HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommunication No. 2022-24 HCDP Community Implementation Action Matrix Final.Hāmākua CDP Implementation Actions
from the Hāmākua CDP Community Action Guide
Community Action Description Page
# Policy #
3.1 Land Use & Settlement Patterns
1
Community Action 1: Develop
Town Revitalization Plans
focused on developing guidelines
for preserving historic and
cultural character, infrastructure
improvements, developing
affordable housing, and
promoting economic
revitalization.
There are nine small towns in the Hāmākua Planning Area that
would benefit from urban renewal and revitalization efforts.
The region has not fully recovered from the demise of the
plantation economy and many of the region’s small towns have
dilapidated commercial centers with high vacancy rates and
shrinking populations consisting of predominately aging
populaces. The growth trend has been in the outlying
agricultural lands, and so far not within the towns themselves.
The CDP was unable to provide adequate town-level plans for
each town, however the Planning Department is interesting in
partnering with motivated community/business associations to
help provide the necessary technical assistance in taking steps
toward revitalization, including developing plans, taking
advantage of grant opportunities, and developing infrastructure
improvement districts.
11 Land Use Policy 1-11
County Action Policy 12-14
4.1 Expand the Local System of Preserves
2
Community Action 2: Establish
acquisition priorities, using PONC
criteria, and secure priority
lands. Partner with existing
Hawai‘i Land Trusts to acquire
land through conservation
easements and acquisition to
ensure viewshed protection;
Identify appropriate critical
habitat areas needing further
protection as priority areas
through PONC criteria to protect
through easement or acquisition
mechanisms
Hawai‘i has the largest number of federally listed and candidate
species under the Endangered Species Act. Native species
sacred to the Hawaiian culture are disappearing at the highest
extinction rate in the nation because of development,
introductions of invasive species, and other threats. Certain
resources are valuable and vulnerable enough to merit
acquisition, possibly including: mauka forests,
stream/watershed corridors, unique geological features,
heritage resources, ecological resources, mauka or makai
access, trail corridors, park space, buffers, open space and
viewscapes, and agricultural lands that are prone to runoff,
could be converted to affordable agriculture parks, or are
under threat of non-agricultural development. Resources for
acquiring easements and land are limited, and Hāmākua must
compete with other communities locally, statewide, nationally,
12 County Action Policy 15, 16
**See also Policy 42, 46
Hāmākua CDP Implementation Actions
from the Hāmākua CDP Community Action Guide
Community Action Description Page
# Policy #
and globally, so it is important to establish priorities. At a
minimum, any land considered for acquisition should serve the
achievement of one or more of Hāmākua’s community
objectives. More specifically, it should protect cultural assets
and/or mauka or shoreline ecosystems, assure access, and/or
preserve viable agriculture lands or viewscapes. Relative
priorities should then be established using criteria similar to
those used by the PONC:
• Level of community support
• Identified management /maintenance partners
• Benefit to the general public
• Urgency
• Special opportunity for acquisition exists (e.g., special
funding is available, landowner willing, etc.)
• Resources can be leveraged through partnerships with
other government, private, or nonprofit entities
• Land or property entitlements are available for acquisition.
For example, two parcels were prioritized by the PONC list
in 2010:
• Hāmākua Springs Agricultural Conservation Easement in
Pepeʻekeo
• Maulua Gulch in North Hilo
4.2 Preserve Coastal Resources
3
Community Action 3: Develop a
coastal resource management
plan as part of watershed
management plans.
**See also Community Action 8
There is limited management of natural, scenic, cultural,
subsistence, trail, and recreational resources along the Planning
Area’s coastline. Often, resources and landscapes have multiple
owners and fall under several different jurisdictions. Effective
resource management, therefore, requires high levels of
collaboration and coordination among a wide range of agencies
and organizations. Likewise, few know the resources like those
who use and enjoy them. Local Hawaiian families, cultural
practitioners, hunters, fisherman, hikers, farmers, and ranchers
13
Land Use Policy 17
County Action Policy 18-20
**See also Policy 13, 46, 48
Hāmākua CDP Implementation Actions
from the Hāmākua CDP Community Action Guide
Community Action Description Page
# Policy #
who know and frequent the forests, agriculture lands, and
coastline are well-positioned to play a leadership role in
managing them. This is consistent with the CDP objective to
encourage community-based collaborative management plans
to assure that human activities are in harmony with the quality
of Hāmākua’s unique natural and cultural landscape.
4
Community Action 4: Support
the organization of a community-
based hui for the fisher people of
the Hāmākua Coast.
Diminishing access to public hunting, gathering, and shoreline
areas and the closure of the Planning Area’s only boat ramp in
Laupāhoehoe have eroded the community’s ability to hunt,
fish, and provide supplemental nutrition to their families. The
boat ramp is an important asset to subsistent fisher people and
recreational boaters. The boat ramp has been officially closed
since June 2009 to protect public safety. Parks and Recreation
makes minor repairs to the rebar protrusions when they are
reported and local residents have, at times, taken it upon
themselves to make repairs and continue to use the ramp on a
limited basis and at their own risk. It is commonly thought that
the location of the ramp is part of the problem and until the
ramp is relocated to its original position and orientation in the
bay, the problems of significant wave erosion will continue to
manifest themselves. The County has been assessing the
ramp’s condition since 2009 in an attempt to develop a plan for
restoring the ramp to a usable/safe condition. Currently there
are no funds allocated for the repairs of this project. A
community-based group could serve as a liaison to the County
for the project as well as exploring other options for managing
resources at Laupāhoehoe Point. Fishers are also concerned
about the potential of over-harvesting and want to limit access
for hunting and fishing to people who live in nearby
communities. Pursuant HRS section 188-22.6, DLNR may
designate community based subsistence fishing areas and carry
out fishery management strategies for those areas for the
15
Land Use Policy 17
County Action Policy 18-20
**See also Policy 13, 46, 48
Hāmākua CDP Implementation Actions
from the Hāmākua CDP Community Action Guide
Community Action Description Page
# Policy #
purpose of reaffirming and protecting fishing practices
customarily and traditionally exercised for purposes of native
Hawaiian subsistence, culture, and religion. Pursuant to this
law, the Miloli‘i Fisheries Management Area and Hā‘ena on
Kaua‘i have been designated as a community-based subsistence
fishing areas. Proposals to DLNR should include a description of
the area, justification for the designation, and a management
plan.
4.3 Protect Agricultural Lands and Open Space
5
Community Action 5: Educate
landowners about agriculture,
ranch, and forestry land
preservation programs and
encourage participation in these
programs.
One of the most effective ways to preserve agricultural land is
through agricultural conservation easements. Agricultural
conservation easements are voluntary legal agreements
between a landowner and a land trust or government agency
that permanently preserves the land for agricultural uses. The
agreements typically allow landowners to continue to own and
use their land, and they can also sell it or pass it on to heirs.
Easements are a viable alternative to development because
they can reduce property and estate taxes and qualify the
owner for tax deductions.
16
Land Use Policy 21-24
**See also Policy 6
County Action Policy 25-30
**See also Policy 15, 53
4.4 Protect Mauka Forests
**See also Community Action 2,
4, 8, 9, and see Section 4.8:
Establish and Manage Public
Access.
Land Use Policy 31
**See also Policy 16, 36, 48
4.5 Protect Scenic Areas and Viewsheds
6
Community Action 6: Educate
residents on scenic viewshed
importance and alternatives to
tall, vegetative wind-breaks that
impact viewsheds.
**See also Community Action 2
One challenge in protecting and restoring scenic viewsheds in
the Planning Area is the trend of planting tall perimeter trees
as windbreaks for farms and/or residences. Many times this
reflects a desire for privacy plantings more than it reflects a
legitimate need to block wind. Residents might not be aware
of how dramatically the viewsheds of the entire community
can be altered by tall trees planted strategically along the
17
Land Use Policy 32-34
**See also Policy 108
County Action Policy 35-38
**See also Policy 52
Hāmākua CDP Implementation Actions
from the Hāmākua CDP Community Action Guide
Community Action Description Page
# Policy #
highway or in other locations that block views to the ocean or
other scenic resources.
7
Community Action 7: Support the
development and promotion of a
Heritage Corridor, and/or
sections of the Old Māmalahoa
Highway as Scenic Byways.
**See also Community Action 2
The Hilo-Hāmākua Heritage Corridor was a designation placed
on Highway 19 just north of Hilo to promote the Hāmākua
coast road as a scenic visitor experience. However, the
Heritage Corridor program now appears to be defunct and all
that remains of it are dilapidated road signs. The State of
Hawai‘i Updated May 2018 18 Department of Transportation
(HDOT) administers a Hawai‘i Scenic Byways Program which
designates transportation corridors as scenic byways. The
Scenic Byway process is community driven, facilitated by a
community sponsor that wishes to lead the preservation,
protection and/or promotion of the byway with a Local
Advisory Committee and Corridor Management Plan and
benefits the community in the following ways:
• Awareness and appreciation of historic, archaeological,
natural, scenic, cultural and/or recreational sites and
stories along the byway; you can’t protect, preserve or
enhance what you don’t know you have.
• Collaboration and working together with different
generations and different organizations – community
“stakeholders.”
• Insight into the community planning process.
• Creating a community vision for the byway that can be
shared with organizations and/or government agencies
having jurisdiction over the road or byway areas.
• Ability to let new residents, developers, and visitors know
about the community’s priorities and concerns.
• The information gathering process creates a prioritized list
of action items to share and implement as resources are
available. A Scenic Corridor could also be established,
pursuant HCC section 25-6-60. For transportation
17-
18
Land Use Policy 32-34
**See also Policy 108
County Action Policy 35-38
**See also Policy 52
Hāmākua CDP Implementation Actions
from the Hāmākua CDP Community Action Guide
Community Action Description Page
# Policy #
corridors that require a comprehensive planning
approach, the Hawai‘i County Council may, by ordinance,
establish all or portions of public roadways and an
appropriate portion of the adjacent property as a scenic
corridor. Any standards and conditions not included in the
underlying zoning related, but not limited, to signage,
lighting, design standards, access management,
landscaping, parking, height, historic and cultural
preservation, view planes, and/or setbacks, must be
included as part of the scenic corridor management plan
and adopted by scenic corridor enabling ordinance by the
Council. The scenic corridor management plan must
demonstrate the need for the adoption of special
standards and conditions in order to preserve, maintain,
protect, or enhance the intrinsic character of the corridor.
4.6 Protect and Enhance Ecosystems and Watersheds
8
Community Action 8: Collaborate
with Mauna Kea Watershed
Alliance, the County, and
appropriate State and Federal
agencies in developing and
implementing watershed
management plans and projects.
• Ensure that Native Hawaiian
practitioners directly tied to
the subject area are
consulted while developing
or implementing natural
resource plans in culturally
sensitive areas.
The protection and management of watersheds is particularly
important to Hāmākua because the Planning Area is home to
73% of the watersheds on the Island (107 out of 146).
Moreover, the Planning Area is unique in the State for its
density of relatively pristine streams, especially the Maulua
Gulch to Wailuku River area. Often, resources and landscapes
have multiple owners and fall under several different
jurisdictions. Effective resource management, therefore,
requires high levels of collaboration and coordination among a
wide range of agencies and organizations. Likewise, few know
the resources like those who use and enjoy them. Local
Hawaiian families, cultural practitioners, hunters, fisherman,
hikers, farmers, and ranchers who know and frequent the
forests, agriculture lands, and coastline are well-positioned to
play a leadership role in managing them.
19 County Action Policy 39-43
**See also Policy 18, 36, 86
Hāmākua CDP Implementation Actions
from the Hāmākua CDP Community Action Guide
Community Action Description Page
# Policy #
9
Community Action 9: Partner
with the Coordinating Group on
Alien Pest Species and the Big
Island Invasive Species
Committee in managing invasive
species.
Alien species, particularly ungulates such as feral pigs and
goats, trample and devour vegetation, leaving bare ground or
openings for alien plants that consume more water and
increase runoff. Invasive floras are changing not only the ‘face’
of the forest but also how it functions. An example is that in
East Hawai‘i, invasive plants have already reduced estimated
groundwater recharge by 85 million gallons a day.
Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species (CGAPS) is a
voluntary group including state, federal, and county agency
directors and managers, nonprofit directors, and chairs and
managers of island-based invasive species committees. CGAPS
benefits from the knowledge and guidance of world-renowned
scientists who are dedicated to protecting Hawai‘i from
invasive species.
21 County Action Policy 39-43
**See also Policy 18, 36, 86
10
Community Action 10: Promote
soil and water conservation best
practices.
To preserve the quality of agricultural land and shoreline
waters, land managers need to practice soil and water
conservation best practices.
22 County Action Policy 39-43
**See also Policy 18, 36, 86
4.7 Protect and Enhance Cultural Assets
11
Community Action 11: Document
the Mo‘olelo of Hāmākua using
resources outlined in oral history,
hula, chant, and other sources.
• Work with the Hawaiʻi
Tourism Authority (HTA) and
possibly seek assistance
through the County Product
Enrichment Program (CPEP)
to develop appropriate
cultural signage for moku and
ahupuaʻa boundaries.
The mo‘olelo of Hāmākua (i.e., its stories or oral history)
articulates the community’s relationship to place and
communicates its authenticity and distinctiveness. Gathering
memories and stories of place can be a powerful tool for
capturing what is sacred, honoring the wisdom of the past,
and advancing Hāmākua’s living culture. In addition to stories,
an oral history project could capture languages spoken, food
culture, and customs that are unique to Hāmākua. The
mo‘olelo also helps residents welcome visitors, giving them
insight into the authentic Hāmākua and tools for
demonstrating respect and sensitivity during their stay. Oral
history projects can also provide a platform for youth to
interact with kūpuna; learn about the significant cultural,
historical, and natural sites of the area; and develop their skills
23
Land Use Policy 7
County Action Policy 44-45
**See also Policy 72, 125
Hāmākua CDP Implementation Actions
from the Hāmākua CDP Community Action Guide
Community Action Description Page
# Policy #
to not only gather the stories but also design an effective
system for sharing the stories through technology and social
networking strategies.
12
Community Action 12: Identify
and inventory important sites,
map resources, and make
recommendations to County
Cultural Resource Commission for
sites.
Time, climate conditions, agricultural land uses, and neglect
have severely impacted and degraded many historical/cultural
sites. In addition, competing land uses and dramatic changes
in economic drivers have rendered many plantation era
facilities obsolete and crumbling.
24
Land Use Policy 7
County Action Policy 44-45
**See also Policy 72, 125
13
Community Action 13: Develop
and implement place-based
strategies to retain village and
town character, including
alternatives to Historic District
designations.
Competing land uses and dramatic changes in economic
drivers have rendered many plantation era facilities obsolete
and crumbling. One example is Honokaʻa Historic Downtown
with its’ old false-front wooden buildings that are examples of
vernacular architecture–architecture of a key historical period
created by people without the help of a professional architect.
Many of these buildings were built in the 1920’s and 1930’s by
Japanese and Chinese former plantation workers who left the
plantation to start their own businesses. There are several
compelling reasons to establish historic districts. However,
there is also the possibility that the social character of districts
may change through gentrification. Gentrification is the
process of neighborhood revitalization that brings about a
change in the socioeconomic status of its residents. Conflict
occurs when a well-established, socially-diverse, historic
neighborhood becomes so successful in its revitalization
efforts that its original residents may no longer be able to
afford to live there as property taxes and the cost of other
services dramatically increase. With this possibility in mind,
there are some who feel that neighborhoods should be
holistically analyzed within the context of the history of its
people and the buildings, and that both should be protected.
26
Land Use Policy 7
County Action Policy 44-45
**See also Policy 72, 125
Hāmākua CDP Implementation Actions
from the Hāmākua CDP Community Action Guide
Community Action Description Page
# Policy #
14
Community Action 14: Develop,
promote, and maintain the
continuity of community festivals
and events.
In addition to Hāmākua’s many physical cultural assets, it also
enjoys a thriving living culture grounded in a rich oral
tradition, active cultural practices, and art. Hawaiian culture is
celebrated through ahupua‘a-based farming, fishing,
gathering, and hunting; hula hālau; and many other practices.
Likewise, traditions from the region’s Filipino, Japanese,
Chinese, Micronesian, European, American, and other cultures
are carried from one generation to the next. Many local
festivals and events have a combined heritage/agricultural
component, whether they are centered on paniolo heritage,
plantation heritage, or celebrating current agricultural
endeavors. The many cultural and community events that the
community organizes are prime examples of Hāmākua’s rich,
living culture.
27
Land Use Policy 7
County Action Policy 44-45
**See also Policy 72, 125
4.8 Establish and Manage Public Access
15
Community Action 15: Develop
and implement plans to establish
and manage specific access points
and trails.
**See also Community Action 40
Public access to the ocean and mountains has special
recreational, traditional, and cultural significance to the
people of the Hāmākua CDP Planning Area. The original
inhabitants of the Planning Area, the ancient Hawaiians,
depended on an extensive network of trails as their only
means of overland transportation. In more modern times,
many privately maintained and privately owned sugar cane
haul roads enabled the public to access the forests and
coastlines for over a century while sugar plantations were in
operation. Access users were primarily local residents who
depended on access to favorite hunting and fishing spots to
bring food to the family table and to teach harvesting skills to
younger generations. After the sugar era ended in 1994,
former sugar plantation land holdings and the mostly
unpaved, cane haul roads crossing these lands have been
subdivided, bought, and sold. The result is a patchwork of land
ownership and an end to the open network of former cane
28 County Action Policy 46-50
**See also Policy 15
Hāmākua CDP Implementation Actions
from the Hāmākua CDP Community Action Guide
Community Action Description Page
# Policy #
haul roads. Trespassing appears to be a common practice,
whether on purpose or unintended and damaged fences,
gates left open, and cruelty to livestock are among the
problems reported. Some landowners and managers have
responded by prohibiting access, but hikers, hunters,
fishermen, and community members who are used to
unfettered access find this unacceptable. Furthermore,
landowner concerns over liability continue to be a barrier to
opening private lands to public access.
4.9 Preserving Sacred Places: Waipiʻo Valley and Mauna Kea
16
Community Action 16: Form a
501(c)(3) nonprofit entity for
community empowerment to
develop a Land Management
Partnership.
Following the Great Māhele in 1848, Charles Kana‘ina
assumed ownership of 5,800 acres in Waipiʻo Valley.
Ultimately Charles Reed Bishop purchased the land, and in
1896 the land was conveyed to Bishop Museum. The Museum
continues to lease its land to Waipiʻo Valley taro farmers. A
history of differing perspectives in the Valley on natural and
cultural resource protection, water and stream maintenance
management, public access, and tourism have resulted in little
progress towards resolution of these fundamental issues over
the years. Since 1999, the Community Circle of Waipiʻo Valley
has been meeting on generally a monthly basis to identify and
discuss issues and concerns relative to the Waipiʻo Valley. The
draft Waipiʻo Valley Community Action Plan was developed in
response to the issues, concerns, and suggestions that were
raised at the Community Circle of Waipiʻo Valley Meetings, as
well as from other discussions with other community
members. The Action Plan represents a broad range of
interests, issues, ideals and concerns and serves as an
Updated May 2018 30 guide for the implementation of a
possible detailed Master Plan for Waipiʻo Valley. Progress has
been made in Land Management Partnership project through
the Farmer Training Program at North Hawai‘i Education and
29
Waipiʻo Valley County Action
Policy 52-59
**See also Policy 29, 35, 42
#1, 46 #10.
Hāmākua CDP Implementation Actions
from the Hāmākua CDP Community Action Guide
Community Action Description Page
# Policy #
Research Center and by farmers who are offering practitioner
training on an informal basis.
17
Community Action 17: Develop a
detailed Master Plan for Waipiʻo
Valley, including a community
based management plan for the
Waipiʻo Valley visitor’s center.
In order to comprehensively manage the range of issues in
Waipiʻo Valley, a master plan needs to be developed. 30
Waipiʻo Valley County Action
Policy 52-59
**See also Policy 29, 35, 42
#1, 46 #10.
18
Community Action 18: Secure
funding through PONC, DLNR
LLCP, or other similar programs
for purchase of easements and
potential acquisition of land to
protect views of Waipiʻo Valley
rim.
The area west and southwest of the Valley is within the Forest
Reserve and Special Management Area, and, consequently,
has limited development potential as well as an added level of
discretionary review, through the SMA process. However, the
Valley rim on the east and southeast sides are within the A40a
Zone District, with the potential for one dwelling unit per acre,
an ʻohana unit, and additional farm dwelling units, subject to
compliance with HCC Section 25-5-77. By right, the A-40a
setbacks are 30 feet front and rear and 20 feet side yards.
Consequently, structures can locate and encroach into the
viewshed from the Valley floor. Certain resources are valuable
and vulnerable enough to merit acquisition.
31
Waipiʻo Valley County Action
Policy 52-59
**See also Policy 29, 35, 42
#1, 46 #10.
19
Community Action 19: Support
community organizations, such as
the Waipiʻo Circle, in developing a
watershed plan based on the
Waipiʻo Valley Stream
Management Plan, the Hanalei
Watershed Hui model, or similar
community-based management
plans.
One of the largest valleys in the Hawaiian Islands, the Waipiʻo
Valley is fed by five streams—Wailoa River, Waimā, Ko‘iawe,
Alakahi, Kawainui, and Hiʻilawe —and nine waterfalls that still
support native fauna. The protection and management of
these watersheds is particularly important to Waipiʻo. Often,
resources and landscapes have multiple owners and fall under
several different jurisdictions. Effective resource
management, therefore, requires high levels of collaboration
and coordination among a wide range of agencies and
organizations. Likewise, few know the resources like those
who use and enjoy them. Local Hawaiian families, cultural
practitioners, hunters, fisherman, hikers, farmers, and
ranchers who know and frequent the forests, agriculture
32
Waipiʻo Valley County Action
Policy 52-59
**See also Policy 29, 35, 42
#1, 46 #10.
Hāmākua CDP Implementation Actions
from the Hāmākua CDP Community Action Guide
Community Action Description Page
# Policy #
lands, and coastline are well-positioned to play a leadership
role in managing them.
20 Community Action 20: Strengthen
Community capacity through the
Hawai‘i Community Stewardship
Network (HCSN).
In order for the Waipiʻo Community to be actively involved in
management and implementation of a master plan, it needs
to build capacity and support.
34
Waipiʻo Valley County Action
Policy 52-59
**See also Policy 29, 35, 42
#1, 46 #10.
4.9.6 Mauna Kea: Community Action
21
Community Action 21: Document
the Mo‘olelo of Mauna Kea using
resources outlined in Oral History.
The mo‘olelo of Mauna Kea (i.e., its stories or oral history)
articulates the community’s relationship to place and
communicates its authenticity and distinctiveness. Gathering
memories and stories of place can be a powerful tool for
capturing what is sacred, honoring the wisdom of the past,
and advancing Hāmākua’s living culture. In addition to stories,
an oral history project could capture languages spoken, food
culture, and customs that are unique to Hāmākua. The
mo‘olelo also helps residents welcome visitors, giving them
insight into the authentic Hāmākua and tools for
demonstrating respect and sensitivity during their stay. Oral
history projects can also provide a platform for youth to
interact with kūpuna; learn about the significant cultural,
historical, and natural sites of the area; and develop their skills
to not only gather the stories but also design an effective
system for sharing the stories through technology and social
networking strategies.
35
Mauna Kea County Action
Policy 42
**See also Kōkua Action 31-
47
22
Community Action 22: Develop an
educational program for tour
operators, Visitor Information
staff, and volunteers as part of
orientation training for regular
users of Mauna Kea.
It is recognized that with increased access to the summit,
users and visitors are impacting the native landscape.
Mandating natural and cultural resource education is one way
to ensure that users and visitors to the mountain are doing so
with appropriate knowledge and sensitivity of the region’s
natural, historical and cultural context. This community action
encourages groups to collaborate with each other to ensure
that an appropriate natural and cultural resource education
36
Mauna Kea County Action
Policy 42
**See also Kōkua Action 31-
47
Hāmākua CDP Implementation Actions
from the Hāmākua CDP Community Action Guide
Community Action Description Page
# Policy #
program is developed and implemented for users and visitors
to Mauna Kea (see also corresponding Advocacy Action #22).
23
Community Action 23:
Collaborate with surrounding land
owners and the user-community
to educate users and manage ATV
use in mauka areas and in the
Mauna Kea region.
The Mauna Kea region is increasingly being used for various
recreation uses, including all-terrainvehicles (note: all-terrain
vehicles can also be used for subsistence hunting purposes).
Since ATV uses have environmental, social, and cultural
impacts, this community action seeks to address these
concerns collaboratively to ensure ATV uses are managed
appropriately.
36
Mauna Kea County Action
Policy 42
**See also Kōkua Action 31-
47
5.1 Coordinate Infrastructure, Facility, and Service Improvements
24
Community Action 24: Actively
advocate for CIP appropriations,
financing, allotments, and
encumbrances that support
implementation of the CDP.
The CDP identifies capital improvement priorities, but their
implementation will be expedited by community leadership 37
County Action Policy 60-62
**See also Policy 51, 58, 67,
70, 71, 83, 102.
5.2 Expand Affordable Housing Options
25
Community Action 25: Engage
community associations and
volunteers to work with self-help
nonprofits to promote
construction of homes for eligible
buyers in the Planning Area.
Hāmākua communities have seen an increase in out-migration
due to increases in property values, low wages, and a lack of
employment opportunities. Long term residents have
expressed concern that the region is often too expensive for
the next generation to remain and raise their own families.
38 County Action Policy 63
5.3 Improve the Roadway Network
26
Community Action 26: Develop
‘road improvement districts’ in
order to finance improvements.
(Supporting policy: GP13.2.3 (d);
County Res. No. 320-10)
This action is to address the County’s budget constraints of
improving substandard roads and opens up options for
property owners to finance their own improvements. See V4B:
Community Building Analysis page 114 for a discussion of
Improvement strategies. The two applicable strategies to
finance road developments via road improvement districts
are: Updated May 2018 39
Lot Owner Assessment. Lot owners fund the cost through
an Improvement District or other land secured public
38
Land Use Policy 64
County Action Policy 65-70
**See also Policy 49, 73.
Hāmākua CDP Implementation Actions
from the Hāmākua CDP Community Action Guide
Community Action Description Page
# Policy #
financing. The County would establish the financing district
and provide a long-term loan at a below-market interest rate.
Self-help. County Resolution No. 320-10 directs DPW to
partner with communities where the County would provide
maintenance material from County-owned quarries.
27
Community Action 27: Work with
the owners of private roads and
local community groups to help
identify and develop road
management agreements that
mitigate road closures and access
disagreements for public access
and/or residential use. The
following private roads have been
identified as examples of roads
needing improvements in their
road management/access
strategies:
Mill Road in Pāpaʻikou
Beach Road to Honokaʻa
Landing
Blair Road in Laupāhoehoe
Some private roads originally developed to serve plantation
needs are now owned by private individuals who periodically
or regularly restrict access for maintenance, privacy, or other
legal reasons.
39
Land Use Policy 64
County Action Policy 65-70
**See also Policy 49, 73.
5.4 Formalize Alternate Routes
**See Community Action 24 County Action Policy 71
**See also Policy 55, 67
5.5 Develop Place-Appropriate Road Standards
**See related Policies 73 & 74,
and related Community Action 37
County Action Policy 72, 73
5.6 Expand Mass Transit Facilities and Services
28 Community Action 28: Identify
locations for bus stops, biking
The residents and users of services are often the best suited to
identify infrastructure needs to guide policy and resource
allotment. In the case of identifying efficient locations for bus
40 County Action Policy 74-77
Hāmākua CDP Implementation Actions
from the Hāmākua CDP Community Action Guide
Community Action Description Page
# Policy #
facilities (i.e. bike racks, lanes,
etc.) and park and ride facilities.
stops, bike facilities, and park and ride facilities, it is clear that
community input is vital in order to determine, not just
locations that might be conveniently sited from an agency
perspective, but locations that will enable the most users
access to the service and by its optimal siting, encourage new
users to consider these modes of alternative transportation.
5.7 Improve Water and Wastewater Infrastructure
**See Community Action 24 County Action Policy 78-80
**See also Policy 120
5.8 Improve Environmental Management Facilities
29
Community Action 29: Host
composting and recycling
workshops in collaboration with
agencies /organizations such as
Dept. of Environmental
Management, Recycle Hawai‘i,
and the University of Hawai‘i
College of Tropical Agriculture &
Human Resources (CTAHR)
Cooperative Extension Service.
The County is moving toward its Zero Waste goals, which
include increased diversion of discarded materials with a focus
on recycling and composting. It is important to affirm these
goals and support the County’s efforts in offering recycling
and composting educational opportunities to the public.
Currently, the Department of Environmental Management
performs outreach and offers educational workshops in
communities around the island; however these programs are
dependent on public support and are often vulnerable to
budget cuts. This community-collaborative action enlists
active support from local communities and business groups to
host events and look for further opportunities to partner with
these Updated May 2018 41 agencies to advance the
Community’s Objectives relating to environmental protection
and also in support of the County’s Zero Waste goals.
Supporting and improving recycling and composting programs
is important, not merely as waste diversion strategies, but also
in enhancing our local economy and food supply. According to
the Hawaiʻi Zero Waste Plan: Resource management methods
[ . . .] – reuse, recycling, composting, and special discards
management, among others - represent increased job
creation and economic growth in sectors more stable, and
40 County Action Policy 81-87
Hāmākua CDP Implementation Actions
from the Hāmākua CDP Community Action Guide
Community Action Description Page
# Policy #
sustainable, than tourism. Further, on-island organic resource
management possesses the potential to increase both
employment opportunities and ensure a local, healthier food
supply for Hawai‘i residents. Sustainable farming enhanced
through the use of mulches and soil amendments, and created
from Hawai‘i’s own organic discards, can also help advance
agritourism, a new, dynamic, rapidly growing business on both
the island and worldwide.
30
Community Action 30: Partner
with the County to manage
recycling/reuse centers at County
Facilities.
The County is faced with mounting waste issues and budget
decreases in Environmental Management while at the same
time it is moving toward its Zero Waste goals. The County’s
Zero Waste goals include increased diversion of discarded
materials with a focus on recycling and composting. Public
education and diversion programs are instrumental for solid
waste diversion goals to be successful. In North Hilo, a
volunteer community group has been key in managing the
reuse tent located at the Laupāhoehoe Recycling and Solid
Waste Transfer station. More community-based volunteer
programs at other rural transfer stations could help offset
budget constraints as the County keeps moving toward its
Zero Waste goals.
41 County Action Policy 81-87
31
Community Action 31: Educate
neighborhood watch groups and
other community groups about
how to actively identify and
report littering and illegal dump
sites to the Department of
Environmental Management.
Raise awareness of the issue
through the use of outreach and
social media tools to report sites
and offenders.
The Planning Area’s rural roads and agricultural areas are
increasingly becoming illegal dumping sites. Household trash,
large furniture, appliances, and derelict cars are abandoned in
rural driveway and other locations that can block access to
homes, farms, trails, and possibly result in pollution and harm
to soil quality and stream health.
42 County Action Policy 81-87
Hāmākua CDP Implementation Actions
from the Hāmākua CDP Community Action Guide
Community Action Description Page
# Policy #
5.9 Improve Emergency Preparedness & Hazard Mitigation
32
Community Action 32: Coordinate
with Civil Defense to develop
emergency evacuation plans for
Laupāhoehoe, and the valleys of
Waipiʻo and Waimanu.
This policy is linked to Policy 90, and is intended to address
community concerns over being able to safely evacuate these
isolated and geographically vulnerable areas when necessary.
Both areas have a hazardous, single-lane road as their only
access. Residents have noted that evacuating Waipiʻo Valley
has been problematic due to emergency vehicles attempting
to enter the valley, while residents were attempting to
evacuate using the same single-lane route. Residents are often
also evacuating livestock and have expressed the desire for
more coordinated efforts in addressing how to efficiently
evacuate, or how to even shelter in place when appropriate.
Supporting policies are General Plan 13.2.5.9.2 (d) and 10.3.2
(j).
42 County Action Policy 88-94
**See also Policy 74, 103
33
Community Action 33: Develop
and train CERTs throughout the
Planning Area.
The County’s Civil Defense Agency administers the Community
Emergency Response Team or CERT program and the County’s
Fire Department conducts CERT training. CERTs are
community-based, comprised of residents and
businesspersons that have the local knowledge of their
community and the fundamental skills to properly respond to
an emergency.
43 County Action Policy 88-94
**See also Policy 74, 103
34 Community Action 34: For
communities identified by
DOFAW as Communities at Risk
(CAR), develop Community
Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPPs)
and work towards gaining
Firewise recognition.
http://dlnr.hawaii.gov/forestry/fire/community-risk-
reduction/
http://www.firewise.org/usa-recognition-program.aspx
[This is a new Community Action and the rest of this content is
under development.]
43 County Action Policy 88-94
**See also Policy 74, 103
5.10 Improving Protective Services
35
Community Action 35: Develop
volunteer firefighter capacity for
the Laupāhoehoe Fire Station.
Recently the Volunteer Fire Station in Laupāhoehoe has lost
volunteer capacity to have a full firefighting team. Volunteers 44 County Action Policy 95-98
**See also Policy 88
Hāmākua CDP Implementation Actions
from the Hāmākua CDP Community Action Guide
Community Action Description Page
# Policy #
are urgently needed to ensure Laupāhoehoe has adequate
firefighting capacity for emergencies.
36
Community Action 36: Encourage
expansion of community policing
programs (i.e. neighborhood
watch, farm watch, etc.)
This policy is to address the rise of crime (particularly thefts)
throughout the Planning Area, and is affirming the General
Plan policy 10.3.2(g). Research has shown these programs and
strategies can reduce crime and resident fear of crime, as well
as increase citizen satisfaction with police, resident
involvement in crime prevention activities, and interactions
between police and residents.
44 County Action Policy 95-98
**See also Policy 88
5.11 Expand Healthcare & Social Services
**See 6.3 Expand health and
Wellness Industry
County Action Policy 99
5.12 Strengthen & Expand Education Facilities and Services
37
Community Action 37: Develop
and implement Safe Routes to
School programs.
This action focuses attention on the need to improve traffic
safety in and around the schools and acknowledges that
parents and the community will likely need to take a leading
role in this strategy. This goal is partially affirmed in the
General Plan policy 10.2.4.2.2 (c): Provide pedestrian
walkways to and around all school complexes. See also Kōkua
Action 60 and 61. According to State of Hawaiʻi Department of
Health: Fatalities among motor vehicle occupants is the fifth
leading cause of fatal injury in Hawai‘i for all ages and the
second leading cause of fatal injury among ages 1 to 34.
Motor vehicle injuries also contribute to the second leading
cause of injuries requiring hospitalization. Hawaiʻi has the
highest pedestrian fatality rate in the nation for older adults,
and 16 out of 17 bicycle fatalities over the past 5 years
involved a motor vehicle.8 Safe Routes to Schools is a national
program and international movement to create safe,
convenient, and fun opportunities for students to walk, bike,
and skate to and from school. The SRTS movement became a
federal mandate in 2005 with the passage of the Safe,
45 County Action Policy 100
**See also Policy 73
Hāmākua CDP Implementation Actions
from the Hāmākua CDP Community Action Guide
Community Action Description Page
# Policy #
Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act, and
since then nearly $800 million has been allocated to
encourage more biking and walking by improving safety
conditions around schools and offering educational programs.
5.13 Expand Parks & Recreation Facilities
38
Community Action 38: Work with
County Dept. of P&R through the
County Cooperative Park
Management Programs (Adopt a
Park, etc.,) to maintain/improve
existing park facilities. GP 12.3 (j)
The County Parks and Recreation Department is budget-
challenged with maintaining and enhancing the existing parks
within its inventory. Developing new park facilities is even
more difficult. For instance, though the property known as
Hakalau Beach Park was acquired by the County in 2006, it has
yet to appear on the official Parks and Recreation Parks
inventory because the department lacks the funds to make
the necessary improvements to the property. Instead, the
nonprofit group Pakalove (aka: Basic Image, Inc.) 8
http://health.hawaii.gov/injuryprevention/ Updated May 2018
46 partners with the County Parks and Recreation department
to help manage and make improvements to Hakalau and
Honoli‘i Beach Park through an adopt-a-park program. This
type of private and public collaboration is important to ensure
that facilities are maintained and to ensure that future
properties under consideration for acquisition are not passed
over due to preventable concerns over maintenance budget
constraints. By developing a strong, sustainable adopt-a-park
program, the community invests in, takes pride in, and helps
bolster a stewardship approach to ʻāina and facility
management.
45-
46
County Action Policy 101-
107
**See also Policy 51, 56, 58,
100
39
Community Action 39: Hakalau
community group to advocate
and pursue management and
redevelopment options for the
Hakalau Gym facility (through
Currently there is no indoor community facility in Hakalau and
both the old school facility and the County Gym are closed and
have dilapidated into states of questionable usability. This
action encourages the community to be proactive in
developing a plan to move forward to accommodate
46
County Action Policy 101-
107
**See also Policy 51, 56, 58,
100
Hāmākua CDP Implementation Actions
from the Hāmākua CDP Community Action Guide
Community Action Description Page
# Policy #
County Parks and Recreation
Dept.) and/or the old Hakalau
School property (through the
Dept. of Education).
community use of this property. Some of the options are to
allow a community group to manage and use (including repair)
the facility, allow the community to redevelop the property
for community use (this would likely involve new
construction), or redevelop the sites for community use as a
County funded project. This policy is supported by General
Plan policy 12.3(b). “Improve existing public facilities for
optimum usage,” Policy 12.3 (h), “Provide facilities and a
broad recreational program for all age groups, with special
considerations for the handicapped, the elderly, and young
children.”
40
Community Action 40: Work with
State and private landowners to
develop and maintain additional
trails for non-motorized
recreation.
The County is particularly challenged in developing trails for
recreation in the Hāmākua region. The vast amounts of private
lands that have been developed without first establishing legal
public access has complicated trail development. Legitimate
and perceived fears of liability remain a major impediment to
private landowners opening up accesses. See pages 191-122
of Appendix V4A for more information on public access
challenges, and pages 97, 104, 110-112, 153, and 161-171 of
Appendix V4B for information on trail development.
47
County Action Policy 101-
107
**See also Policy 51, 56, 58,
100
5.14 Telecommunications and Energy
41
Community Action 41: Work with
County and private enterprises to
bring broadband and Wi-Fi
services to the Planning Area’s
towns.
Many of the Hāmākua Planning Area’s towns lack internet
connectivity (and cell phone service). Spanning this technology
gap is advantageous from a social connectivity and an
economic perspective. One theory is that visitors will stay in
an area longer when they are able to be connected to the
internet; so businesses providing free Wi-Fi service may find
an economic boost for their investment. Benefits for local
residents are also anticipated in that they may be more likely
to socialize and shop in their local town if they have internet
access. Honomū is specifically in need of internet connectivity
in its downtown area. A recent local example of this type of
47
Land Use Policy 108
County Action Policy 109,
110
**See also Policy 34, 92
Hāmākua CDP Implementation Actions
from the Hāmākua CDP Community Action Guide
Community Action Description Page
# Policy #
partnership is Honokaʻa’s Business association downtown Wi-
Fi program.
6.1 Coordinate Regional Economic Development
42
Community Action 42: Develop a
distinctive identity for the
Hāmākua region to enable public
and private industries to promote
it as unique within the State of
Hawai‘i.
The Hāmākua region has a unique, yet little-known heritage
and identity. In order to promote the Hāmākua region as a
desirable place to live, work, and visit, a priority should be
placed on developing and defining this identity. This
Community Action is a corresponding action to Policy 108,
which is an affirmation of General Plan policy 2.3 (o):
“Promote a distinctive identity for the Island of Hawai‘i to
enable government, business, and travel industries to
promote the County of Hawai‘i as an entity unique within the
State of Hawai‘i.”
48 County Action Policy 111-
113
43
Community Action 43: Coordinate
regional, cross-sectoral economic
development strategies.
As Hāmākua continues to grapple with recovery from the
phase out of plantation-era economics, it is becoming
increasingly clear that long-term systems of transformation
and recovery are required to build a more resilient and
sustainable economy. Ideally, these systems would support
and link each sector of opportunity – agriculture, renewable
energy, ecosystem services, health and wellness, education
and research, visitor, and retail. These systems should also
coordinate complementary economic development strategies
– enhancing regional identity, building local industry clusters,
connecting to anchor institutions, Updated May 2018 49
advancing innovation, building business and workforce
capacity, democratizing ownership, and diversifying
investment. These systems could also combine the necessary
facilities and infrastructure with a network of comprehensive
services that bring technical, financial, and educational
support to ensure that new and existing enterprises have the
greatest chance for lasting success (see Community Action
44:below). This “third wave” economic development approach
48-
49
County Action Policy 111-
113
Hāmākua CDP Implementation Actions
from the Hāmākua CDP Community Action Guide
Community Action Description Page
# Policy #
focuses on strengthening the foundations of economic
opportunity and creating fertile ground for home-grown
economic development. A critical aspect to this approach is
the need for regional coordination and on-going linkages
across economic sectors. This “network” approach builds the
social connections that provide access to critical supports –
linking people, businesses, and institutions to each other and
the wider regional economic networks and opportunities.
44
Community Action 44: Develop a
high-tech, high-touch regional
education, enterprise
development, and research
network.
Significant natural and cultural assets along with robust
economic opportunities in a range of sectors provide the need
– and opportunity – for an educational and research network
in Hāmākua. Such a network would provide two significant
outcomes: first, it would support workforce training, business
innovation, and entrepreneurial development in high-
potential sectors, and second, it would expand Hāmākua’s
creative, education, and research sector, establishing the
region as a hub for learning and innovation. An education,
enterprise development, and research network could be
established that has both “hard” and “soft” components. That
is, it should be composed of both facility nodes (e.g.,
classrooms, workshops, computer labs, hands-on project sites,
etc.) and learning nodes (e.g., credit courses, certification
training, mentors, projects internships, apprenticeships,
informal learning, technical assistance providers, etc.).
51 County Action Policy 111-
113
45
Community Action 45: Coordinate
regional strategies to increase
“buying local.”
In Hawai‘i County, 89% of businesses are microenterprises (20
or fewer employees), and in rural Hawai‘i, more than one in
four workers are employed by micro-enterprises. In other
words, small, locally-owned businesses drive much of the local
economy. A “plug the leaks” strategy identifies sectors where
money currently flows out of the community and
entrepreneurial opportunities exist to redirect that flow as
reinvestment in the local economy. When businesses and
54 County Action Policy 111-
113
Hāmākua CDP Implementation Actions
from the Hāmākua CDP Community Action Guide
Community Action Description Page
# Policy #
employees spend business revenue within a region, they
generate the multiplier effect that boosts a local economy. A
recent study found that spending at independent retailers
generates 3.7 times more direct local economic benefit than
spending at chains, and spending at local restaurants
generates 2.15 the benefit. Studies have also demonstrated
that, compared to large chain stores, local businesses create
more jobs, pay higher wages, support a greater variety of
other local businesses, generate more tax revenue, cost less in
public facilities and services, and make more charitable and
other investments in the community. “Buy local” campaigns
are typically organized and supported by coalitions of
independent businesses, non-profits, and concerned citizens.
A regional “buy local” campaign that complements but is
differentiated from broader campaigns can help to raise the
awareness, willingness, and capacity of residents to buy locally
produced services and goods. The Independent Business
Survey conducted by the Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR)
consistently demonstrates that businesses located in
communities with active “buy local” and/or “local first”
campaigns experience markedly stronger revenue growth
compared to those in areas without such initiatives.
6.2 Strengthening Local Agriculture
46
Community Action 46: Strengthen
local agriculture through the
following:
Develop a marketing brand for
Hāmākua products o Assist in the
promotion of products produced
in Hāmākua (GP 2.3(t).
Support Farm to School/Farm
to Table Programs, CSAs, and
Hāmākua has a diverse, robust agricultural sector. Much of it
is cash crops (sweet potato, macadamia, ranching, and
forestry), but the landscape is dominated by pasture for beef,
and vegetable, fruit, and flower farms. Yet there is even
greater potential, including thousands of acres of unused
agricultural land, abundant water sources, and a strong
demand for local food. Barriers to tapping this potential
include the “cheap food-expensive land” dynamic in Hawai‘i,
limited land tenure for most producers, challenging
55
County Action Policy 114-
120
**See also Policy 42 #5, 53,
124
Hāmākua CDP Implementation Actions
from the Hāmākua CDP Community Action Guide
Community Action Description Page
# Policy #
other local farm-to-consumer
initiatives;
Support and develop
celebratory events that support
agriculture (e.g., festivals, rodeos,
parades, community gathering
events at farmers’ markets, etc.).
Work to effectively manage or
eradicate invasive species that
impact agricultural production.
Develop agricultural
cooperatives to facilitate farming
collaborations, cost- and
resource-sharing opportunities,
provide a mechanism for
marketing assistance and
educational opportunities, and
coordinate with County, State,
and Federal agricultural
specialists. Updated May 2018 56
Pursue the development of
incubator community kitchens for
the production of value-added
agricultural products.
**See Community Action 45
environmental conditions (pests, drought), limited water
access, high input costs (energy, fuel, amendments, feed),
labor availability, limitations on business capacity, and
incomplete supply chain infrastructure. These impediments
can be remedied, in part, through coordinated collective
efforts. For example, communities across the country are
addressing the national phenomenon of supply-side
imbalances in local food systems by re-engineering their food
supply chains at three basic levels:
Nodes – food-related businesses
Food hubs – a business or organization that manages
aggregation, distribution, and marketing of locally produced
food products to meet wholesale, retail, and institutional
demand
Food innovation districts – a regional network that connects
food nodes and hubs to bring all the parts of the local food
system together. By addressing supply, market, and
processing/aggregation/distribution (PAD) opportunities and
challenges through the cooperative strategies, the supply
chain is built into a “value chain” that links supply with
markets efficiently in ways that promote:
Equity and fair pay – for farmers and workers in the supply
chain
Community capacity – improving the community’s ability to
meet its own food needs and to build a more self-reliant
economy through locally owned infrastructure and assets
Health and food access – for all, especially for those with
limited means.
47
Community Action 47: Promote
farmers’ market events as
community and visitor gathering
places.
The community is supportive of farmer’s markets as
community gathering events, however, developing a stronger
outreach to include visitors in this gathering tradition would
60
County Action Policy 114-
120
**See also Policy 42 #5, 53,
124
Hāmākua CDP Implementation Actions
from the Hāmākua CDP Community Action Guide
Community Action Description Page
# Policy #
**See Community Action 45
likely add to these smaller markets’ vitality and overall
experience/success
48
Community Action 48: To better
address issues relating to the
Lower Hāmākua Ditch: form a
cooperative community group
(for example, a “Friends of the
Lower Hāmākua Ditch” group)
composed of adjacent
landowners to the ditch and
other affected parties to advocate
to and collaborate with the
Department of Agriculture in
developing a cooperative
management plan that would
seek to resolve issues relating to
water quality, water efficiency,
ditch maintenance, and to assess
ditch trail access opportunities.
**See Community Action 45
The Lower Hāmākua Ditch Irrigation system is owned by
various adjacent landowners but managed by the Hawaiʻi
State Department of Agriculture. It consists of a combination
of ditches, tunnels, flumes, and reservoirs. Controversy over
water management (including water quality and quantity
issues), ditch structural improvements and maintenance, and
resource management in general (particularly in relation to
water diversions from Waipiʻo Valley) have so far not been
resolved to the satisfaction of local farmers. Since the ditch is
not in the County’s jurisdiction and the County currently lacks
capacity for this type of natural resource management, this
issue is best addressed at the community level with adjacent
landowners and stakeholders forming collaborative groups in
order to liaise with the Department of Agriculture. A possible
model for this type of collaborative management is the Kohala
Ditch Foundation (http://kdfhawaii.org/).
61
County Action Policy 114-
120
**See also Policy 42 #5, 53,
124
6.3 Expand Health and Wellness Industry
49
Community Action 49: Establish a
comprehensive network of health
and wellness services.
A range of facilities and organizations compose the health and
wellness sector in Hāmākua, which already employs a
significant number of those working in the region. There are
also many traditional and non-traditional health and wellness
practitioners that can collaborate with mainstream
practitioners to build this sector. The sector is poised to
continue its rapid growth as health care reform is
implemented and Hawai‘i’s population continues to age,
which creates employment and entrepreneurial opportunities
in Hāmākua.
61 **See also Policy 124
Hāmākua CDP Implementation Actions
from the Hāmākua CDP Community Action Guide
Community Action Description Page
# Policy #
6.4 Promote the Creative, Education, & Research Sector
50
Community Action 50:
Collaborate with farm groups,
community organizations, and
County to support the Kohala
Center’s research and training
programs (i.e., the Beginner
Farmer-Rancher Development
Program)
The Kohala Center Agricultural Internship Program is designed
to give interns hands-on experience in sustainable agriculture
and information about island food systems based at the
Kohala Center’s Ka Hua ‘Āina farm in Honokaʻa. Students take
field trips to processors and wholesalers and meet agricultural
leaders as well as visit and work on farms and earn a stipend
for the farm work. Supporting these programs would aid
Updated May 2018 63 in developing business/agricultural
capacity in the local labor market and in fostering
entrepreneurial endeavors.
62 County Action Policy 121
6.5 Develop a Place-Based Visitor Industry
51
Community Action 51: Develop a
regional hoʻokipa network – a
place-based approach to
community tourism.
The visitor industry statewide and on Hawai‘i Island continues
to grow, driving roughly a third of the local economy.
Hāmākua is a natural draw to the large number of visitors who
prefer more authentic experiences and engagement with
residents and local culture, including experience-seekers,
culture-seekers, adventure-seekers, and those interested in
agritourism, health and wellness, edutourism, and eco-
tourism. Currently captures very little of the economic gains
from the visitor market because of limited dining, lodging,
organized activities, and tours. This market segment provides
an opportunity for Hāmākua to restructure the visitor industry
to one that nurtures, invests in, and sustains Hāmākua’s
people, culture, and natural resources in ways that provide
repeat visitors with meaningful experiences. While this
provides a substantive opportunity to generate employment
and entrepreneurial opportunities, the Hāmākua community
must take an active role in shaping these opportunities in
ways that are consistent with its vision and values. Community
Tourism is a process by which a community is empowered to
share its greatness while preserving its dignity. It is
63
County Action Policy 122-
127
**See also Policy 111, 55, 56
Hāmākua CDP Implementation Actions
from the Hāmākua CDP Community Action Guide
Community Action Description Page
# Policy #
appropriately scaled to achieve a community’s intended social,
economic, and environmental outcomes and driven by a
genuine desire of a community to share itself, its history,
traditions, and customs with strangers. In short, community
tourism supports economic growth while strengthening the
sense of place and identity. This “place based” model
embraces the Native Hawaiian practice of hoʻokipa (the
practice of greeting and welcoming strangers) and is focused
on ʻāina and its interdependent relationship with the people
of that Updated May 2018 64 place. This welcoming
relationship of reciprocity between place, host, and visitor
provides a framework for creating visitor experiences that
preserve and build upon the natural, historical, and cultural
assets that define Hāmākua. The starting point for growing
this sector is regional identity – the preservation and
improvement of the region’s natural and historical resources,
culture, and people (see Community Action 42:above). They
provide the opportunity to nurture community tourism
through the following “sharing clusters:” Sharing of Place –
engaging visitors in celebrating and enhancing Hāmākua’s
unique geography and local features (e.g., geo-tourism and
eco-tourism)
Sharing of Culture – the sharing of Hāmākua’s unique
cultural, historical, and heritage stories (e.g., heritage tourism,
living history, edutourism, and wellness tourism)
Sharing of Work – involving visitors in the day-to-day work
and activities of Hāmākua’s residents (e.g., agri-tourism and
service tourism).
52
Community Action 52: Develop
and support cultural festivals and
events with a view to welcoming
visitors.
Refer to:
Community Action 14: Develop, promote, and maintain the
continuity of community festivals and events. 64
County Action Policy 122-
127
**See also Policy 111, 55, 56
Hāmākua CDP Implementation Actions
from the Hāmākua CDP Community Action Guide
Community Action Description Page
# Policy #
Community Action 47: Promote farmers’ market events as
community and visitor gathering places.
53
Community Action 53: Develop
and promote public restroom
facilities at various locations along
Highway 19.
*See also Community Action 1
There is an identified lack of amenities along Highway 19
between Honokaʻa and Hilo. There is only one gas station with
one, gender-neutral, over-used public restroom along
Highway 19. By providing more public restrooms along this
route, it would provide a basic amenity that would serve a
community benefit and give visitors an added reason to stop
and shop at local businesses.
64
County Action Policy 122-
127
**See also Policy 111, 55,
56, 14
6.6 Revitalize Hāmākua’s Town Centers
54
Community Action 54: Promote
the collaborative development,
use, and management of
community gardens in towns and
neighborhoods.
Urban agriculture, including small pocket gardens in
downtown neighborhoods, can provide benefits on
environmental, human health, economic sustainability, and
quality of life levels. Specifically, they can be a beneficial
addition to many communities by increasing the availability of
nutritious foods, strengthening community ties, reducing
environmental hazards, reducing food miles and creating a
more sustainable system. There are currently community
gardens on Oahu, Kauai, Maui and Hawaiʻi Island.
65
County Action Policy 128-
129
**See also Policy 3, 14, 45,
127
6.7 Encourage Green Industries
55
Community Action 55: Develop
local, renewable, distributed
energy networks.
The cost of electricity and fuel in Hāmākua is very high. At the
same time, there is great potential for solar, wind, hydro, and
biofuel energy production in the district. Moreover, because
many renewable energy jobs are in construction, Hāmākua’s
relatively large workforce of tradesmen is well-positioned to
provide renewable energy to local communities. Local,
distributed energy systems facilitate local production,
distribution, and consumption of energy. Such systems
increase household access to renewable energy, lower energy
costs, increase energy reliability and independence, create
more jobs per dollar invested than conventional energy
technologies, and circulate local dollars within the community.
66
County Action Policy 130
*See also Policy 121, Kōkua
Action 73
Hāmākua CDP Implementation Actions
from the Hāmākua CDP Community Action Guide
Community Action Description Page
# Policy #
Examples of local, renewable, distributed energy systems
include:
Group Buying Programs – where groups of homeowners,
schools, municipal buildings, or other groups purchase or
lease clean energy systems together
Community Ownership – where the community finances,
owns, and/or operates a system
Community Funding – privately owned systems that are
partially financed by selling shares or bonds to community
members
Community Energy Garden – where individuals own a piece
of a larger, privately developed system and their share of the
production is credited on their electricity bill.
56
Community Action 56: Pilot a
program to secure community
payments for ecosystem services
(PES).
Ecosystem services can assist in preserving the values and
rural character of Hāmākua while directly providing economic
benefits to the community. There are existing efforts and
growing interest among public and private landowners to
maintain local ecosystem services. Moreover, tools for
measuring ecosystems services are available and distinct
markets for payments for those services are coalescing quickly
for climate stabilization, hydrological regulation, and biological
diversity. This provides a foundation for an ambitious effort
that involves local community organizations, businesses,
landowners, and farmers seeking compensation for their
efforts to preserve, restore, and manage natural resources.
Payments received for ecosystem services would complement
growth in agriculture, renewable energy, and community
tourism while attracting valuable research and educational
opportunities. If viable, Hāmākua could become a laboratory
for developing models, frameworks, and processes to
establish ecosystem services as a viable economic option for
rural communities.
68
County Action Policy 130
*See also Policy 121, Kōkua
Action 73
Hāmākua CDP Implementation Actions
from the Hāmākua CDP Community Action Guide
Community Action Description Page
# Policy #
6.8 Preserve Informal Economies and Living off the Land
**See Community Action 4, 22
and 40.
County Action Policy 15, 46,
48, 51, 116
Kōkua Action 22, 23, 38, 39