP Recommendations: One
more paragraph should be added here, "Eschew conversion of native
forest for agricultural use, and encourage a switch from
monoculture of papaya to other crops."
Page 2 -18, ECONOMIC: Geothermal Energy: 2.3.6.1 Communitv
Concerns for Geothermal Energy: In the fifth paragraph, the
statement about heavier grades of refined fossil fuel is
inaccurate. The paragraph should read: "Use of geothermal power
will not reduce the amount of fossil fuel imported into the
state." The inset also contains an incorrect figure, and that is
that PGV's contribution to the utility grid is not nearly 50
percent of the island's baseload as is stated. The correct
figure is more actually like 5 percent. PGV is contracted to
supply only 25 megawatts, but generally only supplies somewhere
between 17 and 20 percent. These figures have been in previous,
what is it, the light, the utility, HELCO's little blurb in the
newspaper, "Light Talk." The statement in the inset should
either be corrected or deleted entirely.
Same page, the CDP Recommendations: The first paragraph is so
vague as to be totally useless. The utility will not buy any
more geothermal energy for Hawaii County, they've made that very
clear, and the State has agreed in an out -of -court settlement to
no longer pursue geothermal development in the 500 megawatt
project for off - island export. Thus, there is no longer any need
to consider further land use planning for new geothermal
development. All the CDP recommendations should be stricken and
replaced with: "Pending the Environmental Protection Agency's
Risk Analysis Study as requested in Senate Resolution 89, Senate
Draft 2 adopted on April 24, 1995 by the Hawaii State Senate
(attached herewith for your ready reference), no support for
additional geothermal development is recommended at this time."
Okay, page 2 -35, PUBLIC FACILITIES: Recreation 2.8.4 Courses of
Action for General Use Parks In paragraph six, delete the
second sentence relating to Mahinaakaka Heiau. Uncle Bill Hale
and many native Hawaiians who caretake this structure are
concerned about desecration. Also, due to subsidence of the
coastline, trail access is,dangerous and would increase the
County's liability if access were encouraged. Members of the
Puna Outdoor Circle hiked that trail two years ago on "Trails
Day" as part of the Na Ala Hele Trails Documentation Project, and
we've learned through our dismay about how much of the coast had
subsided and whole cliffs fallen into the ocean; and that's part
of it right there and, front, the ocean fronting that heiau.
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Page 2 -38, CDP Courses of Action for the Environment The third
paragraph states, "Consider the use of TDRs to protect important
forest lands in upper Puna." I would like the last three words
deleted. I don't see why only upper Puna forest lands should be
protected. There are lots of forest lands in middle and lower
Puna also that deserve protection.
Okay, page 3 -22, The NON - CONFORMING SUBDIVISIONS 3.2.3.6 Green
Belt After the sentence that says, "provide recreation areas,"
we would like to see inserted: "preserve critical habitat,
prevent soil erosion and flooding, maintain watershed, maintain
scenic viewplanes, provide beauty and clean air, act as noise
buffers and windbreak, prevent drift of agricultural chemicals,
and reduce potential for build -out" as reasons for having green
belts.
And now my final paragraph here, General comments about this
plan The major focus of this plan is the situation of the non-
conforming subdivisions. The lifestyle and needs and desires of
residents who live elsewhere, for example on farms, is largely
ignored. Virtually no mention is made of those living on
Hawaiian Homelands. The plan looks for ways to provide jobs for
residents close to home, while ignoring the fact that due to low
land prices a great many residents are elderly and /or disabled;
and, therefore, jobs are not a consideration for them. It also
ignores the fact that creating opportunities for jobs (and town
centers generally provide only low- paying part -time jobs)
encourages build -out. Not enough emphasis is placed on reducing
the potential for build -out. For example, low -cost loans to
property owners and subdivisions to purchase adjacent land for
greenspace, non - permitting of new construction in Hazard Zones 1
and 2 for 5 (or 10 or whatever) years with tax exemptions to
compensate property owners for the "inconvenience," condemnation
of old growth native forest by the County to be maintained "in
perpetuity," down - zoning, etc. I think we really have to look
very seriously at any viable possibility for any area that will
prevent build -out.
We hope that we will have further opportunity to make meaningful
input, and that the input of the resident community will be
incorporated into this plan, especially in areas where it is
lacking. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN: Thank you very much.
PEANUT: My name is Athena Peanut. I live in Kalapana
Seaview Estates. I'm president of Friends of the Red Road and
vice - president of Kalapana Seaview Community Association.
One of my observations about this plan is a large lack; and I'm
seeing it expressed here at this table. And I•will go, I will go
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straight to what I think is one of the big problems of this plan,
which is lack of bioregional considerations.
The Puna district is vast and diverse. The plan does not
recognize the five distinct bioregions in Puna.
Volcano, Keaau and Pahoa are mentioned quite frequently. And I'd
like to know why the obvious bioregional area, which would be
Middle Puna comprising Hawaiian Paradise Park, Ainaloa, etc., is
not recognized as a distinct area when the entire plan seems to
be mostly tailored to these communities, as was evidenced by the
acceptance of the Plan by these communities. What we've heard
tonight is non - acceptance by the communities that are not really
addressed in this plan.
Barely mentioned is the fifth bioregion, Lower Puna, and the Red
Road, Kalapana - Kapoho Highway 137, one of the most beautiful,
pristine coastal roads in the word and, therefore, very
environmentally, geologically, and culturally sensitive.
The plan does not reflect a positive vision for us because build -
out is not a positive vision for Lower Puna. Build -out is a
nightmare to us down there and an ecological, geological and
cultural disaster of unimaginable proportions. This must not be
permitted to happen.
And then the big picture, I'd like to know why the examples upon
which the plan extrapolates recommendations based on urban
California. We are not California. We are a distinct volcanic
island in the middle of the-Pacific. It is only correct to
develop our own resources for food, goods and ecotourism instead
of continuing the archaic colonialist practices of our
forefathers by exploitation of our natural resources, exporting
our wealth and importing most of our needs, and other things that
we don't need.
The Plan has completely ignored, then this is, this is part of
the plan that just draws the most, will continue to draw the most
criticism, the Plan completely ignores the federal, state and
county resolutions and recommendations ". . . not to encourage or
promote population density in Lava Hazard Zones 1 and 2 . . . .,"
the Robert T. Stafford Act, which puts the legal teeth into FEMA
recommendations and the recently passed State Resolution 89
asking the EPA to conduct an investigation vis -a -vis the
environmental and health risks to Puna residents.
I would like also to address, besides addressing something that
wasn't addressed, I would also like to address 2.3.6, ECONOMIC:
Geothermal Energy.
We cannot support the Plan's attempt to legitimize and support
the geothermal facility that has compromised the health, safety
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and welfare of our community; and I've attached the state
legislation. According to the U.S. Department of
Transportation's emergency regulations governing toxic spills of
one ton of H2S, the people of Puna should have been evacuated
twice for a radius of ten miles at the time of the 1991 and the
February 1993 blow outs. The County could not evacuate us then,
cannot evacuate us now and will not be able to in the foreseeable
future. This island is too small for geothermal wells and human
habitation. For the County Department of Planning to continue
support of this dangerous and expensive failure means the County
is not concerned with the health, welfare and safety of the
people of Puna. And it also places the County in extremely
interesting liable position. You are required to evacuate us
according to DOT regulations because you accept all the money
from the federal government. And it's your Fire Department, your
emergency vehicles, your Civil Defense, and you are not
delivering what these regulations call for.
The General Recommendations I've made here is to give our
community at least 30 days to submit a detailed plan. I see that
for Lower Puna, specifically the Red Road area and three large
subdivisions down there, we will submit a plan. And I would like
probably also to bring in a plan showing the obvious bioregional
areas that I think if the planners take into consideration the
diversity of the bioregions then you will get more agreement on
the actual, you know, going forward with this plan. And, also,
in view of the approved but unexercised permits for new
subdivisions and many other projects in Lower Puna in Hazard
Zones 1 and 2, and the conflicting federal, state and county
resolutions and recommendations, I recommend that the Planning
Department enact a temporary building moratorium in Hazard Zones
1 and 2 until these problems are worked out. Thank you for the
opportunity to express.
CHAIRMAN: Thank you very much.
PEANUT: Aloha.
CHAIRMAN: May I ask Del Pranke and Bob Lero to step up.
PRANKE: My name is Del Pranke. I live in Hawaiian
Shores Recreational Estates. I received this handout when I got
here and I know that Rene Siracusa already referred to some of
the areas in this and that makes me wonder. In looking over the
Hawaiian Parks, Hawaiian Beaches and Hawaiian Shores parts of
this which is about three quarters of the way down, I find that
there's an error in the number of lots in Hawaiian Beaches, which
is approximately 3500 and not 1017. I'm not sure their exact
number. I do know the exact number in Hawaiian Shores, which is
1294, not 1532.
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When we get over to the road status in Hawaiian Shores it says
County. We've been paying for those roads for 20 years. I don't
think that the County owns them. They won't take it from us.
When the subdivision was built, the road met the County
standards. Since then the County changed the standards and won't
take the roads from us. Those are private roads. The water
status is private. And when you say "near to services," I'm not
sure exactly what that means because I see up in other sections,
for instance Orchidland, Orchid Island Estates, it says 3.5 miles
from Volcano. My house in the middle of Hawaiian Shores
Recreational Estates is 4.5 miles from Pahoa which is the nearest
services other than a small, "Da Store," a small store that's,
yeah, how do I say this, it's not exactly a Seven -11 but a
convenience store in our subdivision.
Again, Hawaiian Paradise, or Hawaiian Parks here says that.
services are within that subdivision. There are no services
south of, or makai of Pahoa -Keaau Road, other than that little
store. And when it says there are some electrical in Hawaiian
Beaches, there's electrical everywhere in Hawaiian Shores,
Hawaiian Beaches and Hawaiian Parks. Some and none that are
listed here are incorrect. So that makes me wonder whether there
might be some other errors in some of the information that, some
of the material that was used to prepare the report.
And brings me to the question of the lava flow hazard zone
designation. We've dealt with this before and I'd like to go
back over it a little bit. In 1974 Professor Molinar (phonetic)
was asked by the Housing and Urban Development Agency to produce
a study about lava flow hazard zones. At that time, he listed,
this area -.
CHAIRMAN: Go ahead and continue to use the microphone
if you could, from the podium.
PRANKE: He used, he listed this area from Hilo all
the way out around here and down to, almost down to Waawaa as one
-lava flow hazard zone. I believe it was the Lava Flow Hazard
Zone 4. Since then, the 1984 study was done. And there's, I
have never seen any information, any factual information, I don't
know how they changed this, but for some reason, they made a
section right here, small pie shaped section including Hawaiian
Beaches and Hawaiian Shores and Pahoa into a Lava Flow Hazard
Zone 2. It's the smallest section in the whole island. And for
some reason they chose this. They said that it met some
criteria. But they criteria that they used was arbitrary as far
as I can see. To say that 15 percent of the lava, of the area
had been covered by lava in the past 75 years or 50 to 65 percent
in the last 150 years. I've never seen any reason for why they
chose those.
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Now you folks don't have any control over that directly because I
realize that the USGS did this. But this is what I'm proposing
to you, that, let me give you an example of what happened in our
subdivision. We have our own private water system. Several
months ago, maybe a year ago, the Environmental Protection Agency
wrote to us and said that we would, or at least through the state
and county, said that we needed to test the water system for some
very exotic heavy metals which just aren't in our system, just
aren't out there. It would have cost about $2,000 a quarter on
our private water system which the residents and owners of the
lots there would be paying for to test this as often as they
want. We wrote them a letter back and told them that wasn't
practical and that we would not like to do that. They came back
and said, oh, okay, you don't have to do.
I don't believe the county and the state have thought this lava
flow hazard zone in the Lower Puna area hard enough for the
residents who live there. I don't believe that some of the
arbitrary decisions that were made as to how the lava flow hazard
zones were decided upon were scientific. I think it's
pseudoscience. You can't go up to the USGS and say here's a lot,
when will that be inundated by lava? They don't know that. They
do know a lot of, they've learned a lot about how the magma flows
underneath the earth's crust and a lot of other things that they
have learned, and I, they are scientists. I'm not saying that.
I'm saying that they can no better predict for us when or where
the-lava is going to flow in Lower Puna than they can tell us
when an earthquake will strike. And it's not unusual for
scientists to be wrong. And we shouldn't be over awed by them.
We need to question them. I think they're wrong in this. If
they're choosing to do a lava flow hazard zone study based on a
300 -year process and we only have a 25 -year lease, mortgage on
our house, the amount of risks that the insurance company takes
is not 1 in 300, it's much lower than that because, I mean, it's
not 1 in 25 it's much lower than that because the lava flow,
well, the lava flow is probably not going to flow within that
25 years. We need to deal with that so that people who have the
.lots, people who want to build, people who already have property
and want to sell it, have the ability to do that and get housing
and urban development funds. I don't believe that all of the
Pahoa area should be in a Lava Flow Hazard Zone 2. I think
that's incorrect. And I believe that if you'll check that there
was lava that flowed into Hilo or just outside of Hilo about
30 years sooner than it diO in the Hawaiian Shores and the
Hawaiian Beaches. I believe we had a lava flow in 1834 and there
was one in 1864, I believe in Hilo, I'm not exactly sure on the
dates.
So the problem is we believe that we're being short - changed out
there; and we believe that the county and the state should be
doing a little bit stronger job of questioning that. They
shouldn't just accept the HUD information.
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Now I have one more final question or point to make. And that is
this, no, at this point right here where the Yost By -pass goes
and where the old Pahoa Road went in there, there was to be a
shopping center built; and it was approved by the County Council.
There was a land zone change, there was a zoning change approved,
Ord. No. 91 -116. There were hundreds and hundreds of people who
signed to have this done so that we could get a shopping center
here. If that were the case, people, low- income people would not
have to go through the small markets which charge more, they
could use the shopping center here, and they wouldn't have to
travel all the way to Keaau or into Hilo, and neither would some
of the rest of us. That would greatly alleviate a lot of the
problem we have with transportation, with transit on that road.
But for some reason, the, Mr. Glenn Kaneshiro who got this zoning
change has not followed through on his promise to build a
shopping center. And so we're probably getting stuck now with
another grocer, a small grocery store which won't save anybody
any money and nobody is going to shop for their big groceries
there. We'd still be going on the highway. Another gas station,
we've got two gas stations. We don't need those things. We need
a shopping center. But this kind of things shows us or makes
people think that the planning process isn't working because
we're not getting the things that we were promised, even though
people showed up to support it. So I hope you'll take that into
consideration when you make your decisions.
CHAIRMAN: Thank you, Mr. Pranke, for your testimony.
At this point, it's 7:30. I'm not sure how many of you had
dinner, we have not had dinner. Commissioners, what is your
pleasure?
USAGAWA: Mr. Chairman?
CHAIRMAN: Yes.
USAGAWA: I'm sorry to interrupt you, but there was one
other testimony that I was asked to read into the record for
someone who could not be here tonight. Might I?
CHAIRMAN: All right.
USAGAWA: This is from the Pahoa Mainstreet
Association. I'd like to read it, it's very short.
"On behalf of Mainstreet Pahoa Association, I request an
additional period of time to assess and evaluate the Puna
Community Development Plan, Second Public Draft, May 1995, for
the following reasons.
11 1) Mainstreet Pahoa Association did not receive a copy of the
second draft, nor was a copy sent to the Pahoa Public
Library.
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11 2) Neither the board members nor any Mainstreet Pahoa member
was notified in a timely fashion about tonight's public
hearing.
11 3) To my knowledge, no public meetings concerning the second
draft were held in Pahoa or anywhere else in Lower Puna.
Respectfully, Anthony `Bud' Almada, President, Mainstreet Pahoa
Association, Inc." Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
CHAIRMAN: Thank you very much. Commissioner McIntosh.
MCINTOSH: Is that an indication that we're through with
public testimony or pau, do we have -?
CHAIRMAN: Well, you tell me. I thought we would break
for dinner for an hour and come back and continue to receive
testimony. We've got 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 13, 14 people,
additional, to provide testimony.
FIESTA: Mr. Chairman?
CHAIRMAN: Commissioner Fiesta.
FIESTA: Since the public is here, why don't we just
limit the time limits for their testimonies. 7 mean they're
here. They can try to summarize what they've got to say. We
kind of agree that this would be a continued hearing, that we'd
have further public input. So, you know, I think if they can
bear with us and keep their testimony down, that way we don't
have to break and keep you guys waiting and then come back.
CHAIRMAN: Commissioners? Commissioner McIntosh.
MCINTOSH: There was one request, someone here who has a
small child that would like to -. There's someone here that has
a small child that would like to do their thing and then leave.
So -.
CHAIRMAN: Is it agreeable to all the Commissioners then
we continue to receive public testimony and limit testimony to
perhaps a reasonable time, three, three minutes?
FIESTA: Yes.
ALONZO: Yes, Mr. Chairman.
CHAIRMAN: Okay. Would the young lady -.
MCINTOSH: She's right here.
CHAIRMAN: Okay.
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NEWLAND: It was kind, thank you. This also includes
my partner. We're both here from Puna.
CHAIRMAN: Okay.
NEWLAND: My name is Paradise Newland.
CHAIRMAN: Excuse me. Have I sworn you in yet?
NEWLAND: No.
CHAIRMAN: Okay, do you swear or affirm to tell the
truth on all matters before this Commission?
NEWLAND: Yes, of course.
HYSON: I do. I
CHAIRMAN: Okay. Sit down. Name, resident address, and
speak directly into the microphone.
HYSON: My name is Dr. Michael Hyson. I'm speaking
mostly on behalf of Sirius Institute tonight, I'm their research
director, a founder and board member of the Red Road, Friends of
the Red Road. And just quick overall comments, the geothermal
development on this island has to be removed for public health
and other reasons. And any plan that supports that is flawed and
must be a part of any future that the geothermal be shut down
properly and removed. ,
Secondly, the future is coming very fast, things are changing
very rapidly. And I have proposed an ordinance that gives at
least my personal vision for what this corner the island
around Red Road and Puna and Kehena Beach should be. And I'll
summarize the remarks. I have them written here. But,
basically, it's a Proposed Ordinance For A Sustainable, Alternate
Energy, Child Centered, Human /Cetacean Community.
And Puna was traditionally a place where people came for
restoration and healing, and for education, and to learn about
and gather medicinal plants, and as such is one of the most
sacred areas of Hawaii.
Puna has the only tropical rainforest in the United States.
With natural areas and species that are totally unique, precious
and endangered like the 'A'o bird, the Pueo, the `I'o Hawk, the
Hoary Bat, we also have dolphins, whales, Monk seals.
Over the years, the Sirius Institute has done research with John
Lilly, Hank Truby, a host of others that have brought us to the
point where we can open objective communication with the
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cetaceans over the next year to five years or less. We have
musical communications ready to go that would give us
interspecies concerts at Kehena Beach. And point area there is
the perfect place to do this with free dolphins; and it is
necessary that I point this out because these factors have to be
considered in any master plan for this area because this is one
of perhaps 10 to 20 precious places on this planet where the
dolphins and whales choose to come close to the shores and
sometimes interact with human beings. And because of that it is
rare and special and deserving of special consideration.
So what I propose briefly is that whereas Malibu has already
declared its coastline a "shared human /cetacean habitat" where
the rights of the cetaceans and the humans to a clean environment
and proper treatment are already established, and
Whereas dolphin researcher Dr. John Lilly and others have
proposed to the United Nations that the cetaceans be at last
recognized as aware, intelligent, sentient beings entitled to our
global protection and respect and who are entitled to the same
rights and privileges as are human beings, and
Whereas, if we, when we accomplish these goals they will provide
a model for planet friendly communities everywhere.
This is a declaration that we make Puna a Sustainable, Alternate
Energy, Child- Centered, Human /Cetacean Community and the Kehena
Beach area a Cetacean Embassy where there is sanctuary and
official embassy for the various species of the cetacean cultures
and the humans that chose to interact and live with them, and
That existing laws at any governmental level that might retard or
prevent such development be changed or eliminated. Existing laws
protecting our coasts, cultures, creatures and plants be properly
administered, and other legislation required to support the above
goals be enacted.
And this is attached to an outline of several sustainable
technologies we can use here. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN: Thank you very much.
NEWLAND: Thank you very much. My name is Paradise
Newland. I'm founding partner of the Sirius Institute and
president of the Sirius Connection, both of which are dolphin and
communications related research groups and meeting groups.
I wrote up a little paper. I'm just going to read from it. I'm
a little nervous. Thank you.
I'm appearing before this Commission to present some information
about the future and'what it means to us to act now in
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anticipation of the coming changes. As a mother as well and as a
dolphin researcher of many years experience, r was drawn to the
Puna Coast-along the Red Road some years ago with the dream of
creating a human dolphin birthing centre and habitat where people
could come and meet free dolphins as well as give birth amongst
them. I was the lady who had the baby at Kehena Beach also, by
the way, a slight change of what I thought would happen.
I envisioned a leading edge place where the most new and exciting
breakthroughs in human dolphin interaction could take place, a
centre that would draw people from around the globe to learn from
us and our experiences in learning to live together as we re-
establish our kinship to each other.
Part of the work of the Sirius Institute is to establish such a
place as well as to continue our work with dolphins and whales in
the creation of music together. In the years since I've lived
here much as changed. When I arrived I thought about a small
facility, much like the dolphin research centres I was already
familiar with. However, it is clear that this whole area can be
designated a human - cetacean shared habitat with the involvement
of many of her inhabitants. This could easily and naturally lead
to a prosperous community where many could share by their direct
involvement and all benefit from the enrichment of the entire
area.
What this has to do with the future is thus: It is said that up
to 90 percent of what we now know today will be different by the
year 2000. Ninety percent of everything around will be new to
US. How important is this? Does it mean our favorite breakfast
cereal will be gone? our transportation changed drastically?
What it means is anyone's guess. However, it is clear that one
of the most essential qualities we need to build into our
children and ourselves now is adaptability. Responsiveness to
change, ability to think on our feet, and adapt quickly and
easily to new situations are survival tools now.
Because of many factors, including especially our North American
birthing practices, bottle feeding, separation of mothering from
children and removal to schools at an early age, we have been
creating many people whose response to change is one of anxiety
and fear. Because change is natural, a constant in life, it
makes sense that we as humans are designed to deal well with it.
However, that can be thwarted and has been. With dire
consequences for health and other things (as 90 percent of all
disease is considered to be stress related) much of our natural
tendency to being well can be easily restored simply by preparing
people to flow.
Birthing children with dolphins or indeed just in the water is a
good first start to creating people whose natural response to
change is ease. Raising these children differently, more freely,
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supporting different lifestyle arrangements and cultural
exchanges is a next good step. Educating them in new ways so
they can deal easily and naturally with waves of information
throughout their lives is vital. And, in our providing this for
them we are making it easier for us to adept. We are learning as
we prepare them for life.
We know how to achieve these ends. The information is available
for those who wish to know more. We have to act now and make
choices that will enable all of us to move into a very different
future together with ease. We here on this island, in this land
of Hawaii, can set an example for people around the world - to
come visit with us, stay in homes around the community (thereby
sharing in some of the visitor dollars), bring children for we
are known as a child - welcoming place, and enjoy a concert with
the dolphins and whales along the Red road.
We have a culture to preserve here of people who care for the
aina, who do their best to be loving people, who would rather
play music to their children at night and be part of their lives
in meaningful ways. We feel deep benefits from living a more
natural life and intend to preserve and enhance it. This way we
have something of value to pass onto the world. This can be one
place where they /we changed their minds about paving Paradise.
Mahalo for your caring attention to my comments.
CHAIRMAN: Thank you very much. Could I quickly call on
Bob Lero, Marilyn Haymore, Robert E. Ross, Mary Porter. You're
going to submit your testimony, is that correct?
HYSON: Yes.
CHAIRMAN: Very quickly, Mr. Lero.
PUBLIC: He's not here.
•CHAIRMAN: No, I'm sorry. Bob Lero, okay, Mr. Lero is
not here. Marilyn Haymore.
HAYMORE: My name is Marilyn.Haymore. I'm a resident
of Hawaiian Acres. I want to thank you for letting me speak.
I appreciate this opportunity to express my support of the Puna
Community Development Plan. Certainly in the field of planning,
there are many approaches. The creation of the Puna Community
Development Plan demonstrates high quality work to recognize and
identify the most efficient, practical, -- people, culturally and
environmentally sensitive layout of transportation networks and
land use. It provides a framework to create communities and sub -
communities which emphasizes a reduction on automobile mobility
dependency and encourages sensible land use organization.
167
Changes in Puna are inevitable. Changes associated with growth
naturally means that we have to give up space and /or rearrange
our use of space and perhaps even change our behavior patterns in
this finite space. Unplanned growth, although natural, can
create conflict and chaos. To a certain degree unplanned growth
may be tolerable and even desirable because it allows freedom to
create in an unstructured setting. This works well with low
population densities with independent individuals. But as
population densities rise and the dependency on community
infrastructure rises, the tolerable unplanned area becomes an
intolerable unplanned community. This shift from unplanned area
to an unplanned community takes place gradually and yet at one
critical point in time "tolerable" becomes "intolerable." If the
theory that a structure is only as strong as its weakest link
holds true, then when the critical point caused the break in the
structure, it will domino effect through the whole structure,
almost all at once.
Planning is essential. With regard to subdivision
infrastructure, Puna is relatively unplanned. It is plagued by
the nationwide 1950s and 60s syndrome to create large
subdivisions lacking infrastructure. We also all suffer under
the nationwide policies created between the 1930s and 50s which
created our automobile dependency. The nature, size and cost of
this automobile dependency is not truly understood by our society
at large. It is typically denied and repressed because we get so
much for so little. It is not comfortable to recognize what a
free ride we are actually getting. If true market forces
actually dictated our transportation behaviors perhaps most of
our traffic congestion problems, environmental problems, land use
problems and social problems would begin to cure. Since the
general behavior of the community is trapped in this automobile
dependency cycle, planning is forced to reckon with our
transportation behavior as a whole.
The Puna Community Development Plan has done its best to address
the reality of our transportation deficiencies and needs (now and
in the future). At the same time it encourages growth and land
use patterns to minimize the automobile trips and distances as
well as to encourage bicycles and walking as well as the
consideration of other alternative forms of transportation.
CHAIRMAN: Excuse me, Ma'am. I'm very, very sorry, but
could you, how many more pages do you have? We want to try to
limit this, you know, to three minutes. So, if at all possible,
would you -?
HAYMORE: Last page.
CHAIRMAN: Okay, go ahead.
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HAYMORE: The Puna Community Development Plan addresses
this critical feature (transportation) in its layout and has
suggested a network pattern that may be the least offensive and
also the most effective in consideration of the whole Puna
district. Certainly any plan will invite previously unforeseen
negative impacts. The idea of establishing a plan now, before
more people settle in is wise. This way fewer people will be
negatively impacted and the cost of obtaining transportation
corridors will be less. Having a plan and obtaining funding is
critical now, too. Most government funding is, as we know, in
danger of being cut. I am particularly concerned with one of our
largely untapped resources, which are the ISTEA funds.
I hope you find favor with this recent revised plan. I hope,
too, we will be able to begin implementing the ideas so
thoughtfully set forth by its authors.
CHAIRMAN: Thank you very, very much. Mr. Ross. Please
submit that testimony if you could, please.
HAYMORE: I will.
ROSS: My name is Robert Ross. I am a past -
president of the Hawaiian Shores Recreational Estates and
presently the vice - president. We has a meeting with Ms. Ginny
Aste about two or three years ago. She put on her little chalk
talk, as she does, you know; and she treated us all like a bunch
of kindergarten kids. She heard nothing we had to tell her; and
nothing in this report has indicated anything of what we told
her. We, and I want to agree with what everything that Mr.
Pranke and Mr. Matthews had to say earlier, especially the part
about she says that we ought to have all thatched roofs out in
our area and so forth. We have some $200,000 and $300,000 homes
in our subdivision. Our subdivision has its own paved roads that
were built according to County Code when they were built. We
maintain our own roadside, we mow them all the time, we have our
own parks, we have a swimming pool, tennis courts, cabanas
through the park, BBQ pits, baseball diamond, everything in a
private park. In fact, we have two private parks. None of this
was paid for with County or any other government money. We have
our own water company that belongs to the homeowners association;
and we distribute water through the whole subdivision, all of
this done without federal, county or state funds. And for doing
all these things, what happens? We get this little map that she
made up with all these Hs all over it. This means our property
down there is worthless because it, we're supposed to have
thatched roofs down there. That's the thanks we get for it. We
weren't in Zone 3 and we're on the edge of Zone 3 now, in Zone 2
since they decided to redo it.
Ms. Ginny Aste -.
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ASTE:
ROSS:
ASTE:
Aste, A- s -t -e, Aste.
Aste.
Thank you.
ROSS: I don't know. She lisps below. When she
said it at these meetings, I don't know what it is. But Ms.
Ginny Aste -.
ASTE:
Thank you.
ROSS: She, you look at this, at this thing, and to
get $190,000 for cut and paste, cause all she did was take other
things and cut them and paste them in and then print it out. So
the whole thing for our area anyway, I don't know about the rest
of the areas because I haven't gone into it, it's really doing an
injustice to the whole area. And I had this for probably a half
hour this afternoon before this meeting and so I haven't had a
chance to look at everything. But I've looked at enough to know
that it's not in our favor. And these people that have brought
property without roads, without water, without electricity, a lot
of them are the ones that are all for this plan because they're
looking for a handout of county and state and federal money to
bring their subdivision up to standards. Well, ours is already
up to standards and without any handout from the county, state,
federal government. I thank you very much.
CHAIRMAN: Thank you, Mr. Ross. Mary. Porter.
PORTER: I just want to briefly say I support the Puna
Community -.
CHAIRMAN: If you could state your name, resident
address, please.
PORTER: Sorry. Mary Marvin Porter. I've formerly
-lived in Kapoho Beach Lots. I'm now in Hilo. And I support the -
Puna Community Development Plan. I feel that the vision there is
very right on, having attended the International Eco- Cities
Conference with planners from all around the world trying to deal
with this problem of having made the automobile the key center
piece to our life and alienation that has resulted, that this
plan is bringing a lot of fresh ideas. And I support very
strongly the plan. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN; Thank you
we could have Bob Lero, Jerome
McClellan, and Aaron Anderson.
very much for your testimony. If
Shenenrock, Shebenrock, Bill
Please come forward.
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LERO: Good morning, good evening, Mr. Chairman,
Members of the Commission. I need to speak in favor of the Puna
Development Plan.
CHAIRMAN: State your name and resident address for the
record.
LERO: Bob Lero; and my address is 15 -2036 30th
Street in Hawaiian Paradise Park. I want to speak in favor of
the Puna Development Plan. Can you imagine ten years down the
road trying to bring this group of folks into a plan and trying
to devise a plan at that when we have two to three times the
population? Yes, there's some work that needs to be done. Yes,
there's going to be people who aren't satisfied with the plan.
The essence is a plan. The reason why I think the plan came
about is five years ago I came to government and I said your list
shows $195,000,000 in capital improvement for the island in the
last ten years and Puna had $4,000,000. We were told, well,
that's because you don't have a plan, we can't give you
infrastructure. I think the essence of a plan is important. We
rely on your wisdom to pull it together from the feedback you're
getting tonight.
I also want to speak in favor as the Executive Director of
Hawaiian Paradise Park Improvement Association. Recently they
submitted a park plan for Hawaiian Paradise Park from Paradise
Hui Hanalike. We, their membership only totals about 500 people.
However, when we took that plan and submitted it to the 8800 lot
owners, and it's running about ten to one in favor. However, I
need to put come caveats. When you ask do you want a plan as
opposed to no plan, the answer is ten to one. When, then you ask
these particulars, list your three favorites, three deletions,
then it's all over the charts. So, in essence, it's the same
problem you're hearing here to night, that the essence is
do want a plan, how that mixture happens will be left to many,
many meetings out there. So I want to speak in favor of that and
hopefully it's incorporated into this plan.
One other thing I would like to bring up about handouts to these
subdivisions who don't have infrastructure. I need to react to
that. The position from the particular, particularly those folks
that are off- island. In Hawaiian Paradise Park, using it as an
example, 80 percent of those people are off - island, are foreign
investors. They pay on average a higher real property tax than
you, me, out there, meaning with our homeowners exemption we pay
less. And when you ask them are, the question was asked do you
want County roads and water? Of course. When you ask them are
they willing to pay a share of the cost over 15 or 30 years, it's
about a 2 1/2 to 1 ratio, yes. When you ask them if they want to
pay $16,000, strong across the thing is I've already paid for the
last ten years taxes. Okay.
171
One item of concern, I asked the Water Department how many more
lots in Hawaiian Paradise Park can you service with existing
waterlines? It took them three months to figure out they can
only service about 300 more lots. That's what this plan is
about. It's about planning for the future. So I hope you will
give it consideration. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN: Planning Director Goldstein.
GOLDSTEIN: Could you make the findings of your survey
available to us?
LERO: The question would be yes and, the answer
would be yes. But when? Because we're still tabulating.
GOLDSTEIN: Oh. When do you think you'll be done?
LERO: They would be partial because, you know, when
we sent by bulk mail, we're getting mainland back now, our
foreign is probably on a ship going. I'd like to be more
precise. I can give you partial data in the next week or ten
days.
CHAIRMAN: The next meeting is scheduled for July 13th.
LERO: I could bring you something for that.
CHAIRMAN: Thank you very much. Mr. Shebenrock.
SIEBENROCK: Good evening. My name is Gerald Siebenrock.
CHAIRMAN: Sorry.
SIEBENROCK: I'm the coordinator of Hawaiian Acres
Community Watch Program. Obviously, I'm from Hawaiian Acres, and
my address is PO Box 990, Kurtistown. The Community Development
Plan does not address the subject of community watch programs.
-With over 30 community watch programs in place at this time and
an increasing need for community watch programs with increasing
population and crime, community watch programs must be an
integral part of Puna's future plans. Like County trained
volunteer fire department and emergency response groups, let me
spit that out again, emergency response groups, the door must be
opened for police department trained community watch program
members. Therefore, I propose an addendum to the Puna
Development Plan to recognize and include community watch
programs as an integral entity of the Puna community. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN: Thank you very much. Okay.
MCCLELLAN: Good evening. My name is Bill McClellan.
I'm a resident and landowner of Hawaiian Acres Subdivision for
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some ten years. I chair the emergency response committee for
Hawaiian Acres Subdivision, also the road committee for Hawaiian
Acres Subdivision. I'm a member of the Hawaiian Acres Community
Watch Program. I also co -chair Hawaiian Acres Parks and Land Use
Committee. I am a Hawaiian Acres volunteer County firefighter, a
National Parks trained wild land firefighter, an American Red
Cross volunteer, a USGS Soil Conservation volunteer, and a member
of the Big Island Search and Rescue, and a member of Hawaii's
Geological Survey, and have attended many of the Puna Development
Plan meetings. Almost all of my participation in these groups
are centered in Puna for Puna.
From a purely personal point of view, the Puna Development Plan
is not why I came to Puna. I came to Puna to get away from the
kinds of things in the Puna Development Plan. But it seems that
a lot of people had the same idea to move to Puna; and now I know
and I realize that I and we and those still coming are the
problem, that we are here tonight to address.
From a practical point of view, I believe the time has passed to
say we can keep the old days the old, keep the old days, uh, I
lost that one.
Puna has the cheapest land in the State of Hawaii, and the people
are coming, and we can't stop them. I feel obligated to try and
do as much damage control as possible for Puna, the kind for the
kids and the future. So I, Bill McClellan, urge and ask the
County Planning Commission and the Hawaii County Council to adopt
as ordinance the Puna Community Development Plan Draft 2 as we
are running out of time.
And as an addendum, please add Hawelus' half -way house to the
list of historic sites. Thank you for your time.
CHAIRMAN: Would you repeat that? What was the half -way
house?
•MCCLELLAN: Hawelus'.
CHAIRMAN: Spell it, please.
MCCLELLAN: H- a- w- e- l -u -s.
CHAIRMAN: Thank you very much for your testimony.
MCINTOSH: Can I ask Mr. -?
CHAIRMAN: Yes, Commissioner McIntosh.
MCINTOSH: I want to know, I'd like to know what you do
for fun during your spare time? After that list of things -.
173
MCCLELLAN: Try and make a living.
CHAIRMAN: Could I call Aaron Anderson, Elaine Tayler,
Al Dettweiler, and Sandy Bonk.
BONK: I wasn't the first person you called.
CHAIRMAN: Okay, proceed.
BONK: My name is Sandy Bonk. I'm really happy to
see that the historical sites have taken, is taken noticed of
those in the report. I live in Mt. View and I.'m the watching the
village of Mt. View deteriorate. But the owners there are
interested in preservation. I'm very active in the Keaau
Historical Society and our efforts to try to educate and
enlighten the present owners of that land to the possibilities of
preserving the historic sites there. So far although Keaau Town
is listed as a cultural historical site here, it is in the
process of being demolished. And I think every effort needs to
be made to educate the present owners of that land underneath
those privately -owned buildings as to the possibilities that
preservation offers to the community in terms of benefits, land
prices going up in the value. And, also the fact that in
planning, I come from a background of travelling a lot around the
world and United States. I come from a place in Minnesota where
a bicycle path has literally revitalized a whole, about a five -
county area because people come from a five -state area just to
use the bike path. So places that were once ghost towns have
become boom towns as a result of it, and in such a way that the
local people have been the ones to benefit because they have been
able to create local small businesses that then profits from the
fact that all these people come to use the bike path.
As far as Keaau is concerned, I think what is needed is a real
education in terms of a lot of the historic sites as to the
benefits of the historic sites, why and how you would get them on
the register. Because the process is a little complicated and
-sometimes the State does not, at least in the situation with
Keaau, did not particularly follow through so that the community
was never educated as to the value and the possibility of
preservation. And I think in some ways I must say the landowner
themselves I don't think was advised properly in their planning
that these sites could actually enhance their plan. So I think
there really needs to be a may of bringing in the historic
preservation people to follow through. And in the case of Keaau,
that never happened. They did not follow through. And two
people really made the decision to demolish Keaau. Whereas,
really the Historic Division needs to come in, follow through
with their nomination, then bring in the Historic Places Review
Board which actually comes and looks at the site, and then it
goes to the Governor. , Then if the private landowner doesn't want
it, there's a contested case hearing. But at that time at least
174
the population has the opportunity to comment and understand what
the value really is.
So I really speak for the historic sites, the beautification,
that the Planning Department really, really take a close look
whenever anything new is built so that it reflects beauty.
Beauty brings joy to tourism, it also brings a feeling to our
local residents, and I think would give them a different way of
reacting to each other, lessen crime and so on. So I really speak
for the bike paths and historic sites; and I thank you for
including them in the plan.
CHAIRMAN: Thank you very much for your testimony. Al
Dettweiler not here, Elaine Tayler not here, Aaron Anderson not
here. Is there anyone else in the audience wishing to testify?
Okay, Commissioner Fiesta, what is your pleasure? Shall we, do
you want to have dinner or have a presentation?
FIESTA: I would think, you know, as far as the
presentation, maybe we could do it at the next Planning
Commission meeting.
CHAIRMAN:
Okay.
FIESTA: So seeing none, I make a motion that we
continue the hearing.
ALONZO:
Second, Mr. Chairman.
CHAIRMAN: There's a motion by Commissioner Fiesta and a
second by Commissioner Alonzo to continue this agenda item to the
next Hilo meeting, which is on July 13th. Discussion? All those
in favor?
COMMISSIONERS: Aye.
CHAIRMAN: Opposed? Motion carried.
ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, the
Chair declared the meeting adjourned at
8:08 P.M.
A T T E S T:
Wilton K. Wong, Chairman
Planning Commission
Respectfully submitted,
Sharon M. Nomura, Secretary
Planning Commission
175
INDEX TO
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES
JUNE 7, 1995
APPLICANT /SUBJECT MATTER PAGE
KONA CHURCH OF CHRIST .. ............................... 1
(Special Permit No. 549)
GEOTHERMAL ASSET FUND .. ............................... 2
MT. VIEW CONGREGATION OF JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES ........... 22
(Special Permit)
PLANNING DIRECTOR ...... ............................... 46
(Amend County Code Relating to
Enforcement of Zoning Violations)
JAS. W. GLOVER, LTD . ... ...............................
50
(Special
Permit No. 493)
SANFORD'S
SERVICE CENTER, INC . ........................
50
(Special
Permit)
CHURCH OF
FRIENDSHIP ... ...............................
67
(Special
Permit)
NEW HOPE
CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP .........................
73
(Special
Permit No. 673)
RODNEY INABA ........... ............................... 94
(Change of Zone)
ALBERT P. AND LORNA JEYTE ............................. ' 100
(Change of Zone)
MAURICE THOMAS .......... ............................... 109
.(Change of Zone)
ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS .. ............................... 134
PLANNING DIRECTOR ....... ............................... 135
(Change of Zone - Edward Ryan)
DR. RICHARD SHINDO ....... :............................. 136
(Use Permit No. 37)
ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS .. ............................... 137
MINUTES ................. ............................... 138
PUNA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN ........................ 138
v A 10,
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PLANNING COMMISSION
COUNTY OF HAWAII
MINUTES
JULY 12, 1995
The Planning Commission met at 6:17 p.m. in the County Building,
Councilroom, Room 201, 75 Aupuni Street, South Hilo, Hawaii, with
Chairman Wilton Wong presiding.
PRESENT: Wilton Wong ABSENT: Edward E. Crook
Eddie Alonzo Isaac Fiesta
Kevin Balog (From 6:44 p.m.) Leonard Tanaka
Mary Katayama Ex- officio Member
Melvin Martinson Milton Pavao
Lin McIntosh
Alice Kawaha representing Planning Director
Ann Usagawa, Staff Planner
Bonnie Goodell, Consultant for the Puna CDP
The Chair introduced the Commission and staff to the members of
the public.
CHAIRMAN: This is a public hearing. The public hearing is
a continuation of the Puna Development Plan, Second Draft, May
1995. At this point, if you are wishing to testify on this
agenda item, there is a sign up sheet at the door. If you could
please sign up so that we can hear your testimony tonight. With
that, could I call Ann, please. You want to bring us up to date
since our last public hearing on this agenda item?
USAGAWA: I'm sorry, Mr. Chairman, excuse me. I thought
that we were going to begin the public hearing since, I don't
have my materials with me. If you wouldn't mind waiting for a
moment. Are you ready for the presentation now?
CHAIRMAN: Well, okay, maybe for the new persons, new ones
.here that were not at the public hearing the last time, this is a
continuation. At this point, the Planning Department is
recommending that we continue this agenda item to the next
meeting, which would be August 24th in Hilo. So at this point,
there is still a large window of opportunity for people to
provide their input and for the Planning Department and the
consultants to seriously consider your recommendations and also
to address some of the concerns that you may have. At this
point, it looks like we, have a very, very large number of people
wishing to testify. Therefore, we would like to go ahead and try
to limit testimony to three minutes, if at all possible. If you
have written testimony, if you could submit those items to the
Planning Department staff for distribution.
Ann, would you want to go ahead and continue now?
L_ -1 CZ cy / -, C
USAGAWA: Okay, Mr. Chairman, would you like me to begin,
with'our presentation as well as the staff recommendation and the
consultant presentation at the time?
CHAIRMAN: Okay, maybe before we do that, maybe we could do
that at the very last since there's so many people here -.
USAGAWA: Fine.
CHAIRMAN: To testify. At the last meeting, Commissioners
also recommended that we do a field trip on this very, very
important item. Is, does the staff have a tentative agenda or
itinerary prepared?
USAGAWA: Yes, thank you, Mr. Chairman. I understand that
some Commissioners at the last Rona meeting expressed an interest
in visiting some of the important sites and areas in Puna; and so
our consultant Bonnie Goodell and I have prepared a tentative
list of sites and a proposed itinerary. What we propose is that
if the Commission so desires to attend, to participate in a field
trip, we're going to suggest that this be scheduled for the day
before our next Hilo Planning Commission hearing, which would be
August 23rd. And what we're proposing is that it take about, oh,
about five hours, five or six hours say from 10 in the morning,
departing from the County Council, Building and returning by no
later than 4 o'clock, approximately, to give everyone time to, to
give the Commissioners time to then prepare for the 6 p.m.
continued hearing. But I do understand that a motion one of
the Commissioners would be called for to that effect for a field
trip. I have been advised, we've been advised by our Corporation
Counsel, Deputy Corporation Counsel to discuss and agree on a
tentative list of sites at this meeting, if at all possible, and
then later on when the time comes for the public notice to appear
in the newspapers to actually list the sites and the time of
departures so that if any members of the public wish to drive
along with us in their own vehicles that they may do so.
So I do have a written draft itinerary, if I might distribute it
(ATTACHMENT A) right now, Mr. Chairman.
CHAIRMAN: Please, if you could, yes.
USAGAWA: Then what I can do is then read it out loud for
the record; and then it's up to the Commission's pleasure as to
what to do.
CHAIRMAN: Thank you, that'll be good, yeah.
USAGAWA: Okay, thank you. One moment.* Thank you. So
this is what staff is proposing for the field trip to Puna. I
would also like to apologize if we inadvertently omit some
communities that may that they would like the Commission,
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Commissioners to see their community. We are under a time
constraint, and so that is the reason why we cannot include all
communities.
This is what we propose: To meet at the County Building main
entrance 9:45 a.m. and leave, depart approximately 10 a.m. in,
shall we say, three or so County vehicles driven by staff. We
would go through Keaau town via turning down left off the Volcano
Highway onto Keaau Road so that we can go to Keaau village; then
turning left onto the Keaau -Pahoa Road,. going all the way to
Ainaloa, up Ainaloa Boulevard to the Waikahekahe Ahupuaa area so
that we can, going all the way up to the top of Ainaloa Boulevard
so that we can see the proposed Emergency Road and the proposed
Waikahekahe, the so- called Puna, excuse me, I've forgotten the
term, but the, what we intend to be the new district center of
Puna, the future district center, excuse me, taking approximately
30 minutes there in transit. Then through Pahoa Village to see
the, to see the Village; and then on to, we propose the PGV
geothermal site just to basically drive through the parking lot
and see the site, not go in because I don't believe that we have
enough time. Then to go through Lanipuna Gardens because that is
directly adjacent to the PGV site so that we can see, well, so
that we can see how close the neighbors are to the PGV power
plant. Then on down to Pualaa Park, the County and community
park for a brief lunch break. Then we do propose going to Kehena
since the Kehena area has, we've heard from many people in the
community that that is an area of concern of them, and a desire
to see the Red Road and the scenic vistas in that area. Then up
to Pohaku, back up through the Kalapana Road up to, back on up to
the Keaau -Pahoa Road and then turning up Pohaku, this is on the
mauka side, right, going up 40th Avenue which serves as a by-
pass road between Orchidland and Hawaiian Acres, and going up to
Volcano Highway. Then driving up through Mt. View; and then on
up through Volcano Village, and then back down, back to the
County Building. That is what we propose.
CHAIRMAN: Commissioners, any questions? What is your
pleasure? Commissioner McIntosh?
MCINTOSH: Alonzo.
CHAIRMAN: Commissioner Alonzo.
ALONZO: I'm familiar with all these sites. It's up to
the Commission. As far as,what was spoken, it's a good route.
My concern is also the Pohaku, 40th Avenue, to Olaa Road. That
might take a little bit longer, bad roads.
USAGAWA: Point well made, Mr. Alonzo. I think what our
rationale for that was that Pohaku is relatively short and so we
wouldn't have to be on the bad road for very long.
K
PUBLIC: At least you would know what it's like.
USAGAWA: That's right. Excuse me, as.someone in the
audience mentioned, in this way we would all know what it is like
to have to drive on a bad road in Puna.
MCINTOSH: No, my, my, Mr. Chairman, my concern was only in
checking with the experts -.
CHAIRMAN: Okay.
MCINTOSH:
That the times
allotted were sufficient.
If
you're happy
with this, then I
would move that we schedule
this -
ALONZO: Yeah, it's okay with me.
MCINTOSH: Okay, I would move then that we schedule a site
visitation for -.
MARTINSON: Second.
MCINTOSH: August 23rd per this schedule.
CHAIRMAN: Okay, there's a motion by Commissioner McIntosh
to do a site visit on August 23rd per the itinerary, and there is
a second by Commissioner Martinson. Any discussion? All those
in favor?
COMMISSIONERS: Aye.
CHAIRMAN: Opposed? Motion carries. Thank you very much,
Ann.
USAGAWA: Thank you, sir.
CHAIRMAN: Okay. At this point, we will begin to take
public testimony. Again, I wish to remind you that the window of
'opportunity for input is large at this point, so if you would
please try to keep within the three - minute time frame. First to
testify, Marilyn Haymore; next Tim Dolan; William Hachmeister.
There are three seats up here, so if three of you could come up
to the microphone please, Marilyn Haymore, Tim Dolan and William
Hachmeister. Others wishing to testify on this agenda item could
you please stand so that I may swear you in at this point. Do
you swear or affirm to tell the truth on all matters before this
Commission? Say I do.
TESTIFIERS: I do.
CHAIRMAN: Okay. Thank you very much. Please be seated.
Before you begin your testimony, state your name, resident
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address, and also speak directly into the microphone as these
proceedings are being recorded. Okay. Marilyn.
HAYMORE: There's a yellow copy. It might make it easier
for you to follow of my testimony.
My name is Marilyn Haymore. I live in Hawaiian Acres. If it is
constructed, I will see and hear the new proposed 11 9.5 Road" from
my 10 Road back yard.
I would like to contribute my thoughts on transportation systems
planning. We need a plan. The purpose and objective of any plan
is to create a functional framework and to avoid a dysfunctional
system. Creating a functional framework where a framework is
already in place is difficult, and that is the challenge in Puna.
Allowing some 58,000 potential residential lots to be approved
without adequate provisions for the necessary transportation
systems that would be needed for a population of this size was
condemning the future planners, yourselves, into the position of
making extremely tough decisions in order to define how and where
to integrate these absolutely necessary transportation corridors
in what would become an already established community. If we
continue in a state of denial regarding our transportation needs
and if we continue to resist the meaning of a growing population,
we are in a sense opposing any hope of a future with a
transportation framework and facilities that function well.
Instead we are looking at a transportation system that may fail
when it is most needed, in times of emergencies. We are also
condemning our children to even tougher planning decisions and
actions with fewer and fewer reasonable options available.
Simply, we are rapidly outgrowing our limited transportation
facilities and must do whatever is necessary so that the
community, as a whole and in consideration of all its parts, will
be able to function well.
What are our choices?
1. Change our transportation behavior and drive less.
2. Arrange our service, school and activity infrastructure
within our communities to require fewer and shorter vehicle
trips or
3. Provide more transportation corridors and facilities.
The proposed Puna Development Plan addresses all three choices.
Personally I feel we must define this expanded transportation
system for Puna now. Without saying where it should be located I
must say it most certainly must be defined and included in the
plan to be located somewhere.
5
The sooner this is done, the fewer will be the unsuspecting
individuals who may build their life around an area that
eventually may be required for the public welfare in the way of a
road.
One often overlooked feature by the community in regards to
highway design and function is that of "limited access."
One of the reasons that the Pahoa Highway and parts of the Belt
Road are having problems is because there are 'so many legitimate
accesses (that is, driveways and side streets). In light to
moderate traffic, this may not be a problem. As the volume
increases, this "unlimited access" feature creates not only a
frustrating congestion problem but creates additional safety
hazards. The only way we can achieve a road facility with
limited access as opposed to unlimited access is to create a new
corridor and create the limits. This was a key element in the
proposed 11 9.5 Road" plan. Many in the community believe this
road will only benefit those outside of Hawaiian Acres
Subdivision. I don't believe this to be true. It is my
understanding that 11 9.5 Road" will be accessible from every
lettered road in that subdivision. The road will benefit and
improve the interconnectiveness and the accessibility that
Hawaiian Acres will have.
I would like to just point, make
road through 8 Road or 9 Road or
potential of a access every'150
The same distance that you would
accesses, approximately. On the
approximately 14.
one other point - If you put a
10 Road, you would have the
Eeet on either side of the road.
go for 8 Road would require 350
new 9 1/2 Road, you would have
CHAIRMAN: Thank you very much for your testimony.
Commissioners, questions? Thank you very much. Mr. Dolan.
DOLAN: Thank you, Chairman Wong and Members of the
Commission. My name is Timothy Dolan. I currently reside in
Hawaiian Paradise Park, HCR 2, Box 13034. I am presently working
as a professor of political science and public administration on
the mainland. I come over here for the summers. And I'll just
go into the testimony at this point.
Let me first assert that while practicing advocate of
anticipatory policy making, I support, in principle, the County's
attempt to promote community- centered planning, and to give to
the people the opportunity to shape the structure of human
habitation in Puna. I like many more elements of the document's
contents than those portions that I feel are flawed. Although
tempted to critique specific aspects of the revised draft
document, I have decided to confine my remarks to my chief
concern - that is the underdeveloped treatment, in this document,
of the linkage between a healthy economic base, and a healthy
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community, as applied to the fact of Puna's chronic economic
depression.
The documents' intentions are admirable, but simply not
realizable given Puna's economic base, which is completely
inadequate to support the number of people projected to settle
the region. This year and next are likely to underscore this
fact.
There are four types of economic development approaches or
tactics, that singly, or in combination, lay a foundation for a
viable community: The first is primary production such as
agriculture or aquaculture, fishing, forestry, or mining. The
second is value -added manufacturing or factory production, or
information or entertainment production. The third is tourism,
including family vacation, business conference or corporate
vacation, conventions, and, of course, " ecotourism." The fourth
is government transfer payments, such as in military
installations, correctional facilities, government contract work,
and entitlement dispersements such as social security, veteran's
payments, WIC, AFDC, food stamps, etc.
If we review these areas individually we will see that while
there is an indisputable consensus that Puna residents want the
district to stay rural, and many are quite successful in
specialty agriculture, most Puna residents are not engaged in
primary production and thus must seek other means of income.
Value -added manufacturing, while the source of many very good
jobs on the mainland, is limited to aloha wear assembly and some
episodic information /entertainment production, as in the Water
World project over the last year. The reaction of the Puna
community to the prospect of a manganese processing plant in
their midst, and the geothermal issue, make it clear that value -
added manufacturing of any sort in Puna is likely to experience
local hostility. Tourism is naturally a mainstay of the state,
but Puna's wild nature makes it especially attractive to
developing the species of visitors fashionably known as
"ecotourists." The chief drawback to the ecotourist in relation
to the other types is that they are not likely'to pay very much
for services, or for experiences for that matter. An ecotourist
is highly unlikely, for example, to take a helicopter tour, or to
rent a jet -ski. This is a noble thing, and I must say this as a
member of, founding member of, charter member of the Hawaii Green
movement. The point is that the ecotourist is not going to be
supporting a particularly large portion of our people in that
district. This leaves government transfer payments, for which,
as it turns out, is a significant basis for Puna's economy. The
problem here is that, as you may have read about, there is a tide
of balanced- budget conservatism that has swept the mainland.
This is having a cascading effect upon Hawaii that points to a
particularly hard impact upon Puna, the region with the greatest
proportion of residents depending on transfer payments.
7
This emerging scenario suggests that the good intentions of the,
Puna Community Plan may end up as a sequel to the "Lyman Field
International Airport and the Waiakea Villas": fiasco of the mid -
seventies where, again, good intentions ran up against some hard
realities.
I'll end my testimony at that point.
CHAIRMAN: Thank you very much for your testimony.
(Commissioner Baiog arrived at this time, 6:44 p.m.)
HACHMEISTER: Good evening, Commissioner and Members of the
Commission. My name is William Frederick Hachmeister. I reside
at P.O. Box 10267, Hilo, Hawaii. Thank you for this opportunity
to speak at, within this most important issue.
I became aware of this issue about four or five weeks ago. After
that time I only heard in brief discussion with members of the
community that there were County meetings moving forward. I took
that to; mean that those County meetings are that those,
incorporated meetings within their own communities were very
private and meaningless to the County as a whole. I didn't know
that a $190,000 contract had been provided for these meetings. I
also didn't know that the County was deeply involved in it.
So my investigation of this and my jumping into this issue only
occurred early June of this year. Since that time, I have
studied the Puna Community Plan and some other community plans
within the County. I also studied the County consolidated plan.
It was with these plans I started to develop a scenario for risk
and hazard and are of benefit to the community.
I met with many people throughout the community. I visited
Seaview and Hawaiian Paradise Park and Makuu and Makuu
Subdivisions and I talked with the people there. Everybody I
meet are deeply, confused about what's happening to them
personally and to their property. What is the future forecast
for these communities if certain increments of a lot were to be
in place, such as the transfer developer rights? What does that
mean to their existing property? -Will they eventually have to,
or be forced to move?
I found these concerns very valid. I have met with hostile
intellectual contact with this issue. I have also seen
structures that have been damaged; and we don't the reason why
the damage occurred, other that this very suspect. Every day I'm
being greeted, primarily, on the street by, with a lot of
acceptance and people are starting to generate a great interest.
The hostility towards me started to fade away about a week ago,
and I'm happy to see that. I hope it continues.
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I've tried to contact, I've had contact with the contractor,
Virginia Aste, that that has, I've got a, within the last year
I've had about four telephone meetings with:her; and at all times
she never mentioned the relevancy of any plans or that she was
the contractor for community plans. I asked her for her
assistance on a, on this spaceport issue and what she carried
with that a "nay" care issue. And, but, again, I would get no
support. So I can't find consistency with her-, nor can I find
her giving me relevant information. I can't support her for that
reason. I also can't support these plans, that Puna Plan,
because the people that Virginia Aste had hired or had hired not
without, not for pay, but had contacted and asked to provide
information to her were people who didn't have, in some cases,
didn't have credentials and they didn't have working experience
and couldn't hold discussion, or sustained discussions, within
the professions that they were asked to represent. I found that
extremely alarming. How can you have a relevant plan if the
people you have committed to that plan are not trained or have
any expertise in the area, in those professional areas.
I've gone on to question the fact that the State and the County
wishes to move forward in a low and lower income homes with
providing no building code inspections. I'm very nervous about
that. No matter who the builder is or who the supplier of the
material is, you're asking them to be on their good faith only.
You're providing no inspection. That, in turn, isn't fair to the
tenant or to the people who should invest in that, in that
project. You never know what's going to happen. And this last
week we saw the result of one circuit court action where,
obviously, the supplier of material and the contractor,
inadvertently or advertently, whatever, they built houses with
termites and the foundations were cracking, and things like that.
If this is allowed to continue, especially into these projects, I
would predict that at one point we would run into some health
hazards or some risk to human life or well being, certainly, the
investment that was put forward. And I've heard, I think I've
heard the 30- second.
I have provided you with written testimony. I tried to make it
as factual as I possibly could within a four -week period. We
worked until 25 minutes to 6 to be here by 6 o'clock. I'm
willing to correct any statement that is unintentionally put
forth or any interpretation that I'm missing or lacking knowledge
of. I'm willing to come forward and work that out with the
Planning Commission or with the contractor or whoever. Thank you
for this opportunity.
CHAIRMAN: Thank you very, very much. Next to testify,
Jean L. Green, John Olson, Greg Owen. Please come forward.
Proceed.
9
GREEN: Thank you. My name is Jean L. Green. I'm a
resident of Hawaiian Paradise Park. Thank you for this
opportunity.
I became involved in the purchasing of the home in Hawaiian
Paradise Park in the summer of 1994, just as the Hawaiian
Paradise Park Association began conducting its meetings on their
development plan. I attended the second formal meeting held by
H.P.P. and I was later informed during that meeting that my house
and land existed in an area that was going to be rezoned
commercial and /or R6 apartment housing. I asked my realtor
whether or not this could really be done. He said he didn't know
and that his own home was located in one of these areas; and he,
at that time, didn't know what would become of these planning
meetings.
I was very concerned for two reasons:
(1) We purposely bought a lot, which was one lot away from one
of the 30 -acre parcels, because we enjoyed the ruralness it
represented and we were told that the possible use for that land
would be a community college, and we are a community spirited
people; and,
(2) Our other concern was the concept of using a transfer of
development rights, known as TDR procedure, to seize our land for
the development of commercial and /or R6 housing. To my
understanding, the TDR concept allows the developer to seize your
property for commercial development purposes, and merely offer
the trading of our property, for any of the various properties
that were vacant in a pool of properties, set aside, for
residential development with no mention of any compensation for
what is considered the fair market value of the house and
property.
Also during those meetings, the major driving force that was used
to get agreement from the public attending those meetings seemed
to be what all referred to as a "fear tactic" that eventually,
and it was stated that eventually each home owner in the
subdivision would have to pay $80,000 per lot for improvements.
This is in the Hawaiian Paradise Park meetings. When my fiance
questioned what the $80,000 would be used for, the only thing
they could justify was $30,000 for sewers.
My fiance told the group and leaders conducting the meetings that
the percolation quality of the soil in H.P.P. was so high that
there would be no need for sewers for the present or future
residential development. Therefore, the fear tactic of having to
put $80,000 of improvements still needs to be justified for the
residents.
10
Prior to the purchase of our home, my fiance called the county .
Planning Department for their opinion on the H.P.P. development
plan. He was told not to pay attention to it. -, 'because the County
had no desire to get involved in putting improvements in H.P.P.
since it was a private development. And if the County didn't pay
for it, who would? Plus, he was told the County had no desire to
rezone any part of the H.P.P. In conclusion he told my fiance to
just ignore the H.P.P. plan.
This perspective, in combination with my observation of how
rudely people who objected to the plan were-treated by those
conducting the meetings in H.P.P., resulted in my dismissing the
whole process as a fruitless waste of time and I did not attend
any more meetings. My fiance continued to attend another four
meetings in H.P.P. and informed me that people objecting to the
plan were consistently treated badly by the organizers. It
appeared that their input was being ignored and the group was
merely soliciting agreement to their plan rather than community
input, that is the people who conducted these meetings.
I asked"my realtor, again, before the time of purchase if there
were any plans that would significantly alter the community in
which I was interested in living. He told me that there was no
serious planning taking place. Then I asked him, again, if the
Hawaiian Paradise Park would become reality and thereby alter the
location I was living in. He informed me that he had been active
in the H.P.P. planning process and was not to worry about it,
since it would probably not amount to anything. He also informed
me that his house was in one of the areas proposed to become a
town center. This summer he has sold his house and moved to
Canada.
PUBLIC: (Laughter)
GREEN: My fiance recently, I'm glad you caught that,
people, my fiance recently informed me that.Community Management
Association hired in 1991 and 1992 an employee of my realtors
firm as the prime consultant on their Puna Plan.
I was surprised to find out that the H.P.P. plan was, in fact,
incorporated in the County's Puna Community Development Plan, and
that the County had funded Community Management Associates
$190,000 to conduct the study that incorporated what was done in
H.P.P. I feel I was never adequately informed-of the importance
to attend.the meetings in H.P.P. since we were told by H.P.P. it
was merely a "wish list," that the County may or may not pay
attention to it, nor what I later found out to be, excuse me, and
also I later found out that this plan was heavily funded County
and was included in the County's Puna Plan. I was told that the
H.P.P. plan was independent_ from the County plan. But I have to
point out that Ginny Aste was paid $2,500 to coordinate the
meetings and the study done by H.P.P., plus the concept of Town
11
Centers is the main thing around which the H.P.P. plan is
focused. The Town Center concept proliferates all of the
community plans. And was my experience in H.P.P., as was my
experience in H.P.P., the experience in Hawaiian Shores Community
Association, and the experience in Seaview, that the town centers
concept was not to be discussed or disagreed with, but to be
accepted as the core of the planning process. I would like to
see other planning concepts be properly presented with adequate
information given as to my legal standing and avenues for
objection since these are most important issues.
I hope that that was clear enough. Thank you very much.
CHAIRMAN: Thank you very much for your testimony.
GREEN: Yes.
CHAIRMAN: Mr. Jon Olson.
OLSON: Yes, Good evening, Mr. Chairman. My name is Jon
Olson and I reside at 13 -617 Honalo Street, Lanipuna Gardens.
I'm here this evening wearing a couple of hats. I've been asked
to deliver the mail for Pahoa Main Street for Puna Community
Council and I also had some observations from myself that I'd
like to make.
Pahoa Main Street has submitted testimony so I'll just give you
this basic quick rundown on that to save some time. Basically,
Main Street has been working on a plan for the past two years.
You have that plan before you. Probably the most significant
thing about the plan is that Main Street is looking for a
preservation district or design district. I think that that is
the basis for preserving Pahoa town and increasing the ability of
the people there to do business. I believe there's another
member of the Board here who probably will testify more on that,
so I'll be brief on that. That is, by the way, it has had good
community input from the surrounding community. There were a lot
of meetings.
As far as Puna Community Council, Puna Community Council has over
the last five years helped in facilitating the meetings for the
Puna Development Plan. We saw to it that every one of our
members received the referenced document and the first draft of
this plan.
I'd like to tell you that I felt that that was sufficient, I
really can't. Part of that involved the fact that the time
frame, we started work on this in 1991; here it is 1995. Like
this young lady sitting here next to me, she wasn't even here, as
are a number of the faces that I know sitting behind me they
weren't here. So when they come forward and they say that have
not been informed, that's probably very true, they weren't part
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of the process. It has taken a very, very long time
unfortunately for this to come to fruition.
Speaking for PCC, I hope that this matter is deferred, hopefully,
for another 90 days to give these people some more time to work
on this to come up to speed. There is clearly still significant
misunderstandings about the operation of what happens in the plan
and the choices that are being presented, and I want to focus on
the word "choices." It was, my understanding of this plan is
that it was never the intent to force anything down anybody's
throat if at al possible. Planning by its very nature creates
situations where you have conflict of use. That's the nature of
the beast.
But inasmuch as Puna is still relatively undeveloped, the widest
number of choices still are before the people who live there,
myself included.
We've got to do a better job of getting people to understand.
I'm sitting here listening to this young lady, she clearly does
not understand the principle of TDR. Nobody is forcing TDR on
anybody. It's an entirely voluntary addition to this plan.
There are conflicts within the plan. I understand clearly that
some of those conflicts have, are political in nature. As the
president of Lanipuna Gardens Community Association, you have all
seen me come here and testify on the geothermal issue. This
plan, on the one hand, presents the lava inundation zone risk
hazards as being undesirable for the allowance of any further
development; yet you turn to ten pages further back, and we have
further geothermal development and further industrial development
in those hazard zones.
Now, unfortunately good politics and good science are not one in
the same thing. I was to the earthquake symposium that was held
last Saturday at UHH. The people from HVO, the people from FEMA,
Civil Defense, most of our earth, all of our earthquakes are one
way or another related to the fact that we love on an active
Volcano; and they will all tell you the same thing - You build
something in the inundation zones and you are nuts. Well, okay,
I'm nuts. I'm guilty, I built there. But I'm not asking you to
base the entire economic use of this County on that madness. I
understand that there's risks, there's hazards. Some people are
willing to take it. The people that are already there, most of
us had some idea of what we were getting into. But to go ahead
and encourage further development there, that's not a good plan.
So just a couple other quick things. There has already been some
mention on 9 1/2 Road. Interestingly enough, that comes from the
State Long Range Transportation Plan. When this document
started, there was no Long Range Transportation Plan, there was
no 9 1/2 Road'. So there's a lot of people,sitting behind me from
Hawaiian Acres who are quite upset to find about the State Long
13
Range Transportation Plan. Okay, I mean, I only found out about
it about a month ago. And I thought I was fairly really up to
speed on this.
The other thing that, just as a personal note, I know both Ginny
Aste and Bonnie Goodell, and I would hope that the people would
desist with shooting the messenger because they don't like the
message. The fact of the matter is that the damage has already
been wrought. That damage is there are 58,000 lots available in
the Puna district, upper and lower. Now because that lot next
door to you does not at this moment have a house on it, does not
mean that there will not be a house on it tomorrow, or the day
after, or five years down the road. This plan does not set in
stone any time frame. Nobody is saying that somebody is going to
build on those 58,000 lots tomorrow. But I can promise you that
there's somebody at the airport right now on their way out there
to buy something. And there's somebody sitting in their living
room this evening drawing plans for one they just bought. That's
the reality of it. The purpose of this plan is to make the
decisions now about what you're going to do with transportation,
what you're going to do with infrastructure. Some of the
communities don't want infrastructure, which I find to be, I
mean, it very least is interesting. Several of the subdivisions
in lower Puna have fought infrastructure. They are in the lava
inundation zones and they should be left alone. I completely -.
PUBLIC: Here, here, yeah (clapping).
CHAIRMAN: Everyone will have a chance to testify so in
order to make the testimony proceed smoothly just keep those
applause and comments to yourself. Mr. Olson -?
OLSON: Thank you. Good science tell us that they're
right, that no further development should be allowed in those
areas. They're willing to take the risk. That's an area where
TDR could be very effective. Those people, a lot of them foreign
owners, a lot of them mainland people who bought property
probably site unseen in beautiful Hawaii, have no idea that
they're in a lava inundation zone. Nobody told them. There was
no disclosure in the law that said that they had to know. And if
there's some way that they can get their money out, I think it's
entirely reasonable to allow that to happen. I - mean, we've, we
and, have participated in a gigantic fraud, quite frankly, in
selling those people, selling those people that property without
ever telling them the risk they were taking. And the TDR
principle would allow them to get their money out of there
without any, without any substantial loss to anybody; and it
would allow these people to live in a style which they want to
live, which they're chosen to live.
Other subdivisions, they want the infrastructure. And they
should get the money, and they should get the development rights
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to put the infrastructure into it; but it's their decisions. And
I hope in the next 90 days that the people we have finally got
their attention, just a side note, I mean quite frankly if I had
been doing this plan I would have made it one page, I would have
said pave it all, and they all would have been' down here; and
we'd have been talking about it. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN: Thank you very much, Mr. Olson. Mr. Greg Owen.
OWEN: Good evening. I'm Greg Owen from Kapoho.
Personally, I'd like to see a railroad -.
CHAIRMAN: Mr. Owen, could you give us your resident
address, please.
OWEN: Wa'a Wa'a Subdivision. Personally, I'd like to
see a railroad again in Puna. I have researched the idea and
think it has great merit. An old style steam locomotive type
train, clean burning, could bring commuters and workers to Hilo
in the morning and perhaps in the afternoon or later on bring
minimal tourists that would visit parks of lower Puna. In
fact, part of this scenario is a massive regional coastline park
stretching from Wa'a Wa'a to Kapoho and past all the way to
McKenzie State Park and beyond. My understanding is that these
coastal areas are not suitable for development in the usual sense
because of Puna's geology or Pele. So the concept of park lands
of Puna including coastal regions and native forest of Wa'a Wa'a,
Kawai, Green Mountain and Kapoho Crater, and makai and mauka
Pohoiki, would preserve these beautiful and scenic lands and
perhaps provide, employment to local residents in low impact
tourism. As far as this other proposed scenic coastal highway
that I've been hearing about in lower Puna, I believe that every
coastal community, Paradise Park and all of them, will be against
it. So perhaps Railroad Avenue could be a better avenue for
emergency use and commuter use. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN: Thank you very much, Mr. Owen. Next to testify,
Rex Palmer, Dr. Michael Hyson, Adrian Barber, Alona Quartero.
Please come forward. Mr. Rex Palmer?
PALMER: Thank you for this opportunity to testify before
the Planning Commission. You should have a written statement
from our community association. I'd like to apologize for
addressing it to the County Council rather than the Planning
Commission.
My name is Rex Palmer. I'm president of the Wa'a Wa'a Community
Association. And I'd like to present the views of the Wa'a Wa'a
Community Association on the "Puna Development.Plan."
The members of the Wa'a Wa'a Community Association have voted to
not endorse the "Puna Development Plan" in its present form and
15
we respectfully ask the Planning Commission not to approve the
plan in its present form.
The members of the Wa'a Wa'a Community Association object to the
"Puna Development Plan" for the following reasons:
1. The "Puna Development Plan" appears to advocate a "scenic
Parkway" (that is, a paved highway) along the coast from
Hilo to the intersections of Highways 130 and 137; and I
realize that's actually an element from the original General
Plan. The Wa'a Wa'a Community Association has told the
County since the early 1970's that we do not want our
beautiful Beach Road paved but rather maintained as a red
cinder road as it has been. The "Puna Development Plan"
suggests-that the Beach Road be paved and developed into a
continuation of Highway 137. This is in total opposition to
the wishes of the residents in our subdivision.
It has also been suggested by the County in the past and I
believe on one old copy of the General Plan that a new road
mauka of the existing beach road be created. The Wa'a Wa'a
Community Association cannot condone such an alternate route
because it would split our subdivision in half.
Furthermore, we feel that a highway located anywhere within
our subdivision would introduce road noise and pollution
into our now clean and quiet community. We also worry about
the danger to our livestock, pets, and children from cars
racing along a new through highway. We find this
unacceptable. And we insist that if any new highway into
Puna is developed it remain mauka of our entire subdivision,
perhaps as Mr. Owen said on Railroad Avenue or some other
place.
We also cannot accept one of the basic assumptions of the
"Puna Development Plan," that the proposed highway and other
facilities are needed because all of the lots in Puna will
eventually be built out. In our community we are creating a
land trust to purchase some of the undeveloped land to be
held in conservation to enable us to maintain a rural low
density character of our subdivision. A major highway
through the middle of our community would be counter to our
community goals of low - density, open space, and forest
preservation.
2. The "Puna Development Plan" shows a shoreline park and
public access to the ocean on our community ocean -front lot.
We oppose the taking of our privately owned community lot
for a public park. The residents of Wa'a Wa'a Subdivision
already maintain this area as a park, essentially a park.
We have always maintained open access to the ocean for
fishermen and other members of the public; and we believe
that a developed park with roads, camping areas and other
16
0 0 0
facilities in that location would destroy the wilderness
character of the coast that we, as a community have been
working to preserve for years. Furthermore, the area shown
as a public park in the "Puna Development Plan" is an
important feeding area for green sea turtles, a list of
endangered species. This item is also the location of a
large population of a Federally listed endangered plant
species. Also present are Hawaiian Hawks or I'o, Hawaiian
owls or Pueos, and A'o birds. These are all endangered
species and we believe they would be adversely impacted by
increased public access to the site.
3. The members of the Wa'a Wa'a Community Association believe
that the "Puna Development Plan" fails to allow self -
determination for subdivisions such as ours in Puna. Our
association is working on its own development plan which
emphasizes low population density, small farms, organic
agriculture and agroforestry, and preservation of open
space. We resent people in Hilo or a planning corporation
making decisions about the future of our community. We want
to :be able to determine our own course of development and
land preservation that accords with the wishes of our
residents. And we feel that the "Puna Development Plan"
will benefit land speculators, not the residents of our
subdivision.
Thank you very much.
CHAIRMAN: Thank you. Mr. Palmer, on your -. Mr. Palmer?
PALMER: Yes.
CHAIRMAN: On your land trust is the association members,
are they contributing funds in order to purchase the lots that
come up for sale periodically?
PALMER: Yeah, we're still exploring avenues of funding
for our land trust. We've been in contact with the Kohala
Foundation and been talking to them about their land trust
program; and we're still in a very early stage. A number of
members of our community have indicated that they would be
willing to contribute money, yes, for that purpose.
CHAIRMAN: I see, thank you very much.
MCINTOSH: Mr. Chairman
CHAIRMAN: Commissioner McIntosh.
MCINTOSH: Could I ask Mr. Palmer -. I'm hearing
consistently from some of the individual associations, they want
to be left alone. Assuming that that's a universal thought and
17
that each community wants to develop their own plan, what role do
you see the County taking in an overall land use plan or do you
see us taking any roll at all?
PALMER: No, I think the County has a very definite roll
to play in land use planning. I think that you're doing that
right now by listening to the various subdivisions, and listening
to public testimony, and trying to get a better idea of what the
people in Puna actually want. And it's up to the Planning
Commission and the Council to come up with a County General Plan
I think that reflects the needs and wants of the residents of
Puna.
MCINTOSH: So you don't have an overall, you don't have an
overall solution to the problem then?
PALMER: No, Ma'am. I don't -.
MCINTOSH: I mean you don't have one -?
PALMER: I personally don't have an overall solution to
their problems.
MCINTOSH: No, I just wondered if you had an idea what role
you wanted us to play; and I hear apparently you're saying listen
to everybody and come up with a plan that is not necessarily this
plan.
PALMER: Yes. And maybe help us when we encounter
situations where we_need public help. For example, our community
just recently established a volunteer fire department. And the
County was very helpful in helping us get that set up. So I
think the County definitely has a role to play; and, as I said
before, particularly in a planning aspect and in particularly in
making sure that the wishes of the residents are reflected in
whatever form the new County General Plan will take.
CHAIRMAN: Thank you very much, Mr. Palmer. Dr. Michael
Hyson.
HYSON: Thank you. My name is Michael Hyson. I'm Dr.
Michael Hyson, PhD. I'm research director and founder of the
Sirius Institute. We're interested in dolphin research.
CHAIRMAN: Can you give us your resident address, please.
HYSON: Oh, yes, mailing address is Post Office Box
2108, Pahoa. In my view the County and State of Hawaii has
largely participated recently in government by the developer, for
the developer, and of the developer. However, this nation by its
constitution is a government by, of and for the people. We trust
that recent developments in the County Council is about, whether
18
positive changes toward openness and the start of a government
that actually serves the people. The draft master plan as it
stands proposes full build out using obsolete - technology,
obsolete building techniques and imposes mainland colonial
destructive development and geothermal power, which besides being
the most expensive power generating plant ever made is at this
moment making me, my family and friends sick from toxic gases.
This is an abomination, it must be stopped. It typifies the
current attitudes of the County and State that ignore the health,
safety, welfare and rights of citizens generally. Hawaii and the
planet must change course to use existing and future methods and
technologies that are clean, low impact, sustainable and using
alternate energy methods so that the natural beauty and living
things of the island and the earth may be preserved and honored.
The current plan totally lacks any vision of sustainable
development.
A third draft and true plan must be done. If done properly, this
plan could become a model for what might, or must happen, rather,
if human life and the natural world are to survive. For example,
all mention of actually having communities that are solar or
alternate power has been eliminated despite numerous inputs by
citizens of Puna which shows that in this and many aspects public
input and wishes have been ignored and much of this region is a
lava hazard zone. Again, State /Federal resolutions and simply
common sense to preclude high density developments. The Hawaiian
islands are truly a microcosm of the whole earth. They're all
known bioregions on this island say Antarctic (phonetic)
conditions, as such Hawaii is a model of the earth. The people
of Hawaii are experiencing the consequences of the use of
obsolete technology. Let us remember that the ancient Hawaiians
supported a population on this island equal or, greater than the
present one; yet with a technology before the discovery of iron
with almost zero input, inputs. At this moment, Hawaii has some
14,000 hungry people and we're self- sufficient in only sugar and
pineapples. Virtually everything else in imported. We know we
can and must do better than this for the love of our people and
everywhere. Some 93 percent of all species here are unique.
Remember each species evolves from millions of years and
differentiated to fill the niches on this island. It's obvious
then that we live in the midst of riches. The people of this
region have made every attempt to show and educate the officials
of the County, Helco, the PUC, the Governor, Senators,
Congressmen, Congresswomen, and others about these matters. Yet
the overall response has been, to say the least, minimal. This
island is precious, for it must be preserved. We're losing
valuable medicines by cutting traditional herbal gathering zones,
we're cutting valuable virginal ohia rain forest to make papaya
fields that will most likely be invested by the same aphid that
is the source of the problem already. The virgin lands and
forest are precious and one of a kind. We have only 25 percent
of our forest left and they must be preserved. It is a historic
19
fact that most human cultures have died out as a result of
decertification, a process in which over - cutting, clear - cutting'
of the forest followed by over - grazing, over - farming and ultimate
destruction of the soil lays waste to large areas such as the
dust bowl of the 1930's America. It happened on Easter island,
it can happen here. Yet we know with certainty that today's
extent technology properly employed can yield a high standard of
living while preserving and enhancing the land we're on. It's
also a certainty that this will be change of us all. We know for
certain that sustainable human communities can be created using
known improvement systems. Sustainable cities, communities and
villages can be created. There are many individuals and groups
on this island who share much of this vision and embody the
skills and knowledge required.
It comes to a choice we must all make to love the earth that
supports us all. In the main the State of Hawaii is encouraging
development but this, the flaws of this have been pointed out in
the current Kau landing, how communities get hooked on socialized
growth in which the actions of the government distort the market
to the-extent that no one is happy and everyone loses. I'm sure
that we're all making the best decisions that we can based on
current knowledge, but we have to do better.
Buckminster Fuller and Bennard, the geodesic dome and all around
brilliant mind designed a game called the world game. What I
would like to propose is that the Island of Hawaii and the State
of Hawaii inaugurate a version of the game called "Sim Hawaii
Say" (phonetic). In this model you can code the input, output,
mass energy, flow rate, numbers of people, consumption rate,
etc., etc. to model the economy and ecology of the island and
state of Hawaii. Then you'll have a model of a microcosm of the
earth with all its climate zones minus two. If we can run the
model on the newly installed supercomputer on Maui then all the
people, companies and groups contribute their knowledge and data
to the model and we can incorporate this model as part of the
planing process for the island. Then we can compare various
proposals to come up with models that are best for everyone.
This will quickly show that sustainable friendly methods are the
best and result in the most benefit for all people. Then we can
together create a paradise for everyone here sustainable for long
ages, a blend of the finest traditional Hawaiian methods with the
best technology, a blend of the old to the new to create an
abundant present and future. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN: Thank you very much. Mr. Adrian Barber, please.
BARBER: Thank you. Chairperson and Members of the
Planning Commission, my name is Adrian Barber. I am President of
Puna Malama Pono, a non - profit corporation dedicated to
"Preserving The Good In Puna." I reside in Leilani Estates and I
20
work in Lani Puna Gardens, a few hundred feet from the fenceline
of the abominable Puna Geothermal Venture.
I shall repeat for myself and for the organization that I have
the honor to serve that we shall not support this plan because it
foresees a future geothermal development and industrialization of
Puna. Our reasons for opposing geothermal are well known. But
briefly to recap for anyone who has been on the moon for the last
four years we, the affected community, are convinced that
geothermal development is in violation of the religious beliefs
of many of the First Hawaiians, our hosts, and that the so- called
resource is beyond the capabilities of the existing technology
and economics to contain and is poisoning the communities around
the plant. It is inappropriate to its location and any idea of
furthering this, in our opinion, mad scheme will be vigorously
opposed by us as well as any plan that includes it.
Speaking now for myself, I demand that the word "Community" be
removed from the title of this plan. In my opinion, the
community input, gathered at great expense, at great expense of
tax dollars has been effectively ignored between the first draft
and the draft that we have before us. Not one of the community
members that I have spoken to since the first hearing on this
plan last June 7th has failed to complain that7 this planning no
way reflects their testimony. It is further, my opinion, that
the Mayor, the Planning Director, and the Deputy Planning
Director have taken over this plan towards their own hidden
agenda and that they are trying to use this devious process to
legitimatize with the term community a plan that has no
substantive community base. In closing, I ask you as I asked the
Committee on Finance if you have yet noticed the rising tide of
public dissatisfaction with the process of government? The
article in the paper today about the County lawyer trying to get
the Council exempted from the Sunshine Law certainly does nothing
to assuage this tide of resentment and anger, at least in me. I
wish you a good evening.
CHAIRMAN: Thank you very much. Alona Quartero, please.
QUARTERO: My name is Alona Naomi Quartero. I reside at
RR1, Box 74, Papaikou, Area Code 96781. I am presently
representing my family that we do have land out in Puna; and I
felt like I was being pushed in a corner when I was first given
this book on Monday. My family does not know nothing about this
plan. And to think to open this up and see a plan where they
plan on running a trail through our property really disappoints
me, in fact, that this whole thing can be put together without
even talking to my family about it. So what I came here for was
to ask you for more time so that we can go over this study. I've
got family all over the place that don't know nothing about this.
We've got phone calls going through. And the other thing I ask is
that please hold a meeting in Puna cause I've talked with a lot
21
of people out in Puna that don't know nothing about this plan. .
So that's why I'm here. And I'm really disappointed about a lot
of the development planning in here. Because-what makes people
think that we are economically disadvantaged? If my family
gathered down there for hundreds of years and lived off of the
resources out there, and because we just have a small structure
out there, doesn't mean that we're poor.
PUBLIC: Hear. Yeah, man. Hear, hear (Applause).
QUARTERO: I have families that come from -.
CHAIRMAN: Again, just a moment. Again, I wish to remind
all of you in the audience, we're here to receive testimony, so
the yelling and screaming and the cheering is not going to add to
whoever is providing the testimony. So if you could please
refrain from that so that we can get through all of the
testimony.
QUARTERO: Presently, I do have children that go out there
and fish. I have families that gather there. I also have
grandchildren. I continue and want to continue the culture that
we have been living for many years, to continue to bring my
family out to the areas where there are resources now. And I do
believe that with all the developments that you have in this plan
here will damage all of the resources that we have there right
now. So I ask, again, that you give us more time to get a hold
of our family to study this plan, also, to hold a meeting out in
Puna. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN: Thank you very, very much. Next to testify, Ron
Reilly, I believe it's Tarael Herron- Thorpe, Athena Peanut and
Greg Brosseau. Again, I would just wish to remind people in the
audience that this agenda item is going to be continued to the
next meeting in Hilo which is scheduled for August 23rd. Mr. Ron
Reilly, please.
REILLY: Yeah, my name is Ron Reilly. I'm a resident of
Volcano Village; and I'm representing myself. I'm also a member
of several groups that are supportive of improved transportation
opportunities and access particularly for bicycles and
pedestrians. I'm in general in support of the plan and am
supportive of three specific elements. Firstly, I think.the
principle of planning for build out now rather than waiting for
when it may occur at some point in the future makes a lot of
sense. The choice of not doing things now means we're just
inevitably, you know, up to the whim of individual devel -, you
know, individual property owners who may do individual things at
their own wish. And there was no plan in the beginning, just a
grid of unplanned subdivisions. And I think we have an
opportunity, and I hope we take that to do something
constructive, whatever that may be.
22
The second thing is I am in support of decentralized rural town.
districts that allow for more practical opportunities and options
for people to bicycle and walk to what they need. I lived for a
year in Volcano Village without a car and I didn't appreciate
having to always ride my bike from Hilo to Volcano with 20 pounds
of potatoes, you know, strapped on the carrier. I would have
rather had more services in Volcano Village. And this plan would
designate two future areas for more commercial development; and I
think that's a good thing.
The third and final thing that I would like to really support is
the establishment of dedicated bike and pedestrian trails. And
the plan identifies three of those. One is the Puna Coastal
Trail, the other is Railroad Avenue, and the third is Volcano
Trail. I'm not knowledgeable enough about all. the details of the
property rights associated with these trails. But I would
certainly prefer to see them dedicated for bike, pedestrian and
non - motorized use than to be opened as a motorized highway. The
benefits that I see that, an emphasis on trails might bring would
include the emergency value. Alternative emergency access in the
aftermath of a disaster is real important, you know. We saw on
Kauai Hurricane Iniki brought down 98 percent, I think the figure
was, of the power and telephone pole. They fell across the
roads. And, basically, my friends who live at Kilauea on Kauai
told me that all the roads were closed to motor vehicles for
days. You know, and you could bike around, you could walk
around, but you just couldn't drive around. More recently in
Kobe, Japan, it's my understanding that something like 1,000
bicycles were brought in to assist with the transportation needs
because, again, motor vehicles were useless in that city in the
aftermath of an earthquake - so hurricanes, and earthquakes,
emergency use.
And I'll just conclude by saying I think there's recreational
values for local residents, I think there's possibilities for
income, low impact tourism. I think the transportation value,
the utilitarian value of being able to bike a shorter distance
from Hawaiian Paradise Park into Hilo, and actually be quicker
than driving on a congested highway, would be of immense value to
the people in Puna.
And I think, finally, the health and fitness value, walking and
bicycling are fun, they're physically, psychologically
beneficial; and, in a way, they're the most affordable personal
health insurance you can buy. And I would encourage more
practical, you know, opportunities for that. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN: Thank you very much, Mr. Reilly. Mr. Thorpe.
THORPE: Mr. Chairman, Members of the Commission, my name
is Tarael Herron - Thorpe. My address is P.O. Box 1856, Keaau. 'I
live in Kurtistown in Hawaiian Acres. I've been a resident of
23
Hawaii for over 15 years; and of that time, I've spent over 7
years in Puna.
When the proposed Puna Community Development Plan Second Draft
was brought to my attention by a neighbor, I made it a point to
obtain a copy and study it objectively. I do agree that a
comprehensive plan is necessary to prevent formidable problems
from being created with the inevitable growth and expansion of
the population in Puna. While it appears that there are many
beneficial aspects to this plan it is, .none the less, based
either on erroneous assumptions or overlooking very important
considerations:
1. The topography of the land and river bed problem is one that
is unique to Puna, and this subdivision in particular. It
is obvious to those of us living here that little or not
consideration was given to this when the roads to the
subdivision were first created. They have been problems
since. The amount of rain that we get, at different times
during the year, causes some roads to be impassable and all
roads to be in constant need'of repair. While the road
maintenance budget of the Hawaiian Acres Community
Association is not a concern of the County at this time, it
will become the County's problem if the proposed roads are
made. The flow of the rivers change sometimes from season
to season. When I first moved to 11 Road in 1978 there were
rivers where there are none now. Also there are rivers now
in places where they did not exist even a year ago. The
roads wash out and the rivers change because no
consideration is given to where bulldozing is done mauka of
the flows. This problem will continue unchecked without a
major flow study done by engineers familiar with the unique
problems on the Big Island, and Puna specifically.
2. The lifestyle in'Hawaiian Acres is rural. Those of us who
live here do so because it is rural— peaceful, quiet, low
population density. The proposed plan will destroy that;
since in order to facilitate the plan, many of the three -
acre parcels that exist now will have to be subdivided even
further.
3. Though the proposed plan may in the long run help the
congestion in lower Puna it will also create access that
will make more congestion faster because of further
development in upper Puna. Hawaiian Acres and its rural,
agricultural lifestyle will not benefit from the development
and will suffer most or all of the ills associated with the
further development of the, excuse me, associated with the
further development of other subdivisions.
24
4. The Community of Hawaiian Acres was not consulted. from the
inception of the plan nor given any consideration until
after the plan was drafted.
5. The infrastructure necessary to support the proposed urban
modules either does not exist here or it is grossly
inadequate and there is no inclusion in the plan considering
this. The problems that exist already in Puna will be
exacerbated by the allowance of this plan. Problems such as
lack of police and fire protection-, flood control, insurance
availability and reasonability of'rates, water availability
and utilities. There are just some of the problems that I
am aware of, and I am not a member of the governing or
planning body well versed in other probabilities.
Though the plan may look good on paper to those of you
considering its adoption, it is not feasible for those of us who
live in the area that will directly effect.
I thank the Members of the Commission for your time in allowing
me to voice my concerns.
CHAIRMAN: Thank you very much for your testimony. Athena
Peanut.
PEANUT: My name is Athena Peanut. I live in Kalapana
Seaview Estates in lower Puna. And I'm president of Friends of
the Red Road. I'm speaking for Friends of the Red Road tonight.
We're very much against this plan... The basic consideration that
the plan was written for according to, about the second page of
the plan, is to create a positive vision for build out. And
build out is not a positive vision for lower Puna. Build out is
a nightmare. It's an ecological, geological and cultural
disaster of unimaginable proportions. And this plan is actually
a tool in creating a situation of build out.
The two sentences that precede this in the plan say no action
would result in low density. This plan is geared for high
density and a continuation of the nightmare problems.
I have to say something about geothermal energy again. We cannot
support the plan's attempt to legitimize and support the
geothermal facility that has compromised the health, safety and
welfare of our community. The people of Puna should have been
evacuated twice for a radius of ten miles in June 1 91 and
February 1 93 according to all Federal regulations. The County
could not evacuate us then, cannot now, and will not be able to
in the foreseeable future. This island is too small for
geothermal wells and human habitation. For the County Department
of Planning to continue support of this dangerous and expensive
failure means the County is not concerned with. the health,
welfare and safety of the people of Puna.
OW
The second draft has many, many flaws. The Community Development
Plan is not a community plan. It is appears to be a vaguely
defined business plan with build out as the main objective.
I'm going to cite the following: Why are the examples upon which
the plan extrapolates recommendations based on urban Florida and
California? We are not mainland nor urban. This is a volcanic
island in the middle of the Pacific! It's only correct to
develop our own resources for sustainability instead of
continuing the colonialist practices of•our forefathers by
exploitation of natural resources, exporting wealth and importing
all our needs. Actually, we're continuing the same colonial
prac -, policies that have been going on for over 100 years.
The writers of this plan solicited input from the communities
earlier. We were promised our input would appear in the second
draft. Our concerns were ignored. For example, there's not one
mentioned of solar energy in that plan. The writers of the plan
were given corrected data more than once prior to the publication
of the plan. I'm still picking up at the desk incorrect data.
Significant information is known to the writers regarding
development plans in our immediate area, meaning permitted
subdivisions but unopen permits. This has been withheld from the
plan and this information has been withheld from our communities,
too.
And most importantly,`and this is the scary thing - the plan does
not define terms. For instance: What is an historic road? What
is a pedestrian bikeway? What is a scenic highway? Four lanes?
two lanes? State road? Federal road? The lack of definition
all throughout the plan concerns us. Definitions to be filled n
later? By whom? With or without the consent of the affected
communities?
We do have a vision for our Red Road Community, and the vision is
sustainability, is no infrastructure, is keeping the road as
small and winding and narrow all the way around the coast of
lower Puna as possible. Its main, any time anything is done so
many trees come down. Things get destroyed, they're gone
forever. They don't come back. And it's not right for us to
take it. I understand, I hear a lot, well, if we don't'do it
now, Pele will do it anyway. Well, this is her land and it's her
right and it's not our right to go in and take all this beauty
away.
We're an alternative solar powered community. Instead of
infrastructure, we want dirt, cinders and compost. Instead of
commercial centers, we want an outdoor market with covered stalls
to sell our agricultural products, medicines, arts and crafts.
Since most of our residents are talented artists, musicians, and
healers, our traditional Outdoor Market will attract many
26
s
•
visitors. Our economy will be viable, and our community will
flourish.
The vision of sustainability is also shared by other communities
on the Red Road. We are recommending that a third draft plan
needs to be drawn, respecting the five distinct bioregions and
their individualized needs. This was totally overlooked by the
planners.
A third draft plan needs to be drawn to reflect a positive vision
of sustainability.
A third draft plan needs to be drawn to reflect a positive vision
for a healthy environment for generations to come.
A positive vision of our Red Road solar community we can be a
model for Hawaii and the world. Why does the mainland serve as
the model for us in a coastal zone? We want the plan to be drawn
to reflect our community as a model for the mainland.
And in -view of the approved but unexercised permits for new
subdivisions in lower Puna, we're asking that a temporary
building moratorium and hazard zones one and two be instituted
again until the problems are resolved.
There has been much talk about a massive five -year development
plan already in place designating Puna as an enormous low income
project with relaxed planning, planned, construction planned with
federal funds for tens of thousands of homes with, with
substandard building codes.
And the Board of Directors of Friends of the Red Road
respectfully asks the Commission - What are the five -year
building plans for the Red Road area and the Puna district? The
community really wants to know the answer to this.
It's the decision of the Board that this second draft plan should
be scrapped because of the misrepresentation and secrecy issues.
And we ask the Commission to mandate the creation of draft three
with qualified planners and the community. Mahalo.
CHAIRMAN: Thank you very, very much for your testimony.
Next to testify, Greg Brosseau, Folena Joyce, Leslie Kuuipo
Werner, Edward Clark, Kimo James Kauahi Werner. Mr. Greg
Brosseau..
BROSSEAU: Thank you. My name is Greg Brosseau. I'm a
resident of Kurtistown. I own land in Hawaiian Acres on 9 Road.
I share many of the concerns that people have voiced this evening
against the Puna Plan as it is now.
27
I am for planning, I am for better roads. I an opposed to
Road 9 1/2 proposal that cuts through my property where I'm
currently building my home and through the lives of my family and
our dreams.
I was not contacted about this plan and
recently. And when I did talk with all
been in Hawaiian Acres many years, none
until recently.
I'm not satisfied with this approach.
here tonight to speak because they want
want to have a say on what happens with
and our dreams. Thank you.
learned about it only
my neighbors who have
of them knew about this
[ really feel people are
to be involved and we
our homes and our lives
CHAIRMAN: Thank you very much. Folena Joyce.
FOLENA: My name is Joyce Folena. My address is RR2, Box
4518, Pahoa. I'm a resident and homeowner and landowner in
Kalapana Seaview Estates. Myself, my community, my neighbors and
my representatives are all saying the same thing to you people -
You county employees and you state employees, some of which are
my good friends, some of which I don't know. I will make the
statement in public - that I consider Mr. Yamashiro to be an
ignorant person. Because no one in their right mind would ever,
ever support geothermal on the island of Hawaii. No one in their
right mind could ever condone or support drilling into the rift
of the world's most active volcano, exposing and promulgating a
dangerous life - threatening situation for all the residents in
lower Puna, the seedy recommendations of this plan.
Mr. Wong and Members of this Planning Commission, I, appreciate
very much that you're listening to us. We have a lot of anger.
I, I'm feeling collective anger. I'm feeling the anger within
myself and it's a very, very tearing emotion because I'm feeling
at the same time grateful to the government, the County
government and the State of Hawaii, for doing their best to give
all the people here regardless of what color or race or mix or
religion we are a beautiful place in which to live. I know we're
all doing our best. But, please, Sir, would you educate Mr.
Yamashiro into the dangers of his seedy plan. If he continues
with this, he will be guilty of genocide. If that thing blows
and we can't get out, our blood is on his head.
That man has refused to look me in the eyes since before his
election when I asked him a very pointed question - Are you sure
you really want to support geothermal? I asked him that question
at Robert Keliihoomalu's house. It was a campaign party. It was
a legal party. I looked him in the eyes. I saw a human being
there. When I asked him that question, he veiled his eyes. He
looked away. And he said to me, "Uh, I have to go over there,"
and walked away.
28
V a 1 * 0
Mr. Yamashiro, if you're listening to these transcripts, get a
grip, come down to Puna and breathe the air, spend a couple
nights in Aurora Martinovich's house, spend a- couple nights my
house. I'm 6 1/2 miles downwind. When that thing blows again,
we don't have any way to get out.
We have some very good friends in the Puna Police, we're grateful
for that Police Department. The Police Department is concerned -
How do in the world do we get your folks out if that thing blows
again?
And you people, Yamashiro, you people support more geothermal in
Puna? You people are nuts. I respectfully say you people are
out of your minds. Thank you for the opportunity, Mr. Wong.
CHAIRMAN: Thank you very much for your testimony. Leslie
Werner, please. Leslie Werner is not here. Mr. Edward Clark?
CLARK: Good evening. Edward Clark, address is 17 -466
Ipuaiwaha in Keaau. In reference to Page 2 -18 from the County
General'Plan, the quote is, "The County shall support the
development . . . of geothermal resources . . . ." It says more
things, but it says that.
This statement is not supported in any discussions I have had on
this issue any time in the last five years anywhere in Puna.
This industry which is polluting our ground water, poisoning our
air, and damaging the health of our people, animals and produce
has become an insupportable economic and social debacle.
The references to geothermal in the Puna CDP may be required in
order to comply with some county procedures, and the actual CDP
recommendations do little more than acknowledge the General Plan
wording. But the actual and reiterated sentiment of this
community is to remove any incentive to further geothermal
development, to closely monitor the operations of the present
venture (something this County and the State have so far refused
to do, despite the urging, I should say the "warning" of
geothermal experts), and to exercise the ultimate threat of shut-
down if they, the County or the State, refuse or are unable to
comply with all conditions of the operating permit and pertinent
Federal regulations.
Continuing to support this hazardous enterprise in a geologic
hazard zone is, to say the least, risky business. To locate it
in the midst of a community is frankly stupid.
We don't need it, we don't want it. Please remove reference
supporting it from the Plan!
29
But if you would like to make a generic recommendation favoring.
natural resource development, I can support that. The question
has to be asked why considering all the resources available -
wind and solar in all its forms, demand side energy management,
efficiency, and all that - only geothermal was noted in the
General Plan. Someone benefitted greatly, someone with vested
interest. This is not the County's business to support an
industry as yet unproven at the time that document was written.
Advertising it and propaganda are okay in the newspaper if so
identified, but not in an official County document. That's a
violation of public trust. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN: Thank you for your testimony. Next to testify,
Kimo Werner, Hank Roberts, Tegen Green and Ralph San Miguel.
Please come forward. Mr. Werner.
K. WERNER: I'm Kimo Werner, 1553 P.O. Box, Pahoa. I just
have some concerns about the trail that they're making down to
the Puna side. My family, I own some land down there.
The Hawaiians now have lost a lot of land. Now they just want a
little bit more. When enough is going to be enough? When do the
Hawaiians have their privacy? Thank you.
CHAIRMAN: Thank you very much. Mr. Hank Roberts, please.
ROBERTS: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Well, I sure don't
want to be in your chairs tonight. We've heard it all based on -
CHAIRMAN: Just for the record -.
ROBERTS: Oh, I'm sorry, right. Hank Roberts. I live in
the Kalapana area, RR, P.O. Box 4525, Pahoa. And you've heard
all the, so I'm not going to get into that. But as Jon Olson
said, it's not a good plan. And, you know, he's wearing a lot of
hats. I'm wearing this one tonight to show you that perhaps we
always sacrifice the present for the future. And the future of
this island is in dire need of some intelligent thoughts. I'd
like to read the following:
I am now presently the president of the Kalapana Seaview Estates
Community Association, a predominantly, a predominantly
environmentally active community, as you've heard tonight. We
stand up to all that want to continue the archaic,
environmentally damaging, technical concepts, concepts that have
put this planet's environment where it is today. I, too, was
with Jon Olson at the, I didn't know why everybody on this island
wasn't there. It was about the island we live in and the Volcano
underneath us. Harry Kim, your disaster director, I'd like to
quote him at this time, "When you get further away from the last
KM
1 * 0
one, you are closer to the next one. It is going to happen."
Mark his words, it is going to happen.
The reason we have fought this issue for so long is because of
where we live. Olson said, hey, we must be nuts. You've been
called nuts, everyone here tonight has been called nuts. Maybe
we all are crazy. Show me the way to get out of this world.
But, anyway, we are definitely environmentalists and we believe
in the technology that is about ready to, I hope, take place.
And perhaps that's the reason why on July 3rd at about 4:30 a.m.
our community center was completely destroyed by fire. Perhaps
you saw it in the July 4th newspaper.
But it is our belief that it is time for technical
decentralization. It is now, and we as pioneers and using the
constitution of the United States as a guide, remember that one,
the constitution of the United States, under that constitution we•
are not breaking any laws. We are standing up for democracy and
the rights that every individual has for life, liberty and the
pursuit,of happiness. We are willing to test out the non-
polluting technology of the future and evaluate same -- even at a
loss of some "creature comforts." And we all know what those
are.
We enjoy the idea of when it gets dark to have a little light or
none and watch the starts. Of course, I was out the other night
and I just looked up and I saw swh, swh, swh, swh, swh, swh, six
in a matter of two hours, satellites. They've got it criss-
crossed pretty neatly. So remember the technical world we live
in and watch out or we're going to ruin the simple pleasures of
life. We want it to be known that to continue to revolve around
the same archaic concept that put us where we are today will soon
leave a legacy detrimental to life itself. Remember that one.
And we want politics that produce'policies for the common good
for the planet -- and not the pocketbook -- for in the name of
common sense it is time to humanely and intelligently address the
economic and environment problems that are becoming more apparent
day by day.
So, anyway, you know the problems, you've heard everybody in the
different communities. So as the president I said I would come
tonight and state that the Board of Directors of the Kalapana
Seaview Estates Community Association respectfully, and I mean
that because you guys have a hard job and these are hard times.
So I don't want personalities to pop out. I wouldn't want to be
where you're at, and respect the idea that you're trying. But we
want you to create a draft three with qualified planners and a
lot community involvement. We're living on a rift that we don't
know. We gave, and the gentlemen said it the other day, he says,
"Hank," he says, "You've got a one to three chance every time you
wake up that the Volcano won't go off." But remember, Harry Kim;
31
remember where we live; and remember this hat. Let us not
sacrifice the - present for the future. Thank you, Mr. Chairman
CHAIRMAN: Thank you, Mr. Roberts. Tegen Greene, please.
MCINTOSH: Just one second, Mr. Chairman.
CHAIRMAN: Commissioner McIntosh.
ROBERTS: Could I ask Mr. Roberts a question?
CHAIRMAN: Mr. Roberts?
ROBERTS: Yes.
MCINTOSH: This is the third reference I've heard to much
talk about this massive five -year development plan. What -?
ROBERTS: Did I say anything like that? I understand that
it is, you know, somewhere in the works. I don't know. I am_
not, you know, as involved with the County government at this
time. I just got here in August from the island of Maui which I
was quite active in quite a few of Maui's problems. And when I
came over here and I decided, and I knew the risk, but I looked
at it and I said, hey, this is life, you know. I wake up every
morning and say this might be the last one. So I live. I don't
look at the idea of just sitting back. So five -year plan, I
don't know. I understand that it is a Federal, Section 8 where
the Federal government is allowing a lot of money to get a lot of
low, and very low- income people an opportunity to get off the
streets of Oahu. That's just what I hear. I don't know. I
could check it out for you. I have some contacts in the
Governor's office; but at this point we don't know, but we want
to bring it out. If you know we'd like to hear it or the public
so we want you to understand that we want to be part of this
process.
MCINTOSH: So you don't have any first -hand knowledge.
ROBERTS: No, I don't, not at this time.
MCINTOSH: Okay. I just want to make sure. That's the
third reference, okay, thank you.
ROBERTS:
CHAIRMAN:
ROBERTS:
CHAIRMAN:
All right. Thank you, Ma'am.
Thank you, Mr. Roberts.
You're welcome.
Tegen Greene, please.
32
P__�
•
It
GREENE: My name is Tegen Greene. My address is HCR 1,
Box 5640, Keaau.
I am a resident and a landowner, well, I'm a' resident in
Orchidland Estates, I'm a landowner on 42nd Street in Orchidland
Estates. It is a remote, dead -end street at the top of the
subdivision bordering Hawaiian Acres. Two and a half years ago,
I purchased these three acres because there was no through
traffic, it's very quiet, and there was a forest of large ohias
on the land and some of the surrounding parcels. One forest is
exactly where the road is proposed nearby. I have invested
considerable physical labor and finances in designing a house
specific for the site; and I am committed to maintaining over 70
percent of the property in its natural state. I do not want to
live anywhere else, as I chose this land after considering
numerous possibilities here and elsewhere. Several of my
neighboring lot owners would say the same. I plan to live there
until I die, which could be over 50 years and maybe over 65 years
from now.
A few days ago someone notified me that two large access roads
would intersect one lot away from mine and, in this proposal. At
first I laughed in disbelief, and then I found out that it might
be true. This is a terrible idea.
Many acres will be bulldozed to make these roads, losing forever
those remaining ohia forest lands and paralleling the destruction
of native forests worldwide, the effect of which is well
documented. Why is it necessary to cut roads through lots (that
have already been purchased by people who want to live in a more
remote and rural setting) when there are existing corridors that
can and should be continued to be used as the main arteries (for
instance, Orchidland Drive and 40th Street which have been in the
previous plans)?
People who want to be near such a road have purchased adjacent
lands. And people who want commercial lots have purchased them
along Highway 130. I note on the plan that further development,
this could be incorrect, but further development is to be
discouraged along corridor Highway 130. Again, why the change
too late in the game for those who have planned otherwise?
Highway 130 is an appropriate commercial corridor. Well, as it
stands, I mean, it's only going to have -.
I am defining in support, I am definitely in support of small
rural community centers as long as development proceeds on a
pedestrian scale with extensive local input and well - publicized
public hearings, particularly to the affected landowners.
The new proposed roads do not have, all have to go in straight
lines as they do on these maps. Keep the pace of Hawaii slow
with some curves in the road to slow people down and add beauty.
33
We don't need to become Honolulu or Los Angeles ever. The
ugliest road on this island is Highway 130 from Keaau to Pahoa.'
I don't want to duplicate, a duplicate road sneaking into my
front yard. Lines on a map are so easy to draw without knowing
about the lives and dreams impacted by the stroke of the pen.
Please redraw these lines as if it was your back yard.
CHAIRMAN: Thank you very much for your testimony. Next,
San Miguel.
SAN MIGUEL: My name is Ralph San Miguel. I'm a resident of
Hawaiian Acres.
CHAIRMAN: Can you speak into the microphone? This is
being recorded.
SAN MIGUEL: Sure, okay. Ralph San Miguel. I'm a resident
of Hawaiian Acres. I'm a Council Member on the Hawaiian Acres
Community Association. I have a statement from our last meeting
on Monday, July 10th.
Hawaiian Acres Community Association will not support any plan at
this time - particularly the second draft of this PCDP - without
further discussion within our community.
Further, we suggest that a third draft of the PCDP be submitted
after all the affected subdivisions have had a'reasonable period
of time to submit their individual community plans.
This is, been signed by all of us on the Council. We'd like to
see the third plan implemented and discussion and a longer
reasonable period of time to discuss something that seems to be
noted that everyone here needs to talk about. That's it.
Thanks.
CHAIRMAN: Thank you very much. Mr. -, Next to testify,
Gregory Smith, Jennifer Waipa, I believe it's L'Hote -, Yoshito
L'Hote, Philip Kealoha. Gregory Smith is the first to testify.
SMITH: Yes. Good evening, my name is Gregory Smith. I
reside in Leilani Estates, near Pahoa. My Post Office Box
is 2005, Pahoa. And I'm here on my own, representing myself as a
community member.
I find much of my concerns, whether it be geothermal or, you
know, trying to develop lower Puna -, excuse me, trying to
develop lower Puna as urban Amer -, you know, urban United
States, has already been said. The main thing that I find very
frightening in this process is the ' tact that the input of the
public has been callously disregarded by Mr. Yamashiro's -,
excuse me, Mr. Yamashiro's administration, and I find it
34
0 0
repugnant. I, also, find, also, that my property is being
impacted by geothermal; and why this County continues, as well as
the State, continues to support this is beyond my belief. I
would have liked to develop my property further, other than just
a nominal living space, but I have been gassed many, many times,
sickened many times. My health has been impacted.
Now, if -, you know, we do not need geothermal; we need more
efficiency, especially in the way people use energy on this
Island. In case people don't understand, we're on a rock in the
middle of the Pacific Ocean. I have never seen -, I was a seaman
and a fisherman most of my working life, and I. had to deal with
very little. To look at people coming here, saying, oh, well, I
need this or I need washing machine, or I need this, I need all
these things, you don't need nothing. The -, most people on the,
I call them land people, I just recently retired from that trade,
and I look at people and I go, "You guys are pigs, truly. You
over - consume, you have no conception of, you know, what you are
doing to the earth around you." One of the reasons I got out of
the business is because we are over - fishing Hawaiian waters. One
of the reasons I left my home in San Diego, my birth home in San
Diego, is because I could not pursue my trade any longer; we had
over - fished Southern California. We over - fished South America,
Central America. You know, we over - fished consumption. Oh, you
know, what were we doing? What are we doing now? We're trying
to sit there and rape and pillage an Island with very limited
resources because, oh, a few developers want to make money.
Yamazero, Yamashiro, excuse me, wants to go business as usual.
It is, it's abhorrent to me that we have to deal with land use
that is programmed somewhere from the mainland or Japan or
anything else, so a few people could profit. And not only that,
why is the County money, our taxpayers' money, being used to
subsidize the developers' industry?
This is what this plan is about.
It doesn't even resemble a bloody
public has already put in, and evi
that did the original draft. And
We didn't know about these public
us to come to them?
It does not resemble anything.
thing about the input that the
an the good work of the planners
it also has been suppressed.
meetings. Who, who was telling
So, in conclusion, I would respectfully ask this Council that we
would give at least a 90 -day input from the public again and do a
third draft that reflects us, not Yamashiro's administration, not
the County or State government, but we, the people, who live in
the communities. Certainly not a bunch of off - island landholders
who want to make short -term profit at our community expense. If
you want to develop mainland style, then, by God, let the
developer pay for it, not us. Thank you so much.
CHAIRMAN: Thank you, Mr. Smith. Jennifer Waipa, please.
35
WAIPA: I am Jennifer Waipa, and I'm a resident of Koaie
Ahupuaa. Being a Native Hawaiian and also being that my family'
is from Puna, I have to state that I an against this plan as I
believe it has been made primarily for the interests of land
speculators and investors. Many people have gone ahead of me and
have stated many excellent reasons for, in opposition to this, so
I won't go into, into all of that. I would like to support that
meetings, additional meetings be held in Puna to explain further
ideas expressing this plan, because it lacks greatly in clarify
and in detail. And thank you for, also., extending the dates; I
thought today was it. But I would like to ask that a third draft
be developed considering that, considering the changes and -, oh,
considering the fact that the large community supports
sustainability and, also, considering the different associations
and their voice. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN: Thank you very much for your testimony.
Yoshito.
L'HOTE: Hello, my name is Yoshito L'Hote, and I wish to
express:my disagreement with this'second draft for the community
in Puna. It does not reflect the concerns of the inhabitants but
rather try to provide for some future people that might come over
here. I'm a farmer, and I see that in diversified agriculture
and agri- forestry, there's a future in Puna which will not bring
high density areas; and, therefore, in case of, when the volcano
will blow again, it will not impact as many people and destroy as
many homes and stores and such. I feel that farming will bring a
stable economy; and if we take care of our fishing and farming
ground, we'll be very successful in the future as far as
businesses, because everybody needs to eat. And in 20 years, if
we have no more fish and no more land to farm, food will become
really valuable. And if we start now, today, we might get ahead
of the game and be -, dedicate the Big Island, the whole Hamakua
Coast and Puna and down to Kau for agriculture and leave the
tourists on the Kona side. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN: Thank you very much. Philip Kealoha, please.
KEALOHA: Aloha, Mr. Chairman and all your Staff. My name
is Philip Makuakane Lealeokalani Kealoha from Opihikao.
I born in Hilo, raised in Opihikao. Opihikao is right below
geothermal; it's a hill, and geothermal is above of us. The
wind, when the wind come from the north, and usually it blows
from the north, it sticks right in our area for days, maybe
months. So I think they should put one monitor station down
there, which I asked when Mrs. Inouye was Mayor, and we still
never received nothing down there.
Talking about roads and all this bull shit, Opihikao been there
for over 150 years. Opihikao is one of the oldest village in the
36
C a 1 * 0
State of Hawaii. My road is a pile of junk. When I was -, I was
born in 1 60; our road was dirt, mostly dirt, partly paved. Now -
it's paved all the way, but we get holes on the side. Now, we
make complaints to the County Building, Mayor's Office; I make
complaints to the Puna Base Yard. I get some response, but a lot
of grumbling, you know. And you guys like more roads that you
guys no can even handle our roads, what we have right now, what
the County have right now at this moment. You no can even take
care of the roads, and you guys like some more roads. You know,
that's all bull crap, this, you know.
This is all from my heart, to tell you guys the truth. I no more
nothing dal kine statement or whatever, this is from my heart. I
live here all my life, you know. Especially in Opihikao, that's
my hometown. I no like no telephone, no electric, nothing down
there. I surviving how I survive right now; it's survival. I
live off the land. I pick coconuts, I pick avocado, I pick kukui.
nut, I pick everything that's out there where my ancestors went
plant the thing for me for go there and go get them, so I can go
get money, so I can pay you guys my taxes and whatever, you know.
I travel the whole Puna, lower Puna, from Kapoho, Hawaiian
Beaches, Kalapana, that's all where I go for my gathering rights,
where I pick everything what I need. I need guava stick for
lomilomi stick, that's where I get them all, it's all in Puna.
And I think if you guys going to bring this tourism, bull shit.
It's all bull shit, because you're going cut my line, my life
style. My life style is the land, and that's whole Puna.
I'm part of the Puna Hawaiian Organization that we just got going
last year. Now I'm the President of the Puna Hawaiian
Organization. As the President of the Hawaiian Organization, now
we're reorganizing the Puna Hui Ohana, and that was the most
powerful, powerful organization in that district. I would like
this Council to hold on for a one -year period so us Hawaiians can
come back on the table and do what we should be doing long time
ago. But our parents had stopped this club; it wasn't in
existence for seven years. Now it's coming out again. So I
would like a one -year period so us Hawaiians in Puna, lower Puna,
can go and research and study what you guys is shoving down into
our throats, you know. The Hawaiians should have more speaking
than any other nationality in this room, and I'm one of them, and
I will speak out for any Hawaiian out here in my district.
Mahalo nui.
CHAIRMAN: Thank you, Mr. Kealoha. Ana Kon, next to
testify.' Alice Suncloud, Timothy Kern, Sherrie Rubeyiat, I
believe it is. Ana Kon.
KON: Aloha, Chairman and County Council, I'm here
to -, I don't support this Puna Community Second Draft for so
many reasons.
37
CHAIRMAN: Ana, just for the record, could you give us your
resident address.
KON: Oh, my residence is Keahialaka, Puna.
For many reasons, I don't support this plan, and
reason is because it's endangering my life style
style of'my family that has been gone for the lo:
the environment, like Kealoha said, that what we
areas that we live about are supporting our life
practice and our religion.
for one major
and the life
agest time. Even
live and the
style and our
And so I'm here to ask for more time, because I just recently
found out about this Puna plan, and I'd like to be -, if Puna's
going to have a plan, and some community plan, I'm the community,
I wasn't informed, and I want to be a part of this process in
planning what is best for me, my family to come and the ohana and.*
the people of the area. Mahalo.
CHAIRMAN: Thank you very much for your testimony. Alice
Suncloua.
SUNCLOUD: My name is Alice Suncloud, and I live in
Hawaiian Acres Subdivision, and I guess I'll go ahead with my
testimony. Yeah.
First of all, I don't support this Puna Community Development
Plan. It's not because I'm in denial. So I ask those who would,
who would classify all of us who are opposed to the plan as being
in denial to please have an open mind and listen to what we have
to say, because we do have our reasons.
First, a letter should immediately be sent to all residents
within 50 feet of all proposed zoning changes, since these
hearings represent for them their first opportunity to establish
a record of protest to the proposed zoning changes. A letter
should immediately be sent to all residents whose land would be
condemned due to the construction of the proposed new highways,
since these hearings represent for them their first opportunity
to establish a record of protest to the proposed new highways.
An unfair burden has been placed on the community to try to
notify people who could be very severely affected by this plan.
Please remedy your notification procedure before the next hearing
if you truly do want community consensus for this plan.
Regarding geothermal development, I strongly object to any plan
recommending geothermal development in Puna.
Regarding Waikahekahe, I assume reference to a proposed new
shopping center at Waikahekahe, and I apologize if I'm not saying
that right, in the second draft refers to the Ainaloa golf course
38
$ 11 0 0
t
area and the adjacent lots, is that correct?
that for me here?
GOODELL:
Yes.
PUBLIC:
That is correct.
SUNCLOUD:
It does. Bonnie Goodell -.
CHAIRMAN:
Okay.
SUNCLOUD:
Clarified that.
CHAIRMAN:
Thank you.
�.J
Can anybody clarify
SUNCLOUD: She says yes. Can the Commission approve a plan
containing a proposal for a shopping center in the same area
where the Commission has already granted permits for a golf
course? That's a question.
CHAIRMAN: I believe it's possible.
SUNCLOUD: Okay. Yes, then? Yes, okay. I strongly object
to the proposed shopping center at Waikahekahe since that
particular area is rain forest and home to the I'o, which is an
endangered species. The most recent fish and wildlife survey
conducted last year showed a significant decline in I'o
population. Any development at Waikahekahe using Federal funding
for public facilities could require an Environmental Assessment
and an Environmental Impact Statement.
Regarding the so- called Rural Town Districts, so- called, so-
called, so- called Rural Town Districts would redesignate to
Urban, not Rural. Please change the name to Urban Town
Districts, because it should be named for what it is and not for
what's around it. Can we do that? Can we change that to -?
CHAIRMAN: Well, the purpose of tonight's meeting is to,
for us to receive public testimony. Sometimes you're asking
these questions that, you know, may or may not! be possible.
Certainly, the testimony that you're providing tonight, your
testimony is being recorded, the consultants are here, Planning
Staff, they're here, so it will be all part of the, hopefully,
the public input and, hopefully, a new draft.
SUNCLOUD: Okay.
CHAIRMAN: So, if you can, after your testimony, you heard
your buzzer for your three minutes, if you can, if you can submit
your testimony in written form, certainly that, you know, should
serve you well.
39
SUNCLOUD:
the Zoning Code
because, number
so- called Rural
any application
requiring over
the procedure.
of the survey r
stopped.
Okay. Let's see. I an opposed to a change in .
to allow for so- called Rural Town Districts
one, the recommending balloting procedure for the
Town District is extremely stacked in favor of
because of the wording in the recommended rule of
50 percent protests of all the landowners to stop
The requirements should be that if the majority
esponse protests the RTD, the procedure is
Two, the, once the so- called Rural Town District is established
through a zoning change, there'is no provision for community
control over who buys into the so- called Rural Town District.
Three, there is no clear procedure for altering the Rural Town
District plan once it is implemented. With so many changes
constantly taking place in our society today, any rational plan
should allow for flexibility.
Four, there is no clear provision for protection of greenbelt
areas.
Five, the process is financially prohibitive to most residents
and many associations, giving an unfair edge to so- called Rural
Town Districts formulated by developers and leaving communities
vulnerable to developer takeover.
On Page 60 -, oh, let's see, please remove the so- called Rural
Town District recommendation from the plan. There wasn't
anything like that in the first draft, which was supposed to be
the community's draft. This was -, the Rural Town Districts were
introduced behind closed doors; nobody in the community had input
on that.
Greenbelt areas, if a community designates a greenbelt area on an
approved community master plan, will the Planning Department
and /or Planning Commission protect that designation by turning
down all applications for zoning changes within the community
designated greenbelt area? Do you know?
CHAIRMAN: Proceed with your testimony, okay, and -.
SUNCLOUD: Okay.
CHAIRMAN:. We'll try to have some -, you'll
opportunity to, perhaps, talk to staff after the
can submit that and we'll try to have someone =.
SUNCLOUD: Okay.
CHAIRMAN: Answer those questions.
40
have the
meeting, or you
r � •
SUNCLOUD: Okay.
CHAIRMAN: Okay?
SUNCLOUD: Okay, thank you.
CHAIRMAN: So if you could -.
SUNCLOUD: Also
CHAIRMAN: Quickly summarize.
SUNCLOUD: Okay.
CHAIRMAN: Just to be fair to the others.
SUNCLOUD: Also, is it possible for a community master plan
that designates the entire community as a greenbelt area to be
approved by the Planning Commission?
Regarding the new, proposed new highways, I'm opposed to all of
the proposed new highways. And I'm not going to point my finger
at anybody else's place to tell them where it should be, but my,
or, where -, because I don't think any of them should happen, but
my family owns four lots on 10 Road and one lot on 9 Road. The
proposed 11 9 1/2 Road" highway runs right through our farm. I am,
therefore, vehemently opposed to the 11 9 1/2 Road" highway. Is it
true that the only land used for the high -, that only the land
used for the highway will be condemned and not each entire lot?
We were told our taxes would go up to $2,000 per lot. That's
over 10 times what we're paying now. What if we can't sell our
lot and we can't pay our taxes? I am also opposed to 11 9 1/2
Road" highway because one, the location of the highway doesn't
make sense. Two, it was not on the first draft, therefore, the
opportunity of 11 9 1/2 Road" people to comment before the first
hearing was, was that there wasn't any opportunity. Three, all
this land is designated agriculture, and both the first and
second drafts called for protection of agriculture lands. Four,
the highway would take down native forests in Hawaiian Acres and
in the Waiakea Forest Reserve. Is that true, Bonnie, it would
take down forests in the Waiakea Forest Reserve?
PUBLIC: Can't get you an answer.
SUNCLOUD:. Yes. She says yes.
CHAIRMAN: Okay.
GOODELL: I'm not sure.
SUNCLOUD: Oh, she doesn't know -.
41
CHAIRMAN: Okay -.
SUNCLOUD: If it goes through the Waiakea Forest Reserve.
CHAIRMAN: Let me -, please, just provide testimony, and
we'll try to get your answers.
SUNCLOUD: Okay. That would, also, probably require a
State and Federal Environmental Assessment and Environmental
Impact Statement. A 11 9 1/2 Road" highway would ruin the hopes
and dreams of all these people who live there and may be
financially devastating to many.
Conclusion, the philosophy behind all this seems to be that the
community has to plan. My husband and I did plan, and our plans
mean nothing. This is a nightmare for us, and-we wake up to this
nightmare every single day. On top of that, we feel we're being
forced to participate in this urban development facilitation
process instead of working on our farm, just to try to avoid
being ruined; and, so far, what we see is that the community's
plan is dust being altered anyway. This all just seems like a
process that a few very selfish people are forcing and conning
the County and the community into in order to pass this off as a
Puna Community Plan so that Federal funds will be available for
promoting enormous profits for developers down the line. If
that's not so, why were so many major changes to the community's
plan made behind closed doors? Thanks for listening.
CHAIRMAN: Thank you very much, and please submit that to
the Department, if you could. Next to testify, Timothy Kern:
KERN: My name is Timothy Kern. My address is P.O.
Box 1026, Pahoa. I'm representing Royal Gardens Community
Association and, also, I did not write on my form, but I
represent KOA, that's Kalapana Ohana Association.
I'd like a show of hands of how many of you live in Puna. Pretty
good, huh. I'll start with my life experience, in Hawaii. I
started on Oahu. I've been here for 35 years. When I moved to
Oahu, there were eight hotels. They have plans, also. Go over
there and check it out; it's a mess.
I also am a representative of that pro - development move to the
Big Island consciousness. I saw my land in Royal Gardens when I
was 13 years of age on a program by a developer, who is owned by
a man who used to be our governor. So it does exist and, until
today, worldwide. Move into Puna, it's your answer. Come to
Hawaii, it's great. What a dupe!
Okay, I'll start with stop the tax dollars leaving the community
and return it to the communities, and this is how we do it.
Communities, or shall I say the County, set up a help, self -help
42
b 0 0
11
program that helps people become 501(c)3;
profit organization that can glean money
by Federal, or should I say, from Federal
then be used to develop these communities
guidelines. This will greatly help these
frustrated in this audience tonight.
this'is a true non- .
that is now being taken
and-State, which can
along their own
people who are
The second thing I have to say is, or I should say third, is do
all development with vision - friendly. Remember, we want these
tourists, you so- called say, who want to come to Hawaii and spend
money to be able to see Hawaii as we know it, not as L.A.
Add Kalapana Painted Church to the Historical Site list. What
happened folks? I mean, it's the only thing left. Doesn't it
qualify? KOA is responsible and the owner of this church.
Change the State land, which I'll try to pronunciate (sic) this
property, I should by now, the Kahau Lea, I'll spell it,
K- a -h -a -u L -e -a, to be hazardous zone and not be open hazardous
zone. This land surrounds Royal Gardens. We all know this was
where geothermal was originally proposed and should have still
stayed, that way nature and God would have taken care of this
problem. Instead, you ran.
Six, stop the pro - development. Oh, excuse me, I touched this one
early.
Seven, Royal Gardens is a real example of what will happen to all
development in Puna. All land from Kau to Kapoho will be covered
within 200 years. Check it out. I've been to a lot of meetings
with almost every geologist; they've all said this. What's going
on in our minds? That's why they call you pigs; I mean, you
know, I apologize, this is language that you do not deserve.
But, let's be real.
Eight, stop outside investors as the answer to our economy
problems. The way to do this is to become an exporting
community. This will solve our economic crisis. That means you
have to support local small business, and you can't put
agriculture with chemicals in the middle of a community. There
has to be clear zoning as to where agriculture goes. That means
all these lots that are zoned Ag -1, where you have people moving
in, it doesn't work because it means that your children move in,
and then the guy brings in his pesticide, herbicide, and
fungicide.. We all know you need it, and flowers are one of the
biggest profit- makers in the Puna area. So let's get clear,
determine at where it goes and where people go, that way we'll
quit running into each other. I mean, you want intelligence,
let's be intelligent. I've seen so many times at public hearings
people hear what's simple - minded people have to say, and they
look at them with disgust. Listen, it doesn't take a lot of
intelligence to know that if you want to be accepted by most
43
State and Federal agencies, you have to be sheep that are being.
led along. We're not blind and we're not sheep, we're humans. '
Nine, also, accept Buckminster Fuller's plan. This is a great
plan, and I was lucky enough to spend a day with Buckminster
Fuller on Molokai before he passed this earth. He did have a
good plan. It takes deforestated land and moves it into
forestated land.
Leave this area to the Hawaiian Nation.. The reason is that most
of this land was taken for tax foreclosures or when the overthrow
of the Hawaiian Nation occurred. And this means that they are
really the ones who can help you understand how to work with the
aina. Aloha aina. Look up the definition, use it.
Hold the next meeting in Pahoa; that means the August 23rd
meeting. And you've got to remember that not everybody reads the.'
newspaper or listens to the radio or sees a TV, especially down
where we're at. We don't have it; it doesn't reach us. And if
you don't subscribe, you don't get it. That's why people aren't
hearing'about it. You got to put it out by word of mouth, that
means get out to the community associations, tell them. That's
how I got mine; very good of you.
But, remember, Royal Gardens is a disaster. If you're as lucky
as we are to survive the next volcanic action, and believe me,
people called us nuts, dupes, stupid, well, all of Ralapana and
all those subdivisions that are in it, except for small
fragments, are gone today and we still survive. It took us
having to replace our own road to comply to the laws that this
State made about land - locking. It cost us money to get back to
our own subdivision. It shouldn't have happened. Now we can't
even use our land. This,is not good planning. It didn't work.
It was great for building Hilo to zone all these subdivisions,
but you didn't ever expect us to come. We did, and we are going
to keep coming; you got to do something about it now. You heard
everybody tell you stop developing. You can't tell people what
to do on their private land when they buy it; we all know this.
It's an illogical assumption to say stop development. But if we
could get together and you really take what we say here and put
it into this -, I can't believe any of us said this, this is
great work. I commend you all, it's great work; but it's not
going to work in the long run. You have to revamp this thing
more than once, whatever.
CHAIRMAN: Thank you very much. Sherrie.
RUBEYIAT: It's Jherrie -.
CHAIRMAN: Jherrie -.
RUBEYIAT: Rubeyiat.
44
& 10
3
CHAIRMAN: I'm sorry.
RUBEYIAT: I live in Paradise Park, on Makuu, between 10th
and 11th Street.
And I want to thank you for your time and your efforts. I think
making a plan is the first step that we do need in our community.
Things just start growing and they go in many directions; and as
you heard, many people are not happy with some of the things, but
they need an opportunity to give you input. I think selling the
book was not a proper idea. A lot of people don't have $10.00 to
buy your plan book, and I think a lot of them ought to be in the
community free of charge. I think that everybody has to eat, so
all the supermarkets ought to have a copy of t)iis plan or, at
least, a big banner stating when the next meeting is. And not
all of them can get here, so you really should listen to the idea
of putting your meetings in different locations.
I do ask that you give a little bit more time. I think the plan
needs to be a little bit more inputted from all the people. I
think that you're on the right track; I think you just need a
little refinement here.
And I think that I have to say about the geothermal that that
just can't be. That's just not sound, it's not sensible. It is
threatening too many people. We need to not try and be like the
mainland, because we're not anything close to the mainland; and
we have so many wonderful diverse personalities to draw from.
And I know that you are here tonight listening. I was a little
disappointed that more of the people on the Commission weren't
here; I think that's a slap in our face.
CHAIRMAN: It's not -, all of this is being taped, and we
get it in the form of a very detailed transcript, so there is,
certainly, the opportunity for all of us to -. Some have other
obligations. These Commissioners are serving without any
compensation, just trying to do good community work. So there is
the opportunity for us to go ahead and read every word that is
being said here at -.
RUBEYIAT: Okay.
CHAIRMAN: These meetings, okay.
RUBEYIAT:. I appreciate that. And I think that the input
from some of the different community associations really need to
be taken seriously, as well. Some of them were not reflected in
the General Plan. And I think that you need to be commended
because you are doing a very difficult task, and it's a task that
needed to be done. The longer we wait, the worse it gets and
more people have problems, because, certainly, it's always going
45
to affect somebody. So let me say thank you and not take any
more time.
CHAIRMAN: Thank you very much for your testimony. Next to
testify, Clive Cheetham, Dawn Hurwitz, Emily Naeole, Gabriel
Kealoha, Sr. Mr. Cheetham.
CHEETHAM: Aloha, everyone. My name is Clive Cheetham. My
address is Post Office Box 1513, Pahoa. And I'm representing the
Koaie Community Association, which is in between Kapoho and
Wa'a Wa'a.
Let's see. I've lived here for 15 years. I earn my living
designing and constructing buildings, furniture and doing some
salvage logging of local trees. We've submitted written
testimony, so I don't think I'll repeat that; there doesn't seem
to be much point. I feel rather disappointed tonight that the
enforcement of the three- minute -, it seems to have been
mentioned but never mentioned again, so I'll say that. I would
like to point out that in my experience, Robert's Rules of Order
allows people to say, "Hear, hear" in public meetings; it's not
considered to be inappropriate or rude.
I was a delegate for the Koaie Community Association to the Puna
Community Council for three and a half years. During that time,
I became the Chairperson of the Geothermal Community -, sorry,
the Geothermal Committee, and I was that chairperson for one and
a half years. During these years, I attended many, many
meetings, composed of representatives of the County, the State,
community and business. Because of the timing of my involvement
with PCC, a lot of it was about geothermal and, especially after
I became the chairperson of the committee addressing geothermal.
I represented the Puna Community Council at all the mediation
sessions of the scientific observation halls and Ormat. And at
the beginning of my involvement, I definitely allowed myself to
be drawn into the details, the discussion of details. But after
a while, I realized that discussing details was really a waste of
time, given the lack of respect and communication amongst the
participants. With all due respect to the Commissioners present,
I feel that the present method of -, let's see if I can -, with
all due respect to the Commissioners present, I feel that the
present method of authorizing planning decisions is inadequate,
at best, and covertly pro -big business, at worst. Until there
are radical changes in the relationships between government,
business and citizens that more reflect the content of the United
States Constitution, I do not see much point in discussing
details. Aloha.
CHAIRMAN: Thank you very much. Dawn Hurwitz.
46
s •
HURWITZ: Good evening, Ladies and Gentlemen. My name is.
Dawn Hurwitz. I reside in Hawaiian Beaches. My address is Post
Office Box 536, Pahoa.
I am a business owner in Pahoa Town, I own a little
bookstore /cafe, and I an also treasurer for the Main Street Pahoa
Organization; and I'm here to represent us. More of us did want
to be here this evening, but it is our Board meeting night
tonight, too, so I'm sorry that I'm the only one. Everyone did
want to come and express their feelings for this plan. And being
that we have just finished putting together a strategic plan for
Pahoa Town, we understand, on a very minimal level, what you guys
are trying to do. And one of the things that we're really kind
of curious about is why that, what we had put together at great
expense of energy and money, why that wasn't taken into
consideration in this plan. And we hope that because,
apparently, it was lost in the shuffle somewhere, we hope that
you guys will take that into serious consideration.
One of the things that we did for the planning part of it was
meet with different community groups from all different walks of
life within the Pahoa area; and the reflection of what they
wanted for the community is in the strategic plan. I do hope
that you all have copies; and if you don't, please let us know
and we will be happy to provide you with more. We see Pahoa as,
and the community sees Pahoa, as a source town center for the
Southern Puna area. It has been a source town for many, many
years; and because of the recessions and the expanding and
contracting of the community, it has been on a roller coaster of
economic despair, at this point. What we would really like to
see is for people to be able to have more of their own small
businesses instead of just selling second -hand goods, being able
to sell the things that they manufacture, the things that they
grow, the things that are important to people's lives as they
exist here in Puna. And one of the things that leads to is that
we want to keep the money that we have from us in Puna in Puna
because we've seen so many of our tax dollars go towards Hilo.
And, granted, there are a lot of things that need to be done all
over the place, but we do feel like we could get a little bit
better return on what we're putting in. One of the ways that we
can feel like we're getting a little bit more back is that, you
know, if people can come to Pahoa and be able to do their
shopping and get their basic needs; instead of having to go all
the way to Puna, to Hilo, they will be able to get that done.
And one of the ,last things that I would like to say is that there
is no one in Main Street Pahoa who supports the geothermal
project. We have found -, we are, you know, pro- business, but we
want business to be good for the community so that it can reflect
on generations to come, so that the generations to come will have
as good a quality of life as we have today. Thank you very much.
47
CHAIRMAN: Thank you very much. Emily Naeole.
NAEOLE: Aloha, my name is Emily Iwalani Naeole. I
reside in Makuu Hawaiian Homestead, and my P. O. Box is Box 982,
Pahoa.
I feel like, you know, this has "been a real busy day for me and
I've been up since six this morning, and I've been doing things
all day long, and I'm really tired, but I feel this is really
important that I come and speak. My ohana has been in the Puna
District for I don't know how much generations going back; and I
feel that being a Native Hawaiian, we need to be involved in
what's happening in our community. The thing,'the voices is not
of our people, and this is one of my biggest concerns. And
that's why we just had a meeting at Pahoa Cafeteria last night
with Queen Liliuokalani Trust and a lot of our Hawaiian community
came out to this meeting last night, and we reactivated our
Hawaiian clubs. The thing is, we need to share our manao on how
we feel and how we want our community to be put out. See, a lot
of things is happening. See, it's just like we're closing our
eyes. •I told them last night that our Hawaiian community has
been closing our eyes for a long time. We need to get up and say
something about it. And I feel like this is the time right here,
we got to start.
And I oppose the Plan. I feel like I don't want, already I drive
to college for the last two years, and I see the congestion. I
have to deal with this congestion every morning to go to Hilo to
college. And if we cannot handle that morning rush, why are we
thinking of we're going to handle more people? I don't think so.
You know, it have taught me a lot of patience to go out, to drive
to Hilo every morning for this last two years. But I feel like I
need to get education, more.manao, so I can do something better
for my community and my people, and that's why I'm handling it,
yeah. And so, you know, I aloha a lot of people, but then, right
now, I feel scared. I feel scared because I feel like my town is
going to be threatened by more -. See, more people come, more of
everything else. And I -, within this last ten years, at least
five years, I've gone to Pahoa Town, I've seen a lot of drug
problems. Come people, come problems. And this is the true
manao from my heart. I'm sharing this because I cry sometimes
when I look around because there's people, and we're doing needle
exchanges and all this kind of crap, but -, excuse me, my
language; but I just feel like we need to take care of what's
happening now before we create more problems. Mahalo.
CHAIRMAN: Thank you very much. Mr. Kealoha.
KEALOHA: Chairman and Commissioners, good evening. My
name is Gabriel Kealoha. I reside at Ainaloa Subdivision,
Tangerine Drive. I've been in Tangerine Drive for almost four
years; I rent a home there. I'm also President of Ka Lahui
48
f
t
4
Hawaii, Puna District, and it is my responsible to come here and
response my comments to you.
My comment is we oppose development. We oppose golf course
development because -. Why do I oppose development? Because
most of the subdivisions are in violation because the County let
it go, and there is no County standard road, no County water
line; so, in other words, the County is responsible for their
neglect to control the subdivisions.
And, also, there is more violence in every subdivision, people
breaking -, someone breaking in people's homes and took things
away and they lost a couple thousand dollars. I know I lost, it
was $700, $700 from my rented home at Nanawale in 1991, and I
report that to the police. My loss is still the same today.
And why develop another plan for Puna? You folks don't have any
development plans, not ever. You folks don't have anything at
all.
And the.County and State are also in violation of the Declaration
of the U. N. Human Rights, and you folks are in violation, mostly
the Hawaiian people. And they have their rights because they
inherit, of their sovereignty. It was taken away from them in
1959. The United States government was in violation of
international law. And, also, Public Law 103150 signed by
President Clinton and the Senate and Congress of the United
States government; so they admit they did overthrow the Monarchy.
I'm not trying to say we have to go back to the Monarchy, no, I'm
not trying to say that. But we do know that United States, the
State and the County are wrong; and we do know if we strive for
our sovereignty, then we have to go back to where Liliuckalani
left off, and we start coming up. As you plant a tree, that we
grow up. That's the most, the only rights we can do. And
because of that plebiscite created by Governor Waihee as the
County, State, County's Advisory Council, Commission, and also,
now that SEC, HSAC, the plebiscite is slated for this year.
Because we do oppose that plebiscite, and we don't agree with
what the SEC is doing because it is a public, State funding
because of Act 200. And most of the SEC says that they are not,
but I told them no, you are, because you follow the Act 200,
that's it.
And, also, we have so many children in Pahoa area need help, need
help from.the County, I guess, State and the Board of Health.
And that''s the reason we create Puna Hawaiian Organization a year
back ago to activate ways to provide some kind of fund, source,
education for the Hawaiian peop -, Hawaiian children. And last
night we activate the Puna Hui, and this is, Puna Hui is a non-
profit organization, 501(c)3. And Peter Hauanio is the Chairman,
right now, and he will take over for one year; then, after, we
have to find another chairman. So, I thank you for this
49
opportunity to speak to the Chairman and the Commission, and I
thank you very much.
CHAIRMAN: Thank you, Mr. Kealoha, for your testimony.
We're going to take a short restroom break here and reconvene at
9:00.
RECESSED The Chairman called a short recess at
8:55 P.M.
RECONVENED The meeting reconvened at 9:04 p.m.
CHAIRMAN: Will the meeting of the Hawaii County Planning
Commission please come back to order. Next to testify, Glenn
Makuna, Paulo Burns, Abel Lui and Raymond Dedman. Please come
forward, Glenn Makuna, Paulo Burns, Abel Lui and Raymond Dedman.
Mr. Glenn Makuna.
MAKUNA: Aloha, my name is Glenn Makuna, and I'm a
resident of Hawaiian Acres.
I'm happy to be here at this meeting with the opportunity of
voicing to you my concerns regarding areas of the Puna Community
Development Plan. I am here with the hopes that you really do
want to hear from the public, that our input does have the
potential to make changes within the proposals, and that this
Puna Master Plan is not just a done deal.
As a whole, I cannot endorse this development plan. I agree with
the proposal in that there is a need for a solution to the Pahoa-
Keaau Highway's lack of capacity to handle the current flow of
traffic along this route, even more so as the population of lower
Puna continues to grow. I also agree on the need for an
alternate route out of lower Puna, especially in cases of
emergency; as such, any proposed highway should address those
concerns. But I disagree completely with the proposed solution,
the so- called 11 9 1/2 Road" through Hawaiian Acres. Hawaiian
Acres is a relatively isolated area. Our residents haven't just
ended up in the area by chance. Most residents of Hawaiian Acres
have consciously chosen this area for the reason that it is
relatively isolated and offers a degree of privacy, peace and
tranquility which is found only where it is relatively isolated,
the concept of voluntary simplicity. Already, we've had a
disturbing amount of tranquility stolen away by the invasiveness
of the constant flow of tour helicopters which, for the last year
and a half, have been funneled into a narrow corridor over
Hawaiian Acres under the philosophy that as a relatively isolated
area, there are less people to offend and that those few of us
who do live in that area are mostly marijuana growers anyway.
Who cares how they, how their lives are disturbed?
50
a a
I stand here as a non - marijuana growing resident of Hawaiian .
Acres, as are the majority of our residents. I'd like to tell
you that in choosing this area to live, we have made conscious
efforts to distance ourselves from noise, unhealthy air and
constant flurry of tranquility- disruptive activity. Now, a
highway running right through Hawaiian Acres? This concept alone
is unacceptable to the majority of residents here. When you
factor in that certain of us will be forced to make the even
greater sacrifice of having it run smack through our backyards,
orchards or right outside our once private homes, it's even less
acceptable. I believe the 11 9 1/2 Road" proposal has been formed
without regard for the health, the wants and the needs of the
Hawaiian Acres community. There are people who find the
convenience of living near a highway a more important
consideration than the attendant disadvantages. They will, or
have made their choice of where to live, just as those of us in
Hawaiian Acres have chosen our area with a completely different
set of priorities. This is all okay. We can all chose where and
under what conditions we live. It is not fair to force us to
live with others' priorities, especially when it means we must
give up:our own priorities.
The 11 9 1/2 Road" highway, as proposed, is intended to benefit the
communities of lower Puna that are fed by the Pahoa -Keaau
Highway. It will be of little or no benefit to the community of
Hawaiian Acres, and yet we're being asked to make major, major
sacrifices for it. It would cause a drastic increase in
automotive congestion. It would create air pollution, noise
pollution and the loss of the natural tranquility of the area.
It would cause a drastic increase in our population density. It
will contribute to build -out as opposed to providing a solution
to it. It would increase crime. It would encourage large scale
development, and it would increase property taxes, just to name a
new of the obvious disadvantages. I cannot counter any of these
points with any advantages. When you run a highway through it,
it's just not a neighborhood anymore. This proposal dumps an
overwhelmingly disproportionate amount of the burden on those who
will benefit the least, if at all. It makes no sense and is
unfair. This highway would ruin the quality of life here, a
sense of neighborhood, and literally end life as we know it and
have chosen it. This would not just be in the category of
nuisance, this is not just a slap in the face. You would be
carving our heart and soul out, leaving us to writhe in pain by
the side of a highway.
I know I don't speak for a hundred percent of our residents,.but
this will not be acceptable to the majority of our residents.
You don't have to kill the patient to cure the cancer. The most
economically feasible or profitable answers are not necessarily
the appropriate answers. As any new highway, to address the
aforementioned problems, are proposed, I believe they should be
51
built within the communities they will serve if they are
warranted by them at all.
A moment to comment on the proposed RTDs, the Rural Town
Districts. Idealistic visions are, by definition, unreal. ,I do
not believe that local government of this -, local development of
this nature will get people out of their cars. In Hawaii, cars
are an entrenched fact of life. Many people will simply get in
their cars and drive the block or so to such a center.
Secondly, once initiated, there is the potential for unchecked
growth. I am in favor of local parks and possible schools with
community approval, but not in a way that drastically alters the
nature of the area or invites rapid growth. I didn't settle into
Hawaiian Acres to be on the outskirts of a town. I'm for leaving
the green spaces alone. A third draft form needs to be written,
honoring and reflecting the uniqueness and priorities of each
subdivision. Mahalo for your time and attention.
CHAIRMAN: Thank you very much for your testimony. Mr.
Paulo Burns, please.
BURNS: Aloha, everybody. I'm from Olaa, Puna. I was
raised there since I was seven years old.
CHAIRMAN: Give us your resident address for the record.
BURNS: Okay, P. O. Box 13, Mountain View. I just want
to speak from my heart, for how I feel. I was, I guess, I know
people that's here, especially the Hawaiian people; and I know
many of them would say I'm a keiki o ka aina because I was raised
on the land and I believe in the ways of the land. And every day
I think how lucky I am to be in Hawaii, especially when I hear
about the problems in the rest of the world, and they are very
real. We're the luckiest people in the world; and here we are,
we have a chance to either let it turn into a big mess or not,
basically. I understand there's big money behind this. I
understand that there's a lot of pressure here from you guys,
because I know there's developers with millions of dollars
waiting, saying come on, let's go. But you guys got to deal with
all of us and, obviously, every single community center is
against it. It's not only them, though, that's against it, it's
all the ancestors on this place that still are here.
And I'm very, very concerned about the road going down Puna
coast, the Puainako Road extension. We've been trying to fight
the mauka section going over the Hawaiian sites. You know, we
understand that, you know, there's a lot of congestion problems,
but I think you need to slow, stop growth already. We have
enough people, enough keikis. Going to make millions more? No
need already, bring -, keep bringing people in. I understand we
need economic development, agriculture, sustainable agriculture,
52
you know. Responsible agriculture is the answer, not poisoning .
everybody with all these chemicals and stuff.
I'm very concerned for the Hawaiian historical sites. I know
there's thousands along this entire coast, I know there's
thousands of burials. And who's going to carry that, the
responsibility of taking all that away from all the keikis and
everybody in the future? And who's going to take the
responsibility when there's no ocean left to eat, no food left
from the land, no forest? Who's going -, I mean, I know we're
all probably going to be gone within not too long, but all the
keikis, they go, yeah, our ancestors, what, did they help us or
did they not? I know you guys have a choice. I know it's hard,
but think about it. Mahalo.
CHAIRMAN: Thank you very much. Mr. Abel Lui.
LUI: Aloha. My mahalo go to Ke Akua, he brought me
here. And, also, to all the people that came up and speak,
because they know there are a wrong that had been done.
CHAIRMAN: Mr. Lui, just for the record, if you could state
your name and your resident -.
LUI: Oh -.
CHAIRMAN: Address, please.
LUI: Kala mai me. I'm from Kau. I live Kawa; I live
on the beach. Right now you guys have the problem. Kau going
get the problem because sugar going close, but that's Kau. I'm
over here to talk about what's happening over here.
It hurt me, what I see going on, and you guys are responsible.
You talk about keiki o ka aina, ooh, I get two, but, okay, and I
like my kids can go down there, can go fishing where my ohana
used to go, where my tutu man used to go, and to enjoy the beach
and to enjoy the forests. Right now, all of these things that
you guys are trying to do and shove it down the people, ooh,
braddah, that's spooky, brah, real spooky. In other words, just
like you're telling me you guys no more conscience, brah. Are
you guys selling you guys spirit or you guys soul, too, eh? You
guys got to watch out because you guys carry, you guys carry some
mean burden. You guys carry the responsibility. What about your
kids? How you going tell them, oh, dad, what happened to the
mountain over there, eh? Oh, was in somebody's way so we just
went knock 'em down, you know what I mean, we going build one
highway. I mean, you know, enough is enough. You guys no can go
hide things no more.
The things about this meeting was very sloppy. I went call today
about this meeting, and nobody could give me the answer. I went
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call three times today about this meeting, and everybody giving.
me the run - around, and this is the kind people that we pay taxed
for, you guys, carrying the responsibility and making decisions
for us, ooh, brah. Come spooky, but, I no like. You think I
going trust you, brah, or any of you guys? No forget you guys
got to go home and look at you guys kids, brah, or you guys
moopuna. When the kids going come and ask you, dad, oh, what
happened to the tree over there or what happened to the fish
pond,, what you guys going tell them? Oh, I don't know nothing?
You going blame them on top everybody else? You guys carry the
responsibility of the people in Puna, and you guys better make
them pono, bum by Tutu Pele going come down, he going cover.
some people going get bite from this, fooling around with the
Hawaiians, for real.
About the geothermal, eh, that ,'s the biggest rip -off. And who
getting rip off? All of us, brah, all you guys, all you guys
behind of all of this because of the Governor or whoever went
push all of this deal. You guys can close them down right now,
at any time. You guys can call a meeting and say, you know what,
we ain't got no funds, close them down. It's one hazard to the
people; you guys know that. People been complaining for how many
years. But what happened to the pepeiao kuli, eh, or the waha,
eh? You got to go look at yourself, at you as a person, as a
parent, because, eh, one day it's coming back, and you know who
going carry the burden? Your children, brah. Your children
going carry the burden that the one that you went f
(expletive) up, brah, ooh, because I carry them, too. Enough.
When the hell we going to wake up and stop destroying mother
earth or the sea?
You guys talk about all these plans. Not one time I hear about
water. Where you going get this water from, heh, and who going
pay for all of this, heh? I see all the people come up, they
talk about, some people, about their house, like that, and then
they come, and now they find out about all of this that they
going to build roads. Whew, brah! I feel hurt for them. I
don't know about your guys, if you guys get conscience. You guys
better go pick up the Bible, you better go talk to Ke Akua or
somebody, brah. Go talk to your wife or to your son, but get
your act together, because we went put you guys in the office.
For what? To do this kind to the people? Bull shit. You guys
stay inside there for help the people to make things pono. And
how you going do them? By listening to the people that come up
here and talk, but they went share all their manao, brah, heavy
kind. And I don't know if you guys stay listening, listening
from way in the naau, brah, the puuwai, here. Onipaa!
And I know get some more other braddah going talk,
what, I aloha you guys to give me the opportunity.
Because I was scared that I came over here and I no
talk, brah. I was going get mad, brah. I come all
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but you know
You know why?
was going
the way over
from where and now you going tell me I got to come back on the .
23rd, bull shit, brah. But I going come back now, because I like
find out what going happen to the next chapter, you know what I
mean? But I like you guys give the people the opportunity to
come back again, and no close your mouth, brah, no close your
mouth. Mahalo akea.
CHAIRMAN: Thank you very much. Mr. Raymond Dedman.
DEDMAN: Aloha mai, my name is Raymond Dedman. I come
from Hawaii, Kau.
As a kanaka maoli, I never gave up my rights to malama, which is
my genealogy; and I never will. We have seen all your plans, it
comes in all different packages and all different kind colors,
and we'll see what your plan had done to Waikiki and how it
turned Oahu to where it is right now. And all the Islands got
the same plan, even Kona. The same plan came 35 years ago to
Puna and what happened? Play.
Hawaiian historical sites, heiaus; burials, caves, alanui kahiku,
stay out of it, don't play. People come, all over the world come
to Hawaii and play with one little rock on all different islands.
Nobody knows what happened to them; a blink of an eye. You have
lives over here that are involved on this Island; don't play with
it, don't play with the land. Whether you believe it or not, day
and night, somebody is watching. Mahalo for letting me talk.
CHAIRMAN: Thank you very much, Mr. Dedman. Next to
testify, Mr. David Cruz, Keikialoha, Bonnie Bator and Michelle
Minchew.
KEKIPI: Mr. Chairman?
CHAIRMAN: Yes.
KEKIPI: My name is Keikialoha Kekipi.
CHAIRMAN: Can you state your name and resident address and
speak into the microphone. Thank you.
KEKIPI: Mr. Chairman, my name is Keikialoha Kekipi. I
also, I also was going to come up and speak for Bernard Keliikoa,
not speak for him, but to read off what he said.
PUBLIC: Yeah, all right, brah.
CRUZ: Go ahead, huh?
CHAIRMAN: Go ahead. Since you already started, why don't
you go ahead.
55
KEKIPI: Oh, okay. I wanted to make sure if you was
going to call me again, but I can do 'um now. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN: Why don't you speak directly into the
microphone, because they're recording all of this.
KEKIPI: Okay, thank you. Aloha to the Chairman and all
you members here. I know you get tired always hearing people's
testimonies, and manao. I graciously and humbly thank you for
this opportunity. I don't usually go out in public and speak
before anyone, but I'll speak for Mr. Ieliikoa. I mean, not
speak for Mr. Keliikoa, but I'll read his thing.
Thank you. This states, "To County Planning Commission, from
Mr. Bernard Keliikoa, P. O. Box 271, Naalehu, Hawaii 96772," and
this is "regarding the Puna Community Development Plan" and his
heading says, "Prostitution of Hawaiian Cultural and Spiritual
Sites for Tourism." It reads, "We Hawaiians have been culturally
and spiritually sodomized for the past 200 years. Our clean
environment and health has been degraded by American progress.
Our religion has been ridiculed, outlawed, and now prostituted
out for cold hard cash. I am sickened and outraged at this
latest attempt to market our spirituality. Our spirituality is
not for sale. Stay away from our bones, stay away from what's
left of our villages and memories. These places are for our
children.
"We are not obligated to share with just anyone our spirituality.
It is our choice if we want to share with people we think will be
respectful." Thank you. That was from Mr. Keliikoa.
CHAIRMAN: Thank you very much. Go ahead and proceed.
KEKIPI: Okay, thank you. I am also here to speak up
about the trails system that's proposed in this plan, where they
were going to create an Ala Kahakai System along the coast of
Puna. What I mean by create, because this is a non - existing
trail and it is incorporated into this plan. I, personally, have
been a victim of desecration of my family ohana burial sites, so
I, personally, know how it is when someone is there and the
trauma that our family has to go through to go and try to make
things right or that, to have to -. It is my -, it is now, I
feel, my obligation to care for the resting place, the last
resting place of the remains of my ancestors. I take this
responsibility on as a blessing; and it's also a burden, because
the other people here that come, they don't share the same kind
of consciousness or the same belief or respect towards other
people's burials.
When I see, I foresee that if they open this trail, I and other
families along the coast all around this Island, but more so in
Puna, will be affected greatly, and this would be repeated many
times by more people that come. The people that come are not .
even being screened on what kind of personalities they are, there
is no plan of who will guide them. This is like they are just
sent. They're free to just go and do as they please. Someone is
just giving them a road map. And if you look in this book, on
Page 2.41, there's a listing of the Hawaiian Historical Sites;
that's what they are. They are not just historical sites, but
these are Hawaiian cultural, spiritual sites. - This is our
Waihipana, this is our puuhonua; when we are in trouble, to deal
with our mental sickness that is, cause our death; we get comfort
from going back, and we can go to these places. And this is our
spirituality, it's our belief, that these places have to be kept
like this. They've been kept for hundreds of years; some, some
just cannot be dated back. And we -, if you bring someone else
into these places and just open up one trail and create something
for them, you create a disaster. It is a, it's a form of
ethnocide. Those people don't share the thing. This is part of
America. It's not that I'm saying don't come to people; but if
you want to go and open one trail, then stay on the trails that
is already provided; don't create a trail just to go inside and
exploit - our resources. And this is what I'm here for.
I hope that -, I don't want to share this burden, but it's a
blessing to my, my descendants and to the future generations. I
take it upon myself to care for them, the people of the future,
by taking care of the people of the past. There's a lot to be
learned if you can go to this place and experience these things.
And if you can come into that consciousness, I'm sure that in
your hearts, in your minds, you can understand that I'm over here
and I'm not requesting but this is a plea to you, a plea to the
County and all of you. I know that you're not paid; but this is
something that it is really, must take precedence now in
addressing. They're opening up trails, and they're marketing it
already for the outside world; and the people that market and
open these trails, they have no rights to this place. They're
not from here; they are not the kamaaina. That's not their
family grounds. We are people of aloha; but if taken and stolen
away, we cannot provide or even live in a state of aloha. Hawaii
is a place to rest your soul and the birth of life, that's what
it means. It has great significant meaning from the past to the
present and all the way to the future. I oppose anyone going
through any of the burial sites, passing through it for tourism
or just because they want to look. We practice and we, we
malama. Malama is not just care for, but malama is to really
guard and-to take care, because when another time come, there
will also be another family that must take on this
responsibility, both the blessing and the burden. I know you
have a burden in have to listening to all these people. I just
hope that I not coming in vain to speak before you. I speak for
the people of the past, myself, some of our present people, and
for the future. Mahalo.
57
CHAIRMAN: Thank you very much for your testimony.
Mr. David Vera Cruz, please.
VERA CRUZ: Aloha, my name is David Vera Cruz, General
Delivery, Naalehu. I also have aina up in Mountain View.
I, also, totally oppose this package deal, what you guys propose
to the Hawaiian community in Puna; and I totally agree with the
bruddah over here by staying off our heiaus and our sacred
grounds because you guys do not carry the kuleana or know how to
malama or to koko the blood. See, we've been here, accordingly,
for generations gone by, and you're disrupting the whole flow of
the universe. So, I take time out of my busy schedule in life
because I concerned about my kids and the kids yet to come, for
the generations gone by and for our generation' now. Aloha.
CHAIRMAN: Thank you, Mr. Vera Cruz. Bonnie Bator. We'll
take that from you; we can pass it out for you.
BATOR: Thank you. My name is Bonnie Bator, and I've
lived in Hawaiian Acres for over a decade.
I just want to say that I'm here for the part of the Puna
Community Development Plan that concerns the Hawaiian cultural
sites, burials. I may not be Hawaiian, but I am a conscious
person, aware of the suffering and oppression of the Hawaiian
people by America, theft of their physical, spiritual and mental
sovereignty. When will enough be enough? Haven't the Hawaiian
people suffered enough? Hasn't America ruined this once pure
aina and a loving people enough? The Hawaiians are a very
loving, loving people. These are sacred places to the Hawaiians,
and it is not for just anyone to go there. How dare the County
of Hawaii plunder these last sacred places? The County has no
jurisdiction over the Hawaiian people and these areas.
Go sell your grandparents' bones, go commodify and package your
own history, identity and soul, but leave the Hawaiians alone.
Mahalo.
CHAIRMAN: Thank you very much. Michelle Minchew.
MINCHEW: Yes, I'm at Box 791, Mountain View.
Regarding this Puna Development Plan, I demand a halt to the
exploitation of the cultural sites that want to be developed for
tourism. You know, lately, there's been a craze going for
Americans to want to know about native history, culture,
religion, and this gave rise to culture vultures, who see the
opportunity to make a profit from the craze for this spirituality
that, I guess, Americans can't get from their regular life. And
in this Puna Plan, they use Hawaiian cultural spiritual sites for
tourism. It first looks like it's based on respect for Hawaiian
58
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spirituality and culture; but, in fact, it's just American
racism, genocide against the Hawaiian people. It helps tourist's
see only a part of the Hawaiian experience. They don't want to
see how we struggle against genocide. You don't want to show
them our struggle to fight for independence, nationhood. Nobody
wants to hear about how we're trying to end substance abuse and
sterilization abuse. The County wants to use these sites. But
will any of you let yourselves be accountable to us, the Hawaiian
community? Tourists see these sites as existing just for their
shallow consumers' needs. You or the tourists don't understand
our struggle for survival and have no genuine understanding of
our spirituality and culture.
All we have is our spirituality, and America
of it and made the rest of it legal. Look a
no protection of our religion. If you local
tourists are ever going to be in solidarity,
relationship with Hawaiians, you must take a
cultural and spiritual oppression, abuse and
has destroyed most
t the laws, we have
people in Hawaii, if
have a community
stand against our
exploitation.
Respecting the integrity of the Hawaiian culture and spirituality
doesn't mean that we can't have cross- cultural'sharing, it just
has to be a way that's respectful to us. And to be respectful is
for tourists and locals to become involved in our political
struggle, to develop an ongoing relationship with us based on
trust and mutual respect. When this happens, then non - Hawaiians
can be invited to these special places, but on Hawaiian terms.
If it seems unfair for this to happen, tough; it's what must
happen. We won't exploit our spirituality for money or just to
gain allies in our political struggles. No geothermal, no more
development, take a break, aloha aina. Thank you very much.
CHAIRMAN: Thank you very much. Thank you very much for
your testimony. Next to testify, Moanikeala Akaka, Keikialoha
Kekipi, Larry DeSmither and Keone Kalawe.
BATOR: I'd just like to say one last thing. Since I've
lived in Hawaiian Acres for over 10 years, like 14 years or
something, I'm also against 8 Road being given over to the
County. Mahalo.
CHAIRMAN: Do you want to state your name, resident
address.
KALAWE: Okay.
CHAIRMAN: And proceed with your testimony.
KALAWE: Aloha, my name is Keone Kalawe, and I'm Vice
President of Aloha Aina; and as the organization, we oppose any
development of lower Puna. And now I'm going to share my manao.
59
I'm against the development of lower Puna. The people who .
support the development in Puna is also supporting the continued
act of genocide of the Kanaka Maoli and other peaceful people who
support the Kanaka Maoli culture and life style. I have ohana
buried from Kula burial sites to the Sand Dunes off the Old
Government Road. My ohana and I have to recover the burial sites
constantly from grave robbers. I could just imagine if the area
were to be developed.
I fish and gather in the same areas just as my kupuna did in the
past. My ohana are from places such as Kahuwai, Halepuaa,
Waiele, Koaie, Kanekiki and Kapoho. If you go ahead with your
ill -fated dreams, you will destroy the past, and the future
generations will also be affected. In my eyes, the developers
are pimps prostituting the Hawaiian culture for the love of
money. Will these developers be personally responsible for any
future destruction and desecration by their imported johns?
Mahalo.
CHAIRMAN: Thank you'very much.
DESMITHER: My name is Larry DeSmither, P. O. Box 5642,
Keaau, Hawaii 96749.
On this map over here, we have two roads going through
Orchidland. Neither one -.
CHAIRMAN: Can you take the mike from the podium and you
can, why don't you leave up there and use the mike from the
podium.
DESMITHER: Okay. On this map, we have two roads going
through Orchidland, both of them ignore the two main routes.
Here you have two roads going through Paradise Park, they both go
through streets already made. If this road did happen to go
through Orchidland, you would impact a lot less people, like
these roads here; if you cut over, you'd only affect a little bit
of Paradise Park. If this road went down 40th, you wouldn't
impact all these people. So, for some reason, Paradise Park had
enough representation, it seems, and somewhere to get the roads
going where there's roads, and Orchidland is sadly lacking in
representation. To just point out, why don't you use "x" many
miles of 40th? Why don't you use "x" many miles of this, instead
of going, basically, through my property, too? It just makes
sense to use roads that are there instead of offending all these
people; there's no road there, where there is a road, and all
these people. That's it.
CHAIRMAN: Thank you very much for your testimony.
Moanikeala Akaka, Keikialoha Kekipi; are there, anyone here?
KEKIPI: Again -.
M
CHAIRMAN: I'm sorry, okay. Mr. Bob Lerro. Is there
anyone else wishing to testify on this agenda item this evening?
PUBLIC: Bob Lerro is coming up.
CHAIRMAN: Bob Lerro.
LERRO: I'm the last one?
CHAIRMAN: Name, resident address, please.
LERRO: My name is Bob Lerro, HCR 2, 13 -525 Keaau. I'm
here in my capacity as the Executive Director of Hawaiian
Paradise Park Improvement Association.
I have some concerns about all the things that I heard tonight.
Most of them touched my heart; however, some recent events
touched my heart even more. On the 3rd of this month, a seven -
year -old child was killed in Hawaiian Paradise Park. I believe
the reason for that is since -, I've been here 10 years. In the
last five years at HPP, we went from 1,200 residents to 2,000
residents. We have 9,000 lots in there; they're all owned by
someone. People are coming. And the question I have is if we
don't plan for that, what is, what is it going to look at the
outside of that? I know Hawaiian Paradise Park did extensive
outreach into the community. Some folks disagreed, but there was
a base consensus at the end of it. And to satisfy myself, to
make sure that that plan was taken care of, I took it on myself
to make sure that that plan was sent to the 70, 8,800 lot owners.
And we did get about 50 back that were incorrect addresses. But
there was a clear pattern for the people who owned those lots in
there, and the pattern was that they did support the Hawaiian
Paradise Park plan by about a ratio of six to one, and they did
support County roads and water by a ratio of four to one, and
they were willing to pay a share of the cost of those roads and
water down the main roads. I've been seeing a lot of
misinformation.
Another concern that I have is I know this process has been going
on for five years. Some of the folks claim that, well, they
didn't know about it because they don't have TVs or newspapers or
whatever. Having watched the process, I believe there's been no
other plan that I've seen that had the amount of outreach that
was done in this plan. You know and I know that the Mayor has
decided, or at least recently, and I hear that may be changing
given the feedback that you are getting, that they were going to
do this by resolution. You know and I know resolution doesn't
bind you, either this body or the Council. What I've asked the
people, a number of people from different subdivisions have come
to me and said, "Bob, I don't like this, I don't like that. I
don't want anything." And I've asked then, "Well, what have you
done in your community to gather your group to start saying, what
61
do we want this area to look like ?" So we can'do two things, we
can work that out amongst ourselves and then, more importantly,'
define what that community will be when the people who own those
lots show up. And I think it's imperative that you hear what
people said, particularly about the spiritual aspects, the Native
Hawaiian aspects that were brought up. But you also have to
understand there's a very eclectic group out there, and there's,
and you're going to hear a whole range of differences. And when
do you start planning? You start to plan now, you may not get to
consensus. -
I have concern when I hear people say, "Well, let's do nothing."
Because when I look at that map, I see 56,000 lots in Puna and
most of them are owned. We're not talking about more
development, we're talking about what is there now. My concern
is because this starts to become politically unpopular or because
you're getting some negative information at this point, that I
would hope that you don't see that as saying, "Okay, it's too hot
to handle; we're not going to touch it," and leave Puna in the
place where it is now. That child got killed because there was
no standards on those roads. That child got killed because there
was no police services on those roads. That child got killed
because a 15- year -old kid was driving a car, who doesn't know how
to drive very well. That's the second child in three years. So
I believe we're going to see more of that pain for that family if
we don't plan well.
Now, in 1966, if you remember, the Planning Director said, "Let's
condemn all the land." If that would have happened, we wouldn't
be here tonight talking about this; we wouldn't hear the diverse
opinions. The reality is that did not happen. The reality is
there's people moving there. I believe it's under - counted. I
see 20,000 people named in Puna. I can tell you there's probably
17 or 18 just in Lower Puna because most folks choose not to get
counted. A lot of people choose not to get counted.
So, how are you going to plan for their needs? I believe you
should try to take a composition of what you've heard tonight and
try to meet as many aspects of those needs, but you're not going
to satisfy everyone. And every time you try to change another
drawing and put another drawing up, there'll be another group of
people in here not satisfied with this. At some point, someone
has got to bite the bullet and say, okay, you need to have an
overall view of the Puna District. Then you put the
responsibility back on those folks in the individual subdivisions
and say you have six months, you have one year, because the Puna
Development Plan is made up so that you can insert your own
community plan, and put the responsibility back on them. Let
them take it back to their own individual communities.
Personally, I'm resentful that a person from Hilo is coming out
here and telling me, in Puna, what'I should be doing or not doing
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with the Puna Development Plan, and I believe a lot of it was
based on misinformation. I'll give you one example. Someone
thought the Hawaiian Paradise Park Plan was funded by $190,000.
No, it was a $2,500 grant from the RC &D Council. And those folks
had a lot of energy and gave out a lot of misinformation. Some
of it's because maybe we could have done better outreach, but I
think we've done sufficient outreach.
So I would say that you need to have an overall plan. Some of
the more controversial aspects you may need to pull back. But
it's a resolution; people need to get that through their mind.
It's not set in stone; anything can be changed. It's not
happening tomorrow, and we're talking 30, 40 years up. What do
you do when you have three people on each of those 56,000 lots?
How do you protect those children? What quality of life are for
those children? And every time I come to this Council, they tell
me I can't give you services until you have a plan, so we need
you to create a plan. And, no, you're not going to walk away
from this one easy, okay? So, however, the end result is, you
need to,give it back to the people and say come back
individually, by individual communities, insert into that, and
then have the broad view. And if not, then we're back at square
one. And I can say to you, unless you're prepared to buy out the
other lots that aren't there, use some education to teach those
folks how to do the right thing and get time into the community.
But, no, without a positive response to that, it's scary, because
that is not the way I work. If you don't like what is, then come
to me with a solution and not just say no. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN: Thank you very much. Is there anyone else
wishing to testify on this agenda item? Come forward. Have you
been sworn in?
KUBAT: Oh, no.
CHAIRMAN: Okay. Do you swear or affirm to tell the truth
on all matters before this Commission?
KUBAT:
I do.
CHAIRMAN: Okay, name, resident address, speak directly
into the microphone.
KUBAT: All right. My name is Kristine Kubat, and my
address right nowis General Delivery in Keaau 96749.
As you might notice on the Technical Reference Report, my name is
on that document because I was involved early on with Bonnie and
Jennie and that must be Ann behind the sign. First, I'd like to
acknowledge them for all the work that they've done because I
know that they've really worked long and hard, and Puna is a very
difficult place to come and try to get anything to happen. So I
63
really want to acknowledge you and I want to acknowledge all of .
you folks for sitting through this meeting tonight.
Actually, the very last thing that was said made me feel that I
had to come up and speak. And I don't want this room to be left,
or the people in this room or any of you to be left with the idea
that you've got to act out of fear, that somehow Puna's going to
fill up with all of these people and oh, my God, they're all
coming, so we've got to get water, and we've got to get
electricity, and we've got to get this,-and we've got to get
that. In the meantime, you've heard so many people testify about
how they aren't in favor of more development; and there's a lot
of issues relating to Hawaiian sites, and there's a lot of issues
relating to things that aren't being worked out and, obviously,
need to be worked out because as we all know from history, people
in Puna aren't the type to just sit there if something doesn't go
their way. They're going to hit the streets; they're going to
protest, they're going to get involved. They're going to be a
part of the way things go; they won't just sit there and take
some mandate coming down on them.
To me, the best solution is not to take the approach which Bonnie
is taking or the idea that the Community Management Associates is
taking, as if build -out is a foregone conclusion. You've already
got some things happening out there which, of their own, are
going to restrict development. And all of these problems
happened because the County wasn't mindful when they granted
rights to developers and they came out and they created all of
these lots just to make some money, and then the next thing, you
know, people started selling. okay, there's a ,lot of areas where
there aren't utilities, there's a lot of places where-there
aren't improvements. Eventually, that is going to -, it's what
slowed development, it's what kept it at a reasonable pace. And
if you go in there and you start slapping up roads and slapping
up utilities, they're going to come, believe me; that's when the
people will really start to come.
Along with this resistance to development, there's some people,
are really hard core, there's also, out of the life style of
self - reliance is coming forward a new plan, a new vision, a new
idea of how to do things. People are using solar equipment,
people are using rain -, water catchment for rain. People are
looking at alternatives, mass transportation, biking, hey, maybe
hang out at home and only go to town once a day, you know,
working at home. This is the kind of, the self - reliance and the
self - determination and the sovereignty and the ideas that are
coming forward from Puna. And I think it would be very wise on
your part to honor that and to look at redoing this plan with
that sort of a focus, and claiming that certain areas are going
to be off the grid. That's it, they're just going to be off the
grid. There is no utilities there now; there just won't be
utilities. If you're willing to live with a solar system, fine,
64
go for it; if you're not, don't. And, to me, that's the only .
solution at this point. Otherwise, if you bring a lot of peopld
who have high expectations as far as services., like Bob Lerro was
talking about, those people are going to be in direct conflict,
politically, spiritually, ideologically with the people that are
sitting up here telling you don't touch our bones, don't touch
our sites; and it's just going to invite more disaster. So I
think it's about time that the County started to look at this in
a sort of a reasonable way instead of bulldozing things and
trying to enforce things on people in Puna and, to me, it's the
solution. Thank you very much.
CHAIRMAN: Thank you very much for your testimony.
Commissioners, what is your pleasure?
USAGAWA: Mr. Chairman, excuse me. I have three
testimonies -.
CHAIRMAN: Okay.
USAGAWA' That I've been asked to read into the record for
people that had to leave.
CHAIRMAN: Thank you.
USAGAWA: Thank you. The first is from Yvonne Silva,
address HCR -2, Box 6859, Keaau, Hawaii.
"Dear Commissioners,
"My family lives in Hawaiian Paradise Park. Like many other
residents of HPP, I strongly oppose any zone changes on our
private property. Every lot owner knew exactly what they bought
(1 -acre Ag lots in a sub - standard subdivision). A lot of us are
very satisfied with what we have. Others are seeking rezoning,
in hopes of using it to force the government to make some major
improvements, so they can rake in bigger profits.
"I would like it known that the HPP Hui nor Bob Lerro represents
the majority of lot owners in the park. HPP has over 8,000 one -
acre ag lots. The Hui is a private club which' represents only
its paid membership of about 500. Bob Lerro is a self- appointed
executive of an association he invented.
"I have no problems with the rezoning of Hui owned lands," H -u -i
owned lands, "but they have no right seeking total zone changes
of our property. I have attended a lot of their meetings, most
always ended in hostility, with the residents opposing zone
changes and their false representation. Please do no allow any
rezoning of any privately -owned one -acre Agricultural lots.
"Thank you, Yvonne Silva."
W
The second testimony is by Gerard Silva, HCR -2, Box 6859, Keaau..
"Dear Commissioners,
"I'm a resident /farmer in Hawaiian Paradise Park. I specifically
bought my property for its one -acre Agricultural zoning. In
spite of the lack of County services, a lot of young families
have also chosen to set their roots in HPP. Farming, whether for
self - employment or as a family supplement is a necessity in
today's struggling economy. One -acre Agricultural lots provide a
sense of dignity and self - pride, is a manageable size for young
families, active seniors, and provides privacy without isolation.
"Please do not allow any re- zoning of privately owned
Agricultural land (one acre and above.) Greed and speculation
are the major forces behind the plans seeking to rezone all the
one -acre Agriculture lots. Rezoning will allow 2 -4 houses per
acre, causing severe overgrowth problems but, obviously, bring
higher property values and bigger profits, making affordable
family residents /farms history.
"Follow the trend of the nation and see how urbanization has
ruined civilization. Rezoning of agriculture lands is a disease
that has spread.out of control causing massive corruption and
overcrowding.
"The Puna Community Development Plans has many good points and a
lot of flaws. Please don't pass this so- called plan into
law, but take the good ideas and dispose of the rest. Maybe a
resolution would be more realistic. Please, please erase all the
sections related to rezoning of agricultural lots (one acre and
above) before making your recommendation to the County Council.
Thank you very much for allowing me to express my views and
taking my opinion into consideration.
"Much aloha, Gerard Silva."
And the third, and the third testimony is by Robert Edgecomb, a
resident of Hawaiian Acres. There is no address.
"Dear Commissioners,
"Because of direct negative impact upon my private property and
surrounding properties and fauna and flora therein, including
Hawaiian hawk, owl, and crow habitats, as well as evidence of
ancient Hawaiian burial sites - I will never condone such a
highway proposal, nor will I allow easement through my property
at any time in the future for any reason, including the extreme
case of condemnation by so- called authorities who, in my opinion,
66
i � /
CHAIRMAN: I believe we ,•
MCINTOSH: But you wanted
CHAIRMAN: Can adjourn this -.
MCINTOSH: To adjourn?
CHAIRMAN: Particular meeting since there's a notice, a
separate notice for tomorrow's meeting.
MCINTOSH: Fine, I so move.
ALONZO: Second.
CHAIRMAN: Okay, there's a motion by Commissioner McIntosh
to adjourn this meeting, and a second by Commissioner Alonzo.
All those in favor?
COMMISSIONERS: Aye.
CHAIRMAN: Opposed? Motion to adjourn carried.
ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 10:17 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
fN . VNC - c 1�-,
Sharon M. Nomura, Secretary
A T T E S T:
Wilton Wong, Chairman
Planning Commission
74
s
7 -12 -95
PROPOSED FIELD TRIP ITINERARY FOR PLAN GG C S G
PUNA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN SECOND
Destination Est. _Min. What to See
MEET BY 9:45 AM COUNTY BLDG MAIN ENTRANCE - BEGIN AT 10:00 AM
Through Kea`au Town (via Kea`au Rd) Kea`au Village
Up Ainaloa Blvd. to Waikahekahe 30 Emergency Rd/Waikahekahe
Through Pahoa Village 30 Pahoa Village
Geothermal Site 30 Lava Hazard/Geothermal Neighborhood
Lanipuna Gardens 30 Geothermal Neighbors
Puala`a Park 60 County community park [lunch break]
Kehena 60 Lava Hazard! "Off - the -Grid" activism
Up Pohaku to 40th Av to Ola`a Rd 30 Bad road/flooding/Volcano Trail
Mountain View 30 Driveway access problems on Hwy 11
Volcano Village 30 Volcano Village
DEPART VOLCANO VILLAGE BY 3:30 PM
RETURN TO COUNTY BLDG APPROX. 4:00 PM
ATTACHMENT A
j ,
,� J
��
PLANNING COMMISSION
COUNTY OF HAWAII
MINUTES
October 10, 1995
The Planning Commission met in regular session at 10:26 a.m. in
the County Building, Councilroom, Room 201, 25 Aupuni Street,
South Hilo, Hawaii, with Vice - Chairman Kevin Balog presiding.
PRESENT: Kevin Balog ABSENT: Ed Crook
Eddie Alonzo Isaac Fiesta
Mary Katayama
Melvin Martinson Ex- officio Member
Lin McIntosh Milton Pavao
Leonard Tanaka (From 10:30 a.m.)
Virginia Goldstein, Planning Director
Alice Kawaha, Staff Planner
Fred Giannini, Deputy Corporation Counsel (From
10:32 a.m. to 11:05 a.m. and 6:13 p.m. to 9:25 p.m.)
Casey Yanagihara representing Ex- officio Member
Donna Kiyosaki (Left at 4:00 p.m.)
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Good morning everyone and welcome to our meeting
today. Today on our agenda is a workshop for the Planning
Commissioners on the presentation on the Puna Community
Development Plan Second Draft. Testimony today will not be taken
in the morning. It will be taken at 6 o'clock tonight. This is
just an informational meeting so if you can all bear with us. I
know you waited 20 minutes already.
Before we go any further, I'd like to introduce our Planning
Commissioners and staff. To our left, we have Bonnie Goodell,
she's a consultant from the Community Management Associates;
Alice Kawaha who's the senior planner for the Planning
Commission, Planning Department; Mary Katayama, Commissioner from
Kona; Eddie Alonzo, Commissioner from Puna; my name is Kevin
Balog, I'm from Hamakua; we have Virginia Goldstein seated to my
right, she's the Planning Director; behind her is Sharon Nomura,
the Planning Commission Secretary; after Sharon is Lin McIntosh,
the early one from Kona; and Mel Martinson from Waimea. Alice?
KAWAHA: Thank you. I'm just going to introduce Bonnie .
Goodell who will be presenting or giving you the presentation on
the Puna Community Development Plan.
GOODELL: Hello. Can you hear me?
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Yes.
GOODELL: Thank you very much. I'in wondering if we want to,
now this is arranged so you guys can see it. Do you want to
arrange it so that the -.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Arrange it.
GOODELL: Just go, just do it?
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Yeah.
GOODELL: Just turn it a little?
PUBLIC: They can change their seats and come here.
GOODELL: We can put it a little sideways or -.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Yes, no problem.
GOODELL: Okay, let's do that so people can see. Turn it a
little. Oh, you guys can't see it.
ALONZO: No, we can.
KAWAHA: Not quite so much.
GOODELL: We've got to turn it this way.
KAWAHA: Okay.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Got one seat over there.
GOODELL: Okay. They're going to move over. Now you're
stuck. Okay. I think the Commissioners, that, does everybody
have those? Here's some more legends (SEE ATTACHMENT A, ON FILE)
-2-
if you don't have them if you didn't pick them up before, to go.
with the maps we're going to use.
Okay, we started working on the Puna Community Development in
June 30th of 1990; and the issues in Puna at that time were quite
extreme and have gotten even more knotty since then. In order to
produce this plan, what we did is we developed a series of
scenarios and went out to the community with the scenarios.
Basically what we heard from the community was that the lifestyle
or the pattern they wanted in the community was rural. And in
order to fit that rural pattern into the potential population of
Puna, which Puna has 56,000 lots So we had to Zook at long
term what kind of population we're looking at and how could we
maintain a rural environment with that kind of a population.
The model we came up with was of a series of small rural towns
similar.to the towns that exist on the Big Island now, like
Honokaa, like Pahoa, like Mountain View, like Keaau. And that is
shown up here, the idea of a small town. The way those
subdivisions in Puna, the huge subdivisions, are laid out now,
it's basically what's called suburban sprawl pattern, single
large lots. Continuing the problem with suburban sprawl is it's
extremely expensive to provide services. And as the major
problem we have in Puna, when you have to, Puna we really had to
go back to basics - Health, safety and management of the public
purse - How can we provide the health and safety in a way that's
affordable both for the taxpayers and to people who live out
there now and the people who will live out there in the future,
and how do we provide the economic opportunities that they need
to support the kind of population that we have to expect because
of the number of lots. So the pattern we settled on was of a
rural town. The, according, if it's built out exactly as now,
what we would probably end up with is subdivisions and then
basically along the major highways we'd end up with a continuous,
if all the services had to go outside of the, we would end up
with extremely expensive roadway costs and virtually everyone
commuting; and it would end up not being rural anymore. So this
is the pattern that was chosen by the community in a series of
meetings in May of 1992 as the pattern they preferred, rather
than building out by conventional development shown on the bottom
right; and this is shown on the front of the plan.
-3-
Now in order to do this, we had to, we got kind of stuck because
the, we needed to propose some changes to the County General
Plan, which is not usually done. We had to take a longer term
view than the ten -year view that is usual for a community
development plan, because what we needed to do to take into
account all these lots required some changes. And there has also
been a number of political things and legal things that have
happened that we've had to reconsider. As you know, the question
of non - ag dwellings in ag parcels is ofutmost importance to a
lot of people in Puna; and that's the thing that has happened
relatively recently. So we've had to look at those kinds of
things. The changes, therefore, that we suggested in the plan, a
lot of them had to do starting out with rural designations for
areas where the parcels are one acre or smaller. These are the
subdivisions where it is very, where there are a lot of people
whose basic use is residential and who have expectations, excuse
me, to ;ive in a residential area, or at least mostly
residential. And so the rural land use district is the one that
would allow both the Ag and the housing, the residential use.
And so these subdivisions are all areas that now are in the Ag
district but have lots of one acre or smaller.
Okay, the other uses, the other changes we are suggesting, one of
the revisions we have made between the Draft 2 and the list of
revisions you've got was in Draft 2, we suggested that the urban
expansion area at Kings Landing be eliminated. We're no longer
suggesting that. However, we still are proposing that this whole
area be a project planning district and have a master plan before
development proceeds in that area, the whole coastline and the
Kings Landing area.
We also propose the elimination of the urban expansion area shown
around Pahoa. Basically this is because of the hazard issues in
that area that the expansion of urban uses in that area is not in
keeping with the state administrative rules on hazard mitigation.
The other major proposal, one of our major proposals is, this is
basically a housekeeping thing, is to change the zoning of the
Kahaualea, which is now Ag 20, down to open cause it's
conservation district. We're also proposing a new hazard overlay
district for the entire area that is zoned, Lava Flow Hazard
Zones 1 and 2. Basically what this is is it would put an H after
the zoning designation and it would require full disclosure to
-4-
anyone getting a permit in that area of the lava flow hazards and
the limitations, if any, that arise from that.
Another change we're proposing is the addition of some urban
areas basically for industrial and technical commercial use. One
of the major challenges of what we had to do is to look at the
problem of employment in Puna. What we heard again and again and
again from the public was we want jobs, people are moving, the
people that are moving to Puna, there are not many jobs, and the
need to develop an economic base. We have a pretty strong
support in diversified Ag that's getting better, but we need
other kinds of jobs in Puna. And we need to construct public
facilities but we really, we shouldn't depend on construction
alone for industry. We need other kinds of jobs. And so the
idea was in that to create some major areas for major work
centers, but then, also, to encourage the subdivisions to think
seriously about how they were going to provide job bases within
the subdivision.
And they came up with a variety of things, one of which was to
allow more mixed use within more home businesses and more mixed
use within the home occupation category, but then also to provide
some centers for jobs within the subdivisions. Because one of
the things that's happening out there is people have gone in
there and because they didn't have any neighbors, lots of people
have started businesses; and a lot of those businesses are not
actually permitted. They haven't gotten their permit. They're
running light industry or other businesses there that are not
really legal; and we need to figure out how to deal with that.
Because as people get neighbors, what happens is that something
they've been doing for ten years all of a sudden they start
getting, their neighbors don't like it anymore, neighbors start
moving in, and we start having conflicts between neighbors. So
that has been one of the chief issues in Puna, is that for a long
time people who live there really didn't have neighbors, but as
people are moving in we're finding that there are extremely wide
variations in the expectations of the people that live there as
to what they should have, what they should, what kind of a
lifestyle they should have in their neighborhood. We have
everything from people who don't want any services and don't want
any improvements to people who basically want a bank machine on
the corner and a school and a video store and a job down the
street, and that, want all those things. And how do we go about,
-5-
because all these lots are there but they were never really
differentiated into different kinds of uses. Everybody really
has an equal right to those expectations. Unfortunately, if they
live right next door to each other, those expectations may
conflict. So how do we deal with that? And we, so we have to at
some point start making some differentiations that, okay, if you
want infrastructure and you want a business down the street, this
is the area where that's going to happen. If you don't want any
services and you don't want any infrastructure, this is the area
where that's going to a happen. Those decisions are extremely
painful because, obviously, no matter where you make those lines,
draw those lines and make those decisions, there's going to be a
lot of people that are going to end up being not where, not what
they had chosen, and they're going to be everywhere.
So it's very, very tough and it's very, very stressful for the
people who live out there. But in terms of what we have to do in
planning, it's pretty unavoidable. So what we suggested, what
we're suggesting here is a master planning program that allows
the communities to do their own master plan, to either come up
with small town centers, model only existing town that, small
rural towns, or if they prefer come up with a model that's more
like the conventional development. But that they, we have to do
a master plan. In other words, we have to anticipate what, how
we're going to meet the needs of those lots when there's a house
on every lot; or, if there's not going to be a house on every
lot, how are we going to make sure that there's not a house on
every lot.
So that, basically, is the program we've proposed, is to make
some zoning changes, but then the communities themselves Now
we put some dots on the maps as suggested areas for small towns,
based on the expected population of that area. And, basically,
we located them thinking that a town would be basically centered
around it's own elementary school and that you would anticipate
that about 5,000 to 10,000 people are going to require one
elementary school and so that's, the town would be around the
elementary school or located near it; and the town might be
anything like a convenience store to a bigger town. But that
would be up to the community.
So we located these, these locations are not set, cast in stone.
This is just suggested for these town districts, rural town
-6-
districts, is that it's just to show where it might go -, but the
community might decide that they should go some place else in the
subdivision.
We also suggested rural town districts for this area up here on
South Kulani Road. There are a number of lots up here, very
small lots; and we also suggested rural town districts, one,
here, basically, in the general area of out Puai Road. This is
an area that near here where W. H. Shipman had been suggesting a
subdivision that they had been looking at, in that general area
near there. And we have a big problem out here. We have a
number of subdivisions, Happy Homes for instance, that doesn't
have any legal access. And this whole area is shown on the
County General Plan as an urban expansion area. We are already
having, as you'll see today on the field trip extreme problems
out here with, in Kurtistown with traffic with the development
that's taking place right along the highway. And the idea was
try to divert that town to a location that isn't just strung out
along the highway as it is now. This is basically the Mountain
View area, Aloha Estates, and then some of these other
subdivisions in Volcano Village. We also suggested some of those
towns in this lower area. Okay, did you want to add anything to
that, Virginia?
GOLDSTEIN: No.
GOODELL: We'll move along here.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Bonnie, before we go further.
GOODELL: Did you want to ask questions?
VICE - CHAIRMAN: No. There's been a few people who walked in and
we want to recognize them. All the way to the left, Fred
Giannini, from Corporation Counsel; next to Fred is Planning
Commissioner -.
MARTINSON: Tanaka.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Leonard Tanaka from Hilo, I knew that was going to
happen today; and behind me from Public Works is Casey
Yanagihara; and all the way to my right in the curtains hiding is
Russell Kokubun from, and he's the executive assistant to the
-7-
Mayor's Office. So just to bring everyone in the audience up to
date who's here.
GOODELL: Okay, let's continue on with the facilities and
utilities, well, let's do transportation first. The basic
element that we started with and has been most controversial is
the central subdivision corridor. This central subdivision
corridor has been in the County General Plan since the early
1970's. I understand it was put in by Ray Suefuji. And when I
first started this project I didn't, at the very beginning I
didn't see the sense of that. But more I got into it, the more I
recognized that Ray Suefuji, they really knew what they were
doing. That, although it is very unexpected to a number of
people who live out there who unfortunately were not, this was
not disclosed to them, but this corridor provides a spine through
which the County can provide most efficiently the services for
basic health and safety. Because it's central as a corridor for
providing police, fire, water, all the things that are going to
be required, this, doing it centrally means the least traffic,
the least increase in traffic on the existing subdivision roads.
It provides a central corridor for where if fire stations are
located there, if water is provided there, the maximum number of
people can have access to all the benefits of lowered insurance
and all the, and the response time is the best for the maximum
number of people living in the subdivisions. And it provides
something that a number of people in the subdivisions have said
is very critical, which is that the subdivisions be able to have
access to each other without having to drive, some of them, all
the way out to the highway, and then up the highway, and then
back in to do business with each other. These subdivisions need
to do business with each other so that they can get, develop the
economic base they need without ending up with a bunch of multi-
lane highways cutting through their subdivisions, taking them out
of the subdivisions - so that corridor.
We looked at a number of alternative routes for that corridor.
Basically, if you wanted to follow the population you would have
put it over to, there's a lot of, there's more lots in Ainaloa as
there are in all of Orchidland. So if you wanted to really
center on where the population is, you would have brought it over
this way and then back up. But as we looked at that and compared
alternatives, it became clear that the original route that was
proposed is probably the best.
-8-
•
One of the things that we need to look at in this kind of stuff.
is how do we get qualified for the Federal funds. We need to
look at the Federal ISTEA dollars. And that partly dictated this
route because you cannot use, and there's a problem up here with
the route that remains, the route on Kalaponi and Fern Forest, is
all the way up here is not frontage roads. In other words, there
doesn't have to be any driveways onto that roadway. So it's a
limited access in terms of the only accesses would be at the
intersections. When you get up here into Fern Forest there is a
problem in that this is a frontage road. We looked at some
alternative routes going back like up the middle of other
parcels; and there was a problem with that because of a lava tube
being right, following the same alignment. So this is something
that we're not stuck on this route in partic -, exactly, but that
the need for a central corridor is there.
The othipr one that there has been a lot of controversy about is
this one that has been called 9 1/2 Road. This also is not a
corridor that we're absolutely, has to be that corridor. Another
one, when, when a corridor is put in at that time, there is a
engineering study that compares various routes. Other routes
have been suggested. Basically, the main one that has been
suggested would be go down here, and then go out on the boundary
of Hawaiian Acres and Orchidland, and out Olaa Road. Those would
depend on engineering studies at the time to pinpoint specific
routes. However, the reason for a mauka route -. One of the
things that we looked at was that as these subdivisions build out
and the requirements to get health and safety services increases,
the pressure on the County to take over the collector roads shown
here and the traffic on those collector roads becomes great; and
even on roads that are not collectors roads, the traffic becomes
really great. If we can provide another route that does not
depend on major traffic using a frontage road, a road that has
driveways onto it every 100 feet or so, we would, for one thing,
make it a lot safer for everyone. But, also, it would lessen the
need for the County to take over a number of those roads. So
then in the long run it would be a savings.
Another major part of this is the trail system shown here. One
of the changes that has been made at the request of somebody at
the last, one of the last hearings was that, was the removal of
the Ala Kahakai on this map. The other part of the trail system
shown, this is Puna Coast Road, this is Railroad, and this is the
-9-
Volcano Trail. I'm not sure of the exact alignment down here, .
but starting at Kurtistown it's a public roadway up to here. The
adoption of those projects was a very high priority of the
community for dedicated bike and walking trails, not just on the
shoulders of highways but actual dedicated bike and walking
trails. I think that's the critical issue.
These, the roads that are shown in orange are the ones that were
determined by the Department of Public Works, I think, Russell,
you were involved with that, like 1979, the Department of Public
Works went through and identified what were the collector roads
in the subdivisions. Any questions on this one?
Okay, let's go on to facilities. Basically, what we've been
trying to encourage the subdivisions to do is to work with the
agencies to determine the sites they need for their public
facilities. We're really, we're at a very short window of
opportunity for facilities in Puna, transportation facilities
included, that we now have 20 to 25, 50 to 25 percent of the lots
occupied, depending on the subdivision. In order to build a
school or a park you need to put together several lots. The
longer we wait to set those parcels aside, the more likely we are
to either not be able to locate them where they would really be
convenient for people in the subdivision or that they will have
to condemn people's homes in order to set aside those lands for
those facilities. So we've made it a big priority to encourage
the subdivision to look at, even if we can't afford to develop it
now, what needs to be set aside and can we figure out some way to
set that aside so that when the school is needed, when the park
is needed, the land is there and we don't have to, people don't
have to be in for any nasty surprises that either their house is
going to go or it's going to go right next door and they didn't
know it. So that's the other issue.
Another issue here, we put the electrical lines; and these are,
we didn't have an electrical engineering study. So, basically,
what we just said was that the electric lines, it is important to
have, just like for roadways, electrical lines need escape
routes. You need to have them in loops, you need to have
multiple routes for them so that whenever there was a roadway
corridor that we should make sure that we plan in advance that it
was going to be an electrical corridor as well. And we also
anticipated that sometime in the future the whole mode of energy
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is being transformed rapidly. And we don't know what's going to
happen; and we need to keep our options open on that, that we may
be going to the small biomass plants. We don't know, and that we
need to think about in advance the need to provide areas for
those kinds of things to happen, whether it's recycling or waste
disposal or -. We need to look at that well in advance because
we don't know what's going to happen; but it is evolving rapidly
and we need to set land aside for it.
Also on this map we showed more or less in order to provide
emergency water, if nothing else, we would have to provide land
for reservoirs. Basically, you have to provide a reservoir for
water pressure every 290 feet of elevation change; and so that's
what those, that's what is shown here.
The parks and volunteer fire stations, those basically, those
decisions a lot of them are, some of the volunteer fire stations
are already in existence put together by the subdivisions
themselves. And these areas out in here also need to be looked
at for that.
So, also, oh, another critical issue, critical, that's going to
be a hot issue with this plan, I am sure, is the issue of access,
the 1970, the beach shoreline and mountain access. The 1979
shoreline access, we basically followed that of showing where the
accesses should be. I understand there's an ordinance flipping
back and forth right now and we don't exactly where that is going
to go. But we did show the points of access and, of course,
lateral access needs to be provided, too. But we basically
followed the 1979 plan.
And the issue, also, of boat ramps is a critical one for people
in Puna. It's very critical and becoming more critical all the
time. The pressure, according to the Health Department's data
probably half the people that are moving into Puna are part -
Hawaiian. The issue of shoreline access and getting boats out
and stuff like that is very, very important and deserves full
attention. So, anything else? Any questions?
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Any questions? Commissioner McIntosh.
MCINTOSH: I have a lot, but I'll wait till later.
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GOODELL: Oh, you know what I didn't cover was the
Waikahekahe issue, the issue of Waikahekahe. Let's talk about
it, since I've got five minutes. Give me the'land use map back.
I've got five minutes, let me just talk about that a little bit.
Yeah.
Since we have five minutes, let me talk right now about this
because it'll probably answer -. We showed an area up here, this
is - a major change within the whole area of the subdivisions, as
an urban expansion area. And there has been a lot of
misunderstanding about that, I think. Basically, what we looked
at was that the potential population ultimately of this corridor,
30,000 parcels, is around 100,000 people as is, little less, at
3 people per household. And that, where are you going to put the
major civic stuff for that kind of a population? And, basically,
what we did was we looked at where's the center. If you put a
dot on every, where's the center dot? And, basically,
Waikahekahe right here is the center. And, luckily, that is an
area that also has some large parcels where it could be planned.
We're not proposing that it be done immediately. We're not
proposing that it be residential. What we're proposing is that
regional parks, civic centers, large scale shopping, the things
that would be good if people could get to without having to go
out to a highway. There is, eventually there will be enough
population here to serve those things; and, basically, it's a
management of the public purse issue. The more people have to
drive to get to things the more we have to pay for the roadways;
and we don't seem to have much money to pay for roadways. So,
you need to put them where people can get to them.
But this area here also provides an alternative. If there is a
road up here, it provides an alternative for people from this
area to get services and access services, the larger services
they need, and be out of the high hazard area. So that was,
basically, the rationale for that. Okay?
MCINTOSH: Can I change my mind and ask one question?
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Commissioner McIntosh wishes to change her mind
and ask one question.
MCINTOSH: In your discussions with the community or in your
overall efforts of planning, how much time did you dedicate to
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exploring alternatives to full build out? Tax credits for
dedication to open space, -.
GOODELL: Oh, okay, that's a good -.
MCINTOSH: Those other issues that would control the
population down there rather than just assuming that some day
it's all going to be built out?
GOODELL: Good question. We did make some very specific
proposals for that; and that was, the major one was transfer of
development rights, especially for this area out here and also
within this area if they wanted, and, also, this area. We
explored with the community and made proposals in the first draft
for transfer of development rights which is basically a way to
allow people who want to, to sell their development rights out of
the area and do a lot consolidation or just leave it. That was
the major one we looked at.
We did quite a bit of research in other areas that had
subdivisions like this, platted land subdivisions. But the areas
that have had the most experience with this are basically
Florida, Colorado, and California. And the ones, the tools that
they had used in California, in some of those places, basically,
what they said was if you don't have, if you're not on the county
water system we're not going to issue a building permit. And
that was the method they used. In some places in Florida they
actually said if you want to get a building permit, you have to
come in with five vacant lots, not just one vacant lot. They had
done a number of things like that but none of those things were
feasible. Because we already had people, none of those methods
were quite, it didn't look like it was politically feasible.
Where they had done those things were in places where there were
no roads, there were no accesses, there were no houses yet. Some
of those things might have been more feasible 20 years ago but
now it would probably not be politically feasible. Those are
possibilities. I don't know. It's a judgment call on that.
The one that has worked the best in places like this, although it
hasn't been used that often but it seemed to have the most was
voluntary transfer of development rights. And that allows people
to sell off development rights and keep a lot. They still own a
lot, they still can do Ag on it, they can't build a house on it.
-•13 -
The thing with transfer development rights is that you must have
some place to transfer the development rights to, and then you
have to require the developer in the receiving area to buy the
development rights.
MCINTOSH: Yeah, but you're still talking about the same
total. You're only moving masses from here to here.
GOODELL: Right.
MCINTOSH: I'm talking about a concept that reduces the total
outside maximum population. If someone wants to buy a lot across
the street and not build on it, keep it in open space and
dedicate it forever, was there any conversation with the
administration or the Council about a reduction in taxes or
something other than a transfer to motivate somebody to do that
so that ,we could control the population rather than assuming the
worst?
GOODELL: That they would be able to make a, for instance, a
park dedication or open space dedication, that has been talked
about. That's a possibility. The vast majority of the people
who owned the vacant lots are investors. And they have,
personally I have my doubts that there'd be, there are probably
people who own lots, who own double lots, for instance, that own
lots next to each other that don't want neighbors that would
probably be willing to do that; and that is, park dedications can
be done right now as -.
MCINTOSH: It isn't even a park dedication.
GOODELL: Like an easement, open space easement?
MCINTOSH: It's just, it's a financial benefit to an owner to
leave the land -.
GOODELL: Right.
MCINTOSH: To dedicate it, to put a deed restriction on it
that it will never be built on.
GOODELL: Right. It's just -.
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MCINTOSH: So if you suddenly reduce your population 70
percent, you change the whole complexion of what's happening out
there.
GOODELL: Yeah. You could do that. I doubt very much that
you'd have very many takers. The people who bought those lots,
most of them bought them for investment and have been paying, and
they probably wouldn't want to do it. I, my personal intuition
is that
MCINTOSH: We're having two conversations here.
GOODELL: Yeah.
MCINTOSH: Because I'm not talking about the people who own
them now doing it; I'm talking about people who either live there
and want to buy the adjoining property -.
GOODELL: Right.
MCINTOSH: From the investor at a reasonable price and are
willing to do that but they would like some financial
consideration from the County.
GOODELL: Right.
MCINTOSH: I'm not talking about the current owners.
GOODELL: Oh, a financial consideration. Well, yes, -.
MCINTOSH: Through reduce taxes or some other means.
GOODELL: Right, well, in essence what you're talking about
is a transfer development rights process that allows you not to
transfer it anywhere.
MCINTOSH: Liquidation of development rights is what I'm
talking about.
GOODELL: Right, liquidation; and that if they wanted to do
that, yeah, that would be a transfer of development rights.
You'd get your certificate but you don't do anything with it.
You get your certificate from the County, your deed is changed,
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you can no longer build there, you're no longer paying the taxe4
for the right to build and you just don't sell it. It's
basically the same thing. Yes, that could be'offered. My, my
feeling is that there would be some use of that but it wouldn't
be, if they had some place to sell it to, you'd get, it would be
a lot more, you know, there'd be a lot more takers.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Any other questions? If not, that concludes our
workshop for today. We'll be adjourning and meeting tonight at
6 o'clock once again to take public testimony; and at 11:30 this
afternoon (sic) we'll be meeting in front of the County Building
to go on our tour of, and field trip of the Puna District.
MCINTOSH: Eleven thirty you said?
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Eleven thirty.
RF.C'F.�GF.T� The meeting recessed at 11:05 a.m. until the
scheduled site inspection.
RECONVENED The Commissioners met at 11:40 a.m. for the
scheduled site inspection.
(SEE EXHIBIT B, ON FILE.)
RF.( The Chair recessed the meeting at 3:55 p.m.
until the scheduled public hearing.
RECONVENED The Chair reconvened the meeting at 6:13 p.m.
with approximately 51 people from the public
in attendance.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: The meeting of the Hawaii County Planning
Commission will come to order. Today, tonight's hearing is a
continuation of the Puna Community Development Plan Second Draft
and its proposed revisions. Before we go too far, we'd like to
introduce the staff and Commissioners to you. All the way to my
left is Alice Kawaha, the senior planner; Bonnie Goodell is the
consultant from Community Management Associates; Casey Yanagihara
is from Public Works, all the way in the back; Planning
Commissioner Leonard Tanaka is from Hilo; Mary Katayama is from
Kona; Commissioner Eddie Alonzo is from Puna; to my left is Fred
Giannini, Corp. Counsel; my name is Kevin Balog, I'm the vice-
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Chairman sitting in for Ed Crook; to my right is Planning
Director Virginia Goldstein; behind her is Sharon Nomura, the
Commission Secretary; and the lone Commissioner on the right is
Melvin Martinson from Waimea. Alice?
GIANNINI: Excuse me. Before you begin, could I ask the
Planning Director to state briefly what action is to be taken on
this and what happens. In other words, are we, is this going to
be referred to the Council for their adoption?
GOLDSTEIN: Yes. The action would be to make recommendation,
well, two things. The Commission may adopt this as their own,
through their own, as their own planning guide through
resolution; but they should also be making recommendations to the
County Council as to whether they should adopt it -.
GIANNINZ: By ordinance?
GOLDSTEIN: By resolution.
GIANNINI: Oh, by resolution?
GOLDSTEIN: Yeah.
GIANNINI: Okay, thank you.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Alice.
KAWAHA: Thank you, Vice - Chairman. Okay, I'm just going to
have Bonnie Goodell kind of run over a little as to what happened
at the field trip today.
GOODELL: Basically, thank you very much. Just to bring
people up to date on what we covered when we went out on our
field trip today, basically what we did was we used the maps that
were prepared a number of years ago as background information on
Puna. And maybe I can turn it a little bit since you guys have
seen it already, huh?
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Yeah, you should show it to the community.
GOODELL: True. Is that okay?
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VICE - CHAIRMAN: Yes.
GOODELL:
Basically,
regulatory
densities
yellow are
density of
I'm going to run through
we did three landscapes of P
landscape, and these are the
are out in the subdivisions.
the subdivisions that have a
over one house per acre.
this 'really fast.
Ana. This is the
issues of what the
The ones that are in
density of, a permitted
PUBLIC: Is this is an up -to -date map?
GOODELL: Yes. Well, it's up to date to 1992. For our
purposes, for these subdivisions that were, the substandard
subdivisions, yes, it's pretty much up to date. There may be a
few mistakes in the numbers that haven't been corrected yet; but
they're pretty close. I think Hawaiian Acres, well, we corrected
Hawaiian Acres. Anyway, so, basically, we have a lot of
subdivisions that have lots less than an acre in size. We have,
and the gray lines you see are the roads that were determined by
the Department of Public Works in 1989 to be the collector roads
of these subdivisions. So those are the ones that are in a
little darker gray. And the issues here are basically what you
have. Density issue, it's what kind of infrastructure is going
to be required; and the national standard is basically for, the
critical thing is that the national standard for meeting central
sewers is any more than one house per acre. So -.
PUBLIC: One house for sewers -?
GOODELL: Sewers, central sewers.
GIANNINI: Excuse me. Could we not have any questions from
the audience, please. If you wish to address testimony to the
Council, excuse me, to the Commission, please do it at that time;
but please don't interrupt her presentation.
GOODELL: Okay, this is a political landscape. There is a,
basic issues in Puna. We've got, and this is a little out of
date. When this was done, W. H. Shipman Corporation was actively
trying to sell the 16,000 acres that included most of this area
and this parcel up here between Ohia Estates and Royal Hawaiian
Estates. This is kind of a historical perspective. We've got
mauka, up here though we've got mauka subdivisions, 5,000 lots.
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And that when we did our planning we kind of broke the .
subdivisions up this way for planning purposes. This whole area
has drainage problems. Then the central subdivisions, this, the
ahupuaa of Keaau from Paradise Park up to Mauna Loa Estates, the
30,000 parcels in that stretch which is 25 percent of the parcels
on the Big Island here. We've got Hawaiian Home Lands here and
another small section down here. This whole section is all State
land. The east rift subdivisions 16,000 lots; 2,500 now,
approximately, are under lava. In the i970's the State had a
vision for industrial development on the Big Island that included
geothermal development here and manganese nodule processing here.
There was a geothermal land exchange in 1985. This is the,
Campbell Estate is now down in Puna forest. This is now State
land. There is a golf course permit for this area right here, A
& O. Bishop Estate owns these two ahupuaas, Pualaa and Kahuwai.
It's basically, 43 percent of it is government land but only a
quarter percent of that is County land. There's very little
County land in Puna. There's quite a'bit of State land, quite a
bit of Federal land. Okay, so natural geographic landscape of
Puna -.
The flooding problems, what we did was when we started back in
1990 there was a big flood at Thanksgiving and we put an article
in the paper asking people to call us with their flood problems.
The circles you see are the calls we got, calls and letters,
about where the flood problems were. So these are the locations
we got with these circles. This is the flood, this is the
drainway pattern. And we at, on the field trip we went, took a
look at the diversion wall up here at South Kulani Road and drove
up to the top of Pohaku Drive to take a look, and so we did a lot
of looking at that. Basically, the ALISH (Agricultural Lands of
Importance in the State of Hawaii) are the green on this map.
The darker green is prime agricultural lands. The lighter green
is other important agricultural lands. These are the lava flow
hazard zones, one, and two is the yellow. The major issues we
discussed in Puna, one of the, another geographic, geographic
issue is the issue of subsidence on the south flank of Kilauea.
Another one is the issue of the concentration of Hawaiian
cultural and historic sites and family sites all along the
coastline, all the way through Puna wherever there isn't a recent
lava flow. Another issue is the lava tubes, all through this
area, and how those are going to be treated. Basically we talked
about what the issues are in the geographic landscape. Okay?
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VICE - CHAIRMAN: Okay.
GOODELL: Quick enough, huh? Thank you.*
GOLDSTEIN: So what did they go to see? Was she going to ask
her to do that?
GOODELL: Now? You guys want to ask me any questions?
VICE - CHAIRMAN: No.
GIANNINI: Are there any questions from the Commission?
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Any questions from the Commissioners? Alice,
maybe you could give them a brief summary of what we actually saw
besides what Bonnie explained to us, to the general public.
KAWAHA: Okay, on our field trip, actually, we did go
through the Ainaloa Boulevard at the very top, as Bonnie
mentioned, just to do a turn around. It was mainly a drive
through the Puna district with a stop at Pualaa Park, taking a
look at the Pualaa Park facilities there, then turning around at
the Isaac Hale Park area, and driving up to Pohoiki Road. We
turned into the Lanipuna Gardens to take a look at the geothermal
site; and like I say it was just a driving through and turning
around at various dead -end roads. From there we did go to the
Pohaku Drive area, up to 40th Avenue, spun around there, came
back to Highway 130, then on the way to the Keaau village area,
and ended up at the Kurtistown Park where we had some discussion
as far as what Bonnie had mentioned on a couple of these maps.
Then we drove through the Mountain View village, spun around
there, and then onto the diversion wall at South Kulani Road, and
then back to the County Building.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Thank you.
KAWAHA: Does the Commissioners have any questions of
Bonnie or staff?
VICE - CHAIRMAN: We have any questions? No.
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KAWAHA: At this point in time, the Planning Director is
recommending that we move this Puna Community Development Plan
and its proposed revisions up to the County Cbuncil.
GOLDSTEIN: We also, I believe all the Commissioners have
gotten a handout that proposes further revisions to Draft 2; and
these are the revisions that the Department is also recommending
for the Puna CDP that are different from the Draft 2 revisions
that came in earlier. These are based, "in part, on testimony by
the public. So, for example, we are recommending or proposing
some changes to the County General Plan; and this is relatively
unusual for a Puna, a CDP level document. But, nevertheless,
because they are, these changes for the long haul might make more
sense, we are including these as suggestions for consideration in .
the General Plan review. And, for example, instead of talking
about the Puna Coast Road as a scenic parkway, we're suggesting
that it be just called a Road, rather than a park, scenic
parkway. Likewise, there are deletions on the references to the
Ala Kahakai Trail, although a portion of the government access
road from Kapoho through the Kings Landing area is still being
maintained as a public accessway. There are copies of these
proposed revisions that are available for the public also.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: At this time, we'll be starting to take public
testimony. We have over 20 people signed up to testify. We'd
like to limit testimony to three minutes. We've all had a long
day today and when you hear the beeper go off, if you could
please try to wrap up your testimony within about 30 seconds.
We'll call you up in groups of three and we'll try to get through
this as quickly as possible.
And if any one of you have written testimony that you'd like to
submit, if you could please submit it. The first three people to
testify are Jon Olson, Ole Fulks, and Adrian Barber.
OLSON: Mr. Chairman -.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Mr. Olson.
OLSON: Members of the Commission, good evening. I hope
you enjoyed your tour of Puna today. I certainly love it.
Actually, I don't really have any testimony. What I do have is a
few questions from this morning's presentation. If, hopefully, I
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could get a couple of quick answers on. Probably to the Planning
Director here. I noticed on page 2 of the revisions there that
Leilani, Nanawale, Lanipuna Gardens, and Hawaiian Beaches were
not included in the rural redesignation. Is there any particular
reason why those were left out?
GOODELL: You want me to answer?
KAWAHA: Go ahead.
GOODELL: The reason for Hawaiian Beaches, Hawaiian Beaches
is already urban.
OLSON: Okay.
GOODELL: The others, what were the others?
OLSON: Leilani.
GOODELL: Leilani, Nanawale -?
OLSON: Nanawale and Lanipuna Gardens.
GOODELL: Yeah, the decision of the Department was that
because they were Lava Hazard Zone 1.
OLSON: Okay. I also noticed that the Pahoa Design
District has not made its way into the Planning even though that
was submitted eight or nine months ago.
GOODELL: I don't know. I did not -.
OLSON: Main Street Pahoa submitted a, for a design
district in, it's not in there.
GOODELL: It was submitted to the Department?
OLSON: Yeah, all the public meetings, all the rest of it.
Then the document was submitted to the Planning Department for
inclusion in the revisions.
GOLDSTEIN: I'm not aware. But I have to say this, we'll look
into it. The staff member that has been following the
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Department's development of this Puna CDP has since left the ,
Department, and so I'll have to check with her even if, you know,
she's not here right now as to where that all'went.
OLSON: Okay. Does it get, does the designation of rural
resolve the illegal use of agricultural land for residential
purposes? I mean is it -?
GOLDSTEIN: That would resolve, the rural designation would
resolve the residential use in Ag districts, yes.
OLSON: Okay, but that, then that would, but that still
leaves Leilani, Nanawale and Lanipuna Gardens in an illegal use
configuration.
GOLDSTEIN: In that sense, yes, unless there was agricultural
uses associated with each of the dwellings, yes.
OLSON: Well, inasmuch as all three of those subdivisions
came with restrictive covenants that do not allow for use, for
agricultural uses of that land, you're creating an increase in
conflict there. I mean, Nanawale, Leilani and Lanipuna Gardens
all have basically what amount to residential covenants that are
in force; and they were filed with the original Plans for those
subdivisions. So your Department should be aware of those.
GOLDSTEIN: Yeah, but that doesn't preclude them from having
some sort of agricultural use on the property, right? I mean -.
OLSON: Leilani, Leilani's and, well, first off, Nanawale
is 7500 square foot lots so you might get a really pretty
anthurium out in the back there somewhere. As far as Leilani and
Lanipuna Gardens, the covenants specifically say restrict, that
you will not do an agricultural business. That's in there, it's
in their covenants. So we're going to have to, some way or
another this is going to have to be resolved. One other
question, and there are a couple of other questions there that I
still have. Are there any changes to the tax load of landowners
with a change from agricultural to rural? Is it going to be
increasing or decreasing taxes?
GOLDSTEIN: There may be some changes in the tax assessments,
yes.
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OLSON: Up or down?
GOLDSTEIN: Possibly up.
OLSON: Okay. One of the things in the assessment that is
being done by the individual subdivisions in terms of addressing
their own mini CDPs, there's been a lot of talk back and forth
about the necessity for the amount of public input. And it's not
clear to either myself or the rest of the people out there in the
subdivisions why they're being held to a higher standard than the
Planning Department or the Planning Commission in terms of their
requirements for notice. In other words, this body prints a
notice in the newspaper a week, two weeks before it acts. On the
day that it acts, the people who show up or the people who input
to this body, you have a right to send your letters, you have a
right to come and testify. But when we move to the subdivisions
who are trying to do their Community Development Plans, the talk
has been that to have an acceptable Community Development Plan,
they want 50 percent of the lot owners to input. So we have a
very clear double standard here that the County Planning
Department, the Planning Commission, the Council can act on one
level of community input basically dealing only with the voters
of the County. But when you move out to the community
associations, you're requiring the community associations to try
to contact people who don't live in this County, don't live in
this State; and I think that's something that we have to resolve.
I think that, you know, we live here, the people who live here
are the people that are going to be the most directly impacted by
what goes on. And I think, as in the process of voting, we don't
ask people who own land here but live elsewhere to come and vote
in our elections. I think that mechanism should be similar so
people who live here that are the ones that are impacted, and
they're the ones that should have first call on what's going on
here.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Mr. Olson -.
OLSON: Okay, last question and I'll be out of here.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Thirty seconds.
OLSON: Okay. Should, I'm just asking this question.
Should not Nanawale and Ainaloa actually be rezoned to
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residential because at 7,500 and 10,500 square foot lots even
rural is not an adequate zoning for those subdivisions?
GIANNINI: Excuse me, are those, are those State Land Use
agriculture, State Land Use designated those as agricultural?
GOLDSTEIN: Yes, yes, so that we would, even as we're making
these suggestions that they be redesignated, we would still have
to go out and file for the actual changes before the Land Use
Commission. That is something to consider. And, again, the only
reason is that they haven't been, those haven't been included is
because of the lava hazard zones. But, you know, certainly,
that's food for thought.
OLSON: Yeah, well, I mean, you've created this conflict.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Thank you, Mr. Olson.
OLSON: And thank you.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Ole Fulks, Fulks.
FULKS: Yes. I've already given oral and written
testimony about this Plan. I'm not going to go over everything
I've already covered. But tonight I'm here representing the
Hawaii Speleological Survey. And I want to comment on the Puna
Community, Puna CDP Draft 2 revisions, pages 6 and 7, which
covers 2 -39 of the CDP.
And we like these last two paragraphs or these last two sentences
on page 6 that's in there, "p. 2 -38 2.10 ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY."
We like the way it represents the Ying -Yang position that we
often find ourselves in. However, on page 7 here, we don't
totally like what the changes recommended here. One thing, we
really feel that the Burial Council should be included on this
list under "support creation -of an interagency committee
including the following:" And I think the Burial Council should
be included in there. And under "Community," they wish to delete
Hawaii Speleological Survey and insert Speleologists. Now in the
United States, there's no way you can get a degree in Speleology.
You can get one in France, as I understand it from Dr. Stone.
But, of course, we boycott French things now.
-25-
We feel that it would be better to, perhaps the Hawaii
Speleological Survey is too narrow; but we think it would be
better to broaden that by putting the National Speleological
Society and Hawaii Speleological Survey and, let's see, what is
it, Hawaii Cave Conservation Task Force, and any other affiliates
of the National Speleological Society. The National
Speleological Society is a world -wide organization that is well
accepted. And under the Feds, the Federal, let's see, the
Federal Cave Management Act, I want to "read to you from, this is
the Federal Register, Department of the Interior, Monday,
January 13, 1 92, 43CFR, part 37, Cave Management proposed rule,
and this is on the second page of it, "This proposed rule was
developed cooperatively by representatives of the various
Department of the Interior agencies that have cave management
responsibilities. The Department also consulted with the Forest
Service, Department of Agriculture, which is developing similar
regulations, and with representatives of interested cave
organizations." Now I believe if that cave organizations are
accepted by the Federal government, they should be accepted by
our County government.
Okay, thank you very much.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Thank you. Before we go any further, we seem to
have made a little goof already. We forgot to swear in all the
people who were going to testify tonight. So if you don't mind
everyone who signed up to testify, please stand up and raise your
right hand. Do you swear that the testimony you are going to
give to the Commission tonight is true?
TESTIFIERS: I do.
FULKS: I swear the testimony I gave was the truth.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: I'm very sorry about that. Are you done,
Mr. Fulks?
FULKS: Yes.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Thank you very much. Adrian.
BARBER: Chairperson Balog, Members of the Hawaii County
Planning Commission.
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My name is Adrian Barber. I reside at 13 -1276 Leilani Avenue. .I
work in Lanipuna Gardens a few hundred feet from the purelent
Puna Geothermal venture. Purelent is not a term of endearment.
I am daily assaulted by noise and or smells from this plant. It
truly is puss bearing.
I am president of Puna Malama Pono, a non - profit corporation
dedicated to preserving the good in Puna. In this capacity I say
to you that neither I nor the organization I have the honor to
serve will countenance any plan that sees a future for geothermal
development or heavy industry in the residential areas of Puna.
I will go further and tell you we shall actively oppose any such
plans.
We should be preserving our pristine natural environment, not
tearing it down for factories or power plants or chopstick
plantations for some giant foreign corporation.
Speaking personally now, expressing my own opinions, one wonders
at the mentality that refuses to see the rising tide of
discontent with the processes of government. Don't you notice
the water around your ankles? Well, perhaps not. Some people
won't recognize trouble when it is biting them in the glutinous
maximus. For example the Corporation Counsel that knew of
cheating in the police exams and did nothing about it while the
County Prosecutor's Office wasting thousands of tax dollars
protecting us poor idiots from the horrors of birdseed.
I close now, as is my wont lately, with another attempt to raise
the tone of these dismal events by reading you some poetry.
The Road to Hell by Chris Rea:
Stood still on a highway
I saw a woman by the side of the road
With a face that I knew like my own
Reflected in my window
She walked up to my quarter light
And she bent down real slow
A fearful pressure paralyzed me in my shadows
She said, "Son, what are you doing here?
My fear for you has turned me in my grave."
-27-
I said, "Mama, I've come to the valley of the rich myself to
sell."
She said, "Son, this is the road to hell.
On your journey across the wilderness
From the desert to the well
You have strayed upon the road to hell."
Now I'm standing by a river
But the water doesn't flow
It boils with every poison you can think of
And I'm underneath the street light
But the light of love I know
Is scared beyond belief
Way down in the shadows
And the perverted fear of violence
Chokes the smile on every face
And common sense is ringing out the bell
This ain't no technological freeway
Oh no! This is the road to hell.
And all the roads jam up with credit
And there's nothing you can do
It's all just bits of paper flying away from you
Oh look out world, take a good look what goes down here
You must learn this lesson fast and learn it well
This ain't no upwardly mobile freeway
Oh no, this is the road, Listen, this is the road to hell.
Thank you for listening to me as spokesman for Puna Malama Pono
and as a private citizen. Good night.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Can you hold your applause. Before we go any
further, we want to limit the testimony only to the Plan that's
before us. Thank you, Mr. Barber.
BARBER: Is that a suggestion of editorializing on your
part?
VICE - CHAIRMAN: We want to stick to only the Puna Plan. We
appreciate your applause but we want to stick to the testimony,
get through all the testimony and address what we're here to
address.
-28-
0 1 0 0
BARBER: I shall address that issue later, sir.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Paulo Burns, Isaac Leonard and Lona -.
GIANNINI: Alona Quartero.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Alona Quartero. Paulo Burns.
BURNS: Aloha. I'm Paulo Burns bf Mt. View. I was raised
in Puna. I have a lot of concerns with this Plan and a lot of
things I want to point out to you guys. Okay, there are a lot of
things that I think you guys aren't looking at close enough and
you rush into a lot of things, because we have so many resources
here that are no where else in the world and that are very unique
and very, very important to all the people of this planet. And,
for one, we have numerous endangered species throughout the
entire forest of animals, plants, trees, and a lot of things that
are very, in this whole list of, well, I'll get into the
archaeological sites; but there is so much unknown about our
forest resources. And by putting highways through it and
developing it all up, you're sure to bring all the foreign weeds
in that are taking over it more and more and all that kind of
stuff.
I'm very concerned about the underground water. There's millions
of gallons of water that pour through Puna every day. And by
putting all these highways and everything on top, along with all
the caves that you guys are going to be smashing in, and all
these very big changes geologically, they are going to cause a
lot of runoff into the ocean, a lot of poisoning of all the
coastline, fishing of all the, you know, our resources that we
need from the coastline.
Of course, the Hawaiian village is a whole other heavy issue.
That whole coastline as you guys know are covered with Hawaiian
villages all the way down. And I don't know if you guys have
ever been to any of them or tried to walk in through them and
felt a little bit from yourself -. I have a few pictures of some
sites that are very much like the sites along the Puna coast that
are known Hawaiian village sites. These pictures right here are
sites above the UH on the future development, you know, for the
UH where they want to Puainako Road which is connected to this
Plan. This is the same road that would connect on to the Puna
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Coast Road and Saddle Road and everything. So I'd like to pass .
this around, that you guys have a look for yourself so you guys
can know what you're threatening.
And a little bit more about that, you know, I feel you guys are
carrying a big heavy kuleana by making this decision and having
this control because you guys are negatively hurting many, many
families, many people, many future generations, your own family,
your own kids, your own grandkids, the ones that hunt, the ones
that gather, the ones that fish and the ones that love the aina
and that live off the aina. You guys are bringing the whole
corrupted mainland system over here. I know it's just for money,
you guys need to make money, you guys going make big money; but
so short term, it's all going to go. And you guys going to carry
that kuleana, your kids going carry 'um, we all going carry 'um.
That's why we gotta stand up now before it gets too late or too
bad that it's harder for us to heal it. You know, I want you
guys to really think. Because, you know, if you look at a lot of
the ancient civilizations, before they made a decision to destroy
a forest or anything, they spent generations thinking about it
and really, they weren't just rushing into something and
destroying it and go oops.
And another big thing is you guys can't take care of what we've
got. All of our roads are falling apart. We don't have water,
there's no adequate sewage systems, there's no adequate anything,
and you guys want to develop choke, choke more. And you're not
going to have the money to maintain them. There's, as it is, not
enough jobs. You want to bring all these people over here and
more competition, more crime, more drugs, heavy drugs that are
screwing up the people. You know, that's my main thing. I want
you guys to know it can all be taken away in a second. All it
takes is one eruption, one flood, one tidal wave, and it's all
going to be gone. So don't just think that it's only us, it's
everything; and it's everything and you're part of it. And
you've got to carry that kuleana. I want you to know that. It's
heavy. Don't think it's just light, cause it's not light. It's
heavy. That's all I have to say. Mahalo.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Thank you very much. Isaac Leonard.
TANAKA: Mr. Chairman?
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4 # 0 9
W,
• t
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Leonard.
TANAKA: Mr. Chairman, I had a question for Mr. Burns.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Mr. Burns, you have a question from Commissioner
Tanaka.
BURNS: Sure.
TANAKA: Thank you for coming, Mr. Burns. I just want to
confirm that those photographs are of a site in Hilo above UH and
the other one is adjacent to Wailoa Stream in Hilo.
BURNS: No. These sites, okay, right above the baseball
field, you know the baseball field on the UH campus, if you walk
up there toward Komohana Street. It is, and I just wanted to
point it out because I walked along some of the Puna coastline,
I've seen the sites there. See, where we are right now, we're
hiring an archaeologist and we're doing an independent assessment
of this area because we believe there are Hawaiian historical
sites. And being that they look just like those sites, I'm
making, showing a comparison.
TANAKA: Okay, so the similarity is what you're trying to
point out?
BURNS: Right -.
TANAKA: Okay.
BURNS: And let you guys have a feeling of what, you guys
should go there, not just drive your car and look from a distance
but go inside, walk inside, you know.
TANAKA: Okay, thank you.
BURNS: Thank you.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Isaac Leonard.
LEONARD: Mr. Chairman and Members of the Hawaii County
Planning Commission. Aloha and mahalo,for affording me this
opportunity to address this body. I present testimony on the
-31-
issue in consideration, the Second Draft, Puna Community
Development Plan, dated May 1995. I am Isaac Leonard, Jr., a
resident of our glorious Orchid Island of Hawaii, upper Puna
district, and Fern Acres Subdivision. I'm a director of the Fern
Acres Community Association. I'm involved with drafting of the
Fern Acres Community Development Plan. The testimony I present
is my personal testimony, however; and much of my comments have
been expressed by my neighbors and I feel will be incorporated in
our Development Plan.
"The challenge of planning in Puna is to retain Puna's rural
character. her natural beauty, and affordability, and diversity,
while improving our livability in future prospects." Now that's
on page ii of this Development Plan itself.
That same challenge is an everyday reality for me as a homeowner,
neighbor, and as a community director. I do support a Puna
Community Development Plan which realistically addresses the
desires and diversity of the communities in the greater Puna
district. I encourage this body to support paragraph 2.1.1.2,
subparagraph 3, page 2 -5, wherein assistance to subdivisions is
provided for master planning.
I attended the presentation this morning and have read and
discussed the Draft Plan, my comments respond to both.
Our subdivision of approximately 2,000 2 -acre agricultural plots
has over 400 homes and farms. We are experiencing the need to
plan our growth as we expect to be 25 percent populated within
the next two years. We provide, improve, and maintain our roads,
without County assistance. After long years of planning, we have
four residents in volunteer fire fighting school; and our fire
station is approved by the responsible County departments.
Police protection is still available only after an incident; thus
a great deal of our time is spent on community watch and safety
programs. Planning electrification and telephone services for
the subdivision has been the responsibility to include fiscal
responsibility of the community association.
It is, I hope, evident that the community planning for a greater
Puna must incorporate those goals which our subdivision residents
have collectively worked toward.
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► I
Fern Acres is a non - conforming subdivision and it is also a
vibrant community of diverse people with guests as diverse
economic means. I hope that this County Commission will support
the continued diversification in our subdivision.
I shall address some specific issues:.
Rezoning: This Plan calls for the rezoning of Fern Acres from
agriculture to rural. At this morning's brief it was mistakenly
mentioned that this community has less than one -acre parcels.
All of our parcels are two acres. There farms and small
businesses in the subdivision not often reported or recorded.
The problem is not one of planning but one of non - conductive
atmosphere in the County for businesses. I have a license for
the Hawaii Island Mushrooms. When I asked for telephone service,
GTE informed me that business class telephone service would cost
me more than residential. Helco informed me the same,
registering my electrical service as residential would save me
money. County and State laws, practices, and some workers are
not supportive of enterprising small businesses. Those are not
planning issues.
Fern Acres should not be converted to a rural designation but be
allowed to grow as a diversified community. Rural or
agricultural zoning as outlined in this plan is an all or nothing
planning. I hope that I will continue to influence the Fern
Acres community to continue to support planned diversity.
The Fern Acres Community Development Plan may possibly follow the
following preferred scenario:
To force the diversity the first two miles of each road will be
paved; the last two miles would be improved and maintained dirt
roads. All roads to the subdivisions will remain private roads.
The "central corridor" as in the Plan would move to Puhala
Street or the Old Volcano Highway. Our community service
facilities, the community center, volunteer fire and police
station, parks and schools would be place along Puhala or just
off Puhala into the subdivision where support vendors and
agencies can get to the facilities readily.
I was gladdened when I heard the brief of this morning state that
placement of the facilities is up to the affected community. I
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wish to point out to the Commission what does not show on the .
brief maps or in the Plan itself is that the centered facilities
in the upper Puna subdivisions is aligned with the central
corridor. The central corridor must not split our subdivisions.
Please don't support that option.
The central corridor is an issue; and as money is constrained at
Federal, State, County and personal levels, I don't see a need
only to address the destructive nature "today" of a 20 -year old.
only planned, dissecting road would cause. I encourage this
Commission to strengthen the assistance portion of the Plan. I,
for one, don't see how Fern Acres can afford to purchase the
parcels to support the school, park and other infrastructure
called for in this Plan. Reality in the community is some
subdivisions must plan now and start implementing those plans in
conjunction with the County of Hawaii soon. Lots of paragraphs
talk about that planning.
The Puna Community Development Plan is a plan for facilities and
as, and roads. As briefed in this morning, it is researched and
written during a booming economy with unconstrained resources.
We now have a severely depressed economy, not only locally but
nationally. The depressed economy has not altered the growth of
Puna and we now have the requirement to manage our growth and to
coalesce into communities... if we are to preserve the special
essence of magical Puna.
Finally, I encourage the Commission to have this Plan or any
approved Plan briefed to each subdivision on a schedule worked
out between the briefers and the subdivisions. Planning for
condemnation of over 35 lots in Fern Acres deserves close
planning and community education.
This concludes my comments. Thank you for your patience and this
opportunity.
Do the Commissioners have any questions?
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Any questions for Mr. Leonard?
LEONARD: That was longer than three minutes. I'm sorry.
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•
VICE - CHAIRMAN: No problem.
testimony, please.
•
Would you like to submit your
LEONARD: I will have this typed up and faxed to the
Commission within two days.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Okay, thank you very much, Mr. Leonard. Alona
Quartero.
QUARTERO: Aloha. My name is Alona Quartero. I am a
resident at RR1, Box 74, Papaikou, and also a resident Keahialaka
out in Puna. I come, at first, today was the first day, I had a
whole stack of papers just like this guy, and I thought to
myself, this is just too much. Then I came over here and
realized that what I wanted to tell you is that you carry a heavy
responsibility. And I felt that I also had a responsibility to
tell you what I know. I live in Puna, I live the culture. I go
to our land and I take my grandchildren there. And we fish and
we live off the land, and I am there with them. And it frightens
me and it scares me to think that all of these trees you plan on
cutting down and building highways and building
infrastructures -. How much can we our people take ?. I've got a
whole bunch of family that I've been talking to and nobody knows
about the land. And going to school and just before coming here
trying to type my paper just to, for this proposal, a man walks
up to me and he himself doesn't even know about the Plan. And
I'm just going on and meeting people that don't even know about
the Plan. I'm so discouraged and so disgusted about what's going
on.
But I live the culture, I am there, I live there. My family had
21 acres along the coastline and we live the culture. And when
you start developing, you just ruin, ruin the ocean and ruin the
land, and that frightens me. That scares me. I'm a grandmother.
I have seven grandchildren. And to think all these
responsibilities that you have with you right now I ask you and I
tell you this is my responsibility to tell you that the land, as
a Hawaiian, the land is very important to us, the ocean is very
important to us. We live on this land, we eat off of this land.
We live off of the ocean. Please, don't destroy any more. I
was, I'm employed with the University of Manoa with the School of
Medicine. I work at the high school. I talk to teenagers. My
-35-
job is so confidential, and I'm in pain because I see so much ,
suffering that's going on here in Hawaii. And we're not even
taking care of these problems and we want to bring more people in
and more infrastructures.
And I take my children down, and this summer we ran a school on
our property; and my grandchildren, two years old, three year
old, and four year old, we're teaching them the culture. And how
can you bring people in when I don't even have enough time to
teach my family what is already here? You're going to come in
and you're going to destroy what we already have. I'm hurt, I'm
discouraged, I'm disappointed. But it's your decision, it's your
responsibility. And it's my responsibility to tell you, as a
Hawaiian, we are caretakers of this land and we are caretakers of .
this ocean. And as a Hawaiian, I'll tell you this much, I don't
care if you are Japanese, Filipino, Chinese, I don't care. We're
all responsible for this land, and we're all responsible for this
aina, and we are the ones that does the destruction to this ocean
and this land. I pay tax to save all the indigenous birds. I
save tax to save the rain forest. I pay tax for save all of
these problems that we created, and we can create a beautiful
world if we just create something much more liveable. We can
become sustainable; we can feed the nation. Those are the type
of people that we are with. We can feed the nation. I'm not
just saying feed my family, I'm saying we can all do this. As a
Hawaiian, yeah, I am Hawaiian, but I am saying we are all
responsible. And I have a responsibility to tell you this. I
will not stop arguing or complaining about this situation, I will
do my very best to stop this Puna Community Development. Mahalo.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Thank you. Could you hold on one second,
Commissioner Tanaka has a question for you. Can you please hold
your applause.
TANAKA: Thank you for coming in.
QUINTERO: Thank you.
TANAKA: Regarding your testimony on fishing, you know, the
CDP is recommending another, construction of possibly another
boat ramp to alleviate some of the stress at Pohoiki. What are
your comments on that?
-36-
I I I * I*
.
% 9 0
QUINTERO: You know, I try to understand why they want a boat
ramp there when you have a lot of people, like myself, who take
my grandchildren over there to go swimming. So why would they
want a boat ramp over there? Why? Why do you want a boat ramp
there?
TANAKA: You're asking why at Pohoiki?
QUINTERO: Why at Pohoiki?
TANAKA: Yeah, well, it's already done with; it's there.
But they are suggesting two other possible sites. One of them is
at Makuu and I believe the other is -.
GOLDSTEIN: Kumukahi.
TANAKA: Kumukahi, to alleviate some of the problems with
the interaction between boaters and children swimming and all
that, the surfers and all that.
QUINTERO: For years, my ohana have gone there surfing. If
you've been there a lot of times, you know that there's a lot of
surfers there, you know that there's a lot of babies, children
that's there. And every time a boat comes in there, we've got to
take all our children out and go right back in the water. And we
try to understand why, why do you want the boat ramp there? Is
it more important to have the boat ramp there and run a
commercial business or is it to please the people of that
community because they've been there for years? That house that
sits where that boat ramp is is my ohana; I am from the Hale
family. That's my ohana. I was there before the boat, that -,
whatever that thing is there. I was there; I used to swim there.
I don't understand. Who are we doing all of these development
for?
TANAKA: So you are, you're not in opposition to
constructing an alternate boat ramp somewhere else?
QUINTERO: Somewhere else.
TANAKA: Okay. Thank you.
QUINTERO: Thank you.
-37-
ALONZO: Mr. Chairman?
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Commissioner Alonzo.
ALONZO: You mentioned that you, you have so many acres of
land. What kind of -? And you say you want to live off the
land. What kind of agriculture products on that land you have
right now?
QUINTERO: Coconuts, mamaki tea, we do a lot of fishing. We
go down there, my family gather. We go down there, we fish a
lot, and we just fish for what we need, that's it.
ALONZO:
No,
but
as far as the -, shoreline.
QUINTERO:
On
the
land?
ALONZO: Yeah, on the land, but in terms of the land, for
instance, like coconuts, tea, any else products that -,
agricultural products?
QUINTERO: Do you know what the coconut is?
ALONZO: Yeah.
QUINTERO: Do you know the many uses of the coconut tree?
ALONZO: How many acres you have, coconut trees down there?
QUINTERO: Our family have 21 acres along the coastline.
ALONZO: And all of them is all coconuts, mostly?
QUINTERO: Mostly coconuts.
ALONZO: Okay. Thank you.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Just out of curiosity, could you, is it possible
to point out on the map where your land is there?
QUINTERO: Okay. I was here the last time, and I said to you
that I didn't know about this Plan.
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P 9 0
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Right.
QUINTERO: And you already have, in this Plan, you have a
trail running along the coastline. I don't understand, and
nobody in my family knows about it.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Yeah. I'm just asking for my personal
information. Could you show us where your land, where, more, in
the general area where your property is. Is it near the Hale
Boat Ramp or -?
QUINTERO: Have you been in there?
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Yeah, we went there today.
QUINTERO: You went to the boat ramp?
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Yeah.
QUINTERO: Then you've never been to my land.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Okay.
QUINTERO: Okay.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Okay. Thank you. The next three speakers,
Michael -.
GIANNINI: Bielamowicz, Michael Bielamowicz.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Michael Bielamowicz.
BIELAMOWICZ: Bielamowicz.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Bielamowicz, Ralph San Miguel, and William -.
GIANNINI: Hachmeister.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Hachmeister. Michael.
BIELAMOWICZ: Good evening. I moved to the Big Island five and
half years ago.
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GIANNINI: Excuse me. First, could you state your name and
address, please.
BIELAMOWICZ: Yes. Michael Bielamowicz. My address is Post
Office Box 70, Kurtistown; I live in the Hawaiian Acres
Subdivision.
I moved to the Big Island from Oahu five and a half years ago in
order to pursue agricultural farming. I purchased four and a
half acres in Hawaiian Acres and developed a natural area for
fruit and exotic fruits. The proposal that I have in front of me
regarding these highways that they wish to build on 9 1/2 Road
will condemn a portion of my property, a portion of my property
that I didn't develop for agriculture but is pristine forest. It
has ohia trees that I can't even get my arms around. It harbors
many, many bird species; and I've decided not to use that as
agriculture, but to leave that as it is. The proposal to put a
highway in that area and also to change my livelihood -. When I
moved here, the closest, the Volcano Highway is four and a half
miles away, and the Puna Highway or the Pahoa Highway is two and
a half miles away. This would put a highway on my property as
well as being an intersection where the E Road proposal would be
within a thousand feet. I would be at a major intersection. I
have neighbors. My adjoining neighbor has his house, which would
be approximately 150 feet from this highway. He is also involved
in agriculture; he has macadamia nut trees as well as coffee
producing.
I am opposed to this highway, also, because it doesn't serve our
community. The community, the agricultural community there,
would have limited access, as well as my neighbor and I, we have
access to Orchidland Drive, directly from our property. This
highway would not allow us to even have access to that highway
and, also, not allow us to even go to the market, which is two
and a half miles down the road. So, I urge you to consider
using, utilizing right -of -ways that already exist rather than
bringing in and creating new roads that we would have to maintain
there. The population just doesn't -. And if it remains
agriculture, which it should remain agriculture, we shouldn't
require any new additional roads in that area. And so that is my
testimony. I urge you to think about the new road issues. And
if you have any questions, I would be happy to hear from you.
-40-
s
•
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Do we have any questions? Thank you very much.
Ralph San Miguel.
SAN MIGUEL: Thank you. Yes.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Before you go any further -
SAN MIGUEL: Uh huh.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Could you please state your name and resident
address into the mike.
SAN MIGUEL: Yeah, Ralph Miguel, Hawaiian Acres resident on
Road 9.
Hello, Director and Commissioners. I have a written statement
here that each one of you probably have in front of you. But
before I read this I'd like to know if the Commission has already
decided to vote and approve the Second Draft without going to a
third draft.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: This hearing is to take public testimony and, at
the end, it will either be continued or a recommendation will be
made for a favorable or unfavorable recommendation to the County
Council.
SAN MIGUEL: Would that be a public notice that we would all
find out?
VICE - CHAIRMAN: No, whatever we decide tonight will be at the end
of tonight's meeting.
GIANNINI: If there is, if there is a further meeting, if
it's continued for a further meeting, then a further, then most
likely, then another hearing would be held and there would have
to be public notice given for that. If a decision is made to put
it up to the County Council, then any, the Council would hold
hearings on it and public notice would be required to be given
for those notices, also, I mean, for those hearings, also.
SAN MIGUEL: Thank you. I'm opposed to the 9 1/2 Road Highway,
and I would like to read my statement.
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VICE - CHAIRMAN: Did you give your resident address?
SAN MIGUEL: Yeah, I thought I did.
GIANNINI: He already -.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Yeah, okay.
SAN MIGUEL: I have read the -.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Cracking up.
SAN MIGUEL: PCDP Second Draft, and I understand this study of
the proposed 9 1/2 Road high speed highway through Hawaiian Acres
Subdivision has a huge cost for a project of this size and
magnitude, you know, not to mention the RTDs that are proposed,
the water lines and PUC needs that will come along with it. I
think that most people understand that the Federal and State
funds are pretty limited, if not shrinking; and I can't see that,
you know, that there's enough money that, in my past experience,
shows that there's enough money to complete such projects of this
nature, these huge projects. You know, we look at the -, Oahu
has the H -3 Freeway that's been held up; it's been going on for
years and still not, you know, totally completed. They maybe,
you know, have come to a place where they're using it but it's,
there's still monies that's going down the drain.
Common sense would suggest that keeping any Federal or State
funds for projects would be used first to complete projects here
in Puna, such as alleviating the problems in Puna's
infrastructure, widening the existing Highway 130, building the
Keaau By -Pass Road, as real solutions for us first. I think that
all of us would profit the most from this kind of foresight and
decision management.
I would like to also state that we please wait to see what the
Hawaiian Acres survey that's been sent out, asking the question
of how many residents are opposed to any high speed highway
through Hawaiian Acres and forest reserve land. Other
alternatives to this PCDP could be considered, maybe the Hawaiian
Paradise Park 15 Road Highway from Hawaiian Beaches to Hilo or,
in Mountain View, the route that may go through Shipman
properties between Fern Acres and Eden Rock Subdivision, which
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would not condemn residential lots.
I would like to say that, you know, this decision is for a
lifetime and, you know, we've just had a very few meetings, and I
think that we should be able to discuss this and get the
community response before this Commission decides to move it to
the Planning Commission. And I would like to hear from the
Commission again and not hear from the Planning Commission. I
think we need to have the community associations speak about this
and get responses back from the residents. So I'd like to thank
the Commission from hearing from me, and I'd like to hear from
you guys again.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Thank you very much. Any questions? Thank you.
William Hachmeister, could you please state your name and
resident address.
HACHMEISTER: Okay, my name is William Frederick Hachmeister.
My address is P. O. Box 10267, Hilo, Hawaii 96720.
I provided the Commission with written information the last time
I was here. I still stand on that information, on that packet,
as it was delivered; I have not waivered from it. I, tonight,
only, only tonight did I receive the modification to the Plan
that was developed, and I, over a brief period of about an hour,
have read it. I haven't digested it, by no means, but I do not
agree with it. I still do not agree with this Plan being passed
for the stated reasons before. The Plan was not properly
created. It was developed, in my opinion, by people who do not
know how to develop plans and how to incorporate the collective
members of the County. I think that maybe the drafters of the
Plan did the best that they could but, again, it was in the
supervision of the Plan and its development that the Plan failed.
For instance, in the Hawaiian Paradise Park Plan, this
modification calls for the, for an example to be taken from the
Hawaiian Paradise Park Plan. That Plan was heavily contaminated
by unprofessional people working within professions that they had
no training, they have had no schooling and, obviously, no
experience. That Plan has failed. Those two plans coming
together, they're both bad plans, they still do not make a good
plan. For instance, on Page P -3, we, somebody please tell me on
the second paragraph on there, the underlined second word,
" tseeking." Will you please inform me what tseeking means? I
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don't know what tseeking means.
GOODELL: Where?
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Page 3.
HACHMEISTER: P -3, second paragraph.
GOODELL: Oh, it's a typo.
HACHMEISTER: Okay, well -.
GOODELL: It should be seeking.
HACHMEISTER: Seeking, okay. See, I work in engineering; I like
to work with facts, and I have a hard time with that. That could
mean an,engineering term to me, very easily, and I think you're
doing an engineering survey looking for tee marks or tees. Are
you using a T- square? You're doing something here, and I don't
understand what it is. Now I understand it's a typo error, but
the, it's an example of, of a problem. I would imagine that if
we were to go over this with a fine toothed comb, which I don't
intend to do at this time, I think that we can find more and more
and more failures. And this modification is not up to standard.
I, also, I am very -, I'm not a Native Hawaiian. I have a, I
have a different set of rules that I live by and understandings,
especially when it comes to ancestry and speleological surveys
and that sort of thing. But I want you to understand, I have a
deep concern for the, for terms in here. We are asked to, on
Page P -8, to, on the second paragraph, third line, first word,
"extremely sacred areas." Well, I don't know how we can even
begin to term an extremely sacred area or a minorly sacred area.
This is a Native Hawaiian issue, and they have to be able to
express it to us, and I think they can. And I think they have a
valid right there. I think that the Native Hawaiians are moving
forward as they have been raised to honor beliefs and those
beliefs have been standing for centuries. And now we're just
automatically trying to eliminate the, those deeply, those deep
emotions and feelings that these people have. I would hotly
contest any sudden modification to their rights.
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1
9
And I, from the last few weeks, I've talked with certain members
of the community who said that they wouldn't come to another
meeting like this, that they feel that they've already expressed
themselves adequately over the last few months, and they stand by
that same expression that this Plan does not, in any way,
represent a valid plan or a clear plan or even a plan that has
merits for the environment or for economic development or the
welfare of the people as a whole. And I know that they will then
come forward, if this is moved into the "County Council, it will
be bogged down there and hotly contested. It would be wasting
the Council's time, in my opinion. I'm ready for your answer, or
your questions.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Do we have any questions from the Commissioners?
No?
HACHMEISTER: Thank you.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Thank you very much for your testimony. Kathy
Martin, Bob St. John and James -.
VIDALIC: Vidalic.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Vidalic. Cathy Martin, could you please state
your name and resident address into the microphone.
MARTIN: My name is Cathy Martin. I am a Hawaiian Acres
resident. Good evening, Commissioners.
VICE- CHAIRMAN: Your resident address, mailing address.
MARTIN: P. 0. Box 1512, Kurtistown.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Thank you.
MARTIN: Nine six seven six zero.
Good evening, Commissioners. I wanted to plead my case
courteously. However, through past experience, living in rural
Hawaii, litigation is the only real means of directly opposing
this PCDP draft regarding the proposed 9 1/2 Road high speed
highway through Hawaiian Acres.
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GIANNINI: Excuse me, could you speak more clearly in the
microphone.
MARTIN: Because, you see, you're not only condemning a
portion of 308 Hawaiian Acres lots, you are also cutting down
orchards with trees that produce income. Most of the residents
in Hawaiian Acres either situate their orchards or their homes at
the back of their property because of the narrow lot size.
Since you're either going to be bulldozing their homes or their
livelihood through agriculture, there cannot be appropriate
compensation for the residents' loss of income, peace and
security.
Out of the 308 lot owners directly impacted, and also anybody
else living in surrounding areas, I have not met one who is not
opposed,to this 9 1/2 Road Highway.
So, I've estimated that I can easily collect $200 per lot owner
of the 308 directly affected, and also an additional $100 from
the surrounding 610 lots. This will bring us a total of $120,000
from Hawaiian Acres to start litigation.
I'd also like to mention we have some Hilo professionals, such as
Michael and Susan Star that owns Dreams of Paradise, the fine art
gallery of Hilo, who also live on the 9 1/2 proposed road. We
have Bob Williams, who owns Orchid Isle Properties, as well as
Jeff Enriques of Garden Exchange, all Hawaiian Acres residents,
as well as other professionals in our subdivision that may be
willing to support this litigation.
Thank you very much for listening. I hope you make the correct
decision to oppose 9 1/2 Road Highway so as not to go with the
route of litigation.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Thank you. Do we have any questions? No. Thank
you very much for your testimony. Bob St. John, could you please
state your name and resident address.
ST. JOHN: Bob St. John. I'm President of the Board of
Directors of the Nanawale Subdivision, and my address is P. O.
Box 1199, Pahoa.
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4 4 1 * 1*
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Thank you.
ST. JOHN: I got involved in this Plan about five years ago,
just as a citizen going to meetings. I remember month after
month in Keaau Community Center, wondering why we couldn't get
more people to come out and contribute to the Plan and give us
their ideas then. But, we, I helped with the review of the first
version, and I haven't seen it since. I'm not happy with all of
it, but I don't think that it's going to ever occur as written,
anyway. Any plan is a skeleton, and so I think that there -,
probably all of us would be very happy if we could find some
moral and legal way to keep anybody else from moving into Puna,
but we can't do it. There are another 45 or 50,000 lots in Puna,
and most of them are going to have houses on them, not while I'm
still here, but not too long afterwards. They're going to come
very fast, I think.
One thing that occurs to me, I'm kind of jumping from point to
point. But right now, to consolidate two lots, you have to have
a survey, I understand, and this is a penalty rather than an
encouragement for people to consolidate lots and reduce the
number of dwellings in the subdivisions. I'm just throwing that
out.
Also, I want to second Jon Olson's concerns for Nanawale, and I'm
sure we'll be working with him to correct a lot of those.
As I say, I'm, everything about the Plan isn't right, but I think
it's necessary to plan because otherwise we're going to be
overrun with sprawl, and I don't think anybody wants that. We're
not going to keep people out, we want -, but we can make it so
they can come in and live comfortably.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Thank you very much. Excuse me. Planning
Director Virginia Goldstein.
GOLDSTEIN: Excuse me. Was the point you were trying to make
that perhaps one way that we might be able to maybe reduce the
density is to make the process of consolidation a little bit
easier and less expensive for the -?
ST. JOHN: Yeah, I think -.
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GOLDSTEIN: Landowner?
ST. JOHN: I think if it was encouraged by allowing a person
to just go in and say, okay, I own these two lots, let me
consolidate them, and do it like that, then a lot of people would
do it.
GOLDSTEIN: Okay.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Thank you very much. James -.
VIDALIC: My name is -.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Vidalic.
VIDALIC: Yes, my name is James Vidalic. I reside -, well,
my mailing address is P. 0. Box 1269, Keaau.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Thank you.
VIDALIC: And I am presently on the Community Action
Committee and on the Board of Directors of Hawaiian Paradise
Park's Hui. I'm not here in that capacity; I'm here as an
individual citizen.
I have only been involved in this thing since last summer. I was
told when I, I was originally going to the Hawaiian Paradise Park
meetings, and I was trying to be -. Let me give a little bit of
background. I have a Masters of Science in Public Management
Science from Case Western Reserve University; I'm a trained
professional in public management. My first job upon graduation
was for the University of Case Western Reserve, where I was a
student, to hire me. They hired me to get the University out of
debt. After that, I was hired by the governor of the State of
Ohio to set up the Department of Environmental Protection. At
the age of 22, I was Senior Management Analyst to that. I then
was hired by the Federal government's Department of Housing and
Development to go into New Jersey, into the Department of
Community Affairs and set up a state -wide housing code
enforcement program, because the housing enforcement for the
State of New Jersey was heavily corrupted by the mafia. I was
successful in doing that; everybody from the governor on down was
replaced. That was the beginning of my career.
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I # I* I*
The last thing I did, I was hired by Case Western Reserve
University again, when I was a graduate student working on a PhD
in Management Information Decision Systems, to do a turnaround of
Case Western Reserve University and their particular management
school. They are now the 35th, rated 35th in the United States;
their management school is 15th. In addition to that, there was
a spin -off to turn around the City of Cleveland, economically.
The City of Cleveland has now a booming economy.
In conjunction with that, I was also hired by a private group
called Rehab America to investigate foreclosed housing and set up
a national data base for them on that. The outcome of that was a
Federal investigation, first by Kemp because I kept communication
with them, and eventually Conksman Lantosse (phonetic) did an
investigation, also to uncover corruption in foreclosed housing,
and it's still going on.
In the process of that and some other things, I decided to retire
in 1990 and came here. There was a number of choices of where to
come, and I decided I wanted to maintain myself in the United
States. I didn't want to go to a foreign country, but I wanted
to remain in an area that was still rural and had a large
indigenous population because I want to be with people who live
close to the land. I moved to Puna for that reason. I lived
totally off the land in Puna; not as far as food goes, I wish I
could, but I am just now in the point of getting my land to be
able to do that. But I live on solar; it's the way of the
future. If you look at the increasing rates in Helco and all the
other commodities that come from off Island, the reality is that
something is going to radically change. I worked in the very top
levels of the Federal government in various projects since 1970.
I was told in 1990 that welfare was going to go. I was told that
there was going to be, under no matter what president came in,
that the, they were going to have a health reform act. okay,
I'll tell you Social Security is going to change; a lot of things
are going to change.
When I was first attending these meetings, I was horrified by,
number one, that they, in due respect to the people involved,
because I think they know not what they do, to quote Jesus, you
know. They were hired as incompetents with no professional
background. I attended those meetings. When I just said, you
know, you're telling us that if we go in there and we don't, and
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we don't go with this plan, that somehow we're going to have to .
pay $80,000 for improvements. What are those improvements? And
I was told by either Virginia Aste or Bonnie Goodell, I can't
remember which one, that a large portion of that was for sewers.
And I asked, "Well, what's the percolation of the soil ?" From
the mainland, my understanding is that the water is just going to
go down immediately; that's my experience in Hawaiian Paradise
Park. You don't need sewers. So, a lot of the premises that
they were using as fear tactics were overridden. This is what
the last meeting was about.
I was told by HUD to stay out of this as an individual because of
conflict of interest, because I am a consultant for them from
time to time, but I cannot remain silent. The way the planning
is being done is atrocious. You have, now, this thing where you
all of a sudden turn this into rural things. I sat in the last
meeting,of the Hawaiian Paradise Hui; we knew nothing about this.
All of a sudden -. And I went and I turned in a letter of
recommendation from the top level of HUD to Arakaki to meet with
him on this, and he said, "No, no, it's a lousy Plan. Most of
the people I talked to on Council said it's a lousy Plan; we'll
just pass it. We won't do it in an ordinance; nothing is going
to come out of this. We spent a lot of money. The Mayor is
embarrassed over the amount of money so he wants to pass the
plan." And then I find out you're proposing changes to the
County General Plan, and you don't even submit these to the
public for this hearing. And it's going to go to the Council
next? I mean, the reason why there were so many people at this
last meeting was that Bill Hachmeister and I went around,
particularly to the locals, and said, "Do you know, do you know
anything about this ?" I get the paper every day. I never heard
about this. I happened to miss the two notices that were in.
That fellow over there said put up things in the grocery stores,
you know, word of mouth, because people from Puna don't read.
So, you see the audience? There is no one here. I heard about
it from Bill this morning; I wouldn't have been here otherwise.
So, the whole way this thing happens here is sort of an
embarrassment. And, truly, I was so embarrassed by it, I called
the Justice Department and said, you know, there must be some
kind of collusion, I honestly did. And they referred me to the
FBI, and the FBI listened to me and that was the end of it. The
Justice Department rates Hawaii's government as the most corrupt
in the United States. And I'll tell you, from watching it, it
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is. It's more so than New Jersey, okay, it truly is. It's an
embarrassment, what I see in the paper all the time. And this is
an embarrassment the way this planning process is going on.
Incompetent people doing it, ramming stuff like this through at
the last minute. And I'll tell you, if it goes to the Council,
Bill and I and a number of people are going to be out.
The other thing is the whole Hawaiian issue; you're just sort of
ignoring it. You know, Inouye feels, your Senator Inouye feels
that sovereignty is going to happen, okay. He was here at a
meeting with the Hawaiians not very long ago, a month of two ago,
and that was his statement. You know, it has gone through the
Congress already, it has gone through the President's office.
Now you have a person who has been arrested, and all he has to do
is repeal that to the Supreme Court and you're going to get a
ruling on sovereignty. And it's probably going to end up that
the Hawaiians are going to have something going on for them they
don't have going on right now. The way they've been treated is
ridiculous; and this is largely where they live, it's largely
where the welfare people live, in Puna. It's the only place they
can afford to live like this. They're not being consulted.
And all I have to say is if it goes to Council, Bill and I are
going to be out, and a lot of other people, trying to stop this
thing. And I'm not opposed -, I'm retired, I'm not opposed to
starting to conduct my own investigation on how these decisions
are made. This is what I did professionally for 20 years. And I
think something is not quite right here. It's my own private
opinion, but from 20 years of doing this, something's sort of
strange. How can you do things like this? How can you even
consider having, passing it with all the negative testimony that
came in the last meeting? There was two people that said
something positive. Now, I agree, some kind of planning needs to
be done, but not like this. Thank you.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Thank you very much. Kathryn Swain, Glenn Makuna
and Scotty Bowman. Kathryn Swain, could you please state your
name and -.
SWAIN: Thank you.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Resident address.
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SWAIN: I'm Kathryn Swain. I live at 14 -3463 Puna Road �n
Nanawale.
I have studied this, been to meetings and, but, when -, and
coming this morning to hear the presentation, but I feel like,
still, there's a lot I don't know. I don't envy you people or
the planners; this is an extremely difficult job. I do -, I am a
little upset with some things that I have heard, and I know
there's a lot of misinformation in our area. One resident of
Nanawale thought that Nanawale residents would have to pay for
putting in stores and schools in the little, in the little dot
that's there in Nanawale. And yet -, and people accuse you of
not giving people the input. But I went to the first meeting in
Puna at the school, and there were very few people there, and I
heard about it; I don't know what they don't. I don't think
people, you know, they don't come out, and then they complain
when it, happens.
I do get a little upset with people that say, "Well, I wanted to
live in a rural area, so I went there. Now, everybody else stay
out." You know, it's just not the way things work, and these
lands, these -. So I'm saying that there are a lot of people
that testify and I feel, I feel for them, I really do. You know,
my lifestyle, my lifestyle has been changed because I didn't
realize that when there are lots, nice empty lots beside me,
people were going to come and build houses that I didn't like,
you know. But that's, I had to face that; I can't do anything
about that.
I think you -, I think there are things that are wrong with the
Plan, too. I don't know everything about it, but I do appreciate
the planning; it has to be done. And I realize that, and I hope
the people in Puna realize that, and that they'll come out and
help decide because it has to be done. Those lots -, you're not
asking people to come in. Those lots have already been sold, so
I understand that. But I just want you to realize that I, that
at least I understand that it's a very difficult job and good
luck.
GOLDSTEIN: Thank you.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Thank you. Any questions? Glenn Makuna.
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MAKUNA: Aloha.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Name and resident address, please.
MAKUNA: My name is Glenn Makuna. I'm a resident of
Hawaiian Acres; I live on 11 Road. I gave testimony at the last
of these public hearings, so tonight I'm going to limit myself to
just some brief comments.
It is suggested in the Puna Community Development Plan that
population growth in Puna would probably be self - limiting if no
drastic changes were made. It states, "For slowing growth, such
a no development strategy for the non - conforming subdivisions
would undoubtedly work." The building of new highways and the
creation of Rural Town Districts rather than providing solutions
to a projected eventual build -out, actually invites and
encourages it. These proposals, I feel, guarantee Puna's build -
out and guarantee that it will happen sooner than later.
The PCDP also states, "The cost of owning lots in existing pre -
1967 subdivisions will also increase significantly once
improvements are made. For some low income Puna residents, this
situation might ultimately force relocation." And relocation to
where? To one of the medium density ghettos created within the
Rural Town Districts? No, thank you. I know from experience
that when you cram a lot of people into a relatively dense area
tensions and frustrations increase, creating hotbeds of
hostility, criminal activity and a mentality of fear. People out
here chose to be far away from congestion and high density.
There are large numbers for whom this kind of progress is
anathema.
I suppose there might be some community support for designation
of corridors through subdivisions, but the overwhelming sentiment
of the majority of people I've queried is absolutely against
cutting up the subdivisions. If the residents of Lower Puna
agree that they need roads, please allow them to run them through
their own subdivisions. But they don't seem to want them through
their subdivisions either. Don't stick it to us.
About 125 years ago, William Tecumseh Sherman wrote, "Whether
right or wrong, these railroads will be built," as the program to
eradicate the Native Americans who were in the way was continued.
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People have chosen secluded subdivisions because they value
seclusion, quietude, privacy, clean air, peacefulness. If you
build highways and create these pockets of density, these RTDs
within subdivisions, and force people to lose these qualities
which they value, there is a good chance they will likely also
lose their patience and their temper. I pray of you, please
listen to the conscience of the community. Thank you very much.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Thank you. Scotty Bowman.
BOWMAN: Aloha ahiahi, Members of the Hawaii County
Planning Commission. I'm Scotty Bowman, Government Affairs
Officer for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and I speak this
evening to provide OHA's manao regarding the Second Draft of the
Puna Community Development Plan and the proposed amendments dated
October 2, 1995.
The first part of my testimony provides information about the
Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and I'll skip through that. At the
outset, OHA compliments the County and its planners for
recognizing the significance of Puna and the important place that
it holds in our Hawaiian community. We are encouraged by the
efforts taken to include members of Puna's diverse community and
to provide factions with information about your procedures and
policies, and we are pleased with development of alternate
planning scenarios for Puna and with the efforts taken to present
these options through a series of public meetings in Puna.
OHA concurs with your goal to retain Puna's rural character,
natural beauty, affordability and diversity while improving its
liveability and future prospects. And we applaud selection of
the rural scenario for Puna's future.
We are concerned, however, with the overall approach the Plan
takes regarding archaeological and cultural sites and natural
resources which are important to the Hawaiian community. They
seem to be viewed largely as a commodity, which could be used to
cash in on something called "eco- tourism," which you describe as:
travel to visit and appreciate the traditional cultural sites and
natural environment of the destination area; protection of the
native ecosystem of an area and the traditional culture of the
people within those ecosystems; activities to generate income
providing, by providing community -based services to visitors of
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(1 41 1 * 1*
natural and cultural sites in a way that protects and nurtures
the natural and cultural systems and in a manner that is
economically sustainable.
And then you go through in the various sections of your Plan, the
Economic Section, the Transportation Section, the Land Use
Section, the Public Utilities Section, the Historic Sites and
Natural Beauty Section, and you talk about how all of these
attributes are going to contribute to eco- tourism.
Nowhere, however, in this discussion does your plan address the
issues which are of prime concern to the Hawaiian community.
(1) What steps will you take to identify, interpret and protect
the archaeological and cultural sites you have identified which
will attract eco- tourists to Puna? If people are going to be
directed to these sites, it is critical that they are identified
properly, that accurate interpretations are available, and that
steps are taken to protect them from damage. (2) How will you
prevent the destruction of sites which have not yet been
discovered? (3) What steps will you take to ensure that a more
complete survey of sites will be undertaken? (4) What action
will you take to protect sites which should never be opened to
the general public because of their sensitive nature? Such
places would include family burial sites and areas used for
fishing, gathering and religious practices by Puna Hawaiians, as
well as sites with high archaeological significance or which are
extremely fragile and in eminent danger of destruction. (5) What
steps will be taken to preserve the ancient, unspoiled
identifiable trails you propose opening to the general public?
(6) Why is there a conscious effort to include Hawaiians as
parties to the desecration of their own culture? It's bad enough
that the introduction to Draft 2 blames King Kamehameha for the
demise of Hawaiian culture, but your proposed amendment does not
resolve this problem by shifting the blame from him to his
descendants. Would it not suffice to say that the overpowering
influence of westerners and the tremendous pressure that they
exerted on every aspect of Hawaiian life was responsible for the
overthrow of a centuries old kingdom and the tragic changes which
followed?
Although OHA is impressed with the majority of the work which
went into the development of this Plan, we sincerely look forward
to your resolution to ensure that aspects of Hawaiian culture,
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religion, history and life which make Puna so special will never,
ever be lost. Thank you for this opportunity to provide our
manao with you.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Thank you. Any questions from the Commissioners?
Thank you, Mr. Bowman. Richard Mundy, Hank Roberts, Howard
Wright. Richard Mundy, please state your name and resident
address.
MUNDY: Yes, I'm Richard Mundy. I live in Hawaiian
Beaches at 15 -2724 Ina Street, I -n -a.
There is a lot of opposition to this Plan. And it seems to me
that, you know, a lot of people are worried about 100 percent
build -out, and I sure hope nobody here is trying to achieve
100 percent build -out. Most people in Puna do not want any more
development than is necessary, and I think it's in the County's
interest, in their fiscal interest, to have as little development
as possible because if we're going to be building all these
roads, 9 1/2 Mile Road, in particular, it's going to take a lot
of money that I'm sure everybody realizes we don't have. So,
these are well, best -laid plans and I, generally, support a lot
of the things. I don't live in Hawaiian Aces, so, or Fern Acres,
so I can understand their opposition to the central corridor and
9 1/2 Road and the connection there.
And I actually, I should have, should stop and say I was waiting
for you up there at the top of Ainaloa Boulevard. I don't know
what time you reached there.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: We were, maybe, 15 minutes ahead of schedule
today.
MUNDY: Oh, you were ahead of schedule? I was there from
about -.
VICE- CHAIRMAN: Slightly ahead.
GOODELL: At that time we weren't -.
MUNDY: I was there about 10:30. Anyway, I wanted to
point -.
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0 # 0 - I*
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Oh, 10:30?
MUNDY: About 10:30 to 11:30.
GOODELL: No, we were there at 1:00.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: No, we left the County Building at 11:30.
MUNDY: Oh, okay, well, I misread your, I misread your
schedule. Anyway, I wanted -.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Okay.
MUNDY: To point out, I wanted to point out the forest
over there, up there at the top, because that's where this, the
Second Draft of the Plan, all of a sudden this Waikahekahe up
here, and that's right, that's where the forest is right there,
and if we're going to be I mean, Puna is already subdivided
out, and we can't tell people to stop cutting down the forest on
their land, or we haven't decided to yet; but, you know, why
should we be tearing down another forest at Waikahekahe where
people that live there are, basically, living there to be away
from it all and here we come in with a highway coming up from
Pahoa and so forth. I think we ought to put that on hold for a
while. I mean, Waikahekahe isn't the best place to put it. If
you really want, there are good places to put it, but it, you
know, it shouldn't be cast in stone at this time. You see the
differentiation, or the people above Orchidland are generally
saying we don't want all these roads; we don't want this central
corridor. Well, maybe later on when they reach the 30 percent
threshold they may see the need for these. I say what we ought
to do is develop more, maybe a 40 percent plan for what we will
be looking at in the next 10 -15 years as we build out to
40 percent, and then we might gain more community support, and do
not cast Waikahekahe or whatever in stone. We can have two
towns, one for Lower Puna and one for Upper Puna as it develops
and sees the need to develop it. We don't need it. I don't
see -. Well, there is much more that I could say. I see my time
has run out. I'll just leave it at that.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: You can -
MUNDY: Let's take -.
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VICE - CHAIRMAN: Do you -?
MUNDY: Let's try and develop a 40 percent plan the next
time we come around and talk about this.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Okay. Okay, do we have any questions from the
Commissioners? Thank you. Hank Roberts, name and resident
address, please.
ROBERTS: All right, gentlemen, my name is Hank Roberts. I
live in Sea View Estates, and then Post Office Box 1604, Pahoa.
I, too, missed you guys. Of course, you didn't come down. I
don't know why it was cancelled at the last minute. I sort of
look at the people down in the Lower Puna area, Sea View Estates,
Kalapana. And, of course, then there's Puna Palisades and then
there's Kehena. My testimony last time, I don't know, it's filed
on record, but we are predominantly environmentally active. We,
too, believe in solar; we believe in the future. And I see from
coming to these meetings that most of the other people are
involved on their own personal levels, whether they want their
territory destroyed or bothered. And I know that plans are
necessary, but I think these are way out of line.
I'd like to read something that I wrote this morning just to put
it into perspective on my point of view, because I do feel the
times are changing and I think it's time that we look at change,
not only environmentally, but economically, as well. On what
level do we address this issue, environmental, economical or
philosophical? Well, it depends on your interest. Personally,
my choice would be environment. But here we all are once again
trying to decide what to do with the future when we don't even
know what to do with or what to make of the present. We always
seem to sacrifice the present for the future, and maybe all, in
our own way, just seeking transcendence.
The many present problems are being addressed by the same archaic
methods that have put us where we are today. Are we servicing
the effect, almost entirely forgetting the cause? And there is a
war between the rich and poor, between the left and right,
between the black and white; and there's a war between the ones
who say there is a war and the ones who say there isn't. We must
remember in these chaotic times that the future is now; and
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9 1 0 9
6 9 0
because of what is economically happening, both nationally and
locally, we must start to change the consciousness of
individuals, for only, the only way we can change a society is to
change individuals. And a few words to ponder: indigenous,
sustainability, decentralization, photovoltaic, volcano,
earthquake and future.
I would like to close, philosophically,
new beginning eventually must end, and"
beginning. And from the Bible, Matthew
rise against nation, kingdom shall rise
there shall be famines, pestilence, and
places." It is happening today. Thank
by stating that every
every ending has a new
24:7, "For nation shall
against kingdom, and
earthquakes in diverse
you very much.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Thank you. Any questions? Thank you,
Mr. Roberts. Howard Wright, name and resident address, please.
WRIGHT: I'm Howard Wright. I live in Orchidland, but I
receive my mail at Post Office Box 11414 in Hilo.
I'm a little ambivalent about whether I really should take up
your time because so much of what I wanted to say has been said
quite ably, especially by Ms. Swain, Mr. St. John, and several
other people. The reason I came tonight, really, was because so
many of my friends are taking an ostrich position. They think
that if, that development plans are planning for development and
that it's encouraging development. And although I think there's
some truth in the idea that very poor planning or no planning
retards development a little bit, it makes it very chaotic, and I
think we do need to think about tomorrow a little bit. Perhaps
it's, well, simply to identify future roadways, etcetera, so that
it won't be difficult or impossible to put good ones in in the
future. We don't have to hurry with all of these facilities, but
if we don't plan for them now, with maximum public input, maybe
we need a lot more hearings, I don't know. It looks like the
hearings have generated some -, the interest that the original
public meetings didn't.
But, at any rate, I congratulate the Commission and the staff and
especially the consultants who nobody has noticed tonight, I
mean, nobody has commented tonight on the fact that this Plan got
a major planning award for good planning outside our area. But,
at any rate, the process really is essential if we don't want to
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have the kind of disaster that's befallen communities all around
the world, especially where I've seen it in California, now in
Oregon. And so I think this process has to continue one way or
the other, and I hope people can avoid the ostrich syndrome.
Ostriches don't really put their heads in the sand when a lion
shows up; if so, there wouldn't be any ostriches. Thank you.
VICE- CHAIRMAN: Thank you. Any questions? At this time, we'd
like to take a 10- minute break for some "of the Commissioners.
RF.CF.GGF.D The Chairman called a short recess at
7:55 p.m.
RECONVENED The meeting reconvened at 8:10 p.m.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Tonight's meeting is back in order. I forgot to
let the general public know, also on hand tonight is Russell
Kokubun, the Mayor's Special Assistant; he's right over there
behind the palm tree. Virginia is back. Okay, the next three
speakers are Bob -, well, we can do two, there's only four more
left. Bob Jacobson and Julie Hedgecock- Jacobson, please come
forward.
R. JACOBSON: Good evening. Thanks for the opportunity to
address this group.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Thank you. Can you please state your name and
resident address.
R. JACOBSON: My name is Robert Jacobson, Post Office Box 900,
Kurtistown. I'm submitting this in writing. I also happen to be
a resident of Hawaiian Acres; I live at the center. I serve on
their planning group right now, but I am going to just be
speaking for myself.
Since you'll be getting some of the written testimony, hopefully,
I am going to make a correction. I, unfortunately, wrote CMI
rather than Community Management Associates, CMA, throughout, so
there's a consistent problem right there. And thanks, again, for
your field trip up to the affected areas, at least some of them.
I would have hoped -, it's a shame you weren't able to go up
through the Central Subdivision Corridor today because it is a
beautifully forested area. People keep referring back to the
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forest involved and making these roads, and I'd, personally, be
pretty upset about seeing it removed. If you are going to pass
this PCDP, I would hope that No. 1, the communities would have
the final say in all the plans put forth that would be affecting
those communities. This is, by far, the most important part, if
you are going to improve this plan, that should be in there, that
those affected should have the most say, as Jon Olson already
mentioned.
Since you were on your field trip today, I think it might have
rained a little bit, is that possible?
VICE - CHAIRMAN: A lot.
R. JACOBSON: I'm just curious how many of you would want to
walk 10 minutes or a half hour or however far you have to go to
these Rural Town Districts that have been proposed. For
instance, in Hawaiian Acres alone, if we were going to have a 10-
minute walk, you'd have to have at least 25 to 30 of these RTDs.
Hawaiian Acres, where I live, is huge; these are all three -acre
lots and there's 4,000 of them roughly. As far as build -out, I
don't think that people are going to want to build out because
the extreme expense, the infrastructure problems that exist. At
least 800 lots are adversely affected by flooding and may be
condemned by the County, I mean the Army Corps of Engineers just
because the flooding. If you saw any of that today, it is
immense.
Some of the ideas that have been suggested in this Plan seem to
work in the Midwest which is, of course, centrally located, has
highways, rail links throughout North America; and,
unfortunately, many of the things, industries that have been
referred to have no bearing on the reality of what we face here
in Hawaii. With the long transfer times, transport problems,
everything must be shipped by air or ship. Problems are very
different here. I come from the Midwest, and I'm used to
transportation there, which it does not relate to what we see
here. Many of the problems are if the people really want to see
services that they're clamoring for in these, this Plan, I would
strongly suggest that they live in the cities. When farmers in
the Midwest retire, for instance, they usually move to a small
town; they don't really demand that somebody build a hospital,
medical clinic or retirement home or Sure Save next door.
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This business about apartment dwellings within Hawaiian Acres is
an anathema to every resident that I've spoken to. It's very
upsetting. I've lived next to S -, 20- and 40'- plexes. And what I
think is suggested here are not luxury condominiums or apartments
that are going to draw a high class of people that have a lot of
earning power, it's going to bring in a bunch of really poor
people on welfare. Certainly, they have a right to exist. But
do we really need to import some of the problems that exist from
Oahu directly into the middle of a rural subdivision where we
have no abilities to deal with them? Right now, we have escapees
and problems from Kulani. We have a lot of people who are
shipped over from Oahu when they're released from jail directly
into the subdivisions. They ask to come to Puna because with the
problems that we face, and it's easy to escape and slip through
the cracks there. I don't want to import a whole bunch more of
those people in, frankly.
The underlying belief in this PCDP, it's very naive that we're
going to bear with the same zoning. Perhaps this administration
is perfect and there's no corruption whatsoever but, certainly,
in the future, there's a possibility that people are going to
tinker with this plan, make special exemptions and then the Plan
will fall apart in terms of what they have to say. Throughout
the Plan, there's assumptions made that are really upsetting.
One of them I find the most upsetting is that Puna workers, and
this is a quote from the PCDP Second Draft, "Puna workers who are
skilled need not demand the higher wages of workers in areas with
prohibitive housing costs." Where are these ares with
prohibitive housing costs? Hilo? Kona? Oahu? That's not
clearly defined. And the idea that we should get paid less,
simply because we happen to live in this area, it really bothers
me an awful lot.
Specific criticisms of the roads, this Central Subdivision
Corridor, it cuts through an established community. If you've
ever lived next to a place where a freeway or a major road has
gone through, you can see that the neighborhood completely
deteriorates; it changes entirely. You can't get from one side
of the road to the other, crime, really, drastically increases,
people really get cut off from the area that they live in.
The 9 1/2 Road, I'm sure it will be determined by the State
planners themselves what they do, but the current plan of it,
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where it's located, ends up dumping the majority of the traffic.
up above Kurtistown. Kurtistown is in the area where there's
already a lot of traffic accidents. And you could just call the
police or drive by, you'd know that you're in danger there
because there's the gas station, a lot of un -, different turns;
people really don't pay attention what's happening there. And to
put a whole bunch more traffic there I'm sure will hurt people.
I work as a nurse, and I really don't like to see people get
killed.
And lastly, on the roads, the Lower Puna parkway has, there's
some controversy over whether it would be built there because the
people in HPP, Paradise Park, feel they're going to be able to
manage their own jobs and will not need much of a commuter access
to Hilo. That's totally unrealistic.
Out of the roads now, placing urban areas in an area with no
roads, no water supplies, no sewage facilities, no electricity
and no private phones I feel is idiotic, at best. We are having
problems keeping up with the current needs without taking on
expensive new projects that have no proven track records here in
an environment like Hawaii. We have a unique situation which
many low income people own their own homes and a real stake in
their community. This is fairly unusual. We have a very high
ownership rate of homes for dwellers in Puna. It's a very
fortunate thing we have. I view that proliferation of high
density housing and 20 -unit apartments is a real threat to the
good that currently constitutes our community.
In summary, the architects of the PCDP ask us to take their plans
on faith. They tell us we don't understand it if we don't like
it. Unfortunately, when I take a very close look at the PCDP, I
see a lack of critical thinking, plenty of ideals, and a great
failure to understand the residential areas the Plan claims to
benefit. Upon close examination, many of the numbers are based
on hopes that some ideas will work and others are based on events
that will not occur. Hoping people will give away development
rights for their property is completely unrealistic. I haven't
spoken with one person who wants to give up their development
rights to their property yet. Thinking that the State and County
will abolish Ohana Zoning will not make it happen. I think that
there's many pressures on our State to keep Ohana Zoning in
place.
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In looking at build -out, I view the existing situation as the
lesser of two evils when compared with the PCDP. CMA's fudged
numbers and a lack of understanding of Hawaiian Acres' real
situation demand that I reject CMA's plans and goals for my
community. Thank you very much for your time.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Thank you. No questions? Julie Hedgecock-
Jacobson, name and resident address, please.
J. JACOBSON: Yes, I'm Julie Hedgecock- Jacobson. I'm a resident
of Hawaiian Acres on 7 Road; my mailing address is Box 900,
Kurtistown, Hawaii.
As a resident of Hawaiian Acres for 13 years, a DOE educator for
14 years, a voter and a taxpayer, I must speak out when faced
with issues that will drastically affect my community. Perhaps I
should have gotten involved sooner in this planning process, but,
ironically, I rationalized my previous lack of involvement with
the belief that the individuals designing the Plan were in tune
with the pulse of Puna and would incorporate the communities'
needs and wishes into the PCDP. When I carefully read the PCDP
Second Draft, I was shocked and horrified by its content. I
bought and read the PCDP First Draft, thinking that would help me
understand how it developed. I also bought and read the
Technical Reference Manual. And, actually, all this just
confirmed my beliefs.
It seems that, in a nutshell, I think the PCDP, the most primary,
fundamental flaw of it is that it ignored the heart of the
residents' input. Secondly, I think it makes many, many numerous
claims about what the Plan will accomplish that are not true.
And then, thirdly, and most personally to me, I think, it will
destroy the Puna that I know and love. And just to show you, if
you read the examples of the brainstorming sessions in the
Technical Manual, the most common reoccurring theme is the desire
to maintain the rural lifestyle. And then the other very common
comment was, or theme is the desire to preserve the natural
beauty that exists in Puna. The different subdivisions varied in
the degree of prominence with these ideas and the degree of
infrastructure improvements they wanted, but that general theme
still exists throughout.
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•
•
And, incidentally, I have been very actively involved in the
Hawaiian Acres Planning and Land Use Committee that formulated a
very comprehensive survey and a very comprehensive set of
background information, and that is soon to go out and we will
be, hopefully, getting it back, but I would hope that you all
would take a close look at those responses. Some of the other
surveys that have been done, one in Fern Forest, which we
participated in because we also own land there, and then one
shown in the PC -, in the Technical Reference Manual, actually
were, to me, they didn't really get into the issues as
thoroughly. And they, also, tended to be, what I would say,
baiting people, saying, "Oh, would you like this, would you like
this, would you like this," without explaining the ramifications,
the expenses, the whole picture of the situation. And if someone
asked me, well, would you like me to send you a million dollars
every month, I'd probably check that off. Yes, I strongly agree
with that. But yet, obviously, that's not going to happen.
And as far as what I consider unsubstantiated claims, I think, on
the whole, the report really tries to couch itself in a lot of
ecological terms, a lot of positive statements, but it can't
substantiate them. The most glaring example, to me, would be the
idea that the Rural Town Districts would decrease density. The
only way that could possibly happen is if all the outlying area
people turned over their, decided to participate in transfer of
development rights; and I've been asking lots of people, as well,
and no one seems interested. I don't think you can assume that
would happen.
I think what you could foresee happening, Bonnie has, in comments
and letters written to us, told us that the RTD would have to
have approximately 2,000 people within at least a 10- minute
walking distance to be, to have it viable to have mass
transportation as well as probably all the other infrastructure
that goes with it. And if you have those 2,000 people in that
area, what I foresee is that there are 24 of those Rural Town
Districts, and that could be, that would be like, is the minimum,
you could have a population increase from an extra approximately
50,000 people and it could go on up. The frequently suggested
population is 500, I mean 5,000. And so I just see that what we
will have is a, we will have the existing people as well as the
RTDs.
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The other major philosophical and ethical problem I have is that
what I foresee is a gentrification process. As Glenn Makuna
mentioned, basically, the infrastructure costb will force
relocation of a large number of people. I read in the PCDP, or
it was either the Technical Manual, that the average income in
Puna is $21,000. Now, I don't know how many people are going to
be able to afford the massive increases in taxes that will need
to occur. I think that, basically, what we will have is more
prosperous people living in the outlying areas and the poor
people living in the RTDs. And I know I saw a recent article by
Bonnie Goodell, where she promoted the idea that the RTDs would
increase a mixing and a diversity, but I don't see that as what
would happen.
I would like to mention that just I feel I have a pretty strong
basis of understanding rural lifestyle. I lived in a small town
in Minnesota for five years, I taught in 12 small towns in that
area. I've traveled extensively in the U.S., and I don't think
the comparisons of those rural areas apply to Hawaii's rural
areas.
And, then, as far as the other main area, the ecology and the
rain forest, the rain forest in Hawaiian Acres is actually part
of the last remaining remnant of tropical forest in the U.S.
And, granted, it's not pristine anymore, but it is still there.
And when you put in an RTD which, approximately with the kind of
density they're talking about, you're going to be pretty much
covering with concrete a large area. There may be room for a
tree here, but you're talking about 2,000 people in a one- square-
mile area; there won't be much room left. This wouldn't be like,
and I think another example is that Bonnie uses the word
"traditional" town, as if these RTDs would be traditional. Well,
having, as I said, a lot of experience in rural towns, they tend
to be spread out, not dense. They do not have, like this would
need approximately 30 -, 20 -plex apartment buildings. Just to sum
up -.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Thank you.
J. JACOBSON: The, I think the lack of grass roots planning is
the heart of it, and I would hope that you would allow the
communities to really make their own plans. And I, also, would
just like to go on record as saying that I really think these
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9 01 0 1*
major corridors, 9 1/2 Road, the Central Subdivision, are bad
planning.
And I would also, one more thing, is that I don't think it's fair
to generalize that we are either like ostriches sticking our
heads in the sand or pro the Puna Development Plan, that I think
there's a lot of sensible planning that can occur that can
address build -out, that can address transportation needs. I
think roads should go on the perimeters on the outside of
existing subdivisions and not cutting right through the middle of
them.
I would like to make one last comment. I had Ginny Aste say to
me at one point, "Well, who do you know who wouldn't sell out
their land for a $20,000 profit ?" And I feel that that sort of
sums up the idea that we're all interested in just making a
profit, and I think most of us in Puna have a tie to our land
that's much stronger than that are not just looking at the bottom
line. Thank you very much.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Thank you. Keikialoha Kekipi, Athena Peanut,
Ralph Toomire.
TOOMIRE: Toomire.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Toomire. Keikialoha Kekipi, can you talk into the
microphone, please. State your name and resident address. Thank
you.
KEKIPI: Thank you. I know you have had a long day. I
came in late, and I apologize for not being in Puna there to
greet you when you came. I thank you for this opportunity to
address the concerns in this revised Plan. Can you -?
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Yeah, perfect.
KEKIPI: Okay, thank you. I could go page by page. Get
all kind stuffs in here I would like to address but it will go
over the three - minute time limit. So -.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: About six.
KEKIPI: Huh?
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VICE - CHAIRMAN: About six minutes, that's what ,
KEKIPI: Six minutes?
VICE - CHAIRMAN: People have been averaging.
KEKIPI: Oh, okay. I'm not used to talking real fast, but
I'm going try my best.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Yeah.
KEKIPI: Okay, on the -, okay. Page one, on the bottom it
says, "Major collector roads should run from Opihikao to the Puna
Road." The Puna Road in question, is that the road that they're
proposing to go along what they call a Parkway to the Puna -South
Hilo boundary? Is that down on the Coast Road?
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Actually, that's a deletion.
KEKIPI: That's a deletion?
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Yeah.
KEKIPI: Okay, good. Thanks for deleting that.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Hold on one second. Ms. Goldstein.
GOLDSTEIN: Let me just explain some of these notations. When
you see the brackets, that means that the, that particular
sentence or paragraph has been deleted from the Draft 2; and
where it's underlined, that means that it's been added. If
there's nothing, then it means that's the way it's written in the
Draft 2, yeah.
KEKIPI: And the bullets?
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Where are you now?
KEKIPI: On the second page.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Okay.
GOLDSTEIN: Oh, those are just -.
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r r, I * I*
•
GOODELL: As is.
KEKIPI: Page 2.
GOLDSTEIN: Yeah, as is.
KEKIPI: As is.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Yeah.
KEKIPI: Okay.
GOODELL: Unless it's underlined.
KEKIPI: Okay, thank you.
GOLDSTEIN: Underlined or bracketed.
KEKIPI: Thank you. Okay.
GOODELL: Okay?
KEKIPI: So the bracket with the bullet is deleted?
GOLDSTEIN: Deleted.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Right.
GOLDSTEIN: Yeah.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Deleted.
KEKIPI: Thank you. Good. Mahalo. Okay, then let's go to
Page 2 on the bottom. It says, "Redesignate the coastal parkway
as a scenic road." You know, that's what I came to hear in the
first place when you're talking about the Puna Coast Road; and in
here I got to go away from this paper so I can just tell you.
When the proposal is to open up the Puna Coast Trail which
they're going to call the Puna Coast Road, which I think they're
referring to as one parkway. And my concern was if they open up
that road, which is designated, I guess, by these people as a
public right -of -way, yeah, that Puna Coast Road, when they open
that up and the thing goes from Kapoho all the way to Haena,
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which is in front of Shipman, anything go through there, you can
go to all kinds of sites, yeah, what you call sites but we call
our cultural resources.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Yeah.
KEKIPI: And when you go through there, I get one example
for you. You get parks over here that's been designated parks,
County parks, and people not hearing, adhering to the laws and
rules that's there, posted signs and things like that of one park
already in existence. Now you come into one plan to propose new
parks in a back road where nobody else going to have any way to
monitor them or any, police them, in other words, for a lack of
better word, yeah, to police them. Now when you propose that and.
you go through these trails, you are desecrating, my definition,
our cultural, spiritual sites.
And the other thing that's in here is that I see that they're
calling names, over here it says, you know, like, it says about
Olaa Back Road, from Ihope to Olaa Back Road. Ihope means in
back of, so that's -.
And that does bring to another point, is talking about
traditional names or cultural names, Mauna Kea Pond or Mauna Kea
was the name of the place where you guys went to today, I
believe, and referred to as Pualaa. It's actually in the apana
of Ahalanui and it's been called Mauna Kea Pond from -, whoever
you can talk to there can remember; go to the oldest person, they
can tell you that's Mauna Kea Pond. So, in here it says for keep
that kind of names, but they went change the name, and it's
already inappropriately named. And I have brought that to the
attention and knowledge of a lot of people and nobody did
anything to rectify that. So that brings me really concerned
because if that simple thing is not addressed, then other things
like cultural sites and things that's going to be open without
guarding, that is really scary.
And the other thing is now we talk about rural expansion in Puna
or in any other place, but especially in Puna, I worked for six
years at, doing intervention work, youth at risk. I work for the
Hawaii Island YWCA. Our funds just got cut, and we was working
under one State purchase of service contract. For six years we
worked on that and that funds got cut, and we were trying to
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address, hopefully, trying to address the problem of youth
intervention. Now, when you're bringing in immigrants of other
places, like from Honolulu or from wherever, you're bringing
other cultures, other traditions, or let's, how you say, adapted
behaviors that, right now, we're getting problems trying to
control our own residents here on this Island. If you bring an
influx of other people and you bring other ideas, then all these
things that they bring with them is just going to explode in our
aina.
I'd like to let you know that when I, in Puna or in Hawaii, my
belief is that there's no such thing as land; land is a foreign
term. This is aina. And, in aina, it's more, the meaning, it
just goes more than just some place for reside on and some places
you can just turn, like that. It's a thing that's your whole
being of subsistence. Aina is what replenish you. When you go
home, you feel good, because you're at your aina. When you need
to eat, and I got things growing on my place, too. You know
Pualaa? You was right next to Pualaa. You can ask me what I
grow. I grow taro, I grow sugar cane, I grow popolo. I grow
whatever can grow over there, eh. That's because that's aina,
and it produces many nutrients for me.
So, I really concerned because I was here the last time and all
the people I talked to and all of my concerns, and I talked to
them about being more, educate them on the facts of what's going
on and nothing is being heard and we're coming up to this point
where from here on, I think, the thing going to go to the
Planning Department.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: It depends.
KEKIPI: It depends?
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Yeah.
KEKIPI: Well, hopefully, if God prevails, that the thing
never reach that point. I know that you have plenty time
invested and you're not being paid, and I know this is a burden
on you for make this hard decision, and a lot of things that's in
here. And I heard a gentleman mention earlier that it's not
inclusive with the Burial Council. When you start to do planning
and expansion of one place like this, I think you should include
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the Burial Council, because all these places you're going to will
include burials. It's inevitable that you're going to run into
cultural sites. And burials and cultural sites is not just the
burial itself. If this is the burial, this, right here, then
this whole area around here is part of that site or part of that
burial. Somebody not going just plunk somebody over there, put
them in one burial area, into just one strange place just for
keep this particular area reverent or sacred. No, it's the whole
village in which consists of the lives "and essence of the people
who used to reside there.
Now, I think they're also pushing for Na Ala Hele for open and
record a lot of these stuffs. And I see that they took the
trail, the Ala Kahakai off of this planning; I'm really thankful
for that. But when you push for the Ala Kahakai thing to go in
because the community wants to know what's there, then how are
you going to stop them from getting to that? My thing is this,
if you let them go and see, because right there, you know, get
plenty stuff that says there is more, that's not being recorded,
and I think it's more safe that that thing not be recorded
because any time the State records anything, it's public
knowledge, isn't it?
GOLDSTEIN: Yes.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: That's correct.
KEKIPI: To my point, exactly. So, what we doing is we
letting everybody know where the gold is at; and here one road
map, go over there, cut loose, nobody watching you. And up to
now, we no more laws that going to protect our Hawaiian burials
or our cultural sites. And I think that there's Federal laws
that says, or is there world court laws that says that if
ethnocide is a crime, genocide is a crime? Okay, punishable,
maybe up to $1 million and imprisonment for life. So that I like
you know, be aware, that when you make one plan, that you are
creating ethnocide and you are creating genocide because if you
kill my culture, my belief, then you kill me and my family, the
peoples.
I got so much stuffs staring at me I cannot just address you now,
and if I have an opportunity, may I present one written
testimony?
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VICE - CHAIRMAN: We always encourage written testimony.
KEKIPI: Okay, because I came over here rushing from the
other side of the Island and that's how come I couldn't be here
today, but I really wanted to be here to address you on this
concern. Mahalo.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: We appreciate you coming. Thank you. Any
questions from the Commissioners? Athena Peanut, your name and
resident address, please.
PEANUT: My name is Athena Peanut. I live in Sea View, Sea
View Estates down on the Red Road; I'm a property owner. I'm on
the Board of Directors and Vice President of our community
association, and I'm also President of Friends of the Red Road.
We have, we have addressed this Plan before; and
any, I don't see any feedback to what we already
when I fax you my testimony, I will re -fax the S4
Association testimony about the Plan and Friends
And I would like to address some of the subjects
this evening.
I don't see that
addressed. So
:a View Community
of the Red Road.
that came up
I'm not as familiar with the County Plan as I am with the, you
know, with the Puna Plan. But I know this is repetition, but
this is the one fact that everyone seems to overlook - the basic
premise of this Plan was to accommodate build -out. I quote, "A
positive vision for build- out," was the reason for this Plan.
Now, when you build, when you create a plan for this, this is
what you are going to get. We've heard, we keep on hearing
testimony, testimony on the real value that the people of Puna
hold in their heart; and I've been doing a lot of research and
taking testimony from people for another group. And we ask, the
first question is what do you love about Puna? And it's always
the same thing, we love the natural world, we love the aina, we
love Puna, we love what's here. So this becomes our value. So I
would like to ask a question why, why wasn't this Plan based on
preserving and protecting the thing that we love the most instead
of build -out? This way we would have an opportunity to retain,
you know, and to nurture what we have here, and not to destroy it
and to bury it in concrete and asphalt. It never was taken into
consideration as a basic premise of the Plan. It was always
something that was thrown in as an anecdote. But this should be
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what the Plan is for, and then to build around that. And what .
you would have is you would have respect for the aina and respect
for all the sacred places, and you simply would have an entirely
different plan. What you plan for is what you get.
I would like to address a few items in these amendments that I
find very puzzling. Fifty percent or more for the property
owners, I live in a subdivision with 940 lots, approximately 920
are in private hands. Most of these people are all around the
world. There is no way that you could get 50 percent of anything
from Seaview Lot Owners. So, in other words, that puts me in a
category with my subdivision that we can't approve or disapprove
of the Plan. So what would happen to us? And I believe this is
the situation for many, many other subdivisions with huge numbers .
on them. And I do, I do beg that Jon Olson's recommendation be
followed - that the residents be paid attention to, and less
attention be paid to far off, you know, property owners. The
other thing is how can you approve additional subdivisions now?
You can't even take care of the ones that you've got. I just,
it's beyond me. And how you can approve more geothermal
transmission corridors is, totally negates everything in this
Plan for me.
One thing I would like to bring to the Commission's attention is
this, and maybe a lot of you don't know this and maybe you do -
Puna is so unique a place that part of it has been designated a
world heritage park. The outline for the boundary of this world
heritage park is the Volcano National Park. It means that this
is beyond Federal jurisdiction. This area is so unique because
there is no other place like this in the world that it belongs to
the world, that officially it's under U.N. mandate and World
Court mandate. It doesn't even belong to the United States any
more. And what I would like to say here is that if it was really
done in its proper way and private property considerations
weren't given so much weight, this world heritage park would be
all of Puna because this is the area that is so unique; and
there's nothing like this anywhere else in the world. And we're
about to throw it away on these big roads; and throw it away by
making all these housing for people who aren't here. It's, we
really have to take the responsibility of what we have here, that
this place is so unique and to honor, honor the aina. I will
send written testimony tomorrow. I will fax it.
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VICE - CHAIRMAN: Thank you very much. Any -?
GOODELL- I'd like to clarify.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Bonnie Goodell.
GOODELL: Athena, the, what it says in this is that or if
more than half of the votes received are negative. In other
words, it isn't, it's based on votes cast. If you don't receive
any, that doesn't count. That's what I'm -.
PEANUT: I see. So it's not 50 percent -.
GOODELL: Of the owners, you don't have to -.
PEANUT: Okay.
GOODELL: It is that there are two requirements - that if 50
percent protest it can't go through, that's the owners. Or if of
all votes received, if you receive 70 votes and 36 of them are
against it, it doesn't pass.
PEANUT: Now, wait a minute. Let's back up. Where did the
50 percent come in?
GOODELL: There are two standards. One is that if, like an
improvement district - if 50 percent of the people protest the
Plan, it doesn't go through. But, also, that 50 percent of the
votes cast is a lower standard, that, in other words, you do not
assume that the votes not received are positive. In other words,
you also only count the votes cast -.
PEANUT: I see.
GOODELL: And 50 percent of the votes cast.
PEANUT: Thank you.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Thank you, Bonnie. Thank you, Mrs. Peanut. Ralph
Toomire.
TOOMIRE: I am planning to testify tonight, so I swear to
tell the truth and all the truth.
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VICE - CHAIRMAN: And nothing but the truth so help you, God.
TOOMIRE: Ah, yeah, no, that's not part it. Okay, my
name is Ralph Toomire. My mailing address is P.O. Box 1633,
Keaau, Hawaii, 96749. I have a suggestion - Leave the existing
subdivisions alone, period. And when those subdivisions, on
their own, their individual community associations decide they
want to become a part of the Plan, then let them, they come to
you and say here's what we want for our subdivision, and
incorporate it into the bigger picture. But get rid of all that
blue and all those red circles and leave them alone. And a lot
of the opposition to this would probably go away.
Second, on your roads, take one road at a time at the public
hearings. You're trying, you're trying to do too much at once.
You want these roads here, fine, then proceed with them one at a
time. Otherwise, I have the feeling, and I've lived here about
four years, and I have a feeling that this County is going to
shove down the throat of the people here exactly what they want
and the hell with what the people want. Now prove I'm wrong.
Thank you. Any questions?
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Any questions?
GOLDSTEIN: I would like to make one clarification on the
overall Puna CDP and what we're also trying to do - and that is
although there are suggestions in particular for the different
subdivisions, like Hawaiian Paradise Park, the locations of the
RTDs, what is included and what is important to me about the Puna
CDP, this draft Puna CDP is that we are outlining a process in
which the communities, the individual subdivisions may, in fact,
do as you suggested - The community association gets together,
works on a master plan for itself and then we have laid out the
process by which what the community wants can then be
incorporated in the overall process of the larger Puna CDP.
TOOMIRE: What if they don't want an RTD?
GOLDSTEIN: If they don't want an RTD, that's also perfectly
okay. I think that some of the revisions that we made in this
particular draft, in fact, suggest that it doesn't have to be -.
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TOOMIRE:
You know, -.
GOLDSTEIN:
TOOMIRE:
GOLDSTEIN:
�J
C7
Okay, well, I think we're saying the same thing..
An RTD.
You know, just -.
Yeah.
TOOMIRE: Give the colors in all the existing subdivisions
and say here's the general concept, and if you want to buy into
an individual subdivisions feel free, as a united subdivision,
okay? And the roads, like I say, take the roads one at a time,
period. Thank you.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Thank you very much. Yes?
KEKIPI: I need some time -.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Can you speak directly into the mike, please.
KEKIPI: Maybe I'm hearing this wrong but - .
VICE - CHAIRMAN: You're our last speaker.
KEKIPI: Okay, thank you.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Any time.
KEKIPI: You know, if you talk about individual
subdivisions, the roadway in question, if you're leaving that to
the subdivision of Hawaiian Paradise Park, they supposedly get
their own park where they like make and the roads that they, I
think it's in their plan inclusive, is the bikeway that going to,
from Kaloli to Hilo. So, you mean, I just question, you know, I
not sure. So if they were thinking as a separate subdivision and
they voted to adopt that road that they was voting to open it,
would it be open?
GOLDSTEIN: Within the portion of their subdivision if most,
as is laid out at least 50 percent don't object to it, that it
could be incorporated so that what would happen then is that Plan
would be brought forward to the Planning Department for review
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and comment and it would go through the normal public hearing
process for review and adoption.
KEKIPI: And because it's -? -
GOLDSTEIN: I think your concerns are just because the
subdivision people may want it doesn't necessarily mean that they
are not others with interest in the particular area. Am I
reading you right?
KEKIPI: Yes, the Kaloli to Hilo road because it's not even
in their subdivision, but it's adjacent to them. And it's in
their plan to run a bikeway because it will be more beneficial to
their own subdivision because it will be more enhancing or more
people to come in and invest if they by their own subdivision, if
by their own autonomy, to say we want this road so we've got 50
percent and we have it.
GOLDSTEIN: The Kaloli, you mean the Railroad bikeway path
that they're -?
KEKIPI: Puna Coast Road.
GOLDSTEIN: Oh, the Puna Coast one. Okay.
GOODELL: Yeah, I think you're talking about Puna Coast
Road, right?
KEKIPI: Yeah.
GOODELL: Actually, I think what Virginia was trying to say
is that -.
KEKIPI: You when swear in?
GOODELL: They can -.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: We hope so.
GOODELL: Do within the subdivision. But, obviously, to go
the rest of the way to Hilo with opening it up as a bikeway or
whatever -.
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KEKIPI: So they can go to Haena?
GOODELL: Right or to Haena or whatever, is not necessarily
just their decision. It affects a lot of other people.
KEKIPI: No, not necessarily; but I just like know is it or
isn't it?
GOODELL; It isn't.
KEKIPI: Okay, thank you. Oh, it's not?
GOODELL: Yeah, it's not just their decision. Obviously,
the stuff that goes beyond the boundaries of their subdivision,
even what is within the subdivision, obviously, you know, if
every, if Orchidland says they want a road connecting to Hawaiian
Acres and Hawaiian Acres say they don't want a road connecting to
Orchidland, obviously, they've got to speak to each other.
KEKIPI: Okay, because over here they talking about, this
thing about the monies coming and the opportunities to get funded
from the Federal for the -.
GOODELL: For roads, right.
KEKIPI: For roads and bikeways and trails and access. So
if they could put that, then how come, will that?
GOODELL: I beg your pardon?
KEKIPI: If, they said, it's in here, I'm looking for the
page that talks about transportation where they going to get
Federal -.
GOODELL: ISTEA funds.
KEKIPI: Monies, and now is the opportunity and that people
have been aggressively pushing towards getting and acquiring this
money. You know, there we go again, talking about money. And,
sure, money is at hand, but you cannot buy or return what is
already destroyed. And my thing about being here and I think
everybody else is a preventive mode. And once, if they, my
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question is if you let them do that, if they are able to do that,
then that's going destroy the whole place.
GOODELL: If they get access from there to Haena?
KEKIPI: Yeah, because the incentive is, oh, we have
Federal monies, the County no more money, the State no more
money, but the Federal have money, so while the Federal going
give us this money we should take the money cause this is the
opportunity to have funding.
GOODELL: Okay, and so, what you're saying is that you would
prefer that there was not the access?
KEKIPI: Yes.
GOODELL: Okay.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Okay.
KEKIPI: Thank you.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Thank you very much.
KEKIPI: Questions?
VICE - CHAIRMAN: No, no questions? Thank you very much.
KEKIPI: Thank you.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Commissioners? Alice? Do we have any questions
from the Commissioners for the Staff or what's your pleasure on
this agenda item?
ALONZO: Mr. Chairman?
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Commissioner Alonzo.
ALONZO: Mr. Chairman, first of all, this Puna Community
Plan we've heard a lot of testimony throughout all these months,
and there's a lot of planning involved, a lot of input from the
community, positively and negatively. We have to start
somewhere. Puna is growing, no doubt about it. We need to come
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•
up with some kind of plan at this stage that in the years to come
if there are any changes I think we can implement some of the
changes through the Commission and through the Planning
Department. As far as right now, this is a stepping stone for a
plan. And without any kind of direction of the Puna area, we
will never get a plan done.
There will be a lot of differences between what is right for
their area and what is best for their area, what is right for
Hawaiian land, what is right for suburbs, rural or open district
in this Puna area. We have a task right to make some decisions,
a step in the right direction; and, hopefully, in the future,
when the next generation or people that step in office or in
their community to become leaders they have more influence in
decision making. As far as right now, we have to decide what
direction you want to take this. There's a lot of, you know,
feedback, some good and some bad points of view. First of all,
the coastal and Hawaiian burial sites is an issue. The lava tube
areas have to be addressed also. Roads, water, sewage, that's
another issue that we have to cover. Access to the ocean is
another issue we have to cover. And the 9 1/2 Road also is
basically the most negative point of view on this Plan.
As far as what we're passing, if we do pass this Puna Community
Plan, it's through resolution, not by ordinance now. Okay, the
County Council has some input into this Plan also. Okay, but we
have to start somewhere. If'we say put it on the table, forget
about it, there's no Plan. We want to start all over, more tax
money involved, people will get a lot of different ideas about
it. But we've got to sit down and make the decision either this
evening or next meeting, I'm not too sure. Planning Director,
any comments?
GOLDSTEIN: Well, certainly, I think, you know, ultimately the
decision as to whether you would like more, I think that
basically at this point the decision is do you need more time to
think about what has been offered as testimony, if you feel that
the revisions that have been forwarded to you by the Department
is adequate to address some of the concerns that you have heard
in the past. I mean you have that opportunity. I think the
decision is do you want to act on it today, or do you want to
continue it so that you can consider further testimony or the
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present testimony, close the public hearing and consider it on
your own and then act.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Commissioner Katayama.
KATAYAMA: I have to agree that a lot of work has been put in
it and to me it's better to sort of start, have a plan to start
with and go with a resolution instead of ordinance. Because if
you go with the resolution you'll have'time for a lot of public
input as to whatever, you know, permits are required or whatever
planning, additional planning you're going to have. It's not
going to be written in gold. You know, what I'm looking for is
adopt this plan as a resolution and just recommend to the County
Council so you that you'll have more input, more say, but at
least we have a basis to start with, so we don't have to go back
and start from scratch one again. That's just my personal
feeling.
MCINTOSH: Mr. Chairman?
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Commissioner McIntosh.
MCINTOSH: I disagree. I think the whole concept of this
plan is based on the faulty premise that you're looking at a
worst case scenario and so we have to plan for it instead of
looking at some sort of sustainable yield, what, designing a
community that you want to live in instead of, I mean that's
massive. It took us forever; and not only what is already
subdivided but the potential for one -acre Ag out there is going
to have to be addressed. And I think there needs to be more
attention paid to creative ways to control the population rather
than assuming that you have to build, I mean, that you have to
plan for the worst case scenario. And I think we ought to start
over.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Please hold the applause.
MCINTOSH. Pardon me? There's no applause meter I know.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Yeah, too bad, huh? Commissioner Martinson.
MARTINSON: I would say, you know, I think we should continue
and include those subdivisions that are most affected. The part
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that is the most affected should have more say into the whole
concept of this plan. And if we continue, it will give them
time, each subdivision time to come in and put in their say.
TANAKA: Mr. Chairman?
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Commissioner Tanaka.
TANAKA: I like the fact that each subdivision, each
community, if you will, will have a chance to input what they
want done as far as their own individual subdivisions as long as
they have the 50 percent vote. I think that's a plus to this
proposal here. As my fellow Commissioner Alonzo had mentioned,
you know, this is just an initial step by way of a resolution.
So I think, at this point, there are some concerns that need to
be addressed. For myself, I'd like to see the Hawaii Burial
Council included, also the Hawaii Speleological Survey left in,
and possibly the National Society also, and some of the concerns
by OHA also addressed. But I think we need to get this moving.
I think it's a step in the right direction; and there will be
plenty of time for each individual subdivision to work together
amongst themselves and address the concerns, their needs for
their individual communities.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Thank you. Commissioners, what is your pleasure?
ALONZO: Mr. Chairman?
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Commissioner Alonzo.
ALONZO: Due to Commissioner Tanaka, I move to continue
this public hearing for further studies by the community and also
the Department to research some of the items that Commissioner
Tanaka raised and also Commissioner McIntosh, addressed.
MARTINSON: Second the motion.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: We have a motion to continue from Commissioner
Alonzo and a second by Commissioner Martinson. Discussion?
GOLDSTEIN: May I ask for some clarification here. So that if
we continue the public hearing, you would like further revisions
that would address some concerns that were raised with respect to
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the Burial Council, the Speleological Group? And, also, am I
also understanding you perhaps that you would like perhaps a
better clarification on the process for the communities to have
their own master plan being made?
TANAKA: You're asking me?
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Commissioner Tanaka?
TANAKA: No, my feeling is that we, with the information
that we have at hand, we can move forward on this. But I'm
saying that the provisions that are now being allowed for the
communities to get together individually with their own
subdivisions is already in place.
GOLDSTEIN; Okay.
TANAKA: And I am for that.
GOLDSTEIN: Okay.
TANAKA: And regarding the Hawaii Burial Council, if there
was a motion to send a favorable recommendation to the County
Council, then I would suggest the inclusion of those items that I
mentioned, like the Hawaii Burial Council. That was my position.
GOLDSTEIN:
TANAKA:
Oh, okay.
Thank you.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Thank you, Commissioner Tanaka. Commissioner
McIntosh.
MCINTOSH: I'm confused. What do you mean you want to
include it?
TANAKA: Right now there is the revisions to Draft 2. On
page 7, 2 -39 2.10 as far as the courses of action for the lava
tubes, I think are of great concern. We heard from Bonnie
Goodell today about the major lava tubes that run through the
length of the Puna district and the concern about, as one of the
testifiers had mentioned, about bringing it to the public
attention versus holding that information back so it does not
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draw attention to possible damage or abuse. So my position was
that if there was a motion to approve tonight or send a favorable
recommendation, then consideration to that motion, if there was a
motion I'm saying, to include the Hawaii Burial Council. And on
the second -.
MCINTOSH: Oh, in this list?
TANAKA: Right.
MCINTOSH: Oh, okay. Okay.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Thank you, Commissioner McIntosh and Commissioner
Tanaka. We have a motion on the floor. We're going forward with
the motion, or are we withdrawing the motion, or are we going to
take a vote?
MCINTOSH: No. Can we have a little bit more discussion?
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Discussion.
MCINTOSH: If the Director is looking for some guidance, some
of the things that I wrote down today that I am not able to find
in the Plan is how do you define rural? There has been a lot of
conversation about a rural lifestyle and yet you've got 50,000
some odd one -acre lots out there. What is a farm dwelling? Are
these issues that we're going to address in this Plan or are we
once again going to go forward with a road map that's only a
resolution that doesn't address cultural resources in the area
that is, I consider, really incomplete? I just think the Plan
needs more work.
ALONZO: Commissioner McIntosh?
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Commissioner Alonzo.
ALONZO: That means you're looking at another draft?
MCINTOSH: I'd like to see one. I don't know if, if, I mean
at some point all of these things have got to be incorporated
into a draft, into something that makes sense to people that can
sit down and read it. Otherwise, the final form is going to have
all these little inserts. I'm just concerned that there are a
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lot of major issues that have been brought up relating to roads.
cultural resources, access that I think need to be addressed now
instead of just taking this attitude that, well, we're only
referring to the County Council anyway. I mean if we're going to
be the Planning Commission, then let's do some planning and not
some processing.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Thank you for your applause.
MCINTOSH: So, yes, I'd like to see some more work done on
the plan. And if that means another draft, then I think, if
we've been messing around with this since Larry Tanimoto was
Mayor, I don't think another certain number of months is going to
make that much difference. It's up to you. It's your backyard.
It's a big backyard.
ALONZO: It is.
KATAYAMA: I have a question.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Commissioner Katayama.
KATAYAMA: Do you think these concerns can be addressed later
through the County Council? I'm not saying to put the
responsibility on the County Council. But I'm looking at if we
pass it on, recommend it as a resolution this will sort of get
the people, get the communities together, get all these concerns
brought out.
MCINTOSH: At the Council level instead of at our level?
KATAYAMA: Yes.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: To our -.
KATAYAMA: Because to me, I mean, they're still going to take
it up to one more level, okay, and all this planning and all this
input at least it's a basis, it's a start. I mean I'm not for
recommending as an ordinance because there are a lot of questions
that need to be answered. But I think, for me, I felt that if we
passed it on and recommend it as a resolution this will be a good
opportunity, and let the Council listen to all this public input,
okay, and give them our concerns about different definitions,
-86-
then this will give people time to get together and present the.
facts as different communities. That's how I feel right now.
MCINTOSH: And they're going to, I can almost guarantee you
they're going to bounce it back to us for further study. So the
question is when are we going to do the extra study, before or
after the Council? If you want the Council to have, and the
people to have to go through all of this so that they share their
concerns with the Council, that's fine." My only concern is that
I would rather see something that I personally am satisfied with
before I recommend it goes up to the Council.
KATAYAMA: I agree with you. However, you know, I'm at the
point where all this work has been done; and as far as this Plan,
I don't think all of it is bad. There's some good things in it,
you know. So instead of coming up with a third draft, okay, look
at this,, you know, and people go back, and we have a clause in
there for different communities, the different subdivisions, to
work on it. That's their input. They can finalize it. And I
think this will really force them to really look at it, work
together and come to a decision.
MCINTOSH: And then do what with it? Go to the Council with
it and not back here to us?
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Okay, the -.
GOLDSTEIN: I -.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Planning Director Goldstein.
GOLDSTEIN: I think, if I'm understanding the discussion,
Commissioner Katayama is suggesting that we, or that you
recommend its adoption through a resolution and that would give
each of these individual communities the time to gather
themselves together and this would in a sense collect their own
efforts to come together and do a plan for their own communities.
That Plan for those communities would have to follow,
essentially, the same adoptive process so that it, to be included
within the overall framework that's being laid out by the Puna
Community Development Plan. That Plan would, those individual
plans would also have to then come through the process of going
through the Department, coming before you and then going to the
-87-
County Council for further adoption. That's how I see the
process for this framework and then the other master plans for
each of the communities. I think one of the things that we, that
is, you know, may be evident to me but not necessarily the wider
community is that actually when we talk about a Community
Development Plan for the area, district of Puna, Puna is about
the size of, can be about the size of Oahu. So the level of
planning that you do, in a sense, has to be at the general
levels. And that for each of these communities, then it becomes
quite like the equivalent of neighborhood plans and /or plans for
like each of the different districts on Oahu, and so that at that
level you get into more into the details. So with this community
development plan, you're laying an overall framework, you've got
to look at those kinds of items that cross -cut the individual
subdivisions, which would be things like your roads. These are
your corridors that pass through the individual neighborhood.
But as far as individual neighborhood, the subdivisions, I think
they have their own identity. I think they have, that they
should be allowed that opportunity to come together to express
themselves as to where they'd like some of the commercial uses.
I can understand that some of the subdivisions would not want
some of the rural town districts that's being proposed through
this Community Development Plan, and if they don't, that's fine.
But those that might want it, that opportunity is there, that
possibility is also there for them; and that's kind of like how I
see this overall Plan and the process.
TANAKA: Mr. Chairman?
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Commissioner Tanaka.
TANAKA: Question for our Director. So what you're saying
is if this were adopted as a resolution then the individual
subdivisions and communities would then have a chance to go back
and do their own planning? And if they felt like this wasn't the
time for them to move forward with any kind of plan, then it
would be their prerogative, there is no time limit, if you will
or -?
GOLDSTEIN: Yes; but then the planning is their option.
TANAKA: Okay. And this might also not only give them the
time to do that; and if they elect not to do anything but to
-88-
leave the subdivisions status quo that is their prerogative.
However, for those that feel that there are some plans that need
to be implemented for their individual subdivisions, this might
give them some incentive to move forward with them. Thank you.
Comments? Were you going to comment to that, Virginia?
GOLDSTEIN: No.
MCINTOSH: From a technical standpoint -.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Commissioner McIntosh.
MCINTOSH: We have these proposed General Plan Amendments.
Is the General Plan a resolution or an ordinance?
GOLDSTEIN: The General Plan is an ordinance.
MCINTOSH: So this Plan would be adopted by resolution, we
would hope.
GOLDSTEIN: Yes.
MCINTOSH: But you're also recommending that these General
Plan Amendments be given a positive recommendation and they also
go to the Council?
GOLDSTEIN: Yes. And then what happens then are these are the
suggestions for further changes to the General Plan. And that
in order for those things to actually go through, these are steps
that the Department itself would either have to take now,
individually, or they would have, we would have to wait until the
ten -year comprehensive review is undertaken and then these
changes may be considered at that point also to be adopted within
that larger framework of the General Plan. This is not, the
suggested changes for the amendments to the General Plan is not
something that has been included in CDPs in the past, that is
true. So this is somewhat of a deviation from that process that
has been taken in the past.
MCINTOSH: Is, counsel, late -? Do we, was this given proper
notice?
-89-
GIANNINI: I'm not sure if this has been -.
MCINTOSH: The General Plan Amendment?
GIANNINI: I had been assuming that these General Plan
Amendments are, these are just recommendations to make General
Plan Amendments and that they would have to follow this, in order
for them actually to amend the General Plan it's going to have to
go through the procedure that we always we for General Plans; and
I don't think it has been done yet.
MCINTOSH: So there is no action that can be taken on this
tonight?
GIANNINI: No, these are just recommendations. These are not
actual General Plan Amendments.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Planning Director.
GOLDSTEIN: That's correct.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: That's correct.
MCINTOSH: Motion on the floor is to continue.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Commissioner Alonzo, the motion on the floor is to
continue.
ALONZO: I move that we, let me gather my thoughts here. I
move to withdraw my motion.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: We have a move to withdraw the motion to continue.
MARTINSON: Second.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Second by Mr. Martinson. Commissioner Alonzo.
ALONZO: Mr. Chairman, with the discussion we made, I move
that we adopt the Puna Community Plan Second Draft by resolution.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Excuse me, Commissioner Alonzo. We need to close
the public hearing first, if that is your pleasure.
-90-
s
6
ALONZO:
Mr. Chairman, I move that we
close the public
hearing.
TANAKA:
Second.
VICE - CHAIRMAN:
We have a motion to close the
public hearing and a
second by Commissioner Tanaka. All in favor?
COMMISSIONERS:
Aye.
VICE - CHAIRMAN:
Oppose?
MCINTOSH:
No.
ALONZO:
Mr. Chairman?
VICE - CHAIRMAN:
Voice vote, please.
KAWAHA:
Okay. Commissioner Alonzo?
ALONZO:
Aye.
KAWAHA:
Commissioner Katayama?
KATAYAMA:
Aye.
KAWAHA:
Commissioner Martinson?
MARTINSON:
Aye.
KAWAHA:
Commissioner McIntosh?
MCINTOSH:
No.
KAWAHA:
Commissioner Tanaka?
TANAKA:
Aye.
KAWAHA:
Commissioner Balog?
VICE - CHAIRMAN:
Aye.
-91-
KAWAHA: Commissioner Balog, there are five ayes and one
no. Motion carries to close the public hearing.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Thank you.
ALONZO: Mr. Chairman?
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Commissioner Alonzo.
ALONZO: Move for the adoption of the Puna Community Plan
with resolution, be forwarded to the County Council, with the
proposed County General Plan Amendment.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Does this also include the -?
ALONZO: The changes.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: The changes to page 7 concerning -?
ALONZO: Yes.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: The Burial Council and the Hawaii Speleological
Survey?
ALONZO: Yes, Mr. Chairman.
TANAKA: Second, Mr. Chairman.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: We have a motion on the floor to send a favorable
recommendation to the County Council for the Puna Community
Development Plan Second Draft with the proposed amendments to the
Draft 2 and the proposed County General Plan Amendments and the
inclusion on page 7 to include the Burial Council and the Hawaii
Speleological Survey. Roll call.
KAWAHA: Commissioner Alonzo?
MCINTOSH: Excuse me. I'm confused. I thought you just said
we could take no action on these proposed General Plan Amendments
tonight?
VICE - CHAIRMAN: No, they said -.
-92-
e
0 1*
MCINTOSH: I misunderstood, I'm sorry.
GIANNINI: You're recommending
VICE - CHAIRMAN: It's a recommendation.
GIANNINI: That it eventually be taken.
MCINTOSH: Okay.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Discussion? Roll call.
KAWAHA: Okay. Commissioner Alonzo?
ALONZO: Aye.
KAWAHA: Commissioner Tanaka?
TANAKA: Aye.
KAWAHA: Commissioner Katayama?
KATAYAMA: Aye.
KAWAHA: Commissioner Martinson?
MARTINSON: Aye.
KAWAHA: Commissioner McIntosh?
MCINTOSH: No.
KAWAHA: Commissioner Balog?
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Aye.
KAWAHA: Commissioner Balog, there are five ayes and one
no. Motion carries.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Thank you very much. For the people in
attendance, this will be moved up to the County Council. And
we'd like to thank you for coming to three meetings and giving
your public testimony. Thank you very much.
-93-
MAKUNA: Perhaps it's appropriate to get just a little more
feedback from the public on this amendment -.
GIANNINI: Any more feedback to the public, there will be
public hearings at the County Council level.
MAKUNA: What I want to say is that so far you have heard
90 percent of the people give you feedback against this and
certainly the meeting, and I don't know what our feedback is
going to do anymore.
PUBLIC: What's a public hearing?
MAKUNA: Why are we giving feedback if everybody here give
you that feedback and you proceed.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Okay,
testimony, there was
you did hear, why, hi
been moved up to the
testimony concerning
Council.
we understand that. We took public
a discussion by the Commission Members that
Dw they arrived to their decision and it has
County Council level. Any more public
this issue will be taken up with the County
PUBLIC: But do they know, they'll get this testimony at
the County Council?
GIANNINI: They will.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Pardon me?
PUBLIC: They get to listen to the hours and hours and
hours of people that testified? No, they won't.
VICE - CHAIRMAN: No, let me explain something. Any meeting we have
is recorded, and it's typed, verbatim, and forwarded to the
County Council, verbatim.
GIANNINI: The minutes go to the Council. They have the
opportunity to read transcripts of what you said.
PUBLIC: When?
GIANNINI: Huh?
-94-
PUBLIC: When do they have that opportunity? Why would
they listen to us any more than you won't listen to us? Nobody
is listening to us. Ninety percent, 99 percent of the people
here said no, no, no, no.
GIANNINI: Meeting adjourned?
VICE - CHAIRMAN: Meeting adjourned.
-95-
The discussion ended at 9:23 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Sharon M. Nomura, Secretary
Planning Commission
-96-
COMMUNITY
FACILITIES
TRANSPORTATION
Primary Arterial
to be widened
Secondary Arterial:
as shown in General Plan
Secondary Arterial
new proposed /modified
Collector Roads
to be adopted and /or
improved by County
dicated B ike/Ped Trail www=am
Existing
10 year plan period
Long Range
Elementary School and Library ES L
Y `.4
3„
ES L
Intermediate/High School I/HS/DPk
lVHS/Dlk
& District Park
WIT
'ommunity/Neighborhood Park Pk
Pk
Beach Park/Shoreline Access Pk/A
PVA
Hospital or Medical Center MC
Me
Fire/Police F/P
F/P
Volunteer Fire VF
VF
Boat Ramp p/
,, r
11 J
J
I TTIT _ITUP Q
Existing
3lectical Generation and Corridors -A
10 year plan period
Long Range
Water Tanks/Pump Stations w
G
Sewage Treatment Plants None
Transfer/Recycling Centers A- , V I
WIT
Sewage/Recycling/Biomass/ None
Electric Generation Center
n-
Land Use District Changes
General Plan LUPAG
AGRICULTURE TO RURAL Change Area ( :: : 4
AGRICULTURE TO URBAN
TO URBAN UPON RURAL •
TOWN DISTRICT DESIGNATION
Rural Town 0
(Medium Density, Approx. Location,
Subject to Rural Town District designation)
NEW RURAL TOWN DISTRICT CODE
1/4 mile Diameter: Civic Center with Public Plaza/Market Place at
Center Commercial Area to include upstairs apartments.
:t 1/2 mile Diameter: To Become More Dense, and Mixed Use. Cottage
f: Industry. Growth Boundary for Urban Use.
1 mile Diameter. To remain as is, Ag or Residence, with Improvement
Districts for water line extensions. May have Light industry/technical
or office in 10 acres of area.
Less Dense, Existing Ag and /or Residential Use: Few Improvements.
For low cost rural living and subsistence.
Enforcement of Ag Dwelling Requirements if in Ag District
Zone Guide
ZONE Changes
Shown as repeating lines of type.
ML = Light Manufacturing
MG = General Manufacturing
OPEN = Open Zone
PROJECT DISTRICT = Project District Area
H = H Suffix New Overlay Zone for Hazard
• No rezoning or subdivision to increase density.
• Full disclosure at sale and /or permitting.
Existing zoning to remain
rs 9 open
Planning Commission Field Trip Itinerary
Approx. Arrival Time Location
Departure
County Building, Hilo 11:45
Travel Notes: On right of divided highway, Shipman Industrial Park. This is one of the alternative
entry/exits of the Keaau Bypass (Hilo side). Lands owned by W.H Shipman start here and extend
to the start of Hawaiian Paradise Park.
Turn left and then right on to Keaau Rd. This is another one of the alternatives being considered
for the Hilo end of the Keaau Bypass.
Note: structures nominated for the Historic Register: Hongwangji, etc. and Shipman buildings in
dispute being cleared.
Left on Highway 130.
In the low area upon exit from Keaau: this is where the mauka floodwaters came through in 1979
when South Kulani bridge in Mountain View was clogged with debris and so the water bypassed
the diversion wall.
Banyan House, the cacao fields and the Zane subdivision.
Higher area: Girl Scouts on right, Transfer Station on left. This is the area proposed for a new light
industriaVtechnicaVeducation park: Waipalani.
Three and one half mile bridge. Built by the County in 1954. This is where the floodwaters
diverted by the South Kulani diversion wall end up crossing Hwy. 130.
Orchid Land on the right (2,491 lots) , then Hawaiian Paradise Park on the left (8.843 lots). Note
homes, churches and unlimited access on to Highway 130. To convert Hwy 130 to four lanes
(instead of 9 and 1/2 or other mauka corridor) would actually require six lanes in many areas,
because frontage roads would be needed so that driveways would not go directly to highway.
Also note water spigots along side of road.
Right on Ainaloa Boulevard, privately owned "public" road. This is the road the County is
intending to accept to open up the emergency access to Hawaiian Acres above. Note blind hills.
Ainaloa Estates has 3,637 lots from 1/4 to 1/2 acre. Partway up on the right is Tiki Gardens with
481 lots of 1/4 acre.
Itinerary and Notes for Planning Commission Field Trip 8/23/95 p.1
ATTACH-';ENT B
12:20 Ainaloa Longhouse (lunch) 1:05
Go on up Ainaloa Boulevard. As you go up, the road with no street sign, between Hibiscus and
Kuhio, is the approximate location of the alternative through street that would have to be built to
connect to 40th in Orchid Land, it this were the choice for an additional road to Hilo (alternative to
9 and 1/2).
Another alternative being proposed is 11 and 1/2 road which would follow the alignment shown
for 9 and 1/2 until the property approved for a Goff Course at the top of Ainaloa Blvd. It would then
make an S -curve down through that lot and cross through back boundaries of lots in Orchid Land
until it reaches the Hawaiian Acres/Orchid Land Boundary, then would continue along the back of
lots in both subdivisions to come out Olaa Road.
At the top of Ainaloa Blvd. turn around. The area on the Mauna Loa side is the site of the
proposed Goff Course and also the area proposed the future Waikahekahe urban and civic
center. This location is near the demographic center of permitted development in Puna.
Travel Notes: Right from Ainaloa on to Hwv. 130 Bordering subdivisions on Pahoa side is
Hawaiian Home Lands, Maku'u Homesteads. Then State Land including a State Ag Park and
County DWS weiis and pump station. Entering Lava Flow Hazard Zone 2.
Right into Pahoa access road, off the bygass ,5 briefly at point of Kahakai Boulevard right of
way. This is where new 9 and 1/2 RdJKomohana Extension corridor would connect.
As you go through Pahoa, take a turn through the Parking lot of the Community Center. Not e
the location of the proposed swimming pool, off the parking lot. Also note the Akebono theater
and the parking lot parcel., The parking lot parcel and the area behind , owned by Amfac have
been sought by the Mainstreet Pahoa for community facilities.
After crossing Highway 130, the subdivisions you see are smaller subdivisions, some established
after the 1954 Kapoho eruption to relocate Kapoho residents. Then, Nanawale is on the left, and
Leflani Estates is on the right, but not adjacent to the road at this point. Entering Lava Flow
Hazard Zone 1, the rift zone.
Follow Kapoho Road left to Kapoho intersection. Note: Kapoho Rd. travels along the east rift.
Note 1954 flow and papaya fields, now being fallowed indefinitely because of ring spot virus.
Itinerary and Notes for Planning Commission Field Trip 8123/95 p.2
Turn right on Puna Coast Road On right is Green Lake. County wells here for Kapoho water
system are being replaced by water from Pahoa. Rift and south -of -rift aquifers are thin and often
brackish. On left are Kapoho Beach Lots and Vacationland. On right land owned by Richfield
(Japanese company). Vacationland, on the right, has some lots under water at high tide and
some lots are no longer usable after 1975 subsidence because they are now out to sea. Then
Bishop Estate Lands. Zoned AG -1.
1:50 Puala'a Park 2:05
Travel Notes: Note signs for roadway under water at nigh tide.
I saac Hale Beach Park: turn around by ramp. Note swimmers using ramp. Because of
subsidence, toilets have had water backing up at high tide.
T urn mauka up Mango Road. Note that this road is narrow and dangerous but valued by the
community which does not want to see the Mango trees removed. Therefore the proposal to
add an additional lane or lanes outside this corridor on the Kapoho side.
Riaht on HinalQStreet
into Lanipuna Gardens.
S= almost immediately for a view of PGV
development.
on to Pahoa and
Then
go to first street to left and
turn around. _Return to Kapoho Rd. Continue
around
Pahoa on the Bypass
Turn left up Pohaku Drive (Past Pohaku Circle and Porkaku Lane.). this is Orchid Land.
Frontage of most lots is 125' but some are twice that because of the layout of the lots. Roads
are maintained by mandatory road fees to a road maintenance corporation.
At 40th, turn left and go approximately 100' to driveway and ncNspaper box to turn around.
Look beyond to see typical washed out subdivision road. This section is impassible in floods.
Just beyond the next hill is where a truck was washed off the road a few years ago.
Retu do P o h aku to 130. Left on 130. Left at Keaau intersection onto Hiahwav 11. Note
when you pass Olaa Road in Kurtistown. This road is where you would have come out If the
field trip had gone out 40th from the top of Pohaku. It would have been approximately 1/3 the
distance of the route taken. Olaa Road Ts at the Old Volcano Trail, but if it continued straight
toward Ainaloa it would be on the Orchid Land, Hawaiian Acres Boundary, or 11 and a half Road,
one of the alternative routes for the 9 and a half road corridor.
Turn right into Kurtistown Park for rest stop. While here note congestion from multiple
business/ park/ post office accesses on Highway 11.
Itifierary and Notes for Planning Commission Field Trip 8/23/95 p.3
3:00 Kurtistown Park 3 :15
Travel Notes: Right on Higbya 11. As you proceed up hill, note the water spigots on right at
Kurtistown park.
Past the curve, on the left is Kuauli Road, where the 9 and 1/2 Rd./Komohana St. Extension
corridor shown on the Transportation map crosses Hwy. 11. The driveway to the Assembly of
God Church across the street is a roadway.
Turn right on N. Lauko Rd. Go through old Mountain View Village. Note that businesses have
turned their backs on this road to access directly from Highway 11, creating congestion in
Mountain View similar to Kurtistown.
Left back toward Hilo on Highway 11.
Turn right at South Kulani Road This is the entrance to the Road 1 in Hawaiian Acres and the
only entrance to Fern Acres. Cross the bridge and turn around in the driveway The wall on the
makai, Mountain View side of the bridge is the beginning of the diversion wall that sends the
floodwaters into Hawaiian Acres and Orchid Land. It is up approximately ten feet high. It has
been overtopped by flood waters approximately annually since 1989. At this point the -;all is on
public property: the Old Volcano Trail. Hawaiian Acres has 4,0008 lots, almost all 3 acres, for a
total land area of over 12,000 acres.
ao back :o Highway 11. turn right to Hilo.
4:30 County Building, Hilo
Itinerary and Notes for Planning Commission Field Trip 8/23/95 p.4
s
t
IMUA PAHOA!
Mainstreet Pahoa Strategic Plan
1994 to 2000
for
MAINSTREET PAHOA
P.O. Box 1189
Pahoa, Hawai'i 96778
prepared by
Community
Management
Associates
Box 6 • volcano, Hawaii 96785
September 20, 1994
C - L/ r - l , / :, --
I
Mainstreet Pahoa Strategic Plan
1994 -1998
Table of Contents
Acknowledgements
2
Introduction
2
Members of Mainstreet Board & Planning Committee
3
History of Pahoa and Surrounding Area
4
Photos: Pahoa Then
5
History/Accomplishments of Mainstreet Pahoa
6
Mission Statement
7
Goals, Objectives, Tasks and Timeline
8
Map: Pahoa Now
12
Map: Pahoa Future Vision
14
Photos: Pahoa Now
15
Strategic Plan Process Diagram
16
Who Comes to Pahoa? What Do They Need?
17
Strengths and Opportunities
18
Weaknesses and Threats (Barriers)
19
Business Survey Summary
20
Design Checklist for Pahoa
24
Resources
27
Mainstreet Pahoa Strategic Plan I
MAHALO TO ALL WHO HELPED WITH THIS STRATEGIC PLAN!
Here it is — our very own Mainstreet Pahoa Strategic Plan. These pages represent a huge effort on
the part of many people. This is a product and service of Mainstreet Pahoa. We are pleased to have
contracted with Ginny Aste and Bonnie Goodell of Community Management Associates, who
worked with Mainstreet members and many other community people to make this plan a reality.
Together we make the town of Pahoa a community, focusing on quality of life. On behalf of the
Board of Directors of Mainstreet Pahoa, and our new project director, Susan Fox, we would like to
thank you all — you know who you are!
Aloha,
"Bud" Almada
President, Mainstreet Pahoa
............................. ...............................
Introduction
Pahoa Village contains a hardy group of independent businesses. The town welcomes people
who grew up on its streets, those who come from surrounding communities as well as visitors from the
mainland and from many countries.
The town has survived the ups and downs of ohia milling, coffee experimentation, fruit growing,
flower and foliage cultivation and geothermal development. We have a theater and many other buildings
which recall the history of Puna. Not too long ago, people got off the train in Pahoa town and were met
with a horse and wagon to travel home to Pohoiki, Kaimu or Kalapana. Now, we are looking for ways
to manage traffic, although we welcome the business it brings.
Several town meetings were held as Mainstreet Pahoa was established, and more discussions
were held as we developed this plan. We agreed that we wish to preserve the style and look of a unique,
rural Hawaiian, "wooden" town. We also agreed that we need a town center, with a park, gardens and
a cultural center. We need more recreational activities for families and children and we need larger
community facilities. Economic development is necessary in the Puna District and we know that Pahoa
town will grow. We want to be ready for that growth.
Many people live in or visit Pahoa Village, and a list of the elements they need or may want is
included here. Pahoa has many of the elements necessary for a strong sustainable, "walkable"
community. The Mainstreet Board of Directors, has coordinated street fairs, parades and other events
to publicize our town and to provide a showcase for local merchants, farmers and artisans. Events in
Pahoa always bring together diverse cultural and ethnic groups, and we value the diversity contained in
our town.
Roundtable discussions, a merchant survey and a "Design Checklist" helped identify our
strengths as well as point out areas for improvement, such as the need for a town center, improved
parking, publicity for our excellent local restaurants, and projects to improve the appearance of our
streets and shops.
A Strategic Plan is meant to be specific and to be accomplished within a certain timeline. Our
Strategic Plan defines Pahoa Village from bypass to bypass and sets out goals and objectives for the next
three to five years, although it leaves us free to link with other groups who have ideas and funding for
joint projects.
Task groups are already meeting to work on the Pahoa Village Park, design guidelines, historic
preservation, improving our town's appearance and public safety. We hope you will join them. Your
ideas are welcome and the time you spend is much appreciated.
; 2 M ct Pahoa Strategic Plan 9
i'
* Maiiistreet Pahoa Board Membe Ps
Anthony "Bud" Almada, President Pat Rocco
Wally Patch, Vice President Valerie Ferrari
Colleen Mandala, Secretary Jon Olson
Dawn Hurwitz, Treasurer Steven Chase
Janus McGowen
Strategic Planning Committee
Donna d'Alessio
Bud Almada
Adrian Barber
Kat Belleci
Charles Blizzard
John Boswell
Grace Califea
Mar one & Stephen Chase
Makai Conner
Valerie DeFrain
Bob Evans
Roger Evans
Cat Freshwater
Rita & Tom Goodson
Helene Hale
Ernest Hicks
Dawn Hurwitz
Bonnie Jones
Aaron Kapp
Devorah Kaplan
Ken Kudo
Bob Lerro
John Luchau
Peter LeBold
John Maillet
Bill Male
Richard & Lucille Mundy
Ginger Newman
Andre Hihf
Jon Olson
Betsy Palmer
Wally Patch
Mark Pistolese
Roger Potter
Bary Ranne
Pat Roccof
Jesseca & George Roberts
John Roberts
Al Sacharov
Alice Scurlock
Gwenette Sinclair
Rene Siracusa
Jan & Al Smith
BJ Snyder
Michael Sunanda
Sandy Stokes
Denyse Temple
Skip Thomson
Bessie Weaver
Amy & Gary Young
Michael Griffard
• • • O • • • • • • e O O • • • • • e • • • O • • • • • • e • • • e • e • • O • • • O • • e e • e • • • • • • e • • • •
Mainstreet Members
Kimo's Ono Hawaiian Food
Kehena Beach Association
Pacific Juggling Institute
Kalani Honua
Godmother's Restaurant
Montessori School
Black Sand Subdivision
KBIG Radio
Bay Clinic
Kalapana Seaview Estates
Puna Bees
Electro Motor Services
Pahoa. Coffee Shop
Pahoa Beauty Shop
Island Wide Associates
Pahoa Home Video
Smith Tires
Hawaiian Hemp Company
Pahoa Hardware
K3
Pandanus Publishing
huna ohana
Sure Save Supermarket
Paul's Repair
Pahoa Schools PTSA
Coffee Times
Puna Theater Group
Pahoa Buy & Sell
Pahoa Lumber
Steve & Sandy Long
Puna Outdoor Circle
W.H. Shipman
Patchworks Realty
Dairy Queen of Pahoa
Ron Phillips
Pahoa Village Center
Glenn Hara
Pacific Mystics
Helene Hale
Drainpipe Plumbing
Susan Drum
Pahoa Natural Groceries
Sharmon Oyadomari
Bank of Hawaii
Pat Rocco
Akebono Theatre
Norman Higashi
Makalei Country Club
Ja Huntzinger
Jack's Tours
Mike & Gail Clark
Hawaiian Airlines
Don Romero
Yamanaka Enterprises
Kathleen Freshwater
Hawaii Island YWCA
Ginny Aste
Mainstreet Pahoa Strategic Plan
K3
History of Pahoa and Surrounding Area
Not much is publicly known about the Pahoa area in pre- contact times. Puna was a very populous district,
with large villages, located along the shore, from Papai to Apua. The upland trails through sweet potato
and kalo patches, to the mauka forests, and connecting sacred sites, crisscrossed the Pahoa area. It is on
the shortcut over the shoulder of Kilauea, between Keaau Beach and Kalapana. When Keoua, Chief of
Puna and Ka'u was assassinated in 1790 by Kamehameha, Puna and Ka'u became subjugated districts,
whose unique culture and status as the home of Pele and her family were in disfavor. Their rich oral
family histories were forgotten or went into hiding.
Like the rest of Hawaii, the Hawaiian population in Puna fell rapidly because of the introduction of
western diseases and drastically lower fertility in the first half of the nineteenth century. This was
compounded in the mid- 1930's when Hawaiians from Puna moved to Hilo to be near the Christian
mission there, as part of "The Great Revival." By the time of the Great Mahele in 1849, few Hawaiians
were left in Puna to claim ownership of ancestral lands, so that huge tracts, containing extensive villages,
reverted to royalty.
In 1840, the east rift erupted and reached the sea in four days, covering the village of Nanawale near the
coast. Nanawale Estates is located on that flow. In 1868, the great earthquake of Puna and Ka'u resulted
in a 60 -foot tsunami which swept over the tops of coconut trees along the Puna coast.
Western adventurers and entrepreneurs "pioneered" in Puna through the second half of the nineteenth
century. Puna was, even then, considered to be unknown compared to the rest of the Big Island. In 1891,
Puna's coffee boom began with Rycroft plantings at Pohoiki. In 1996, a telephone line passed through
Pahoa going to Rycroft's operation at Pohoiki. By then Pahoa was "fast approaching the dignity of a
town in size and importance... a Japanese has started a very decent - looking Hotel ... a Chinaman a bakery
and a resturant ... A large new church is contemplated ... There is a private school." A Portuguese,
Amaral, was building roads.
Throughout Hawaii, in concert with the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy and annexation by the
United States, sugar was becoming the defining element in the social, political and geographic landscape.
As the Hawaiian population of Puna continued to dwindle, Pahoa was rapidly becoming the hub of
commerce in the harvest, export and replacement of the forest resources of Puna, to be replaced with
sugarcane fields. The large lumber mill built in 1907, near the railroad roundhouse behind the Akebono
Theatre, supported four locomotives, 45 railcars, and 600 people by 1910. A Sumo area was part of the
theatre complex. The Ohia forests were clear cut to make railroad ties for the S anta Fe Railroad, flooring,
shingles, tools, and lumber for vehicles— and to make way for sugar cane fields. In 1913, a fire
temporarily closed the mill and by 1918, the forests were mostly gone, the lumber operations ceased, and
employees went to work for Puna Sugar, owned by American Factors. The Pahoa Spur of the railroad
saw less traffic and more traffic went to the sugar mill at Kapoho.
The small lots fronting the main road in Pahoa are the result of subdivision by the Roman Catholic Church
( mauka side) and Puna Sugar (makai side) in the late 1940s. Pahoa declined with the sugar industry and
with the rest of the island from the 1950s until the beginning of the in- migration boom to the huge
substandard subdivisions, and the diversificaton flower and fruit farming, starting in about 1970 and
continuing to this day. The living threads of the past —the sacred Hawaiian landscape and the Hawaiians
who interpreted it and lived in it, the age of dwindling Hawaiians and western adventurers, the sugar era,
and now the subivision era —and the future in progess, all have a home in Pahoa.
, Af et Pahoa Strategic Plan
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Mainstreet Pahoa History
and Accomplishments
A visual history of Mainstreet Pahoa is posted on a large photo
board inside the Mainstreet office. The office was opened this year and
is shared with Puna Outdoor Circle. We now have a place to direct visitors
who want to know more about our town. In its 2+ years, Mainstreet Pahoa
has achieved Associate Town Status and employs a part time director to
produce a newsletter and to coordinate board meetings and Mainstreet
activities.
Christmas, Halloween and other holidays have drawn hundreds
of visitors and Puna residents to Pahoa. Mainstreet Board members and
volunteers have organized contests, parades and street fairs in conjunc-
tion with the yearly celebrations. An active theater group has presented
performances during Mainstreet events, and we hosted a celebration of
the all but lost Hawaiian art of juggling.
Recently the appearance of Sumo wrestler, Akebono, brought
residents and visitors from all over the state to Pahoa to welcome a "local
boy" home. The Young Buddhist Association was instrumental in
sponsoring the Akebono event
Preserving culture means more than recording family stories,
preserving photographs and restoring buildings. It means listening to the
our elders and keeping the best of the past to enrich the present and to
guide us in the future. Ceremonies, dances and chants celebrating Pahoa
and the Puna area are often performed by Hawaiian hula halaus, and
Hawaiian legend reveals that the first hula was performed in Puna.
Mainstreet Pahoa has received photographs and stories from
many Pahoa residents and encourages the collection of local lore so that
this valuable bequest may be given to future generations.
Mainstreet volunteers have begun to work on the goals and
objectives set out in this plan. Task groups will continue to meet and talk
about the future of Pahoa and the changes which will occur as more people
move into the Puna district.
The Hawaiian word "Imua" is both a command and an expression
of our desire to move Pahoa Village forward in friendship and in love.
Imua, Pahoa! Imua, Mainstreet Pahoa!
j Afai lot Pahoa Strategic Plan
Mission Statement
Create a workable, flexible plan
with goals and objectives for strategic planning
for Pahoa Village (bypass to bypass)
for one to five years.
Mainstreet Pahoa Strategic Plan 7
Mainstreet Pahoa Strategic Plan
Goals, Objectives, and Tasks with Timelines
At previous Mainstreet Pahoa Town Meetings, 4 areas were identified as important to our community:
Historic Preservation
Support for Public Safety
Clean Green Environment
Support for Family Activities
Mainstreet Pahoa Strategic Planning Committee has chosen the following goals and objectives, building
on the previous work done by Mainstreet Pahoa. They follow the 4 areas of concern previously chosen.
G oal # 1: Create Pahoa Village Park
Objectives:
A. Secure use of property adjacent to the Akebono Theater.
(Status of land exchange: Proposed sites for land exchange with AMFAC are under
consideration.)
Tasks: 1. Continue work on land exchange.
2 Develop improvement plan.
3. Begin improvements
B. Develop Pahoa Village Park Plan
Tasks: 1. Form Pahoa Village Park Committee
2. Begin letter - writing campaign
3. Explore ISTEA or other funding.
4. Assess safety/liability/parking income.
5. Receive input from Mainstreet Board.
6. Receive input from County agencies.
7. Hold community meetings.
8. Develop plans for cultural center.
9. Obtain park designation.
10. Hold design meetings.
11. Revise with community input
Goal #2: Prepare Design Guidelines
Objectives:
A. Complete Historic Building Survey.
Tasks: 1. Obtain prototype survey, develop RFP /hire consultant.
2 Hire consultant
3. Develop sketches of "Pahoa Village style."
4 Research historicallarchiteetural guidelines.
S. Review industrial use.
B. Meet with County /State to develop ordinance
Tasks: 1 Reconcile sketches with codes, etc.
2 Evaluate with community input
3. Explore feasibility of adopting guidelines concurrently with Hilo, Ka'u
1 -2 years
Ongoing
3 months
6 months
Now
Now
3 months
3 months
6 months
6 months
6 months
1 year
1 year
1.5 years
Now
3 months
6 months
9 months
9 months
9 months
1 year
8 Mai Pahoa Strategic Plan
4 1
C. Secure services of a planner /architect
Tasks. I Job description, RFP (Mainstreet Board, Committee) 1.5 years
2. Research and secure funding. 1.5 years
D. Identify needed improvements
Tasks. 1. Prioritize improvements 15 years
2. Set timeline 2 -3 years
Goal #3: Explore Historic Status for Pahoa Village
Objectives:
A. Assess the necessary process for achieving Historic Town status.
1 year
Tasks - 1 Review pros and cons of historic status
1 year
2. Develop RFP for consultant
Now
3 Have Planner /Architect tour village
1 year
4. Request consultation w/ State Historic Preservation staff to identify sites.
I year
S Designate historic buildings, etc.
2 years
6. Hold town meetings
7. Develop publicity campaign: photos etc.
Now
8. Involve diverse groups
1 month
G oal #41 Improve overall appearance of Pahoa Village
Objectives:
A. Develop a Landscape Plan.
1 year
Tasks I Locate parking areas.
6 months
2 Appoint Landscape Committee w/ Outdoor Circle, merchants, schools., etc.
Now
3 Develop preliminary Landscape Plan
I year
4. Check for compliance w/ County Gen. Plan
I year
S. Seek community input and approval
I year
B. Expand "Pahoa Pride" litter control and recycling.
Tasks: 1. Obtain recycling bins and place them
Now
2. Develop "Clean Sweep" campaignfor cleaner streets, brighter storefronts, etc.
1 month
3. Coordinate w/ State Litter Control (SonjaOkano), Ho'onani Hawai'i Nei
(Laurel Dekker)
1 month
4. Research funding
3 months
5. Expand trash pickups with cooperative funding.
6 months
6. Anti- litter, re- direct graffiti art show
9 months
8. "Pahoa Pride" public awareness campaign
9 months
C. Organize a "Paint Pahoa" party.
Tasks: 1. Appoint committee to coordinate colors
3 months
2. Hold Town Meeting for input
3 months
3. Show "Keeping Up Appearances" slides
3 months
4. Contact Maui /Hilo Mainstreet for ideas
3 months
S. Present character sketches of Pahoa
6 months
Mainstreet Pahoa Strategic Plan 9
D. Plant trees and flowers.
Tasks: 1.
Use landscape plan to locate and choose
2.
Work with Puna Outdoor Circle, merchants
3.
Find volunteers - schools, churches, other
4.
Plant and develop maintenance plan
E. Support undergrounding of electric lines.
Tasks: 1.
Increase public awareness of view planes
2.
Support re -intro of Outdoor Circle bill
Goal #5 Support Economic Development Plan in Pahoa /Puna
Objectives:
A. Establish a Farmer's Market
Tasks: 1. Develop RFP and Job Description for Farmer's Market Coordinator
(Mainstreet Board)
2. Select a Market Coordinator
3. Develop business plan, projections
4. Meet with vendors
S. Meet wl Dept. of Health, police, etc.
6. Purchase tenting
7. Establish dayslhours
8. Publicize and advertise
9. Evaluate
B. Support agriculture in Puna.
C. Support arts and crafts in Pahoa village.
Tasks: 1. Continue holding arts and crafts fairs
2. Improve facilities for vendorslpublic
3. Improve communication with vendors
4. Improve visibilityladvertising
5. Evaluate
D. Explore a Community Development District and /or Enterprise Zone in
cooperation with other groups.
E. Create a "Shop Pahoa," campaign
Tasks: 1. "Taste of Pahoa" - restaurant event
F. Keep public assistance dollars in Pahoa
Tasks: 1. Establish food stamp outlets in Pahoa
G. Negotiate a low- interest loans for renovation & business
H. Review industrial potential
Goal #6: Support Public Safety Objectives
Objectives:
A. Request additional police officers.
Tasks: 1. Work with Citizens Aiding Puna Police and Puna Traffic Safety Council to
request police
2. Explore Pahoa Neighborhood Watch
3. Support use of reserve officers in Pahoa
el 0 eet Pahoa Strategic Plan
1 -2 years
Now
6 months
6 months
3 months
B. Improve lighting in Pahoa Village.
Tasks: 1. Research lighting improvements elsewhere 1 year
C. Improve sidewall:s/ crosswalks.
Tasks - 1. Add walking path from high school to town
2 Boardwalk on one side, sidewalk wl curb ramps and accessible route
on other side 3 years
D. Improve traffic pattern/ flow.
Tasks: 1. Research information on different patterns (one way) 6 months
2. Work wl police, DOT for best solutions
E. Improve telephone service.
Tasks: 1. Support legislation to improve service. 6 months
2. Organize campaign for better service.
3. Lobby the PUC for better service.
F. Improve parking spaces/ locations.
Tasks: 1. Research parking innovations elsewhere
2. Research parking meter applications /cost
3. Work wl County Planning, police, et al.
Goal #7: Create Maps of Trails/ Greenways
Objectives:
A. Produce a Pahoa Village map showing trails and greenways (bike, walk,
horse, rail, existing/historic).
B. Request community input and support for a trails /greenways system in and
around Pahoa Village.
C. Link with other communities.
D. Secure support and - funding from public and private sources to create
alternatives to traffic congestion and reduce automobile use.
E. Include Puna in the Na Ala Hele National Historic Trail system
Goal Support a Community Swim /Sports Complex
Objectives:
A. Explore locations and concept. 6 months
B. Develop community input and support. 2 years
C. Involve youth in planning. 2 years
D. Research funding alternatives from federal, state, county or private 3 years
sources, including volunteer initiatives.
Goal #9 Facilitate Development of Community Plan forArea Surround-
ing Pahoa Village
Mainstreet Pahoa Strategic Plan 11
PAHOA
A -1 a 1 acre
Agriculture
A -5a 5 acre
Agriculture
Highway 130 Bypass
unImnunn
Pahoa
Sign
CV 10 10,000 Square Feet
Village Commercial
\� CN -20 20,000 Square Feet
Neighborhood Commercial
Buildings shown as historic 1979
= Buildings shown on main road 1979
RM -2 2,000 Square Feet per unit
Multi- family residential
R3 -10 10,000 Square Feet
Residential
R3 -15 15,000 Square Feet
Residential
12
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Pahoa P
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Public
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Post Office Niainstreet
Akebono Theatre
Pahoa Community Center
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Office
Mainstreet Pahoa Strategic Plan 13
PAHOA Future Vision
One major annual festival: Papaya Festival?
Walking policeperson through town
Walking streets
r One way street through Pahoa.
Preferably one way coming in from Hilo.
Maybe starting at the Post Office.
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Swim
+, ®® Complex
Pedestrian
Overpass
Sidewalks on both sides of
street from Bank of Hawaii to
Post Office.
Botanic
Garden
Fountain/Square
Hawaiian Cultural Center & W,
Farmer's Market
Tour Bus Parking/Restrooms
Mai t Pahoa Strategic Plan
14
Museum
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&ainstreet Pahoa Strategic Plan
Community Planning Cycle
Values Clarification
Why are we doing it?
t ogs-objectives
nd use patterns
cts
Map
brochures, videos,
presentations,
newsletters .....
implementation
tools
Conununity Management Associates, Inc
July, 1994
May not be reproduced without credit
What are we doing?
STRATEGY
Tasks
How are we doing it?
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16 eet Palioa Strategic Plan
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Who Comes to Pahoa Vi
What do these people need?
I*
Hawaiians & other ethnic groups
Walking distance facilities
good water/ reliable electric
Business owners
community center
cable tv /street lighting
Property owners
medical facilities
underground utilities
Agricultural workers
assisted living facilities /services
good phone system
Business people
alternative, chiropractic, affordable
economic opportun qty center
Taxpayers
meals on wheels
mass transit
Children/Teens
good, dependable neighbors
community shuttle -near
Seniors /fraiVnon- dnvers
office space
furnishings
Non - profit organizations
Recreation facilities
investment opportunities
Environmental groups
Youth Center
sound economic base
Teachers
Neighborhood Totlot
detox center /hospice
Public employees
senior citizen center
substance treatment/ed center
Artists /craftspeople
Athletic facilities
emergency center
Churches
convenience store
ramps/ wheelchair access
Farmers
banks
roadways for cars
Fishermen/boaters
gas stations
trails /photovoltaic safe walk path
Vendors
social services
water /pit stop
Bikers/walkers /cyclists
hairdresser/barber
lower speed lanes
Developers
police station
electric sources for cars
Contractors
laundromat
convenient transportation
Commuters
shopping- grocenes
safe /easy access to fields for kids
B &B /small hotel owners
clothes
rental houses
Realtors
library
Low cost housing
Sports people
gym, relaxation
Safe house /shelter
Comm. assoc. members
place to worship
involved, cohesive community
Single parents
cemetery
caretakers for kids
Families w/ school age kids
neighborhood elementanes
big brothers sisters/ lob training
Investors
Opportunities for private schools
kids clubs /supervision
Persons with disabilities
real estate office
two lighted ballfields
Homeschoolmg families
car repair
cottage industry
Auto mechanics
farmer's market
art supplies
Home business persons
common gardens
galleries
Church pastors
certified kitchen
guilds
Athletic coaches
pharmacy
stationary, pnnting
Alternative vehicle operator
post office
aesthetic environment
Entertainment bus owners
community theatre
Homeless persons
Boat launch/moonng
Traits/bikeway to other areas
Renters
Fish market
message center for homeless
horse /pet owners
icehouse
satellite city hall
NIMBY
sewage system
hermit
ocean access
toxic matenal disposal
kumu hula
bar/store
Jobs/ job security
heavy equipment businesses
trailer F3rking
auto parts store
owner/builder
boat yard
maintenance services
Organic farmer
shippers. UPS FedEx
Light industrial
aquaculturists
feed store
Stable/ tack shop
fire /EMT /police
appliance repair
vet
swimmers
video /game rentals
pet food /care
social worker
caretakers
regulations. leash law
retired senior -fixed income
sporting goods store
tounsts
local supplies for home business
art/ cultural ed. center /workshop
homeowners
hardware, computers, signs,
flonst
farmer's cooperative- marketing
farming/aquaculture
zoning for chicken farming
upscale bar /restaurants /entertainment organic zoned area
golf course /shop /restaurant
Mainstreet Pahoa Strategic Plan 17
Strengths
People know each other on first name basis
Historic architectural sites
Playing field
Relatively safe
Low cost housing
Ethnic diversity
Night life
Relaxed life style
Police substation
Diverse businesses
Fire station/EMT
"Juicy" town
24 -hour store
Unique businesses
Post office
Cultural diversity
Laundry
Economic diversity
Hardware
On the way to volcano flow
Autoparts /gas
Tropical climate
Banks
Tropical foliage
Hotel
Fastest growth in state
Reasonable rent
Increase in citizen concern
Library
Stagle families/individuals
Senior activities
Flowers/ fruits
Churches
Farmer's market potential
Cleanest air /water
Old Hawaii
Spectacular natural views
Small farmers
Attracts tourists
Oldest operating theater in state
Close to Puala'a, Kalani Honua
Community pride
Heart of Puna
K -12 schools in community
"Joie de vivre" spirit
Variety of foods
Quiet
Covered sidewalks
Friends of Akebono
Original boardwalks
Puna Outdoor circle
Community center
Rare plants and animals
Opportunities
Get dollars flowing in
Create jobs
Attract visitors
Improve schools
Improve parking
Create town center
Coalesce energy of many groups
Establish a farmer's market
Establish arts /crafts center
Is
It
Obtain federal dollars (NEA)
Obtain historical designation
Create positive press
Create positive image
We can "Clean up our act"
Give community a face lift
Create mountain bike paths
Create bike/hike /equestrian paths
Marathons
Ecotounsm
>t t'c °r Pahoa Strategic Plan I*
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Weaknesses
Poor public image
Dangerous reputation
Lack of positive visibility
Transient population
No facilities for transients
Limited parking
Narrow sidewalks
Derelict look
Seedy appearance
Sidewalk repair needed
Too many power lines
Excessive traffic
No employee parking
Antiquated phone system
Few pay phones
No town center
Not enough youth activities
No drug treatment available
No movie theater
No regular family entertainment
No Dept. of Human Service office
Barriers5 hreats
In volcanic hazard zone
Taxation with no retur -n
No insurance
Population boom
Large parcels surround
Geothermal accident possible
Negative public image
10 to 25% unemployment
Racism
Friction between haves/have nots
•
No food stamp outlet
No mental health clnic
No 24 hour police station
No child care facilities
No public transportation
No park and ride
Not enough jobs
Few adult ed classes /services
No swimming pool
No bike paths
Poor return on taxes paid
Few government services
No direct line to government
Hazard zone designation
No insurance
Small post office/ poor location
No children's park (e.g. Waimea)
No support for arts (performing/fine)
No coordinated landscaping
No downtown community watch
School facilities /programs need improvement
Incongruent zoning/use
Lack of business capital
No Community Development Plan
General Plan inaccurate
No economic development plan
No design ordinance
No sign ordinance
No design guidelines
No Design Review Committee
Mainstreet Pahoa Strategic Plan
19
Mainstreet Pahoa Business Survey Summary April 1994
Here are the results of our business survey.
15 out of 40 businesses responded. Thank you so much.
1 With which of these Mainstreet Pahoa events or
project
are you
familiar?
Town Meeting
10
Recycling and Refuse Can Decoration
13
Trash Collection Service
12
Akebono Celebration
10
International Film Festival (Co- sponsor)
12
Street Fairs (Christmas, Halloween, May Day)
15
Christmas Parade, Valentine Celebration
15
Ho'o Lei Lei Festival (Circus)
13
Annual April Meeting
8
Design Guidelines Preparation
6
2. Mainstreet Pahoa proposes the following events
for 1994 -5. Please
prioritize
these events in order
of preference. Top vote - getter is indicated in italics:
1 to 5
Parti-
Support
(5 highest)
cipate
International Film Festival
4
2
2
Ho'o Lei Lei (Circus Event)
1
1
3
Halloween Celebration
2
1
4
Christmas Parade /Street Fair
3
2
3
Pahoa History Week
2
3
3
Farmer's Markets
5
1
1
Comments: We need Youth Sports Tournaments / Let's have an Easter Parade / Farmer's Mkts
mean more traffic
3. Should Mainstreet Pahoa sponsor Farmer Markets?
Yes 13 No 1 Don't Know 2
Yes, but not sponsor (liability)/ Someone should sponsor markets
How often? Once a week 13 Once a month 2 Other: Several times per week
4. If yes. starting when? Immediately 9 Summer 5 Fall 0 Other 1
5 Would you favor some simple design guidelines which would help retain the architectural flavor
of Pahoa Village
Yes 7 No 3 Don't Know 0 Would like information 5
Comments: Low level buildings/ country flavor/ restrictions, guidelines result in less freedom for -
owners/ perhaps some suggestions on architecture, not mandatory
6 Should Mainstreet Pahoa work on a Design Review Process?
Yes 8 No 4 Don't Know 2 Would like information 2
Comments: More bureaucracy/ suggestions to beautify
20 Af eer Pahoa Strategic Plan
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7 Some towns request Histonc Di.trict Status and develop guidelines and construction requirements
Under th,: title Should Pahoa Village e\ploie this option
Yes 9 No 3 Don't Know 2 Would like information 2
8 Should Mainstreet Pahoa develop a proposal for the Akebono area as a town square with features
Stich as a community center /swim pool /,ports center /paved parking lot (Circle Onel
Yes 13 No Don't Know Would like information 2
9. What elements should be included?
Ethnic /Cultural 10 Theater/Music 9 Historical 9 Paved Parking 13 Sports 9
Other Social activities Youth Center Historic Pahoa Swap Meet
10 Would vote be interested in seeing or helping to develop cooperative advertising for Pahoa
Village (developed cooperatively with Mainstreet Pahoa and business people)?
Yes 6 No 4 Don't Know 2 Would like information 3
11 Would you be interested in the above if Mainstreet Pahoa coordinated and Raid for the graphic
services used in the ads?
Yes 9 No 2 Don't Know 2 Would like information 4
12. If ves, when should it start
Immediately 5 Summer 3 Fall 0 Other 2
13, Would you contribute to paid advertisements in the local media featuring the uniqueness of
Pahoa as a shop ing, dining, historic destination?
Yes 5 No 4 Don't Know 3 Would like to see examples 4
Comments: How much would it cost?
14. Would you contribute to paid advertisements featuring the uniqueness of Pahoa as a shopping,
dining, historic, destination in the Hawaii Tribune Herald or in the "Drive Guide "?
Yes 1 No 4 Don't Know 6 Would like to see examples 3
Comments: How much would it cost? Not the Hawaii Tribune - Herald
15 Would you contribute to Vaid advertisements along the above lines in other publications?
Yes 1 No 4 Don't Know 6 Would like to see examples 3
16. If yes, what publications' Big Island Review Journal/ "This Week" Tourist Magazine
IT If yes, would you contribute how much?
$256 $502 More-1 Increase as business grows.
Mainstreet Pahoa Strategic Plan 21
18 What kinds of communit activities do you think are needed to help bring our community
together?
Town Square/Park (several votes) Family Activities /youth activities (several votes)
Swimming Pool Recreation
Youth sports programs bring kids,parents together, enhance reputation of our town, build character,
respect, morals in youth
Cultural Activities Clear Communication, shared information
Keep doing exactly what you are doing
Children's Theater Swap Meets
Mural wall which changes and youth plan and decorate
Talk with local/longtime residents in Pahoa and surrounding area
19. What are the most important issues for your business?
Prioritize in order of importance to you, by numbering 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest. Number of
votes for each item is shown. Highest vote getters shown in italics:
Other: Taxi Service/Enterprise Zone/ swim arena w/ baths and spa
Comment: Get rid of transients and free loaders
22 M et Pahoa Strategic Plan
1
2
3
4
5
Advertising
_6
_2
_2
_0
_2
Town Square Development
_4
3
_2
_1
3
Job Development in Puna
_1
_1
_1
_8
Recreation Activities for Youth
_1
_3
_3
_1
_3
_5
Recreation Activities for Adults
_1
_2
_1
_4
Business Training for Youth
_1
_1
_3
_4
_2
6
Parking
_2
_1
— 1
—1
Housing
_2
_2
_1
_9
_3
Sidewalks
_3
_2
_5
_2
5
_1
Investment Capital
_6
_1
_1
_1
_3
Business Management Assist
_4
_1
_6
_0
_0
Renovation in Pahoa Village
_2
_1
_2
_3
_1
Beautification in Pahoa Village
_2
_2
_0
4
_5
Maintain Historic Appearance
_3
_0
_2
_2
_5
Landscaping
_4
_0
_4
_0
_3
Recycling
_4
_1
_3
_3
_3
Refuse Pick Up
_6
_1
_1
_2
Amenities for Transient Visitors
_4
_2
_1
_4
_1
_3
Homeless Shelter
_5
_0
_2
_1
Transportation System
_5
_0
_0
_4
_2
Park and Ride
_4
_0
_3
_0
_5
_3
Other: Taxi Service/Enterprise Zone/ swim arena w/ baths and spa
Comment: Get rid of transients and free loaders
22 M et Pahoa Strategic Plan
A
0 0
2 Descnbe the future you see for your business in five vea
Modest growth/ steady and improving/ more profit
New store /new location / business multiplying quickly
Slow expansion as economy improves /very good
Dollars, expansion, success, better service, more employees
Community support against crime
Printing house and hotel w/ 30 plus rooms
Clinic with three dentists
That's confidential information
21 List the features. facilities. services you would like to see developed in Pahoa in the next five
years:
New buildings/ a Town Square/ Full time police station/sidewalks
Farmers markets /community watch/ political clout/ parking/
Clean up /shopping complex/ tour buses twice a week/ movies grocery store/ separate high school/
scholastic programs/ library
Coordinated business development and advertising
24 -hour clinic/ senior care/ publicize, expand adult education
Sports complex, pool, gym, volleyball, basketball
Togethemess, teamwork, song and play with good planning
Any other comments?
Great survey! Good luck' Keep up the good work!
Your're doing well, keep it up! Notify of next Town Meeting.
Get some engineering help to make some plans for future roads and public places to cut down on
congestion and accidents.
Pahoa has much to offer local people and tourists, let's see the town grow but keep its uniqueness.
Mainstreet programs have been well handled.
Eliminate circuses, they draw "the wrong kind of people" Out street fairs are poor because of poor
quality items, does not reflect work produced by people in our community. "Mainstreet" type pro-
grams can result in higher rents and more restrictions (Hilo is a perfect example). Pahoa has a poor/
fair image; we need to create a more favorable impage with more family activities Problem: vehicles
in fire station parking lot and across street
Mainstreet Pahoa Strategic Plan 23
Mainstreet Pahoa Strategic Plan Design Checklist:
Please Add Your Comments
Downtown is a Business:
Describe the range of services the downtown provides:
Hardware/home improvement, groceries /natural foods, human services, accounting, medical /dental
services, educational services, tourism, art and gift shops, hotel, showers, restaurants, auto parts and
service /gas, massage, acupuncture, barber/beauty, shoe repair, real estate, fax/copying, video rental,
theatre, laundromats.
Describe the major characteristics of your downtown customers:
Independent, rural, multi- ethnic, multi - cultural, wealthy and poor, family oriented, people must drive
- vehicle owners, tourists, agricultural
List County activities which affect the strength of downtown business?
Tax dollars, county services and public assistance dollars are not equitably returned to Pahoa/Puna. -
Characterize the relationship between the downtown and outlying 1hol2yi tgcenters/ **galls
Competitive - and, there are no malls.
Do most businesses in the downtown area keel the same hours and cooperate in sales activities?
No, not yet.
Taking control of our image:
What images come to mind when customers and visitors think of downtown?
Rustic, historic village, restaurant and night life activity, local Hawaiian style, laid back, very casual.
Also, run down, "Wild West," new age.
Characterize the major land uses in town are they balanced?
Commercial, recreational, residential, agricultural - yes, balanced.
List the districts in downtown (such as banking or shopp district):
is t)•
1. Pahoa High and Elementary School - major employment center
2. Historic Boardwalk (old town): theater, YBA Hall, Community Ceneter, restaurants, shops, small
hotel, gas and auto parts, beauty shop
3. Contemporary Commercial: offices, restaurant, convenience store, laundromat, health facilities,
Post Office, grocery and shops.
4. New Foodfair Complex: grocery store, gas station.
List three main neighborhoods adjacent to downtown:
1. Nanawale Homesteads
2. Hawaiian Beaches
S. Leilani Estates
4. Tangerine Acres
5 Back streets and residential
24 A1c t Pahoa Strategic Plan
w
0 0
Design Checklist continued
We Need A Complementary Mix of Businesses
Lit the igv e�,est employers to downtown:
Pahoa Natural Groceries, Cash and Carry, Bellman Complex, Schools, Puna Flowers & Foliage
Imagine a typical trip to downtown one you take most often and wnte down your destinations:
Post Office, School, grocery, gas station, hardware, banks, laundromats, restaurants, work
C ircle those destinations above that you visit on foot once y ou've parked
Do vote drive to all those destinations? Do you walk?
List the items you usually go outside of downtown to acquire:
Large grocery shopping, building materials, banking, government services, movies, clothing, shoes,
auto repairs, household goods, medical and employment services
Public Amenities are Social and Economic Opportunities
When you have friends visiting from out of town where do you take them to show off the town or to
have fun?
Restaurants, Akebono Theater, historic buildings, back streets, shops
Check those that are in downtown - All are in downtown
Access and Internal Circulation Builds Community
Is it easy to drive into town? Yes
Is it easy to park?
Is it pleasant to walk?
Do you walk through downtown?
Is there public transit?
Is transit convenient?
No
Yes
Yes
Marginal
No
Mainstreet Pahoa Strategic Plan 25
Design Checklist continued
Sacred Structures History and Cultural Life Give Character and Meaning to a.
Community's Lifestyle
Pick a few locations in the downtown where you bump into friends and acQuaintances and list them:
Post Office, Parking lots - everywhere
List the places downtown where something historical occurred:
Akebono Theater, millsite, railroad turnaround, YBA Hall Research arrival and historyof various
ethnic groups in Pahoa history
List locations of community cultural life:
Community Center, Akebono Theater and parking lot, schools, churches Hawaiian history, legends,
trails, villages
What are the major public buildings in the downtown?
Schools, Library, Post Office, Community Center
Physical setting,, including landscape, views, entries, natural resources is a key ele-
ment of local character
List the locations of your favorite views in or near downtown:
Ballpark, churches, Mauna Kea view, ravine by Paul's, Foodfair comple, makai side of Catholic
church.
Identify any natural or man -made edges that tend to define the boundary of downtown:
Two bypass connections
Identify key gateways where you feel you have truly entered the downtown.
Baptist Church/ school
Name the best places for outdoor recreation in the area:
Comm. Center, shoreline, Lava Tree Park, Puala'a, Kalani Honua, Kehena, McKenzie Park, Pohoiki
What are your favorite landscape features?
Anthuriums, banyan tree, flowering tree in Akebono parking lot indigenous plants at Pahoa Village
entranc, lava rock walls
What physical features. strong or weak. come most commonly to mind in defining downtown's
character? Strong old architecture, ohia planks, rustic, historic - ugly powerlines
List environmentally damaged areas near the downtown
Geothermal, fallow papaya fields, poison sprayed areas.
26 reet Pahoa Strategic Plan
LL
Resou roes
County of Hawaii.
General Plan
Community Development Plans,
Technological Reference Report: Puna Community Development Plan
Brower, David J., et al.
Managing Development in Small Towns, APA Planners Press. 1984.
Reinventing the Village PAS 430. 1991.
Daniels, Thomas L., Keller, John W. The Small Town Planning Handbook. 1988. APA Planners
Press.
Duany, Andres, Plater - Zyberk, Elizabeth.
Towns and Town - Making Principles 1991. Rizzoli.
Preserving Rural Character PAS. 1990.
Ford, Knstina, et al. Planninji Small Town America 1990. APA Planners Press.
Gorczynski, Dale M. Insider's Guide to Environmental Negotiation, 1991. Lewis Publishers.
Klein, Richard D. 1990. Everyone Wins! A Citizen's Guide to Development. APA Planners Press.
McHarg, Ian L. Design With Nature, 1991. John WIley & Sons.
Porter, Douglas R., et al. Flexible Zoning: How it Works. 1988. Urban Land Institute.
Sargent, Frederic O. Rural Environmental Planning for Sustainable Communities, 1991. Island
Press.
Smith, Herbert H. 1991. APA Planners Press.
Preparing a Historic Preservation Ordinance, PAS 374. 1983.
Community Design Guidelines Manual. 1989. N. Y. State Commission on Tug Hill.
Steiner, Frederick. The Living Landscape 1990. McGraw -Hill.
Mainstreet Pahoa Strategic Plan 27