HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-05-26 TRoyal_Alii
PLANNING COMMISSION
COUNTY OF HAWAII
HEARING TRANSCRIPT
May 26, 2006
A regularly advertised hearing on the application of was
ROYAL ALII LLC (SMA 05-007)
called to order at 11:09 a.m. at the King Kamehameha's Kona Beach Hotel, 75-5660 Palani
Road, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii with Chairman C. Kimo Alameda presiding.
PRESENT:C. Kimo AlamedaABSENT & EXCUSED: Jeffrey McCall
Fred GaldonesRene Siracusa
Bill Graham
Andrew Iwashita
AllenSalavea
Rodney Watanabe
Ivan Torigoe, Deputy Corporation Counsel
Christopher J. Yuen, Planning Director
Norman Hayashi, Planning Program Manager
Phyllis Fujimoto, Staff Planner
Jeff Darrow, Staff Planner
And approximately 26 people from the public in attendance.
APPLICANT: ROYAL ALII LLC (SMA 05-007)
Continuation on the application for a Special Management Area Use Permit to allow the
development of a 19-unit single family residential development and related uses. The property is
located on the east (mauka) side of Alii Drive, across from the Alohi Kai Subdivision and
Kamoa Point, Kaumalumalu, North Kona, Hawaii, TMK: 7-7-4:57 and 58.
ALAMEDA:Fellow Commissioners, there is a 2A, if youll notice in your agenda
packet: Unfinished Business, Applicant: Royal Ali i LLC (SMA 05-007). This is a continuation
on the application for a Special Management Area Use Permit to allow the development of a 19-
unit single family residential development and related uses. And the property is located on the
east (mauka) side of Ali i Drive, across from Alohi Kai Subdivision and Kamoa Point,
Kaumalumalu, North Kona, Hawai i. Mr. Hayashi, whenever youre ready.
HAYASHI:Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just to refresh the Commissioners memory, on
th
February 24
of this year, this matter was brought before the Planning Commission. The subject
propertyisindicatedbythisbluedot.ItissituatedalongthemaukasideofAli iDrive.Thisis
the Kamoa Point area.
The Applicant had proposed tobuild a 19-unit single-family residential development consisting
of2,000to10,000squarefootsizedlots.Thehouseswouldbeapproximately1,500to2,400
square feet in size, one- to two-story buildings. The Applicant also intends to provide two
parkingspacesperunitorperlot.Undergroundutilitieswouldbeprovidedandaprivate
roadway would be with curbs, gutters and sidewalks.
At the prior Commission meeting, the Commission decided todefer action on this particular
request and indicated they would like the Applicant to go back to look at four items, basically,
fouritems. And, basically, one was a discussion of the property within the context of the
Kaumalumalu ahupua a and also the relationship to theKeolonahihi and Keakealani Wahine
Complex. The other was the identification of any past or ongoing traditional and customary
practices on the property. The third was the description of how the Judd Trail appears on the
subject property and assessment of the ownership of trail and recommendations concerning
potential public access. And the fourth item that the Commission wanted the Applicant to
review was the development of the ethnographic evidence concerning the project area.
The Applicant had done these things, investigated the things that the Planning Commission
wanted. And they had submitted this cultural impact assessment which all of you have a copy
th
of. That was submitted to us on May 11 and was circulated to the Planning Commission, along
with it our recommendations and their discussionsrelative to the items that the Commissioners
wanted addressed.
Along with the cultural impact assessment, the Applicant also submitted a traffic impact
assessment report that was done by Phillip Rowell and Associates.
So at this time if there are any questions relative to the report, perhaps that could be directed,
questions could be directed to the Applicant or its representative. Are there any questions?
ALAMEDA:Seeing none, will the Applicant or its representative please come forward?
HAYASHI:While the applicant is coming forward, we did circulate another yellow
th
sheet, its dated May 25, and these are the conditions that were presented and amended at the
th
February 24 meeting which both the party and the Planning Director had basically agreed upon.
And there also was, we just circulated another condition. This is anew proposed Condition
No. 13; and in looking at the transcript, thiswas also agreed upon by the Applicant and the
Planning Director. I dont believe the Applicant received a copy of that. This is a new
Condition 13 and Ill read that into the record, A metes and bounds survey of the Judd Trail
shall be prepared by a licensed surveyor to identify the extent to which the Judd Trail is located
within the subject property. A public access shall be provided over that portion of the Judd
Trail. Are there any questions?
ALAMEDA:Seeing none, please raise your right hand. Do you swear and affirm to tell
thetruthnowbeforetheHawai iCountyPlanningCommission?
LAU:Ido.
MOORE:Ido.
ALAMEDA:Thankyou.Couldyoupleasestateyournameandaddressfortherecord?
LAU:Thank you, Mr. Chairman. My name is Christopher Lau. I am the
president of Towne Development of Hawai i, the managing member of the Royal Ali i LLC. To
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my right is Jim Moore from the firm of ArchaeologicalConsultants of the Pacific. Hes a senior
supervisor with that firm. He has been intimately involved in the archaeological work as well as
the cultural assessment that was prepared for this property; and hes here as am I to answer any
questions the Commission may have.
ALAMEDA:Thank you. I noticed youve done all the work to meet some of our
requests, appreciate that. Fellow Commissioners, do you have any questions for the Applicants?
Commissioner Graham?
GRAHAM:First, I want to confess to a big mistake on my part in that I didnt realize
you folks were on the agenda for today so I got the information you sent and I got it filed and I
havent gone over through this as I should. But I very much remember our last meeting and
what went on there and what my concerns were and Commissioner Springers concerns and all.
I was certainly hoping for a lot more as far as the Judd Trail and the public access issue than
whatIjustseewrittenonthisthingherethatyouwill,infact,identifyandallowaccessover
whatever portion of the Judd Trail is on your property. Can you fill me in a little more? Is what
I read here, is that it? Thats ?
LAU:Well, certainly. What you see on the yellow sheet would be a condition
that we would agree to with respect to the Judd Trail. In the cultural impact assessment, the firm
that prepared it interviewed knowledgeable people and also did some research with the State.
Perhaps Mr. Moore could address what they did with respect to the Judd Trail and their
recommendations with it.
ALAMEDA:Mr. Moore?
MOORE:We consulted with Na Ala Hele as well as five members of the
community; and we did determine that the Trail is owned in its entirety by the State. The TMK
Map shows that theres a 10-foot easement on the south side of Parcel 58 that runs the entire
length of Parcel 58. The property itself is combined Parcels 57 and 58, 58 being the southern
parcel. So theres a 10-foot easement that runs along that that is owned by the State.
Now, the Trail itself, the State does not follow the easement exactly. It is partially within the
subject property based on a detailed mapping we did in association with the preservation plan.
Most of the Trail had been impacted by bulldozing as early as 1980. And currently only about
35 meters at the makai end of the property is still present, and that is in a relatively deteriorated
condition. So the northern wall of the two parallel walls that bound the Trail itself is also a part
of Site 8028, which is recommended for preservation, and the buffer zone for that site extends
over the edge of the Judd Trail itself.
ALAMEDA:Commissioner Graham?
GRAHAM:Unfortunately, I dont know this situation on the ground there and I
appreciate your speaking to that. My hope that I expressed at the last meeting was that even
though the Judd Trail had, in my view, suffered a lot over, you know, prior years and prior
decisions and all that, you know, is it feasible that somehow the Judd Trail can be brought back
to usable, a usable situation to where its an asset to the people in this public ownership. Are you
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folks in a position where you could do some work on thatTrail where it abuts or crosses your
property so that you can further that hope on my part?
MOORE:At this point, Na Ala Hele recommended that signage be put up describing
the Trail but also limiting access because it isnt traversible at this point. They recommend due
to liability concerns that they do not provide public access at this point.
GRAHAM:And, so, therefore, in the future if things could get improved elsewhere on
the Trail so that public access could be, were still stuck with the problem that the Trail is not in
a good, you know, its not in good enough condition to service public access in that portion
which is adjacent to you folks property or on your property, is that right?
MOORE:Correct. It would need substantial stabilization, reconstruction to have
public access. You know, again, theres only about 30 meters, 100 feet or so, but it would need
allthevegetationcleared,theredhavetobesomestabilization.Thewalls,portionsofthewalls
are crumbled. Theres a little gully on the southern side where the stones have fallen into the
gully, so its not in good shape right now.
LAU:Commissioner Graham, you can see on the map on the wall on the right
hand side in the preservation area which is the lighter-shaded area, at the very bottom, theres an
area which contains the Judd Trail. So that would be the 35 meters or so of the Trail thats in the
preservation area.
GRAHAM:Right. But the bottom line of where I was coming from and all was you
folks are not prepared to do any work on the Judd Trail, even though its not passable at this
time? At some point in the future if it would get passable, it seems like we would already wish
that this part was cleaned up.
MOORE:Correct. Certainly, you know, getting the right personnel available, it
could be stabilized and interpreted, reconstructed and signage put up that would give the public
something, some coherent information.
GRAHAM:Right. And far as the work on the ground, the stabilizing the Trail and all,
is there some other party other than you folks that are more appropriate to do that work other
than ?
MOORE:Weve done that work but we usually sub-contract out with people that are
more familiar with rock work. You know, we dont have somebody on staff, but weve done
reconstructive work on similar jobs in the past.
GRAHAM: And would it be, do you believe it would be inappropriate for you folks to
do that kind of work on this segment of the Trail in this situation?
MOORE:Well, as a private consulting firm, thered be a choice of, by the landowner
just choose whoever he would like. But certainly our company would be qualified to do that as
well.
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LAU:Commissioner Graham, the concern thatIhave is that if we do the
reconstruction work, theres only a 35 meter section of the Trail that would be reconstructed.
And were talking about a Trail that presumably went many miles, so I dont know the, what the
real benefit would be to, for us to reconstruct 35 meters.
GRAHAM:I understand.
ALAMEDA:Other questions? Commissioner Iwashita?
IWASHITA:Just to follow-up on Commissioner Grahams concern. And, you know, as
a regular part of these kind of applications when it comes to roads, its a standard kind of a
requirement to have a project improve the road in front of the project. And so Im thinking that,
as part of this application, that in order to allow this project to go forward that it would seem
reasonable to me to require the improvement or the restoration of the Judd Trail as it goes the
entirelengthofyourproperty,whichismorethan100feet.Right?Inotherwords,fromAlii
Drive up to the mauka boundary, to improve your half of the Judd Trail or, you know, to, so that
its basically a similar requirement as our highway kind of requirements or roadway
requirements. Would that be something the developer would consider?
LAU:Well, Commissioner Iwashita, yes, we would consider improvements to
the Trail. I think what we have to do is really discuss to what level of improvements. When you
talk about developers improving roadways adjacent to their property, you know, generally, those
are roadways that are in use. The Judd Trail, to our understanding, is really not in use. But we
would be amenable to doing some improvements so that the portion of the Judd Trail on our
property could be used as an example of what the Judd Trail was at one time.
IWASHITA:The portion of the Judd Trail that, I guess that brings up another point.
Maybe I can qualify that.
ALAMEDA:Yes.
IWASHITA:On Condition 13, the metes and bounds survey of the Judd Trail, that
would include the physical aspect, the walls and so forth, that currently exists. And, as I
understand it, portions of the Trail are actually within the property involved in this development
and then, I guess, portions of it are out within the easement area, the area actually owned by the
State. Is that correct?
MOORE:Presumably what would have been there no longer exists. There has been
bulldozing that occurred as early as 1980. Previous archaeological studies that covered a wider
range back in 78-79 and published in 1980 documented that there was no longer present at that
time. So the actual path it took at that time is unknown. You know, based on that map and what
weve seen on the ground, it appears that would have extended south of the property and through
the easement, yes.
ALAMEDA:Commissioner Iwashita?
IWASHITA:Is there not other documentation or historical record that establishes the
location of the Trail? I mean thats the whole basis of the State owning it, right?
5EXHIBIT C
ALAMEDA:Who are you asking?
IWASHITA:I dont know. Whoever knows the answer?
YUEN:We had a letter in the file from the State that, where the State claims
ownership and fee of the Judd Trail by virtue of the Highways Act of 1892. What theyre saying
is there are portions of the Judd Trail that are physically in existence on the ground and can be
verified. There are maps that show the Judd Trail without enough detail to physically locate it on
the ground. And what theyre saying is there are portions where it has been obliterated, where
the physical description of it has been obliterated; and I believe there is no legal description of it.
We would be able to say that somewhere on mauka properties in an approximate location there
was a Judd Trail, but that you actually cant show it on the ground in certain locations. In this
portion of the property, very close to Alii Drive, though, you can.
IWASHITA:Well, you know, my concern is about the extent of this survey. Because in
mymindwhattheyshouldsay,andIdontknowifitdoes,isthatthemetesandboundssurvey
should include the portion of the Judd Trail from Alii Drive to the mauka boundary of this
property, wherever it may be located, whether on this property or adjoining, you know. But it
should follow, you know, the surveyor should be able to determine to the extent physically
possible; and by agreement with the owners in the end if, you know, theres no real physical
evidence to establish the location -. But there should be a clear understanding of the developer in
this case that, in fact, at the end of this process, theres going to be a survey of metes and bounds,
legal description of the Judd Trail from Alii Drive to the mauka boundary of this property. And
if thats not the case then .
MOORE:Presumably it extends off the property into the easement, you know, right
at the point where you see the walls ending on that map .
IWASHITA:Im not presuming to do the surveyors job. The surveyors job is to
locate the, is to locate the Judd Trail. Because title to the Judd Trail is not disputed, right? The
State owns the Judd Trail. Is that, on that point, is there an agreement?
MOORE:Oh, yeah.
LAU:Yes.
IWASHITA:Okay. Nobody is disputing the title. This is a classic example of an
unlocated, in this case, right-of-way, a trail, right, an old road, roadway. And so the only issue
that needs to be addressed in this application to me is to make it real clear that what the surveyor
is doing is not surveying a hundred feet of wall that he can find but to place on the ground, right,
the extension of the Trail up to the mauka boundary of this property. I just want to make sure
that thats the clear understanding of whats going to be done here.
LAU:May I make a suggestion?
IWASHITA:Id like an answer to that question first.
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LAU:Yes, we will do that, Commissioner.
IWASHITA:Thank you.
LAU:But may I make a suggestion -?
IWASHITA:Sure.
LAU:With respect to the condition. Norman, if you could help me. The mauka
boundary of the property, could you point that out? Okay. The Trail may not touch that mauka
boundary. So the suggestion I have is that lets take the distance from Alii Drive to that mauka
boundary, whatever it is, I dont have a scale, lets say its 500 feet. Perhaps what the condition
should read is that we will provide a metes and bounds description of the Trail from Alii Drive
going mauka 500 feet. I think that that would meet with your concern; and I think itll be clearer
thansayingthatwewillmaptheboundarytothemaukapointoftheproperty.Becauseifthe
Trail doesnt hit the mauka boundary, mauka section, mauka line of the property, then I think we
have an ambiguity in our condition.
IWASHITA:I agree with your concern. The language that I think would be acceptable
would be that the survey should extend up to the mauka boundary or theextension of the mauka
boundary south, some language like that.
LAU:That would be fine. I agree.
IWASHITA:Thats fine. As far as the -. I guess that covers it.
ALAMEDA:Thank you, Commissioner Iwashita. Commissioner Watanabe, you had
your hand up earlier?
WATANABE: No.
ALAMEDA:Commissioner Graham?
GRAHAM:Let me try to explain kind of where Im coming from on this. I dont have
any specific objection to this SMA permit into your project. When I read my legal documents,
grounds for approval of Special Management Area Use Permits, The Authority may permit the
proposed development only upon finding that: and No. 1 here says, The development will not
have any substantial adverse environmental or ecological effect except as such adverse effect is
minimized to the extent practicable and is clearly outweighed by public health, safety, or
compelling public interest. So applying this to what youre doing, the kind of adverse effects
that we generally are concerned with with SMA permits are archaeological, Hawaiian cultural
issues, access issues, viewplane issues, water quality issues. So I think you all, from what I
remember and what I understand, are going as far as you need to go to minimize any adverse
effects in this way as much as practicable. On the other hand, the second half of this says, and
is clearly outweighed by public health, safety or compelling public interest. So, to me, the Judd
Trail is a very real public interest issue; and, so, to me, for you to do a metes and bounds survey
in the future of the Judd Trail doesnt feel like youre going very far towards clearly outweighed
by public health, safety or compelling public interest.
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So I would much prefer kind of like we discussed earlier today that the metes and bounds survey
be done before we approve this application. Andthen if there was any kind of reasonable work
that you all could do to bring the Judd Trail towards becoming a public asset in the future, we
could ask you folks to do that as your effort to clearly outweigh any adverse impacts that youve
already minimized. So thats where Im coming from.
LAU:Okay. Perhaps, No. 1, you know, I believe that a condition that we
discussed earlier with respect to the mapping of the Judd Trail that would ensure that there is an
identification of the Judd Trail, I would be amenable to preserving a portion of the Judd Trail
thats on our property so that it can be accessible to the public. Would that meet with your
concern?
ALAMEDA:Commissioner Graham?
GRAHAM:No.IdontthinkthatreachesthelevelofinvolvementthatIwashoping
to see. I do understand from your consultant that if, in fact, all it says is that the Judd Trail is not
suitable for use now, for you to do a whole bunch of work on it maybe feels premature. But Im
still left in the situation that, you know, Id like to see a public interest component to your thing
here; and I see no better way than the Judd Trail; and I dont feel like a metes and bounds survey
really does that.
LAU:Well, can I ask you what level of improvement would you like to see?
GRAHAM:Thats the problem. It seems like I was hoping when we put this out for
deferral before that we would come back and wed have a metes and bounds survey. And, so,
then, with the Planning Directors participation, you know, we could sort of say, This is
appropriate but this is asking too much, or whatever. But were not in a position to do that
today it seems.
YUEN:If I can just jump in for just a minute here. I think that in the materials
they provided in this, theres a map of where the Judd Trail is on their property thats pretty,
seems to be pretty accurate. So from that standpoint its, I had the page, Im sorry . You dont
have the cultural assessment?
GRAHAM:I got a letter from -.
YUEN:Okay, Im sorry, yes. You got the map? No, not that map. Theres
another map that shows the Judd Trail. Its labeled A-1 on the bottom. So from the standpoint,
this does not have a metes and bounds. The standpoint of this is it does show, you know, it does
show the portion of the Judd Trail that is within their metes and bounds, not to say that its their
property, which is the point that theyve already conceded. And I think what youre getting at is
that youd like to see, at some point, some private entity responsible for restoring this section of
the Judd Trail, but it may be premature to do so right now.
GRAHAM:Yeah, I think basically youre characterizing it correctly. And I feel a
little bit like what Commissioner Iwashita said before about, you know, when there are streets
coming up to a project, you know, even though its not part of the projects property, we do
require improvements and things. And I dont know if, you know, Im certainly not looking for
8EXHIBIT C
a reason to vote against this project. It just feels likeahard issue to handle here today since we
dont have the metes and bounds and its -.
YUEN:Well,ifI could suggest, maybe Mr. Moore can help here. I believe theres
a level of work that youd call stabilization.
MOORE:Yes.
YUEN:And would you explain that?
MOORE:That would be taking the deteriorated portions, retrieving stones that have
fallen off the wall, refacing the wall, reconstructing those portions of the wall so that theyre bi-
faced core filled, intact. You know, this northern wall is in good condition at this point, but wed
recreate it to look and be the same size and shape as the northern wall. Theres a dilapidated
woodengatethatwouldneedtobereplacedorremoved.Thatwoodengatewasnotlikelypart
of the original structure. It was probably put in after the fact, early 1900s, to control cattle or
something like that. You know, at one point they believed it was used as a chute to bring cattle
down to the coast.
YUEN:I think Mr. Lau has expressed his willingness to do stabilization. And this
is, as a kind of archeological work, what this does is it prevents further deterioration, at least for
a time. Like once the wall has started to collapse, then its very easy for stones to keep coming
out. The difficulty here, and then we have something that they do, that they can do now. The
difficulty with a full restoration is that Na Ala Hele program, theres not a lot of point to doing
100 feet; and the Na Ala Hele program is apparently not ready to open up the Judd Trail. If this
were a big development where you would, like the Mauna Lani or something where you have an
entity there, that you can put a condition on that they can do it later, thats a little easier. When
you have a small development thats going to get sold off, youll have a homeowners
association; but its difficult to have a condition that they do something in the distant future that
may never arrive. But what I would suggest -- if, you know, in where youre going with this as
far as what work could reasonably be done at this stage on the site -- would be to talk about
requiring stabilization of the portion that is within their metes, within the metes and bounds of
their property.
LAU:We would be amenable to that.
ALAMEDA:Commissioner Graham?
GRAHAM:You were speaking before on the metes and bounds going up to the,
essentially the mauka elevation of your property. Are you in a position where you could do the
stabilization to the mauka elevation boundary of your property? To me, that would feel more
appropriate than just what fits within the metes and bounds, as long as youre legally capable of
doing that.
LAU:Well, as I stated at the previous meeting, the problem that we would have
is that we would need permission from somebody else. I mean, we dont, we cannot do work on
property we dont own. So, plus, in this area, according to Mr. Moore, the Trail has been
bulldozed prior to 1980, so theres really nothing to stabilize it in that area.
9EXHIBIT C
ALAMEDA:Commissioner Graham?
GRAHAM:Well, I mean, if the stabilizing is not going to be, then you dont have to
do anything. But you could essentially guarantee a stabilization of the Trail up to the most
mauka elevation of your property. And if its State-owned, I guess, is it not permissible for you
to do that?
MOORE:It would be very difficult to recreate something that was never
documented. You know, at this point, as we extended further mauka of whats existing, wed
almost be guessing at the morphology of what was there before. You know, we dont have
documentation at this point. The bi-faced core filled walls, parallel walls, continue all the way
up to Hualalai, the Trail was once 16 miles long and it reached up to the Heiau Ahu-a-Umi. It
hasnt been thoroughly described in the entire length.
GRAHAM:I think Mr. Yuen certainly understands where Im coming from. And so,
youknow,ratherthanhavingyoutrytoreplicatesomethingthatexistedhistoricallywhatIm
really looking for most is that it be there for public use and in a usable fashion; and so anything
that might be an impediment to that, that you folks would take care of as far as your mauka
boundary. Is that workable, Chris, or is there some way you could do that?
YUEN:Let me just say I want to understand this correctly. Do the parallel walls
continue where it goes off your property?
MOORE:As far as I know, no. There has been some documentation several
thousand meters, a couple of miles, but Im not familiar exactly with the site description from
those work -.
YUEN:What I mean is on this Diagram A-1 that we were looking at, it shows
parallel walls within your metes and bounds. And then it, they did not attempt to map this to the
property to the south, apparently, because it goes off onto whats shown as a State easement on
the tax maps.
MOORE:Well, whats shown on the map is basically whats on the ground now.
YUEN:Okay, so the parallel walls, where it goes off the metes and bounds of the
property, the parallel walls stop?
MOORE:Correct.
YUEN:Theyve been destroyed already?
MOORE:Correct.
YUEN:Okay. So my suggestion, theres nothing to stabilize past this 100-foot
stretch of parallel walls. So my suggestion would be simply that they, that we have a condition
that they stabilize that stretch of the Judd Trail, including the walls that line it. They would still
have to actually get consent of SHPD to do this work, in any event, both from an archeological
10EXHIBIT C
standpoint and from an ownership standpoint. But we could, you know, we could put a
condition in that that said that they had to do that, subject to obtaining the consent of the State.
ALAMEDA:Commissioner Graham?
GRAHAM:No, thank you.
ALAMEDA:Commissioner Iwashita?
IWASHITA:Im really concerned about, you know, the extent of the Trail. And I
guess, you know, in terms of the comment Commissioner Graham had on having the survey
done ahead of time, I really agree with that because right now were guessing in terms of, you
know, what should be done. If we had the survey done, you know, the surveyors job would
have to include the title issues. And it seems to me that, you know, I know the State has an
easementareathatrunsadjacentalongyoursouthernboundary.But,infact,onthegroundthe
Trail is, you know, a portion of it is right now apparently on your property. So, as far as Im
concerned, that portion of your land you dont own, thats the States land. Because if you dont
dispute that the State owns the Judd Trail and the Judd Trail is physically on your property, then
thats State land. So, you know, the completion of the survey to me is important to determine,
either based on physical and other legal documentary evidence, where the Trail is. And if to the
extent that kind of evidence is insufficient, then there has to be an agreement by the relevant
owners, right, as to where its going to be placed on the ground so that the survey can be
completed. And theres nothing to be a dispute about title, you know, to that actual on-the-
ground placement of the Judd Trail.
So, for those reasons, I really believe that its important to have the survey done ahead of time,
because the survey is going to answer a lot of questions. And then we can get back to, as far as
my druthers on the restoration it would be that, at a minimum, all the brush be cleared, you
know, and that it be maintained in that state over the actual location of the Judd Trail. And then,
you know, down the road I guess when the entire Trail is going to be restored then, you know, at
least weve maintained that part, that portion of it, you know, in a condition that it can be
maintained for the present time. But, again, I really think the survey really needs to be done in
order for us to have adequate information to proceed.
ALAMEDA:Response? Applicant?
LAU:Mr. Chair, I believe that what the survey is going to tell us is where the
Judd Trail is, because what the surveyor would do would prepare metes and bounds and show us
to the best of surveyors knowledge where those walls are; and then theres going to be some, its
going to be, yes, it will determine where those walls are. I agree to stabilization, I agree to
clearing the brush within the area of the Judd Trail thats on our property. I also agree that the
survey would extend to the mauka boundary of our property as it goes south.
ALAMEDA:Okay. Thank you. Commissioner Watanabe?
WATANABE: I got a question. You also included a Conservation area. That
Conservation area abuts the Judd Trail?
11EXHIBIT C
LAU:Its a preservation area that has been approved by the State.
WATANABE: And its directly adjacent to the Judd Trail. So, with regard to Mr. -, no?
LAU:Actually, we believe that the section of the Judd Trail that exists is within
the preservation area. So its not adjacent, its within.
WATANABE: Its within?
LAU:Yeah.
WATANABE:So the concern that Mr. Iwashita had with regard to any development and
maybe subsequent litigation of who actually owns the property; cause you technically dont own
the Judd Trail, is almost moot because its all going to be in a preservation area?
LAU:Correct.
WATANABE:So no development will occur over that at all?
LAU:No development.
WATANABE: At all?
LAU:Correct.
WATANABE:Not even in close proximity to the Judd Trail, right?
MOORE:No.
WATANABE: It extends even further than this 10-foot easement that were -?
MOORE:Theres a buffer zone. Theres a 5-meter, 15-foot buffer zone, and its
already scheduled to have all the non-indigenous flora removed and only indigenous flora
landscaped in that area.
WATANABE: Okay. Thank you.
LAU:And that was accepted and approved by the State.
MOORE:Correct.
ALAMEDA:Any other questions for the Applicants? Then were going, we do have
one testifier, actually. Commissioner Graham?
GRAHAM:Can I just ask a question of the Planning Director for a second on this
thing since were on this very topic. Given what the Applicant has agreed to do as far as
stabilization and metes and bounds and clearing all the undergrowth, my hope with this whole
thing was that somehow the Judd Trail could become useful in some way in the future. And I
12EXHIBIT C
know at the last meeting I sort of brought that up and said well maybe Im just sort of dreaming
and this is way too far gone. Is there any way for the County or the State to go forward from, if
we do this and the developer agrees to do this, we have the metes and bounds, is it practicable
that the County or State might actually go forward from here and make a usable Judd Trail at
some point in the not too distant future?
ALAMEDA:Mr. Director?
YUEN:Im pretty sure that there is a, well, it can be done because theres a legal
right-of-way. It would take a certain amount of work to do it because you cant just, you know,
put a bunch of flagging out and say this is the Trail. Undoubtedly there are areas that would
have to be cleared, there may be improvements needed to the footing to make a decent trail. So
thats just the work of it. At this point, what I think is really important is that we always make
sure in this kind of application that the right-of-way is not somehow lost, that you dont, if you
takeaworstcasescenario,youapprove,weapprovethedevelopmentandhousesgetbuiltacross
it. I think whats being suggested here on the stabilization is a very good idea. But beyond that,
really, you know, it is a State-owned trail. The State has a trail program. I cant speak for them
as to where theyre at with trying to actually open up the Judd Trail as a way of walking from
Ali i Drive and going mauka.
ALAMEDA:Commissioner Iwashita?
IWASHITA:I just want a clarification on my point about having the survey done first.
And that is there might be an assumption being made that beyond these walls that the Judd Trail
physically was still within the easement area for the State; and I guess the wall, to me, is an
example of how that may not be true, you know, that the Trail is not this straight line, right, that
it meanders, and so, you know, whatever the physical aspects are on the ground. And so, thats
why to me its important to go beyond what we see now being done as far as locating the walls,
you know, the Judd Trail where it meets Ali i Drive, and go mauka and have the surveyor, you
know, do all of the survey homework and properly locate the Trail physically on the ground.
And if its within the easement area, fine; if its, portions of it meander back onto this
Applicants property then thats what it is. But, you know, that, to me, needs to be done; and in
my mind its better if its done before. But I guess if its not going to be that way, I want to
make it clear that as a condition precedent to the SMA being effective, that the survey be
completed, and this work be completed and accepted before any development, any other
development can go forward.
ALAMEDA:Okay. All right. Why dont we, any other comments?
LAU:No other comments.
ALAMEDA:Okay, we do have a testifier. While we take testimony, perhaps we could
work on some, a condition or two to kind of discuss when we get into a discussion stage of the
game. So let me call up testifier Curtis Tyler. You may be seated. Well bring you guys back.
Mr. Tyler? Please have a seat. Let me swear you in. Please raise your right hand. Do you
swear or affirm to tell the truth now before the Hawai i County Planning Commission?
TYLER:I do.
13EXHIBIT C
ALAMEDA:Thank you, sir. Please state your name and address for the record.
TYLER:Good morning, Mr. Chairman, Members of the Hawai i County Planning
Commission and staff. My name is Curtis Tyler. My mailing address and residence address is
73-1305 Hiolani Street, Kailua-Kona, Hawai i 96740-9344.
I had no idea this item was going to be on your agenda this morning. I didnt see it in the
newspaper, I didnt see it in the notice. Mr. Chairman, may I ask a question? When was this
added to the agenda? This morning?
ALAMEDA:Staff?
HAYASHI:It was published in the newspaper about two weeks ago.
TYLER:The addendum? This, it was published?
HAYASHI:Yes.
TYLER:My apologies. I didnt see it. Im sorry.
ALAMEDA:You may proceed with your testimony.
TYLER:Okay. Well, as I say, I didnt see it. I came for another item; but when I
heard about this and heard the testimony that was just provided to you, I had to step forward and
testify on this.
This is a matter that is going to have substantial impact, in effect, on the publics use and access
to the Judd Trail. And I dont know how many of you in this room or this group have ever had a
chance to go on the Judd Trail, but it is a very substantial trail. It has been in existence long
before Mr. Judd worked on the Trail and improved it in approximately 1848. This Trail does not
end at Ahu-a-Umi, as Mr. Moore represented. It goes to Hilo, for those of you from Hilo. Its a
very, very substantial trail. And for people to come forward here and to say that this Trail no
longer, portions of it no longer exists on this property, theyre not going to allow public access,
its not suitable for public use, and to debate the issue of public property held in trust by the
State, by the State Historic Preservation Officer, Mr.Young, without anybody from the State
here, it seems to me to be premature, at the very least premature.
I was one of the individuals who was interviewed by Liz Gregg. I was interviewed on March
th
17
regarding preparation of a cultural impact statement. She assured me that I would have a
copyofmy,ofthetranscriptofmytestimonyandacopyoftheCISsoIcouldreviewit.Ihave
never heard from them from that day to this. And I think any decision-making on this project
todayispremature,atbest.Youvedebatedsomeconditionshereandthere,butImusttellyou
that the public has a right to use this Trail. This Trail is protected, its existence and its use is
protectedunderSection7oftheHawai iStateConstitution.Andtodebatewhetherornotthe
Trail exists is to go and rehash what happened at Oceanside 1250 over about a 20-year period;
andIthinkthecourthasbeenveryclearonthat.AndImnotheretospeakagainstthisproject.
Im here to speak for this Trail which belongs to all of the people of Hawai i Nei, not just Native
14EXHIBIT C
Hawaiians. Its every citizen here. And it is your obligation, under your oath of office, to
support and defend the Constitution, not only of the United States but of the State of Hawai i.
And this Trail, trails are being destroyed almost on a weekly basis all the time. People say they
dont exist. And the more people that say they dont exist and the more people that dont come
forward to refute this, those of us who know this, just gives the ammunition for further
destruction of this Trail. Ive walked this Trail a number of times. Ive walked huge sections of
this Trail. I know it. And some of the representations made today are not true. And the fact that
you cant see the Trail doesnt mean that the Trail doesnt exist. And Im sure that Mr. Torigoe
would confirm to you that there is no adverse possession against the sovereign, in this case the
State of Hawai i who is the trustee, since these are held in the ceded land trust for all people from
now and into the future.
I would strongly urge you to defer this item until youve had, all the Commissioners have had a
chance to review this CIS, those of us who participated in it can have a copy to review it, to
makesurethatwhatwesaidisproperlyrepresented,andthenIthinkappropriatekindsof
language can be worked out. Certainly the State has to be at the table. This, as Mr. Iwashita,
Commissioner Iwashita pointed out and others, this property is held in trust under the ownership
of the State of Hawai i as the trustee; and I dont see them here at the table, perhaps you have
some correspondence from them. But youre discussing issues about property over which you
have no jurisdiction; and I dont know how you can do that. Mr. Yuen has indicated to you that
it would be subject to State approval, etc., etc. But certainly I think you ought to have them at
the table.
And I think the public ought to know that theres a possible realignment, or change, or
prohibition against the use of what is a public trail, which I believe, certainly, wouldnt stand up
in court.
Anyhow, Im here to answer any questions and to ask respectfully that you postpone this matter
until, No. 1, all the Commissioners have a chance to review this; No. 2, so those of us who were
interviewed have a chance to review the documentation so that we can make sure were properly
represented. And then we can have a pro-active discussion about how to move this forward in a
positive way. Thank you.
ALAMEDA:Thank you. Any questions of Mr. Tyler, Fellow Commissioners?
Commissioner Graham?
GRAHAM:Mr. Tyler, as youre probably aware, I feel largely in the direction youre
feeling. However, also, you know, the Applicant has been forthcoming here today. And I think
from a devils advocate point of view, one could say if theres only a small segment of the Trail
that goes over the Applicants property and the Applicant is really willing to do what he needs to
or what he could do on that portion of property in furtherance of our Judd Trail concerns, is it
unfair to him in some way that we sort of hold up what hes trying to accomplish so that we can
deal with the State and deal with the larger issue of the Judd Trail? So Id just like your
comments on that.
TYLER:Mr. Chairman, may I respond?
ALAMEDA:Sure, go ahead.
15EXHIBIT C
TYLER:Thank you, Mr. Graham. I think its clear that the Applicant wants to
resolve this in a positive way. Im not criticizing them for that. I think decisions are being made
about somebody elses property, really all of our property, our trustee for whom is not here to
comment, or his or her representative is not here. And a number of you have talked about having
a metes and bounds description, because from what Ive heard theres a question as to where the
Trail is, vis-®-vis the subject property, that is Parcel 58, and whether or not it is entirely on this
parcel or only portions of it on the parcel. And I think this needs to be resolved prior to your
approval of an SMA; and I agree with some of the Commissioners who have spoken about this.
My experience, long time experience, here and living here in Kona, is that these things get
forgotten about. If theyre not dealt with up front, they get forgotten about. And then pretty
soon when the public wants to go back and utilize its rights to go on these places, they find
theyre not there. And you should, as one of your primary issues here, seek to protect this; and
you should do all you can because that is your oath that you took to support and defend this.
Andifyoudontdoit,well,youknowwhathashappenedinthepast,youveseenit;andthere
are . Well, Commissioner Graham, I think you should take care of this before you issue
approval.
ALAMEDA:Thank you. Mr. Graham, any follow-up? Any other questions for ?
YUEN:Yeah, I have just a couple of real specific on-the-ground questions.
Youve heard the description of the Judd Trail in this location as existing between a pair of
parallel stonewalls that run for about 100 feet mauka of Ali i Drive and then disappear? Is that
accurate?
TYLER:I havent been on the Trail in the last year, last maybe five years actually.
But I did go on the Trail; and the walls, my recollection is the double walls went quite a bit
further than 100 feet from Ali i Drive where the gate is located; and then it went quite a ways.
I remember Ms. Gregg telling me that the Trail had been destroyed and was not in existence; and
I said that cant possibly be because it was in existence not too many years ago. Certainly in the
80s it was in existence and then the 90s, if I recall correctly. That was I think the last time I
went on that Trail. I went with a huge group of people. There were scores of people. And there
were sections of it, my recollection, Mr. Yuen, is that the section of the Trail that was bulldozed
was the section where the dozer had come through on the Ali i, what has been called the Ali i
Highway alignment. Thats my recollection. The rest of it on the subject property or in this
vicinity was intact. They were beautiful, beautiful stones, walls. And when we went further, as
we got closer to Kuakini Highway, the Trail was more difficult to find; but it was certainly intact
in the makai portion off of Ali i Drive, that is mauka of Ali i Drive, for quite a distance. It was
remarkable how beautiful it was. And if it has been destroyed, other than the Ali i Highway
right-of-way, which was a fairly wide swath, then thats news as far as Im concerned. Im not
aware of it and it would be, thats a crime. Im not saying these folks did that. Im just saying,
you know, as a matter of speech, it would be just a crime. It was beautiful.
ALAMEDA:Any other questions for the testifier? Commissioner Iwashita, no?
IWASHITA:Given Mr. Tylers testimony, it makes me more adamant that the survey
should be done before we proceed and that we really need to have some solid information to see
16EXHIBIT C
if, you know, Mr. Tylers recollection is correct and if there are, you know, what portions of the
walls and so forth are still intact -.
ALAMEDA:Before I ask Mr. Tyler to sit down, any other questions for him?
Commissioner Salavea?
SALAVEA:Thank you, Mr. Tyler, for your input. I just wanted to know, well, for
myself, Im not familiar with the Judd Trail; and I would like to, I need to depend upon
testimony such as yours as well as whats provided in the report. So I would like to know if we
could provide, if they provided the information in the report that they conducted, if you would be
able to return to the, if we were to postpone the hearing or any action, that you could be at the
hearing to help us weed through what is accuracies/inaccuracies. And thats just because I have
no information besides what we received in the packets.
TYLER:MayIrespond,Mr.Chairman?
ALAMEDA:Sure.
TYLER:Thankyou,Mr.Salavea.Ofcourse,itwouldbemyintentiontocome
back. I didnt come here to oppose this project. I didnt even know it was on the agenda, as I
said earlier. I cant tell you unequivocally that I would be here because I dont know what date it
would be continued to, No. 1, and No. 2, is I dont know what my schedule is with respect to that
date. But certainly it would be my intention, given a copy of this CIS and, you know, the
background report, etc., to review it in great detail carefully and come back and be prepared
along perhaps with some other people who have knowledge of this to present you with the
factual information.
ALAMEDA:Thank you, sir.
TYLER:Youre welcome.
SALAVEA:Thank you.
ALAMEDA:Thank you. You may be seated.
TYLER:Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you all.
ALAMEDA:Fellow Commissioners, 12:15. We do have to eat lunch, so Im
wondering whats your pleasure? Do you want to discuss this item further and see kind of where
we go? Yes?
COMMISSIONERS:Yes.
ALAMEDA:Okay. Lets continue. Would the Applicant please come forward?
Youve heard Mr. Tylers testimony and youve heard our discussion with him as well as
ourselves. Do you have any responses or questions?
17EXHIBIT C
LAU:Yes, Id like to clarify two things: No. 1, we do not dispute the ownership
of the State, that the State has the Judd Trail. No. 2, we are not denying public access to the Judd
Trail. So contrary to what Mr. Tyler has said, I want to make those two items clear.
ALAMEDA:Thank you. Any further questions for the Applicants? Mr. Director?
YUEN:Yeah, with all respect for Mr. Tyler, I would suggest that the Commission
vote. I have a condition that would require stabilization of the Judd Trail. Theres no question
then, theres no challenge here that the Judd Trail exists as a legal right-of-way. In a portion of it
where its physically shown by these walls, because even though that appears to be on the metes
and bounds of their property as shown by a pin thats being relied upon, it would still be State-
owned. So theres no question that we would be preserving both the physical, with the
conditions of approval, be preserving both the physical stability and existence of the Trail and
the legal ability or the legal right of the State to have a right-of-way through and adjacent to this
propertyfortheJuddTrail.
WATANABE:Mr.Chairman?
ALAMEDA:CommissionerWatanabe.
WATANABE:Ihaveaquestion.Youknow,wetalkedaboutthepreservationarea.And
my question is how deep is that preservation area, you know, 100 feet, 200 feet? The Judd Trail
was 10 feet or whatever?
MOORE:Are you referring to mauka-makai?
WATANABE: Yeah.
MOORE:Okay. It extends from Alii Drive back to the end of the light-green zone.
So it extends 15 meters past the mauka boundary of Site 8028, which the northern wall of the
Judd Trail forms a southern wall of the Site 8028, which is .
WATANABE: So assuming the Judd Trail was meandering through that preservation
area. And the Judd Trail is presumably approximately how wide?
MOORE:About 4-1/2 meters wide, so -.
WATANABE: So 15 feet -.
MOORE:Which is about 12 to 15 feet.
WATANABE:So 12 to 15 feet.
MOORE:Yeah.
WATANABE: And youre providing how many feet along there?
MOORE:Uh, 15 meters, so thats about 50 feet, buffer zone.
18EXHIBIT C
WATANABE: So theres substantial room for error?
MOORE:Well, the buffer zone extends from the wall for 15 meters, so .
WATANABE:Yeah, so if that, it didnt go straight up ?
MOORE:It would still, right.
WATANABE: You know, because its not delineated anymore, yeah?
MOORE:Correct.
WATANABE: But theres substantial margin?
MOORE:Yes.
WATANABE:And development in proximity to the preservation, defined preservation
areaishowclose?
MOORE:Well,attheedgeofthebufferzone,thepreservationarea,theresgoingto
be a permanent buffer zone, and a temporary buffer zone for all -.
WATANABE: As far as structures go?
MOORE:Well, theres a setback of 15 feet or so from the edge of the buffer zone.
WATANABE: Okay, thank you.
ALAMEDA:Commissioner Iwashita?
IWASHITA:Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just want a clarification, Im sorry. Have you
actually walked this pathway?
MOORE:Yes.
IWASHITA:Okay. So my concern right now, given Mr. Tylers testimony, is that
theres a conflict between what he testified to as to the existence of the walls and the Trail when
he walked it several years ago, relatively recently, and your testimony that the walls dont exist
beyond whats shown on the map.
MOORE:Right, at some point in time .
IWASHITA:Well, theres a conflict in terms of what actually exists in my mind, okay?
And thats why I really believe this should be put off, because that should be resolved by a
licensed surveyor, doing a survey and, you know, locating all the physical aspects of what can be
found. And because of that conflict, I dont feel comfortable going forward. I really feel like we
19EXHIBIT C
need more information; and with that information, you know, then we can make a proper
decision. But until then, you know, we have this conflict; and I have really no basis to resolve it.
ALAMEDA:Sure. I think if we do go forward, sounds like you would vote against it or
kind of along those lines, or how would ?
IWASHITA:Well, I guess I was going to suggest, if its the consensus of the body, that,
you know, we do put it off; and I dont know if the Applicant would agree. But, you know, I
really think that this survey should be done; and that we should have really hard evidence, and
not conflicting testimony in going forward with this.
ALAMEDA:Any other questions for the Applicants? Commissioner Graham?
GRAHAM:Id just like to also say, while this is not so much for the Applicant, should
Ijustcontinueinthesameveinweretalkingwith?
ALAMEDA:Yeah,IdliketohavetheApplicantssitdownsowecanmoveto
discussion. Seeing no further -. You have any questions for the Applicants?
IWASHITA:Whats the proper way to see if the Applicant would concur to having this
survey done?
ALAMEDA:Im not sure. Lets see. Yeah, Corp. Counsel or ?
TORIGOE:Im sorry, so what is it youre seeking at this point?
ALAMEDA:Commissioner Iwashita is seeking if .
IWASHITA:I want to know if the Applicant would agree to, you know, have the survey
done now and provide it to us before we proceed further with this application.
ALAMEDA:Is that the appropriate line of questioning or -?
TORIGOE:Sure, because I think at this point you still havent closed the hearing.
And what youre asking for is more information thats relevant to your decision.
ALAMEDA:Yes. Okay, Commissioner Iwashita?
IWASHITA:Do I need to repeat the question?
LAU:No, sir.
IWASHITA:Thank you.
LAU:Commissioner Iwashita, we believe that a condition can be crafted in the
SMA that would require us to provide the metes and bounds survey. And I believe that with
legal counsel here, a condition could be crafted that would alleviate your concerns with respect
20EXHIBIT C
to the metes and bounds. So with respect to the direct question, at this point, I believe that a
condition would alleviate your concerns.
IWASHITA:Well -.
ALAMEDA:Commissioner, sure.
IWASHITA:My real concern is that there is a conflict now in the evidence, right?
Mr. Tyler says the walls were there just a few years ago and then theres also evidence that they
dont exist anymore. Okay? It is a conflict to me that is sufficiently grave in terms of my
proceeding further that I, whether its a survey or some, you know, some photographic evidence,
or something, I need something to definitively tell me, you know, whether these walls exist or
not and if they do where are they located. You know, because to the extent this trail may
meander and not follow the easement, a substantial portion of it could still be within the
boundaryline,yoursouthernboundarylinehere.Sothatsmyconcern.AndIreallyamnot
comfortable with any condition. As far as having the survey done and so forth because of that,
because there is this conflict -. And I dont know what the actual extent of the condition and
existence of the trail, and the walls are right now. Theres no way for me to determine that.
LAU:Well, part of the testimony that were forgetting is that as late as 1980
there was a report by Professor Hal -.
MOORE:Hammett.
LAU:Hammett that said that the walls did not exist. However, perhaps the
survey will tell us that there are walls; and if there are walls were agreeing that we will stabilize
those walls and we will also clear the brush. So I believe that if we came back and said yes, the
walls exists, and were not goingin that area, and we stabilize the walls, I believe that what
youre asking for will be satisfied.
ALAMEDA:Any other questions for our applicant? Thank you. You may be seated.
LAU:Thank you. Commissioner Graham?
GRAHAM:Just coming from Mr. Tylers testimony and looking at where were
coming from on this, the last hearing there were three of us who were concerned, it was
Commissioner McCall, Commissioner Springer and myself. And Commissioner McCall is not
here today, Commissioner Springer is finished and I, like Mr. Tyler, wasnt aware it was on the
agenda so I goofed in my own reading. And now we have Mr. Tyler who is willing to testify
more on the cultural statement, which I always could rely a lot on Commissioner Springers
research. So I feel on the cultural side also would really be good for us to put this off for another
hearing.
ALAMEDA:Fellow Commissioners, theres a discussion about perhaps deferring this
or continuing it until theres more evidence, more information. Is there a similar view, on the
left side or the right side? Commissioner Watanabe.
21EXHIBIT C
WATANAB:I have a question. Seeing as it takes so long to have a survey actually
conducted, would a site visit help you in deciding?
ALAMEDA:Commissioner Iwashita? Commissioner Graham? Commissioner
Iwashita?
IWASHITA:Well, I suppose. But I think I would need someone with Mr. Tylers kind
of knowledge, you know, of the area. Cause, you know, my looking at a bunch of bushes and
piles of rocks, I dont know how beneficial that would be. But, sure, Im open to that if theres
someone knowledgeable about the Judd Trail.
WATANABE:What about yourself, Mr. Graham? Cause it doesnt appear that we have
the votes to get this through today; and, at the same time, I would remind you that, you know, we
also have to consider the fairness to the applicant. And, you know, with the current state of the
economyandthewayitssodifficulttogetasurveydone,maybeacondition,awell-worded
condition will be sufficient if a site visit would satisfy much of your concerns.
ALAMEDA:Commissioner Graham?
GRAHAM:Im not so concerned about, you know, the situation on the ground. Im
sure if the applicant just took some photos or something I would rest assured in their
representations. So a site visit is helpful and fine; and I personally am willing to go with that as
well as just -. To me we need a months time to go over what we have, and even some photos
from the applicant would be good enough for me, but a site visit would probably be better. And
Im okay with that as opposed to waiting for an official metes and bounds.
ALAMEDA:Commissioner Galdones or Commissioner Salavea, you have anything to
add to this discussion?
SALAVEA:Im inclined to postpone acting on this only because there seems to be a
discrepancy, like Commissioner Iwashita had described. And a site visit, my opinion a site visit
for me would not be as useful because I wouldnt know what I was looking at. I would need to
depend upon community members, people who live in the area who have family ties, who have
the history, and they can relay that information relative to what the applicant was saying. And
that really for me is what this boils down to. Its what the local community members who have
been born and raised in the area have and know relative to what is being represented in the
application. If it doesnt correspond or jive, then I have an issue with it.
ALAMEDA:Okay. Sounds like, Commissioner Galdones?
GALDONES:Thank you, Mr. Chair. In fairness to the applicant, if the Commission is
going to decide to postpone or continue this hearing, I think we should continue it for the
purposes of getting information that would help us make a decision. The site visit thought, if its
not going to satisfy Commissioner Grahams or Commissioner Iwashitas concerns then perhaps
some other suggestions should be made so that they would get the information theyre going to
need to make a decision.
22EXHIBIT C
For me from what I have seen, including the proposed new Condition No. 13, Im prepared to
proceed with the decision. But considering that Commissioner Graham and Commissioner
Iwashita have some concerns about this application, we will not have five votes in order to come
up with some kind of action, whether its going to be approval or not. So its pretty much what
would satisfy the concerns that Commissioner Iwashita and Commissioner Graham have in order
that they can make this decision and move this application forward.
ALAMEDA:Thank you, Commissioner Galdones. Let me try and make a proposal,
just from what Im hearing. It sounds like we should continue this to the next hearing. It sounds
like we should maybe draft some conditions so that we can look at them in the meantime as a
prep to the next hearing. It sounds like we should get some pictures, and encourage testimony
again, like Mr. Tyler so that we have that kind of evidence as well at our next hearing and maybe
ask SHPD, some other entities to come forward as well to comment at that time. And perhaps
then we might be ready for a decision. How does that sound? Commissioner Graham?
CommissionerIwashita?
IWASHITA:Thatsfine.
SALAVEA:Idliketomakealsoonerecommendation,thattheintervieweesfromthe
report be furnished the cultural report and made aware of when this item is on the agenda again
so that we can as much as possible confirm what is in the report. I found it, for myself, just a
little troubling that Mr. Tyler didnt receive the report and wasnt able to verify things that were
reported here. Cause for myself I think this is where I am skeptical, is I trust what I read and if
there are discrepancies and nobody, and its not ever brought to my attention, then I take it for
face value.
ALAMEDA:Okay. Let me ask our counsel then if the proposal be what we want to do
next, how do we -? Do we need to make a motion for that or do we need to ask the applicants if
theyre okay with that?
TORIGOEYeah, I think both of those would be a good idea. You know, see if the
applicant has any objections to this; and then if its agreeable then go ahead and have a motion to
continue in order to achieve those objectives.
ALAMEDA:Youve heard the discussion and the proposal. Are you okay?
LAU:Yes. The only item that Id like to comment on would be getting the State
involved. What I would propose is that we would write a letter to the State advising them that
there is a continued hearing, and whether they choose to show up or not is their decision. And so
what Im saying is lets invite them to the dance. If they dont want to dance, well go on
without them.
ALAMEDA:Okay, that sounds good, sounds good to me. Is there a motion on the
table?
SALAVEA:Can I make a comment?
ALAMEDA:Sure, go ahead.
23EXHIBIT C
SALAVEA:I think if we are, as a Commission I wouldnt feel comfortable if were
proposing conditions that were to modify the Trail in any way without having the States input
into that, only because its an archaeological site and whatever happens I think the State has to be
aware that it is something thats being proposed. And as the owners, Id like to know if
somebody was messing with my driveway.
WATANABE:Mr. Chair?
ALAMEDA:Yeah, our conditions would require that. Commissioner Watanabe?
WATANABE: Yeah, I dont believe that thats what he was implying. I believe he was
saying that possibly the State would not be at the next Kona meeting, present at the next Kona
meeting. However, I think its very clear, even as Mr. Yuen had indicated, that they would have
togetapprovalforwhateverworkwasdoneonthatpropertybecausetheydontownthe
property, the State owns that property. So I dont think youre cutting the State out of the loop.
Were just trying to make sure that theres no undue holdup for this applicant because the States
schedule does not meet that particular meeting date. I think that was the intent.
ALAMEDA:So, again, let me just summarize the proposal, continue the hearing,
maybe get some draft conditions out for us to look at, review the material prior to the hearing,
get some pictures maybe -- I dont think we need a site visit, I think the pictures and the
additional information would suffice -- also encourage testimony at that time so that we can
concur the written with the interviewees experiences. And I think that should suffice. Is that -?
WATANABE:And invite the State agencies.
ALAMEDA:Okay, and also invite the State agencies. Did I miss anything?
GRAHAM: Only Im thinking on Commissioner Salaveas comment that those who
participated in the cultural impact statements be given a copy and invited to come also.
ALAMEDA:Thats right. Sure.
APPLICANT:Mr. Chairman, for the record, I will hand Mr. Tyler a copy of the
assessment right now. Mr. Tyler?
TYLER:Yes, sir.
APPLICANT:Heres a copy of the assessments. We wont have to mail it to him.
ALAMEDA:Okay. All right. So can we make a motion then?
WATANABE:So move. I dont think I have to repeat it, huh?
IWASHITA:Second.
24EXHIBIT C
ALAMEDA:Motion was made by Commissioner Watanabe to continue the hearing,
and seconded by Commissioner Iwashita. Discussion?
IWASHITA:Id just like to clarify that the copy of the cultural impact statements will
be provided to all the witnesses, not just Mr. Tyler, and that they be given notice that this matter
is going to be heard at the next West Hawaii Planning Commission meeting.
ALAMEDA:So noted. Further discussion? Seeing none, staff?
HAYASHI:Commissioner Watanabe?
WATANABE:Aye.
HAYASHI:Commissioner Iwashita?
IWASHITA:Yes.
HAYASHI:Commissioner Salavea?
SALAVEA:Aye.
HAYASHI:Commissioner Galdones?
GALDONES:Aye.
HAYASHI:Commissioner Graham?
GRAHAM:Aye.
HAYASHI:Chair Alameda?
ALAMEDA:Aye.
HAYASHI:Motion carries. Mr. Chair, I do have one question.
ALAMEDA:Yes, sir.
HAYASHI:Regarding the photos, who is expected to take photos of the wall?
ALAMEDA:Commissioner Graham?
GRAHAM:I was thinking the applicant could just provide some photos that he was
depicting today so that we can be rest assured thats what is really there.
LAU:We would be happy to.
GRAHAM:Thank you.
25EXHIBIT C
ALAMEDA:Thank you.
LAU:For clarification, what is the date of the next hearing?
rd
HAYASHI:Well, we do have on the calendar June 23. However, we noticed the
Director wont be around so wed prefer to have it at the next July meeting in Kona; and that
st
would be July 21.
ALAMEDA:Okay. Any objections to that?
LAU:No objections.
YUEN:Well, I think Ive said what Ive got to say. Im writing a condition now;
and Ive said what Ive got to say. I have no problem with your scheduling it for the next Kona
meeting.
HAYASHI:Okay. The reason why is that we didnt have anything scheduled for this
rd
agenda, on the 23 also.
rd
YUEN:We were not going to have a meeting at all on the 23?
HAYASHI:Yes. Because we didnt have anything set on the agenda, except now we
have one. So its up to the Commission what you want to do.
ALAMEDA:July.
WATANABE:Is that okay?
LAU:July is fine.
ALAMEDA:July is good. Thank you. Very well, any other questions? All right.
Thank you.
The discussion ended at 12:33 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Sharon M. Nomura, Secretary
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