HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-03-14 South Kohala AC Meeting Packet RevisedMitchell D. Roth Mayor
Lee E. Lord Managing Director
West Hawai‘i Office 74-5044 Ane Keohokālole HwyKailua-Kona, Hawai‘i 96740 Phone (808) 323-4770 Fax (808) 327-3563
County of Hawai‘i
PLANNING DEPARTMENT
Zendo Kern Director
Jeffrey W. Darrow
Deputy Director
East Hawai‘i Office 101 Pauahi Street, Suite 3 Hilo, Hawai‘i 96720 Phone (808) 961-8288 Fax (808) 961-8742
www.planning.hawaiicounty.gov Hawai`i County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer planning@hawaiicounty.gov
NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING
SOUTH KOHALA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN ACTION COMMITTEE
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN of the following matters to be considered by the South Kohala Action
Committee in accordance with the provisions of Section 92-7, Hawaiʻi Revised Statutes.
NOTE: Pursuant to Act 220, Session Laws of Hawaii 2021, which amended the Sunshine Law to
allow meetings to be remotely conducted online, effective January 1, 2022, Action Committee
Meetings will be held online, and the location listed below for the public to provide testimony
on agenda items. The Action Committee meeting can be viewed live online or at a location
listed below. Pursuant to the Governor’s Emergency Proclamation Related to COVID-19
(Omicron Variant) dated January 26, 2022, the requirement to have at least one in-person
meeting location has been suspended through March 25, 2022. No in-person meeting location
will be provided during this time period, unless the suspension is earlier terminated or
superseded by a separate proclamation.
DATE: Monday, March 14, 2022
TIME: 5:00 P.M.
PLACE: South Kohala Action Committee Members will participate in this meeting via
the Zoom interactive video platform. Members of the public may also attend
via Zoom or watch the live stream on the Planning Department’s YouTube
channel.
To register for verbal testimony please use this online fillable form:
https://tinyurl.com/2p9htnp4 or contact staff at cdp@hawaiicounty.gov or
(808)961-8188.
Zoom registration link: https://tinyurl.com/4bnzhhyp
To view the live stream on YouTube, click the following link:
https://www.youtube.com/CountyofHawaiiPlanningDepartment
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AGENDA
CALL TO ORDER
ROLL CALL
ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA: (Approval of Addendum and/or Supplemental Agenda (requires
six votes, and must comply with Hawaiʻi Revised Statutes § 92-7(d))
ANNOUNCEMENTS
• Welcoming Scott Nagata to the South Kohala Action Committee
• Ports of Entry Biosecurity Program (Communication No. 2022-05) – Chair Smith will
briefly share how the community might support this initiative by participating in the
legislative process.
PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEMS: Written testimony may be submitted via email at
cdp@hawaiicounty.gov or in person at the Hilo or Kona Planning Department, up to two (2)
business days prior (Thursday, March 10, 2022) to the meeting (see the Notice Section below).
In addition, members of the public may provide oral testimony at the meeting on any of the
agenda items. To register for access to the Zoom meeting please email cdp@hawaiicounty.gov.
With discretion of the Chair of the CDP Action Committee, comments may be made either
during the public comment portion of the agenda or just prior to the relevant business item and
may be limited to three (3) minutes in length per agenda item.
APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES: The Action Committee will consider the draft minutes for the
South Kohala Action Committee Meeting on November 8, 2021 and the Joint AC meeting on
January 19, 2022.
BUSINESS:
1. Information Sharing: Sharon Hirota from the County Office of Housing and Community
Development will present several programs, including: Emergency Rent Assistance,
Homeowner Assistance, Landlord/Tenant Mediation Center, Financial Empowerment
Services and the recently launched Coordination Center. Action Committee members
are encouraged to share these programs with their networks.
2. Communication No. 2022-06: Letter to Director Kern Regarding CDP Priorities for
Federal Infrastructure Funding. Chair Ruth Smith will introduce a draft letter to the
Planning Director to seek support for CDP established priorities for Federal
infrastructure funding. Committee Members will discuss and vote on finalizing the
letter.
3. Action Committee Priority Setting Exercise: Action Committee members will engage in
an exercise to establish priority implementation projects and interests for 2022.
Discussion will include exploring mutual interests between Action Committee members
to create investigatory subcommittees and community liaison groups, as applicable.
Joint initiatives with community members or partner organizations are encouraged.
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4. Framework for Action Committee Run Meetings: As part of the 2022 Roadmapping
discussions, some Action Committees have expressed interest in hosting their own
official meetings. This discussion is to clarify the framework for that option, establish the
general roles/responsibilities, and ensure proper measures are taken to adhere to the
State Sunshine Law.
5. Election of Action Committee Officers: The Action Committee will nominate and elect a
Chair and Vice-Chair to serve during the 2022 calendar year. Nomination and election to
be facilitated by Planning Staff.
AGENDA FOR NEXT MEETING: Agenda item suggestions from the Action Committee and
Planning Staff for the South Kohala Community Development Plan Action Committee meeting
on May 9, 2022.
ADJOURNMENT
This agenda and all related documents are available in the Planning Department’s South Kohala
Community Development Plan Action Committee folder via the County of Hawaiʻi Public
Documents Repository: https://records.hawaiicounty.gov/Weblink/1/fol/17198/Row1.aspx.
These documents may also be requested from the Planning Department by calling (808) 961-
8288 or emailing cdp@hawaiicounty.gov.
NOTICE: The purpose of the public hearings is to afford all interested persons a reasonable
opportunity to be heard on the above items. A person desiring to submit oral or written
testimony shall indicate their name and whether the testimony is on their behalf or as a
representative of an organization or individual. Written testimony can be submitted via email
or hard copy. Hard copies should include an original and nine copies and be submitted no later
than 4:30pm two days prior to the hearing date.
Anyone who requires an auxiliary aid or service, other reasonable modification, or language
interpretation to access this meeting please contact the Planning Department at (808) 961-
8288 as soon as possible, but no later than five working days prior to the meeting date, to
arrange for accommodations. “Other reasonable modification” refers to communication
methods or devices for people with disabilities who are mentally and/or physically challenged.
If you are a lobbyist, you must register with the Hawai‘i County Clerk within five days of
becoming a lobbyist. (Article 15, Section 2-91.3(b), Hawai‘i County Code). A lobbyist means,
“any individual engaged for pay or other consideration who spends more than five hours in any
month or $275 in any six-month period for the purpose of attempting to influence legislative or
administrative action by communicating or urging others to communicate with public officials.”
(Article 15, Section 2-91.3(a)(6), Hawai‘i County Code). Registration forms and expenditure
report documents are available at the Office of the County Clerk-Council, 25 Aupuni Street,
Hilo, Hawai‘i 96720.
SOUTH KOHALA CDP ACTION COMMITTEE
The Purpose: Secure funding for The Ports-of Entry Biosecurity Program. This program fills a critical gap
in our overall biosecurity system, minimizing opportunities for new pest incursions and safeguarding our
islands from further invasion and damage from invasive species. Making small investments in the
monitoring and rapid response efforts provided by this program saves the state millions of dollars in
long-term response efforts and economic damages.
The Issue: The Ports-of-Entry Biosecurity Program is in its last year of funding from the Hawaiʻi
Department of Transportation (HDOT). A 5-year pilot period has demonstrated that this program is an
excellent investment for the biosecurity of the State. The program fills an important gap in surveillance at
ports-of-entry and enhances the state's ability for early detection and rapid response of species that can
severely impact human health, our environment and the economy. The list of targets includes
Africanized bees, invasive ants, mosquitos, and coconut rhinoceros beetle. The program currently
operates at airports, but there is momentum to expand efforts to include seaports as well as the list of
current targets. The program is in its last year of funding and facing the possibility of operating at a
significantly reduced capacity or not at all without additional funding.
Background: Small investments in early detection and rapid response programs are the most cost-
effective way to deal with invasive species and can save the state billions of dollars in economic losses
and damages. The Ports-of-Entry Biosecurity Program (formerly known as Māmalu Poepoe), has acted as
the invisible shield to prevent the introduction and spread of some of the most high-risk pests to Hawaiʻi.
The program has successfully operated at Hawaii’s six main airports with funding from the Hawaiʻi
Department of Transportation’s Airport Revenue Fees for the past five years and brings together multiple
state agencies including the Hawaiʻi Departments of Transportation, Agriculture, Health, Land and Natural
Resources, and the University of Hawaiʻi. The program monitors for four target pests; Africanized bees,
invasive ants, mosquitos, and coconut rhinoceros beetle. Each of these targets could easily hitchhike on
planes, slip through inspections, and impact multiple sectors of the local economy, as well as human
health and our way of life in the islands. This program fills a critical gap in our island’s biosecurity system.
The State Legislature declared invasive species to be the single greatest threat to Hawaii’s economy,
natural environment, and the health and lifestyle of Hawaii’s people and visitors in a 2015 report (LRB
2015). Hawaii’s role as a hub for travel, commerce, and military transport is a major contributor to the
economy but also increases its vulnerability to new pest incursions. Prior to COVID-19, the state had over
one million aircraft operations, landings and takeoffs and 600,000 shipping containers processed
through Hawaii’s seaports (DOT 2017). In 2019, Hawaii received more than 10.5 million visitors (air and
cruise ships), setting a new record for visitor arrivals and visitor spending. Each of these arrivals and
shipments provides a new opportunity for the introduction of invasive species.
The Critical Role of the Ports-of-Entry Biosecurity Program
1
January 19, 2022
Communication Number 2022-05
Overall Benefit:Cost: A recent economic analysis looked at the costs of the current program’s
monitoring efforts compared to the potential costs to airports if a pest incursion occurred without any
monitoring or rapid response capabilities. The economic analysis found that there is an overall 110:1
benefit: cost ratio. The economic analysis only took into account the benefit of monitoring for invasive
species at airports. Clearly the benefits from airport monitoring and rapid response would extend to the
surrounding areas, the island, and the entire State. These benefits are expected to be many times larger
than the benefits to the airport thus further warranting continued funding of the program.
Africanized Bees, also known as killer bees, are currently not present in
Hawaiʻi. They were intercepted in 2011 at Honolulu Harbor which made them a
high priority for monitoring through the program. The establishment of
Africanized bees would decimate Hawaii’s ability to grow diversified agriculture
and the beekeeping industry, valued at over $220 million. Africanized bees are
significantly more aggressive than common honeybees and would threaten the
health and lifestyle of residents and impact the $14.9 billion tourism industry.
Invasive ants threaten agriculture, natural resources and pose a health risk to
residents, pets, and wildlife. little fire ant (LFA) and red imported fire ant (RIFA)
pose a serious threat to human health, quality of life, and agriculture. LFA and
RIFA can bite and sting people and cause severe pain and serious skin reactions
to people and animals. An economic study estimated that current control costs
for LFA on Hawaiʻi island alone averages $200 million per year. The red imported
fire ant (RIFA) is not currently present in the State, but the economic costs if it
does establish are estimated at $200 million per year in damages to tourism and
agricultural sectors.
Mosquitos: The introduction of new species of mosquitoes can transmit new
diseases, posing serious health threats to people and native species, not to
mention more mosquitos are an added nuisance to both visitors and residents.
Local transmission of high-profile diseases like Zika and Dengue in Hawaiʻi could
cause many visitors to travel elsewhere impacting an important driver of our
economy.
Coconut rhinoceros beetle (CRB) is the most recent introduction, detected in
Hawaiʻi near the end 2013 and is currently confined to Oʻahu. This invasive
beetle is a major pest of coconut palms and feeds on a wide array of palm
species including the native loulu, Pritchardia spp. Coconut palms are an
important symbol, populating much of the State's skyline. If CRB was left
unchecked much of our iconic skyline could be whittled down to mere stumps,
which has occurred in Guam where the beetle is now widespread.
2
Communication Number 2022-05
Budget: $525,000 to continue the program as is (monitor for current targets at 6 main airports) +
expansion to seaports on Oahu, and monitor for 2 additional targets. This budget is for 12 months.
Total Personnel Cost $425,000
Total Materials & Supplies Cost $60,000
Total Travel Cost $15,000
Total Other Cost $25,000
Contacts:
For more information, please contact:
Chelsea Arnott, Hawai‘i Invasive Species Council planner, chelsea.l.arnott@hawaii.gov
Leyla Kaufman, Mamalu Poepoe Coordinator, leyla.v.kaufman@hawaii.gov
3
References:
Gutrich, J.J., E. VanGelder, and L. Loope. 2007. Potential economic impact of introduction and spread of
the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta, in Hawai‘i. Environmental Science & Policy 10: 685–696
HDOT. 2018. Media Kit, Harbors Division. Honolulu, Hawai‘i.https://hidot.hawaii.gov/wp-
content/uploads/2018/01/HDOT-Harbors-Division-Media-Kit-2018-1.pdf
HDOT. 2019. The State of Hawai‘i Airport Activity Statistics by Calendar Year.
https://hidot.hawaii.gov/airports/ files/2013/01/annual-air-traffic-statistics-20190715.pdf
HTA. 2019. Annual Visitor Research Report. https://www.hawaiitourismauthority.org/media/5062/2019-
annual-report-final-for-posting.pdf
Lee, D.J., M. Motoki, C. Vanderwoude, S.T. Nakamoto,and P.S. Leung. 2015. Taking the sting out of Little
Fire Ant in Hawai‘i. Ecological Economics 111:.100-110
Lee, Donna. 2021. Unpublished data. Economic analysis of monitoring efforts at Hawaii's airports.
Legislative Reference Bureau (LRB). 2015. Can't see the forest for the (albizia) trees: an invasive species
update. - Honolulu, Hawai‘i. - xi, 416 pages. tables ; 28 cm. - Report ; no. 15-3 . - Report (Hawai‘i.
Legislative Reference Bureau) no. 15-3.
Communication Number 2022-05
Mitchell D. Roth
Mayor
Lee E. Lord
Managing Director
Zendo Kern
Director
Jeffrey W. Darrow
Deputy Director
County of Hawai‘i
PLANNING DEPARTMENT
SOUTH KOHALA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN ACTION COMMITTEE
Aupuni Center • 101 Pauahi Street, Suite 3 • Hilo, Hawai‘i 96720
Phone (808) 961-8288 • Fax (808) 961-8742
Hawai‘i County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer Page 1
Monday, November 8, 2021 1
DRAFT Meeting Minutes 2
CALL TO ORDER 3
Chair Smith called the South Kohala Community Development Plan (SKCDP) Action Committee 4
(AC) to order at 5:10 P.M. Due to restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, this meeting 5
was held via the Zoom interactive video platform. 6
ROLL CALL 7
AC Members Present: Ruth Smith (Chair), Karen Anderson, Pete Hendricks, Tristie Licoan, Kevin 8
McLaughlin and Bill Sanborn. 9
AC Members Absent-Excused: Julia Alos and Mark Gordon. 10
County Staff: Planners – Heather Bartlett, Alexis Ching and Keiko Mercado. 11
County Officials: Council Member Tim Richards 12
Members of the public: Members of the public observed the meeting via the COH Planning 13
Department YouTube Livestream. The livestream is available at South Kohala CDP Action 14
Committee Meeting – November 8, 2021 - YouTube. 15
ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA: None 16
ANNOUNCEMENTS: 17
1. General Plan Update: 18
Ms. Mercado shared that the administration has been working to launch and implement the new 19
Electronic Processing & Information Center (EPIC) permit system. As EPIC is now up and running, 20
more time will shift to the priority of reviewing and evaluating the General Plan Comprehensive 21
Review. This will include an updated timeline, additional public input, and an outline of the 22
adoption process. The website will be updated and action committees will be notified when 23
information is available. Members of public were encouraged to sign up for the GP mailing list as 24
new information will be sent out as it comes in, along with an updated timeline. 25
Chair Smith requested clarification if AC members need to sign up for the mailing list as well. 26
Ms. Mercado informed that AC members may already be signed up, but they will check and 27
confirm. 28
www.planning.hawaiicounty.gov/ CDP@hawaiicounty.gov Page 2
2. Community First Health Care Assessment: 29
Ms. Mercado shared that they received a notice from Community First informing that they are 30
conducting a health care assessment. They are reaching out for help in distributing their survey 31
across Hawaiʻi Island. Community First and its partners are serving Hawaiʻi Island residents 32
during the month of November to better understand what communities need to improve their 33
health. The survey is a part of Access to Care, a collaborative that’s working to transform health 34
care on Hawaiʻi Island. Information regarding this and a link to their survey will be sent to AC 35
members via email. 36
3. Meeting with Jojo Tanimoto: 37
Ms. Ching provided a summary of the meeting with Jojo Tanimoto that was held on September 38
22, 2021. Ms. Tanimoto wants to ensure that the South Kohala CDP is more inclusive of the 39
Kawaihae and Kailapa areas. 40
For reference see Jojo Tanimoto’s written testimony (communication number 2021-06) and notes 41
from her meeting with Planning staff (communication number 2021-10) 42
PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEMS: None 43
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: 44
Committee Member Pete Hendricks made a motion to approve the September 13, 2021 minutes. 45
Motion seconded by Committee Member Tristie Licoan. Motion passed with 6 votes aye, 0 votes 46
nay. 47
BUSINESS: 48
1. Update on the Status of the Mana Road Fire After-Action Report: 49
Council Member Tim Richards provided an update on the status of the Mānā Road fire After-50
Action Report. He discussed what was done well, what was learned and what could have 51
been done better. Communication between agencies and with the public has been identified 52
as the area needing the most improvement. It was noted that more community outreach for 53
volunteers to assist with future fires is needed. The County is also looking into technology 54
that will be able to geographically track the heavy equipment being used to fight fires. 55
Committee Member McLaughlin asked if there is an action item identified or a team that is 56
set up to work on solutions for the identified issues. 57
Council Member Richards informed the AC that this was still in the formative discussion 58
phase. He explained that the Fire Chief, Police Chief, Civil Defense Administrator and the 59
Mayor still need to discuss and set up the appropriate structure and communication 60
channels. He noted that while there is no final report yet, the issues that need resolving have 61
been identified. 62
Based on the total cost of the fire, loss of property, loss of acreage, and loss of production 63
from that land, Council Member Richards estimated that the community lost $20 - $25 64
million. He also discussed recovery and funding efforts going forward. Recovery will look at 65
more than just the amount of money spent, it will look at the impact this situation had on 66
both the economy and environment. 67
www.planning.hawaiicounty.gov/ CDP@hawaiicounty.gov Page 3
Chair Smith expressed frustration that a survey had not been sent out and that the AC hadn’t 68
received much response to the letter they sent after their last meeting to the Mayor via 69
Director Kern. 70
Council Member Richards advised Chair Smith to send the letter to him so that he could 71
follow up. 72
Chair Smith requested a motion to adapt the letter the Action Committee sent to the Mayor in 73
their September meeting (communication number 2021-07) to send to Council member 74
Richards so that he may take the lead on following up. Committee Member Hendricks moved 75
and the motion was seconded by Committee Member Sanborn. 76
Ms. Mercado suggested and Council Member Richards confirmed that it would be most 77
efficient for staff to forward the original letter to Council Member Richards. 78
Committee Member Hendricks withdrew his motion to adapt the letter. 79
Before closing the discussion, Chair Smith expressed the importance of holding those 80
responsible for starting the fire accountable as the loss to the community was devastating. 81
2. Implementation Updates from Action Committee Members: 82
a. Waikōloa: Chair Smith - The Waikōloa Village Association Firewise Committee is looking 83
for new leadership, Committee Member Gordon is serving as the interim Chair. 84
b. Puakō: Committee Member Anderson - The State gave the County $1.5 million to fund 85
the Puakō wastewater system, and with the County’s percentage of matched 86
contribution, a total of $1.75 million is available. If the encumbered funds are not used by 87
early-middle 2022, then the monies will return to the Stateʻs coffers. It is Ms. Anderson 88
view that the County is hesitant to take over and move forward as they do not want to be 89
responsible for another treatment plant. 90
Over the past six years, the Puakō Community Association has been working with the 91
County, and various engineering firms to determine the best solution. It was determined 92
that a good solution would be to create their own mini plant, similar to the one above 93
Costco. There has been an ongoing discussion on whether the future plant would be 94
operated by the county or a private entity and meanwhile the community is concerned 95
about the encumbered funds expiring. Committee member Anderson asked if there was 96
any way to extend the window they have to use the money. 97
Committee Member Sanborn advised that they seek out other public or private 98
connections to assist. He suggested reaching out to Cal Water, who has done sewage 99
systems in Waikoloa. He explained that they may need to find an alternative option while 100
they wait on a response from the County. Committee Member Sanborn will provide 101
contact information for the manager at Cal water. 102
c. Waimea: Committee Member Sanborn - The State has been in negotiations with the 103
County to take ownership of Mamalahoa Highway through Waimea. The issue was raised 104
that when the State takes over, they will no longer have the same connections with the 105
State as they currently have with the County, with regards to problems such as pot holes, 106
traffic safety, etc. Committee Member Sanborn would also like to find a way for them to 107
www.planning.hawaiicounty.gov/ CDP@hawaiicounty.gov Page 4
be informed about the different road negotiations and their outcomes, that affect South 108
Kohala, so that the community can be informed beforehand. 109
Ms. Mercado suggested that Long Range Planner Natasha Soriano would be a good 110
person to start with because she works closely with both the State DOT and DPW. 111
Committee Members Sanborn and Hendricks were in favor of setting up a meeting with 112
Ms. Soriano. 113
3. Review Current Action Committee Member Terms and Ideate Around 2022 AC Proceedings: 114
Ms. Bartlett presented a spreadsheet outlining the South Kohala AC members’ term 115
durations and timelines. Ms. Mercado explained that they would be reaching out to all AC 116
members to set up time for an open and honest conversation to check-in about how they are 117
feeling relative to their terms and discuss strategies for engaging during 2022. Discussions 118
were had regarding holdovers and staff assured that committee members could continue as 119
holdovers until such time that new applicants were vetted via the Mayor’s office and the 120
County Council. 121
Committee Member Sanborn suggested that they involve Council Member Richards with the 122
recruitment process if and when more members are needed. 123
The Planning staff informed that they are working to develop additional strategies to engage 124
and support action committees in 2022 that will help implementation . Ms. Mercado shared 125
that Action Committees may be able to meet more often if they are interested in facilitating 126
their own meetings while staying in compliance with the Sunshine Law. 127
Committee Member Sanborn would also like Planning to check for any outstanding or 128
existing budget items that they should continue to support and keep in front of the County, 129
so they can move forward and check on the goals they have for those different venues. 130
PROPOSED AGENDA ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING: 131
1. Update on items and reports dicussed at this meeting: Wastewater system for Puakō, 132
Mānā-Road Fire, historic preservation, road negotiations 133
2. A potential project to highlight appropriate tourism attractions in South Kohala 134
3. 2022 Action Committee strategy 135
ADJOURNMENT: Committee Member Hendricks moved to adjourn. Seconded by Committee 136
Member Licoan. The motion passed with 6 votes aye, 0 votes nay. 137
The meeting was adjourned at 7:03 P.M. 138
139
These meeting minutes and all related documents are available in the Planning Department’s 140
South Kohala Community Development Plan Action Committee folder via the County of Hawaiʻi 141
Public Documents Repository. These documents may also be requested from the Planning 142
Department by calling (808) 961-8288 or emailing cdp@Hawaiʻicounty.gov. 143
Mitchell D. Roth
Mayor
Lee E. Lord
Managing Director
Zendo Kern
Director
Jeffrey W. Darrow
Deputy Director
County of Hawai’i
PLANNING DEPARTMENT
SOUTH KOHALA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN ACTION COMMITTEE
Aupuni Center • 101 Pauahi Street, Suite 3 • Hilo, Hawai‘i 96720
Phone (808) 961-8288 • Fax (808) 961-8742
Hawai‘i County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer Page 1
Wednesday, January 19, 2022 1
DRAFT Meeting Minutes 2
CALL TO ORDER 3
This meeting was attended by members of all Community Development Plan (CDP) Action 4
Committees (AC) in the County of Hawai’i. Long-Range Planner, Keiko Mercado serving as a non-5
voting Chairperson for the island-wide convening of CDP ACs, called the South Kohala 6
Community Development Plan (CDP) Action Committee (AC) meeting to order at 5:11 P.M. Due 7
to restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, this meeting was held via the Zoom interactive 8
video platform. 9
Kona AC Chair Charles Young shared an Ōlelo Noʻeau: 10
E kanu mea ʻai o nana keiki i ka haʻi 11
Plant edible food plants lest your children look with longing at someone else’s. 12
ROLL CALL 13
Action Committee Members Present: 14
South Kohala: Ruth Smith (Chair), Bill Sanborn, Julia Ann Alos, Kevin McLaughliin, Scott Nagata, 15
Karen Anderson. 16
Planning Department Staff: Zendo Kern (Planning Director); Grant Nagata (Admin Services 17
Officer); Keiko Mercado, Heather Bartlett, and Jaslyn Nathaniel (Long Range Div. Planners); 18
Courtney Costa (Long Range Div. Staff). 19
Members of the public: 9 members of the public attended the meeting via Zoom. Members of 20
the public also observed the meeting via the Livestream on YouTube. The Livestream is available 21
at https://youtu.be/eEv32s28l4g. 22
STATE SUNSHINE LAW UPDATE BY CORPORATION COUNSEL: 23
Deputy Corporation Counsel Jean Campbell presented the basic tenents of the State Sunshine 24
Law and its new changes. 25
Click here for the presentation slides (Communication No 2022-01): 26
http://records.hawaiicounty.gov/Weblink/1/doc/113992/Page1.aspx 27
Hāmākua Committee Member Keeney asked for clarification from Ms. Campbell on Sunshine 28
Law restrictions for contacting members of other Action Committees. Ms. Campbell responded 29
that discussing business with members of your own Action Committee is a breach of Sunshine 30
www.planning.hawaiicounty.gov/ CDP@hawaiicounty.gov Page 2
Law and that caution should be taken when discussing business with other AC members, 31
especially if there is potential for applicability across multiple Action Committees. 32
Kona Committee Chair Young questioned amending an agenda and whether rearranging items 33
would be applicable. Ms. Campbell clarified that agenda items may be re-ordered or postponed. 34
She added that boards are generally discouraged from adding agenda items during a meeting as 35
it does not give the public advanced notice. 36
Hāmākua Committee Member Kua asked if there were any plans to switch to in-person meetings 37
and, if so, how much notice would the Planning Department provide. Ms. Campbell responded 38
that the Governor’s current Emergency Proclamation lifts the requirement of in-person meetings 39
until the end of February and that the proclamation could be extended/canceled depending on 40
the COVID-19 emergency. Remote meetings may resume after the proclamation is lifted but will 41
require at least one in-person site (usually at a County facility). 42
Hāmākua Committee Member Keeney inquired further on communication with other members 43
through email on recommendations for agenda items. Ms. Campbell responded with a 44
suggestion that communications outside of meetings should generally be discouraged and 45
recommended that Action Committee members share their agenda item suggestions with staff. 46
Ms. Mercado reminded Committee Member Keeney that staff contacts AC members about three 47
weeks before each meeting to request input for the upcoming agenda. She requested that any 48
additional questions and/or feedback be included in the post-meeting feedback form. 49
PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEMS: 50
Two (2) members of the public and one (1) Action Committee member (representing 51
themselves) provided testimony. 52
1. Community member Cory Harden provided testimony on the Planning Director’s message 53
and on item (3) 2022 RoadMap. She contended that the North Kohala Action Committee “fell 54
apart” a while back due to what the Kohala Mountain News quoted as “Tight rules [that] 55
made it impossible to respond to issues in a timely manner and to allow discussions on items 56
that are not in the agenda.” Ms. Harden expressed concern with the AC meetings moving 57
from once a month to once every three months. She also described long delays in filling 58
vacant Action Committee and Kailua Village Design Commission seats. She mentioned that 59
the multi-meeting process for taking action combined with the limited number of meetings 60
severely slows progress. She also conveyed frustration with Planning Staff that an agenda 61
item request to discuss a large 201H housing development on agricultural land, was not 62
honored. Ms. Harden shared her concern that Action Committees were changing from being 63
place-based to issue-based. Lastly, she expressed concern that the draft General Plan is 64
formatted so differently from previous General Plans that it is too difficult to differentiate the 65
changes. 66
2. South Kohala Committee Chair Smith, representing herself, testified on the Planning 67
Director’s message. She read her written testimony to Director Kern regarding incoming 68
Federal infrastructure funding. She asked the Director to advocate for the CDP 69
Infrastructure/ Emergency preparedness priorities. Ms. Smith expressed that each Action 70
www.planning.hawaiicounty.gov/ CDP@hawaiicounty.gov Page 3
Committee has worked thoroughly, investing time to research and find the infrastructure 71
needs for each community to meet favorable selection criteria. 72
Click here for Ruth Smith's written testimony (Communication No 2022-04): 73
Communication No. 2022-04 -R. Smith Testimony to PD Dir. Kern 74
3. Community Member Meizhu Lui, representing herself, testified on the State Sunshine Law 75
Update. She expressed agreement with the previous testifiers, adding that CDPs are 76
products of a democratic process and that she hoped the administration would honor that. 77
Ms. Lui explained that the Sunshine Law premise would mean nothing if there were no 78
meetings. She shared that infrequent meetings are a hindrance particularly given the 79
significance of the incoming Federal funds and the pandemic. She expressed support for 80
place-based AC initiatives given how different each district is. Ms. Lui echoed concern about 81
the 100-acre 201H housing development Ms. Harden mentioned. She talked about the 82
disadvantages of bypassing zoning regulations through the 201H and how it could potentially 83
harm the community. Community Member Lui voiced the need for affordable housing, 84
however, not at the expense of agricultural land. 85
MESSAGE FROM PLANNING DIRECTOR, ZENDO KERN: 86
Planning Director Zendo Kern introduced himself and shared his appreciation to Action 87
Committee members for their service to the community. Mr. Kern described the heavy 88
workload in the Planning Department explaining that it is not meant to be an excuse but an 89
insight on staff experiences. He mentioned Mayor Roth’s priority of sustainability and how the 90
Planning Department plays a central role in that function. In describing his strategic 91
approach, Director Kern utilized the Japanese term Kaizen. He defined it as continuous 92
improvement and an approach to improve the multifaceted processes of the department 93
through improving communication and addressing ongoing challenges. Director Kern shared the 94
benefits of the County’s EPIC system that would increase transparency, improve customer 95
service, and streamline processes. 96
He summarized some primary project goals to improve the EPIC system, increase digitization of 97
department files, and ongoing work with the Research and Development Department on a 98
Climate Action Plan to be a “living document” attached to the General Plan. He explained that 99
the Department is now back to “full throttle” on the General Plan comprehensive review 100
although it still has an extensive process to go through. He also shared plans for a 101
comprehensive update of the Zoning Code and Subdivision code to include a framework for 102
green infrastructure and transit-oriented developments (TODs) among other initiatives. He 103
shared that the Puna Eruption Recovery work continues to be a big priority for the Department 104
which includes the property buyout program, working with FEMA on infrastructure needs, and 105
designing a resiliency framework that can be applied island-wide. Director Kern also explained 106
the work he’s done to connect with Senators and the State DOT to understand and plug into the 107
process of dispersing Federal infrastructure funds. He said the County is still waiting on 108
information but that he would advocate for CDP Action Committee priorities as the process 109
moves forward. Lastly, he expressed that the Roth administration cares deeply about the CDP 110
Action Committees and shared regret that previous statements had been misconstrued to imply 111
www.planning.hawaiicounty.gov/ CDP@hawaiicounty.gov Page 4
otherwise. Moving forward, he encouraged AC members to contact the CDP team so that further 112
feedback could be shared with him. 113
BUSINESS: 114
1. Presentation by Susan Kuntz from the Office of Housing and Community Development: 115
Housing Administrator Susan Kuntz presented an overview of the 201H process and provided 116
information on its use and applicability. In her presentation, she covered the housing needs 117
in Hawai‘i County by outlining how they used Area Median Income (AMI) figures of 5 years to 118
estimate the need for 10,796 affordable housing units. Ms. Kuntz identified the challenges 119
developers face as affordable housing is not as profitable as developing market-rate housing 120
and may not always be financially feasible. She spoke about different mechanisms available 121
to assist qualifying housing projects, including federal funding assistance and the State’s 122
201H law. This law allows for exemptions from various permitting constraints relative to 123
affordable housing developments. Administrator Kuntz also shared 201H projects that were 124
proposed in 2021. She explained the agency's Strategic Roadmap which included regulatory 125
reform of the inclusionary zoning code (Hawai‘i County Code (HCC) Chapter 11), as well as 126
working with the Planning Department on amendments to the subdivision (HCC Chapter 23) 127
and zoning codes (HCC Chapter 25). Ms. Kuntz also included the creation of an affordable 128
housing program that identifies potential or existing State and County properties that could 129
be used for affordable housing developments. 130
Based on questions posed in the Zoom chat, Ms. Bartlett summarized a general question 131
around the qualifications for 201H. Ms. Kuntz replied by stating that both private and non-132
profit developers could apply with the stipulation of a 50% plus 1 criterion of affordable 133
units. Ms. Bartlett assured participants that other questions or comments would be followed 134
up on after the meeting. 135
Click here for the OHCD presentation slides (Communication No. 2022-02): 136
http://records.hawaiicounty.gov/Weblink/1/doc/114215/Page1.aspx 137
Click here for the 2019 Hawai‘i Housing Study mentioned in the presentation: 138
https://dbedt.hawaii.gov/hhfdc/files/2020/01/FINAL-State_Hawaii-Housing-Planning-139
Study.pdf 140
2. Presentation by Executive Director Kristine Kubat from Recycle Hawai‘i: 141
Recycle Hawai‘i Executive Director, Kristine Kubat shared information on strategic methods 142
to reduce solid waste, available resources, and their mission as a non-profit 143
organization. She stressed the importance of recycling and the general goals and objectives 144
that the non-profit organization would like to see communities accomplish. Ms. Kubat 145
phrased Zero Waste as “The conservation of all resources through responsible production, 146
consumption, reuse, and recovery of products, packaging, and materials without burning and 147
with no discharges to land, water, or air that threaten the environment or human 148
health”. She provided examples of self-sufficient community successes and current waste 149
management practices that could be expanded. Recycle Hawai‘i would like to be further 150
www.planning.hawaiicounty.gov/ CDP@hawaiicounty.gov Page 5
involved with Action Committee work and invites the community to get involved in the 151
mission. 152
Click here for the 2021 Zero Waste Plan: 153
https://www.hawaiicounty.gov/home/showdocument?id=304313&t=637812880742349217 154
Click here for the 2019 Integrated Solid Waste Management Plan: 155
https://records.hawaiicounty.gov/weblink/ElectronicFile.aspx?openfile=true&dbid=1&docid=156
110921 157
Click here for the 2009 Zero Waste Plan: http://hawaiizerowaste.org/site-content/uploads/3-158
14-09-Hawaii_Zero_Waste_Plan.doc.pdf 159
3. 2022 Roadmap Discussion: 160
Long-Range Planner, Heather Bartlett presented on the 2022 Action Committee Roadmap 161
and provided the Action Committees and community with updates, foreseeable events, and 162
upcoming discussion topics. Ms. Bartlett explained that the slideshow was a brief skeletal 163
overview to be discussed in greater detail at individual AC meetings. Ms. Bartlett covered a 164
collection of thoughts, ideas, and feedback from one-on-one meetings with AC members and 165
encouraged more AC members to share their thoughts with the CDP Team. She highlighted 166
progress for the Puna AC who gained two new members to satisfy quorum requirements 167
along with their progressive recovery efforts. Ms. Bartlett highlighted ongoing work to 168
engage the North Kohala community as they work to formalize an AC. She shared that the 169
Mayor’s office had received numerous applications for the Ka'ū CDP Action Committee and 170
the CDP Teams aspires to have members appointed by mid-2022. Suggested upcoming AC 171
discussion topics include chair and vice-chair elections in March, sharing of the draft Capital 172
Improvement Projects (CIP) budget, project prioritization/road-mapping, Chapter 16 review 173
and guidelines, and the hosting of mixed Zoom and in-person (hybrid) meetings. 174
Click here for the 2022 Roadmap Presentation slides (Communication No 2022-03): 175
http://records.hawaiicounty.gov/Weblink/1/doc/114216/Page1.aspx 176
ANNOUNCEMENTS: 177
All the February Action Committee meetings have been moved to March. The next South Kohala 178
Action Committee meeting will be on March 14, 2022. 179
ADJOURNMENT: 180
The meeting was adjourned at 7:13 pm. 181
These minutes and all related documents are available in the Planning Department’s South 182
Kohala Community Development Plan Action Committee folder via the County of Hawaiʻi Public 183
Documents Repository. These documents may also be requested from the Planning Department 184
by calling (808) 961-8288 or emailing cdp@hawaiicounty.gov. 185
Mitchell D. Roth Mayor
Lee E. Lord Managing Director
West Hawai‘i Office 74-5044 Ane Keohokālole Hwy Kailua-Kona, Hawai‘i 96740 Phone (808) 323-4770 Fax (808) 327-3563
County of Hawai‘i
PLANNING DEPARTMENT
Zendo Kern Director
Jeffrey W. Darrow
Deputy Director
East Hawai‘i Office 101 Pauahi Street, Suite 3 Hilo, Hawai‘i 96720 Phone (808) 961-8288 Fax (808) 961-8742
www.planning.hawaiicounty.gov Hawai‘i County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer planning@hawaiicounty.gov
DATE: March 14, 2022
TO: ZENDO KERN
Planning Director, Planning Department
FROM: SOUTH KOHALA CDP ACTION COMMITTEE
SUBJECT: South Kohala CDP Infrastructure Priorities
Dear Director Kern:
At the South Kohala Community Development Plan’s Action Committee meeting today, we
voted to request your advocacy to the Mayor on our behalf to prioritize funding for infrastructure
projects in our district. This is intended to guide allocation of the substantial federal dollars that
were allotted in the $1 trillion infrastructure bill that passed with bipartisan support in the last
Congressional session and was signed into law by President Biden.
Hawai‘i State is receiving $2.8 billion. This unprecedented influx of funds is for long-delayed
infrastructure repairs of roads and bridges, plus new traffic infrastructure needed in areas of
population growth. In the County of Hawai‘i, the distribution of the funds will ultimately come
down to Mayor Roth’s decision on which community projects get funded. We ask you to
advocate on behalf of the priorities that are documented in the South Kohala Community
Development Plan regarding infrastructure and emergency preparedness needs, along with
priority projects that have been identified through extensive community meetings since. The list
below does not cover things that have come up in the interim 14 years since that plan was
developed, such as the much-needed resolution of traffic control at the Waikoloa Road/Paniolo
Avenue intersection, which was not specified in the SKCDP, but was noted in the last Hawai‘i
County General Plan of 2005, stating that “the Waikoloa Intersection needs a Stop Light.”
Specifically, our community requests include:
1) To mitigate the risk of natural disasters, the Puakō community requested the construction
of the Paniau Evacuation Route and considered it a “top priority.” (P.138)
2) To provide transportation and circulation, “Plan, Fund, and Construct a Second Access
Road to Queen Ka‘ahumanu Highway” as a “top priority” both to accommodate
increasing traffic volumes…and more importantly, to provide a second emergency egress
Communication No. 2022-06
Zendo Kern, Director Planning Department
March 14, 2022
Page 2
www.planning.hawaiicounty.gov Hawai‘i County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer planning@hawaiicounty.gov
route for Waikoloa residents, noting that “the most significant type of natural disaster that
threatens the Waikoloa community is the threat of wildfires.” (P.102)
3)To provide transportation and circulation, a) implement short-term traffic mitigation
improvements in and around Waimea Town Center, b) design and construct the Parker
Ranch Connector Road, c) design and construct the Lalamilo Connector Road, and d)
resolve the best alignment for the proposed Waimea/Kawaihae Road Bypass Highway.
(Pages 75-76.)
4)To widen and realign the Waiaka Bridge. The South Kohala CDP specifically asked that
these urgent safety improvements would create a new bridge suitable for vehicular traffic
while preserving the old bridge for multi-modal use.
We appreciate you delivering our message to the Mayor on our behalf.
Sincerely yours,
Ruth A. Smith, Chair, SKCDP-AC
Mitchell D. Roth
Mayor
Lee E. Lord
Managing Director
West Hawai‘i Office
74-5044 Ane Keohokālole Hwy
Kailua-Kona, Hawai‘i 96740
Phone (808) 323-4770
Fax (808) 327-3563
County of Hawai‘i
PLANNING DEPARTMENT
Zendo Kern
Director
Jeffrey W. Darrow
Deputy Director
East Hawai‘i Office
101 Pauahi Street, Suite 3
Hilo, Hawai‘i 96720
Phone (808) 961-8288
Fax (808) 961-8742
www.planning.hawaiicounty.gov Hawai‘i County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer planning@hawaiicounty.gov
DATE: March 14, 2022
TO: ZENDO KERN
Planning Director, Planning Department
FROM: SOUTH KOHALA CDP ACTION COMMITTEE
SUBJECT: South Kohala CDP Infrastructure Priorities
Dear Director Kern:
At the South Kohala Community Development Plan’s Action Committee meeting today, we
voted to request your advocacy to the Mayor on our behalf to prioritize funding for infrastructure
projects in our district. This is intended to guide allocation of the substantial federal dollars that
were allotted in the $1 trillion infrastructure bill that passed with bipartisan support in the last
Congressional session, and was signed into law by President Biden.
Hawai‘i State is receiving $2.8 billion. This unprecedented influx of funds is for long-delayed
infrastructure repairs of roads and bridges, plus new traffic infrastructure needed in areas of
population growth. In the County of Hawai‘i, the distribution of the funds will ultimately come
down to Mayor Roth’s decision on which community projects get funded. We ask you to
advocate on behalf of the priorities that are documented in the South Kohala Community
Development Plan, and have been identified through extensive community meetings since,
regarding infrastructure and emergency preparedness needs. The list below does not cover things
that have come up in the interim 14 years since that plan was developed, such as the much-
needed resolution of traffic control at the Waikoloa Road/Paniolo Avenue intersection, which
was not specified in the SKCDP, but was noted in the last Hawai‘i County General Plan of 2005,
stating that “the Waikoloa Intersection needs a Stop Light.”
Specifically, from the 2008 SKCDP, our community requests include:
1)To mitigate the risk of natural disasters, the Puakō community requested the construction
of the Paniau Evacuation Route and considered it a “top priority.” (P.138)
2)To provide transportation and circulation, “Plan, Fund, and Construct a Second Access
Road to Queen Ka‘ahumanu Highway” as a “top priority” both to accommodate
increasing traffic volumes…and more importantly, to provide a second emergency egress
Communication Number 2022-06.1
Zendo Kern, Director
Planning Department
March 14, 2022
Page 2
www.planning.hawaiicounty.gov Hawai‘i County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer planning@hawaiicounty.gov
route for Waikoloa residents, noting that “the most significant type of natural disaster that
threatens the Waikoloa community is the threat of wildfires.” (P.102)
3)To provide transportation and circulation, a) implement short-term traffic mitigation
improvements in and around Waimea Town Center, b) design and construct the Parker
Ranch Connector Road, c) design and construct the Lalamilo Connector Road, and d)
resolve the best alignment for the proposed Waimea/Kawaihae Road Bypass Highway.
(Pages 75-76.)
4)To widen and realign the Waiaka Bridge. The South Kohala CDP specifically asked that
these urgent safety improvements would create a new bridge suitable for vehicular traffic
while preserving the old bridge for multi-modal use.
5)To fund improvements to the Waikoloa Road/Paniolo Avenue Intersection. This has been
a longtime community concern and is referenced in the 2005 General Plan (13.2.5.6.2.j)
“Provide traffic signals at the Waikoloa Road-Paniolo Drive intersection.”
4)6)To fund safety improvements to four bridges along the Kawaihae Rd/Akoni Pule
Hwy. that are located between the entrance to the Pu‘ukoholā Heiau and Kawaihae
Hawaiian Homes (located over Pohaukole Makeāhua, Makahuna and Honokoa Gulch).
These bridges are frequented by both bicyclists and heavy vehicles and have been
identified by several community groups as needing improvements so that bicyclists can
ride off the road and avoid sharing a lane with vehicular traffic. (P.49)
We appreciate you delivering our message to the Mayor on our behalf.
Sincerely yours,
Ruth A. Smith, Chair, SKCDP-AC
Communication Number 2022-06.1