HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-05-08 Kaʻū CDP Meeting PacketMitchell D. Roth Mayor
Zenda Kem
Director
Lee E. Lord Managing Director Jeffrey W. Darrow Deputy Director
West Hawai'i Office
74-5044 Ane Keohokiilole Hwy Kailua-Kona, Hawai'i 96740 Phone(808)323-4770Fax (808) 327-3563
County of Hawai'i
PLANNING DEPARTMENT
East Hawai'i Office IOI Pauahi Street, Suite 3 Hilo, Hawai'i 96720 Phone (808) 961-8288 Fax (808) 961-8742
NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING
KA'O COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN ACTION COMMITTEE
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN of the following matters to be considered by the Ka'Q Action
Committee in accordance with the provisions of Section 92-7, Hawai'i Revised Statutes.
DATE: Monday, May 8, 2023
TIME: 5:30 P.M.
PLACE: Ocean View Community Center
92-8924 Leilani Mauka Cir
Ocean View, HI 96737
Please note there will not be a Zoom attendance option for this meeting.
CALL TO ORDER
ROLL CALL
ANNOUNCEMENTS
AGENDA
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APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES: The Action Committee will consider the draft minutes for the Ka'Q
Action Committee Meeting on February 22, 2023.
PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEMS: Written testimony may be submitted via email at
cdp@hawaiicounty.gov or in person at the Hilo or Kona Planning Department, up to two (2)
business days prior (Thursday, May 4, 2023} to the meeting (see the Notice Section below). In
addition, members of the public may provide oral testimony at the meeting on any of the agenda
items. Comments may be made either during the public comment portion of the agenda or just
prior to the relevant business item. With discretion of the Chair of the CDP Action Committee,
comments may be limited to three (3) minutes in length per agenda item.
BUSINESS:
1.Hawai'i County Code Update: Action Committee members will share any updates they have
found regarding the Hawai'i County Code Update project with the rest of the Committee.
www.planning.hawaiicounty.gov Hawai 'i County is an Equal Opporllmity Pro1•ider and Employer
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2.Permitted Interaction Groups Updates to AC: Designated permitted interaction groups will
report back and provide updates to the AC regarding their findings and progress.
a.Punalu'u Coastline Access and Resources Investigatory Subcommittee
b.Mahana Bay Coastline Access and Resources Investigatory Subcommittee
c.Pohue Bay Coastline Access and Resources Investigatory Subcommittee
d.KGpuna Housing Investigatory Subcommittee
e.Development in Ka'G Investigatory Subcommittee
f.Na'alehu Theatre Site Investigatory Subcommittee
3.Small and Industrial Solar Farm Developments: The Action Committee will discuss the topic
of these developments and potential actions to be taken following the discussion, if any.
AGENDA FOR NEXT MEETING: Action Committee members will discuss logistics (meeting
date/time, refreshments, venue fees) and potential agenda items for the next meeting.
ADJOURNMENT
This agenda and all related documents are available in the Planning Department's Ka'G
Community Development Plan Action Committee folder via the County of Hawai'i Public
Documents Repository: https://records.hawaiicounty.gov/weblink/1/fol/88959/Rowl.aspx.
These documents may also be requested from the Planning Department by calling (808) 961-
8288 or emailing cdp@hawaiicounty.gov.
NOTICE: The purpose of th� public hearings is to afford all interested persons a reasonable
opportunity to be heard on the above items. A person desiring to submit oral or written
testimony shall indicate their name and whether the testimony is on their behalf or as a
representative of an organization or individual. Written testimony can be submitted via email
or hard copy. Hard copies should include an original and nine copies and be submitted no later
than 4:30pm two days prior to the hearing date.
Anyone who requires an auxiliary aid or service, other reasonable modification, or language
interpretation to access this meeting please contact the Planning Department at (808) 961-
8288 as soon as possible, but no later than five working days prior to the meeting date, to
arrange for accommodations. "Other reasonable modification" refers to communication
methods or devices for people with disabilities who are mentally and/or physically challenged.
If you are a lobbyist, you must register with the Hawai'i County Clerk within five days of
becoming a lobbyist. (Article 15, Section 2-91.3(b), Hawai'i County Code). A lobbyist means,
"any individual engaged for pay or other consideration who spends more than five hours in any
month or $275 in any six-month period for the purpose of attempting to influence legislative or
administrative action by communicating or urging others to communicate with public officials."
(Article 15, Section 2-91.3(a)(6), Hawai'i County Code). Registration forms and expenditure
report documents are available at the Office of the County Clerk-Council, 25 Aupuni Street,
Hilo, Hawai'i 96720.
KA'O CDP ACTION COMMITTEE
www .planning.hawaiicounty.gov Hawai 'i County is an Equal Opportunity Prol'ider and Employer planning@hawaiicounty.gov
Mitchell D. Roth
Mayor
Lee E. Lord
Managing Director
Zendo Kern
Director
Jeffrey W. Darrow
Deputy Director
County of Hawai‘i
PLANNING DEPARTMENT
KAʻŪ COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN ACTION COMMITTEE
Aupuni Center • 101 Pauahi Street, Suite 3 • Hilo, Hawai‘i 96720
Phone (808) 961-8288 • Fax (808) 961-8742
Hawai‘i County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer Page 1
Wednesday, February 22, 2023 1
DRAFT Meeting Minutes 2
CALL TO ORDER 3
Chair Leinaʻala Enos called the Kaʻū Community Development Plan (KCDP) Action Committee 4
(AC) to order at 5:39 P.M. This meeting was held at the Nāʻālehu Community Center. There was 5
no Zoom option. Quorum was established at this meeting. 6
ROLL CALL 7
AC Members Present: Leinaʻala Enos (Chair), Pernell Hanoa (Vice-Chair), Kaweni Ibarra, Jesse Ke, 8
Jason Masters, Babette Morrow, Catherine Williams 9
AC Members Absent-Excused: Kaʻohinani Mokuhaliʻi 10
County Officials: Deputy Corporation Council- Suzanna Tiapula 11
12 members of the public attended the meeting 12
ANNOUNCEMENTS: 13
• The County Water Commission has an open position for District 6 14
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: 15
Committee Member Morrow made a motion to approve the December 19, 2022 minutes. Motion 16
seconded by Vice-Chair Hanoa. Motion passed with 7 votes aye, 0 votes nay. 17
BUSINESS: 18
1. Report Back on the January 18, 2023 Hawaiʻi County Code Update Open House: 19
Committee Member Williams attended the Open House. Shared that, having no experience or 20
knowledge of Hawaiʻi County’s Code system, she learned a great deal about current codes and 21
found them confusing at best. She felt that the new process would do much to streamline the 22
use of the codes and perhaps improve the permit process moving forward. Overall, Committee 23
Member Williams felt that it was a positive move forward. 24
www.planning.hawaiicounty.gov/ CDP@hawaiicounty.gov Page 2
Committee Member Jason Masters, who is very familiar with how County Codes are used found 25
a downside and felt that the people involved in the Open House were knowledgeable about the 26
code update but did not know the current code. He would like to see people there that work 27
with the code rather than those just involved in the update. Those present could not answer his 28
simple questions about height definition. Committee Member Masters recommended that they 29
involve people who know the current code in the update of those codes and in the Open House 30
discussions. Overall, he does support the update as his experience with the current codes is that 31
they are very old and outdated. 32
2. Subcommittees Report Back to Action Committee: 33
a. Punaluʻu Coastline Access and Resources Investigatory Subcommittee 34
2 items submitted as written testimony were read aloud by Vice-Chair Hanoa, to the body, from 35
Elsa Dedman and Daryn Arai. 36
See Communication No. 2023-01 Elsa Dedman Testimony – Punaluʻu by clicking here: 37
https://records.hawaiicounty.gov/Weblink/1/edoc/121412/Communication%20No.%202023-38
01%20Elsa%20Dedman%20Testimony%20-%20Punaluu_Redacted.pdf 39
Sophia Hanoa, Secretary of the Kaʻū Advisory Council, testified on Agenda Item #2a. The Kaʻū 40
Advisory Council received a new 2nd draft plan and 2nd maps were submitted by Black Sands 41
LLC to the council. The developer has reached out for a new meeting to present a new map. 42
Recommendation to respect and hear the Kupuna for their experience and knowledge of 43
Punaluʻu. The Advisory Council continues to recommend that the developers seek the Kupuna’s 44
manaʻo and knowledge of the history and cultural significance of this place. Discussion was held 45
on who can attend these upcoming meetings and clarification of our role as Punaluʻu and Kaʻū 46
community members and will be forthcoming to advise the Action Committee moving forward. 47
Committe Member Masters made a motion to accept the report back. Motion seconded by 48
Committee Member Ke. The motion passed with 7 votes aye, 0 votes nay. 49
b. Green Sands Coastline Access and Resources Investigatory Subcommittee 50
Committee Member Morrow shared a summary of the February 15th subcommittee meeting 51
minutes. 52
The committee would like to change the name of the committee to Mahana Bay Coastline 53
Access and Resource Investigatory Subcommittee. Update of actions taken and investigation to 54
come, two goals have been set to locate sensitive sites and to identify environmental concerns 55
including coastal run-off and endangered species. Further investigation is pending. 56
Community Member Sophie Hanoa shared that Committee Member Ke is a Kupuna that may be 57
able to identify cultural sites. Committee is putting out a call to get more information from the 58
community about abuses and preservations needed of the area. Committee Member Masters 59
stated Department of Hawaiian Homelands South Point Resource Management has put out a call 60
to the community to continue to gather information about various sites, trails, and sacred spots. 61
It was noted that there has been much information shared over the past 30 years and it may 62
benefit the committee to review and gather as much relevant information they could, about 63
what is happening and what has happened. There was a plan shared that may not have been 64
www.planning.hawaiicounty.gov/ CDP@hawaiicounty.gov Page 3
acted upon. Chair Enos announced that if community members were interested in serving on 65
any of these committees, then to let the AC know as community involvement is important and 66
welcome. 67
Community member Gwen Sorensa of Pahala, wanted to know how to share the purpose to the 68
CDP to get the word out. She would like to have more community involvement in the AC 69
meetings and find out why they are doing this. 70
Community members of Pahala, Pomai Kajiwara-Ke, Toby Kekoa-Verges, Jycetin Mukini, and 71
Jovan Javar, from Kaʻū High School, introduced themselves. Chair Enos made an explanation of 72
our purpose to the 12 members of the public in attendance. Discussion commenced on the 73
Community Development Plan. 74
Committee Member Morrow motioned to approve the report back. Motion seconded by 75
Committee Member Masters. Motion passed 7 votes aye, 0 votes nay. 76
c. Pōhue Bay Coastline Access and Resources Investigatory Subcommittee 77
The Subcommittee has not met since their last meeting. Committee Member Masters recently 78
received new information from the Volcano National Park representative and will report back at 79
the next Action Committee Meeting. 80
Committee Member Masters motioned to approve the report back. Motion seconded by 81
Committee Member Ibarra seconded. Motion passed with 7 votes aye, 0 votes nay. 82
d. Kūpuna Housing Investigatory Subcommittee 83
Committee Member Morrow summarized the minutes of the subcommittee meeting submitted. 84
She informed that she reached out to a member of ʻO Kaʻū Kakou (OKK), Raylene Moses, who 85
was instrumental in the effort to get a developer to build senior housing in Naʻalehu. Members 86
of the committee discussed and proposed that a new survey was needed. Thereafter, a Zoom 87
meeting was held with Raylene Moses to keep Kupuna housing as the focus, but the committee 88
wants input from the community as to what are the other needs that the community sees. What 89
were the issues that were brought up previously? Also, previously there was not enough need 90
assessed. The next subcommittee meeting would be in April to meet with Wayne Kawachi, 91
President of OKK. Committee Member Masters shared that he has still not heard from the 92
Planning Department to get an update on what are the current parameters, zoning 93
confirmations etc. for this project to move forward. He will seek assistance from Council 94
Member Michelle Galimba, who attended this meeting, in getting a reply from the Building 95
Department. Discussion was had about community concerns around guidelines for senior 96
facilities that are currently in Pahala. The subcommittee will seek to clarify the rules around 97
Kupuna Housing, i.e., “Can clients be married?”…etc. 98
Committee Member Williams motioned to approve the report back. Motion seconded by 99
Committee Member Ke. Motion passed with 7 votes aye, 0 votes nay. 100
e. Development in Kaʻū Investigatory Subcommittee 101
No subcommittee meeting was held; no report given at the meeting. 102
www.planning.hawaiicounty.gov/ CDP@hawaiicounty.gov Page 4
3. Kaʻū Action Committee Meeting Schedule Discussion: 103
Oceanview Community Center is very busy and not available on Wednesday evening. The AC’s 104
intention is to meet every 2 or 3 months. Vice-Chair Hanoa suggested every 3 months or 105
quarterly. Quarterly may be more effective for the committee’s investigatory process. 106
Committee Member Masters felt that it was important that the committee would go to each 107
community. The next meeting should be in Oceanview. Committee Member Williams would 108
investigate an alternate day of the week and an alternate time with Thursday as a priority. 109
Committee Member Masters made a motion to meet quarterly and rotate meeting locations 110
between the three district communities, with Oceanview as the next location. Motion seconded 111
by Committee Member Morrow. 112
4. Nāʻālehu Theatre Restoration: 113
A letter was sent to the Planning Department by a community member regarding and requesting 114
restoration efforts for the Nāʻālehu Theatre. 115
See Communication No. 2023-02 Nāʻālehu Theatre Restoration by clicking here: 116
https://records.hawaiicounty.gov/Weblink/1/edoc/121717/Communication%20No.%202023-117
02%20Naalehu%20Theater%20Restoration.pdf 118
The AC had a discussion around whether they should add it to their growing number of 119
Permitted Investigatory Groups in order to find out what the path the County is going to take. 120
Committee Member Masters made a motion to establish an investigatory Committee. Motion 121
seconded by Vice-Chair Hanoa. Motion passed. 122
** In writing these meeting minutes, on March 6, 2023, County crews knocked down the 123
Nāʻālehu Theatre building and cleared the lot completely 124
PROPOSED AGENDA ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING: 125
1. Update on County Code 126
2. Subcommittees Report Back to Action Committee 127
3. Small and Industrial Solar Farm developments 128
4. Ground satellite proposal 129
ADJOURNMENT: 130
Committee Member Masters motioned to adjourn the meeting. Motion passed with 7 votes aye, 131
0 votes nay. The meeting was adjourned at 7:13 P.M. 132
These minutes and all related documents are available in the Planning Department’s Kaʻū 133
Community Development Plan Action Committee folder via the County of Hawaiʻi Public 134
Documents Repository. These documents may also be requested from the Planning Department 135
by calling (808) 961-8288 or emailing cdp@hawaiicounty.gov. 136