HomeMy WebLinkAboutSouth Kohala Community Development Plan - Final 2008FINAL
November, 2008
APPENDIX A
ORDINANCE NO. 2008 - 159
South Kohala
Community Development Plan
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Sunset viewed from Ohaiÿula (Spencer Beach Park) November 2007
SOUTH KOHALA’S VISION STATEMENT
The people of South Kohala are united by our love and reverence for the beauty and peace of our
land and waters and by our respect for the richness of our various cultures and traditions.
We desire to preserve the past, thrive in the present, and dream about a future that honors
economic viability and environmental responsibility which is sustainable and desirable for current
and future residents.
We are blessed to live in one of the most unique, exquisite places on the planet, and we know it.
We promise to plan to do everything possible to live responsibly and wisely on this sacred island
for current and future generations.
Our actions are guided by our Hawaiÿi State motto:
“Ua mau ke ea o ka ÿaina i ka pono”
(The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness.)
South Kohala Community Values
“We are a family oriented place.”
“We love the old stories about our people and places and want them to live on in the hearts of our
children.”
“Our Hawaiian and Paniolo pasts contribute to our unique sense of place.”
“We honor the kupuna by accepting the values and concerns of Native Hawaiians who have known
for centuries the limits of island resources and the need to protect the ÿäina.”
“We understand that the natural and cultural resources of South Kohala are unique and to be
cherished.”
“We embrace rural values and lifestyle.”
“The puÿu of South Kohala are of great cultural and scenic value and are loved by all.”
“We treasure gathering places revered for cultural, historical, and social reasons.”
“We enjoy moving about the South Kohala landscape: on foot, by bicycle, and on horseback.”
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South Kohala
Community Development Plan
FINAL
November, 2008
The County of Hawai‘i General Plan section 15.1 (February 2005, as amended) calls for the
preparation of community development plans “to translate the broad General Plan statements to
specific actions as they apply to specific geographical areas.” The General Plan requires CDPs be
adopted as an “ordinance”, giving the plans force of law. This is a long term plan with a planning
horizon to year 2020, consistent with the General Plan. An electronic version of the plan is
available for download at
http://www.hcrc.info/community-planning/community-development-plans/
Adopted:NOVEMBER 20, 2008
PREPARED FOR:
THE COUNTY OF HAWAIÿI
PREPARED BY:
THE SOUTH KOHALA COMMUNITY
WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF:
THE COUNTY OF HAWAIÿI PLANNING DEPARTMENT
AND TOWNSCAPE, INC.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
South Kohala Steering Committee Planning Commission
William Bergin Andrew Iwashita
Jacqui Hoover Rodney Watanabe
Robert Hunter Alvin Rho
Thomas Kelly Shelly Ogata
Pohai Kirkland William Graham
Olani Lilly Christian Alameda
George Robertson Rene Siracusa
Riley Smith Takashi Domingo
Ruth Smith Rell Woodward
Sherman Warner
Margaret Wille
Giovanna Gherardi (Steering Committee Meeting Facilitator)
Judy Graham (Steering Committee Meeting Recorder)
Sara Peck (Community Liaison)
Uvonne Lindsey (Community Liaison)
County of Hawaiÿi Staff
Focus Groups
Planning Department
Waimea Focus Group Christopher Yuen, Director
Waikoloa Village Focus Group Allen Salavea, CDP Project Manager
Kawaihae Focus Group Christian Kay, Planner
Puakö Focus Group
(Due to a large number of participants names are listed in
Appendix A)
Mayor’s Office
Roy Takemoto, Assistant to the Mayor
County Council Department of Research & Development
Brenda Ford Jane Testa, Director
Stacy Higa Alex Frost, HCRC
Pete Hoffmann
Donald Ikeda Consultants
Bob Jacobson Townscape, Inc.
Emily Naeole David Tamura
Angel Pilago Nino Walker
Dominic Yagong
J. Yoshimoto Website:
http://www.hcrc.info/community-planning/community-
development-plans/
Mayor
Harry Kim
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SECTION 5. Effective Date. This ordinance shall take effect upon its approval.
,-.
__ ..!lKona· , Hawai'i
Date ofIntroduction: October 22, 2008
Date of 1st Reading: October 22, 2008
Date of 2nd Reading: November 7, 2008
Effective Date: December 1, 2008
REfERENCE. CaniJI. _1~4~70:;:... __
2
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SOUTH KOHALA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN
TABLE OF CONTENTS
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................................................................................... 1
1 INTRODUCTION.................................................................................................................... 3
1.1 PLANNING AREA........................................................................................................... 3
1.2 PURPOSE OF THE CDP.................................................................................................. 4
1.3 PLANNING PROCESS..................................................................................................... 4
1.4 DRAFTING OF THE FINAL CDP..................................................................................... 8
1.5 PRECAUTIONARY PRINCIPLE........................................................................................ 9
2 SOUTH KOHALA YESTERDAY AND TODAY....................................................................... 11
2.1 GENERAL PHYSICAL SETTING..................................................................................... 11
2.2 SOUTH KOHALA YESTERDAY: AN HISTORICAL OVERVIEW.................................... 15
2.3 LAND USE....................................................................................................................20
2.4 DEMOGRAPHICS, LOCAL ECONOMY, AND POPULATION CHARACTERISTICS ...... 26
2.5 CULTURAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES.................................................................... 30
2.6 INFRASTRUCTURE AND PUBLIC FACILITIES............................................................... 44
3 DISTRICT-WIDE POLICIES.................................................................................................... 47
4 WAIMEA TOWN PLAN......................................................................................................... 55
4.1 CURRENT AND FUTURE PLANS AND DEVELOPMENTS ............................................ 55
4.2 WAIMEA TOMORROW: WAIMEA CONCEPTUAL PLAN & POLICIES........................ 63
4.3 ACTION PROGRAMS FOR WAIMEA............................................................................ 76
5 WAIKOLOA VILLAGE PLAN................................................................................................. 89
5.1 CURRENT AND FUTURE PLANS AND DEVELOPMENTS ............................................ 89
5.2 WAIKOLOA TOMORROW: WAIKOLOA CONCEPTUAL PLAN & POLICIES.............. 93
5.3 ACTION PROGRAMS FOR WAIKOLOA VILLAGE ..................................................... 106
6 KAWAIHAE COMMUNITY PLAN ....................................................................................... 113
6.1 CURRENT AND FUTURE PLANS AND DEVELOPMENT............................................ 113
6.2 KAWAIHAE TOMORROW: KAWAIHAE CONCEPTUAL PLAN & POLICIES.............. 117
6.3 ACTION PROGRAMS FOR KAWAIHAE ..................................................................... 124
7 PUAKÖ COMMUNITY PLAN.............................................................................................. 129
7.1 CURRENT AND FUTURE PLANS AND DEVELOPMENTS .......................................... 129
7.2 PUAKÖ TOMORROW: PUAKÖ CONCEPTUAL PLAN & POLICIES........................... 133
7.3 ACTION PROGRAMS FOR PUAKÖ............................................................................ 142
8 CDP IMPLEMENTATION..................................................................................................... 147
8.1 CDP ACTION COMMITTEE........................................................................................ 147
8.2 IMPLEMENTATION MATRIX ...................................................................................... 149
9 MONITORING PLAN: Are We Making Progress?.............................................................. 153
9.1 DISTRICT-WIDE POLICIES MONITORING PROGRAM.............................................. 153
9.2 WAIMEA TOWN PLAN MONITORING PROGRAM................................................... 157
9.3 WAIKOLA VILLAGE PLAN MONITORING PROGRAM.............................................. 160
9.4 KAWAIHAE COMMUNITY PLAN MONITORING PROGRAM................................... 161
9.5 PUAKÖ COMMUNITY PLAN MONITORING PROGRAM ......................................... 163
10 GLOSSARY.......................................................................................................................... 167
11 REFERENCES........................................................................................................................ 171
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APPENDICES
Appendix A: Focus Group Member Acknowledgments
Appendix B: Meetings Held During the South Kohala CRP and CDP Processes
Appendix C: County Zoning and LUPAG Acronyms and Descriptions
Appendix D: General Plan “Courses of Action” for the district of South Kohala
Appendix E: Referenced County Codes in the South Kohala CDP
Appendix F: South Kohala Wildfire Hazard Map
Appendix G: Walkway and Bikeway Diagrams for Waimea
Appendix H: Suggested Recreational Trails, Bikeways, and Pedestrian-ways for South Kohala
Appendix I: Hawaiÿi County Council Bill 297 re: CDP Action Committees
LIST OF TABLES
Table 1.1 Key Area I - Infrastructure, Roads, Public Services, Facilities, and Utilities
Table 1.2 Key Area II – Community, Culture, & Housing
Table 1.3 Key Area III – Regional Growth
Table 1.4 Key Area IV – Open Space, Parks, Historic Sites, and Working Land
Table 2.1 Average Rainfall, High Temperatures & Low Temperatures for South Kohala
Table 2.2 State Land Use District Acreage by Judicial Districts in 2000
Table 2.3 LUPAG Designation by County
Table 2.4 Districts County Zoning Acreage by Judicial Districts in 2000
Table 2.5 Hawaiÿi County Population
Table 2.6 Population Projections
Table 2.7 Hawaiÿi County’s 10 Largest Employers in 2004
Table 2.8 West Hawaiÿi Median Value Home Sale Price 2001-2006 by District
Table 2.9 Historic and Cultural Sites in Waimea
Table 2.10 Historic and Cultural Sites in Kawaihae
Table 2.11 Cultural Resources in Puakö
Table 2.12 South Kohala Aquifer System Areas
Table 4.1 Current and Future Development in Waimea
Table 4.2 New Residential Building Permits in Waimea 2003-2006
Table 4.3 Pu’u in Pastureland
Table 5.1 Waikoloa Village Population
Table 5.2 Buildout Planned and Potential Future Buildout in Waikoloa Area
Table 5.3 School Enrollment
Table 8.1 Implementation Matrix
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1.1 The District of South Kohala
Figure 1.2 North/South Kohala Community Readiness Process
Figure 2.1 District Overview Map
Figure 2.2 State Land Use District Designations in South Kohala
Figure 2.3 District Overview of General Plan LUPAG Designations
Figure 2.4 District Overview of County Zoning Designations
Figure 2.5 Formerly Used Defense Sites (FUDS) in South Kohala
Figure 2.6 South Kohala Aquifer System Areas (ASYA)
Figure 2.7 County Water Delivery Systems in South Kohala
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LIST OF FIGURES (Continued)
Figure 4.1 Waimea Population 1960-2000
Figure 4.2 General Plan LUPAG for Waimea
Figure 4.3 County Zoning for Waimea
Figure 4.4 Waimea Town Conceptual Plan
Figure 5.1 General Plan LUPAG for Waikoloa Village and Surrounding Area
Figure 5.2 County Zoning for Waikoloa Village and Surrounding Area
Figure 5.3 Waikoloa Village Conceptual Plan
Figure 6.1 General Plan LUPAG for the Kawaihae Area
Figure 6.2 County Zoning for the Kawaihae Area
Figure 6.3 Kawaihae Area Conceptual Plan
Figure 7.1 General Plan LUPAG for Puakö
Figure 7.2 County Zoning for Puakö
Figure 7.3 Puakö Conceptual Plan
LIST OF ACRONYMS
GIS Geographic Information System
HCC Hawaiÿi County Code
HPA Hawaiÿi Preparatory Academy
HILT Hawaiÿi Island Land Trust
HICDC Hawaiÿi Island Community
Development Corporation
IAL Important Agricultural Land
LSB Land Study Bureau
LUD Land Use District
LUPAG Land Use Pattern Allocation
Guide
MGD Millions of Gallons per Day
SLUD State Land Use District
OHCD County Office of Housing and
Community Development
PCA Puakö Community Association
PUC Public Utilities Commission
SY Sustainable Yield
TDR Transfer of Development Rights
TMK Tax Map Key
USDA U.S. Department of Agriculture
USGS U.S. Geological Survey
WHWMO West Hawaiÿi Wildfire
Management Organization
WWTP Waste water treatment plant
WVA Waikoloa Village Association
ASEA Aquifer Sector Area
ASYA Aquifer System Areas
CDP Community Development Plan
CFD Community Facilities District
CRP Community Readiness Program
CWRM State Commission on Water
Resource Management
DBEDT State Department of Business
Economic Development and
Tourism
DHHL State Department of Hawaiian
Home Lands
DLNR State Department of Land and
Natural Resources
DOH State Department of Health
DOT State Department of
Transportation
DWS County of Hawaiÿi Department of
Water Supply
EA Environmental Assessment
EIS Environmental Impact Statement
EMS Emergency Medical Service
FEMA Federal Emergency Management
Agency
FIRM Flood Insurance Rate Map
FUDS Formerly Used Defense Site
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Executive Summary
South Kohala CDP November 2008
FINAL Page 1
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Adopted as an ordinance in 2005, the County General Plan is the policy document for the long
range comprehensive development of the island of Hawaiÿi, encompassing County-wide goals.
The County of Hawaiÿi’s South Kohala Community Development Plan (CDP) is intended to be the
forum for translating South Kohala’s community input into Policies and Action Plans that shape the
future land use of the district and translate broad General Plan statements into specific actions.
South Kohala has many sites and landscapes that have significant cultural and historical value to the
Native Hawaiian people. It is also the birthplace of the Paniolo or “Hawaiian Cowboy.” The
district is home to one of the fastest growing communities in the County, Waikoloa Village. Several
of the best white sand beaches on the island are located on South Kohala’s Coast. Three world
famous resorts are found here: Mauna Kea, Mauna Lani, and Waikoloa Resorts. Also, one of only
two commercial harbors in the County is located in South Kohala. Recognizing the uniqueness and
special qualities of the different communities in the South Kohala District, the South Kohala
Community Development Plan has been organized into four specific area plans for the communities
of Waimea, Waikoloa Village, Kawaihae, and Puakö. The CDP also contains policies and
guidelines that address the entire district and are not specific to one particular community.
A note to the reader on ways to read this document: The South Kohala Community Development
Plan is divided into nine chapters. The chapters do not have to be read sequentially. Chapters One
and Two provide background information and the context for the policies, programs, and actions
that are presented in later chapters. The reader may choose to skip the first two chapters and go
straight to the policies, programs, and actions in the later chapters, referring back to the first two
chapters as they wish.
Chapter 3: District-Wide Policies, outlines policies related to four issue areas: Preserve
Culture/Sense of Place, Transportation, Emergency Preparedness, and Environmental Stewardship /
Sustainability.
Chapters 4 thru 7 outline plans for four specific communities in South Kohala. The key element of
the Waimea Town Plan is a “Responsible Growth” policy intended to preserve Waimea’s sense of
place. In the Waikoloa Village Plan, the key element of the plan calls for the provision of adequate
infrastructure and public services for a growing community. The Kawaihae Community Plan calls
for a balance of recreational, commercial, residential, and industrial uses around the harbor area
and the restoration of marine waters of Pelekane Bay. In the Puakö Community Plan, the plan
addresses strategies to manage growth, mitigate the impacts of natural disasters to the community,
and also to preserve the near shore marine water quality.
Towards the end of each Community area plan, are sections entitled “Action Programs.” Action
Program details outline the following:
•Who will take the lead in implementing these actions
•What needs to be done
•When should actions take place
•How much will it cost
•Intended outcome of the actions
Chapter 8: CDP Implementation covers details of the “CDP Action Committee the future
community-based implementing body of the Community Development Plan.
Chapter 9: Monitoring Plan provides a systematic way to evaluate the progress of CDP
implementation.
Executive Summary
South Kohala CDP November 2008
FINAL Page 2
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Chapter 1: Introduction
South Kohala CDP November 2008
FINAL Page 3
1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 PLANNING AREA
The South Kohala District lies in the northwest sector of the Island of Hawaiÿi. Neighboring districts
North Kohala to the north, Hämäkua to the East; and North Kona to the south. The Pacific Ocean
defines the district’s western border. The South Kohala District consists of approximately 176,500
acres and makes up approximately 6.8% of the land area of the County of Hawaiÿi.
FIGURE 1.1: DISTRICT OF SOUTH KOHALA
Chapter 1: Introduction
South Kohala CDP November 2008
FINAL Page 4
1.2 PURPOSE OF THE CDP
The purposes of the South Kohala Community Development Plan (CDP) are to:
•Identify the South Kohala community’s Priority Issues
•Develop Policies and Action Programs to address those Priority Issues
According to the Hawai‘i County General Plan, the CDPs are intended to:
•Be the forum for community input into managing growth and coordinating the delivery of
government services to the community
•Create a long-range framework and direction that guides future decision making and
actions
•Translate the broad General Plan statements to specific actions
•Direct physical development and public improvements within a specific area
•Focus on action
The South Kohala CDP will be enacted as a County Ordinance. This means that the provisions of
the CDP have the force of law.
The CDP contains both mandatory directives and guidelines. A “mandatory directive” is a required
course of action and can be identified by the word “shall” or “required” or “prohibit”. A
“guideline” is a course of action that is considered advisable and should be followed unless a
determination is made that under certain circumstances, or because of specified reasons, that
general guideline is found to be inappropriate, ill-advised, or impossible.
1.3 PLANNING PROCESS
The South Kohala Community Development Plan has been organized into four focused area plans
for the communities of Waimea, Waikoloa Village, Kawaihae, and Puakö. This CDP is built upon a
foundation of ideas generated by the residents of South Kohala.
Opportunities to gain public input were integrated into the planning process. Through the first phase
of community outreach, the “Community Readiness Process” (CRP), South Kohala communities
were asked to identify priority issues that the CDP should address.
During the second phase of outreach, the communities were asked to identify policies and actions
that they felt would be reasonable solutions to address the priority issues that they had identified.
The South Kohala CDP is thus the result of an extensive public process summarized below. (A more
detailed listing of specific meeting dates is included in Appendix B.)
•CRP Process – The Community Readiness Program (CRP) was intended to prepare the South
Kohala communities for the CDP process. The CRP process included consisted of over 60
small group meetings that took place during 2006 and 2007.
Chapter 1: Introduction
South Kohala CDP November 2008
FINAL Page 5
•Steering Committee – An 11-member Steering
Committee was formed to broadly represent the South
Kohala communities and assist in the preparation of
the CDP. The Steering Committee met once a month
between June 2007 and September 2008 (15
meetings) to review CDP material and plan for
upcoming events such as community-wide meetings.
Many Steering Committee members also participated
in Focus Groups.
•Focus Groups – Focus Groups were formed for four communities in South Kohala:
Waimea, Waikoloa Village, Kawaihae, and Puakö. Each Focus Group met several times to
discuss and decide on the issues, strategies, and action plans for their individual
community.
•Community-wide Meetings – Six Community
Meetings were held throughout the CDP process to
get community input on ideas that were developed by
the Focus Groups, the Steering Committee, the
Planning Consultant, and the County of Hawaiÿi.
The following diagram illustrates the overall community outreach process during the CRP process.
The process started off with introductory meetings in South Kohala from which “Logistics Teams”
were created. The logistics teams consisted of dedicated volunteers from the community. Logistics
Team members received training in meeting facilitation as well as meeting organization. The
Logistics Teams assisted Hawaiÿi County Resource Center staff with a series of small group meetings
during the CRP process. As previously mentioned, there were over 60 small group meetings during
the CRP. Towards the end of the CRP program, candidates for the South Kohala Steering Committee
were selected.
South Kohala Steering Committee
Meeting – June 25, 2008
Community-wide meeting, Waikoloa Village –
August 30, 2007
Chapter 1: Introduction
South Kohala CDP November 2008
FINAL Page 6
FIGURE 1.2
Community ideas, issues, and concerns were collected and documented through the CRP process.
The following tables summarize the variety and number of ideas that were collected.
Chapter 1: Introduction
South Kohala CDP November 2008
FINAL Page 7
CRP MEETINGS – SUMMARY OF COMMUNITY IDEAS
Table 1.2 KEY AREA I – INFRASTRUCTURE, ROADS, PUBLIC SERVICES, FACILITIES,
Themes # of Ideas
FIX TRAFFIC! BUILD BYPASS, CONNECTOR & ALTERNATE ROADS 188
UPGRADE EXISTING ROADS TO MAKE IT SAFER/BETTER 145
IMPROVE EDUCATION SYSTEM – MIDDLE & HIGH SCHOOL 127
DESIGN & IMPROVE KAWAIHAE HARBOR AS MULTI USE FOR ALL 80
MORE CHOICES FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION – YOUTH, ELDER, WORKER 60
BETTER WASTE & WATER MANAGEMENT; MORE RECYCLING PROGRAM 54
IMPROVE PUBLIC FACILITIES – POLICE & FIRE 50
ALTERNATIVE, RENEWABLE, NATURAL ENERGY 40
Total 744
Table 1.3 KEY AREA II – COMMUNITY, CULTURE & HOUSING
Themes # of Ideas
PRESERVE OUR CULTURAL HERITAGE & COMMUNITY CHARACTER 168
AFFORDABLE HOUSING & LAND FOR LOCAL PEOPLE 134
HEALTHY RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL AGES 109
MORE LOCAL REPRESENTATION & GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY 57
SOCIAL ISSUES – SUPPORT FOR KUPUNA, HOMELESS & DRUG PREVENTION 57
Total 525
Table 1.4 KEY AREA III – REGIONAL GROWTH
Themes # of Ideas
WALKABLE TOWN CENTERS & COMMUNITY GATHERING SPACES 110
GROWTH MANAGEMENT – SLOW, RESTRICT, LIMIT, STOP GROWTH 103
BETTER PLANNING, HAZARD PREPARATION AND MITIGATION 77
DIVERSIFIED ECONOMY & MORE LOCAL BUSINESSES 62
INFRASTRUCTURE BEFORE ANY MORE DEVELOPMENT 52
Total 404
Chapter 1: Introduction
South Kohala CDP November 2008
FINAL Page 8
Table 1.5 KEY AREA IV – OPEN SPACE, PARKS, HISTORIC SITES, AND WORKING LAND
Themes # of Ideas
PRESERVE & MAINTAIN OUR AINA! KEEP IT GREEN! 157
LARGE AND SMALL PARKS – WALKING, BIKING & HORSE PATHS 89
PROTECT OUR AGRICULTURE LAND AND HERITAGE 51
SAVE THE PU’U’S 45
OCEAN AND MOUNTAIN ACCESS 36
RESPECT & HONOR OUR HISTORICSITES & TRAILS 19
Total 397
1.4 DRAFTING OF THE FINAL CDP
The South Kohala Steering Committee in cooperation with the County Planning Department has
sought to incorporate the needs and concerns of the South Kohala communities into the CDP, taking
into account sometimes divergent positions and points of view. This process, as with all community
planning, requires balancing the different interests involved:
•Balancing between the need for public facilities in the District versus the cost of providing
those facilities;
•Balancing vested private property rights against the need to address the escalating problems
associated with development and growth such as environmental degradation and the
potential loss of scenic beauty, cultural heritage, and sense of place.
•Balancing developers’ natural profit motivation against the community’s insistence that it is
time for developers to shoulder more of the cost of public facilities that will be needed as a
result of future development;
•Balancing between the interest of the farm lot owner to develop their land so as to
maximize his profits versus the community’s interest in preservation of farm land and open
space;
•Balancing between providing a meaningful forum for public participation in the
development approval process -- which has heretofore been completely lacking at the
critical subdivision stage -- versus the need for efficient and timely consideration of
subdivision and plan approval applications;
•Balancing between increased development on mauka slopes versus sedimentation of
coastal waters and coral reefs;
•Balancing the needs and desires of the current population against the needs of future
generations.
Chapter 1: Introduction
South Kohala CDP November 2008
FINAL Page 9
1.5 PRECAUTIONARY PRINCIPLE
Recently the Hawaiÿi Supreme Court provided some guidance for those engaged in this balancing
process at the County level. The Court articulated a public trust framework for natural resource
decisions both at the State and County level. The Court clarified the constitutionally mandated
“Public Trust Doctrine” imposes upon the Counties the stewardship responsibility to “future
generations” to conserve and protect Hawaiÿi’s natural beauty and all natural resources.
On this point, the Hawaiÿi Constitution Section XI subsection 1 provides:
“For the benefit of present and future generations, the State and its political subdivisions
shall conserve and protect Hawaiÿi’s natural beauty and all natural resources, including
land, water, air, minerals and energy sources, and shall promote the development and
utilization of these resources in a manner consistent with their conservation and in
furtherance of the self-sufficiency of the State. All public natural resources are held in trust
by the State for the benefit of all people.”
It is on the basis of this constitutional “Public Trust”
provision that decisions involving land and water
must be guided by the “Precautionary Principle” when
we weigh our private wants against the ability of the
environment to accommodate those wants. The
precautionary principle requires long-term vision and
mandates that government entities favor caution and
conservation in any case in which information is
uncertain. The burden of proving that the resource is
adequate and that its proposed use is consistent with
the sustainable health of the ecosystem falls on the
party proposing to use the resource.
We must also be mindful that if a privately owned resource is of significant value and is worthy of
preservation for the benefit of the community at large, that it may well be appropriate for the
community to compensate the property owner for the loss in value resulting from significant
limitations imposed upon their use of the property.
In its efforts to draft this CDP, the Steering Committee has sought to balance these interests
consistent with its stewardship role in preserving the beauty and natural resources of South Kohala
for the welfare of both present and future generations.
View from the puÿu above Waimea Town
Chapter 1: Introduction
South Kohala CDP November 2008
FINAL Page 10
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Chapter 2: South Kohala Yesterday & Today
South Kohala CDP November 2008
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2 SOUTH KOHALA YESTERDAY AND TODAY
2.1 GENERAL PHYSICAL SETTING
South Kohala has two distinct physical environments, each with its own kind of natural beauty: the
green and lush mountainous region in the north and the rugged, dry landscape in the south.
The mountainous region, which includes the town of
Waimea, includes a plateau between the Kohala
Mountains and Mauna Kea. The Kohala Mountains
provide a backdrop of rolling hills and volcanic puÿu
covered with pastures and forests kept green by fog, fine
mist, and rain.
The second distinct physical environment is distinguished
by pale yellow vegetation, beige to red-brown rock
formations along the coast, and barren black lava fields.
Amid these rugged and desert like conditions, there are
pockets of white sand beaches along the rocky coast.
Waikoloa Village, along with the major resort areas, is
located in the dry southern region of the district. The
Kawaihae area located on the northwest coast of the district
is also dry and arid. (County of Hawaiÿi General Plan, 2005)
Table 2.1 displays the average annual rainfall and temperatures for different regions within the
district.
Table 2.1 Average Rainfall, High Temperatures, and Low Temperatures for South Kohala
Location Avg. Annual
Rainfall
Avg. Daily High
Temperature Range
(Fahrenheit)
Avg. Low
Temperature Range
(Fahrenheit)
Waimea Area 20-80 inches 75 degrees 60 degrees
Waikoloa Area 10-15 inches 77-85 degrees 65-70 degrees
South Kohala Coast 10 inches 83-87 degrees 70-75 degrees
Source: Waikoloa Highlands EIS; Lälämilo EIS; County of Hawaiÿi
Green pastures near Waimea Town
Puÿu Hinaÿi and drygrasslands
Chapter 2: South Kohala Yesterday & Today
South Kohala CDP November 2008
FINAL Page 12
The Kohala Mountains
Mauÿumae Beach
2.1.1 LANDFORMS
The major landforms of the South Kohala district and their distinguishing characteristics include:
Kohala Mountains: The Kohala Mountains were created from the eruptions of the Kohala Volcano.
The Kohala Volcano last erupted approximately 60,000 years ago. The oldest lava has been dated
at 460,000 years old. The volcano is extinct and in the
erosional stage of its life cycle. Its eastern windward flank is
characterized by great erosional valleys, spectacular
waterfalls, and dramatic sea cliffs. The of rubble of a
dramatic landslide extends fifty miles out on the ocean
floor. The mountain’s leeward southwesterly side is within
the South Kohala district. This side of the mountain is more
gently sloping and smooth. The town of Waimea, pasture
lands, and farm lands exist on these gentle slopes. The
summit elevation of the Kohala Mountains is 5,480 feet.
Puÿu: The Kohala Mountain rift zone extends southeastward
from its summit into the district in the vicinity of Waimea. The last eruptions were moderately
explosive and formed a series of large cinder cones (puÿu) that accent the Kohala Mountain and
plateau in the surrounding area of Waimea. A number of puÿu are also scattered along the Saddle
Road and are associated with Mauna Kea.
Coastal beaches dot the otherwise rocky, jagged coastline.
Sandy beaches can be found near Anaehoÿomalu, Waialea
Bay, Puakö, Hapuna State Park, Kaunaÿoa, Mauÿumae, and
Ohaiÿula (Spencer Beach Park) . There are several man made
beaches located at the resort nodes. Much of the coastline is
defined by old lava flows that have entered into the ocean.
Marine seascape: The diverse coral reef communities that
occupy the nearshore waters of South Kohala distinguish the
district from other districts on the island. These unique
marine environments support an extensive reef system populated by a variety of species. Tidal
pools, rock formations, and ancient fishponds are also prominent features of South Kohala.
2.1.2 GENERAL DEVELOPMENT PATTERNS IN THE DISTRICT
South Kohala’s general land development pattern varies greatly between the district’s two main
population centers: Waimea Town and Waikoloa Village. Waimea Town is a rural community that
has a long and proud history. It is situated on a plateau of the Kohala Mountains. Waikoloa Village
is a relatively new, more urbanized residential community. Waikoloa Village was originally
designed to be a retirement community when it was developed in 1971. However, due in part to the
expansion of upscale hotels, restaurants, and shops along the South Kohala coast, and the
corresponding housing needs of these employees, Waikoloa Village has evolved into a suburban
community for residents of all ages. Community members from Waikoloa Village note that the
Village is isolated from other surrounding areas due to its location away from a major highway.
There is currently only one access road, Waikoloa Road that connects Waikoloa Village to other
areas in the district.
A third key location in the district is the Kawaihae area. Although sparsely populated, the Kawaihae
area is home to the only recreational small boat harbor in northwest Hawaiÿi and the only
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commercial harbor in West Hawaiÿi. The harbor area is a major transportation and activity node,
handling both traffic generated from harbor activities and traffic from North Kohala, Waimea, and
the resort areas that must all pass through the Kawaihae area at the intersection of the Queen
Kaÿahumanu Highway, Akoni Pule Highway, and the Kawaihae Road.
Three large destination resorts are located along the Queen Kaÿahumanu Hwy. The Mauna Kea
Resort, Mauna Lani Resort, and the Waikoloa Resort are situated along South Kohala’s coastline.
Each resort node consists of large-scale, high-end hotels, shops, restaurants, and high-end residential
units. Just north of the Mauna Lani Resort is the small residential coastal village of Puakö. Today
Puakö mainly consists of single-family homes that have been built along either side of Puakö Beach
Drive. A significant number of single family homes are operated as vacation rentals in Puakö. The
village is also home to the historic Hokuloa Church, founded more than a century and a half ago by
the Reverend Lorenzo Lyons. The Puakö Petroglyph Field is located between the Mauna Lani Resort
and the Puakö Beach Lots.
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FIGURE 2.1: DISTRICT OVERVIEW MAP
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The key planning implications related to South Kohala’s physical setting include:
•South Kohala is a large land area – Providing adequate public services and infrastructure over
such a large area will be challenging.
•The physical settings and development patterns throughout the district are diverse and distinct
There are several regions in the district that have unique features both physically and in the way
that the regions have developed over time. The CDP recognizes the unique qualities in these
regions and does not plan for the district in a “one-size fits all” approach.
2.2 SOUTH KOHALA YESTERDAY: AN HISTORICAL OVERVIEW
Anthropologists and archaeologists estimate that the first settlers arrived in the South Kohala region
sometime between 750-1000 AD. The warm coast and beaches on the western boundaries of the
South Kohala district were used seasonally by early Polynesians who eventually migrated to the
cooler plateau. Descendents of these early Polynesian explorers established fishing villages on the
leeward coast of the district and along the western extremities of the plains and began cultivating
lo`i kalo terraces along a series of streams at the southern base of the Kohala Mountains.
Construction of the Waimea field system may have involved clearing and burning of the native
forest. South Kohala, in particular Kawaihae and Waimea, was an important political region on the
Island of Hawaiÿi. Many high ranking aliÿi regularly visited the area and held court here even up to
the time of Kamehameha and his son Liholiho. (Clark, 1986) Towards the mid 19th century and on
into the 20th century, the district was heavily influenced by the paniolo way of life. Toward the
latter half of the 20th century, the development of three world class resorts in the district shifted the
district’s economic base from agriculture to tourism which has influenced land use and
development patterns over the last several decades.
2.2.1 BRIEF HISTORY OF WAIMEA
Because of its fertile soils and food productivity, Waimea is known by some as “Edena Nani”
(beautiful Eden). The area was a coveted location and was the site of many interisland and
intraisland battles between Hawaiian Chiefs. Sometime between the 16th and 17th century, one
such interisland battle took place, involving the army of Kamalalawalu, chief of Maui, and the army
of Lonoikamakahiki, chief of Hawaiÿi Island. Kamalalawalu first sent scouts to Kawaihae to spy on
the region. The Maui army marched to the plains of Waimea. To their dismay, they were met with
a great force of Hawaiÿi Island warriors. Armies from Waimea, Kohala, Kona, Hämäkua, Hilo, and
even as far away as Puna and Ka’u, assembled in Waimea to repel the invading Maui troops. It was
said that the host of Hawaiÿi warriors was so great that they covered the grassy plains of Waimea
like “locusts”. (Cordy, 2001)
As many areas of Hawaiÿi were profoundly impacted socially and economically by the rise of large
sugar plantations and the in-migration of immigrant labor, South Kohala had no such large scale
plantations. During this time period, South Kohala, and in particular Waimea, was greatly
influenced economically and socially by the ranching and cattle industries. The origins of the
paniolo or ‘Hawaiian Cowboy’ can be traced all the way back to the gift of five cows and one bull
that Kamehameha received from Captain George Vancouver of England in 1793. For ten years, a
kapu on hunting was placed on the small herd. From these six cattle, large herds of cattle
eventually developed. In 1838, Kamehameha III asked Spanish-Mexican vaqueros from California
to teach Hawaiians how to manage the wild cattle. The vaqueros became known as “paniolo.”
In 1847, the legendary Parker Ranch was founded when John Palmer Parker purchased two acres of
land in the Waimea area for $10. Since then, Parker Ranch land holdings have increased
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considerably. Today, Parker Ranch is one of the largest privately owned ranches in the world and is
a major landowner in South Kohala.
Several legendary paniolo contributed to Parker Ranch’s growth and expansion. These paniolo
included the descendants of several notable families in the area including the Lindsey, Purdy, Bell,
Stevens, and Spencer families. These families are commonly known as the “Foundation Families” of
Parker Ranch. From their initial beginnings in the early 19th century, these families grew to become
large in number and had great influence on the shaping of Parker Ranch and Waimea.
Alfred Wellington Carter assumed stewardship of Parker Ranch from the beginning of the 20th
century to the 1950s. He is credited with the further building, maintaining, and preservation of
Parker Ranch. Carter also devoted Ranch resources to the education of Ranch employees and their
children. He also provided interest free home loans to Ranch employees and was instrumental in
getting veterinary service for North and South Kohala and improved medical service for the Waimea
community. During his tenure as head of the Thelma Parker Trust, Parker Ranch land holdings grew
to 327,000 acres including the acquisition of the 95,000 acre ahu ‘ili of Waikoloa which includes
most of the lands in South Kohala. (Bergin, 2004)
During World War II Parker Ranch played an integral part in hosting 50,000 marines, as they
prepared for the battles in Iwo Jima and Okinawa. Waimea had a huge tent city at one point which
became known as Camp Tarawa. During their stay in Waimea, the military constructed an
entertainment center which was renamed Kahilu Hall and an airstrip that was later converted to
commercial use. (http://www.kamuela.com/history.asp)
During the early and middle parts of the 20th Century many Japanese farmers settled in Waimea.
They were an important part of Waimea’s agricultural history and remain an important part of the
community today, as many of these families are a major presence at the Lälämilo farm lots.
Richard Smart, son of Thelma Parker, and last remaining heir to the Parker Dynasty, took over
Ranch operations from Hartwell Carter, son of A.W. Carter during the middle of the 20th century.
(Bergin, 2004) Through the remaining years of his life, Smart faced significant challenges when
running the Ranch, including the decline in Hawaiÿi’s agriculture and cattle industries and the rise
of the tourism industry in the State. Parker Ranch, under the direction of Smart, developed the
“Parker Ranch 2020 Plan.” Written in the 1980’s, the plan described the primary issues of the 80’s
as “Traffic Congestion,” “Inadequate Potable Water and Agricultural Water Sources,” and
“Inadequate Housing.” Smart commented in a publication summarizing the Parker 2020 plan: “Let
us work together to make Waimea the kind of community we all desire and deserve. May our land
continue to be blessed with all the benefits which make it a better place in which to live.”
Richard Smart died in 1992. In his will, Smart bequeathed most of Parker Ranch’s assets to the
Parker Ranch Trust Foundation. The Parker Ranch Trust Foundation’s mission is to “Provide
perpetual support for designated beneficiaries engaged in healthcare, education, and charitable
support through the sound management of Trust assets while remaining mindful of the needs of the
Kamuela community and its unique quality of life.” Smart designated five beneficiaries: The North
Hawaiÿi Community Hospital, Lucy Henriques Medical Center, Parker School Trust Corporation,
Hawaiÿi Preparatory Academy, and the Richard Smart Fund of the Hawaiÿi Community Foundation.
Waimea has also been bolstered by the philanthropic energies of Dr. Earl Bakken, creator of the first
battery powered pacemaker. Dr. Bakken moved to Hawaiÿi in 1989. In 1996 he helped to dedicate
the North Hawaiÿi Community Hospital. Dr. Bakken also helped to establish Tutu’s House, “a safe
place for people of all ages to learn, share and explore health and healing of the mind, body, and
spirit” (www.tutushouse.org); and a non-profit organization known as “Five Mountain,” all of which
have served to enrich and anchor a healthy, engaged community.
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2.2.2 BRIEF HISTORY OF WAIKOLOA VILLAGE
Contrary to belief of many, Waikoloa does have a history of its own. Waikoloa is known as the
"kula" lands and also the "plains". Waikoloa and its neighbors were identified as "`ili `aina" (small
land divisions" within a larger political land unit) -- the ahupua`a or kalana -- of Waimea, may
indeed help explain why Waikoloa (containing c. 95,000 acres), apparently had no direct
connection to the ocean.
Waikoloa, known for its uplands, has two ancient major trail systems: one trail extended between
the coastal settlements and marine fisheries of Puakö to the Waikoloa-Waimea uplands.
The second trail extended from the Puakö shore to Napu`u, meeting the upland trail between
Waimea and Kona, near Ke`amuku-Kuainiho. Both trails remained in use through the nineteenth
century. Use of the Puakö-Waimea Trail appears to have been discontinued primarily as a result of
shifting population and the development of long-term leases between the Territorial Government
and plantation-ranch business interests. The Puakö-Napu`u Trail remained in limited use through
the 1960s, as a part of the operations of Puÿuwaÿawaÿa Ranch and Parker Ranch.
Waikoloa Village is only a few decades old. Established in 1971, the Waikoloa Village Association
is an incorporated property owners’ association whose purpose is “to provide for the management,
maintenance, protection, preservation, architectural control and operation and maintenance of the
common property within the development.” Waikoloa Village was originally designed to be a
retirement community, but today it has grown to be a more family-oriented community.
Boise Cascade, the original developer of Waikoloa Village, agreed to convey approximately 10,000
acres of land and improvements to the Waikoloa Village Association (WVA). The Clubhouse,
swimming pool, tennis courts, and approximately 2,000 acres of land were conveyed to the
Association in 1975 and an additional 8,000 acres were conveyed in 1987.
The predominant features of the community include single family homes, multi-family
condominiums, a golf-course, a neighborhood shopping center, and a public school which opened
in 1994. Several residents in the community consider the Waikoloa Elementary and Middle School
to be the “heart” of the community.
2.2.3 BRIEF HISTORY OF KAWAIHAE
Literally translated, the name Kawaihae means “water of wrath”. People are said to have fought
over the water from a spring in this arid area. Historically, because of the region’s dry, arid climate,
Kawaihae has never sustained a very large population. However, despite its lack of water,
Kawaihae was well known as a residence for aliÿi and as a place with fertile off shore fisheries.
Kawaihae was an important political region on the Island of Hawaiÿi. Many high ranking aliÿi
regularly visited the area and held court here The fishing village of Kawaihae was the birthplace of
several notable aliÿi, including Queen Kamamalu, wife of Liholiho (Kamehameha II). Some believe
that Queen Emma, wife of Alexander Liholiho Keawenui ÿIolani (Kamehameha IV), was also born in
Kawaihae. (DHHL Kawaihae Master Plan, 1992)
Kawaihae was a very significant area during the lifetime of Kamehameha the Great. Kamehameha
frequently held court in Kawaihae throughout his reign and some of his favorite surfing spots were
off the coast of Kawaihae. The Pu’ukohola Heiau was constructed by Kamehameha. The heiau is
near Kawaihae and is one of the few remaining heiau in all of Hawaiÿi that is of Poÿokanaka class, a
heiau where human sacrifice was performed. Two other heiau exist in the Kawaihae area. The
Hale o Kapuni Heiau is a submerged shark heiau in Pelekane Bay. The Mailekini Heiau shares the
same site as the Puÿukohola Heiau. (Puakö Historical Society, 2000)
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During Kamehameha’s conquest of the other islands, two of his closest advisors were Western men,
Isaac Davis and John Young. John Young married one of Kamehameha’s nieces and Kamehameha
granted him land at Kawaihae. In one of his capacities as the king’s advisor, Young acted as a
purchasing agent, obtaining supplies for the king’s court and setting prices. His presence at
Kawaihae helped to encourage more westerners to do business at Kawaihae. Young built the first
European style house in the area near Pu’ukohola Heiau in 1798. His household complex was
named Pahukanilua and it overlooked Kawaihae Bay. (Puakö Historical Society, 2000)
Throughout the 1800s and into the first half of the 20th century, Kawaihae continued to serve as a
major port of commerce for the entire region. Large forests of sandalwood were harvested on the
slopes of Mauna Kea and transported to ships anchored at Kawaihae during the early 1800s. During
the peak years of cattle ranching in Waimea, from the mid 1800s to the early 1900s, thousands of
cattle were brought down to Kawaihae Harbor to be shipped out to other places throughout
Hawaiÿi.
In 1957, the Army Corps of Engineers began construction of a deep draft harbor at Kawaihae. The
project lasted for about two years and was completed when the main breakwater was built in 1959.
The completion of the deep draft harbor allowed larger barges to deliver and export materials
directly to and from the region.
Laurance S. Rockefeller constructed the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel in the early 1960s, paving the way
for future resorts and hotels to be developed in the region. Many of the current local businesses in
the Kawaihae area receive a significant amount of business from tourists who stay at the Mauna Kea
Beach Hotel. In 1975, the Queen Ka’ahumanu Highway was completed. The new highway ran
from the Keähole Airport to Kawaihae Harbor. The highway connected the major coastal towns in
West Hawaiÿi and is one of the major infrastructure improvements in the region that helped to
generate future development. (Puakö Historical Society, 2000) The Akoni Pule Highway was
dedicated in 1973. This highway was named after Akoni Pule, the State Legislator representing
North Kohala during the 1960s, who advocated strongly for a second access road into the district of
North Kohala. Prior to the completion of the Akoni Pule Highway, the only roadway into North
Kohala was the narrow and winding Kohala Mountain Road.
In 1972, the Kawaihae Canoe Club was formed. The club is a nonprofit organization dedicated to
promoting and perpetuating Hawaiian outrigger canoe paddling. The club consists of residents from
South Kohala as well as other districts on the island. The Kawaihae Canoe Club area lies north of
the commercial harbor near the north small boat harbor. (http://www.kamuela.com/kcc/)
2.2.4 BRIEF HISTORY OF PUAKÖ
In legends and historical accounts, the white sandy beaches of South Kohala were used for canoe
landings. Arriving from Kauai, Madame Pele beached her canoe at Puakö. The demi-god Maui also
used Puakö as a canoe landing as he was visiting the island during his love affair with Pele. (Puakö
Historical Society, 2000)
In 1832 at 24 years of age, Lorenzo Lyons and his 18 year-old wife Betsy Lyons arrived in
Kawaihae. He is credited with translating many church hymns into Hawaiian and also for
composing hymns in Hawaiian as well. He was lovingly known to local folks as Makua Laiana
(Father Lyons), the lyric poet of the mountain country (haku mele o ka’aina mauna). Many of the
historical accounts in the region come from the journal entries of Father Lyons. Father Lyons also
established a church in Puakö in 1858. The church, named Hokuloa, means “evening star.” (Puakö
Historical Society, 2000) The church is still in regular use to this day and it also serves as a meeting
place for the Puakö Community Association.
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In 1853, there was a major outbreak of small pox that spread from Waimea to Kawaihae and down
towards Puakö. Famine and food shortages in the area also contributed to a decline in the
population. Also, more promising economic opportunities on Oÿahu and in other larger towns
across the islands led many of the native people in the region who did survive the outbreaks to
migrate out of the region. (Clark, 1986) In 1859, Mauna Loa erupted and lava from the eruption
flowed 25 miles into the ocean along the Kona coast. Although the lava did not flow through South
Kohala, the Mauna Loa eruption had a negative effect on the coastal resources of all villages along
the Kona coast because of the rise in ocean temperatures that the lava flow caused. From Puakö,
Father Lyons commented on the effect the lava flow had on the tiny coastal village: “The heat of the
volcanic stream that entered the sea near this place from [Mauna Loa] have killed or frightened
away all their fish.” (Puakö Historical Society, 2000)
In 1895, the Puakö Sugar Plantation was established by Robert and John Hind. The plantation
included 1,500-1,800 acres of land located east of the present Puakö Beach Drive where the present
kiawe forest is located. Investment in the plantation included construction of a sugar mill, a wharf,
and even a small one-mile railroad track running from the mill to the wharf. However, due to a
combination of many factors, including a flood in 1901, and several instances of severe high coastal
winds which blew down crops and scattered salt into the soils, the life of the sugar plantation was
short-lived. The Puakö Sugar Plantation closed after being in operation for only about a decade and
a half. Just seven families remained in the area after the plantation’s closure. (Puakö Historical
Society, 2000)
During the early 1930s Francis Hyde I’i Brown acquired land just south of Puakö from the Parker
family. The area is known as Kalahuipuaÿa “the family of pigs.” Brown was of Hawaiian ancestry
and he cared deeply about the land. He made several notable improvements to the area including
planting several hundred coconut palms and did some restoration work on the fishponds in the area.
Brown was also remembered for his many “Hollywood” like parties that lasted for days and
sometimes even weeks. Everyone was invited to his parties, local community members and even
visiting Hollywood celebrities. Brown eventually sold the property to Mauna Lani Resort in 1972.
(Puakö Historical Society, 2000)
In 1946, coastal communities in South Kohala were witness to a devastating tsunami. At Kawaihae,
the tsunami was measured at 12 feet in height. In Puakö, coconut palms were reported to have
watermarks on their trunks eight feet high. A long time Puakö resident, Ichiro Goto gave an account
of the tsunami in his journal:
“Puakö Bay was empty for just a minute or two before another wave comes in like some
unearthly monster. Roaring like a group of heavy bombers the wave comes in like some
wild thing. Pushing rocks, fish, debris, everything and filling every space, and after the
spaces are filled looks like some giant hand is pushing the wave up and above to a greater
height.” (Puakö Historical Society, 2000)
In 1964, Shunichi Kimura, the County’s first elected mayor, oversaw the completion of a paved road
that connected Kawaihae and Puakö. A decade later in 1975 the Queen Kaÿahumanu Highway.
was completed. The new highway ran from the Keähole Airport to Kawaihae Harbor. Prior to the
highway’s completion, all vehicular traffic between Kailua and Kawaihae had to pass through
Waimea.
In 1987, a large brush fire occurred in the district near Puakö. The fire was accidentally caused by
campers at Waialea Bay. Strong winds had blown their camp fire onto dry fountaingrass nearby.
The fire spread rapidly toward houses around the bay because of the strong winds. The main blaze
lasted for two days, totally destroying seven houses and causing millions of dollars in property
damages. (Puakö Historical Society, 2000) Exactly 20 years later in October of 2007, another large
brushfire threatened the residents of Puakö. Unlike the previous fires, this fire was thought to have
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South Kohala CDP November 2008
FINAL Page 20
been purposely set by arsonists. The fire consumed approximately 1,000 acres near Puakö and
seriously threatened the Puakö forest. Residents of Puakö were evacuated, but luckily no lives were
lost and there was no significant damage to properties.
2.3 LAND USE
State land use districts,County of Hawaiÿi Land Use Pattern Allocation Guide (LUPAG) and the
County of Hawaiÿi Zoning Code set forth policies and standards to guide the location, type, and
intensity of different land uses in particular areas and regions. The following tables and figures
illustrate State and County Zoning land use policies in South Kohala. Please see Appendix C for
descriptions of County Zoning and LUPAG Acronyms.
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FIGURE 2.2: STATE LAND USE DISTRICT (SLUD) DESIGNATIONS
IN SOUTH KOHALA
Table 2.2 State Land Use Districts Acreage by County Districts in 2000
Districts Agricultural Conservation Rural Urban Total
Puna 175,104 138,563 146 6,329 320,142
South Hilo 70,695 169,493 0 12,814 253,002
North Hilo 53,587 120,110 71 608 174,376
Hämäkua 162,729 235,805 13 1,041 399,588
North
Kohala 64,713 13,187 16 2,434 80,350
South
Kohala 150,426 15,356 53 10,608 176,443
North Kona 158,853 188,331 477 17,787 365,448
South Kona 110,749 35,051 31 845 146,676
Ka’u 237,743 422,239 0 1,801 661,783
Total 1,184,599 1,338,135 807 54,267 2,577,808
Source: DBEDT, Office of Planning GIS data
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FIGURE 2.3: DISTRICT OVERVIEW OF GENERAL PLAN LUPAG DESIGNATIONS
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Table 2.3 LUPAG Designation by County Districts
LUPAG Map
Designation Puna
South
Hilo
North
Hilo Hamakua
North
Kohala
South
Kohala
North
Kona
South
Kona Ka’u Total
High Density
Urban
0 847 0 0 0 0 458 0 0 1,305
Medium Density
Urban
478 1,481 69 292 176 1,282 1,456 292 421 5,947
Low Density
Urban
8,013 10,073 617 2,293 2,668 5,084 6,287 1,070 1,148 37,253
Industrial 669 4,264 29 132 51 1,869 3,889 0 74 10,977
Important
Agricultural Land
49,770 37,237 21,632 78,023 41,314 51,500 26,703 32,804 47,300 386,283
Extensive
Agriculture
88,573 26,078 31,755 82,924 21,885 71,299 105,074 66,368 167,426 661,382
Rural 29,251 2,542 71 0 102 1,908 1,001 31 13,090 47,996
Resort / Resort
Node
0 84 0 0 47 3,212 2,289 15 29 5,676
Open Area 2,335 1,798 434 1,266 2,119 14,074 6,233 2,699 4,738 35,696
Conservation 137,210 167,779 119,710 235,212 11,217 13,957 199,585 43,395 426,956 1,355,021
Urban Expansion
Area
3,844 122 62 0 258 12,264 11,995 0 597 29,142
University Use 0 664 0 0 0 0 461 0 0 1,125
Source: County of Hawaiÿi General Plan 2005
The Land Use Pattern Allocation Guide (LUPAG) of the County is a graphic expression of the
General Plan, particularly those elements of the General Plan relating to land use. However, the
LUPAG is not the entire General Plan. It is not a zoning map; rather the LUPAG estimates the future
acreage allocation for a particular land use and is meant to serve as a land use guide for the County.
Generally, future developments must be consistent with the LUPAG map.
Approximately two-thirds of the land in the district is designated as Important Agricultural Land (IAL)
or Extensive Agricultural land by the LUPAG. The General Plan defines Important Agricultural
Lands as those lands with better potential for sustained high agricultural yields because of soil type,
climate, topography, or other factors. IAL was determined by including lands identified as
“Intensive Agriculture” on the 1989 General Plan LUPAG map, lands identified by the Agricultural
Lands of Importance to the State of Hawaiÿi Study as “Prime” or “Unique,” lands identified by the
Land Study Bureau’s Soil Survey Report as Class B “Good” soils and lands classified as “fair” for two
or more crops, on an irrigated basis by the USDA NRCS study of suitability for various crops. The
General Plan defines Extensive Agriculture lands as lands that are not capable of producing
sustained, high agricultural yields without the intensive application of modern farming methods and
technologies due to certain physical constraints such as soil composition, slope, machine tillability
and climate. Other agricultural uses such as grazing and pasture may be included in the Extensive
Agricultural category.
South Kohala also has the highest acreage allocation for open area lands with 14,074, the highest
acreage for Urban Expansion with 12,264, and the second highest allocation of IAL with 51,000
acres. The Hämäkua District has the highest allocation of IAL with 78,023 acres.
The LUPAG has12,264 acres for urban expansion in South Kohala. The majority of the lands slated
for future urban expansion is located near the resort areas, Waikoloa Village, and the Kawaihae
area. A smaller acreage of land is designated for urban expansion in the Waimea area. Of the total
29,142 acres designated by the County for urban expansion across the Big Island, 42% of those
acres are in South Kohala.
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FIGURE 2.4: DISTRICT OVERVIEW OF COUNTY ZONING
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Table 2.4 County Zoning Acreage by County Districts in 2000
Zoning Puna
South
Hilo
North
Hilo
Hama-
kua
North
Kohala
South
Kohala
North
Kona
South
Kona Ka’u Total
Single Family 2,677 8,374 391 631 652 3,382 2,887 414 781 20,189
Multi-Family 4 380 0 4 43 1,507 1,026 0 101 3,065
Resort 1 136 0 42 14 360 740 15 45 1,353
Commercial 74 1,088 10 38 39 426 1,015 108 61 2,859
Industrial 490 2,185 38 15 59 291 2,909 0 52 6,039
Industrial-
Commercial
Mixed
23 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 27
Family Agriculture 22 26 0 0 0 6 39 7 0 100
Residential
Agriculture
625 185 55 0 22 585 489 144 0 2,105
Agriculture 198,747 73,750 61,954 165,223 67,977 119,813 167,415 112,051 252,843 1,219,7 73
Open 5,029 2,065 38 963 27 11,951 173,821 7,628 115,740 317,262
Project District 0 0 0 0 0 0 1,748 0 0 1,748
Agricultural
Project District
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 23 0 23
Source: County of Hawaiÿi Planning Department
As can be seen by the tables, the great majority of lands in South Kohala are designated as
agriculture by both the State and County.
Important planning implications related to South Kohala’s land use include:
•The majority of the district is designated as agriculture by State and County
The majority of the land in the district is designated as agriculture. However, the majority of these
agricultural lands are designated as “extensive agriculture” by the County rather than IAL. Future
development pressures will inevitably impact these “extensive agricultural” lands to be developed
for other uses besides agriculture. These “extensive agriculture” lands, although not important for
agricultural production, may still be important for other reasons such as open space preservation,
environmental and scenic values, and therefore preservation of these lands should be considered.
•South Kohala has the highest amount of lands designated as “Urban Expansion” by the
County LUPAG when compared with other County districts.
It appears that the County is anticipating that significant urban growth and development will occur
in South Kohala in the future. The urban expansion areas in South Kohala are primarily located
around the Waikoloa area and Kawaihae area. This large Urban Expansion acreage should be re-
evaluated during the next County General Plan update.
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South Kohala CDP November 2008
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2.4 DEMOGRAPHICS, LOCAL ECONOMY, AND POPULATION
CHARACTERISTICS
According to the 2000 Census, South Kohala was the fourth most populated district in the County.
However, it was the fastest growing district from 1980 to 1990 and the second fastest growing
district from 1990 to 2000. Figure 2.1 below shows the population trends for South Kohala over the
past four decades and Table 2.5 shows the rate of population growth for both South Kohala and the
County since 1980.
Figure 2.5 Population
Source: Census 2000, 1990, 1980, 1970, 1960
Table 2.5 shows how South Kohala’s population compares to the other districts in the County of
Hawaiÿi.
Table 2.5 Hawaiÿi County Population
% of Total Population
(Rounded to the nearest %)
District 1-Apr-80 1-Apr-90 1-Apr-00 1980 2000 Change
Hawaiÿi County 92,053 120,317 148,677 100% 100% ---
Puna 11,751 20,781 31,335 13% 21% 8%
South Hilo 42,278 44,639 47,386 46% 32% -14%
North Hilo 1,679 1,541 1,720 2% 1% -1%
Hämäkua 5,128 5,545 6,108 6% 4% -2%
North Kohala 3,249 4,291 6,038 4% 4% 0%
South Kohala 4,607 9,140 13,131 5%9%4%
North Kona 13,748 22,284 28,543 15% 19% 4%
South Kona 5,914 7,658 8,589 6% 6% 0%
Kaÿu 3,699 4,438 5,827 4% 4% 0%
Source: County of Hawai’i Data Book
Population of South Kohala 1960-2000
1,538 2,310
4,607
9,140
13,131
0
2,000
4,000
6,000
8,000
10,000
12,000
14,000
1960 1970 1980 1990 2000
Nu
m
b
e
r
o
f
R
e
s
i
d
e
n
t
s
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Table 2.6 shows future population projections for the entire district of South Kohala with Projection
A being the most conservative estimate and projection C being the least conservative estimate.
Table 2.6 Population Projections
2020 2020Area 2000
Population
2020
Projection A Projection B Projection C
South Kohala 13,131 23,947 24,426 26,625
Co. of Hawaiÿi 148,677 213,452 217,718 237,323
Source: County of Hawaiÿi Planning Department
2.4.1 ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS
Mauna Kea Resort, Mauna Lani Resort, and the Waikoloa Beach Resort, the three resort complexes
in the district, account for 40 percent of all hotel rooms within the County. Between 1980 and
1998, ten properties within these resorts were developed totaling 3,400 visitor units. South Kohala
hotels are some of the County’s largest employers, employing residents from all over the County.
There are several new projects being planned these resorts. The Mauna Kea Resort is tentatively
planning to develop recreational amenities such as a golf course and 135 large acreage residential
lots with associated infrastructure and commercial use on its “Ouli 2” property. Stanford Carr is
planning to develop 516 hotel units, three golf holes and related support facilities within the Mauna
Lani Resort.
Eco-tourism, nature-tourism, and ag-tourism are growing sectors in the tourism market.
Encouragement of these tourism markets would be consistent with the community vision and
values. Establishing hiking, biking, and equestrian trails will promote economic activities consistent
with these values.
Table 2.7 Hawaiÿi County’s 10 Largest Employers in 2004
Rank Employer Employees
1 State of Hawaiÿi 7,608
2 County of Hawaiÿi 2,291
3 United States Government 1,221
4 Hilton Waikoloa Village 1,100
5 KTA Superstores 785
6 Fairmont Orchid Hawaiÿi 600
7 Mauna Lani Bay Hotel & Bungalows 580
8 Four Seasons Resort Hualalai 557
9 Mauna Kea Beach Hotel 556
10 Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel 542
Source: County of Hawaiÿi Data Book
Although tourism is currently the leading economic industry in the district, the area is also well
known for cattle ranching, vegetable production, and other forms of agriculture. Waimea is one of
the most productive areas for vegetable crops on the Big Island. Cabbages, tomatoes celery, lettuce,
daikon (radish), peppers, broccoli and carrots are just some of the vegetables grown. Experiments
are being conducted on different crops as well as on the improvement of those presently grown.
The highly varied climatic conditions on the wet east side of Waimea and the dry west side of the
town allow for a variety of crops to be grown.
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Further expansion of the agricultural industry, including more truck farms, faces many challenges.
This industry, faced with competition for resources from tourism and other urban forces, needs
governmental assistance. (County of Hawaiÿi General Plan, 2005) There has been a continuing
trend of small farmers going out of business because of two primary factors: 1) the market price of
land has risen dramatically in the last decade encouraging farmers to sell their land; and 2) a lack of
younger generations wanting to take over their family’s farm.
The cattle ranching industry utilizes most of the land area within the district with pastures situated
on the higher slopes of the mountains and extending down to the sea. Parker Ranch, one of the
largest privately owned ranches in the world, has its headquarters in Waimea. The Ranch has
approximately 230,000 acres of grazing land that supports 45,000 to 50,000 head of cattle.
(Waikoloa Highlands EIS, 2006) Feedlots once allowed ranchers to raise cattle from birth to full
maturity. The closing of all feedlots within the County has resulted in the export of 90 per cent of
all cattle to mainland feedlots.
The Canada-France Hawaiÿi Telescope on Mauna Kea has its base facility in Waimea. The base has
a staff of 51 and an annual operating budget of $6,200,000. As several planned telescopes are built
on Mauna Kea, additional base facilities may choose to locate in Waimea. Waimea is also home to
the headquarters of the W.M. Keck Observatory on Mauna Kea, the largest optical and infrared
telescope in the world. The headquarters employs about 80 people and has an annual operating
budget of $10,000,000. (County of Hawaiÿi General Plan, 2005)
The educational sector includes Hawaiÿi Preparatory Academy (HPA) with a current total enrollment
of 600 students in grades K through 12, which includes 175 boarders from grades 6 through 12. In
addition, Parker School is a day school with an enrollment of 300 students. Waimea Elementary
School had an enrollment of 650 and Waimea Middle Public Conversion Charter School had an
enrollment of 400 students in 2008. Kanu O Ka ÿÄina Public Charter School in Waimea has an
enrollment of approximately 150 students. Waimea has three performing arts venues: Kahilu
Theatre, Gates Performing Arts Center at HPA, and Parker School Auditorium. In Waikoloa Village,
Waikoloa Elementary and Middle School is the largest employer with an enrollment of 625 students
in 2008 and 75 employees.
The North Hawaiÿi Community Hospital is the 14th largest single employer in the County with 269
employees. (County of Hawaiÿi Data Book) The hospital opened in May 1996 and serves
approximately 30,000 residents and visitors of the northern region of the Big Island which includes
the districts of South Kohala, North Kohala and parts of Hämäkua and North Kona. The hospital is a
non-profit entity that is community owned. (www.northHawaiÿicommunityhospital.org)In addition
to the North Hawaiÿi Community Hospital’s efforts to become a “total body wellness center”, there
are numerous holistic and alternative health practitioners in this District. Likewise, the resort hotels
market wellness and therapeutic vacation packages.
Housing
During the period 2002-2005, Hawaiÿi’s housing market was red hot. However, from 2007, the
housing market began to slow across the State, due in part to the nation-wide “sub-prime loans”
problems. While more recent data was not available during the writing of the CDP that is South
Kohala specific, it is important to note that the housing market nationally has slowed considerably.
Hawaiÿi’s housing market has also shown signs of slowing down. By mid 2007, home prices in
most areas of the State were flat or slightly lower than their 2006 highs. While home prices have
not risen as rapidly as earlier in the decade, many residents still consider the price of homes to be
high.
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Table 2.8 West Hawaiÿi Median Value Home Sale Price* 2001 – 2006 by District
District 2001 2005 2006 Percent Change
2001-2006
South Kohala $225,000 $480,000 $549,950 144%
North Kohala --- $675,000 $695,000 ---
North Kona $267,000 $579,030 $654,900 145%
South Kona --- $395,000 $735,000 ---
*Prices for single-family homes only
Source: (West Hawaiÿi Today, 2006
The key planning implications related to South Kohala’s demographics and economy include:
•The population of the district has increased significantly over the last two decades. The
County General Plan projects that the current population of the district will almost double by
2020 if current trends continue
Given past and future population trends in the district, the underlying planning question that these
trends raise is “where will all these new people live and how will the district support this housing
expansion with sufficient infrastructure and public services?” If the population of South Kohala
increases per the County’s General Plan, more public services and facilities will be needed to
accommodate this future growth. Services such as schools, fire, police, medical, and various social
services as well as more infrastructure, including roads, sewer, water, and electricity will need to be
provided.
There may need to be an overarching policy in regards to moderating future population growth for
South Kohala.
•The resort areas in South Kohala are not only major employers in the district, but these resorts
are some of the biggest employers in the entire County.
Both residents of South Kohala and residents who live outside of the district work at the resorts.
These large employment and visitor centers need adequate infrastructure to accommodate the large
number of guests and employees. Workforce housing near these resorts would reduce daily
commute time for hotel employees and also reduce traffic along the major highways.
•Agricultural related industries are still a major part of the district’s economy
While tourism is South Kohala’s largest economic engine, the district still has a viable agriculture
industry in the Waimea area. However, for agricultural businesses to remain viable in the future,
steps need to be taken to help these businesses deal with the pressures of urbanization, rising land
prices, and a labor pool that is in decline.
•Cost of housing has risen significantly
There is a great need to provide affordable housing throughout the district.
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2.5 CULTURAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES
2.5.1 CULTURAL AND HISTORICRESOURCES
WAIMEA CULTURAL RESOURCES
Waimea has many historic and cultural resources. Table 2.9 below lists some of the historical sites
of Waimea. Note: this list was derived from available source material, and is not intended to be
comprehensive or definitive.
Table 2.9 Historical and Cultural Sites in Waimea
NATIVE HAWAIIAN CULTURAL SITES
No.Site Structure Description
1
Haleino
“Women’s
Heiau”
Heiau
Historical accounts attribute the founding of the heiau to high chiefess
Hoapiliahae. It is said that young virgins performed ceremonies at the
heiau and earned about the science and practices of healing
2
Heiau built by
Makuakua
Heiau
The akua Makuakua observed a rainbow and found the goddess Wao.
The two lived at Hokuÿula. Wao returned to the Waimea hillsides to
bear children. Thus the hillsides were sacred. A kapu was proclaimed
in her honor on the hillsides. The boundary of the kapu area was
delineated by rolling stones down the hill. The place where the stones
stopped delineated the boundary of the area.
3 Lälämilo Field
System
---
Identified in 1976 as a veritable treasure of 400+ acres of pastoral lands,
house sites, hearths and stone enclosures. The field system was
developed by Native Hawaiians prior to contact with western
civilization.
4
Various
Agricultural,
Habitation,
Religious, and
Burial sites
---
Several of these sites are known to exist in the vicinity of various
streams, pasture lands, and hillsides of Waimea. Although most have
not been surveyed, they have been identified especially in areas that
have not been altered by farming or urban development.
Table 2.9 Historical and Cultural Sites in Waimea
PANIOLO SITES
No.Site Structures Description
5
Parker Ranch
Race Track
Track built in (1901)
Horse Barn (1915); Attendant
House and Stallion Barn (1930). ---
6
Additional Parker
Ranch Structures
Mana Complex (1847); Spencer
Home (1875); Manager’s House
(1885); Kahilu Hall (1918). ---
7
Parker Ranch
Slaughter House ---
Stone wall enclosure that formed Minuke Ole pen.
Built in the early 1940’s.
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No.Site Structure Description
8 Pukalani Complex
This complex of buildings
consists of: Puÿu Hihale
Complex, Breaking Pen Stables,
Carriage Barn (Surgery Barn),
Black Smith Stable, Pukalani
Stables
These buildings were essential to Parker Ranch’s
ranching operations. Possibility of incorporating
this complex into a heritage community with a
heritage center / museum. Built in the late 1800’s.
9 Breaking Pen ---
Coffee shack and stone wall enclosure. Built in
1905.
10
Puÿu Hihale
Complex
Viewing lanai (1900); Cowboy
Gang Stables (1930, remodeled
1985); Bucking and Grooming
Chute (1944).
Stone wall corral with walls 8’ high by 6’wide.
Cattle branding viewing lanai. Chute built for the
Marine Rodeo. Referred to as the “Paniolo Heiau”
and is considered the most significant Paniolo
historic site in Waimea. Built in the late 1800’s.
11 Waimea Stables
Stone wall that preexisted the
stables by 50-100years.
Converted to a working corral in 1985. Originally
constructed in 1960.
12 Kemole Corral --- Rebuilt often. Originally built in 1930.
13
Puÿu Kikoni
Corral --- Rebuilt often. Originally built in 1930
14
Puÿu Kikoni Dairy
Site --- Called New Dairy. Built in 1920.
15 Anna Ranch ---
Anna Lindsey Perry-Fiske, the last of five
generations of Lindseys to run the ranch, died at
age 95 in 1995 and left the ranch as her legacy to
the people of Waimea
16
Pali Hoÿoukapapa
Dairy Site
Creamery (late 1800's); Corn
Silo (1914); Corral (1920+).
Later became a working corral. Originally built in
the late 1800’s.
17
Mana House
Complex --- Covered in Naughton’s work.
18
Makahalau
Complex
Corn Crib and Silo (1914);
Cowboy Camp House (1920);
Makahalau Stables and Corral
(1920); Purebred Bull Barns
(1935). Was once a village like Mana.
19
Hanaipoe Line
Cabin ---
Became the home for section chief Seichi Morifuji
and was kept as a recreational cabin for ranch
employees. Built in the 1930’s.
20 Waikiÿi Complex
Corn Silos (1914); Cooking
ovens (1915); Large Barn, Corn
Crib and Cowboy Stable Barn
(1920); Attendant Corral, Homes
and Quonset Huts (various
dates). Ovens of both Russian and Portuguese origin.
CHURCHES
No.Site Structures Significance
21 Imiola Church ---
Listed on National Register of Historic Places. Use of Koa wood both
structurally and for decoration. Built by Reverand Lorenzo Lyons in 1857.
22
Ke Ola Mau
Loa --- Built in 1931.
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HOMES
No.Site Structures Significance
23
Frank Spencer
House ---
Combined styles and the use of Koa wood. Home of Judge Bickerton and
served as an early court house and hotel. Associated with several of
Waimea's prominent families. Built in 1850.
24
Antony Smart
House --- Original location in Waiemi. Built during the 1830’s.
25 Purdy House ---
Built by Harry W.W. Purdy who was one of Waimea's earliest foreign
adventurers and a contemporary of John Palmer Parker. Built in 1840.
26
Old Lindsey
House ---
27
Hale Kea
(Jacaranda
Inn)
Home of A.W. Carter. The oldest part of Hale Kea was built around 1885
and was first used as an Episcopal Church.
STORES
No.Site Structures Significance
28
Kamuela
Liquor
Formerly this location was the Wakayama Theater, a gathering place for
early Japanese settlers in Waimea.
29 Chock In ---
One of the last surviving stores that was built near the turn of the century.
Built in 1908.
Table 2.10 Historic and Cultural Sites in Kawaihae
No.Site Structures Significance
1 Puÿukohola
Heiau ---
The heiau was dedicated by Kamehameha the Great to his war god
Kukailimoku. Thousands of laborers participated in the construction of the
heiau; even chiefs participated. It is at the heiau that Kamehameha
became the ruler of the entire Island of Hawaiÿi when Kamehameha’s
soldiers slew his cousin Keoua. Built around 1791.
2 Mailekini
Heiau --- Located immediately makai of Puÿukohola heiau, Mailekini Heiau was
converted into a fort by Kamehameha.
3 Hale o
Kapuni Heiau ---
Hale-o-kupuni is an off-shore underwater heiau located somewhere in
Pelekane Bay. It is believed to be a shark heiau where sacrifices were
offered to sharks.
4
Remains of
John Young’s
House
---
John Young was one of Kamehameha’s closest advisors. Remains of his
house are believed to be near the Makahuna Gulch. The house was
originally constructed in the early 1800’s
5 Kawaihae
Lighthouse ---
6 Salt making
areas ---
Kawaihae was known for salt-making during pre-contact times. The area
also provided salt for the cattle and beef industry during the 19th century
and early 20th century.
7
The “original”
Kawaihae
Well
---
The location of the original Kawaihae well where people supposedly
fought over the water is located under the anchor at the intersection of
Kawaihae Road and Akoni Pule Highway.
8 King’s
Residence ---
Located mauka of Pelekane Bay, this area was where many aliÿi held court
including Kamehameha I and Kamehameha II. It is also believed by some
that Queen Emma was born here.
9 Keolahou Church The church was rededicated in 1859 at a cost of $800. A hundred years
later in 1959, the church was razed. Only ruins of the church remain.
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October 2007 wildfire near a Mauna Lani
Resort Golf Course
Table 2.11 Historic and Cultural Resources in Puakö
No.Site Structures Significance
1 Hokuloa Church
The church was established by Father Lorenzo Lyons in 1858. The
church, named Hokuloa, means “evening star.” Weekly services are still
held at the church. The church also serves as a meeting place for the
community.
2
Puakö
Petroglyph
Field
---
The petroglyph field is the largest petroglyph field in the State.
Approximately 3,000 symbols were carved in the lava fields here. Access
to the petroglyph field is through the Mauna Lani Resort.
2.5.2 COASTAL RESOURCES
Land-based sources of pollutants, such as sediment and nutrients, are among multiple factors
threatening the quality of coastal waters and coral reef ecosystems in Hawaiÿi. These pollutants
make their way into the ocean via surface water runoff and seepage from ground water.
The Pelekane Bay Watershed has been classified by the State DOH as a “Category I watershed,” a
watershed in need of restoration. The marine environment and coral reefs of Pelekane Bay have
been severely stressed because of worsening water quality. The Pelekane Bay watershed has been
significantly altered with the construction of the Kawaihae Harbor in the 1950’s and 1960’s. In
2004, Pelekane Bay was listed as an impaired body of water under the federal Clean Water Act
because of high turbidity and excess sediment. The State DOH listed the Pelekane Bay Watershed
as a priority watershed, in most urgent need of restoration in 2004. In 2003, DOH recorded
turbidity in the bay to be close to 18 times the allowable water quality standard. (Pelekane Bay
Watershed Sediment Runoff Analysis, 2007)
Waters off of Hapuna Beach Park and Spencer Beach Park are also on the list of DOH impaired
water bodies. However, these two sites are not nearly as heavily polluted as Pelekane Bay.
The health and condition of South Kohala’s coral reefs has been affected by both natural and man
made events. Natural disasters such as tsunami, storms, and lava flows have all had a significant
negative impact on coastal reefs over time. Man made events have also impacted the health of
coral reefs in a negative way such as the dredging of reefs to clear waterways for boats or
development and through the introduction of feral ungulates such as goats. The feral ungulates over
graze and remove the vegetative cover on land. During rain events, the lack of vegetative cover
causes soil to run off into the ocean and smother the reefs.
2.5.3 NATURAL DISASTERS AND HAZARDS
Wildfires
Dry invasive grasses, especially fountain grass, cover
much of the inland and coastal areas in the southern
portion of the district. The dry, dense, biomass of grass
is an easily combustible fuel that carries fire quickly
over large areas. Also located in these areas are small
groves of kiawe trees, which are scattered throughout
the landscape. Wildfire is a major threat to the health
and safety of most South Kohala residents and is the
most frequently occurring natural hazard in the region.
Wildfires can be defined as any non-structural fire in a
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A helicopter helps to contain a wildfire near Puakö
October, 2007
wild area. The district’s gusty winds, naturally dry and hot climate in the southern and coastal
regions, and the large amounts of fountain grass that grow in these areas not only increases the
likelihood of wildfire occurrence, but also contributes to the rapid spread of fire. In July 2007, a
brush fire burned over 9,300 acres near the Waikoloa Rd. and Mämalahoa Hwy. junction. Also, in
October 2007, nine fires were started by arsonists, including a wildfire that spread over 1,000 acres
near the Puakö community.
The dryland forests that once thrived in the region are lost, primarily due to wildfire. Hawaiÿi
Island’s dryland forests are one of the most endangered habitats in the world. These native habitats
support many Hawaiian cultural activities. As wildfires wipe out more native habitat, invasive
grasses invade these areas and the wildfire cycle continues. Remnants of the old dryland forests
exist near Waikoloa Village. An intact, but seriously threatened, dryland forest containing rare
native Wiliwili trees and native and endangered Uhiuhi trees exists just south of the village. The
trees range in age from 5 to 600 years. A significant portion of the forest is cared for by the
Waikoloa Village Outdoor Circle’s Waikoloa Dry Forest Recovery Project. The project area is about
250 acres.
South Kohala has all the required elements for a wildfire disaster. It is possible that during extreme
fire conditions with dry fuels and high winds, fire fighters, equipment, and water supplies can
become depleted as numerous homes ignite and burn. Fire crews cannot simultaneously evacuate
residents and effectively take suppression action in a subdivision of homes that are igniting within a
few minutes of each other. A map of wildfire hazard areas can be found in Appendix F.
Suppressing wildfires in unoccupied range or open lands or forests is expensive. These costs
increase significantly when firefighters must concentrate resources to save property and lives in
developed areas. For instance, the expenses for suppressing the 2005 Waikoloa fire were more than
$250,000. These costs are ultimately born by taxpayers.
The County Department of Public Works
(DPW) has maintained a list of heavy
equipment needed for fighting wildfires and
updates this list on a weekly basis so that the
equipment can be mobilized when needed.
DPW strategically pre-positions the fire
fighting equipment to prepare for wildfires
according to the time of year or around
special occasions such as long weekends.
The Hawaiÿi Wildfire Management
Organization (WHWMO), a 501(c)(3)
nonprofit, has been working cooperatively
with the Big Island Wildfire Coordinating
Group and other agencies to increase
community awareness about wildfire
mitigation hazards. Several communities have begun to implement wildfire management strategies
including Waikoloa, Puakö, and Waialea Bay. The HWMO has received wild land urban interface
and other grants to build an island wide inventory of wild fire resources, create fire history maps,
install dip tanks, conduct hazard assessments and research on mitigation, and to develop
community fuelbreaks. Primary government agencies involved in these efforts with HWMO include
the County of Hawaiÿi Fire Department and the State Department of Land and Natural Resources
Division of Forestry and Wildlife. (County of Hawaiÿi Drought Mitigation Strategies, 2004)
There are no County regulations that require residential subdivisions to participate in wildfire
mitigation programs. County regulations for new subdivisions to reduce wildfire hazards, such as
requiring adequate fire truck access, hydrant placement, and water system sizing are in place.
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One of the reservoirs that services the
Waimea Water Delivery System
While building codes have been recently revised, the design of subdivisions and new developments
can be improved to prevent wildfire disasters and costs to the public, e.g strategic use of green
spaces and landscaping, placement of dip tanks, etc. Also, the management of fuels, primarily
grasses, on the landscape needs to be addressed to reduce risks to neighboring communities and
costs to the taxpayers.
Earthquakes
Hawaiÿi Island experiences thousands of earthquakes each year; the majority of the earthquakes are
so small that they can only be detected by sensitive instruments. The most recent major earthquake
on the Big Island occurred on October 15, 2006 when a 6.7 magnitude earthquake and magnitude
6.0 aftershock struck the Big Island. The earthquake caused significant damage to infrastructure in
South Kohala. The earthquake damaged Piers 1 and 2a at Kawaihae Harbor, severely limiting the
amount of cargo and marine traffic that the harbor can accommodate.
The earthquake also caused significant damage to the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel. The hotel has been
closed due to earthquake related damage and does not plan to reopen until November of 2008.
Many of the hotel guests patronized the small shops and businesses in the Kawaihae area. The
hotel’s closure has caused the loss of jobs and has significantly reduced the number of people who
have patronized local businesses in the last year.
In Waimea Town, there is a concern that future earthquakes may
catastrophically damage the County reservoirs that are located
above the town. With the recent Kaloko Dam tragedy on the
island of Kauai, which resulted in the loss of lives, and the recent
earthquake that occurred on the Big Island, it would be prudent
for the County to consider establishing an early warning system
for the reservoirs above Waimea Town. Currently there is an
emergency action plan that is in place in case of flooding caused
by reservoir water overflow from heavy rains, but there is no
early warning signal or siren in place, should there be significant
damage caused to the reservoir by earthquake or other events.
Damage to the County reservoirs above Waimea Town is
discussed in more detail in section 2.5.5.
General Community Readiness
To date, a small number of South Kohala residents have undergone CERT training. The Community
Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program educates people about disaster preparedness for
hazards that may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire
safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations.
During times of emergency, children who are attending school could be cut off from access to either
their parents/legal guardians or their homes. This was the case during recent fires near Waikoloa
Village and Puakö. Students and parents in these areas were cut off from each other. There is a
need to provide for safe transport and / or housing for students should natural disasters occur when
schools are in session.
Unexploded Military Ordnance (UXO)
From 1943 to 1953, the U.S. military utilized 130,000 acres of land with at least 40 percent of the
area being used for training with live military munitions. Following the deactivation of Camp
Tarawa and Waikoloa Maneuver Area, the Department of Defense performed cleanup activities in
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South Kohala CDP November 2008
FINAL Page 36
accordance with the “Explosive Ordnance Details for Disposal”, a series of safety and health
standards from the 1940s to 1950s, the time in which this cleanup was done. In 1954, two Parker
Ranch employees were traversing the former training area and were fatally injured as they
encountered UXO. Within the last decade, UXO has been found at Waimea Middle School and
near homes in Waikoloa Village.
“FUDS,” the Formerly Used Defense Sites program, addresses potential risks on lands formerly
owned or controlled by the Department of Defense prior to 1986. The FUDS program is
administered and implemented nationally by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and within the
Pacific Islands by the Honolulu District. The Waikoloa FUDS area covers 137,000 acres with
approximately 50,000 acres considered “high risk.” Most of the “high risk” land is near Waimea, in
the vicinity of the old Camp Tarawa. To date the Army Corps has cleared about 8,000 acres of land
and removed approximately 1,800 pieces of live munitions. It’s estimated that to clean up the entire
137,000-acre Waikoloa FUDS area will cost $680 million over the span of 50 years or more.
Teaming with experts from the Army Corps’ Huntsville Military Munitions Center of Expertise and its
contractors, innovative "packages" of sensing technologies have been developed in order to
efficiently scan beneath the surface throughout the Waikoloa Maneuver Area FUDS.
Figure 2.5 illustrates the FUDS areas that are at “High,” “Moderate,” or “Low” risk of having UXO.
The area on the map indicated as the “Pu’u Maneuver Area” has not yet been surveyed for UXO.
With the continuing development of the Waimea and Waikoloa areas, the Corps’ FUDS team has
taken on an aggressive approach to reaching current and future homeowners and developers.
Private land owners who have property in “High” or “Moderate” risk areas (which have not yet been
cleared by the Army Corps) and who intend to develop their lands are advised to contact the Army
Corps of Engineers prior to the start of construction. The Army Corps can provide private land
owners with UXO support which may include survey of lands for UXO and removal of UXO if UXO
are found.
Chapter 2: South Kohala Yesterday & Today
South Kohala CDP November 2008
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FIGURE 2.5: FORMERLY USED DEFENSE SITES (FUDS) IN SOUTH KOHALA
Chapter 2: South Kohala Yesterday & Today
South Kohala CDP November 2008
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2.5.4 WATER RESOURCES
Figure 2.6: SOUTH KOHALA AQUIFER SYSTEM AREAS (ASYA)
The primary source of data for the
following section on water resources is
from the DRAFT Hawaiÿi County
Water Use and Development Plan
Update: Hawaiÿi Water Plan
completed in December 2006.
Another information source was a
report prepared by Waimea Water
Services Inc. for the County
Department of Water Supply entitled
“Hydrolgeologic study of the Waimea
High Level Ground Water,” dated
February 2001.
The Kohala Aquifer Sector Area (ASEA)
has two Aquifer System Areas that
cover portions of South Kohala, the
Waimanu ASYA and the Mahukona
Aquifer System Area (ASYA). The
West Mauna Kea ASEA only has one
ASYA, the Waimea ASYA and the
North West Mauna Loa ASEA only has
one ASYA, the Anaehoÿomalu ASYA.
Table 2.12 below lists the sustainable
yield,current water usage, and
potential future water use projections
based upon full build out of the General Plan LUPAG, County Zoning, and 2025 Population
Projections.
An aquifer’s ‘Sustainable Yield’ refers to the estimated maximum amount of water that the aquifer
can safely produce. Extracting amounts of water greater than the sustainable yield may irreparably
damage the aquifer. It should be emphasized that sustainable yield numbers are only estimates.
These estimates should not be considered as the exact amount of groundwater that can be safely
utilized. In many regions with high sustainable yield numbers, groundwater cannot be utilized
because it would not be economically feasible to install water systems to deliver water to users.
Current water usage in Table 2.12 includes water use from County Department of Water Supply
(DWS) systems, private water systems, agricultural use, and irrigation use, including use of
reclaimed waste water and water use from domestic rain catchments. Table 2.12 distinguishes
between current water use that includes agricultural water use and current water use that does not
include agricultural water use. As can be seen in the table, agricultural water use accounts for a
significant percentage of current water use in most ASYA. It is also important to note that current
use for the ASYA’s of Waimanu, Mahukona, and Anaehoÿomalu, includes users from outside the
district of South Kohala as well. The Waimea ASYA is the only ASYA that exclusively serves South
Kohala.
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South Kohala CDP November 2008
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Table 2.12 South Kohala Aquifer System Areas (all numbers in MGD)
ASYA Developmental
Stage
Sustainable
Yield (SY)
DWS
Water
System
Use
Private
System
Water
Use
Total
Water Use
w/Agricult
ure
Total
Water Use
w/o
Agriculture
Waimanu Potential Use 110 0.08 0.00 0.34 0.10
Mahukona Currently Used 17 0.95 0.68 3.94 1.69
Waimea Currently Used 24 2.17 4.56 11.05 7.71
Anaehoÿomalu Currently Used 30 2.14 0.00 8.15 7.97
Source: Hawaiÿi County Water Use and Development Plan Update, 2006; Note this plan is on the
web at: http://www.hawaiidws.org/wudp.html
As can be seen in Table 2.12, current water use in each of the ASYA areas is less than the
sustainable yield of the ASYA’s.
Table 2.13 South Kohala Future Projected Water Demand
ASYA Sustainable
Yield (SY)
County
Zoning Full
Build Out
w/Agricult
ure
County
Zoning Full
Build Out
w/o
Agriculture
2025
Population
Projection
C
w/Agricult
ure
2025
Population
Projection
C
w/o
Agriculture
Waimanu 110 9.3 0.1 0.6 0.2
Mahukona 17 97.4 7.7 7.6 3.3
Waimea 24 150.6 13.8 14.7 12.9
Anaehoÿomalu 30 18.1 11 15.6 15.2
Source: Hawaiÿi County Water Use and Development Plan Update, 2006
There are four future water demand estimates in Table 2.13 South Kohala Future Projected Future
Water Demand. Water demand estimates are based upon current County Zoning and County
Population Projection C for the year 2025 (please reference section 2.4.1 of the CDP in regards to
population projection C). Estimates for the County Zoning and population projections take into
account future water demand that includes and does not include agricultural water use.
There is a tremendous difference in water projections if agricultural lands are not taken into account
when looking at the County Zoning designations. The future estimates of water use that include
agricultural use in the County zoning assume irrigation of all lands zoned as agriculture by the
County. This includes lands that are currently zoned as agriculture by the County but are not in
active agricultural production, including the areas in the district that are very dry, rocky, and have
topography that would make viable agriculture extremely difficult without substantial investments in
improving the land such as extending irrigation systems, removing rocks, and massive grading.
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South Kohala CDP November 2008
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The estimates that include agricultural use assume that all of these lands will be watered at a rate of
3,400 gallons of water per acre per day, hence the significantly higher estimates. The estimate that
takes into account no agricultural use makes the assumption that those lands that are currently
designated as agriculture by County zoning and are not being currently used will remain OPEN,
unused, and un-watered. Future realistic estimates for water use in the district is somewhere
between the high number that includes agricultural use and the low number that does not include
agricultural use. Neither of the estimates that include or do not include agriculture use, when taken
by themselves, paints a complete picture of projected future water demand in the district, hence,
both numbers are given. A more complete and detailed explanation of future water use projections
can be found in the 2006 Hawaiÿi County Water Use and Development Plan Update.
<http://www.Hawaiÿidws.org/wudp.html>
Future projected water demand based upon current County zoning designations exceeds ASYA
sustainable yields in the Mahukona ASYA and Waimea ASYA if agricultural demand is taken into
account. If future agricultural water demand is not taken into account, future projections for water
demand do not exceed the sustainable yields of any of the four ASYA.
Future projected water demand based upon population projections for the year 2025 does not
exceed the sustainable yields of the ASYA’s.
The Waimanu ASYA can safely accommodate water demand in all of the future water demand
projection scenarios. However, the Waimanu ASYA is not being currently used. Furthermore,
considering the Waimanu ASYA as a viable and economically feasible source to meet future
demand may not be practical. Waimanu ASYA incorporates lands that are not readily accessible by
vehicles and thus it would be a difficult area to develop groundwater sources. Also, there is the
environmental and cultural concern of diverting water from this conservation watershed area to
another watershed area. Lastly, consideration must also be given to the current and future water
demands of North Kohala as much of the Waimanu ASYA encompasses lands in the district of North
Kohala.
Also in 2001, the County DWS conducted hydrogeological studies of high-level ground water in
Waimea. The purpose of the studies was to evaluate the potential of the high-level aquifer system to
supply Waimea Town and South Kohala’s coastal communities. The study involved an area of
122,023 acres from the summit of the Kohala Mountain to the 5,000 foot elevation of the northern
slope of Mauna Kea. The study concluded that there are ample ground water resources of good
quality within the study area that could be used to supply water to Waimea and the other coastal
communities in the district. However, utilizing these high-level ground water resources will require
the DWS to construct more water delivery infrastructure such as new wells, storage facilities, and
transmission lines. (Hydrogeologic Study of the Waimea High-Level Ground Water, 2001)
2.5.5 WATER DELIVERY SYSTEMS
The Waimea Water System primarily services the Waimea and Puÿukapu area. From Waimea
Town, the system extends along Mämalahoa Highway westward and runs down Kawaihae Road for
about eight miles. From Waimea Town, the system extends eastward to the two connections at the
Haina Water System at the South Kohala district boundary near Mud Lane. The water system spans
three aquifer sector areas; but the majority of the service area is within the Kohala ASEA, including
the majority of Waimea Town, and the areas north of Mämalahoa Highway from Kawaihae to the
Kamuela Highlands subdivision. Improvements to the system have increased reservoir capacity and
enlarged the distribution pipelines. The primary water sources for the Waimea Water System are
from the Waikoloa Stream and Kohakohau Stream diversions. (Hawaiÿi County Water Use and
Development Plan Update, 2006)
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Because of the variations in stream flow, the Waimea Water System has four large reservoirs
(Waikoloa Reservoirs) that can store a total of 158.5 million gallons of untreated water, (Hawaiÿi
County Water Use and Development Plan Update, 2006) However, during the October 2006
earthquake two of the four reservoirs were damaged. One reservoir had to be completely drained
and the other damaged reservoir can only be filled to half of its normal capacity. The County is
awaiting FEMA funding to help with reservoir repairs. Until then, the reservoirs can only store about
79.25 million gallons of water, or about half of their full capacity. During dry climatic periods,
water use restrictions have been put in place for longer periods of time because of the reduced
reservoir storage capacity. The Waimea Treatment Plant currently provides 2MGD to Waimea
residents via the Waimea Water System.
Originally, the Lälämilo Water System was designed to service Kawaihae, but has since expanded to
service other coastal areas including Puakö and the Mauna Kea and Mauna Lani Resorts. The
system includes two booster pump stations and nine storage tanks. Water is transported via a six
inch pipeline from the Waimea Water System down to Kawaihae and more or less follows
Kawaihae Road. As the Lälämilo Water System expanded to accommodate the new coastal
developments south of Kawaihae, high level exploratory deep wells were drilled along Kawaihae
Road in order to supplement the limited supply of water from Waimea. The water was of marginal
quality and had high chloride content. Water from these wells was blended with fresh mountain
water to supply the coastal developments. In 1977, the State drilled exploratory wells on its
Lälämilo lands. These wells and subsequent additional wells were drilled with financing from the
developer of Mauna Lani Resort. The water in these wells was of good quality and was also
included as part of the system. Two Parker Ranch wells replaced the two Kawaihae wells that
serviced the Lälämilo Water System during the latter 1990s. (Hawaiÿi County Water Use and
Development Plan Update, 2006)
The Waikoloa Water System is a private system. The system services Waikoloa Resort as well as
Waikoloa Village. The average daily use for the water system is 4.5 MGD. Five wells located
within the West Mauna Kea ASEA provide potable water for all of the developments in the resort
area and in Waikoloa Village. (Hawaiÿi County Water Use and Development Plan Update, 2006)
Currently, there are two wells in Waikoloa that are being repaired due to the current drought
situation. If dry weather conditions continue to persist, there may be a need to transfer water from
the County DWS Lälämilo Water System.
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FIGURE 2.7: COUNTY WATER DELIVERY SYSTEMS IN SOUTH KOHALA
2.5.6
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South Kohala CDP November 2008
FINAL Page 43
WAIMEA IRRIGATION SYSTEM
The Waimea Irrigation System is managed by the State Department of Agriculture and has been
operational since the early 1970s. The system’s water sources are the summit watersheds of Kohala
Mountain starting with Kawainui and followed by Kawaiki, Alakahi, and Koiawe Streams. Currently
the irrigation system has 117 users who draw 0.906 MGD of water to irrigate 587 acres of land.
(Agricultural Water Use and Development Plan, 2003) The irrigation system consists of a diversion
from these streams via the Upper Hämäkua Ditch directing the flow of water into the 60 MG
Waimea Reservoir. An additional reservoir, the 100 MG Puÿu Pulehu Reservoir, provides overflow
storage for the Waimea Reservoir and also for diverted upstream flow. Water is transmitted in the
system over two miles via 24-inch and 18-inch diameter pipelines. (Hawaiÿi County Water Use and
Development Plan Update, 2006)
There is sufficient storage in these reservoirs to maintain an average service flow in the system for
approximately 100 irrigation days. However, the major problem of the Waimea Irrigation System is
an insufficient agricultural water supply during excessive periods of drought caused by inadequate
collection, storage and distribution facilities. Excessive seepage losses occurring along the existing
transmission ditches cause deterioration of the linings, tunnels and flumes. The system’s existing
storage capacity is inadequate for meeting irrigation water demand during frequent dry periods and
for effective application of water to diversified crops. Furthermore, the region served by the
Waimea Irrigation System is the heart of the cattle industry, but the system lacks a supplemental
livestock water system for low or drought periods. (Agricultural Water Use and Development Plan,
2003)
Additional water sources for the Waimea Irrigation System include the high level aquifer which has
been tapped for agricultural emergencies at the State Department of Agriculture’s Puÿukapu well,
and there is a private well at the Waimea Country Club. (County of Hawaiÿi General Plan, 2005)
The key planning implications related to South Kohala’s cultural and natural resources include:
•The numerous cultural and historic resources within the district should be identified with
appropriate signage if signage for these resources does not currently exist.
Examples of possible signage include: signage identifying cultural sites, signage identifying different
types of winds and rain and the corresponding Hawaiian names of each or signs that identify the
wide variety of flora and fauna within the district. More importantly, signs should educate readers
about the respectful protocol and appropriate stewardship of these cultural and natural resources.
•Watershed management programs for the watersheds of South Kohala should be developed
for those watersheds in which a stewardship program does not currently exist
Watershed management programs could establish pollutant load limits on each land use in the
watershed in order to safeguard the marine water quality of the South Kohala coast. The watershed
management program could also establish pollutant load limits for each watershed. The program
could also outline specific actions for consistent monitoring of marine water quality.
•Future coastal developments should take into consideration global sea level rise and plan
accordingly
While the issue of sea level rise is not at the forefront of many people’s minds, it is still a factor that
should be taken into consideration when planning for future coastal developments in the long term.
•Brush fires are a huge potential natural hazard in the district.
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The district’s predominantly dry climate combined with the large amounts of fountain grass
increases the risks that brush fires may occur.
•There are specific areas in which South Kohala has the potential to improve community
readiness in the event of natural disaster,
Specific areas for increasing community preparedness include: providing more CERT training
opportunities for residents, installing a reservoir warning system above the Waimea Town, or
establishing a program to ensure safe transport and shelter of students during and after natural
disaster events.
•Currently there are enough water resources to accommodate existing water demands in the
district. However, the Waimea water delivery system infrastructure is presently stressed due
to the 2006 earthquake damages and during drought conditions. Accommodating future
water demands will likely require major capital improvements to expand the capacity of
existing water systems. There will be enough water resources to accommodate the General
Plan’s projected population growth to the year 2025 and beyond. However, future projected
water demand based upon full build out of current County zoning designations exceeds for the
Mahukona and Waimea ASYAs in the South Kohala District for the projections that include and
agricultural water use.
Future growth may require the Waimanu ASYA to be developed. It is the largest ASYA in the district
in terms of sustainable yield. But currently, the Waimanu ASYA is only being used minimally. A
feasibility analysis should be undertaken first to determine whether it is economically feasible to
pump water from the Waimanu aquifer. Depending upon the capital improvement expenses and
environmental impacts it may not be economically feasible to access water from the Waimanu
ASYA.
2.6 INFRASTRUCTURE AND PUBLIC FACILITIES
Within most areas of South Kohala, the level of infrastructure and public facilities has not kept pace
with population growth over the years. Congested roadways occur in several areas of the district.
Also, several areas in the district such as in Waikoloa Village and Puakö need new roads for
emergency access. There are no truck runaway lanes on Kawaihae Road and Waikoloa Road. This
is a serious safety issue as many semi-trucks travel along these roadways. In the case of Kawaihae
road, a seven mile road at a grade exceeding 10% without truck runaway lanes is dangerous.
Conditions along Waikoloa Road can be just as dangerous, with sharp turns, steep grades in some
areas, and little or no paved shoulders.
Wastewater disposal, particularly in coastal communities such as Puakö has also become a concern.
The need for more parks and community recreation areas is a district wide concern. South Kohala
is home to some of the best white sand beaches on the island. On weekends and even during some
week days, beach parks are highly frequented. Provision of adequate infrastructure and facilities is
needed to accommodate the large numbers of beach park goers. Also, in the Kawaihae area, the
expansion of a reliable potable water delivery system is needed in order to provide for more
commercial, residential, and recreational uses around the harbor area. There is also a concern that
utility lines block scenic view planes. Lastly, as the population of the district continues to grow,
South Kohala will need a new middle school and a new high school.
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FINAL Page 45
Implications for Planning:
•In general, given the current level of population, already approved developments, and
future population estimates, significant upgrades of infrastructure and public facilities will
need to be provided, including:
o New wastewater treatment and disposal facilities
o Increasing roadway connectivity in Waikoloa and Puakö
o Reducing traffic congestion in Waimea
o Truck Runaway lanes along Kawaihae Road and Waikoloa Road
o Assessing the adequacy of water available, especially in light of the CDP’s
emphasis on promoting agriculture, in addition to providing adequate water
transmission and storage facilities
o Increasing the amount of potable water for Kawaihae
o Consider under grounding future utility lines to preserve scenic view planes
o Providing adequate recreational facilities and parks;
o Providing adequate infrastructure and facilities for beach parks and other coastal
recreational facilities
o A new South Kohala High School and one or more elementary and middle schools
will be needed to accommodate a growing population
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Chapter 3: District-wide Policies
South Kohala CDP November 2008
FINAL Page 47
3 DISTRICT-WIDE POLICIES
OVERVIEW
In their initial meetings, the South Kohala Steering Committee was asked to prioritize land use issues
for the entire district based upon the results of the Community Readiness Process. While the district
faces many more issues than those that are listed below, it was necessary to focus on top priority
issues in order to develop actionable plans, for the CDP.
The priority issues that the Steering Committee selected were, not in any order of priority, the
following:
o Preserve Culture/Sense of Place
o Traffic and Transportation
o Affordable Housing
o Emergency Preparedness
o Environmental Stewardship and Sustainability
At a subsequent Steering Committee meeting, priority issues for four South Kohala communities
were discussed: Waimea, Waikoloa Village, Kawaihae, and Puakö. It was then agreed that the CDP
would focus on planning for these four communities, rather than attempting to develop Action
Programs on a “district-wide” basis. In effect, then, the “South Kohala Community Development
Plan” became a collection of four distinct community plans.
Although the CDP planning process focused on specific issues for the four communities, there were
a number of ideas and concerns that were raised that have applicability to the entire district of South
Kohala. These policies are still subject to further discussion with the Planning Department and with
other County agencies and departments. The policies presented below are intended to guide future
developments in the district rather than address specific short-term actions. These ideas are
organized by the priority issues that were initially chosen by the South Kohala Steering Committee.
The Steering Committee acknowledged other important General Plan topics that because of time
constraints were not specifically identified in this CDP. Until such time as these topics can be
addressed in more detail for South Kohala, the more general policies, standards, and courses of
action listed in the General Plan provide some framework for possible action strategies. (See
Appendix D)
GENERAL POLICY NO.1: PRESERVE THE CULTURE AND SENSE OF PLACE OF SOUTH KOHALA
COMMUNITIES
Related sub-policies are:
1.1 Preserve Cultural and Historic sites and structures. The newly created Hawaiÿi County
Cultural Resources Commission shall include in its programs appropriate actions to protect
and preserve important cultural and historic sites and structures in South Kohala.
Chapter 3: District-wide Policies
South Kohala CDP November 2008
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1.2 The County Planning Director is requested to submit a draft of a bill to the County
Council that sets out a concurrency management system for South Kohala. The purpose of
the bill is to create a system that will impose reasonable and fair infrastructure concurrency
requirements on developments within the district that already possess zoning entitlements,
and are therefore not currently subject to the concurrency requirements of HCC 25-2-46.
The public facilities for which concurrency is to be managed shall be the same as those set
out in HCC 25-2-46 as amended. The approach to concurrency management shall be
modeled on the approach set out in HCC-25-2-46 as amended, provided that concurrency
requirements shall be established at the time of any tentative approval of a preliminary
subdivision plat (HCC 23-62 and 25-6-22), tentative approval of a preliminary
condominium property regime map (HCC 23-131), plan approval (HCC 25-2-75), planned
unit development permit approval (HCC 25-6-6) and project district site plan approval (25-
6-46 and 25-6-56) or substantial revision thereof. Concurrency requirements shall be
updated when an extension of time to perform a condition of such an approval is granted.
The South Kohala concurrency management system shall (1) provide a process by which a
developer or land owner can request full or partial relief from the requirement under
appropriate conditions, based on the type of development proposed and its overall impact
on the adequacy of public facilities, (2) take into consideration voluntary actions that a
developer has taken or proposes to take to improve the adequacy of district public facilities
in the context of the proposed development (3) exempt subdivisions for the purpose of
familial transfers of property, (4) provide for situations in which a developer has vested
property rights based on specifically proposed and approved plan elements that were
granted at an earlier stage in the development approval process, (5) provide a fair way to
address developments that are underway and being relied upon to build infrastructure for
the community at large, to ensure that they remain viable, and (6) provide a forum to allow
those that would be affected an opportunity to air their concerns.
(See Appendix E for list and description of Hawaiÿi County Codes (HCC) that are referenced.)
1.3 Provide for more developed park space and recreational facilities in South Kohala. The
County Planning Director, in consultation with the Director of the Department of Parks and
Recreation, shall submit a draft of a bill to the County Council to amend HCC Chapter 8.
The intent of the amendment shall be to standardize the requirements for new developments
to provide park space in South Kohala and other Hawaiÿi County Districts. In developing the
amendment, the following concepts shall be considered: (1) the definition of “parks and
playgrounds” in HCC 8-2(8) shall include only improved areas and facilities used for
recreational activities, such as athletic fields, and shall not include golf courses, marinas, or
other similar uses for which a fee is charged, (2) the exemption provided in HCC 8-4(a)(1)
shall not count existing County beach parks, parks and playgrounds that are State-owned or
federally-owned and shall only count parks and playgrounds within the community in which
the development is to be located, (3) the park space or off-site improvements shall be located
or in-lieu fees shall be used within the community in which the development is to be located,
and (4) when the rezoning ordinance for the development has specific requirements that it
develop park space within the project, and / or dedicate park land to the County, or provide
other public recreational amenities, those requirements shall remain in effect as long as the
rezoning ordinance is not amended.
(See Appendix E for list and description of Hawaiÿi County Codes (HCC) that are referenced.)
1.4 “Time Share” developments shall only be allowed within the boundaries of the District’s
three major destination resorts: Waikoloa Resort, Mauna Lani Resort, and Mauna Kea
Resort. Time Share projects are not compatible with residential areas that are located
outside of the destination resorts of the district.
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1.5 The County shall coordinate with the State Department of Education to develop plans for a
public high school within the South Kohala District. As the population of South Kohala
continues to grow, the presence of a public high school will be important for promoting the
district’s sense of place.
1.6 It is recommended that the Planning Department provide opportunities and forums for
public review and comment for all subdivisions, PUD’s, plan developments, and cluster
developments, proposed in the District of South Kohala. Residents of South Kohala have
called for like more transparency in the subdivision/plan development approval process, by
way of a public presentation of the proposed development and the opportunity for members
of the community to raise issues and voice their opinions of the proposed project.
Subdivision approval is a key point in the development process in which community input is
most important.
GENERAL POLICY 2: PROVIDE FOR THE TRANSPORTATION AND CIRCULATION NEEDS OF
THE SOUTH KOHALA COMMUNITY AND FOR COMMUTERS TO/FROM SOUTH KOHALA.
Related sub-policies are:
2.1 New major roads in the District shall incorporate “complete street” standards, including
provisions for vehicular traffic, pedestrians, bicycles, and public transportation, except in
the case of extreme mitigating factors. “Complete Streets” are streets that are designed and
operated to enable safe access for all users. Pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists and bus riders of
all ages and abilities are able to safely move along and across a complete street.
(http://www.completestreets.org/)Improving the safety and viability of alternate modes of
transportation in South Kohala will encourage more people to leave their cars at home and
walk, bike, or bus to their destinations more often.
2.2 Establish bicycle, pedestrian, and equestrian travel ways to link up the communities within
the District (Waikoloa Village, Waimea, Puakö, Kawaihae, and the resort nodes) while also
establishing alternative travel ways within the individual communities. Also, establish
public trails to various cultural locations and other sites of interest, where a significant level
of visitation is appropriate and does not pose a threat to the resource, as identified by the
community.
See Appendix H for list of suggested alternative travel ways and trails.
2.3 Build safe roads. Currently there are existing roads in the district such as the Kawaihae Road
and Waikoloa Road that can be considered dangerous without truck runaway ramps.
2.4 Identify and establish transit corridors for future mass transit service within the district.
While the provision of mass transit service such as rail may be decades away for South
Kohala, the County should plan ahead for future mass transit service in the district by
establishing transit corridors. Setting aside land now for transit corridors may help to reduce
future costs of implementing mass transit services.
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GENERAL POLICY NO. 3: PROVIDE AFFORDABLE AND WORKFORCE HOUSING RESOURCES
FOR LOW AND MODERATE INCOME INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, AND FOR THOSE RESIDENTS
OF SOUTH KOHALA WITH SPECIAL NEEDS
Related sub-policies are:
3.1 The County shall establish policies and programs for the implementation of affordable and
workforce housing projects in those areas of the island where such projects are most
needed, including Waimea and Waikoloa Village.
3.2 The South Kohala Community shall organize one or more community-based, non-profit
entities that can partner with the County Office of Housing and Community Development
and with other non-profit organizations and for-profit contractors and developers to
provide affordable housing units.
3.3 The County shall work toward the development of housing for senior citizens and assisted
living facilities in South Kohala.
3.4 The County shall provide more opportunities for low income housing and transitional
shelters.
GENERAL POLICY NO. 4: DEVELOP PROGRAMS AND STANDARDS THAT WILL PROTECT THE
SOUTH KOHALA COMMUNITY FROM NATURAL HAZARDS, INCLUDING MAJOR STORMS,
FLOODING, TSUNAMI, LAVA FLOWS, AND WILDFIRES
Related sub-policies are:
4.1 The County shall develop plans and programs for emergency routes so that people can
safely move away from life-threatening natural hazards. Of special concern is the threat of
tsunami in coastal areas, and the threat of wild fires in dry upland areas like Waikoloa
Village.
4.2 Adopt development standards and community plans that mitigate wildfire risk and
maximize responder safety, where wildfire danger is present:
•The County Planning Department should consider requiring all new subdivisions to
incorporate through their covenants, codes, and restrictions “firewise landscaping
principles” for common areas and for individual homes, including defensible space
emphasizing fire and drought resistant plants, as well as native plants when
appropriate. This requirement could be a condition for any final subdivision
approvals.
•The Building Department of the County’s Department of Public Works should
consider giving every individual or entity applying for a building permit(s) firewise
checklists for building and landscaping. These checklists could also be made
available on the County’s website for downloading.
•The County’s Real Property Tax Department should consider implementing an
additional tax incentive for landowners of agriculturally zoned land that, 1) would
have a grazing management plan reviewed and approved by a qualified County or
State agricultural specialist (e.g. the Natural Resources Conservation Services, the
University of Hawaiÿi Cooperative Extension) with an objective for managing
wildfire fuels and which may include grazing reserve areas for drought periods,
and 2) graze 100% of the usable grazing area identified in the certified grazing
plan. Other programs that encourage the use of extensive cattle grazing as a
Chapter 3: District-wide Policies
South Kohala CDP November 2008
FINAL Page 51
practical means of controlling fire fuel while maintaining the landscape, could also
be considered.
•The County Planning Department should consider requiring all applicants for
subdivision approvals to complete a wildfire hazard mitigation plan. This plan
should be completed before final subdivision approval is granted. These plans
should recommend specific measures for reducing wildfire hazard in the interface
areas between the subdivision and any range/open lands or forests and in any open
areas within the subdivision. When developing these elements, the following
standards should be considered: 1) National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
document 1141, Standard for Fire Protection Infrastructure for Land Development
in Suburban and Rural Areas, 2) National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
document 1144: Standard for Reducing Structure Ignition Hazards from Wildland
Fire, and 3) Criteria which delineate when and how new subdivisions will be
required to install diptank(s).
4.3 Government agencies should consider providing more emergency shelter facilities in
South Kohala. Future civic buildings in South Kohala such as new schools or community
centers should be designed to serve as emergency shelters as well. These civic buildings
should be built so that they are disaster resistant.
GENERAL POLICY NO. 5: DEVELOP GUIDELINES AND PROGRAMS THAT PROMOTE
ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP AND THE CONCEPT OF SUSTAINABILITY
5.1 Proposed uses of natural resources shall be duly evaluated by the responsible public
entities to ensure that each such use is consistent with the sustainable long-term health of
the eco-system, including the direct and indirect impact on coastal waters. Public entities
shall base their decision-making on the best possible data in order to ensure sound short
and long-term management of public resources. In the event of uncertainty of data,
consistent with the Public Trust Doctrine of the Hawaiÿi State Constitution, the public entity
shall apply the Precautionary Principle to conserve the resource. The Precautionary
Principle requires long-term vision and mandates that government entities favor caution and
conservation in any case in which information is uncertain. In evaluating any proposed
use, consideration must be given to the cumulative impact of existing and previously
approved developments.
5.2 The County shall require water conservation measures and plans for new large scale
development projects (i.e. residential and agricultural subdivisions, resorts, commercial
and industrial centers, etc.) in South Kohala
5.3 Ensure the quality of South Kohala’s ground water resources and marine resources. The
County should consider adding the following requirement to HCC 23-85(b) for residential
projects: No cesspools or seepage pits shall be installed in South Kohala after the effective
date of this plan. The effluent from any septic tank installed in South Kohala after the
effective date of this plan shall be discharged into an absorption system that meets the
design standards of the State Department of Health.
5.4 Prohibit the installation of future injection wells in Special Management Areas if waste-
water is NOT treated to an R-1 level of water quality.
Injection wells can be a major source of pollution for coastal waters if wastewater is not
treated to a high level. Controlling the installation of future injection wells will help to
improve the quality of near shore waters. Furthermore, the reuse of treated R-1 quality
effluent can be encouraged for irrigation and other purposes.
Chapter 3: District-wide Policies
South Kohala CDP November 2008
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5.5 Preserve visually and environmentally important open space grasslands, ocean views,
views of the puÿu, and South Kohala’s unique “Five Mountain Views” of the Kohala
Mountains, Mauna Kea, Mauna Loa, Hualalai, and Haleakala.
5.6 The County should encourage and promote LEED standards for buildings and
neighborhood design by providing incentives for projects that achieve a LEED certification
level of “Silver” or higher. LEED stands for “Leadership in Energy and Environmental
Design.” The United States Green Building Council (USGBC) created LEED as a rating
system for green building. Green building refers to the design, construction, and operation
of buildings in an environmentally friendly way. LEED promotes a whole-building approach
to sustainability by recognizing performance in five key areas of human and environmental
health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection,
and indoor environment. The LEED rating system (used to determine LEED certification)
awards points to projects based on how the project incorporates green building principles
into its design and construction.
While achieving LEED certification may drive a project’s development cost up in the short
term, developers should keep in mind the long-term benefits of green building such as
savings in energy costs and general benefits of green building to the surrounding
community and environment. The County should consider providing incentives to
developers who seek LEED certification to offset additional short-term development costs
incurred by LEED certification.
5.7 Increase Enforcement of the County Lighting Code and modify the existing code as
necessary. Outdoor lighting fixtures that are not in compliance with the County Lighting
Code are a significant source of light pollution in the night skies. This is of special concern
for astronomers atop Mauna Kea. The County needs to improve its enforcement of illegal
light fixtures in order to reduce light pollution. The County is also currently working with
astronomers and is in the process of updating its lighting code to add requirements that
would help to reduce light pollution. However, with no enforcement, a newly revised
lighting code may have minimal effects in reducing lighting glare in South Kohala’s night
time skies.
5.8 The County should develop or collaborate with other agencies and organizations to
develop watershed management programs for the district of South Kohala. These
programs should address flood mitigation, strategies for reducing water run off such as
restoring vegetative cover in mauka areas or construction of detention basins and the effects
of impermeable surfaces on groundwater infiltration.
5.9 Water quality monitoring should be considered on a district-wide basis.
Four types of monitoring are needed: ocean water, ground water, leach fields (natural or
constructed) and anchialine ponds. Consistent testing and monitoring protocols should be
developed. Currently, the resorts in the district perform monitoring and that data is reported
to the County. However, this monitoring has not been systematic or consistent. The State
Department of Health currently has a weekly beach monitoring program designed to find
indicator bacteria at selected beaches in West Hawaiÿi. The County Planning Department
is currently evaluating DOH rules and may adopt additional testing requirements. The
Planning Department is also currently evaluating monitoring guidelines for groundwater
and anchialine ponds. Monitoring of water quality in the district should be coordinated by
the County in order to ensure that there is no duplicate monitoring and to ensure the quality
of water throughout the district.
5.10 Encourage the County to review and revise as appropriate rules and guidelines that will
reduce flooding and erosion that may occur from developing on steep slopes.
Chapter 3: District-wide Policies
South Kohala CDP November 2008
FINAL Page 53
5.11 Promote Alternative Energy. South Kohala is blessed with strong winds and ample sunlight
throughout the year. The County should support the development of more natural energy
generating facilities.
5.12 Incorporate the concept of “Sustainability” as defined in the State of Hawaiÿi “2050
Sustainability Plan” in all future planning and projects in South Kohala. The State of
Hawaiÿi “2050 Sustainability Plan” defines sustainability as a Hawaiÿi that achieves the
following:
•Respects the culture, character, beauty and history of our State’s island communities
•Strikes a balance between economic, social and community, and environmental
priorities
•Meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations
to meet their own needs.
To view the Hawaiÿi 2050 Sustainability Plan, please see:http://www.Hawaiÿi2050.org/
5.13 Support policies and programs that promote the concept of food sustainability. Policies
and programs that make food production a priority such as preservation South Kohala’s
Important Agriculture Lands, allocating sufficient water resources for productive farming, or
encouraging developers to landscape their projects with fruit trees or other types of plants
that provide food, should all be emphasized and supported.
Chapter 4: Waimea Town Plan
South Kohala CDP November 2008
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4 WAIMEA TOWN PLAN
4.1 CURRENT AND FUTURE PLANS AND DEVELOPMENTS
4.1.1 POPULATION
FIGURE 4.1: WAIMEA POPULATION 1960-2000
U.S. Census 1960, 1970, 1980, 1990, 2000
As can be seen in the figure above, it appears that the town of Waimea saw a dramatic increase in
population between 1980 and 1990. However, part of the reason for the apparent dramatic
increase in population is that the Census expanded the boundary area of the Waimea Census
Designated Place between 1980 and 1990. In 1980 the Waimea Census Designated Place
consisted of areas mainly surrounding the town center, while the 1990 Waimea Census Designated
Place incorporated areas extending beyond the town center from Mahua St. on the west end to a
little past Mud Lane on the east end and also extending south towards the Waimea Airport. Thus,
with a larger area, the 1990 Census counted significantly more people in Waimea when compared
with the 1980 Census. That said, the 1990 population count is much more reflective of the actual
Waimea community, as compared with the 1980 Census count that was only limited to the town
center area.
Of more relevance to the current CDP process is the increase in population from 1990 to 2000: a
net increase of a little over 1,000 people. There are no accurate numbers available for the current
(May 2008) Waimea population, but based on County building permit records (see “Housing”
section, below), permits were issued in Waimea for a total of 415 units for the years 2003 through
2006, or an average of about 104 units per year. This level of building activity was probably slower
for 2001-02 and for 2007. If about 500 units were built for the years 2001 through 2007, additional
Population of Waimea Town 1960-2000
657 756
1179
5972
7028
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
7000
8000
1960 1970 1980 1990 2000
Nu
m
b
e
r
o
f
P
e
o
p
l
e
Chapter 4: Waimea Town Plan
South Kohala CDP November 2008
FINAL Page 56
population for that period would have been about 1,500 people – a significant increase for a
relatively small community.
4.1.2 LAND USE
The development pattern in Waimea Town is linear from east to west, and concentrated along
Mämalahoa Highway and Kawaihae Road. Development along these two roadways is spread out
over six miles with the town center approximately at the mid point of the six mile stretch. Important
developments along the highway include the North Hawaiÿi Community Hospital and the W.M.
Keck Observatory. In part, because of the town’s spread out development pattern along the major
highway corridor, traffic congestion is a problem as residents who need to commute to the town
center for daily necessities such as shopping or banking, compete with commuters who are traveling
between Hilo and Kona.
Most of the commercial development is concentrated in and around the Waimea Town Center, at
the intersections of Mämalahoa Highway and Kawaihae Road. The two main shopping centers
include supermarkets, banks, and other smaller shops which cater to both local residents and
tourists. Also located near Waimea Center are several of the town’s 12 schools, including the
Parker School on Lindsey Road and Waimea Elementary and Middle School on Mämalahoa Hwy.
Hawaiÿi Preparatory Academy, one of the largest private schools in the state, has its main campus
located on the west end of town along Kawaihae Rd.
Most of the Parker Ranch lands in South Kohala are located to the south of Waimea along
Mämalahoa Highway. The Parker Ranch corporate headquarters, along with the historic race track,
is located off of Mämalahoa Highway. Located just south of the Waimea Town Center is the
historic Pukalani Stables Complex. To the south of town is the Waimea-Kohala Airport and the
Lälämilo farm lots. To the north of the Town Center are views of the Kohala Mountains and various
culturally important puÿu that dot the mountain’s slopes.
Table 4.1 summarizes planned development projects in the Waimea area. Figures 4.2 and 4.3
illustrate the General Plan LUPAG for Waimea and County Zoning for Waimea.
Chapter 4: Waimea Town Plan
South Kohala CDP November 2008
FINAL Page 57
Table 4.1 Current and Future Development – Waimea Area
Development No.Name of
Development
Land Owner/
Developer
Description
Status
1 DHHL
Lälämilo
Homesteads
DHHL 442 house lots on 160 acres. Development will also
include a community center, parks, general agriculture,
preservation area (19.1 acres), open space areas (44.5
acres) Phase 1 includes 34 in-fill house lots. The
remaining planned house lots will be built in Phases 2
& 3.
Preliminary
construction
began in 2005
2 DHHL
Puÿukapu
Homesteads
DHHL Unspecified numbers of: house lots on 88 acres, farm
lots on 598 acres, pasture lots on 4,797 acres;
Community Pasture (529 acres), Pasture & Farm Lease
(5,573 acres), Public Service Facilities (40 acres), Water
/ Forest Reserve / Conservation (165 acres)
Master Plan
completed
2006
3 DHHL
Honokaÿia
Homelots
DHHL The project is actually located in the neighboring
Hämäkua district, but is within close proximity to
Waimea. The minimum lot sizes are designed to be 10
acres. The entire project area is about 2,500 acres
Preliminary
planning and
research
completed
4 HPA campus
consolidation
Hawaiÿi
Preparatory
Academy
The school is considering relocating the lower and
middle schools from their current sites to a site on the
Kohala side of the existing solid waste transfer station.
Access to the proposed campus relocation would be
from Kawaihae Road.
TBD
5 Okada Farm
Subdivision
Okada Farms The farm is planned to be subdivided into one acre
agriculture parcels. Currently, the farm is the largest
contiguous farm in Waimea.
TBD
6 Waimea
Parkside
Kaloko
Development
Inc.
40-lot subdivision on a 9.18 parcel near Lindsey Road Under
construction
7 Parker Ranch
2020
(Waimea
Town Center
Plan)
Parker Ranch Overall Plan calls for 750 homes and 250,000 (?) square
feet of commercial space.
80 homes
have been
constructed
9 Luala`i at
Parker Ranch
Kaomalo
LLC, Schuler
Homes Inc.,
Parker Ranch
322 residential units, parks, and open space on 75 acres
of land. This project is part of the “Parker Ranch 2020”
plan.
Phase I
completed in
2002
10 Magoon
Property
Magoon
Estate Ltd.
Property across from Waimea school is under
consideration for a possible mixed-use commercial and
residential development
In planning
stage
Chapter 4: Waimea Town Plan
South Kohala CDP November 2008
FINAL Page 58
Table 4.1 Current and Future Development (Continued)
Development No.Name of
Development
Land
Owner/
Developer
Description
Status
11 Waimea
District Park
Hawaiÿi
County
As part of the Parker Ranch 2020 Plan, Parker Ranch is
required to allocate 21.5 acres of its land for a County
regional park facility. Currently the land adjacent to and
south of the Lälämilo Farmlots is the leading candidate
for the site of the future regional park.
TBD
12 Lälämilo
State Land
State DLNR DLNR entered a 35-year lease agreement with FR Cattle
Company for 9,000 acres of ranch land. The area has
several archeological sites and unexploded ordnance
from previous military training exercises.
TBD
13 Parker
School
Expansion
Parker
School
Trust
Corporation
The school is looking at plans for expansion. A site north
of the KTA shopping center is being considered.
TBD
14 North
Hawaiÿi
Community
Hospital
North
Hawaiÿi
Community
Hospital
A 2008 master plan calls for the development of multi-
story office buildings behind the hospital, a large
auditorium, classrooms, and kitchen. Parker Ranch has
donated lands for the hospital’s expansion plans.
TBD
15 Waimea
Trails and
Greenways
Hawaiÿi
County
The greenway system will provide alternative modes of
circulation. The greenway system is intended for
pedestrian and bicycle uses. Currently, the project is
managed by the County of Hawaiÿi Department of Parks
and Recreation and a citizen advisory group known as
the Waimea Trails and Greenway Committee.
Phase I
construction
completed
16 Anna Ranch Anna Ranch
Trust
Trustees of the ranch are engaged in strategic planning to
preserve the ranches historic sites and possibly establish
a historic museum.
In Progress
17 Waiulaula
Watershed
MKSWCD The Mauna Kea Soil and Water Conservation District
(MKSWCD) in collaboration with NRCS are planning to
preserve and increase water quality in the Waiuluulu
Watershed. This watershed area includes flood prone
areas in Waimea Town and Lälämilo.
TBD
18 Kauhale
ÿÖiwi
Puÿukapu
Kanu o ka
ÿÄina New
Century
Public
Charter
School
The project is a series of small scale building complexes
meant to house the programs and services of Kanu o ka
ÿÄina. The project is located on 15 acres on DHHL
Puÿukapu Homestead land.
Phase I
construction
has begun
Chapter 4: Waimea Town Plan
South Kohala CDP November 2008
FINAL Page 59
FIGURE 4.2: GENERAL PLAN LUPAG FOR WAIMEA
FIGURE 4.3: COUNTY ZONING FOR WAIMEA
Chapter 4: Waimea Town Plan
South Kohala CDP November 2008
FINAL Page 60
From 1970-2000 almost 1,400 housing units were built in Waimea. Currently, there are approximately
2,900 housing units in Waimea. * 2003-2006 Housing units are an estimate based upon the number of
Building permits that were issued during those years.
Figure 4.2 Housing
Table 4.2 New Residential Building Permits in Waimea (2003-2006)
Waimea “Dry Side” Waimea “Wet Side” Waimea South of
Mämalahoa Hwy.
Year Number of
Permits
Number of
Units
Number of
Permits
Number
of Units
Number of
Permits
Number
of Units
2003 4 4 57 81 58 58
2004 7 6 66 65 12 12
2005 11 11 65 63 46 45
2006 3 3 29 29 38 38
Total 25 24 217 238 144 153
Source: The HI Co. Planning Department
There were a total of 396 residential building permits issued by the County for the Waimea area for
415 residential units from 2003-2006. The large majority of permits were issued for the “Wet Side”
or east side of Waimea Town, while relatively few building permits were issued for the “Dry Side”
or west side of Waimea Town.
Current and Future Road Projects
Parker Ranch Connector Road is designed to start from Mämalahoa Highway near the Parker Ranch
rodeo grounds, then run just south of Parker Ranch’s Luala’i subdivision and shopping center, and
reconnect Mämalahoa Highway at or near Kamamalu Street, near the Waimea Civic Center. The
connector road project will include a linear park and bikeway and a pedestrian pathway. The
project is estimated to cost approximately $13.1 million, and construction for part of the project is
to begin in the near future . The timetable for completion of this connector road is as follows:
Number of Housing Units Built in Waimea 1930-2000; 2003-2006*
97
318
213
545
870
548
386
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900
1000
1939 or
earlier
1940 to
1959
1960 to
1969
1970 to
1979
1980 to
1989
1990 to
2000
2003 to
2006*
Nu
m
b
e
r
o
f
H
o
u
s
i
n
g
U
n
i
t
s
Chapter 4: Waimea Town Plan
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1. From Mämalahoa Highway near the rodeo grounds to the Luala’i subdivision,
Kaomaloa Street, including the intersection with Mämalahoa: by May of 2009.
2. From Luala’i subdivision, Kaomaloa Street to Pukalani Road including the Pukalani
Extension with connection to the completed portion of Pukalani Road: by May of
2010.
3. Completion of the final section of the Parker Ranch connector road, from Pukalani
Road to Mämalahoa Highway in the vicinity of Kamamalu Street. Parker Ranch is
responsible for construction of this final section of road in conjunction with
development of the immediately surrounding area, with the proviso that this section
must be completed no later than the issuance of the building permit for the 450th
residential unit within the rezoned parcel. There continues to be debate as to whether
this section of the connector road should intersect with Kamamalu Street, or should
connect directly onto Mämalahoa Highway in the vicinity of the civic center and
North Hawaiÿi Hospital. Other options are to indefinitely postpone construction of this
section of the road or to connect the road in both locations with only one-way traffic
traveling west adjacent to the North Hawaiÿi hospital so as to mitigate the noise impact
to the hospital and to decrease the extent to which Kamamalu Street is affected.
Lindsey Road Extension. This project extends Lindsey Road from its intersection with Mämalahoa
Highway to the proposed Waimea Bypass Road. Extension of Lindsey Road from its current
terminus near the Post Office and Kahilu Theater to the Parker Ranch Connector Road corridor is
the responsibility of Parker Ranch. Parker Ranch is required to construct this section of the Lindsey
Road Extension concurrently with any commercial development of the immediately surrounding
commercial zoned areas and must complete this section prior to issuance of a certificate of
occupancy for that commercial development. Parker Ranch is also responsible for construction of
that portion of the Lindsey Road extension located between the Connector Road and the future State
Waimea Bypass Road located east of the rezoned property.
Richard Smart in the Parker Ranch 2020 Plan envisioned this Lindsey Road Extension as a
“community street” and central to his vision of creating a “village center” in Waimea.
Road “A” is an internal connector road that will bisect the Luala’i subdivision and the Waimea
public school property and connect on to the Lindsey Road Extension. The Department of Education
is expected to pay for this road.
Lälämilo Connector Road also known as the Mämalahoa Highway – Kawaihae Road Connector
Project would connect the Kawaihae Road to Mämalahoa Highway near the Lälämilo Farm Lots.
The proposed road would start at the Mämalahoa Highway near the Parker Ranch Race Track and
near the terminus of the planned Parker Ranch Connector Road. The road would travel in a
northwesterly direction, intersecting Kawaihae Road near the Waimea Solid Waste Transfer Station
Road. The cost for this project is estimated to be over $9 million. Currently an Environmental
Assessment for the project is being prepared by the County Department of Public Works. A number
of objections to the alignment of the road have been raised. There is concern about the adverse
impact the road may have on the farm lots and other abutting properties, in particular an organic
farm.
Waiaka Bridge and Intersection Replacement Project would widen and realign the bridge over the
Waiaka Stream. The scope of the project also includes reconstruction of the adjacent intersection of
Chapter 4: Waimea Town Plan
South Kohala CDP November 2008
FINAL Page 62
the Kohala Mountain Road and Kawaihae Road and installation of various safety improvements. To
date the public prefers a new alignment mauka of the existing bridge location, with provisions for
pedestrian, bicycle, and equestrian use. One possibility that received general community support is
to retain the current bridge and use it solely for non-vehicular traffic. Construction is scheduled to
begin in 2011 and will be funded by State and possibly Federal funds.
Lindsey Road Bridge Replacement Project is located near the Mämalahoa Highway intersection.
The project is slated for the 2009-2010 fiscal year. There is great concern that this construction
project will cause more traffic congestion in the center of town.
Waimea Bypass Road was initially proposed by the State DOT in the 1960s. The purpose of the
proposed Waimea Bypass Road is to reduce cross-island traffic traveling between east and west
Hawaiÿi through Waimea Town. The road’s most recent design is to start from the Mämalahoa
Highway near Mud Lane and connect with the Kawaihae Bypass Road at Mämalahoa Highway.
The project is expected to be funded by State and Federal highway programs. However, the only
funding to date has been for an Environmental Impact Statement, which is still underway. Major
controversial questions surrounding this project include how, where, and whether to traverse the
DHHL Puÿukapu farm lots on the east side of Waimea. Waimea residents are also concerned about
the road’s alignment immediately south of the town center. There is considerable sentiment in the
Waimea community that this State highway should be aligned to the south of the Waimea Airport.
Kawaihae Road Bypass is planned to start at Mämalahoa Highway near the Waimea Airport at the
terminus of the Waimea Bypass Road. As with the Waimea Bypass Road, there is considerable
sentiment in the Waimea community for this road to be aligned south of the Puÿu Pa – Puÿu
Huluhulu cindercone complex. This highway will link up with the Queen Kaÿahumanu Highway in
the vicinity of Kawaihae Harbor. The road is designed to relieve traffic anticipated from the further
development of the resort areas, vehicles traveling between East Hawaiÿi and West Hawaiÿi, and
increased vehicle, cargo, and Superferry traffic from Kawaihae Harbor. The Draft EIS was begun in
2006 and planning for the project is still in process. This road is proposed to be constructed in up to
three sections. There is considerable district-wide community support for construction of the
segment in the area of Kawaihae, given the potentially significant impact of the Superferry and
military traffic into and out of the Harbor. According to the County Department of Public Works,
construction of the road is scheduled to begin in 2014.
Waimea Trails and Greenways creates a corridor through Waimea town along the Waikoloa Stream
consisting of trails and greenways. This project is intended to encourage alternative forms of
circulation other than by car for trips within Waimea Town by providing accessible pathways to
connect residential areas with schools and commercial areas. The trail will extend along Waikoloa
Stream from the South Kohala View Estates on the west and travel northeast, through the Waimea
Nature Park to the State land north of Church Row. The project will also consist of a 17-acre trail
head, picnic area, and parking area located on the State land near the Waimea Solid Waste Transfer
Station. The first phase of the project, in the vicinity of the Waimea Nature Park, has been
completed and is open to the public. The project will be federally funded.
Chapter 4: Waimea Town Plan
South Kohala CDP November 2008
FINAL Page 63
4.2 WAIMEA TOMORROW: WAIMEA CONCEPTUAL PLAN &
POLICIES
PURPOSE: This Waimea Town Conceptual Plan presents in graphic and narrative form general
guidelines for the long-range – 20+ year look-ahead – future of Waimea Town.
During the course of the Community Readiness Process and Waimea Focus Group meetings, five
main concerns were consistently voiced:
o Preserving Waimea’s “sense of place”
o Moderating the pace of growth and change in Waimea
o Wise management of natural resources and important agricultural lands
o Development of affordable housing
o Timely construction of transportation and circulation improvements
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FIGURE 4.4: WAIMEA TOWN CONCEPTUAL PLAN
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This Conceptual Plan is presented as an important linking step between the Focus Group
discussions and the resulting “Planning Notes” (November 2007) and the more detailed Action
Programs that the CDP Team has developed on specific plan elements, including:
1. Strategies to “save the pu`u”
2. Strategies for preserving small farms, small ranches, and open spaces in East Waimea, and
expanding farming activities
3. Plans for implementing walkways and bikeways along major roads
A note on the Conceptual Plan graphics and text: the graphic includes a variety of land use elements
and ideas, including:
•Existing Land Uses (black text on the graphic)
•Projects and developments planned by various agencies and land owners (blue text)
•Concepts and land uses recommended by the CDP (red text)
The Conceptual Plan text provided here addresses most of but not all of the elements shown on the
graphic. The text also includes some policies and details that are not shown on the graphic. Thus,
text and graphics are presented as mutually supporting planning tools, but are not “identical” in
content.
Note: the term “Waimea Community” is used in many places in this CDP text. Our working
definition of the “Waimea Community” is all of the people who live in and work in and are
associated with the town of Waimea, including but of course not limited to recognized community
leaders and the members of various Waimea-based social, educational, cultural, and business
organizations.
Based on input from the Community Meetings and Focus Group Meetings, the South Kohala
Steering Committee meetings, and planning studies undertaken to date, suggested Overall Policies
for Land Use in Waimea Town are:
Waimea Policy 1. PRESERVATION OF WAIMEA’S SENSE OF PLACE shall be the principal,
overarching land use policy for Waimea. This policy shall be implemented
through measures for responsible growth, and through the preservation and
protection of important lands and resources, including important cultural
and historic sites and structures, important agricultural lands, and visually
and environmentally important open space areas in Waimea Town.
Waimea Policy 2. “RESPONSIBLE GROWTH” shall be an overarching land use policy for
Waimea. Adequate infrastructure, including roads, water supply, electrical
power, drainage structures, schools, and parks, shall be provided by public
and/or private entities before any large-scale new residential or
commercial projects can be considered for approval by the County.
Waimea Policy 3. ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP shall be an overarching land use
policy for Waimea. Land use decisions shall be based on wise
management practices for forests, watersheds, natural drainage ways and
streams, native ecosystems, and important agricultural lands.
Waimea Policy 4. DEVELOP AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR WAIMEA. County Government
and the Waimea community shall work with major area land owners,
including the State of Hawaiÿi, Parker Ranch and the Department of
Hawaiian Home Lands, to plan and implement affordable housing projects
for low and moderate income people of Waimea.
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Waimea Policy 5. TIMELY IMPLEMENTATION OF NEEDED CIRCULATION AND
TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENTS. The County Government shall
coordinate and work with the community and with state and federal
agencies toward the timely construction of priority circulation and
transportation improvements, including pedestrian, bicycling, and public
transportation, improvements in order to alleviate severe traffic congestion
that is impacting Waimea Town.
Important related land use strategies for Waimea Town are summarized below.
POLICY NO. 1 PRESERVATION OF WAIMEA’S SENSE OF PLACE
Strategy 1.1 Protect the Puÿu of Waimea – The green puÿu above Waimea Town have great
cultural, historical, and visual importance for the community. Together with the grand views of
Mauna Kea to the southeast of the town, the puÿu define the special landscape “sense of place” of
Waimea.
Efforts to protect the puÿu should be centered on keeping the puÿu and surrounding areas in
agricultural use (grazing) and conservation use. Many of the puÿu have deep cultural importance for
Native Hawaiians, and they are important areas for Native Hawaiians to pursue traditional cultural
practices. Allowing access to the puÿu is important for these traditional cultural practices. The puÿu
also play an important role in the natural systems of the watershed.
A State-owned parcel that contains three of the most important puÿu of Waimea was recently
“downzoned” by the County Council from Ag-1a and Ag-5a to “Ag-400” – a zoning designation that
will prevent the land from being divided up into small agricultural lots. An overall protection plan
is now needed for the other important puÿu: not only the steeply sloping cinder cone features, but
also their associated slopes within the “Puÿu Protection Zone” as illustrated in the accompanying
“Concept Plan for Waimea.” The tree line referenced in the 1986 Waimea Design Plan should
serve as the lower boundary line for the “Puÿu Protection Zone.” The Waimea Design Plan states:
“Preserve the Kohala Mountains and puÿu’s above the present tree line.”
The Puÿu Protection Plan for Waimea could include one or more of the following tools:
•Prohibit any new structures above the tree line referenced in the 1986 Waimea Design Plan
•Voluntary downzonings
•Purchase of conservation easements by the County or by a Land Trust
•Development of educational materials on the history and cultural importance of the puÿu
•Partnership agreements with DLNR and DHHL
•Partnership agreements with private land owners
If restrictions on the use of these lands are found to significantly diminish the value of a particular
parcel, consideration should be given to providing fair compensation to the land owner.
The Puÿu Protection Plan for Waimea presented in the “Action Program” section consists of the
acquisition of conservation easements and the requirement of a use permit for grading and
construction on steep slopes. It has also been suggested that the Waimea Community and the
County request the State Legislature to pass a Concurrent Resolution stating that the puÿu lands of
Waimea shall be preserved as undeveloped pasture and forests. Public access to puÿu located on
State land should be provided. Private land owners may also be able to provide public access
easements. A regional scale puÿu protection program could preserve all of the important puÿu in the
District of South Kohala – and perhaps in neighboring districts as well. See the Puÿu Protection
Action Program for details.
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Strategy 1.2 Acquire Critical Open Space Areas – Some of the puÿu lands may need to be acquired
– either by the County through the recently formed Open Space Commission or by a non-profit
entity like the Hawaiÿi Island Land Trust. Some of the visually important small farm and small ranch
lots in East Waimea may also be priorities for acquisition in order to ensure their continued use for
farming or ranching – either fee purchase or acquisition of conservation easements. Depending on
the disposition of the land owner, “downzoning” or special overlay districts may not be the best
strategy to use for preserving critical open space areas, as these measures can lead to legal
challenges and litigation. Acquisition of the fee interest or of conservation easements for critical
open space parcels can therefore be, in some cases, the best approach. Of course, the constraint for
this strategy is the availability of acquisition funds. See the Action Program – Acquire Critical Open
Space Areas in East Waimea for details.
Strategy 1.3 Protect important cultural and historic sites, structures, and landscapes – Waimea
Town has a wealth of cultural and historic resources, from pre-contact Hawaiian culture, from the
heyday of the paniolo era, and from more recent times. A list of some of these sites and resources is
located in section 2.5.1 of this CDP. Many of these sites, structures, and landscapes should be
protected and preserved as important elements of Waimea’s heritage and sense of place. The
“Waimea Concept Plan” graphic identifies only a few of these important resources: the Waimea
Field System to the west of the Lälämilo Farm Lots, the Pukalani Complex, including the Breaking
Pen, Carriage Barn, Pukalani Stables, Blacksmith Shop, and Puÿu Hihale Corral near Waimea Town
Center, the puÿu mauka of the Town, and the Racetrack Complex near the Parker Ranch
Headquarters. These identified sites are not meant to be “officially protected” sites, but are
identified as important examples of Waimea’s history. There are many other important historical
properties, including the Anna Ranch, the churches of “Church Row,” the old Lindsey house, and
the Parker Ranch houses at Puopelu, to name a few. Overall, Waimea needs to establish an official
“historic district,” at the state and/or federal level, to preserve and protect its cultural and historic
heritage. A Waimea historic district could honor Hawaiian culture, paniolo traditions, agriculture,
and natural resources. Access to grants and other funding sources is possible by establishing such a
special historic district designation.
Strategy 1.4 Encourage small-scale farming through expanded tax credits – There has been much
talk of late about the need for “food security” for Hawaiÿi, and the need to expand diversified
agriculture. However, recent statistics from the state Department of Agriculture indicate that the
number of farms, farm acreage, and farm workers is declining in Hawaiÿi. This trend appears to be
especially acute for animal products, including dairies, chicken and egg farms, and pig farms. If
farming, including small family farms and part-time farms, is to continue to be an important part of
the region’s food production and economy, incentives for farming are needed. These incentives
could include County real property tax incentives and state farm income tax credits. The State
Legislature is currently considering a number of incentives for farming, including tax credits, loan
guarantees, and a provision allowing on-site housing for farm workers.
Strategy 1.5 Expand the Lälämilo Farm Lots – The Lälämilo Farm Lots were originally subdivided
and made available to farmers in the early 1960’s and were intentionally isolated by locating them
sufficiently distant from town. At that time, there were 27 lots, ranging in size from 15 to 57 acres,
and totaling approximately 550 acres. This development was created with the intention that no
individual lot would have less than 15 arable acres to produce truck-crops for local and export
markets. Today, there are approximately 35 farm operations active here, employing about 150 full-
time and some part-time workers. Of the 35 farm lots, 32 are now owned in fee, and 3 are still
leased from the State. These farmlots are an important asset not just for Waimea, but for the entire
State due to the unique climatic conditions of the area and the irreplaceable irrigation system.
There are a hundred acres or more of state-owned land located between the existing farm lots and
the historic “Waimea Field System” that could be developed for expansion of farming activities.
Assuming a minimum farm lot size of 15 acres, this expansion area could provide about 7 new farm
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lots, and something in the range of an additional 30 to 40 full-time farm jobs, and additional food-
producing farms. There have been conflicting opinions from the community regarding the need or
demand for additional farm acreage. A market demand analysis and agriculture water use analysis
should be developed to address the need for expanding the Farm Lots. Expansion of the farm lots
should also be conditional on the ability to adequately increase the supply of water for irrigation.
A caution: any expansion of the Lälämilo Farm Lots should be carefully designed to avoid infringing
on the culturally and historically significant Waimea Field System. As well, buffer areas consistent
with the State Department of Agriculture’s recommendation of “800 feet and preferably 1,000 feet
distant from the Farm Lots” should be maintained around the existing (and any future) farm lots so
that farming activities will not be adversely impacted by nearby residential or other development.
Strategy 1.6 Recognize and protect significant trees and other plants in Waimea –A high priority
for Waimea should be the identification and protection of significant mature trees or tree clusters
within Waimea Town, especially those along the road sides and stream beds, as well those that
serve as significant windbreaks.
Throughout its history and still today, Waimea has been recognized as a place of great natural
beauty. Waimea is where the mountains and forests and the streams and lush varied tree canopy
meet the fertile plains. Preserving Waimea’s close relationship with nature is critical to preserving
its “sense of place”. Most people in the Waimea community recognize the need to protect and
preserve the quantity and diversity of mature trees in and near the town center, as a way to
maintain:
•its village character,
•its diversity of bird life,
•its pedestrian friendly character;
•its visual beauty, and
•the environmental benefits, such as creating windbreaks and erosion control buffers, and
the contribution to an agriculture-friendly climate.
Thought needs to be given to the establishment of a “Waimea Trees Advisory Committee” that
would work in partnership with interested private groups such as the Outdoor Circle, and with
concerned government entities such as the County’s exceptional tree Council and the Parks and
Recreation Department toward the recognition and preservation of exceptional trees in Waimea.
The importance of encouraging protection of trees and vegetation in Waimea goes beyond the
significance of individual trees. Other reasons such as global warming, rainfall distribution, and
windbreak preservation, make protecting the trees of Waimea a vital undertaking.
Strategy 1.7 Encourage design and architectural guidelines that promote Waimea’s paniolo
heritage - The 1986 Waimea Design Plan should be used as a reference and starting point for
formulating additional design and architectural guidelines for new developments in Waimea.
POLICY NO. 2 “RESPONSIBLE GROWTH”: MODERATE THE PACE OF GROWTH AND CHANGE
IN WAIMEA
Strategy 2.1 The County should carefully evaluate and condition, as appropriate, any rezoning
that would negatively impact important agricultural lands or culturally, visually and
environmentally important open spaces or resources in Waimea -- Time will be needed to
implement a number of important open space preservation tools and programs, including
acquisition of fee interest or conservation easements for important pu`u and some of the East
Waimea farm and ranch lots. While these tools and programs are being put into place, private
lands that are currently zoned A-5a, A-10a, A-20a, or A-40a should retain their current zoning.
Exceptions can be made for affordable housing, agricultural cluster subdivisions, and small-scale
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rezonings of 4 lots or less that may assist families in allowing their children to obtain individual
properties.
Strategy 2.2 Work with Parker Ranch to phase the “Parker 2020” Development -- The original
Parker 2020 Master Plan envisioned a total of about 750 homes and 250,000 square feet of retail
and office commercial development on Parker Ranch lands located at the center of Waimea Town.
To date, about 240 lots have been subdivided and 80 homes have been built and sold. Pursuant to
a major re-organization, there is an understanding that the newly appointed Parker Ranch Trustees
will be taking a fresh look at the goals and objectives of this major development. If the additional
670 homes per the original Master Plan were to be built by 2020, this one project alone would add
some 1800 people to Waimea’s population over the next 12 years – a population increase
comparable to the increase of 1,056 people in Waimea’s population during the decade 1990-2000.
Development projects of this size typically have a fairly aggressive “build-out” schedule. However,
this may be a good time to reassess the size and development pace of this project. In the event that
Parker Ranch does proceed to develop any of the remaining portions of this Parker 2020
development, community input should be encouraged and carefully considered during the
development approval process.
Strategy 2.3 Revise the County Subdivision Regulations and Planning Department policies and
enforcement procedures to ensure that agricultural subdivisions are created for agricultural
purposes and are not used for rural residential purposes without rezoning -- State Land Use
statutes restrict residential structures on lots created after June 3, 1976 in the State “Agriculture”
District to “farm dwellings.” In practice however, the Hawaiÿi County Planning Department has
approved many “agricultural subdivisions” that are actually rural residential developments.
There is certainly a demand and a place for rural residential projects. However, rural residential
projects should be required to apply for and receive State Land Use “Rural” classification, and
County “Rural Residential” Zoning designation. As a corollary, any and all agricultural subdivisions
should be required to submit a farming plan for either commercial farming, including grazing of
animals, or subsistence farming together with their preliminary subdivision documents, and the
Planning Department should design and implement a monitoring program that will ensure
implementation of these farming plans. In the interim, until such farm plan requirements are put in
place, the Planning Department should encourage land owners of Ag-zoned parcels who are
proposing “Ag Subdivisions” to cluster smaller lots in areas of the site where structures would have
low visual impact, and then delineate most of the remaining acreage as permanent open space
areas.
Strategy 2.4 Amend the County of Hawaiÿi General Plan “LUPAG” map by reducing the acreage
of “Low Density Urban” land in Waimea Town -- The current County General Plan LUPAG map for
the Waimea area includes over 1,000 acres of “Low Density Urban” land in the Waimea area. This
designation is defined in the General Plan (page 14-7) as: “Residential, with ancillary community
and public uses, and neighborhood and convenience-type commercial uses; overall residential
density may be up to six units per acre.”
Note that “six units per acre” translates to 5,000 square foot minimum lot size. The “Low Density
Urban” areas on the LUPAG map include some existing development, but also include important
cultural, historic, agricultural, and open space lands both mauka and makai of Mämalahoa
Highway. Also of concern are the several hundred acres of “Urban Expansion” land shown on the
south side of Kawaihae Road just west of Waimea Center, and the several hundred acres of “Rural”
land shown along the south side of Kawaihae Road, roughly between Waimea and Kawaihae.
Further development of these areas would continue the “suburban sprawl” development pattern that
is not compatible with the goal of preserving Waimea’s “sense of place.”
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The details of any changes to the Waimea section of the County General Plan LUPAG map will
need to be worked out at a future date.
Strategy 2.5 Develop a secondary commercial center on the east end of town -- By providing a
secondary center that services people’s basic daily necessities, a small-scale commercial center
located on the east end of town would help to alleviate traffic congestion that develops around the
existing commercial center in the town center. Residents who live on the east end of town could
instead patronize the secondary commercial center for daily necessities instead of driving to the
town center.
POLICY NO. 3 ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP
Strategy 3.1 Protect Important Agricultural Lands – The Hawaiÿi County General Plan (February
2005) defines “Important Agricultural Lands” (IAL) as “those (lands) with better potential for
sustained high agricultural yields because of soil type, climate, topography, or other factors.” (See
General Plan p. 14-8 for the full definition.) The LUPAG maps for South Kohala show Important
Agricultural Lands in a broad band about 1.2 miles wide north and south of the first 1+ mile of
Kohala Mountain Road, in a broad area that includes most of the DHHL Puÿukapu lands, and in the
southeastern sector of the South Kohala District in the vicinity of the Saddle Road/Mämalahoa
Highway junction. (See LUPAG map for details.) These lands should be used for extensive and
intensive farming and ranching, and should not be rezoned for urban or suburban-type land uses.
POLICY NO. 4 DEVELOP AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR WAIMEA
Strategy 4.1 Develop a Waimea Affordable Housing Program – In 2006, State and County housing
agencies sponsored an update of a state-wide “Housing Policy Study.” This study included a special
analysis of the “homeless” issue. For Hawaiÿi County, the study found that approximately 1/3 of the
County’s 150,000 residents were either: (1) homeless, or (2) only a paycheck or two away from
becoming homeless, or (3) doubled up or tripled up with other families because they were unable to
find affordable for sale or rental housing. Clearly, affordable housing is a state-wide – and national
– issue and problem, and one that is very difficult to solve.
During the CDP process, Waimea residents have said: “Please find a way to provide affordable
housing so that our children can live in the town where they grew up.” There is also a need for
affordable housing for many of the key employees that work in Waimea, including teachers and
hospital workers. An effective affordable housing program that would build affordable for sale
homes and provide affordable rentals could be developed using a non-profit, locally-based housing
corporation and the “land trust” model. See the Affordable Housing Action Program for further
details.
Strategy 4.2 Encourage policies that would provide more affordable rental units in Waimea -- The
County should work with the Waimea community to develop programs that would increase the
number of affordable rental units. Ideas such as revising the Ohana Dwelling section of the Zoning
Code should be further studied.
POLICY NO. 5 TIMELY IMPLEMENTATION OF NEEDED TRANSPORTATION AND
CIRCULATION IMPROVEMENTS
Note: with the exception of, Policy 5.1 “Walkways and Bikeways along the main roads,” the
projects described below are all at some level of planning by various community, county and state
entities. We have included a brief description of these projects because they are very important for
the future of Waimea. However, the CDP cannot devote a significant amount of time and resources
to evaluating these transportation plans or develop any detailed alternatives to proposed new
roadways or traffic improvements. The CDP can, however, reflect community priorities and
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concerns regarding these projects – concerns that are not always reflected in the official project
plans and reports.
Strategy 5.1 Plan, design, and construct walkways and bikeways within the existing rights of way
of the main Waimea Roads: Kawaihae Road and Mämalahoa Highway -- Except for sidewalks for a
few blocks within the center of Waimea Town, there are no walkways or bikeways along the major
roads that could be used by pedestrians and bicyclists, including children walking to and from
school. Constructing safe bikeways and walkways along Mämalahoa Highway and Kawaihae Road
would provide people with alternatives to travel by car, and would thus potentially alleviate to some
degree the peak hour traffic jams that now characterize Waimea.
There is a need for both “higher speed” bike lanes for the “expert” recreational or commuter
bicyclist, as well as walkway/bikeway shared paths that are separated from the roadway, and that
are safe for children and elders. The Waimea Town Plan section of the South Kohala CDP provides
a detailed Action Program for the planning, design, and construction of these walkways and
bikeways.
Strategy 5.2 Support the implementation of the Waimea Trails and Greenways Project – Plans for
the Waimea Trails and Greenways project have been developed over a period of some 13 years.
The first phase of the project, about ½ miles in length, from Lindsey Road to the beginning of the
Sandalwood subdivision, has recently been completed. This multi-purpose path is planned to
eventually extend to the vicinity of “Church Row.” This stream-side trail will be an important
complement to the planned walkway/bikeway system that the CDP proposes along the main
roadways. It is recommended that the Waimea Trails and Greenways Project also be considered for
equestrian use. The County should continue to support this important community project through
funding and technical assistance.
Strategy 5.3 Plan, design, and construct a system of equestrian trails for Waimea – There has been
considerable discussion in recent years about the need and desirability of equestrian trails in the
Waimea area. Of course, a generation or two ago, horses and riders were a natural part of the
Waimea scene, and as recently as the 1980’s, it was not uncommon to see people riding their
horses along the main roads. Now, however, traffic volumes effectively preclude horses and riders
in town. Community leaders need to work with Parker Ranch and other land owners to develop a
system of equestrian trails that will be compatible with existing and future residential, commercial,
and institutional land uses.
The “Waimea Conceptual Plan” graphic shows two schematic alignments for possible equestrian
trails: one from the vicinity of the Parker Ranch Headquarters to the vicinity of the Puÿukapu
houselots, and another trail along the State DOT easement that parallels Mämalahoa Highway, from
the vicinity of the Waimea Airport southward for a distance of about 7 miles. The establishment of
safe equestrian trails in and around Waimea Town is an important program that can connect
Waimea present and future to its special paniolo past.
Strategy 5.4 Plan, design, and construct a system of multi-purpose paths and trails for Waimea –
There are many other opportunities for the establishment of paths and trails in the Waimea area.
The CDP Action Committee should organize a sub-committee to help gather community input to
decide on priority trail routes. After community input has been gathered, the sub-committee should
help with the implementation of priority trail projects. Several suggested multi-purpose paths and
trails for Waimea include but are not limited to the following ideas below.
Parker Ranch Equestrian Plan - The Parker Ranch 2020 Equestrian Plan calls for a non-profit to take
over the operation and maintenance of this trail. According to the zoning ordinance, the trail is to
be completed before the occupation of any residential or commercial development in the Waimea
Town Center.
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A temporary trail located in the Parker Ranch Connector Road Phase Two corridor may serve the
community well. While the connector road cannot be built in the immediate future, a trail in this
location would provide the community a needed alternative travel route.
A perimeter trail around the State owned Buster Brown parcel that could possibly extend to Anna
Ranch or to HPA has been advocated by several community members.
Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail Comprehensive Management Plan/EIS – Map of Alternative C:
Ahupuaÿa Trail Systems shows the proposed corridor and possible connector and lateral trails in
South Kohala. Waimea Trails & Greenways could be extended down an alignment that would
follow Waikoloa Stream and Waiulaula Stream to connect with the Ala Kahakai NHT. When
Paniolo Road is extended from Waikoloa to Kawaihae Road, a parallel shared use path could
connect to Waimea Trails & Greenways and the Ala Kahakai NHT.
Kohala Watershed Management Plan – Trails and Public Recreational Use Areas map shows a
number of existing unimproved and dirt roads and trails in South Kohala. The plan encourages use
of these roads and trails by the public.
PB Americas Waimea Traffic Circulation Study – Map shows Waimea Trails & Greenways extending
eastward along the Old Homestead Road, a path along Mämalahoa Highway, Parker Ranch
Connector Road and Lälämilo Connector Road and the Lindsey Road Extension. During the Parker
Ranch Connector charrette, it was suggested that a path on one side of the connector road(s) could
accommodate pedestrians and slow bike riders and one on the other side of the connector road(s)
could accommodate equestrians. Note that this suggestion plus the opening of the Parker Ranch
equestrian trail would create an equestrian loop. Also, it would connect the Waimea Trails &
Greenways parking lot (which is planned to accommodate horse trailers to allow equestrian use of
portions of the trail) to the equestrian trail loop, and if a north-south shared use trail in the vicinity of
Waimea Civic Center connected these trails to the Old Government Road, a longer loop would be
possible.
It is also recommended that the Old Government Road (that extends behind Imiola Church and runs
along until it reaches behind Puÿu Kakanihia and follows down Lanimaomao Stream, exiting out
near the Kamehameha Schools Preschool) be cleared of vegetation and considered as a multi-
purpose trail.
Nino Walker’s Paths in the Country Map – This map shows one way to create an alternative access
to the Waipio Rim Trail that was lost when the White Road Trail was closed. The trail could follow
the perimeter of Anna Ranch or the State parcel north of town. A number of possible trail
alignments are suggested within Waimea town.
Existing utility pole easements are potential trail systems that already exist and with minimal
improvement could become long linear recreational facilities, for hiking, horseback riding and
bicycling. The conceptual Kapuni O Hawaiÿi trail paralleling Queen Kaÿahumanu Highway along
the utility pole line, as well as the one makai of Mämalahoa Highway are examples. Steps should
be taken in the initial phasing of the bike/pedestrian network to include these rights of way where
ever possible.
A pedestrian/bike/horse bridge across Waikoloa Stream would be provided on State property to
connect the Kapiolani/Spencer/Hokuula/Lindsey loop (which is already used by pedestrians, bike
riders and equestrians) to the rest of the shared use network via Church Row. Portions of one or
both of State lots 6-5-004-015 and 6-5-004-079 could serve as trail head parking lots and/or
community gardens. Parker Ranch lot 6-5-004-099 would have to be crossed, but crossing might
be possible within a drainage easement.
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The widening of the shoulder area along the Kohala Mountain Road to allow for bicyclists should
also be considered as a future project. Currently, the road is already used by many bicyclists.
Implementation of many of the ideas presented above would require the cooperation of South
Kohala land owners.
Strategy 5.5 Implement short-term traffic mitigation improvements in and around Waimea Town
Center – The “Draft Waimea Traffic Circulation Study” by the engineering company PB Americas
provides recommendations on relatively near-term improvements that could be implemented to
lessen the severity of peak hour traffic congestion in Waimea Town Center. These improvements
include widening a section of Mämalahoa Highway from 2 lanes to 4 lanes, and improvements to
the main intersection of Mämalahoa Highway/Lindsey Road/Kawaihae Road.
Some community members have gone on record criticizing the study for lack of understanding of
Waimea’s unique history and “country town” character. Specifically, some people have strongly
opposed any widening of Mämalahoa Highway near the town center from 2 lanes to 4 lanes. The
suggested alternate action is “changes in travel habits” rather than road widening. For example,
starting time for (some) schools and/or some places of employment both in Waimea and in the
Resorts might significantly alleviate traffic congestion during peak hours – although changing
starting times for schools to a later time may result in schools ending at the same time as the
afternoon peak traffic conditions.
There were community concerns about other plan details. However, the plan was recently
submitted to the County as a “final” plan with no changes. Safe routes to school programs that
encourage bicycling and walking to school will alleviate a percentage of morning traffic and should
be part of a comprehensive traffic mitigation plan for Waimea Town Center. This includes
sidewalk, cross walk improvements, crossing guards, pedestrian and bicycle education in schools,
“Walking Bus” programs, and “Bicycle Train” (adult supervised bicycling to school programs.) The
County needs to work closely with the Waimea community as elements of this plan are designed
and implemented.
Strategy 5.6 Design and construct the Parker Ranch Connector Road – Parker Ranch and the
County of Hawaiÿi recently reached an agreement regarding design and construction of the “Parker
Ranch Connector Road.” This much needed road would extend from Kamamalu Street in east
Waimea to Mämalahoa Highway just north of the Parker Ranch racetrack and rodeo grounds.
Regarding the intersection of this Connector Road with Mämalahoa Highway to the east of Waimea
Center: the North Hawaiÿi Hospital has gone on record opposing any intersection that would
require the Connector Road to be constructed in close proximity to the Hospital’s eastern boundary.
The North Hawaiÿi Hospital has also stated that the bypass should not be constructed on hospital
property. Construction of this road would allow traffic between East Hawaiÿi and Mämalahoa
Highway south to avoid the congestion of Waimea Town Center. The estimated cost of the road is
$15 million, and the estimated completion date is 2010. Engineering design work for the project is
to proceed in early 2008. Details of the multi-purpose path that will parallel the new road have yet
to be finalized.
Strategy 5.7 Design and construct the Lälämilo Connector Road – This proposed road would
extend from the Parker Ranch Connector/Mämalahoa intersection to Kawaihae Road in the vicinity
of the existing County solid waste transfer station. Construction of this road, together with
completion of all three Phases of the Parker Ranch Connector Road, could potentially allow traffic
between Waiaka and Puÿukapu to circumvent the Waimea Center. The estimated cost is over $9
million, and the road would be financed and maintained by the County. As of January 2008, the
Environmental Assessment and detailed design work for this project was “on hold” pending
finalization of the “Waimea Traffic Circulation Study.” Of special concern is the State Department
of Agriculture’s recommendation of “800 feet and preferably greater than 1,000 feet distance from
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the Farm Lots” between this proposed road and the existing Lälämilo Farm Lots, and in particular an
organic farm that would be adversely affected by the new road. Bicycle facilities and pedestrian
paths should be included in the design of this road.
Strategy 5.8 Work with the State Department of Transportation to resolve the best alignment for
the proposed Waimea/Kawaihae Road Bypass Highway – This major state highway project has
been studied and debated for some thirty years. This Bypass Highway would be a major regional
arterial 2-lane highway that would provide a new route for traffic between East Hawaiÿi and
Kawaihae Harbor. The most recent proposed alignment for this road in the vicinity of Waimea
extends from near the Mud Lane/Mämalahoa Highway intersection, through the upper sections of
the DHHL Puÿukapu Homesteads, through Parker Ranch lands just north of the Waimea Airport,
across Mämalahoa Highway south, and then south of the Lälämilo Farm Lots and the Waimea Field
System.
There appears to be a strong community consensus that this highway must be built and that it is
absolutely critical not only to the preservation of the culture and character of Waimea Town, but to
the safety and convenience for all the residents and businesses of East, North, and West Hawaiÿi and
would clearly solve the current as well as the future ills facing the traffic through Waimea Town.
Much community input has indicated that the alignment should be south of, rather than north of,
the Airport (see page 62). Some community members have commented that the entire alignment of
this road in the vicinity of Waimea as proposed by the State is not acceptable, and that the
alignment should be farther south of Waimea Town (see Figure 4.4). Also, some members of the
local Hawaiian community are opposed to any highway construction within Puÿukapu Homesteads.
An “Environmental Impact Statement” for this project has been “in the works” for approximately 10
years. Actual design and construction of this bypass highway may take another 10 years or more.
Any plans for this Bypass Highway should include designation of this road as a “Scenic Highway”
with appropriate controls on future development of lands with highway frontage. Adequate right-of-
way width to include future widening and bike lanes should also be included in the design of the
road.
4.3 ACTION PROGRAMS FOR WAIMEA
4.3.1 ACTION PROGRAM – “PROTECT THE PUÿU OF WAIMEA”
The Need for Action
The green puÿu above Waimea Town and their associated
sloping acreage have great cultural, historical, ecological,
and visual importance for the community. Together with
the grand views of Mauna Kea to the southeast of the
town, the puÿu define the special landscape “sense of
place” of Waimea. The puÿu are also important spiritual
and resource areas for Waimea’s Native Hawaiian people.
Many of these puÿu have been used as grazing lands for
generations, while some are forested. These puÿu and
their associated lands are of vital importance to the health of the Waimea watershed. Generally, by
“protection of the puÿu” the CDP means continuing pasture and forest use of the puÿu and not
allowing residential or commercial development.
The puÿu that most strongly define the mauka landscape of Waimea are the large, green pastureland
puÿu that are located outside of the State’s Forest Preserve area. Moving from west to east, these
puÿu are:
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Table 4.3 Puÿu in Pastureland
PUÿU NAME ELEVATION TMK NO. TMK ACREAGE OWNER
KAMOA 3,439 362001005 247 State of Hawaiÿi
LANIKEPU 3,442 362001008 895 Parker Ranch
LAELAE 3,665 5 TMK’s * (see note below) (see note below)
HOKUÿULA 3,377 365001020 420 State of Hawaiÿi
OWAOWAKA 3,449 365001020 420 State of Hawaiÿi
KI 3,201 365001020/03 420+37 State of Hawaiÿi
*Note: Puÿu Laelae is located at the junction of five (5) TMK’s: 06 (State of Hawaiÿi), 08 (Parker
Ranch), 10 (DHHL), 11 (DHHL) and 19 (DHHL). Open pasture lands downslope from this puÿu
summit, TMK 14, are owned by the Anna Ranch Trust. Sloping lands associated with the puÿu
above Hawaiÿi Preparatory Academy are owned by the Academy.
Other important puÿu in the area include a number of forested puÿu located within the State Forest
Reserve:
•Puÿu Pelu Elevation 3,750 (feet above MSL)
•Puÿu Ohu Elevation 3,934
•Puÿu Iki Elevation 3,768
•Puÿu Haloa Elevation 4,084
•Puÿu Kaÿala Elevation 3,985
•Puÿu Lala Elevation 3,200
Given their location in the State Forest Reserve area, these puÿu are not at risk of being subdivided
or developed.
There are also several small puÿu that are located within the small ag/ranch lots area of East
Waimea:
•Puÿu Kakaniha Elevation 3,157
•Puÿu Maile Elevation 3,625
•Puÿu Manu Elevation 3,635
And some isolated puÿu located south of Waimea, including:
•Puÿu Pa / Huluhulu Elevation 2,687
•Puÿu Holoholo Ku Elevation 3,263
The state-owned parcel that contains three of the most important puÿu of Waimea (parcel 20) was
recently “downzoned” by the County Council, with the concurrence of the State DLNR, from Ag-1a
and Ag-5a to “Ag-400” – a zoning designation that will prevent the land from being divided up into
small ag lots.
An overall protection plan is now needed for the other important puÿu.and their associated pasture
lands and forests. Of most concern are the puÿu that are the first three pastureland puÿu identified
in the Table above – Puÿu Kamoa, Puÿu Lanikepu, and Puÿu Laelae. In a “worst case” scenario,
these puÿu and their associated lands would some day be subdivided and developed as houselots.
The visual and environmental impact of developing these steep, scenic, and historic lands would be
huge.
The overall Puÿu Protection Plan for Waimea can include a number of strategies, including the
following:
Strategy 1.1. Acquire conservation easements
Strategy 1.2. Require a Use Permit for Grading on Steep Land
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Details and proposed “Action Programs” for these strategies are provided on the following pages.
Strategy 1.1 Acquire Conservation Easements for Critical Puÿu Parcels
Overview
Acquisition of the fee interest of a property – by the County or by a non-profit land trust – would
provide the higher level of control, but would also be the more expensive type of action. Purchase
of a Conservation Easement would give the purchasing entity a limited level of control over future
uses of the parcel, but would be less costly. Purchase of a conservation easement would also be
more appropriate if the parcel’s owner intends to continue using the parcel for ranching.
Generally, the purchase of a conservation easement for a given property would mean that the
property cannot be developed for residential, commercial, industrial, or institutional uses, and that
the use of the property shall remain agricultural and/or open space.
The conservation easement strategy would be feasible for privately owned puÿu lands, but would
not be applicable to DHHL lands, which are held in trust by DHHL for the benefit of native
Hawaiian people.
The Action Program for the acquisition of conservation easements on critical puÿu parcels can be
summarized as follows:
•Who should take the lead? Waimea-based open space subcommittee of the South Kohala
“CDP Action Committee,” which is the community-based entity that will be the successor
to the Steering Committee; with assistance from the County Planning Department; the
County Public Access, Open Space, Natural Resources Preservation Commission; and the
Hawaiÿi Island Land Trust (HILT)
•What needs to be done? Meet with owners of critical privately owned puÿu parcels “one on
one” to find out if they are willing to negotiate a conservation easement for the parcel(s).
These meetings could include “land owner education” on the tax benefits and other
benefits of establishing conservation easements. For willing land owners, proceed with
appraisals of the value of a conservation easement, and negotiate a fair price. Seek
acquisition funds from the County and/or from the HILT and/or from wealthy donors
residing in the Waimea area. Implement the acquisition process, including final
negotiations, funding, finalizing a purchase and sale agreement, and a formal closing.
Note: some land owners may be willing to donate a conservation easement to the County
in order to receive tax benefits.
•When should actions be initiated? Initial discussions with land owners can begin as part of
the CDP process. Details and a start on actual acquisitions can be pursued after the South
Kohala CDP has been enacted.
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•How much will it cost? The cost of an acquisition program of this kind can be quite high.
For example, if the program results in the acquisition of 1000 acres of conservation
easements at a cost of $10,000 per acre, the cost would be $10,000,000 – not including
costs for appraisals, attorneys’ fees, closing costs, and other related expenses. To put these
costs in perspective, however, we should keep some of the following numbers in mind:
o The County of Hawaiÿi is setting aside 2% per year of County real property tax
revenues in the County’s open space acquisition fund. This percentage currently
equates to about $4,000,000 per year.
o The Hawaiÿi Island Land Trust, first formed in 2004, may eventually be able to raise
enough money to fund annual acquisitions of $1,000,000 or more.
o In 2007, 1160 acres of open space lands at Püpükea-Paumalü on Oÿahu were
acquired by the North Shore Community Land Trust (NSCLT). Funding for this
acquisition - $11.5 million – was provided by a coalition of public and private
entities, including the U.S. Army, the State legislature, the City and County of
Honolulu, the Trust for Public Lands, and the NSCLT)
General conclusion: an open space acquisition program costing in the millions of dollars is
expensive, but can be done if the lands in question are important enough. For the
“preservation of the Waimea’s sense of place,” the preservation of the green, historic,
culturally important puÿu of Waimea is of critical importance.
•Intended Outcome: Preservation of the puÿu of Waimea as open space for ranching,
forestry, and watershed protection in perpetuity.
Strategy 1.2. Require a Use Permit for Construction on Steep Slopes
Overview
Construction of buildings, roads, and associated structures on steep slopes of over 25 percent often
results in significant increases in storm water runoff, soil erosion, and siltation of streams and near
shore waters. Homes built on steep slopes have experienced foundation failures, with resulting
costly structural damage and injury to the occupants.
The County Planning Department could control construction on steep slopes including construction
on otherwise unprotected puÿu or puÿu related slopes by requiring a use permit for proposed grading
and construction on any parcel where the average slope of the land is greater than 25 percent. This
requirement would include any proposed construction on the steep sides of puÿu and gulches. The
use permit requirement would include a requirement for a public hearing on the proposed use. The
use permit could be denied if the proposed construction was found to have potential significant
negative impacts on the natural and/or visual environment. The permit could also direct the owner
to avoid building on steep slopes if there is a less steep building site available on the parcel.
•Who should take the lead? Hawaiÿi County Planning Department
•What needs to be done? Develop appropriate language requiring a use permit for
construction on steep slopes, and proceed with the process for amending the Zoning
Ordinance.
•When should actions be initiated? The Planning Department can move ahead with this
Zoning Ordinance amendment in the near future.
•How much will it cost? Costs will be primarily staff time and the cost of notifying the
public of the proposed Zoning Ordinance amendment.
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Open pasture land in East Waimea
•Intended Outcome: The Planning Department will then have better regulatory tools to
control construction activities on steep slopes, including any proposed construction on the
scenic and culturally important puÿu of Waimea.
4.3.2 ACTION PROGRAM – ACQUIRE CRITICAL OPEN SPACE AREAS IN EAST
WAIMEA
The Need for Action
Some of the privately-owned puÿu lands of Waimea may need to be acquired – either by the County
through the recently formed Open Space Commission or by a non-profit entity like the Hawai`i
Island Land Trust.
Also of great importance to the rural and paniolo
character of Waimea are the visually important
small farm lots and ranch lots in East Waimea.
Some of these parcels may also be priorities for
acquisition in order to preserve their use for farming
and ranching – either fee purchase or acquisition of
conservation easements.
From Mud Lane to Church Row, and not including
DHHL lands or large parcels that are more or less
“country estate” parcels with large homes, there are
approximately 40 small farm and ranch parcels 10
or more acres in size in this area that front onto
Mämalahoa Highway, and that are still “intact” and
in some form of open space – e.g., that have not been subdivided and developed for residential
purposes. The “view from the road” driving into Waimea from the east (from Honokaÿa) is thus still
rural in nature, with grazing horses, sheep, and cattle, woodlots, and small farm fields dominating
the view.
For some years, however, the trend for these rural lots in east Waimea has been subdivision actions
and/or sale of a parcel and development of expensive homes. A major impediment that
discourages the continued use of these lands for agriculture is the heavy traffic on Mämalahoa
Highway, especially during peak morning and afternoon commute times. Farmers often must
transport slow moving agricultural equipment and products on the highway, which is extremely
hazardous during these periods of the day. Potential new farmers, as well as the remaining farmers,
consider this condition a deterrent to expanding their operations by seeking more land to lease or
purchase in this area.
It is important to note a couple of distinguishing features between the agricultural lands in east
Waimea and those in the Lälämilo Farm Lots. First, east Waimea agricultural lots have been farmed
since the era leading up to World War I, whereas the Lälämilo Farm Lots were first awarded in the
1960s. Second, traffic problems do not exist yet in the Lälämilo farm lots because it is a
concentrated agricultural subdivision that was constructed away from the town center with the
express intention of keeping it isolated.
Acquisition of the fee interest or of conservation easements for several critical open space parcels
may be possible. Of course, the constraint for this strategy is the availability of acquisition funds.
For those parcels that are being proposed for rezoning by the owner – say from A-40a (40-acre
minimum lot size) to A-5a (5-acre minimum lot size) – an alternate strategy would be to work with
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the parcel owner and agree to rezoning a portion of the parcel to RS-20 or RS-10 to accommodate a
reasonable number of lots, and downzone or place an agricultural easement on the rest of the
property. This strategy would be a sort of “internal Transfer of Development Rights” (TDR).
Strategies to consider for the preservation of some of the small farms and ranches thus include:
Strategy 2.1 – Acquisition of Fee Interest or of Conservation Easements
Strategy 2.2 – Internal TDR
Strategy 2.1 – Acquisition of Fee Interest or of Conservation Easements
Overview
Acquisition of the fee interest of a property – by the County or by a non-profit land trust – would
provide the higher level of control, but would also be the more expensive type of action. Purchase
of a Conservation Easement would give the purchasing entity a limited level of control over future
uses of the parcel, but would be less costly. Purchase of a conservation easement would also be
more appropriate if the parcel’s owner intends to continue to live on the property and continue
using the parcel for farming or ranching. Acquisition of the fee interest would be the better
approach for those small farmers and ranchers who need retirement funds.
Generally, the purchase of a conservation easement for a given property would mean that the
property cannot be developed for residential, commercial, industrial, or institutional uses, and that
the use of the property shall remain agricultural and/or open space.
Based on recent sales of some of the parcels in East Waimea, a 40-acre farm or ranch lot might sell
in 2008 for about $2,000,000. The alternative Conservation Easement cost for the 40-acre parcel
might be about 1/2 that amount, or about $1,000,000.
A further alternative might be the purchase of a conservation easement for only a portion of the
parcel – e.g., that portion of the parcel that is most visible from Mämalahoa Highway. For example,
if a typical 20-acre parcel is about 400 feet wide by about 2200 feet deep, a conservation easement
on the highway frontage section of the parcel measuring 400 feet wide by 1000 feet deep would still
provide for a significant amount of open space at a cost of perhaps about 50% of the cost of a
conservation easement for the entire parcel.
The Action Program for the acquisition of the fee interest or of conservation easements for selected
parcels in East Waimea would be similar to the Action Program for the purchase of conservation
easements for the puÿu parcels, and can be summarized as follows:
•Who should take the lead? Waimea-based open space subcommittee of the South Kohala
CDP Community Action Committee, with assistance from the County Planning Department,
the County Open Space Commission, and the Hawaiÿi Island Land Trust (HILT)
•What needs to be done? Create a detailed map and list of open space parcels, together
with notes on their current use and owners. Meet with owners “one on one” or in small
groups to find out if they are willing to or planning to or in need of selling their land – either
the fee interest or a conservation easement. Set approximate purchase prices and designate
one or more parcels as the highest priority for acquisition. Seek acquisition funds from the
County and/or from the HILT and/or from wealthy donors residing in the Waimea area.
Implement the acquisition process, including appraisals, negotiations, funding, finalizing a
purchase and sale agreement, and a formal closing.
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•When should actions be initiated? Initial discussions with land owners can begin as part of
the CDP process. Details and a start on actual acquisitions can be pursued after the South
Kohala CDP has been enacted.
•How much will it cost? The cost of an acquisition program of this kind can be quite high.
For example, if the program results in the acquisition of 100 acres in fee simple at a cost of
$50,000 per acre = $5,000,000 plus 400 acres of conservation easements at a cost of
$25,000 per acre = $10,000,000 over a 10-year period, total 10-year costs could easily be
$15,000,000 or more – not including costs for appraisals, attorneys’ fees, closing costs, and
other related expenses. To keep these costs in perspective, however, we should keep in
mind the funding sources and conservation precedents that are noted for the Strategy 1.2.
Acquire Conservation Easements for Critical Puÿu Parcels, above.
General conclusion: an open space acquisition program costing in the millions of dollars is
expensive, but can be done if the lands in question are important enough. For the
“preservation of the Waimea’s sense of place,” the East Waimea small farms and ranches
are of critical importance.
•Intended Outcome: Preservation of most of the remaining small farms and ranches in East
Waimea as open space for farming and ranching.
Strategy 2.2 – Internal Transfer of Development Rights
Overview
During the CDP process, there has been considerable interest in and discussion of the concept of
“Transfer of Development Rights” (TDR). This planning/development concept is used in many U.S.
mainland communities. In a typical transaction, a developer purchases the development rights for
“Farmer A’s” 200-acre farm that has A-5a zoning = development potential for about 36 5-acre lots
(assuming 10% of the land for roads and other infrastructure). The developer is then allowed to
“transfer” the “development rights” for the 36 units to a “receiving site” – say a 50-acre site near
town zoned RS-10. The developer is allowed to increase the density of his development by 36 units
without having to go through a rezoning process to be permitted the higher density. Farmer A’s
land can no longer be subdivided and developed and the developer’s project near term is more
profitable.
The proposed “internal” TDR strategy for some of the small farms and ranches in East Waimea
would involve the Planning Department working with the parcel owner to work out an agreement
whereby a portion of the parcel would be rezoned to RS-20 or RS-10 to accommodate a reasonable
number of lots, and the remainder of the parcel would be downzoned or restricted by means of an
agricultural easement or conservation easement.
•Who should take the lead? Hawaiÿi County Planning Department
•What needs to be done? The Planning Department can begin discussions with the owners
of priority parcels. Rezonings from Ag zoning to Residential zoning will also require a
change in State Land Use designation from “Agricultural” to “Urban,” but this change can
be accomplished through a County Special Permit/County Council action if the parcel to be
rezoned is less than 15 acres.
•When should actions be initiated? This program for internal TDR’s could be initiated at
any time, and could be applied to several rezonings of East Waimea lands that are currently
being proposed.
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•How much will it cost? The cost to the County will be mainly Planning Department staff
time.
•Intended Outcome: A number of critical East Waimea open space and farm areas will be
preserved and protected in perpetuity, and, at the same time, the parcel owner will be able
to create a number of residential lots for use by family members and/or for sale to others.
4.3.3 ACTION PROGRAM – AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR WAIMEA
The Need for Action
Throughout the “Community Readiness Program” (CRP) and the Community Development Plan
(CDP) process, the theme of AFFORDABLE HOUSING was discussed by the community many times
and with great urgency.
The state-wide real estate market surge from about 2002 through 2006 resulted in a 100% or more
increase in house prices in many communities, including Waimea. By the end of 2006, the median
price for a new 3-bedroom single family house in Waimea was about $800,000 – well beyond the
means of most local families, even with both husband and wife working full time. As has been the
case for many established Hawaiÿi communities, the people of Waimea found that their young
families could no longer afford a home there, and many older couples were struggling to pay their
inflated real property taxes.
There are no easy answers to the affordable housing needs – of Waimea, or of Hawaiÿi County, or of
the State of Hawaiÿi. Even without the impacts of the recent real estate market surge, land and labor
and materials are expensive in Hawaiÿi, and there is little incentive for private developers and
contractors to build affordably priced for sale or rental units.
For Waimea, the “land” part of the equation may be solvable to some extent. There are a number of
State-owned parcels in or near Waimea that could potentially be developed for affordable housing.
In addition, as some of the need for affordable housing is for employees of beneficiaries of Parker
Ranch Trust – e.g., teachers at Hawaiÿi Preparatory Academy and at Parker School, and staff of the
North Hawaiÿi Hospital – Parker Ranch may be able to provide land for affordable housing at a low
cost.
For the Waimea community and its affordable housing needs, the most useful tools or strategies may
be:
Strategy 3.1 Self-Help Housing
Strategy 3.2 Non-Profit Housing Development Corporation or similar entity
Strategy 3.1 Self-help housing
Overview
The Hawaiÿi Island Community Development Corporation (HICDC), with offices in Hilo, develops
self-help housing projects throughout Hawaiÿi County.
The mission of HICDC is to provide low income families with housing opportunities. The
organization provides technical assistance to participants in self-help housing programs and assists
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families in applying for loans from USDA Rural Development. HICDC also develops housing for
low income senior citizens.
HICDC is currently developing plans for two affordable housing projects in North Kohala:
•Kamakua Self Help Subdivision – 22 self help homes on 7,500+ sf lots on a 16-acre site
near Kohala High School. The 15-acre makai portion of the 31-acre property could be
developed as a “phase 2” project.
•Ainakea Senior Residences – 30 1-bedroom, 1 bath units for senior citizens 62+ years of
age and with incomes at 50% of area median income. Construction scheduled to start in
June 2008.
The Waimea community could establish an ongoing Self-Help Housing Construction Program that
would provide 10 to 20 homes per year for at least the next 10 to 20 years. Although these numbers
are not very large, the construction of 100 to 200 affordable homes per decade would still be a
significant achievement, and would certainly help both young and old to live affordably in their
own town.
•WHO will take the lead? The South Kohala CDP Action Committee will have an ongoing
role for the implementation of the CDP, including the implementation of affordable housing
programs. A subcommittee of the Action Committee can work with HICDC and with the
County Office of Housing and Community Development (OHCD) to establish an ongoing
self-help housing program for Waimea.
•WHAT needs to be done? Work with the Hawaiÿi Island Community Development
Corporation (HICDC) to establish an ongoing self-help housing program for Waimea.
•WHERE will actions take place? State-owned parcels in and near Waimea may have
potential as affordable housing sites. In addition, Parker Ranch may be able to provide land
at a nominal cost if employees of Parker Ranch Trust beneficiaries are given preferential
status for the purchase or rent of affordable units that would be constructed on that land.
•HOW MUCH will self-help housing cost? For a small (10-20 lots) subdivision with 7,500 sf
lots, and assuming conformance to current County subdivision standards, and assuming
building a new subdivision, the cost of land plus grading, roads, drainage, and utilities
(“infrastructure”) will be in the range of $100,000 to $150,000 for each house lot. Costs
would be lower if land costs are nominal. For a “self-help” constructed home of 1,100
square feet, the cost of materials and contractors for foundations, plumbing and electrical
work will be about $120,000, not including the value of the “self-help” labor. So: total cost
for a self-help home could be in the range of $220,000 to $270,000 for self-help homes in a
new subdivision.
o Intended Outcome - If an average of 10 to 20 moderately priced self-help homes can be
constructed every year for the next ten years, there would be a total of 100 to 200 new
affordable homes created in Waimea.
Strategy 3.2 Non-profit housing corporation(s)
Overview
There are a number of non-profit corporations in Hawaiÿi that are focused on the development of
affordable housing.
In 2006, the County’s Office of Housing and Community Development (OHCD) and others were
instrumental in forming a new “501c (3)” non-profit entity called the “Hawaiÿi Island Housing Trust.
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(HIHT).” The mission of HIHT is to plan, finance, and construct affordable housing projects,
including “workforce housing projects,” in areas of the County where there is the greatest need.
HIHT is designed to create a number of subsidiary entities, each of which would be a “single
member Limited Liability Corporation (LLC)” that would also have tax-exempt status under the 501c
(3) certification of HIHT. Each LLC would be the “developer” of a particular housing project.
HIHT’s first project will be the “Kamakoa at Waikoloa Village” workforce housing project. The
master plan for this ambitious project calls for the construction of 800 for-sale homes and 400 rental
units, plus parks, a community center, a daycare center, and a site for a future elementary school.
For sale homes will be comparable in quality to “market homes,” but will be priced to be affordable
to families earning 80% to 140% of the area median income, which in 2007 was about $57,000 for
a family of 4 persons. In 2007 dollars, that would mean that homes would be priced from about
$235,000 to $385,000, and rents will be from about $800 to $1100 a month.
The “For Sale” homes do not include sale of the land; each home buyer will receive a sub-lease for
their building lot. Prices for the homes and apartments are to remain affordable “in perpetuity.”
One of the major challenges for affordable housing projects is financing: how to design a financing
plan that will provide construction financing and “permanent” financing at the lowest possible cost.
For the Kamakoa project, the primary financing sources may be summarized as follows:
•Initial planning funds: from the County’s Affordable Housing Revolving Fund
•Infrastructure financing: from County General Obligation (GO) Bond funds and from Tax
Exempt Bonds that will be issued through a “Community Facilities District” (CFD), a new
entity that will be created for this purpose;
•Vertical (housing construction) financing: from Tax Exempt Revenue Bonds.
•Home mortgage loans for home buyers: special “below market rate” loans guaranteed by
the quasi-public national home loan corporation known as “Fannie Mae.”
These financing tools collectively, together with the “Land Trust” land lease structure, lower the
price of the for–sale homes to about 60% to 70% or less of the price of a market home. Thus, for
example, a $300,000 home in the Kamakoa project would sell for about $430,000 to $500,000 if it
was located elsewhere in Waikoloa Village.
A subsidiary LLC of HIHT could be created to develop affordable housing projects for Waimea.
There could be one LLC that could develop a number of sites, or alternatively there could be several
LLC’s each of which would develop a specific site. Alternatively, a new non-profit entity could be
affiliated with HIHT for the purposes of developing affordable homes and rental apartments for
Waimea. A second alternative would be to establish a Waimea affordable housing entity that would
be affiliated with HIHT but that would NOT need its own 501(c) 3 certification, per IRS rules for
what is called “Group Exemptions.” The IRS sometimes recognizes a group of organizations as tax-
exempt if they are affiliated with a central (non-profit) organization. (See IRS Rev. Proc. 80-27,
1980-1 C.B. 677). A third alternative would be to create a separate Waimea Housing Non-Profit.
At least for the first several projects, new affordable housing projects for Waimea should probably
be relatively small in size: perhaps in the range of 20 to 30 units. Smaller projects would fit better
into the fabric of the existing community, and would also be easier to bring on line in a reasonable
timeframe. Note that planning for the Kamakoa project began in early 2004, and the project will
(finally) begin site construction work in mid 2008 – a planning/design period of 4+ years. The first
Chapter 4: Waimea Town Plan
South Kohala CDP November, 2008
FINAL Page 86
homes will not be ready for occupancy until late 2009 – nearly 6 years after planning work began.
Large projects require large land areas and large amounts of time to plan and design!
The LLC (or similar Waimea-based entity) would own the land, and home buyers would lease their
lot for a nominal amount. Homes would be kept affordably priced in perpetuity through deed
restrictions that limit price appreciation, and through a requirement that any future sale of a home
would have to be to the LLC.
This strategy would thus be to create a non-profit housing development organization (or similar
entity) for Waimea that will develop affordable for-sale and rental housing to meet the needs of the
Waimea community.
•WHO will take the lead? The South Kohala CDP Action Committee should have an
ongoing role for the implementation of the CDP, including the implementation of affordable
housing programs. A subcommittee of the Action Committee can work with HIHT and with
the OHCD to establish the Waimea Affordable Housing LLC or some similar entity.
•WHAT needs to be done? Work with the HIHT Board of Directors and the County Office
of Housing and Community Development (OHCD) to create an LLC subsidiary or similar
entity to develop affordable housing for Waimea. Some of the more detailed tasks include
the following:
o Create and organize the Waimea Affordable Housing Entity: articles of
incorporation, bylaws, board of directors, policies and procedures, etc.; seek and
obtain initial seed money
o Tentative selection of a project site or sites,
o Initial project planning and financial proforma, potentially funded by the County’s
Affordable Housing Revolving Fund.
o Proposal to County Council for General Obligation (GO) Bond financing for land
acquisition, design, and possibly for some of the infrastructure costs.
o County Council approval of GO Bond financing for land acquisition and (?) some
of the infrastructure costs.
o Designation of the project site as a “201H experimental affordable housing
project.”
o Design and implement financing program for infrastructure and vertical
construction.
o Design and construction of infrastructure and homes. Note: the project could
include some “self-help” homes and/or “owner-builder” homes.
o Marketing and sale of the homes.
•WHERE will actions take place? Potential sites for the development of small affordable
housing projects in Waimea will need to be identified. Sites within walking distance of
Waimea Town Center should be given priority.
•HOW MUCH will it cost? Use of the “land trust” land lease model, together with
restrictions on appreciation of house values and creative financing can result in sales prices
Chapter 4: Waimea Town Plan
South Kohala CDP November, 2008
FINAL Page 87
and rent prices that are significantly below area “market” prices. For Waimea, that could
mean, for example, a new 1,100 square foot home on a 7,500 square foot lot might sell for
$250,000 to $300,000, and a 400 sf 1-bedroom rental apartment might rent for $600 to
$800 per month.
•Intended Outcome: Once organized, up and running, the Waimea Affordable Housing
Entity could conceivably develop 20 or more units per year. At this production rate, the
Entity could build about 200 or more units over a 10 year period – which would meet a
significant amount of the demand for affordable homes.
4.3.4 ACTION PROGRAM – WALKWAYS AND BIKEWAYS FOR WAIMEA
The Need for Action
There is a critical need to plan, design, and construct walkways and bikeways within the existing
rights of way of the main Waimea Roads: Kawaihae Road and Mämalahoa Highway.
Except for sidewalks for a few blocks within the center of Waimea Town, there are no walkways or
bikeways along the major roads that can be used by pedestrians and bicyclists, including children
walking to and from school.
Constructing safe bikeways and walkways along Mämalahoa Highway and Kawaihae Road would
provide people with alternatives to travel by car, and would thus potentially alleviate to some
degree the peak hour traffic jams that now characterize Waimea.
The typical right-of-way of the main roads leading into and out of Waimea is 50 to 60 feet in width,
and the average paved roadway, including travel lanes and a narrow paved shoulder, is about 26
feet. (See map showing rights-of-way widths.) Thus, there is typically about 24 feet of right-of-way,
or an average of 12 feet on each side, that is available for walkways and/or bikeways. These
dimensions will of course vary, depending on specific site conditions including drainage ditches,
slope conditions, adjacent land uses, and the need for left turn lanes at major intersections.
See Appendix G for illustrative cross-sections for several “typical existing conditions” for both
Mämalahoa Highway and Kawaihae Road, followed by “conceptual walkway and bikeway” cross-
sections that illustrate possible widths and locations for permanent walkways and bikeways along
these roads.
It should be noted that the pedestrian and bicycle advocacy non-profit known as “PATH” (Peoples
Advocacy for Trails Hawaiÿi) has proposed that the County adopt a “shoulder stabilization” strategy
with future maintenance projects – e.g. extending the new pavement an additional +/- eight feet on
both sides of the road to provide a shared use shoulder that would create additional surface for
walking, bicycling, emergency breakdown, bus pick up. “Shoulder Stabilization” should be funded
with “shoulder preparation” funds that allow for preparation of the shoulder (e.g. grading, grubbing)
prior to repaving. PATH and other organizations point out that while this is not considered the ideal
treatment for the shoulder (sidewalks and where possible separated shared use paths are far superior
to create safe walkways); this treatment uses the existing in-house resources of the Department of
Public Works to at least maintain the shoulder for use. This strategy has recently been implemented
for the Kawaihae Road repaving project.
Strategy 4.1 Walkways and bikeways for Waimea
The Action Program for planning, design, and construction of walkways and bikeways along
Waimea’s main roads may be described as follows:
Chapter 4: Waimea Town Plan
South Kohala CDP November, 2008
FINAL Page 88
•Who should take the lead? Waimea-based walkways/bikeways subcommittee of the South
Kohala Community CDP Action Committee, with assistance from the County Planning
Department, the County Department of Public Works, the State Department of
Transportation, and PATH.
•What needs to be done? Receive review and input from the Waimea community on these
walkway/bikeway ideas during the implementation of the CDP, including input on phasing
the design and construction work. Agree on a “Phase 1” length of walkway/bikeway for
early implementation. Soon after enactment of the South Kohala CDP, present a request to
County Council for funding of the survey work and design for Phase 1, with the
understanding that construction funds will be requested in the following year. Contract for
(perhaps through PATH) the survey and design work, and do the work. Put together the
request to County Council for construction funds. Receive construction funds and contract
for the work. Do the construction work and proceed with design and construction of
subsequent phases.
•When should actions be initiated? Phasing of the bikeways and walkways should be
decided by the CDP Action Committee. A funding request for design and survey work for
Phase 1 can be submitted as part of the FY 2009/2010 County CIP program.
•How much will it cost? Order of magnitude cost estimates developed as part of the South
Kohala CDP work were as follows: “for one mile sections of roadway with improvements
on both sides of the road”
Curb and Gutter $550,000
5’ wide asphalt bike lane $250,000
5’ wide concrete path $300,000
5’ wide asphalt path $200,000
5’ wide grass strip $200,000
Thus, if the “typical” bikeway/walkway configuration for the main roadways in Waimea is
no curb/gutter, 5’wide bike lane both sides + 5’ wide grass strip both sides + 5’ wide
asphalt path both sides, the cost per mile would be approximately $650,000, or about $123
per linear foot. These costs do not include topo survey, design costs, or construction
management, which would add about 20% to the costs.
•Intended Outcome: Completion of a continuous walkway/bikeway system along
Mämalahoa Highway from Mud Lane to Waimea Center and from Waimea Center to the
vicinity of the Waimea-Kohala Airport; and along Lindsey Road/Kawaihae Road from
Waimea Center to Hawaiÿi Preparatory Academy. The system, when completed, would
total about 10 miles. The walkways and bikeways would provide Waimea residents with
alternative, safe modes of circulation, promote healthy walking and bicycling, and alleviate
traffic congestion and air pollution.
Chapter 5: Waikoloa Village Plan
South Kohala CDP November, 2008
FINAL Page 89
Paniolo Avenue fronting the Waikoloa
Elementary and Middle School
5 WAIKOLOA VILLAGE PLAN
5.1 CURRENT AND FUTURE PLANS AND DEVELOPMENTS
5.1.1 POPULATION
Table 5.1 Waikoloa Village Population
1990 2000
2,248 4,806
Source: US Census.
Based on building permit data from County files, it is estimated that the population of Waikoloa
Village increased by about 2,000+ people between 2000 and 2007. By the end of 2007, the
estimated population was thus about 7,000 people – an increase of over 200% in 17 years, and an
average increase of about 280 people per year between 1990 and 2007.
5.1.2 LAND USE
Waikoloa Village is a rapidly growing community. Housing consists of single family homes and
condominium units. House lots range from 7,500 square feet to 10,000+ square feet. Currently,
Waikoloa Road is the only paved access road to Waikoloa Village from Queen Kaÿahumanu
Highway and Mämalahoa Highway. The Waikoloa Shopping Center is located right off of
Waikoloa Road at the southern end of the community. The shopping center includes a grocery
store, gas station, and small shops and restaurants, and is the only commercial development within
Waikoloa Village. The Waikoloa Village Golf course is also located at the southern end of the
community. Residential subdivisions and town home condominiums are interspersed along the golf
course’s edges. Because it is a young, growing community, Waikoloa Village does not yet have a
hospital or medical clinic, community center, or major commercial centers. Given the rapid
increase in residential units at Waikoloa, additional public facilities and commercial businesses are
needed.
Paniolo Avenue is the main road that runs through the center
of Waikoloa Village in a generally north-south direction.
Located at the northern end of Paniolo Avenue is Waikoloa
Elementary and Middle School and several community
churches. Community churches that do not have building
locations currently meet at the school, the golf clubhouse, or
at a local restaurant. The Hoÿoko Street Park is adjacent to
Waikoloa Elementary and Middle School on the makai side of
the school. The Waikoloa Community Park, the only other
park in the village, is located between Puÿu Nani St. and Puÿu
Nui St.
There are several major developments that are planned in
areas surrounding Waikoloa Village. Table 5.2 summarizes the planned build out of these projects
(highlighted in gray) as well as the potential build out of other large-sized TMK parcels, given the
current County Zoning for these parcels.
Figures 5.1 and 5.2 illustrate the General Plan LUPAG and County Zoning designations for
Waikoloa Village and the surrounding area.
Chapter 5: Waikoloa Village Plan
South Kohala CDP November, 2008
FINAL Page 90
Table 5.2 Planned Build Out and Potential Future Buildout in Waikoloa Area
TMK
Development
Name Owner(s)* Acreage
County
Zone
Planned
Buildout
Potential
Buildout Status
368001006 ***
Frank De Luz III Family
Lmtd. Partnership 100 A-5a ***17 units
***
368001024 ***
TriKohala Development
Company/ 1010 Puakö
LLC 661 A-5a ***112 units
***
368001037
Bridge ÿÄina Le'a LLC and
Banter Inc. 1,507
A-5a;
RA -1a
368001038
Bridge ÿÄina Le'a LLC and
Banter Inc. 621
A-5a;
RM-4;
RM-7;
RM-
14.5;
368001039
Villages of
ÿÄina Le'a
Bridge ÿÄina Le'a LLC and
Banter Inc. 444
A-5a;
RM-4;
RM-7;
RM-
14.5;
2,406
residential
units
planned;
5 golf
courses;
40-unit
lodge;
234 acres
of open
space; 26
acres for
parks; 5-
acre red
ilima
preserve
Completed 1 mi. of
the Hulu St.
emergency access
gravel rd; completed
grading of 25 acre
shopping center;
awaiting approval of
Project District
Zoning and UIC
permit
368001059 ***
TriKohala Development
Company/ Brilhante 100 A-5a ***17 units
***
368001060 ***
TriKohala Development
Company/ 1010 Puakö
LLC 150 A-5a ***25 units
***
368002001 *** Waikoloa Mauka LLC 1,170 A-20a *** 49 units
***
368002002 *** Waikoloa Mauka LLC 652 A-20a *** 27 units ***
368002004 *** Waikoloa Prop. 652 A-20a *** 27 units
***
368002005 *** Waikoloa Inv. Land Tr. 250 A-20a *** 10 units ***
368002006 ***
TriKohala Development
Company/ Globe Corp. 669 A-20a *** 28 units
***
368002007 *** Pu uiwaiwa LLC 400 A-20a *** 17 units ***
368002008 ***
Kilauea Trust I, JMP, RCP,
JBP, KBP Education
Trust(s), Waimea LTD
Partnership 343 A-20a *** 14 units
***
368002010 ***
Kilauea Trust I, JMP, RCP,
JBP, KBP Education
Trust(s), Waimea LTD
Partnership 741 A-20a *** 31 units
***
368002011 ***
Kilauea Trust I, Waimea
Ltd. Partnership 912 A-20a *** 38 units ***
Chapter 5: Waikoloa Village Plan
South Kohala CDP November, 2008
FINAL Page 91
Table 5.2 Planned Build Out and Potential Future Buildout in Waikoloa Area (Continued)
TMK
Development
Name Owner(s)* Acreage
County
Zone
Planned
Buildout
Potential
Buildout Status
368002012 *** Pu uiwaiwa LLC 1,076 A-20a *** 45 units ***
368002013 *** Pu uiwaiwa LLC 803 A-20a *** 34 units ***
368002015 ***
Waikoloa Village
Association 1,690 Open *** ***
368002016
Waikoloa
Highlands Waikoloa Mauka LLC 744 RA -1a 398 Units 632 units
Final EIS Completed
May 2007; Awaiting
State LUC action on
district amendment
from Ag. to Rural
368002016 *** Waikoloa Mauka LLC 2,444 A-5a *** 415 units ***
368002017 *** Waikoloa Mauka LLC 2,153 A-5a *** 366 units ***
368002019 ***
Waikoloa Village
Association 4,908 Open *** *** ***
368002022
Waikoloa
Heights
Waikoloa Heights Land
Investors LP 867 RS-10
2,400
units.
3,210
units
Phase I increment
One Subdivision
Approved
368002026
Waikoloa
Workforce
Housing
Project
Hawaiÿi Island Housing Tr.
& Waikoloa Workforce
Housing LLC 268 RS-10
1,200
units
planned.
1,200
Units
Construction start
June 2008
368002027
Wehilani:
Makane Kai Castle & Cook 256 RS-10 756 units.
1,115
units
Under Construction
368002028 *** Waikoloa Inv. Land Tr. 333 A-20a *** 14 units ***
368002029 *** Waikoloa Inv. Land Tr. 154 A-20a *** 6 units ***
368002030 *** Waikoloa Inv. Land Tr. 155 A-20a *** 6 units ***
368002032 *** 49 *** 181 units ***
368002033 ***
Waikoloa Village
Association 268 Open ******
368002040 *** Waikoloa Dev, 180 RS-10 *** 666 units
***
368003032 *** Waikoloa Mauka LLC 57
Open &
Rm-1.5 *** ?
Planned Shopping
Center
TOTALS: 25,776 7160 8094
*Based on information from Hawaiÿi County Real Property Tax Office.BOLD font indicates TMK
parcels have received the necessary entitlements to develop. Highlighted rows in gray, in the table,
indicates TMK parcels that are designated by the County LUPAG for Urban Expansion.
Chapter 5: Waikoloa Village Plan
South Kohala CDP November, 2008
FINAL Page 92
FIGURE 5.1: GENERAL PLAN LUPAG FOR WAIKOLOA VILLAGE AND SURROUNDING AREA
FIGURE 5.2: COUNTY ZONING FOR WAIKOLOA VILLAGE AND SURROUNDING AREA
Chapter 5: Waikoloa Village Plan
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FINAL Page 93
5.2 WAIKOLOA VILLAGE TOMORROW: WAIKOLOA VILLAGE
CONCEPTUAL PLAN & POLICIES
PURPOSE: The Waikoloa Village Conceptual Plan presents in graphic and narrative form general
policies and strategies for the long-range – 20+ year look-ahead – future of Waikoloa Village, with
emphasis on:
o Providing needed community facilities for a growing town
o Environmental Stewardship, Sense of Place, Open Space
o Providing transportation and circulation improvements in a timely manner
o Affordable housing and smart growth
During the course of the Community Readiness Process and Waikoloa Focus Group meetings, these
priority issues were consistently voiced.
This Conceptual Plan is presented as an important linking step between the Waikoloa Focus Group
discussions and the resulting “Planning Notes” (November 2007) and the more detailed Action
Plans that the CDP Team has developed for specific plan elements, including:
1. Construction of a second access road to Queen Kaÿahumanu Highway
2. Location and funding for a Waikoloa Community Center and Community Park
3. Location and potential phasing for a future Middle School, second Elementary School and
High School
A note on the Conceptual Plan graphics and text: the graphic includes a variety of land use elements
and ideas, including:
•Existing Land Uses (black text on the graphic)
•Projects planned by various agencies and land owners (blue text)
•Concepts and land uses recommended by the CDP (pink text)
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The Concept Plan text provided here addresses most of but not all of the elements shown on the
graphic. The text also includes some policies and details that are not shown on the graphic. Thus,
text and graphics are presented as mutually supporting planning tools, but are not intended to be
“identical” in content.
Based on input from the Community Meetings and Focus Group Meetings, the South Kohala
Steering Committee meetings, and planning studies undertaken to date, suggested overall Policies
for Land Use and Environmental Management in Waikoloa Village are:
Waikoloa Policy 1. PROVIDE INFRASTRUCTURE AND FACILITIES FOR A GROWING
COMMUNITY shall be an overarching planning policy for Waikoloa
Village. The County shall work closely with the Waikoloa Village
Community and area developers such that funding for important
infrastructure projects and community facilities is provided.
Waikoloa Policy 2. ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP, SENSE OF PLACE, OPEN SPACE shall
be an overarching land use policy for Waikoloa Village. Land use
decisions shall be based on sustainable management of the open grass
lands and natural resources of the Waikoloa area,
Waikoloa Policy 3. PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION AND CIRCULATION IMPROVEMENTS IN
A TIMELY MANNER, including roadways, bikeways, and pedestrian paths,
and with very high priority given to the construction of a second access
road connecting Waikoloa Village to Queen Kaÿahumanu Highway.
Waikoloa Policy 4. ENCOURAGE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND SMART GROWTH by
concentrating development in areas that are already zoned for Resort,
Residential, Commercial, and Industrial growth, or areas that are otherwise
appropriate for businesses that address the needs of this community.
Important related strategies of the Waikoloa Village Conceptual Plan are summarized below.
POLICY 1. PROVIDE NEEDED INFRASTRUCTURE AND COMMUNITY FACILITIES FOR A
GROWING COMMUNITY
Strategy 1.1 Plan, Fund, and Construct a Community Center and Community Park -- There has
been considerable discussion within the Waikoloa community regarding the need for a
Community Center and a Community Park. Currently, the Waikoloa Elementary and Middle
School and the golf course clubhouse serve as community meeting places, and there are two
small active recreation parks within the Village. However, this growing community needs a
Community Center that is available for meetings and activities during the day and on weekends,
together with an indoor gymnasium that can be used for both day time and evening organized
sports such as basketball and volleyball.
The community also needs a larger Community Park of 15 to 20 acres that would have ball fields,
soccer fields, and other active recreation facilities that the existing smaller parks cannot
accommodate. It should be noted that the “Community Readiness Process” (CRP) found that parks
and outdoor recreation were one of the highest community needs. Community members have also
voiced the need for smaller playgrounds in addition to the need for a large community park.
The County’s Kamakoa workforce housing project will include a 10,000 square foot Community
Center and a 12-acre Community Park. These facilities will be constructed using County CIP funds,
and will thus be open to all Waikoloa Village residents. However, this relatively small Community
Center will not replace the need for a larger facility, including a full size gymnasium. And given the
Chapter 5: Waikoloa Village Plan
South Kohala CDP November, 2008
FINAL Page 98
strong likelihood of continued growth at Waikoloa Village, a second Community Park will
eventually be needed.
In January 2007, a “Community Center Planning Committee” was formed, consisting of a number of
Waikoloa Village residents. Through a series of meetings and discussions, including extensive input
from the Waikoloa community, the committee identified five alternative sites for a community
center. In order of preference, these sites were:
1. Across from the Post Office on Waikoloa Mauka land, adjacent to the proposed
housing for seniors;
2. Near the Waikoloa stables, either on WVA land or Waikoloa Mauka land;
3. Behind Waikoloa Hills on WVA land;
4. WVA land makai of Castle & Cooke’s property with access off Waikoloa Road;
5. Other possible WVA-owned sites if the above sites should prove to be not feasible for
various reasons.
Sites 1 through 4 are shown on the “WAIKOLOA CONCEPT PLAN” graphic on page 97. Please
note that these sites are subject to change.
It should also be noted that the Committee determined that suggested sites at Hulu Street, Lina Poe
Poe, and Wehilani did not meet the needs of the community, and that these sites be removed from
further consideration. Also, in their April 2008 meeting, the Waikoloa Village Association Board
approved allowing WVA land to be used for a community center.
The CDP provides some further details in terms of planning criteria for these important facilities.
Community members have also suggested that an extensive system of walking/jogging trails, parks,
and firebreaks be constructed around the perimeter of Waikoloa Village. This recreation/open
space/firebreak system would thus have multiple dimensions and multiple community benefits. This
concept is illustrated in the “Waikoloa Village Concept Plan” graphic. See the Community Center
and Community Park Action Program for details.
Strategy 1.2 Plan, Fund, and Construct Needed Public Schools: Elementary, Middle, High -
Waikoloa Elementary and Middle School is the only school in Waikoloa Village. The school
services students from grades K-6. The school opened in the fall of 1994 with 320 students. The
school’s cafeteria was completed in 1997 and the library was completed in 2000. For school year
2007-08, the school expanded to the sixth grade. The plan is to phase in 7th and 8th grades over the
subsequent two years. The school will then become a full Elementary and Middle School. With 75
employees, Waikoloa Elementary and Middle School is the largest employer in Waikoloa Village.
Additional facilities will be needed for the 8th grade classes, and DOE requested $4.4 million from
the State Legislature in the 2008 legislative session.
Chapter 5: Waikoloa Village Plan
South Kohala CDP November, 2008
FINAL Page 99
Table 5.3 School Enrollment
School Name Grades Enrollment (2006) Enrollment Capacity
Waikoloa Elementary and
Middle School K-6 620 650
Sources: DHHL Lälämilo / Puÿu Kapu Regional Community Development Plan; State Department of Education Facilities
Development Branch
The Waikoloa Elementary and Middle School is nearing its physical capacity. The longer-range
plan is to convert the existing school to a Middle School, and to construct a new Elementary School
on a 12-acre site within the County’s “Kamakoa” workforce housing project. This new Elementary
School is on the DOE facilities plan for opening in 2014 – only 6 years from the present. Thereafter,
as the population of Waikoloa Village continues to grow, there will be the need for at least one
additional Elementary School, and eventually a High School. See the Schools Action Program in
the next section of this Plan.
Strategy 1.3 Plan, Fund, and Construct a Community Library – There has been some discussion on
the need for a public library at Waikoloa Village, including ideas for a “state of the art” facility that
would include advanced computer hardware and software as well as traditional books and other
reading materials. A modern library would certainly be an important facility and amenity for
Waikoloa Village, and would enhance the Village’s sense of community and identity. Options for a
Library include: a stand-alone Library, a Library developed as part of the Community Center, or a
Library attached to the Middle School.
Strategy 1.4 Develop a Major Commercial Center for Waikoloa Village with shops, stores, and
small business opportunities – A mainland company, “Metric Holdings,” with offices in Encino, CA,
recently purchased the commercially zoned 45-acre parcel that is located within the “arc” of Pua
Melia Road. This parcel is currently “anchored” by the Fire Station at the western end, and the Post
Office at the eastern end. The developer’s preliminary plans for this commercial site include a
major grocery store, various shops and stores, a small hotel, a business park, and some kind of
community gathering place. An “assisted living” project for senior citizens may also be part of the
development program. Community members have also suggested that a police substation be
located near the existing Fire Station, and that an “urgent care” facility be included in the shopping
area. Metric Holdings has told the Waikoloa community that they plan to begin construction of the
first phase of the project in 2008. The economic downturn that most areas of the U.S. are currently
experiencing may delay the developer’s construction plans. However, as the population and
purchasing power of the Waikoloa Village community continue to grow, it is only a matter or time
before a large commercial center of this kind becomes a reality.
This proposed 45-acre commercial center could eventually provide about 300,000 square feet of
retail commercial space, assuming that about 2/3 of the site will be developed for retail, and the
balance for offices, elderly housing, hotel, and other uses. Concern was raised by some community
members that this amount of commercial acreage will not be enough to serve the growing Waikoloa
Community. A general “rule of thumb” number for retail commercial demand is 30 square feet (sf)
per capita. If the current population of Waikoloa Village is about 7,000 people, then the total
demand for retail commercial space for that population would be about 210,000 sf. By 2020, the
population of Waikoloa Village could be 10,000 to 15,000 people, and the demand for retail
commercial would be about 300,000 to 450,000 square feet. Some percentage of this demand –
50% or more – would be met by regional shopping centers located in Waimea and Kona, while the
balance of the demand would be met by Waikoloa-based commercial facilities. Given these
numbers, it appears that the 45-acre commercial center at Waikoloa Village can provide for the
population’s local retail commercial needs for the next 15 to 20 years.
It should also be noted that Waikoloa Mauka LLC owns properties in the vicinity of the proposed
commercial center that it may ask to be rezoned for commercial use. These additional sites could
provide for still more retail commercial facilities.
Chapter 5: Waikoloa Village Plan
South Kohala CDP November, 2008
FINAL Page 100
In addition, the developers of the “Waikoloa Heights” project have included a small commercial
center in their Master Plan. This center would provide convenience shopping for the 1200 families
that will some day live in the Kamakoa project, and the 2000 families that will live in Waikoloa
Heights.
There is currently no set timetable for any of these “commercial” locations to be developed and
there is no certainty that they will in fact be developed for commercial services, or for what types of
businesses they may be developed. For this reason, the community should give consideration to
allowing for additional commercial locations where small to medium-sized businesses could be
established that serve the needs of the Waikoloa community. If appropriately located, these
businesses would add to the sense of community and would reduce the amount of traffic to Waimea
and Kona.
Strategy 1.5 Manage and Expand the Potable Water System – Potable water for Waikoloa Resort
and Waikoloa Village is provided by the West Hawaiÿi Water Company, a privately owned
company that is a subsidiary of the Waikoloa Development Company, which until recently owned
approximately 20,000 acres of undeveloped land in and around the Waikoloa Village area. Most of
this land was sold to other parties in 2007. The Water Company owns and operates groundwater
wells, reservoirs, water transmission mains, and water distribution lines, and currently provides
about 4.5 million gallons per day (mgd) to its users, which includes Waikoloa Resort. A new well
was recently installed by the Water Company in anticipation of continuing population growth and
increased potable water demand in Waikoloa Village. The existing wells draw water from the
“Waimea Aquifer.” Currently, this aquifer also serves some of the potable and non-potable water
needs of Waimea Town. As the population of both Waimea and Waikoloa continue to grow, the
availability of potable water may become a limiting factor.
West Hawaiÿi Water Company representatives recently confirmed that the company is being sold to
a large California company that specializes in managing sewer and water systems. This sale is
expected to be completed before the end of 2008. Water rates charged by the new owner will still
be regulated by the Hawaiÿi Public Utilities Commission (PUC).
Strategy 1.6 Manage and Upgrade the Wastewater Treatment and Disposal Systems – Wastewater
treatment for commercial, institutional, and multi-family land uses at Waikoloa Village is provided
by two existing wastewater treatment plants (WWTP): the Auwaiakeakua WWTP (“A-Plant”) and the
Kamakoa WWTP (“K-Plant”). Both WWTPs, together with collection lines and effluent disposal
fields, are owned and operated by the West Hawaiÿi Sewer Company, a subsidiary of the Waikoloa
Development Company. West Hawaiÿi Sewer Company is currently expanding the A-Plant and is
also designing a new K-Plant in order to service the County’s Kamakoa Workforce Housing project,
as well as other planned projects in the northern sector of Waikoloa Village.
West Hawaiÿi Sewer Company representatives recently confirmed that the company is being sold to
a large California company that specializes in running sewer and water systems. This sale is
expected to be completed before the end of 2008. Sewer rates charged by the new owner will still
be regulated by the Hawaiÿi Public Utilities Commission (PUC).
All of the existing single family homes in Waikoloa Village, with the exception of the homes in the
Paniolo Estates subdivision and the new homes in the Wehilani subdivision, utilize cesspools or
septic tanks for their wastewater disposal. Although State Department of Health regulations
continue to allow the use of septic tanks for lots of at least 10,000 square feet within subdivisions of
50 or fewer lots, there are now over 1,000 single family homes on cesspools or septic tanks within
the Village, and several thousand more homes are planned for development over the next 20
years. The community should be concerned about the risks of environmental pollution from such a
large and concentrated number of on-site sewage disposal systems. The County’s proposed 1200
unit workforce housing project will be tied into a new wastewater treatment plant. Other large
projects, including the Waikoloa Heights project of 2,000+ units, should also be required to tie into
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a modern wastewater treatment plant. The new WWTP’s could also be designed to produce
“reclaimed water” that could be used for irrigation of parks and landscaped areas throughout the
Village. The production and use of reclaimed water would allow the limited potable water aquifer
to better serve the area’s growing population.
Strategy 1.7 Provide more emergency facilities -- Currently the only existing shelter in Waikoloa
Village is Waikoloa Elementary and Middle School. Waikoloa residents have expressed concern
that the amount of shelter space that currently exists in the Village cannot accommodate the
emergency needs of the current or future population. Also, in the event of tsunami or coastal
flooding, people in the coastal areas of the district such as the Waikoloa Resort, Mauna Lani Resort,
and Puakö may need to evacuate to Waikoloa Village. The existing emergency shelter space is
totally inadequate to accommodate these potential evacuees.
Future civic buildings in Waikoloa Village, such as the community center, new high school, middle
school, or elementary school, should be designed to serve as emergency shelters as well. These
civic buildings should be built so that they are “disaster resistant.”
Planning for future helipad facilities for medical emergencies should also be considered. Two
possible locations for a helipad are near the existing fire station and near Hoÿoko Park.
POLICY 2. ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP, SENSE OF PLACE, OPEN SPACE
Strategy 2.1 Support Projects and Programs for Environmental Restoration and Alternative Energy
The Waikoloa Village area once supported a native dryland forest ecosystem, and remnants of this
forest can still be found, including specimens of the rare and endangered uhiuhi tree and the
threatened native wiliwili.The Waikoloa Village Association (WVA) has approved a 15-year license
agreement with the Waikoloa Village Outdoor Circle that sets aside 275 acres of WVA land for the
“Waikoloa Dry Forest Recovery Project.” The overall goal of this project is to preserve and restore
the native dryland forest ecosystem within this 275-acre area. Waikoloa has many native trees and
shrubs typically only found in the dryland forest, such as: La`au a tree that was used in part for
Hawaiian medicine; A`ali`i a shrub that is used to adorn the hula dancer and can withstand any
severe wind condition; Kauwila, an extremely hard wood, was used for traditional housing,
weaponry and the canoe; `Ohia a popular hard wood serving various needs, such as house beams,
the canoe and a home for our endangered forest birds; Lama, another hard wood, was used for
spears, sleds and home building. All of these dry land native plant species are found throughout the
kula lands of Waikoloa and contain the spirit of the gods Laka, Kane, and Kanaloa. The County and
other governmental entities should aid and support this program and any similar ecosystem
restoration programs that may be initiated in this area of South Kohala.
The Waikoloa Village area also provides some special opportunities for the development of
alternative energy resources, both at the scale of individual buildings as well as larger community
scale energy facilities. The climate of this area of South Kohala is generally hot and dry, with a high
level of solar energy. Trade winds are also stronger here than most other areas of the island, with
wind speeds of 20 to 30 mph or higher being quite common. Individual solar hot water heating
units would save home owners a significant amount of electrical power costs. Small-scale
windmills and photovoltaic arrays on public buildings such as schools and community centers
would also be cost effective. Larger scale photovoltaic “solar farms” and “wind farms” should also
be considered, possibly to be sited on some of the WVA’s 10,000 acres of open space lands. In
2007, the County Council passed a resolution requesting the County Planning Director to initiate an
ordinance to amend the County Zoning Code in order to permit wind energy facilities in the Open
zoned district. Much of the WVA lands are zoned “Open.”
There are interesting possibilities for private/public partnerships for alternate energy development
projects here, and it may be possible for Waikoloa Village to be largely “energy self-sufficient”
sometime in the foreseeable future.
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Strategy 2.2 Preserve Waikoloa’s Scenic Views, Landscapes, and Puÿu -- Waikoloa is home to
many beautiful sunsets and sunrises. Mauna Kea Mountain is clearly viewed from the dry slopes of
Waikoloa, which provides many displays of cloud formations made from strong winds that are
unique to the mountain. The view of the island of Maui from Waikoloa will allow a clear vision of
Haleakala and the many pali to Hana. Waikoloa has as many pu`u if not more, than its sister town
of Waimea, many of which have names that convey traditional stories of this ahupuaÿa. The puÿu
named Hinaÿi in the vicinity of Waikoloa and several other puÿu in the district are being mined.
Mining and also the encroachment of development have degraded the condition of several puÿu in
the district. These puÿu should be protected and preserved in their natural state.
POLICY 3. PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION AND CIRCULATION IMPROVEMENTS IN A TIMELY
MANNER
Strategy 3.1 Plan, Fund, and Construct a Second Access Road to Queen Kaÿahumanu Highway –
Access to Waikoloa Village is provided by Waikoloa Road, a 2-lane regional arterial road that
connects the Village to the Queen Kaÿahumanu Highway to the west (makai) and to the Mämalahoa
Highway to the east (mauka).
The County recently funded the construction of an emergency evacuation road from Hulu Street to
Queen Kaÿahumanu Highway. Construction of this road was completed in December 2006. In
addition, the Planning Department initiated a study to assess alternative financing methods to
construct a road that would connect Waikoloa Village to Queen Kaÿahumanu Highway.
A second connecting road to Queen Kaÿahumanu Highway is a top priority, both to accommodate
increasing traffic volumes and, perhaps more importantly, to provide a second emergency egress
route for Waikoloa residents. If feasible, the new access road should also provide pedestrian and
bicycle facilities. The preferred general alignment for this second access road is shown on the
Waikoloa Village Concept Plan graphic.
The most significant type of natural disaster that threatens the Waikoloa community is the threat of
wildfires. The area’s dry climate, combined with the highly flammable introduced vegetation
consisting primarily of fountain grass and kiawe trees, and the frequency of high winds make the
Waikoloa area especially prone to large-scale wildfires. A 2003 brush fire threatened Waikoloa
Village. The fire burned all the way up to the elementary school. Another major fire in August
2005 burned some 20,000 acres to the east and south of Waikoloa Village. That fire burned to the
very edge of the Waikoloa Road/Paniolo Avenue intersection, the main intersection in Waikoloa
Village. In the case of the 2005 fire, fire fighters were able to control and eventually extinguish the
blaze without injuries to people or damage to structures. However, the fire threat is an ever-present
danger for the Waikoloa community, and a second access/egress road may well prove to be the
difference between successful evacuation of the Village and injuries and even loss of life.
The County has recently retained a special consultant to develop a financing plan for this second
access road, and a special committee is currently evaluating the preliminary financing plans. See
the “Second Access Road Action Program” for more details.
Strategy 3.2 Fund and Construct the Paniolo Avenue Extension – Paniolo Avenue, a major 4-lane
local collector road with a right-of-way of 80 feet, is the main collector roadway within Waikoloa
Village. The County General Plan shows the eventual extension of Paniolo Avenue northward to
Kawaihae Road, which would in effect make Paniolo Avenue a sub-regional arterial road. In the
near term, the owner/developer of the “Waikoloa Heights” project is required by their development
agreement to extend Paniolo Avenue from its present terminus at Hoÿoko Street up to and across
Kamakoa Gulch, and eventually to the northern boundary of the Waikoloa Heights property. This
extension would also provide for access to the County’s Kamakoa workforce housing project. As of
January 2008, the construction plans for the first phase of this extension, about one mile of road up
to but not yet across Kamakoa Gulch, were still being reviewed by the County Planning
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Department. According to representatives of the developer, construction was scheduled to begin in
the second quarter of 2008.
Strategy 3.3 Upgrade the Emergency Access Road from Hulu Street to Queen Kaÿahumanu
Highway– In December 2006, the County completed the rough grading of an unpaved “emergency
access road” that extended from the terminus of Hulu Street about 2.5 miles westward and down
slope to the Queen Kaÿahumanu Highway. The road traverses land that is proposed for
development by Bridge ÿÄina Leÿa LLC. This road is intended to serve as an emergency egress route
when there are natural disasters like wildfires that require evacuation of some or all of the Waikoloa
community. The Bridge Company has apparently said that they will eventually pave this road,
including the section of road that is on land owned by the Waikoloa Village Association, from the
existing terminus at Hulu Street to the eastern boundary of the Bridge property. To date, however,
the Bridge Company has not moved forward with construction of the first phase of their project.
This emergency access road could also provide a mauka/makai route for walking and bicycling. At
a minimum, the MOA should be amended between Bridge Äina Leÿa LLC and the County to allow
for this use. The paving of the roadway would create a more useful emergency route.
Strategy 3.4 Plan, Fund, and Construct Walkways and Bikeways – Most of the streets and roads in
Waikoloa Village were constructed without sidewalks and bike lanes or bike paths. With the
growing population and the growing awareness of the environmental and health benefits of walking
and bicycling, there is a need to “retrofit” existing roads with sidewalks and bike lanes. Paniolo
Avenue currently has a sidewalk on one side only. This main collector street, with its generous 80
foot right-of-way, is far too wide to be a safe roadway near an elementary school and park. Its
design speed is greater than its posted speed of 35 mph. Consideration should be given to putting
Paniolo Avenue on a “road diet” that would reduce it from four lanes to three, with landscaped
medians and pedestrian refuges at the Puÿu Nui and Hulu, intersections. Such measures would
considerably calm traffic. The additional right of way could be used to create a shared use non-
motorized path with generous width.
Strategy 3.5 Develop a Master Circulation Plan for Waikoloa Village – The original Master Plan for
the development of Waikoloa Village was commissioned by the original developer, Boise Cascade
Corporation, in the 1960’s. The Master Plan included concepts for a system of collector roads that
would serve the various neighborhoods of the Village, including Paniolo Avenue and a parallel
collector road that is now Laie Street. As of the end of 2007, the zoned acreage of Waikoloa Village
had been only about 40% developed. As development proceeds, County planners would benefit
from a fairly detailed Master Circulation Plan that would identify the main collector streets, bridges
for gulch crossings, and requirements for connectivity between subdivisions. The Plan should
include maps, cross-sectional and/or plan diagrams of typical roadway elements and dimensions,
and guiding policies regarding connectivity and the separation of collector streets and residential
neighborhoods. Future road planning should not adversely affect residential neighborhoods. The
WVA and other community representatives should work with the County Planning Department and
the County Department of Public Works to develop this Waikoloa Village Master Circulation Plan.
Strategy 3.6 Implement traffic safety improvements along Waikoloa Road - Portions of the two-
lane Waikoloa Road are very hazardous. There are parts of the road that are curvy and steep.
Furthermore, there are stretches of roadway with little or no paved shoulders, let alone any room on
the roadway for bicyclists or pedestrians.
Several suggested traffic safety improvements for Waikoloa Road include:
1) Construct paved shoulders that are of a safe width
2) Construct separated bicycle and walking paths along the roadway
3) Construct truck runaway ramps in appropriate locations along the roadway.
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POLICY NO. 4 ENCOURAGE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND SMART GROWTH
Strategy 4.1 Implement the County’s “Kamakoa” workforce housing project – This project will be
a “first of its kind” in Hawaiÿi County, and in many ways, a first in the State of Hawaiÿi. The project
will use the “land trust model” to ensure that home prices are affordable “in perpetuity.” The land
trust model includes leases instead of fee simple purchase of house lots and also limits the
appreciation of property values – and thus keeps house prices affordable. The project will also use
innovative “Community Facilities District” (CFD) financing to pay for most of the project’s
infrastructure. With a planned 800 for-sale and 400 rental units on 267 acres of land, for a gross
density of about 4.5 units per acre, the project is significantly more dense and efficient than the
typical 10,000 square foot lot development pattern in Waikoloa Village, which works out to about 3
units per acre. The higher density for this project is permitted under State Statute 201(H) that
provides for waivers of certain County regulations if the project is an affordable housing project.
The Kamakoa project also has a high level of amenities for home owners and renters, including a
10,000 square foot Community Center and 12-acre Community Park, a Daycare Center, a 12-acre
site for a future Elementary School, and some 20-acres of trails and greenways. Overall, the project
will provide affordable homes and rentals for Waikoloa area workers, and thus reduce the
commuting time and expense for many people who have jobs at the resort or in Waikoloa Village.
Strategy 4.2 Plan and eventually develop some of the “Industrial” land near Waikoloa Village
Center – The County General Plan “LUPAG” map for the Waikoloa area shows an “Industrial”
parcel of about 200 acres adjacent to and to the southwest of the “Medium Density Urban” area
that includes the site of the future shopping center. This industrial land, which is owned by the
WVA, may provide some opportunities for light industrial development and local jobs sometime in
the future. The development of some local jobs would have a positive impact on vehicular traffic
during peak periods, and would also provide some economic balance for the Waikoloa community.
Future uses of this industrial land could also include alternate energy generation facilities like
photovoltaic “solar farms” or smaller scale “wind farms.” Note, however, that the “Waikoloa Dry
Forest Recovery Project” area is immediately adjacent to this industrial land, and that at least 2 rare
uhiuhi trees and a number of the threatened wiliwili trees are found within the boundaries of the
industrial land. Thus, any future industrial development should take care to preserve these
important endemic trees.
Strategy 4.3 The visually and environmentally important open grasslands in the Waikoloa area
should be protected from development that would have negative environmental impacts --
Waikoloa Village encompasses about 3,000 acres of land, most of which is zoned “RS-10” – single
family lots, minimum lot size of 10,000 square feet. Approximately 60% of this already zoned land
has yet to be developed. The potential “build –out” of this zoned land, including the County’s
workforce housing project, would add approximately 4,000 to 5,000 additional homes and some
10,000 people to the Village.
Waikoloa Village is surrounded by an irregularly shaped “buffer” of “Open” zoned land totaling
about 10,000 acres, which is owned by the Waikoloa Village Association. To the west (makai) of
Waikoloa Village are several large land parcels owned by 1010 Puakö LLC and Bridge Company
that are being planned for development. The Bridge lands have already been rezoned to “RA-1a”
(Rural Agricultural 1 acre lots) and RM-4, RM-7, and RM-14.5 – Residential Multi-Family of various
densities. The 1010 Puakö LLC parcels are still zoned A-5a (Agriculture 5-acre minimum lot size).
Current zoning for the Bridge ÿÄina Lea project would allow the construction of approximately
2,400 homes in the State “Urban” district and approximately 860 lots in the State “Agricultural”
District, plus not more than 5 golf courses, a golf academy, a 40-unit “lodge,” and retail commercial
facilities. 1010 Puakö LLC has recently initiated discussions with the County regarding a possible
“Planned Unit Development” (PUD) for their property. PUD is a special project design and
approval process that allows for some variance from standard County design standards, including
the possibility of clustering homes on smaller lots, thereby reducing infrastructure costs and
increasing open space.
Chapter 5: Waikoloa Village Plan
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There are also extensive privately owned A-5a zoned lands to the east (mauka) and south of the
Waikoloa Village area. Some of the large land parcels in this area are being proposed for future
development. Rezoning of any of these parcels should not be approved unless and until
concurrency requirements have been met, and until the land owner(s) can demonstrate in detail at
least the following:
o Availability of adequate potable water source(s)
o mitigation of adverse traffic impacts
o mitigation of adverse visual impacts and night time light pollution
o positive benefits to the community, including providing parks and shopping facilities,
and construction of affordable housing
Owners of these large parcels should also be encouraged to develop “rural cluster” plans that would
concentrate homes in “low impact” areas of the site, and set aside large tracts of open space lands
that would be preserved via conservation easements or other means.
Strategy 4.4 Revise the County Subdivision Code and Planning Department policies and
enforcement procedures to ensure that agricultural subdivisions are created for agricultural
purposes and are not used for rural residential purposes without rezoning – State Land Use statutes
restrict living units in the State “Agriculture” District to “farm dwellings.” In practice however, the
Hawaiÿi County Planning Department has approved many “agricultural subdivisions” in the State
Agriculture District that are actually rural residential developments.
There is certainly a demand for and a place for rural residential projects. However, rural residential
projects should be required to apply for and receive State Land Use “Rural” classification, and
County “Rural Residential” Zoning designation. These entitlement applications would require
public hearings and disclosure of project impacts as well as project benefits. As a corollary, any
and all proposed agricultural subdivisions should be required to submit a farming plan for either
commercial farming or subsistence farming together with their preliminary subdivision documents,
and the Planning Department should design and implement a monitoring program that will ensure
implementation of these farming plans. Note: these suggested amendments to County subdivision
regulations have County-wide implications. The details of these amendments should therefore be
developed in coordination with the other active CDP’s – e.g., the North and South Kona CDP, the
Puna CDP, and the North Kohala CDP.
Strategy 4.5 “Ag-zoned” lands west and south of Waikoloa Village that are designated as
“Alternate Urban Expansion” lands in the County General Plan and “Ag-zoned” lands north of the
Village shall remain in “A-5a” and “A-20a” zoning until already RS-zoned lands at Waikoloa
Village have been substantially developed – The current County General Plan LUPAG map for the
Waikoloa area includes over 7,000 acres of “Alternate Urban Expansion” land in the Waikoloa area.
(See Table 5.2 and Figure 5.2 for reference) This designation is defined in the General Plan (page
14-7) as:” Allows for a mix of high density, medium density, low density, industrial, industrial-
commercial and/or open designations in areas where new settlements may be desirable, but where
the specific settlement pattern and mix of uses have not yet been determined.”
The consensus of the Waikoloa community is that there is no need in this area of South Kohala for
such a large amount of acreage to be designated “Alternate Urban Expansion.” Undeveloped
parcels within Waikoloa Village that are already zoned RS-10 will, at “build out,” provide an
additional 4,000 to 5,000 homes – thus more than doubling the population of Waikoloa Village.
This development process may take 20-30 years to complete. Development of the 7,000+ acres of
“Urban Expansion” lands would be in addition to these 4,000 to 5,000 homes, and would add
something like:
o 7,000 homes and 20,000 people, if developed at an average density of 1 unit per acre
of land;
o 14,000 homes and 40,000 people, if developed at an average density of 2 units per
acre of land.
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The northern end of Paniolo Avenue
The Bridge ÿÄina Lea project is part of this “Urban Expansion” area, and has already received State
Land Use Urban and County rezoning. However, the balance of the Ag-zoned “Urban Expansion”
lands in this area should not be rezoned to a higher density until community needs for such
rezoning can be clearly shown.
5.3 ACTION PROGRAMS FOR WAIKOLOA VILLAGE
This last section of the Waikoloa portion of the CDP presents several “Action Programs” for top
priority projects. Limited time and funds for this CDP precluded the development of Action
Programs for “all” of the Concept Plan policies and strategies. However, additional Action
Programs can be developed in the future.
1. ACTION PROGRAM – CONSTRUCT SECOND ACCESS ROAD TO QUEEN
KAÿAHUMANU HIGHWAY
Current Status and the Need for Action
Access to Waikoloa Village is provided by Waikoloa Road, a 2-lane arterial road that connects the
Village to the Queen Kaÿahumanu Highway to the west (makai) and to the Mämalahoa Highway to
the east (mauka).
A second connecting road to Queen Kaÿahumanu Highway is needed, both to accommodate
increasing traffic volumes and, perhaps more importantly, to provide a second emergency egress
route for Waikoloa residents.
In 2005, the County retained an engineering company
to develop an analysis of alternative routes for a second
access road, and to develop preliminary cost estimates.
As a result of that study, and related meetings with the
Waikoloa community, a consensus on a preferred
general road alignment was reached: the second access
road will be constructed from the extension of Paniolo
Avenue, through the “Waikoloa Heights” project, then
through a strip of land owned by the Waikoloa Village
Association, and finally through lands owned by 1010
Puakö LLC to Queen Kaÿahumanu Highway near the
entrance to Mauna Lani Resort, a distance of
approximately 3 miles. The estimated construction cost for this road was $40,000,000 in 2005.
The County recently retained a special consultant to develop a financing plan for this second access
road, and a special committee of Waikoloa community members is currently evaluating the
preliminary financing plans. The consultant’s draft report estimated annual costs to Waikoloa
Village home owners as follows:
•Existing Single Family Homes: $90 per year
•Existing Multi-Family Homes: $45 per year
•New Single Family Homes: $1,463 per year
•New Multi-Family Homes: $ 731 per year
Although the annual cost to current residents is not that large, some community members have
already voiced strong opposition to “more taxes.”
There has also been some discussion with the developer of the Waikoloa Heights project to the
effect that the developer might fund the construction of the road as part of “Phase 2” of this 2,000+
unit project. In addition, there has been some recent discussion with the owner of the parcel
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FINAL Page 107
through which the second access road may pass, 1010 Puakö LLC, regarding possible construction
of the road by that developer as part of their proposed “Planned Unit Development” project.
Another related issue that has been raised by members of the local non-profit organization known as
“PATH” (Peoples Advocacy for Trails, Hawaiÿi) is the possibility of a bike path/jogging path adjacent
to the second access road. This path would provide for an alternate means of circulation between
Waikoloa Village and the Kohala resorts.
There are thus at present at least three strategies being considered for the financing and construction
of this critical access road project, as follows:
Strategy 1.1. Finance through a Community Facilities District (CFD), with
construction to be coordinated by the County.
Strategy 1.2. Financing and construction by the developer of the Waikoloa
Heights project.
Strategy 1.3. Financing and construction by 1010 Puakö LLC.
There may be an opportunity here for the County and the community to work with both developers,
and to resolve a planning and financing strategy that works well for all parties. Provided below are
some preliminary thoughts on how this partnering process could be designed.
•Who should take the lead? County Council Member for North and South Kohala, with the
support of the Mayor’s staff, the Planning Department, the Department of Public Works,
and the Waikoloa community.
•What needs to be done? Form a “Waikoloa Village Second Access Road” working group
chaired by the County Council Member and consisting of representatives from the
Waikoloa Community, the Planning Department, the Department of Public Works, the
Waikoloa Heights developer, and 1010 Puakö LLC. Through a series of meetings and
discussions, work out how much funding each of the two developers can provide for the
project, and the amount, if any, of the funding shortfall. If there is a funding shortfall, look
at alternative funding mechanisms, including CFD, Improvement District (ID), County CIP,
other. Based on all of the above, develop and resolve an overall funding strategy for the
access road.
•When should actions be initiated? Discussions and negotiations involving the County and
the two developers are already taking place. As of early May 2008, these discussions were
ongoing, and no firm plans or commitments had been resolved.
•How much will the new access road cost? The 2005 Preliminary Engineering Study
estimated a cost for the preferred access road alignment of approximately $40,000,000.
More precise cost estimates can be developed after preliminary engineering design work
has been undertaken. This road will be a fairly costly project. However, it is of vital
importance for the residents of Waikoloa Village, both in terms of day to day access to jobs
and other destinations in the region as well as community safety.
•Intended Outcome: Construction of this second access road to Queen Kaÿahumanu
Highway will greatly reduce the risk of a potential disaster and loss of life from a major
wildfire or other natural catastrophe that might strike the growing but still relatively isolated
community of Waikoloa Village. A second road will also accommodate some of the
increased traffic to and from the Village as the population continues to grow.
Chapter 5: Waikoloa Village Plan
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2. ACTION PROGRAM – COMMUNITY CENTER AND COMMUNITY PARK
Current Status and the Need for Action
There has been considerable discussion within the Waikoloa community regarding the need for a
Community Center and a Community Park.
Currently, the Waikoloa Elementary and Middle School serves as a community meeting place, and
there are also two small active recreation parks within the Village. The golf course clubhouse is
also used for various community meetings and functions. However, this growing community needs
a Community Center that is available for meetings and activities during the day and on weekends,
together with an indoor gymnasium that can be used for both day time and evening organized
sports such as basketball and volleyball.
Based on the CDP meetings with the Waikoloa Community, it appears that there has been
considerable discussion on the Community Center, but not so much on the Community Park.
Depending on site location, however, there may be an opportunity to plan, design, and construct
both the Center and the Park as one coordinated project.
Two of the major development companies that are proposing new luxury home projects in the area
– Bridge Company and the developer of the Waikoloa Highlands project, Waikoloa Mauka LLC –
have said that they would provide a total of about $4.5 million for the design and construction of a
Community Center at Waikoloa Village. As of early May 2008, however, neither of these
developers had as yet actually committed any money to this project.
The community also needs a large Community Park of 10 to 20 acres that would have ball fields,
soccer fields, and other active recreation facilities that the existing smaller parks cannot
accommodate.
As previously discussed under Strategy 1.1, a committee of community volunteers has already done
some planning for a Community Center. The Committee’s recommended alternative sites are listed
under Strategy 1.1.
The overall strategy for developing a Community Center and Community Park for Waikoloa Village
should generally be similar to the strategy for the construction of the second access road: that is,
there may be an opportunity here for the County and the community to work with both developers,
and to resolve a planning and financing strategy that works well for all parties. Provided below are
some preliminary thoughts on how this partnering process could be designed. The Action Steps
could be as follows:
•Who should take the lead? County Council Member for North and South Kohala, with the
support of the Mayor’s staff, the Planning Department, the Department of Parks and
Recreation, and the Waikoloa community.
•What needs to be done? Reconvene the “Waikoloa Community Center Planning
Committee” and broaden its mission to include planning for a Community Park. Solicit and
obtain the participation of the Planning Department, the Department of Parks and
Recreation, Bridge Company, and Waikoloa Mauka LLC. Assuming the formation of the
“SOUTH KOHALA CDP ACTION COMMITTEE, the “Community Center and Park Planning
Committee” could be a subcommittee of the Action Committee. Through a series of
meetings and discussions, work out how much funding each of the two developers can
provide for the project, and the amount, if any, of the funding shortfall. If there is a funding
shortfall, look at alternative funding mechanisms, including CFD, Improvement District (ID),
County CIP, other. Based on all of the above, develop and resolve an overall funding
strategy for the Community Center and Community Park.
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The Committee also should revisit the five sites identified earlier by the Committee as
preferred sites (as referenced in Strategy 1.1) as well as any other new alternative sites that
may be presented, and should consider each of these sites’ suitability for a combined
Community Center and Community Park project. The Committee should discuss and agree
upon the advantages and disadvantages of a combined project at each of these sites, and
then agree upon which of these sites is best suited for these community facilities. It is also
possible that the Committee will decide that the two facilities should be on separate sites.
Once the funding strategy has been worked out and a preferred site has been selected,
design of the Community Center and/or of the Community Park can begin.
•When should actions be initiated? Discussions and negotiations involving the County, the
Waikoloa Community, and the two developers are already taking place. As of early May
2008, these discussions included the possibility of developing the Community Center on
lands owned by the Waikoloa Village Association.
•How much will the Community Center and Community Park cost? To date, there have
been no architectural or landscape architectural plans developed for either the Community
Center or the Community Park, and thus there are no official cost estimates.
Preliminary cost estimates developed for recreational facilities for the County’s “Kamakoa
Workforce Housing Project,” to be constructed at Waikoloa Village beginning in mid 2008,
included the following estimates:
•Community Park of about 10 acres: $2,500,000
(baseball field, soccer field, tennis courts,
Basketball courts, tot lot, picnic area,
restrooms, parking)
•Community Center of about 10,000 sf $4,000,000
(large meeting room, smaller activity rooms,
offices for community programs, weights
room, restrooms, parking)
•Swimming Pool of about 30 X 50 yards $3,000,000
(including pool, pumps, equipment room,
restrooms w/dressing areas, parking)
These costs do not include land costs, design, permitting, or project management. It should
be noted that all of the above recreational facilities within the Kamakoa project are being
funded by the County of Hawaiÿi, will be managed by the County Department of Parks and
Recreation, and will be open to all residents of Waikoloa Village. However, the planned
Community Center at Kamakoa is relatively small at 10,000 sf.
The Kamakoa project also does not include a gymnasium. Assuming a basic gymnasium
with full-size basketball court and bleacher seating on both sides, plus locker rooms,
restrooms, equipment room, and weights room, the structure might be in the range of
25,000 square feet. If the square foot construction cost is $300 to $400 per square foot, the
cost would be in the range of $7,500,000 to $10,000,000 – not including land costs,
design, permitting, or project management.
•Intended Outcome: Construction of a Waikoloa Village Community Center and
Community Park will greatly enhance Waikoloa Village’s sense of community, and will
provide many recreational programs and opportunities for all age groups.
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3. ACTION PROGRAM – NEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH
SCHOOL
Current Status and the Need for Action
As previously noted, the population of Waikoloa Village will continue to grow, and so there will be
the need for at least one additional Elementary School, a Middle School, and eventually a High
School. These schools are very important for this growing community, both as educational
institutions and as strong signs of community identity and strength. The need for a Middle School
will be met by expansion of the existing Elementary School to serve grades 6, 7, and 8, and the
eventual conversion of this school to a full Middle School campus.
The CDP addresses possible site locations for these longer-range school needs. Some people have
said: “The CDP is a County Plan. The schools are State schools, so why is the CDP addressing
schools? The County has no say in the planning and construction of these State schools.” This
comment is not unreasonable. However, the Community can, working with land owners and
County planners, preliminarily locate preferred sites for future schools, with reference to
population centers, roadways, environmental constraints, and other factors.
The overall strategy for the CDP is thus to preliminarily locate sites for future schools that would
best serve both the existing and future residents of Waikoloa Village. The Action Steps for this
strategy are thus as follows:
•Who should take the lead? The initial identification of potential school sites will be done
through the CDP process, with advice and input from the Waikoloa Village community
members.
•What needs to be done? Some basic criteria for site sizes and site locations should be
established. As of June 2008, the DOE has a new policy that provides size ranges for
schools:
Elementary School
Site Size: (400 to 750 students) 8 to 15 useable acres.
Site Location: Not fronting on a highway or regional arterial roadway. Preferably fronting
on a local collector road, in a residential neighborhood, with good access via local streets
for cars and safe sidewalks and/or paths for children walking or bicycling to school.
The Elementary School site at the Kamakoa Workforce Housing Project is about 12 acres in
size; with frontage on the “loop road” that provides access to the various neighborhoods
within the project. The loop road and a system of sidewalks and recreational paths provide
adequate and safe access to this site. The Elementary School at Kamakoa, together with the
existing Elementary School/Middle School, will provide for the community’s needs until
such time as the Elementary School/Middle School is converted to a full Middle School
campus.
Eventually, then, a second Elementary School site with similar characteristics needs to be
located. Potential Elementary School sites include: (1) WVA land in the vicinity of the
Castle and Cooke “Wehilani Kai” housing project and (2) land near the proposed small
commercial center for the Waikoloa Heights project.
Note that the DOE currently has a second Waikoloa Elementary School programmed to
open in 2014.
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Middle School
Site Size: (500 to 1000 students) 15 to 20 useable acres.
Site Location: Preferably located with frontage on a major local collector street, but not on
a highway or regional arterial road; at the edge of but not contained within a residential
neighborhood.
The existing Waikoloa Elementary and Middle School, including its fairly large parking
areas, currently occupies about six acres of land, not including the recently completed 3-
acre park. There remain approximately 14 acres that were originally intended for a future
Waikoloa Middle School. However, the current plan is now to eventually convert the
existing Elementary School to a Middle School. The total site size for the Middle School
would thus be about 23 acres, which is within the current DOE site size standards. The
site fronts on Paniolo Avenue, which is currently the primary collector street for Waikoloa
Village. In the long range, however, Paniolo Avenue may become a regional arterial
roadway, in which case traffic conditions in the vicinity of this school site may eventually
be a problem.
Note: Currently, the DOE has a “Waikoloa Middle School” programmed for opening in
2018.
High School
Site Size: (800 to 1600 students) 45 to 55 useable acres
Site Location: Preferably located with frontage on a major local collector street or regional
arterial road, but not on a highway; at the edge of but not contained within a residential
neighborhood. Could be located between a residential neighborhood and a commercial or
industrial area. For Waikoloa Village, a High School site with frontage on Waikoloa Road
or on the planned “Second Access Road” would be preferred.
Currently, the DOE does not have a Waikoloa High School programmed.
Preliminary locations for a possible High School include: (1) Waikoloa Mauka lands in the
vicinity of the existing Waikoloa Stables, (2) WVA lands on the north side of Waikoloa
Road and just below the Wehilani Kai project, (3) a site within the Bridge ÿÄina Lea project.
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Chapter 6: Kawaihae Community Plan
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Kawaihae Harbor
6 KAWAIHAE COMMUNITY PLAN
6.1 CURRENT AND FUTURE PLANS AND DEVELOPMENT
6.1.1 POPULATION
The majority of people who work in the Kawaihae area do not live in the area. Instead, these people
commute to work from neighboring communities such as Waimea or Waikoloa. The Kawaihae
population figures were estimated from adding population totals for census block groups that were
located around the Kawaihae Harbor area. The estimated population of Kawaihae and the nearby
Mauna Kea Resort is 321 people, which is approximately 2.4% of the entire South Kohala
population.
6.1.2 DEVELOPMENT PATTERNS AND LAND USE
The main development feature of the area is the Kawaihae Harbor. The Kawaihae canoe club
utilizes the area north of the commercial harbor. To the south of the commercial harbor is the
Kawaihae Small Boat Harbor which will be used by recreational boat users once the harbor’s
construction is completed. Further south of the small boat harbor is the Puÿukohola Heiau. Still
further south of the small boat harbor and the heiau is
Spencer Beach Park.
A small commercial center is located on the mauka side
of Kawaihae Road directly across from the commercial
harbor. The businesses in the commercial center include
a restaurant and several other smaller stores and shops.
Small residential subdivisions are also located in the
Kawaihae area to the south and east of the commercial
center.
Commercial Harbor
The main development feature of the area is the Kawaihae Commercial Harbor. It is the only harbor
in West Hawaiÿi and the only other harbor in the County besides Hilo Harbor. The harbor has two
piers and offers combined space for berthing of approximately 1,600 feet. The main pier has a
berthing space of 1,150 feet. Barges load and unload at the smaller pier.
The harbor is facing a significant shortage of pier and storage space caused by recent events and
also from the anticipated arrival of the Superferry. Pier 1 and Pier 2a were damaged during the
October 15, 2006 earthquake and are currently not useable. Only the Hawaiian Cement Co.
operates out of Pier 1 with a special use permit from the Coast Guard. Repair monies for the piers
from FEMA and insurance companies have not been released because those piers were previously
in disrepair prior to the earthquake. It is difficult to distinguish earthquake caused damages from
other damages that may have resulted from a lack of pier maintenance.
The recent success of mining and desalinating deep sea water and exporting the desalinated sea
water to Japan has maxed out the capacity of the harbor. Currently, Young Brothers ships six barges
per week carrying the bottled water to Honolulu. In previous years, the company only needed three
barges per week to ship bottled water to Honolulu. However, it is difficult to determine if this trend
of high Japanese demand for bottled deep sea water will continue.
Kawaihae Harbor does not currently handle passenger traffic. However, the harbor will soon have
to accommodate significant amounts of passenger traffic, as the Hawaiÿi inter-island Super Ferry is
scheduled to begin service to the Big Island in 2009. The Superferry will be able to transport a
maximum passenger load of 866 people and 282 passenger cars daily. (Hawaiÿisuperferry.com) It
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was originally planned to have the Superferry dock at Kawaihae Harbor’s Pier 1 where passengers
disembarking from the ferry could exit the harbor through a separate access gate instead of the main
harbor access gate. However, due to the earthquake damage, the Superferry will have to use an
alternative pier and disembarking passengers will most likely have to use the main harbor access
gate to exit from the harbor. The commercial harbor is also currently being used by 23 light draft
recreational vessels. As the commercial harbor operations expand, these vessels will need to be
relocated to the DLNR Small Boat Harbor.
South Small Boat Harbor and “Coral Flats”
To the south of the commercial harbor is the Kawaihae South Small Boat Harbor which is planned
to be used by recreational boat users. DLNR’s Division of Boating and Ocean Resources recently
completed a Master Plan for the South Small Boat Harbor. At full project build out, the master plan
for the Kawaihae South Small Boat Harbor will provide a main floating dock along the existing
revetted coastline with finger piers, a concrete two lane boat launch ramp, loading docks,
accessible boat trailer parking in near proximity to the boat launch ramp, accessible comfort
stations, buildings for a Boat Club, retail shops, restaurants and administration space, ice-fish storage
and fuels docks, and approximately 318 parking spaces to support future growth and development
in the Kawaihae South Small Boat Harbor.
A draft EA has been completed for Phase 1 of the small boat harbor improvements. Phase 1
improvements include construction of a 45-feet wide concrete two-lane boat ramp that accesses
one of the two fixed loading docks, a main floating dock with an accessible gangway and mooring
blocks to berth approximately 30 boats, boat washdown area, a parking area, comfort station, and
shower. Phase I of the South Small Boat Harbor is about to enter the bid process. Currently,
recreational boaters utilize the North Small Boat Harbor.
The DOT-Harbors division is considering the transfer of ownership of a portion of the land referred
to by local residents and users as “Coral Flats” to DLNR-DOBOR. The amount of land that DLNR-
DOBOR would receive is dependent upon the type and extent of land utilization that is proposed.
The land transfer has not been finalized and is still in negotiation. Currently, the YMCA and a local
surf club utilize a portion of the Coral Flats area for educational and recreational programs. The
YMCA has partnered with Kanu o ka ÿÄina Charter School in Waimea. The YMCA and the school
share and maintain an outdoor learning lab at Coral Flats.
Further south of the small boat harbor is the Pu’ukohola Heiau. The heiau is on the register of
national historic sites. A little farther south of the small boat harbor and the heiau is Spencer Beach
Park.
Department of Hawaiian Home Lands
Up the road to the north of the harbor is the Kawaihae Industrial Park located on DHHL owned
lands. DHHL has minimal plans to expand the industrial park. The DHHL industrial park is
connected to the Lälämilo Water System. However, the industrial park was only allotted nine water
meters by the County, limiting future development. DHHL plans to offer one water meter for
potential industrial use in 2008, but after that meter is in use, there will be no more water meters
available for future expansion.
DHHL owns the 10,000 acre Kawaihae ahupuaÿa that extends from the top of the Kohala Mountains
to the sea. DHHL’s 2002 Hawaiÿi Island Plan calls for portions of their Kawaihae tract to be
developed for residential, agricultural / pastoral, industrial, and community uses. Currently, DHHL
has a partially developed 90-acre park and residential lot subdivision in this area. There are 217
residential homesteads on DHHL Kawaihae land. DHHL has no current plans to develop more
residential homestead lots due to lack of potable water. DHHL plans to build two parks along the
future Kawaihae Bypass. The makai park will be a larger gathering place and the mauka park will
be a smaller playground sized park.
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Queen Emma Lands
The Queen Emma Foundation owns approximately 10,200 acres in South Kohala near Kawaihae
Harbor. Located on a portion of Queen Emma Lands is the Kawaihae Transitional Housing Program
operated by the Catholic Charities of Hawaiÿi. The transitional housing program consists of a 24-
unit facility that has a bed capacity of 104 for families with children. The facility is slated to be
closed on June 30, 2009 because it will be too costly to remove its cesspool system and replace the
system with an EPA approved wastewater system. The Kawaihae Transitional Housing Program is
currently the only shelter program for homeless families in all of West Hawaiÿi. Residents of the
transitional housing program have provided a reliable supply of labor for several of the area’s local
businesses. The future planned Kaloko Housing Program is planned to help ease the loss of the
Kawaihae Transitional Housing Program. However, the Kaloko Housing Program is located in the
district of North Kona. Currently, the Queen Emma Foundation has no plans for future development
nor does the County have any plans for low-income housing or shelters in South Kohala. The
Queen Emma Foundation is considering building a Kawaihae historic museum next to the location
of the Kawaihae Transitional Housing.
County Land Use Designations
The maps on the following pages illustrate the General Plan LUPAG and the County zoning
designations for the Kawaihae area.
FIGURE 6.1: GENERAL PLAN LUPAG FOR THE KAWAIHAE AREA
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FIGURE 6.2: COUNTY ZONING FOR THE KAWAIHAE AREA
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6.2 KAWAIHAE TOMORROW: KAWAIHAE CONCEPTUAL PLAN &
POLICIES
Suggested overall Goals for Land Use for the Kawaihae Community are:
Kawaihae Policy 1. The County and State Governments shall work closely with the Kawaihae
Community to create a balance of recreational, commercial, and industrial
uses around the harbor area while preserving the cultural and historic
importance of the area.
Kawaihae Policy 2 The County Water Department shall seek new sources of potable water for
the Kawaihae area.
Kawaihae Policy 3. The County shall work with the Kawaihae Community and other State and
Federal agencies to improve the ocean water quality along the Kawaihae
coast.
Kawaihae Policy 4. The County and State Governments shall work closely with the Kawaihae
Community to improve traffic safety for both vehicular and non-vehicular
transportation along Akoni Pule Highway.
Important elements of the Kawaihae Conceptual plan are summarized below. The text and graphics
are not exactly reflective of each other. Some elements in the text may not be reflected in the
graphics and some elements in the graphics may not be explained in the text.
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Chapter 6: Kawaihae Community Plan
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FIGURE 6.3: KAWAIHAE AREA CONCEPTUAL PLAN
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POLICY 1 CREATE A BALANCE OF RECREATIONAL, COMMERCIAL, AND INDUSTRIAL USES
AROUND THE HARBOR AREA WHILE PRESERVING THE CULTURAL AND HISTORIC
IMPORTANCE OF THE AREA.
Strategy 1.1: Encourage State DOT to build the Kawaihae Road Bypass through the Kawaihae area
During the November 1, 2007 Focus Group meeting, community members preferred the most
mauka alignment alternative for the Kawaihae Bypass. Routing heavy traffic around the village
center would allow for the development of a real village center with a sense of place and pedestrian
friendly streets.
Strategy 1.2: Encourage the development of a regional industrial park at Kawaihae -- One of the
policy recommendations from the County of Hawaiÿi General Plan is to encourage the development
of a regional industrial park. An industrial park in the Kawaihae area would benefit from its close
proximity to the Commercial Harbor. The industrial park would also provide more jobs for
residents in the region.
Strategy 1.3: Support DOT Commercial Harbor expansion mauka of Akoni Pule Highway --
Another policy recommendation from the County of Hawaiÿi General Plan is to support the
expansion of the DOT Commercial Harbor mauka of Akoni Pule Highway. Current harbor facilities
are nearing capacity for cargo storage and as population and economic activity of West Hawaiÿi
increase, there will be a need for more cargo storage space and other harbor facilities. DOT should
also be encouraged to move its bulk fuel storage tanks mauka of the highway out of the tsunami
inundation zone.
Strategy 1.4: Expand commercial activities around the harbor area -- Focus group members
expressed the desire for more commercial activity around the harbor area. Currently, the harbor
area is dominated by industrial uses. More commercial activity would help to preserve the “small
harbor” quality that community members desire and also allow for more local area businesses to
expand.
Strategy 1.5: Expand recreational activities around the harbor area and encourage canoe club
activities -- Currently, the DLNR has plans to improve its South Small Boat Harbor facilities as part
of its Kawaihae Small Boat Harbor Master Plan. The Master Plan also calls for development of other
facilities such as a boat club, restaurant, and open areas to accommodate more recreational users.
The County of Hawaiÿi General Plan also calls for the improvement of picnic and camping areas at
Spencer Beach Park. The General Plan LUPAG map also delineates land south of Spencer Beach
Park and mauka of Spencer Beach Park as “Open”. These “Open” lands could be used for
recreational use.
Strategy 1.6: The County shall encourage and support revitalization of Kawaihae’s cultural and
historic resources -- With the establishment of a County Historic Preservation Commission, the
County can work with the community to identify fish spawning locations, burial grounds, church
sites, areas that have been historically used for salt making, or other special areas and resources
deemed important by the community for preservation and protection.
Preservation of these cultural sites also includes installing proper signage to identify these resources.
The preservation and protection of these cultural sites, in particular, the Puÿukohola Heiau, includes
the preservation of view planes for these sites. The Puÿukohola Heiau should be the dominant
visual element of the Kawaihae area. Future developments in the area should preserve viewing
planes to the heiau.
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Strategy 1.7: Mitigate the effects of industrial sprawl around the harbor and industrial areas --
Industrial sprawl negatively impacts the visual resources of the area. Future utility lines should be
placed under ground where feasible in order to protect the visual scenery of Kawaihae. Wires,
poles, and transformers block the view of the coastline. Future expansion of harbor and industrial
uses should occur in a way that mitigates the impact on view planes and scenic beauty of the area.
Strategy 1.8: Decide on site locations for a community center, affordable housing, and school --
The 1992 DHHL Kawaihae Homestead Master Plan outlined the locations for several of these
developments. However, DHHL is encouraged to review and update the 1992 Kawaihae
Homestead Master Plan as needed to reflect the changes that have occurred in the region over the
last decade and a half.
POLICY 2. ESTABLISH ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF POTABLE WATER FOR THE KAWAIHAE
AREA
Strategy 2.1: Complete the development of the Ouli Well Field and transmit the water from Ouli
to the Kawaihae area -- The lack of potable water severely limits any new type of development
whether it is recreational, commercial, or industrial. Any significant expansion of any of these uses
will require a larger amount of potable water. The completion of the development of the Ouli Well
Field could provide the Kawaihae area with more water that would allow for more development in
the area.
Strategy 2.2: Conduct studies to analyze the economic feasibility of constructing a desalination
plant and the environmental impact a desalination plant may have on the surrounding
environment -- Future feasibility studies should determine if desalination is worth pursuing from an
economic standpoint and also take into consideration the environmental impact a desalination plant
may cause, such as the disposal of brine and other by-products of the desalination process.
POLICY 3. IMPROVE THE MARINE WATER QUALITY ALONG THE KAWAIHAE COAST
Strategy 3.1: Engage the Queen Emma land managers, Parker Ranch, Department of Hawaiian
Home Lands, National Park Service, watershed experts and the Kawaihae community in a program
to re-vegetate the mauka areas of the watershed and reduce erosion and sedimentation --
Improving the near shore water quality along the coast will help to restore fish spawning areas and
also remove silt from the underwater Hale o Kapuni Heiau. In addition to maintaining existing
partnerships between the large land owners and government agencies in the Kawaihae area, the
Pelekane Bay Watershed Sediment Run-off Analysis also recommended the following mitigation
strategies:
1. Continued promotion of partnerships among landowners, government agencies, and other
stakeholders as a means for addressing the complex and interrelated issues of watershed
management.
2. Increase ground cover density into Pelekane Bay from upland watershed use
3. Implement feral goat management and continue to monitor grazing management
4. Minimize the number of fires within and adjacent to the watershed
5. Restoration of Pelekane Bay
6. Implement monitoring programs to measure the success and effectiveness of watershed
restoration and protection activities
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Strategy 3.2: The community and County shall coordinate with the Army Corps of Engineers and
State agencies to dredge Pelekane Bay -- Pelekane Bay is filled in with silt from storm water runoff
over the course of many years. While reducing the amount of new sediment that enters the bay will
help with the long term health of the bay, the existing sediment needs to be removed in order to
restore the bay to its natural condition.
Strategy 3.3: The County of Hawaiÿi shall work closely with State and Federal Agencies and with
the Kawaihae community to design solutions to restore ocean circulation along the Coast through
the creation of a washout channel -- In the long run, it may be necessary to restore the natural
circulation of the harbor in addition to reducing sediment runoff into Pelekane Bay and dredging
Pelekane Bay. If sediment run off into the bay is reduced significantly over time but large amounts
of silt still collects in the bay, then restoration of the natural ocean circulation may still be necessary
to “wash out” the silt from the bay.
It will take a collaborative interagency approach that involves community participation to restore
the natural ocean circulation along the coast. State agencies such as the DOT and DLNR as well as
the Army Corps of Engineers will need to participate in the process. The County and the community
can help to initiate the process by bringing all the players to the table.
POLICY 4. IMPROVE TRAFFIC SAFETY FOR VEHICULAR AND NON-VEHICULAR
TRANSPORTATION ALONG AKONI PULE HIGHWAY
Strategy 4.1: Reduce the Speed Limit from 35 mph to 25 mph along Akoni Pule Highway in the
vicinity of Kawaihae Harbor as indicated on the Conceptual Plan Map -- Upon completion of the
Kawaihae Bypass, the speed limit along Akoni Pule Highway should be reduced in order to improve
safety for both vehicular and non-vehicular traffic.
Strategy 4.2: Prohibit parking along the shoulder of Kawaihae Road to allow more room for
pedestrians and bicyclists -- Often, the shoulder along the roadway is blocked by parked cars,
forcing pedestrians and bicyclists to walk or bike dangerously close to on-coming traffic. Restricting
cars from parking along the highway would give pedestrians and bicyclists more room to travel
safely along the highway.
Strategy 4.3: Form an agreement with DLNR to utilize the land by the old cattle loading area for
overflow parking from local businesses -- Many of the people who park their cars along the
highway are patrons of local businesses and shops. Alternative spaces for parking will be needed.
A possible site for more parking is the space near the old cattle loading area. The area is directly
across from existing commercial shops
Strategy 4.4: Construct pedestrian paths and bikeways along Akoni Pule Hwy. through the
Kawaihae corridor and add appropriate signage to increase safety -- Well designed pedestrian and
bike paths will not only clearly designate these areas for non-vehicular traffic, but well designed
pedestrian and bike paths will also encourage more people to walk and bike along the roadway.
Also, more signage is needed on the Kawaihae Road to increase safety for bikers and pedestrians.
Chapter 6: Kawaihae Community Plan
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6.3 ACTION PROGRAMS FOR KAWAIHAE
Action Program details are provided for the following Conceptual Plan elements:
1. Provide for additional sources of water for the Kawaihae area
2. Restore the ocean water quality along the coast
3. Implement traffic safety measures
6.3.1.ACTION PROGRAM - PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF POTABLE
WATER FOR THE KAWAIHAE AREA
The Need for Action
As mentioned previously, the lack of potable water severely limits any new type of development
whether it is recreational, commercial, or industrial. In 1992, the Department of Hawaiian Home
Lands completed its Kawaihae Ten-Year Master Plan. Since then, very few of the DHHL Kawaihae
Master Plan’s elements have been implemented, primarily due to the lack of potable water. The
Kawaihae community would like to see more opportunities available for more commercial,
residential, recreational, and community activities in the area. Expansion of any of these activities
will require more potable water.
Strategy 1.1: Complete the development of the Ouli Well Field and transmit the water from Ouli
to the Kawaihae area
Overview
There are three wells in the Ouli Well Field. Bridge ÿÄina Leÿa estimates the sustainable yield of the
Ouli well field at approximately 2.2 MGD. Each of the three wells is estimated to provide 1.1 MGD
of water. However, one well will be used as a back-up well and will not be in regular use. 2.2
MGD of water would be enough to provide for the needs of about 9,000 people or 4,000
households.
The County negotiated a water development agreement with Bridge ÿÄina Leÿa in 2006. The
agreement calls for Bridge to develop the Ouli Well Field and design and construct a transmission
system to connect the water from the Ouli Wells with the Lälämilo Water System to service the
Mauna Kea Resort and Kawaihae areas. The County would receive 20% of the water source while
Bridge would receive 80%. The Lälämilo Water System would receive an estimated additional 0.8
MGD (2.2 MGD x 20% = 0.8 MGD), enough water to accommodate 3,200 people or 1,600
households.
In addition, Bridge ÿÄina Leÿa would also provide 2 million gallons of water storage capacity. More
importantly, the DWS Lälämilo Water System would become a dual source system, as the Ouli
wells would provide a back-up source of water to the system. In exchange for developing the Ouli
Wells, Bridge would be allowed to connect to the water system facilities in Lälämilo.
It should be noted that over 15 years ago, the County Department of Water Supply commissioned a
preliminary engineering study for the development of well fields in North Kohala and a major water
transmission line that would transport that water to the South Kohala Resorts. Based on 1993 costs,
the estimated cost for this major project was $80 million. That number would be in the range of
$200 million in 2008. The project was discontinued when exploratory wells indicated that the
potential North Kohala well fields had significantly lower yields than had been assumed.
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Puÿukohola Heiau overlooking the muddy
waters of Pelekane Bay
The Action Program for developing an alternative source of water for the Lälämilo Water System is
as follows:
•Who will take the lead – Bridge ÿÄina Leÿa LLC with assistance from the County
Department of Water Supply.
•What needs to be done – Bridge ÿÄina Leÿa LLC needs to plan, finance, and construct the
water infrastructure at Ouli.
Bridge could also form a partnership with the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to help
finance the development of the well field in exchange for allowing DHHL Kawaihae
Homesteads to be connected to the Lälämilo Water System.
Development of this well field would include construction of the three wells, construction
of water storage reservoirs and transmission lines, and water system hardware to tie the
system to Kawaihae Harbor and the DHHL Kawaihae Homesteads.
•When will actions take place – Upon enactment of the CDP, initial agreements between
the parties could be reached within one year – provided that Bridge ÿÄina Lea LLC is
prepared to move forward with the Villages of ÿÄina Leÿa project. In the event that this
project does not move forward – which may well be the case, given the slowing of
development projects throughout the U.S. and the growing scarcity of loan monies – it may
be possible for the County and DHHL to work out a lease or purchase agreement with
Bridge ÿÄina Lea LLC.
•How much will it cost – Full development of the Ouli Well Field may cost in the range of
$10 million to $20 million.
•Intended Outcome – With the Ouli Wells as an additional source of water for the Lälämilo
Water System, there will be additional water that can be provided to Kawaihae Harbor, the
DHHL Kawaihae Homesteads, and other future commercial, residential, recreational, and
industrial uses in the area.
6.3.2 ACTION PROGRAM - IMPROVE OCEAN WATER QUALITY ALONG THE
KAWAIHAE COAST
The Need for Action
Kawaihae was known for its pristine marine waters.
The waters off of Kawaihae once supported a
diverse array of marine life. Local residents would
like to see Kawaihae continue its tradition of
fishing for years to come. The waters off of
Kawaihae were also used extensively for
recreational purposes; it was one of Kamehameha’s
favorite surfing spots and old timers reminisce that
the coastal waters were once their “playground.”
However, the marine waters off of Kawaihae have
become stressed from significant alterations to the
coastline from the development of the commercial
harbor and also from increased sedimentation that
enters the coastal waters from area streams. The
manmade Coral Flats and the breakwater block the natural ocean circulation along the coast.
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Consequently, silt and other pollutants are trapped at Pelekane Bay. Before the harbor was built,
the ocean currents cleaned out the waters of the bay. Actions to improve the marine water quality
along the coast involve moving forward with feasibility studies to examine different alternative
strategies or a combination of strategies for improving marine water quality. Previously proposed
mitigation strategies included but were not limited to: mitigating the amount of sediment run off
that enters the ocean, dredging Pelekane Bay to remove the existing silt buildup, and restoration of
the natural ocean circulation along the coast line by constructing a “wash-out” circulation channel.
Strategy 2.1: Move forward with feasibility studies to examine different alternative strategies to
improve marine water quality along the coast.
Overview
The 2005 Pelekane Bay Watershed Management Plan (PBWP), prepared by Mauna Kea Soil and
Water Conservation District (MKSWCD), outlined several actions to help reduce sedimentation
including: the creation of a sediment/catchment basin(s), dredging Pelekane Bay to remove silt, or
creating a “washout” channel to restore ocean circulation. All of these potential actions would
require significant amounts of funding to implement. In addition, these activities would require
intensive inter-agency collaboration at federal, state, and county levels.
There have been differing views over which course of action would be most efficient, feasible to
implement, or cost effective. Several community members feel that the loss of near shore
circulation is a major reason for the current polluted condition of the bay because the current used
to “wash out” the sediments from the bay. However, the State DOT has stated that a circulation
channel may not be the most effective solution for restoring the waters of Pelekane Bay. Restoring
ocean circulation may not be sufficient to wash out the sediment in the bay and may also cause
tidal problems within the harbor. Instead, the State DOT recommends reducing the amount of
sediment that enters into the bay through actions that minimize soil erosion. Before any actions are
implemented, the Pelekane Bay Watershed Management Plan recommended that studies be
undertaken to determine if any of these concepts deserve further attention.
In 2002, the Corps of Engineers, with the Mauna Kea Soil and Water Conservation District
(MKSWCD) as the local sponsor, began a feasibility study to assess feasibility of restoration actions,
including sediment reduction facilities, erosion control measures, and a circulation channel
connecting Kawaihae Harbor with Pelekane Bay. The purpose of the study was to reverse
degradation to the coral reef ecosystem and to improve water quality in Pelekane Bay to conditions
that existed prior to the development of the Kawaihae Deep Draft Harbor. The Pelekane Bay
Watershed Sediment Runoff Analysis, completed in January 2008, was a technical study for the
feasibility investigation.
While no funding was required on the local sponsor’s part until the project was approved to
continue into the design phase, MKSWCD was seeking an agency with funding to co-sponsor the
project. In February 2008, after finding no co-sponsors to financially support the project, the
MKSWCD requested termination of the feasibility study due to the lack of sponsor funding.
Unless a new local sponsor is found, the feasibility study investigations of Pelekane Bay will not
resume. Currently, no federal funding is being budgeted for the study. The earliest funding that
could be available would be in the Federal 2010 fiscal year. A new sponsor will be responsible to
cost share the existing phase 50:50 (including past expenses accrued). Should the State DOT
assume local sponsorship of the Pelekane Bay Restoration Project, federal funding would still not be
available until fiscal year 2010 at the earliest. However, the State DOT is working with the Army
Corps of Engineers to utilize the existing Kawaihae Deep Draft Harbor Navigational Study to
analyze the circulation channel as it may benefit the circulation of Pelekane Bay and its impact on
Kawaihae Harbor. By pursuing this course of action, both State & Federal funds are currently
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available to proceed with this specific study. The Army Corps of Engineers will analyze various
channel connection alternatives between Kawaihae Commercial Harbor and Pelekane Bay.
The Action Program for moving forward to improve the ocean water quality is as follows:
•Who will take the lead – State Department of Transportation Harbors Division in
coordination with the Army Corps of Engineers, County of Hawaiÿi and the Kawaihae
community.
•What needs to be done – The State DOT is working with the Army Corps of Engineers to
analyze various alternative channel connections between Kawaihae Commercial Harbor
and Pelekane Bay. In conjunction with the analysis, navigational and water circulation
impacts within Kawaihae Commercial Harbor will be addressed. .
Currently, the involvement of the State DOT is limited to determining the feasibility of a
circulation channel between Pelekane Bay and Kawaihae Harbor. While this is certainly a
step in the right direction, other actions in addition to studies of the circulation channel as
outlined in the PBWP need to be taken . Other local sponsors will be needed to co-sponsor
additional feasibility studies and restoration projects to reduce sedimentation runoff into the
bay and also to possibly dredge Pelekane Bay in order to remove existing sediments. Local
residents need to organize and ask County elected officials to co-sponsor other Pelekane
Bay restoration studies and projects with the Corps of Engineers.
•When will actions take place – The State DOT is currently working with the Army Corps of
Engineers. Community members need to organize now and speak with elected officials and
also with candidates who are seeking elected office and convince them the County should
help to sponsor future restoration projects.
•How much will it cost –The cost to complete feasibility studies will be cost shared 50:50
with the local sponsor and Corps of Engineers. Design and construction of restoration
projects will be cost shared 25:75 with the local sponsor paying 25% and the Corps paying
the remainder 75%. Design and construction costs cannot be estimated at this time for
Pelekane Bay restoration projects.
Intended Outcome - Completion of all feasibility studies should identify the best option or
combination of options to help with the restoration of Pelekane Bay
6.3.3 ACTION PROGRAM - IMPLEMENT TRAFFIC SAFETY MEASURES
The Need For Action
Although a relatively small traffic corridor, the Akoni-Pule Highway that runs through the Kawaihae
area is not a safe roadway due to large industrial vehicles coming and going from the commercial
harbor, no clear designated areas for pedestrians and bicyclists to travel, and poor roadway design
at several intersections. The community’s desire for a balance of commercial, recreational, and
residential uses would be better realized if the roadway that passes through the area is safer for both
vehicular and non-vehicular traffic.
Strategy 3.1 Reduce the Speed Limit from 35 mph to 25 mph along Akoni Pule Highway in the
vicinity of Kawaihae Harbor as indicated on the Conceptual Plan Map.
Overview
Since the Akoni-Pule highway is a major highway connecting North and South Kohala, vehicles that
travel along the highway usually speed through Kawaihae. Slowing down the traffic through this
corridor would increase the safety for all travelers through the corridor. Well designed pedestrian
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and bike paths will not only clearly designate these areas for non-vehicular traffic, but well designed
pedestrian and bike paths will also encourage more people to walk and bike along the roadway.
The Action Program for developing for reducing the speed limit is as follows:
•Who will take the lead – Akoni Pule Highway is a State highway, so the State DOT will set the
speed limit for this section of road.
•What needs to be done - The County will need to send a formal request to DOT to change the
speed limit from 35 mph to 25 mph.
•When will actions take place – After enactment of the South Kohala CDP.
•How much will it cost – Costs to the State will entail new signage and administrative expenses.
These costs should be relatively minor.
•Intended Outcome: Slower moving traffic will increase traffic safety along Akoni-Pule Highway
through the Kawaihae area and allow for pedestrian friendly streets that will contribute to
establishing a village center and sense of place for the area.
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7 PUAKÖ COMMUNITY PLAN
7.1 CURRENT AND FUTURE PLANS AND DEVELOPMENTS
7.1.1 POPULATION
Population figures for Puakö were not kept until the 1990 U.S. Census. In 1990, the population of
Puakö was 397 people and by 2000 population had increased to 429 people. Of the resident
population, 84% are 25 years or older. The residents of Puakö are mostly retirees and second home
owners. Most of the residents that do work commute to their jobs in Waimea or to the resorts in
South Kohala.
7.1.2 DEVELOPMENT PATTERN AND LAND USE
The community consists mainly of single-family homes that were built along both sides of Puakö
Beach Drive. There is one store in the community. The Puakö Store is central to the area and
serves as a meeting place and a place for information sharing. The coastline bordering Puakö is
home to an extensive coral reef system while the dry lowlands to the east support a large kiawe
forest.
The northern end of the community is bordered by
residential homes at Waialea Bay and the Hapuna State
Recreational Area. The State Recreational Area includes
several beaches including Hapuna Beach and Beach 69.
Local residents, residents from around the whole island, and
tourists frequent these beaches, making them some of the
most popular and crowded beaches on the island. The
southern end of the community is called Paniau, a surf spot
with a rocky beach. Further south is Holoholokai Beach
Park and the Mauna Lani Resort. Puakö also contains
several cultural and historical sites, including the Puakö
petroglyph field and the Hokuloa Church.
In addition to its marine and coastal resources, another major natural resource unique to Puakö is
an underground aquifer that supports to a dense kiawe forest. The Puakö forest is very lush and
productive. The underground aquifer is regarded by some as a “natural oasis in a desert like
climate.” These large kiawe trees produce flowers heavy with nectar. A small bee-keeping
company is producing internationally known gourmet quality honey from these trees.
7.1.3 MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS
Within the core community of Puakö along Puakö Beach Drive, there is little or no room for major
development. However, there are several large developments outside of the core community that
may have a significant impact on Puakö. The Villages of ÿÄina Leÿa, a development on the mauka
side of Queen Kaÿahumanu Highway almost directly across from Puakö, has proposed to develop
2,406 multi- and single- units, not more than five golf courses, golf academy, commercial villages,
and a 40-unit resort lodge. The development also includes 863 lots in the State agriculture land use
district. In addition to these developments, 234 acres will be set aside for open space and 26 acres
will be used for parks. A five acre red ilima preserve area is also planned. The total project area is
approximately 3,000 acres.
Another major proposed project within the Mauna Lani Resort and mauka of the Puakö forest, is the
Stanford Carr Development for which, 691 residential units, 284 hotel units, and three golf holes are
Hapuna Beach State Park
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planned. On the mauka end of the Puakö forest, a private company, Colony Capital, is planning to
develop a golf course.
Puakö Bay Investors LLC is planning to develop an 8-lot single family residential subdivision along
Puakö Beach Drive near the Puakö small boat ramp. Also, the University of Hawaiÿi is considering
building a marine research center on land on the northern side of the small boat ramp.
County Land Use Designations
The maps on the following page illustrate the County of Hawaiÿi General Plan Land Use Pattern
Allocation Guide (LUPAG) and current County zoning of lands in the Puakö area.
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FIGURE 7.1: GENERAL PLAN LUPAG DESIGNATION FOR PUAKÖ
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FIGURE 7.2: COUNTY ZONING FOR PUAKÖ
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There are some areas in Puakö that are zoned resort (V-1.25). However, it is important to note that
some of these resort zoned areas are designated as either low density or medium density by the
General Plan LUPAG. Therefore, if these properties apply for SMA permits (these properties are also
all in the SMA as well), the properties cannot be developed to the zoned density because it would
be inconsistent with the General Plan LUPAG map.
7.2 PUAKÖ TOMORROW: PUAKÖ CONCEPTUAL PLAN &
POLICIES
Suggested overall Goals for the Puakö Community are:
Puakö Policy 1. MANAGE THE EFFECTS OF GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT
The County Government shall work closely with the Puakö Community to
manage the effects of growth and development in a responsible manner.
Puakö Policy 2.MITIGATE THE RISKS OF NATURAL DISASTERS
The County Government and the Puakö Community shall work with other
State and Federal agencies to reduce the risk to life and property from
natural disasters.
Puakö Policy 3. ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP
The County Government and the Puakö Community shall work with other
State and Federal agencies to protect and manage the rich coastal and near
shore marine environment.
Puakö Policy 4. INCREASE TRAFFIC SAFETY
The County Government shall work closely with the Puakö Community to
improve traffic safety.
Important related land use strategies for the Puakö Community are summarized on the following
pages:
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FIGURE 7.3 PUAKÖ CONCEPTUAL PLAN
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POLICY 1. . MANAGE THE EFFECTS OF GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT
Strategy 1.1 Preserve the historical integrity of Puakö -- Historically, Puakö was a small fishing
village. The petroglyph field is a unique resource of the pre-contact period. The Hokuloa Church,
built in 1858, is still used today for weekly services and community meetings. The Puakö Sugar
Plantation was established in 1895. The area was also used for cattle grazing and pig farming. For
over 100 years the Puakö forest has been an important apiary and has supported a substantial honey
business. These elements of Puakö’s past should be preserved.
Strategy 1.2 Mitigate the impacts of development within the Puakö Community – The low density,
single family home character of Puakö makes this area a very desirable and pleasant place to live.
Some privately owned land at the north end of Puakö Beach Drive is zoned for urban development.
However, the overwhelming majority of residents in Puakö oppose any development in this area
that is not in keeping with the existing character of the community. Multi-family, resort related, and
multi-story structures should be prohibited.
Strategy 1.3 Mitigate the impacts of development in the surrounding area -- Full build-out of
permitted housing projects in the Waikoloa and Mauna Lani area adjacent to Puakö would result in
over 4,000 additional single family homes and condominiums. In addition, one option under
consideration for the proposed Kawaihae bypass road would result in significantly increased use of
Puakö Beach Drive by non-residents. The Superferry will also impact Puakö and Waialea Bay
directly because of its proximity to the Kawaihae Harbor. Taken together, anticipated growth in the
area has the potential to severely impact the integrity and character of the Puakö community. To
mitigate these impacts, the following actions are proposed:
•The State Division of Land Management and/or the Division of State Parks should actively
manage public use of the Paniau “park” area at the south end of Puakö Beach Drive by
controlling illegal activities (e.g. camping, open fires, alcohol consumption, human waste,
etc.), constructing necessary infrastructure and enlisting enforcement support from the
Division of Conservation and Resource Enforcement (DOCARE) and County Police.
•Similar problems exist at the Hapuna Beach Recreation area. The County should transfer
control of the Old Puakö Beach Road to the Division of State Parks. State Parks will then be
able to secure the perimeters of the Hapuna Beach Recreation area at night by gating the
entry points at both ends.
•The State DLNR’s Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation should actively manage
increasing public use of the Puakö boat ramp and expand facilities as necessary.
•The County of Hawaiÿi should actively manage the designated pedestrian and vehicle
access corridors within the community to ensure that they remain accessible, clear of
vegetation, and be kept in sanitary condition.
•Regulations to control vehicle speeding on Puakö Beach Drive should be aggressively
enforced. Additional action should be taken to reduce the frequency of burglaries in the
Puakö community.
•The County should aggressively assert its jurisdiction over Puakö Beach Drive to prevent
encroachment of vegetation, parking within the right-of-way and deterioration of the bike
lane.
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Strategy 1.4 Mitigate the impacts of surrounding land uses on historical and cultural resources --
There have been several instances in the community where uses next to a historical or cultural
resource have impinged upon the use and enjoyment of the resource. For instance, there are
parcels that are zoned ‘Resort’ that neighbor the Hokuloa Church. Uses of the resort zoned
properties have sometimes interfered and conflicted with the use of the church. Interferences such
as these have diminished the enjoyment of historical and cultural sites. Adjacent property users
should be encouraged to be “good neighbors.”
POLICY 2. MITIGATE THE RISK OF NATURAL DISASTERS
Strategy 2.1 Support the construction of the Paniau Evacuation Route -- Puakö has one paved
access road, Puakö Beach Drive, which provides access into and out of the community from the
north. Having only one access way to the north is potentially hazardous, especially since brushfires
may come from the northeast and move in a southwest direction with trade winds, cutting off the
northern path of escape. There are current plans to construct a southern evacuation route at Paniau.
The Puakö Community Association has nearly completed studies needed to file Conservation
District Use and Special Management Area permits in order to commence construction of this route.
Various governmental agencies, including State and County Civil Defense, County Council
members, and the State Representative, have offered help.
The community considers the construction of the Paniau Evacuation Route as a top priority. The
route should be completed before other evacuation routes are considered.
Strategy 2.2 Maintain existing fuel break behind mauka houselots -- During and immediately after
the October 2007 fire, the County used bulldozers to clear and expand the fuel break from Paniau,
north to the road leading to the Puakö boat ramp. Rainfall in December caused buffel grass to grow
on much of the exposed fuel break areas. The Puakö Community Association contracted to
hydroseed additional areas with exposed soil, to minimize wind-blown dust and deter reemergence
of kiawe. Over the longer term, the community association plans to experiment with more
succulent and fire resistant plant species. The Puakö Community Association plans to also work
with the State and County to explore strategies that will mitigate the fire hazard resulting from the
piles of kiawe debris left during the bulldozing work.
Installation of a water pipeline along the full length of the fuel break would facilitate fire response
and provide irrigation water for planting. The water sources for the pipeline could be (1) recycled
treated water from the Mauna Lani Waste Water Treatment Plant or a future smaller scale
community waste water treatment facility, and (2) the County water system.
Strategy 2.3 Establish a fuel break between Queen Kaÿahumanu Highway and the northeastern
section of Puakö Beach Drive -- The current fuel break is located in close proximity to and behind
the mauka beach lots. The location of the current fuel break does little to prevent wildfires from
burning the kiawe forest. Should a wildfire reach the forest, the fire may increase tremendously in
intensity as kiawe wood has a high fuel load or quickly race across the tops of the trees in a crown
fire. The location of the current fuel break will not prevent a strong fire from engulfing homes and
the uniqueness of Puakö’s forest would be destroyed with significant negative impacts to the
offshore reef. Most fires start along roads and highways. With the strong trade winds from the
northeast, the greatest fire vector and threat to Puakö may be a fire that starts along Queen
Kaÿahumanu Highway or the northeast section of Puakö Road. Establishing a fuel break between
Queen Kaÿahumanu Highway and the northeastern portion of Puakö Road will better protect homes,
the kiawe forest, and reef.
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Strategy 2.4 - Mitigate flooding from Kamakoa Gulch -- Much of the flooding that occurs in Puakö
comes from Kamakoa Gulch. Flood mitigation measures such as clearing and maintaining of the
ditch around Kamakoa Gulch need to be implemented either at the mouth of the gulch or further up
mauka to control the flooding in Puakö.
Detention basins downstream of Kamakoa Gulch, which can be located within the existing flood
plain, should be employed to capture and retain flood waters.
An early warning system for floods needs to be employed. The system would be triggered by large
rain events mauka (specifically in places such as Waikoloa Village or the new developments in the
surrounding area of the Village). There are three gulches that empty into the Puakö flood plain and
they all need to be monitored in mauka areas so that the Puakö community can be warned of an
imminent flood. The flood warning system could be integrated with the sirens that already exist.
Strategy 2.5 Encourage more community participation in hazard mitigation activities and
emergency response training -- Picking up litter that may contribute to ignition of a wildfire is a
good example of an activity that communities can participate in to mitigate a hazard. Wildfires may
be caused by littering and illegal dumping of rubbish in public areas, especially if the rubbish
includes glass fragments. In the hot sun, glass may cause grass to catch fire. Regular monitoring
and cleanup of rubbish may help to reduce the chance of wildfire, especially along Queen
Kaÿahumanu Highway.
The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program educates people about disaster
preparedness for hazards that may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster response skills,
such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations.
Using the training learned in the classroom and during exercises, CERT members can assist others in
their neighborhood or workplace following an event when professional responders are not
immediately available to help. CERT members also are encouraged to support emergency response
agencies by taking a more active role in emergency preparedness projects in their community. To
date, only one CERT class has been held in Puakö and only three residents took part in that training.
The Puakö Community Association plans to approach the County to schedule additional training in
the community.
Strategy 2.6 Upgrade existing emergency warning signals to have back up electrical power in the
event that a power outage occurs -- There is a concern that these sirens will not function if power
lines are downed. An early warning system for natural disasters would give residents more time to
prepare for oncoming natural disasters and may save lives. However, there may also be a lack of
widespread knowledge in the community of what the appropriate response is when the sirens are
activated. Thus an awareness and education program needs to be implemented in conjunction with
construction of more emergency warning signals.
POLICY 3. ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP
Strategy 3.1 Work with Mauna Lani Resort, County Department of Environmental Management,
and other State and Federal agencies on possible construction of a sewer system for the Puakö
community -- A sewer system would reduce the amount of untreated effluent entering the ocean
from Puakö. However, this idea has been proposed in the past, but has never been implemented
because the project would be very costly. Coordination among various government agencies at
different levels to provide funding should be possible because the coastal waters are a natural
resource not just for the immediate community, but for the larger region as well.
The Mauna Lani Waste Water Treatment Plant could accommodate and treat waste water from a
Puakö waste water system. However, hook-up to the Mauna Lani Treatment Plant may be quite
costly as waste water would most likely have to be pumped to the Mauna Lani Plant due to the
topography of the area.
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Alternative waste water treatment systems that would be more appropriate for smaller communities
such as Puakö should also be considered. For instance, Effluent Sewers (also known as Septic Tank
Effluent Pump (STEP) systems) are starting to be recognized as effective and economical waste water
systems for small to mid-sized communities in environmentally sensitive areas and have been used
by many coastal communities on the West Coast. Effluent Sewers have been known to be cheaper
than traditional gravity sewers.
The community has voiced a strong desire that treated waste water be used for irrigation of fuel
breaks or the kiawe forest, regardless of the sewer technology that will be eventually chosen. Using
treated waste water for irrigation should be a requirement to be included in future waste water
system feasibility studies.
Strategy 3.2 Encourage the development of the University of Hawaiÿi Kaläkaua Marine Center on
the parcel of land near the Puakö Boat Ramp -- Although the specific research activities at the
proposed Marine Research Center are still to be determined, the center could play an important role
in helping to improve the marine water quality of the nearby area. One possible role that the
marine center could fulfill is conducting regular marine water quality monitoring. Should future
water quality monitoring show that the coastal waters are put at severe risk by nearby coastal
developments, it would be more likely that public monies would be allocated to remedy the
pollution from coastal developments. In any case, consistent monitoring and data collection should
be maintained for the near shore waters.
Strategy 3.3: Consider a wide range of management options for the Puakö forest -- The kiawe
forest here is a “one of a kind” natural resource unique to Puakö. Kiawe trees in this forest are 60
feet high, while average kiawe trees only reach heights of 15 feet. It has been suggested that the
kiawe forest could be utilized as a multi-use park for recreation, food production, and the
restoration of native plant species. Designing a system of trails and access ways into the forest
would allow people to safely hike through the forest. The forest is also a source of food production,
as a small local company produces organic honey. The honey is of gourmet quality and is world
renowned. The dense canopy of the 60 foot kiawe trees would shade native plant species and
allow them to grow.
Several management options to preserve the forest from future development include: putting the
forest into the State Hapuna Beach Recreational area or some other type of conservation easement,
purchase by a conservation buyer, change in management within DLNR, or the formation of a non-
profit management group to manage the forest.
Proper management of the forest also includes thinning the forest to reduce the fuel load. If done in
a prudent, well-planned manner, thinning the forest may not only reduce the fuel load, it can also
be economically profitable. Kiawe wood can be sold as firewood or other related products such as
kiawe flour, honey, and artisan wood could be provided. Money earned from the sale of kiawe
wood could go back into the management of the forest.
However, before any of the above benefits can be realized, the forest must first be protected from
development. A portion of the forest is under possible threat of development. Colony Capital has
plans to develop a portion of the forest (TMK: 6-8-001-022) into a golf course. The parcel is
approximately 500 acres. There are two County issued permits associated with this project, an SMA
permit and a use permit. Currently Plans for the golf course have stalled as no action has taken
place since 2001 to develop the golf course. In 2005, Colony Capital requested and received an
extension of time until May of 2011 for their permits.
The Planning Department should recommend non-renewal of the two permits associated with this
project if a time extension is applied for in 2011.
Chapter 7: Puakö Community Plan
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Strategy 3.4 Community and County should collaborate with various State and Federal agencies
and various non-profit organizations to share information and provide community resources to
manage and protect Puakö’s ocean resources -- There are various areas for community and
government collaboration to take place in order to manage and protect Puakö’s coastal waters.
Several opportunities for collaboration include helping with enforcement of current laws and
regulations, consistent monitoring coastal resources, and data collection. Currently, State DLNR’s
Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement (DOCARE) does not have the resources to hire
more officers to regularly monitor the coastline for illegal use of marine resources. A “community
watch” type program may help DOCARE officers to prevent poaching along the coast.
Another potential opportunity for community collaboration is with Mäläma Kai Foundation (MKF).
MKF is a non-profit organization dedicated to ocean stewardship for current and future generations
through community service and public education. The organization raises funds to sponsor projects
that help conserve Hawaiÿi’s coastal and marine resources, and educate people about these
resources. Currently MKF has helped to install seven day-use mooring buoys along the coast within
the vicinity of Puakö. Eventually, more than seven day-use mooring buoys will be needed to
accommodate future larger populations of recreational boaters. The Nature Conservancy and Sea
Grant currently have been working with the community to monitor public activities on the reef to
create a marine project-related website and to conduct shallow and deep water reef transects to
document the condition of many reef species. Collaborative efforts such as these should be
continued and promoted.
Strategy 3.5 Future development and uses need to take into consideration water quality and
promote proper watershed management -- Many of Puakö’s issues are centered on water quality.
The needs of both the forest and the reef indicate that all efforts in Puakö should be viewed as
watershed management issues. Proposed future developments should be evaluated against the
criteria of how a development affects water flow and water quality in the watershed. Developments
that are more mauka in the watershed, that are outside of the immediate vicinity of Puakö should
also be evaluated as well. Developments that adversely affect ground water quality or ocean water
quality should not be approved.
POLICY 4. IMPROVE TRAFFIC SAFETY
Strategy 4.1 Consider and decide upon effective and appropriate strategies to improve traffic
safety within the community - The Puakö Community Association agrees on the need for speed
reduction strategies to increase traffic safety within the community. Possible speed reduction
strategies include: speed humps, increased police speed traps, and portable radar speed indicators.
However, the community has not reached a consensus on which strategies to implement. Future
discussions within the community need to take place in order for the community to reach consensus
on which speed reduction strategies should be implemented.
Strategy 4.2: Improve traffic safety for vehicles merging onto Queen Kaÿahumanu Highway from
Puakö Beach Drive -- Installing a stoplight at the intersection of Queen Kaÿahumanu and Puakö
Beach Drive would help to improve traffic safety of motorists entering and exiting Puakö as vehicles
traveling along Queen Kaÿahumanu Highway often travel at 50 mph or more. A stoplight would be
necessary if the Kawaihae Road Bypass is located at the Puakö junction. The Puakö community
would accept the bypass intersection at the Puakö junction. Furthermore, as a design option, a
grade separated (flyover) intersection should be considered if this alignment occurs.
If there is no stoplight, a refuge lane is needed. The State DOT should construct a refuge lane for
left turns out of Puakö onto Queen Kaÿahumanu Highway. The refuge lane out of Puakö onto
Queen Kaÿahumanu Highway would improve the safety of motorists merging onto the highway
traveling north.
Chapter 7: Puakö Community Plan
South Kohala CDP November, 2008
FINAL Page 142
7.3 ACTION PROGRAMS FOR PUAKÖ
Action Program details have been developed for the following Conceptual Plan elements:
•Strategy for preserving the Puakö forest
•Strategies for mitigating impacts of natural disasters
•Strategy for improving marine water quality
7.3.1 ACTION PROGRAM – MITIGATE IMPACTS OF NATURAL DISASTERS
The Need for Action
The Puakö community is very vulnerable to natural disasters. Located along the coastline, Puakö is
threatened by coastal flooding caused by storm events and by the potential of tsunami. In 1946, a
tsunami struck the South Kohala coastline. Fortunately during 1946, development along the Puakö
coast was minimal and few lives were threatened. However, with the current level of development
in the Puakö community, a future tsunami would put many lives at risk.
Puakö’s location on the dry arid leeward side of the island coupled with strong gusty winds blowing
in a south westerly direction make it extremely susceptible to wildfires. The village itself is
protected by a fire break but this must be maintained regularly, and over time is often neglected due
to lack of resources. The brush fire of 2007 was a very close call for this quiet little community.
The community’s vulnerability to coastal flooding, tsunami, and wildfire coupled with limited
evacuation routes put Puakö’s residents at severe risk.
Strategy 1.1 Establish a fuel break between Queen Kaÿahumanu Highway and the northeastern
section of Puakö Road.
Overview
As mentioned previously, currently there is a fuel break
located in close proximity to and behind the mauka beach
lot homes along the kiawe forest. The location of the
current fuel break does little to prevent wildfires from
burning the forest. Strong winds blowing in a south
westerly direction would spread a wildfire to the forest
rapidly. Should a wildfire reach the forest, the fire may
increase tremendously in intensity as kiawe wood has a
high fuel load, or it may quickly race across the tops of trees
in a crown fire. The location and size of the current fuel break may not prevent a strong fire from
engulfing homes. Furthermore, the uniqueness of Puakö’s kiawe forest would be destroyed and the
reef would be severely impacted by ash deposition, increased runoff and sedimentation due to the
loss of vegetative cover, and increased nutrient input since kiawe trees help to mediate nutrient
inputs from groundwater. As development occurs upslope, the role of the forest in protecting water
quality and the reef will become more vital. Establishing a fuel break between Queen Kaÿahumanu
Highway and the northeastern portion of Puakö Road will better protect homes and also protect the
kiawe forest.
The Action Program for establishing a fuel break is as follows:
•Who should take the lead? Puakö-based subcommittee of the South Kohala CDP Action
Committee, and the Puakö Community Association, with assistance from the County
Aerial view of Puakö taken a few days
after the October 2007 wildfires
Chapter 7: Puakö Community Plan
South Kohala CDP November, 2008
FINAL Page 143
Planning Department, the County Civil Defense, County Department of Public Works, the
State Department of Land and Natural Resources, and the Mauna Lani Resort.
•What needs to be done? A fuel break needs to be designed, established, and maintained.
The Hawaiÿi Wildfire Management Organization in cooperation with the PCA and
landowners is designing a fuel break. HWMO is working to secure funds from FEMA to
establish the break. HWMO will ensure maintenance of the fuel break for three years while
HWMO works with the community and landowners to identify the best long-term
maintenance options, including conversion of fuels to vegetation that does not carry fire as
easily as grasses and kiawe.
•When should actions be initiated? An application for funding the project has been
submitted to FEMA and is being considered for funding. Inclusion of this action in the CDP
will increase opportunities for funding from other sources if necessary.
•How much will it cost? Fuels management in this landscape is approximately $8,000 per
acre based on previous experience in this area. The fuel break will be between 15 and 30
acres depending on the final width chosen and final funding allotment. Therefore, costs
will be between $120,000 and $240,000.
•Intended Outcome: A fuel break that will mitigate fire would be located along Queen
Kaÿahumanu Highway and along the northeastern portion of Puakö Road providing
additional protection against wildfire for the Puakö kiawe forest, reef, and homes of Puakö
residents.
Strategy 1.2 Upgrade existing emergency warning sirens to have a battery electrical power
backup in case of power outages.
Overview
Presently, there are two tsunami warning sirens in Puakö. There is a concern that these sirens will
not function if power lines are down. An early warning system for natural disasters would give
residents more time to prepare for oncoming natural disasters and may save lives.
The County Civil Defense also needs to help design and provide informational material educating
residents of what to do after the emergency signals are activated.
•Who should take the lead? Puakö-based subcommittee of the South Kohala CDP Action
Committee, with assistance from the County Planning Department, the County Department
of Public Works, County Civil Defense, and State Civil Defense.
•What needs to be done? The costs to upgrade tsunami warning sirens are covered by State
Civil Defense, so a funding request to State Civil Defense will need to be made.
Community leaders and County Civil Defense also need to design an educational and
awareness program to inform Puakö residents of what to do when emergency warning
signals are activated.
•When should actions be initiated? Actions can be initiated upon adoption of the CDP.
•How much will it cost? An emergency warning siren costs around $80,000 to install.
Costs to upgrade existing warning sirens with a battery back up should be less than the cost
of installation of a new signal. The costs of emergency warning sirens are normally covered
by State Civil Defense. Designing an educational and awareness program to inform
residents of what to do in case the signals are activated would entail administrative staffing
Chapter 7: Puakö Community Plan
South Kohala CDP November, 2008
FINAL Page 144
costs and also printing costs or advertising costs depending on what type of program
community members and Civil Defense devise. However, overall costs should be minimal.
•Intended Outcome: An improved early alert system that will save lives
Strategy 1.3 Construct the Paniau Evacuation Route
The Need for Action
As stated previously, Puakö has only one paved evacuation
route in case of emergency. Residents agree that another
evacuation route is urgently needed. Construction of an escape
route in the Paniau area would allow residents to evacuate in a
southern direction to Mauna Lani Resort. Currently, the only
paved evacuation route is at the north end of the community. If
that route becomes blocked, then area residents will be left
without a paved escape route. This potential situation could
prove disastrous.
The Action Program for the construction of a Paniau escape
route is as follows:
•Who should take the lead? Puakö Community Association, with assistance from the
County Planning Department.
•What needs to be done? A Conservation District Use Permit (CDUP) needs to be
completed and approved by the State Department of Land and Natural Resources. In
addition to the CDUP, a Special Management Area (SMA) permit is also required by the
County Planning Department. After obtaining these approvals, further design and
construction of the escape route can proceed.
•When should actions be initiated? The Puakö Community Association is currently in the
process of obtaining the necessary permits and approvals.
•How much will it cost? The Puakö Community Association has estimated costs of the
escape route to be $70,000.
Intended Outcome: A second escape route that will increase the safety and welfare of coastal
residents in the area.
Proposed location for the Paniau
Evacuation Route
Chapter 7: Puakö Community Plan
South Kohala CDP November, 2008
FINAL Page 145
7.3.2 ACTION PROGRAM – IMPROVING MARINE WATER QUALITY
The Need for Action
The marine waters off of Puakö along with the coral reefs and white sand beaches are not just
natural resources enjoyed by Puakö residents; these are natural resources that are enjoyed by the
entire district of South Kohala and the County. The coral reefs off the coast by Puakö still teem with
diverse marine life. The nearby white sand beaches are arguably the best white sand beaches on
the entire island and are a popular recreation spot for both locals and visitors. It is crucial that these
unique resources be preserved and protected for future generations.
The marine resources of the South Kohala coastline are under threat from a variety of sources.
Marine vessels sometimes anchor illegally on the coral reefs. The anchors drag along the reefs,
damaging the reef structure. While rules, regulations, and more environmentally friendly mooring
options are in place, enforcement and monitoring are the key actions needed for reducing the
damage to the reefs from illegal anchoring.
However, marine waters and reefs are also under threat from sewerage discharges from
development along the coast. The Puakö Beach lots have no sewer system; each lot has an
individual wastewater system or cesspool system. Wastewater seeps into the marine waters from
these cesspools.
The amount of untreated wastewater entering the ocean needs to be reduced. The County General
Plan specifically calls for the construction of a sewage treatment system for the Puakö Beach Lots
and that the sewerage system should utilize the existing resort waste water treatment plant. Action
to protect the marine resources off of Puakö’s coast needs to occur sooner rather than later.
Delaying action may result in severe damage to the marine environment that may not be able to be
undone.
Strategy 2.1: Construct a wastewater treatment system for the Puakö Beach Lots
Overview
In Puakö, the groundwater table is near the surface. With the beach lots on individual wastewater
systems and cesspools, the environmental degradation from wastewater will continue until a
permanent solution to treat and dispose of the wastewater is found. However, the financing of such
a large project is a major barrier to implementation. Quite simply, constructing a sewer system,
even for a small community such as Puakö, will be expensive. The major question that needs to be
asked is how much residents are willing to pay to protect the marine resources off of Puakö?
The Action Program for the financing and construction of a sewer system for the Puakö Beach lots is
as follows:
•Who should take the lead? Puakö-based subcommittee of the CDP Action Committee, with
assistance from the County Planning Department, the County Department of Environmental
Management, and the County Finance Department.
•What needs to be done? Gauge community interest in setting up an Improvement District
to finance costs of constructing a sewer system. The next step would be to do a preliminary
engineering study to explore alternative sewer systems for Puakö.The study would cover
preliminary costs and alternative financing strategies. The alternatives could include
connection with the existing waste water treatment plant that services the Mauna Lani
Resort or a small stand alone system for Puakö. The preliminary study should include
analysis of the feasibility of treating waste water to R1 quality, i.e., nearly drinking water
Chapter 7: Puakö Community Plan
South Kohala CDP November, 2008
FINAL Page 146
quality. The study should also consider the feasibility of using treated waste water for
irrigation of fuel breaks or the kiawe forest.
•When should actions be initiated? The Puakö subcommittee should conduct a community
survey to gauge interest in installing a sewer system.
•How much will it cost? Unknown at this time. Depending on the specifications for Waste
Water treatment and disposal and on environmental land use factors, a small waste water
treatment plant and disposal system might cost $5 to $10 million. These costs do not
include operation and maintenance cost.
•Intended Outcome: Reduction in pollution entering waters off of Puakö and subsequent
improvement in marine water quality
Chapter 8: CDP Implementation
South Kohala CDP November, 2008
FINAL Page 147
8 CDP IMPLEMENTATION
8.1 CDP ACTION COMMITTEE
Throughout the community development plan process residents expressed concern that other
critical issues were not being addressed during this initial CDP process. There was also concern
that a community-based entity be created to oversee implementation of the plan recommendations.
At the time of this writing, Bill 297, regarding the establishment of Community Development Plan
Action Committees, had recently been passed by the County Council and was awaiting signature
from the Mayor. The CDP Action Committee will consist of nine community members from the
particular CDP area. The actual text of the bill is located in Appendix I.
The bill specifies the duties of the CDP Action Committee to be the following:
1) Provide ongoing guidance and advocacy to advance implementation of the CDP goals,
objectives, policies, and actions;
2) Broaden community awareness of the CDP;
3) Build partnerships, as appropriate, with governmental and community-based
organizations to implement CDP policies and actions;
4) Provide timely recommendations to the county on priorities relating to the county
operational budget and the CIP budget and program;
5) Receive periodic briefings from the planning department on pending and approved
permit applications involving property located within the planning area, and on other
issues related to the CDP;
6) Receive briefings from other county agencies, as requested, on priority actions identified
in the CDP, which briefings may be integrated and consolidated by the mayor’s office or
the planning department into a plan of action for the forthcoming year and a status report
on the current year’s plan of action;
7) Monitor the progress and effectiveness of the CDP including the need for CDP revisions
based on emerging statewide plans, new technologies, innovative ideas, or changing
conditions;
8) Review and make recommendations on interim amendments to the CDP;
9) Serve as the steering committee, as set forth in the General Plan, in any comprehensive
update of the CDP;
10) Provide recommendations to amend the General Plan;
11) Carry out other duties specified in the CDP and / or in agreement with the Planning
Department.
Chapter 8: CDP Implementation
South Kohala CDP November, 2008
FINAL Page 148
ADDITIONAL DUTIES OF CDP ACTION COMMITTEE
In section 16-6-11 of Bill 297, the bill states that other duties specified in the CDP and/or in
agreement with the Planning Department, can be assigned to the CDP Action Committee.
Below are suggested additional duties of the South Kohala CDP Action Committee:
•Review and comment on various types of development applications including subdivisions,
PUD’s, plan developments, and cluster developments, on a timely basis and provide a
public forum for these reviews.
•Coordinate with the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands regarding DHHL developments
as well as any proposed CDP actions that may impact DHHL Lands. Coordination with
DHHL should also include partnering with or assisting DHHL on issues of mutual concern.
•Establish Standing Committees and/or Ad-Hoc Committees on subject matters related to
CDP implementation. Committees may include members of the public as well in order to
promote broader participation in the implementation process.
Chapter 8: CDP Implementation
South Kohala CDP November, 2008
FINAL Page 149
8.2 IMPLEMENTATION MATRIX
Table 8.1 is the implementation matrix for the South Kohala CDP. The Implementation Matrix
provides a summary of the actions needed to implement elements of the various Action Programs
that have been outlined for the four focus areas of Waimea, Waikoloa Village, Kawaihae, and
Puakö. The Action Programs are meant to be actions that can be implemented within a short-term
period upon enactment of the CDP.
Key to Acronyms in Implementation Matrix
CCD County of Hawaiÿi Civil Defense
CDPAC Community Development Plan Action Committee
COE U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
COSC County Open Space Commission
DEM County Department of Environmental Management
DHHL State Department of Hawaiian Homelands
DLNR State Department of Land and Natural Resources
DOT State Department of Transportation
DPW County of Hawaiÿi Department of Public Works
DWS County Department of Water Supply
HICDC Hawaiÿi Island Community Development Corporation
HIHT Hawaiÿi Island Housing Trust
HILT Hawaiÿi Island Land Trust
HPA Hawaiÿi Preparatory Academy
OHCD County Office of Housing and Community
Development
PATH People’s Advocacy for Trails Hawaiÿi
PD County of Hawaiÿi Planning Department
SCD State Civil Defense
Chapter 8: CDP Implementation
South Kohala CDP November, 2008
FINAL Page 150
Table 8.1: IMPLEMENTATION MATRIX OF ACTION PROGRAMS
WAIMEA TOWN PLAN
No.Action/Strategy Page
No.Implementers Estimated Cost Intended Impact on
Community
1.1
Acquire Conservation
Easements for Critical Puÿu
Parcels
79
CDPAC, PD,
COSC HILT
$1,000,000 or
more
Preservation of
Waimea’s Puÿu for
future generations
1.2 Require a Use Permit for
Grading on Steep Land 80
PD Minimal costs Preservation of
Waimea’s Puÿu for
future generations
2.1
Acquisition of Fee Interest or
of Conservation Easements of
Open Space Areas in East
Waimea
82
CDPAC, PD,
COSC, HILT
$15,000,000 or
more
Preservation of some
East Waimea small
farms and ranches
2.2 Internal Transfer of
Development Rights 83 PD PD staff time
Critical East Waimea
open space and farm
areas will be
preserved; Also the
parcel owner will be
able to create a
residential lots for use
3.1 Self-help housing 84
CDPAC, HICDC,
OHCD
$220,000 to
$270,000 per
1,100 sqft. house
on 7,500 sqft. lot
More affordable
housing for the
Waimea Community
3.2 Non-profit housing
corporation(s) 85
CDPAC, HIHT,
OHCD
$250,000 to
$300,000 per
1,100 sqft. house
7,500 sqft. lot
$600 per month
for a 1-bedroom
apartment rental
More affordable
housing for the
Waimea Community
4.1 Walkways and Bikeways for
Waimea 88
CDPAC, PD,
DPW, DOT,
PATH
$650,000 per
mile
Provide residents with
alternative, safe
modes of
transportation, within
Waimea Town.
WAIKOLOA VILLAGE PLAN
1.1
Finance and construct a
second access road to
Queen Kaÿahumanu
107
County Council
Member for NK
and SK,
PD, DPW,
CDPAC,
Waikoloa
community
$40,000,000 1) Reduce the risk of
hazards by providing
an alternative
evacuation route;
2) Alleviate traffic
entering and exiting
the village
Chapter 8: CDP Implementation
South Kohala CDP November, 2008
FINAL Page 151
No.Action/Strategy
Page
No.Implementers Estimated Cost
Intended Impact
on Community
2.1
Finance and construct a
community center and
community park
109
County Council
Member for North
and South Kohala,
with the support
of the Mayor’s
staff; PD, DPW,
CDPAC,
Waikoloa
community
$10,000,000 or
more
Enhance Waikoloa’s
sense of community
and provide
recreational programs
for all age groups
3.1
New elementary school,
middle school, and high
school
111
CDP Action
Committee, DOE
with advice and
input from the
Waikoloa
community
----
Provide students in
the district with an
opportunity to go to
school in South
Kohala
KAWAIHAE COMMUNITY PLAN
1.1
Complete the development
of the Ouli Well Field and
transmit the water from Ouli
to the Kawaihae area in
order to provide additional
sources of potable water for
the area
125
Bridge ÿÄina Lea
LLC with
assistance from
DWS and
possibly DHHL
$10,000,000 to
$20,000,000
Provide additional
water sources that can
provide for more
commercial,
residential,
recreational, and
industrial uses in the
area.
2.1
Move forward with
feasibility studies to examine
alternative strategies to
improve marine water
quality along the coast
127
DOT; COE,
CDPAC,
Kawaihae
community
Feasibility Studies
- $500,000 to
$2,000,000
(Corps of
Engineers to cover
50% of the costs)
Design and
Construction costs
Unknown at this
time)
Identify the best
strategy or strategies to
help clean up
Pelekane Bay.
3.1
Reduce the speed limit from
35 mph to 25 mph along
Akoni Pule Hwy. in the
vicinity of Kawaihae Harbor
as indicated on the
Conceptual Plan Map
128
DOT Costs to the State
will entail new
signage and
administrative
expenses. These
should be
minimal costs.
Increase traffic safety
along Akoni-Pule
Highway through the
Kawaihae area and
encourage pedestrian
friendly streets.
Chapter 8: CDP Implementation
South Kohala CDP November, 2008
FINAL Page 152
PUAKÖ COMMUNITY PLAN
No.Action/Strategy Page
No.Implementers Estimated Cost Intended Impact on
Community
1.1
Establish a fuel break along
Queen Kaÿahumanu
Highway and the
northeastern section of
Puakö Road
143
DPW, PD, CCD,
DLNR, CDPAC
$120,000 Protect the Puakö
community from
wildfires that start
along Queen
Kaÿahumanu Hwy.
1.2
Upgrade existing emergency
warning sirens to have a
battery electrical power
backup in case of power
outages
145
CCD, SCD, DPW,
PD, CDPAC
Less than $80,000 An improved early
alert warning system
that will save lives
1.3 Construct the Paniau
Evacuation Route 145
Puakö
Community
Association; PD
$70,000 A second escape route
that will increase the
safety and welfare of
coastal residents in the
area.
2.1
Construct a sanitary sewer
system for the Puakö Beach
Lots
147
DEM, PD,
CDPAC
$5,000,000 to
$10,000,000
Including
additional future
operation and
maintenance
costs
Reduce pollution
entering the waters off
of Puakö and improve
marine water quality
Chapter 9: Monitoring Plan
South Kohala CDP November, 2008
FINAL Page 153
9 MONITORING PLAN: Are We Making Progress?
This chapter outlines the types of “indicators” that can be used to monitor the effectiveness of the
policies and programs of the South Kohala CDP. An “indicator” is something that helps a
community to understand where it is, which way it is going, and how far it is from where it wants to
be. Indicators in the South Kohala CDP will be used to serve as an information resource to provide
a snapshot of current community conditions and trends based on selected quantitative and
qualitative data gathered from a variety of sources.
A report card will answer each evaluative question below with the following grades:
+ GOOD TREND OR PROGRESS
/ NO CHANGE
- NO IMPLEMENTATION ACTION TAKEN, BAD TREND, WORSENING CONDITION
9.1 DISTRICT-WIDE POLICIES MONITORING PROGRAM
9.1.1 PRESERVE THE CULTURE AND SENSE OF PLACE OF SOUTH KOHALA
COMMUNITIES
Evaluative Question: How many programs and actions has the County Cultural Resources
Commission taken to protect South Kohala historical and cultural sites?
Indicators:
•Number of programs or actions that the Cultural Resources Commission has established
to protect South Kohala sites and sites County-wide.
Data Source: County of Hawaiÿi Cultural Resources Commission
•Number of sites identified as “culturally important” by the Cultural Resources
Commission
Data Source: County of Hawaiÿi Cultural Resources Commission
Evaluative Question: Can existing infrastructure systems support planned new developments?
Indicators:
•Number of infrastructure concurrency standards that have been established by the
County Planning Department and approved by the South Kohala CDP Action
Committee
Data Source: County of Hawaiÿi Planning Department
•Number of building permits, subdivision applications, rezoning applications, or plan
reviews that have been approved by the County Planning Department in the district of
South Kohala.
Data Source: County of Hawaiÿi Planning Department
Chapter 9: Monitoring Plan
South Kohala CDP November, 2008
FINAL Page 154
•Number of new capital improvement projects funded by Federal, State, County, or
private monies that are in the planning, design, or construction phases in the district of
South Kohala.
Data Source: State CIP list, County CIP list.
9.1.2 PROVIDE FOR THE TRANSPORTATION AND CIRCULATION NEEDS OF
THE SOUTH KOHALA COMMUNITY AND FOR COMMUTERS TO /
FROM SOUTH KOHALA.
Evaluative Question: Has traffic congestion in the district’s major population centers improved?
Indicators:
•Traffic counts
Data Source: State DOT Periodic Traffic Surveys in the district’s population centers
•Commute Times
Data Source: State DOT Traffic Branch
Evaluative Question: Are we providing alternative choices to reduce dependence on automobiles?
Indicators:
•Increase in total linear miles of pedestrian / bike / equestrian paths in the district
Data Source: County GIS
•Number of bus routes that service areas within the district
Data Source: County Mass Transit Agency
•Number of trips residents take in which they do not use an automobile
Data Source: Community surveys administered by the CDP Action Committee
9.1.3 PROVIDE AFFORDABLE AND WORKFORCE HOUSING RESOURCES FOR
LOW AND MODERATE INCOME INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES OF
SOUTH KOHALA
Evaluative Question: How expensive are the median home prices and rents in South Kohala
relative to the average median income of district residents?
Indicators:
•Median home prices and median rent prices in South Kohala
Data Source: Kona Board of Realtors
•Median income for South Kohala residents
Data Source: County of Hawaiÿi Data Book, U.S. Census, State Department of Business
Economic Development and Tourism
Chapter 9: Monitoring Plan
South Kohala CDP November, 2008
FINAL Page 155
Evaluative Question: Has the South Kohala Community organized one or more community-based
non-profits for the development of affordable housing?
Indicator:
•Number of affordable housing non-profits that have been organized in South Kohala
Data Source: CDP Action Committee
Evaluative Question: Is the inventory of affordable homes increasing?
Indicators:
•Number of homes where the fee title is owned by government or a non-profit, or a
privately owned home subject to buy back, controlled or shared appreciation, by
government or a non-profit
Data Source: County Office of Housing and Community Development
•Number of homes on the market that have sale prices below the South Kohala median
home price
Data Source: Board of Realtors
•Number of rentals that are being rented below the South Kohala median rental price
Data Source: Board of Realtors
•Number of Hawaiian Homesteads that have been awarded to beneficiaries in South
Kohala
Data Source: Department of Hawaiian Home Lands
9.1.4 DEVELOP PROGRAMS AND STANDARDS THAT WILL PROTECT THE
SOUTH KOHALA COMMUNITY FROM NATURAL HAZARDS,
INCLUDING MAJOR STORMS, FLOODING, TSUNAMI, LAVA FLOWS,
AND WILDFIRES
Evaluative question: How many emergency routes are there in the district?
Indicator:
•Number of emergency routes that are in the planning, design, or construction phases of
development
Data Source: State CIP list, County CIP list
Evaluative question: How many hazard mitigation programs or standards have been approved by
County agencies and the CDP Action Committee?
Indicator:
•Number of standards or programs that have been approved by County agencies and the
CDP Action Committee
Data Source: County Planning Department, CDP Action Committee
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Evaluative question: Has the threat of natural hazards to lives or property been reduced?
Indicators:
•Number of occurrences of manmade wildfires
Data Source: County Fire Department
•Proximity of wildfire burns to developed areas
Data Source: County Fire Department
•Acreage of land being actively grazed in the district
Data Source: County Finance Department
•Property damage (in dollar amount) or lives that have been lost due to a natural hazard
Data Source: FEMA, Insurance companies, State and County Civil Defense
9.1.5 DEVELOP GUIDELINES AND PROGRAMS THAT PROMOTE
ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP AND SUSTAINABILITY
Evaluative Question: How well are we protecting our water resources?
Indicators:
•Number of new water conservation measures that have been developed by the County
Data Source: County Department of Water Supply
•Number of water conservation plans that have been submitted by new large scale
developments in the district
Data Source: County Department of Water Supply, County Planning Department
•Number of new absorption systems for new septic systems that have been installed in
South Kohala
Data Source: County Department of Environmental Management, County Planning
Department
•Progress on establishing regular water quality monitoring programs for the district’s
water resources
Data Source: CDP Action Committee
•Turbidity levels of marine waters of the district
Data Source: State Department of Health
•Bacteria levels in groundwater, anchialine ponds and in sand on beaches
Data Source: State Department of Health
Evaluative Question: Are we promoting green building and green design?
Indicators:
•Number of LEED certified buildings in the district
Data Source: County Planning Department
•Progress made by the County to establish tax incentives to encourage LEED
developments
Data Source: County Finance Department, County Clerks Office
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Evaluative Question: How well is the County enforcing its lighting code?
Indicators:
•Number of lighting code citations issued by the County
Data Source: County Planning Department
•Level of ambient glare in night time skies
Data Source: Mauna Kea Observatory
Evaluative Question: How well are we managing our watersheds?
Indicators:
•Number of watershed management programs that have been or are planned to be
developed
Data Source: CDP Action Committee, County Planning Department
•Number of watershed management projects that have been implemented including:
number of vegetative cover restoration projects, number of detention basins, or other
run-off control programs
Data Source: CDP Action Committee, County Planning Department
•Marine water quality
Data Source: State Department of Health
9.2 WAIMEA TOWN PLAN MONITORING PROGRAM
9.2.1 PRESERVE THE SENSE OF PLACE OF WAIMEA TOWN
Evaluative Question: Are we maintaining Waimea’s rural character and preserving agriculture?
Indicators:
•Land area in agricultural use or in conservation easements
Data Source: County Planning Department
•Acreage of privately owned lands in the “Puÿu Protection Zone” that has been either
voluntarily down-zoned or put into conservation easements.
Data Source: County Planning Department
•Value of tax credits that have been granted to Waimea area farmers
Data Source: County Finance Department
•Progress made on establishing Waimea as an official “historic district”
Data Source: CDP Action Committee
•Number of trees identified by the Waimea Trees Advisory Committee as “exceptional”
Data Source: Waimea Trees Advisory Committee
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9.2.2 “RESPONSIBLE GROWTH”: MODERATE THE PACE OF GROWTH AND
CHANGE IN WAIMEA
Evaluative Question: Has the pace of growth and change in Waimea increased or decreased?
Indicators:
•Number of acres that have been rezoned by the County of Hawaiÿi from agriculture to
urban-type uses from year to year
Data Source: County of Hawaiÿi Planning Department
•Number of acres that have been re-designated from “Low Density Urban” on the
General Plan LUPAG map to less intensive type of LUPAG designation
Data Source: County of Hawaiÿi Planning Department
•The rate of Waimea Town’s population growth per decade (as indicated by the U.S.
Census, Waimea Census Designated Place)
Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Evaluative Question: What is the status of the Parker 2020 Plan implementation?
Indicators:
•Number of building permits issued for the Parker 2020 Plan
Data Source: County of Hawaiÿi Planning Department
•Number of linear feet of inter-town constructed roadways (Parker Connector Road
and/or Lälämilo Connector Road)
Data Source: County of Hawaiÿi Planning Department
9.2.3 ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP
Evaluative Question: Has the amount of land currently identified as IAL increased, decreased, or
remained the same?
Indicator:
•Number of acres designated as IAL
Data Source: County of Hawaiÿi Planning Department
9.2.4 DEVELOP AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR WAIMEA
Evaluative Question: How expensive are the median home prices and rents in Waimea relative to
the average median income of Waimea residents?
Indicators:
•Median home prices and median rent prices in Waimea
Data Source: Kona Board of Realtors
•Median income for Waimea residents
Data Source: County of Hawaiÿi Data Book, U.S. Census, State Department of Business
Economic Development and Tourism
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Evaluative Question: Has the South Kohala Community and/or Waimea Community organized one
or more community-based non-profits?
Indicator:
•Number of affordable housing non-profits that have been organized in South Kohala
and/or Waimea
Data Source: CDP Action Committee
Evaluative Question: Is the inventory of affordable homes increasing?
Indicators:
•Number of homes where the fee title is owned by government or a non-profit, or a
privately owned home subject to buy back, controlled or shared appreciation, by
government or a non-profit
Data Source: County Office of Housing and Community Development data
•Number of homes on the market that have sale prices below the South Kohala median
home price
Data Source: Board of Realtors
•Number of rentals that are being rented below the South Kohala median sale price
Data Source: Board of Realtors
•Number of Hawaiian Homesteads that have been awarded to beneficiaries for the
Lälämilo Homesteads or Puÿu Kapu Homesteads.
Data Source: Department of Hawaiian Home Lands
9.2.5 TIMELY IMPLEMENTATION OF NEEDED TRANSPORTATION AND
CIRCULATION IMPROVEMENTS
Evaluative Question: Are we providing alternative choices to reduce dependence on automobiles?
Indicators:
•Increase in total linear miles of pedestrian / bike / equestrian paths in the district
Data Source: County GIS
•Number of trips residents take in which they do not use an automobile
Data Source: Community surveys administered by the CDP Action Committee
Evaluative Question: Has the needed roadway infrastructure been developed to alleviate traffic in
Waimea Town?
Indicators:
•Number of linear feet of newly constructed inter-town roadways (Parker Connector
Road and/or Lälämilo Connector Road)
Data Source: County Department of Public Works
•Progress of the Waimea Bypass and/or Kawaihae Road Bypass Projects
Data Source: State Department of Transportation
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9.3 WAIKOLA VILLAGE PLAN MONITORING PROGRAM
9.3.1 PROVIDE INFRASTRUCTURE AND FACILITIES FOR A GROWING
COMMUNITY
Evaluative Question: Has progress been made to provide Waikoloa Village and the surrounding
area with needed infrastructure and facilities?
Indicators:
•Amount of County CIP money designated for Waikoloa area infrastructure projects
Data Source: County Finance Department
•Amount of State CIP money designated for Waikoloa area infrastructure projects
Data Source: State Department of Accounting and General Services
•Number of public/private partnerships that have been formed to provide for
infrastructure
Data Source: County Planning Department
•Number of Community Facility Districts that have been implemented
Data Source: County Finance Department
Evaluative Question: Has progress been made with the State Department of Education towards
programming future elementary, middle, and high schools in the Waikoloa area?
Indicators:
•Number of commitments made between the Waikoloa community and the State
Department of Education for building needed schools in the community.
Data Source: South Kohala Community Action Committee
9.3.2 ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP
Evaluative Question: Are the unique natural resources in the Waikoloa area being protected?
Indicator:
•Number of trees in the “Waikoloa Dry Forest Recovery Project” area that are
healthy.
Data Source: Waikoloa Village Outdoor Circle
Evaluative Question: Are we doing our part to be more energy-efficient and using renewable
energy sources?
Indicators:
•Number of homes with solar photovoltaic or solar hot water heating installations
per lot, as a percentage of the total homes
Data Source: County Planning Department
•Number of acres used for alternative energy facilities
Data Source: County Planning Department
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9.3.3 PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION AND CIRCULATION IMPROVEMENTS IN
A TIMELY MANNER
Evaluative Question: Has progress been made to plan, fund, design, and construct needed
roadways in Waikoloa Village?
Indicators:
•Amount of County CIP money designated for Waikoloa area road projects
Data Source: County Finance Department
•Amount of State CIP money designated for Waikoloa area road projects
Data Source: State Department of Accounting and General Services
•Number of public/private partnerships that have been formed to provide for
roadways
Data Source: County Planning Department
9.3.4 ENCOURAGE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND SMART GROWTH
Evaluative Question: Have development patterns become more centered around existing
development in the Waikoloa Village area?
Indicators:
•Number of acres of new urban development that have been or will be developed
that are within close proximity of Waikoloa Village versus the number of acres of
new urban development that have been or will be developed that are not within
close proximity of Waikoloa Village
Data Source: County Planning Department
•Number of acres of land that are zoned as Agriculture by the County that are still
undeveloped open space areas
Data Source: County Planning Department
9.4 KAWAIHAE COMMUNITY PLAN MONITORING PROGRAM
9.4.1 CREATE A BALANCE OF RECREATIONAL, COMMERCIAL, AND
INDUSTRIAL USES AROUND THE HARBOR AREA WHILE PRESERVING
THE CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL IMPORTANCE OF THE AREA
Evaluative Question: To what extent have plans been implemented for the Kawaihae area for
recreational, commercial, or industrial uses?
Indicators:
•Completion and implementation of the State DOT Commercial Harbors 2030 Plan
Update
Data Source: State Department of Transportation Harbors Division
•Implementation progress of the State DLNR Division of Boating and Ocean
Recreation Kawaihae Small Boat Harbor Master Plan
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Data Source: State DLNR DOBAR
•Implementation progress or update progress of State Department of Hawaiian
Homelands Kawaihae Master Plan
Data Source: State Department of Hawaiian Home Lands
•Numbers of acres with readily available access for recreational activities
Data Source: County Planning Department, County Department of Parks and
Recreation, State DLNR DOBAR
Evaluative Question: Has the integrity of the community’s historic and cultural resources been
preserved?
Indicator:
•Number of historic and cultural sites that have been identified by the County
Historic Preservation Commission
Data Source: County Historic Preservation Commission
9.4.2 ESTABLISH ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF POTABLE WATER FOR THE
KAWAIHAE AREA
Evaluative Question: Has progress been made in developing additional sources of potable water for
the Kawaihae area?
Indicators:
•Progress on the development of the Ouli Well Field
Data Source: County Department of Water Supply, Bridge ÿÄina Leÿa
•Progress on feasibility studies for desalination plant
Data Source: CDP Action Committee
9.4.3 IMPROVE THE MARINE WATER QUALITY ALONG THE KAWAIHAE
COAST
Evaluative Question: Has progress been made to improve the marine water quality along the
Kawaihae Coast?
Indicators:
•Number of programs planned or being implemented to re-vegetate the mauka areas
of the watershed
Data Source: South Kohala CDP Action Committee
•Progress on finding local sponsor(s) to fund feasibility studies and restoration
projects for Pelekane Bay
Data Source: South Kohala CDP Action Committee
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Evaluative Question: Has the marine water quality along the Kawaihae Coast improved?
Indicators:
•Turbidity levels of marine water in Pelekane Bay
Data Source: State Department of Health
•Bacteria levels in water and in sand on beaches
Data Source: State Department of Health
9.4.4 IMPROVE TRAFFIC SAFETY FOR VEHICULAR AND NON-VEHICULAR
TRANSPORTATION ALONG AKONI PULE HIGHWAY
Evaluative Question: Has traffic safety for vehicular and non-vehicular traffic along Akoni Pule
Highway improved?
Indicators:
•Number of accidents occurring along roadway corridor
Data Source: County Police Department
•Local community’s perception of safe environment along the roadway corridor
Data Source: Survey of local residents
9.5 PUAKÖ COMMUNITY PLAN MONITORING PROGRAM
9.5.1 MANAGE THE EFFECTS OF GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT
Evaluative Question: Is the historical integrity of Puakö being preserved?
Indicators:
•Physical condition of Puakö historic and cultural resources
Data Source: Puakö Community Association
•Number of new developments built within close proximity of historic and cultural
resources
Data Source: County Planning Department
•Number of appropriate programs and activities associated with the historic and
cultural resources
Data Source: Puakö Community Association
Evaluative Question: To what degree are the appropriate government agencies managing park
areas, recreational facilities, and public access corridors?
Indicators:
•Number of incidences of reported public disturbances at coastal parks and beaches
Data Source: DOCARE, County Police, Puakö Community Association
•Physical condition of park areas, recreational facilities, and (i.e. frequently littered,
moderately littered, or rarely littered or sanitary or unsanitary)
Data Source: Puakö Community Association
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9.5.2 MITIGATE THE RISKS OF NATURAL DISASTERS
Evaluative Question: To what degree have programs and projects been implemented to mitigate the
risks of natural disasters?
Indicators:
•Progress made on the Paniau Evacuation Route
Data Source: County Planning Department, County Department of Public Works
•Condition of existing fuel break behind mauka houselots
Data Source: Puakö Community Association
•Progress made on establishing a fuel break between Queen Kaÿahumanu Highway
and the northeastern section of Puakö Beach Drive
Data Source: County Department of Public Works, County Planning Department,
South Kohala Action Committee
•Number of detention basins in flood plain
Data Source: County Civil Defense, County Planning Department
•Number of early warning systems that have been upgraded
Data Source: County Civil Defense
•Number of Puakö residents who have received CERT training
Data Source: Puakö Community Association
9.5.3 ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP
Evaluative Question: Has progress been made to improve the marine water quality along the Puakö
Coastline?
Indicators:
•Progress made on planning, designing, and construction of a sewer system for
Puakö
Data Source: South Kohala Community Action Committee
•Progress made on establishing community watch programs
Data Source: Puakö Community Association
•Frequency of collecting data on water quality along the Puakö coast
Data Source: State Department of Health
Evaluative Question: Has the marine water quality along the Puakö coastline improved?
Indicators:
•Turbidity levels of marine water in Pelekane Bay
Data Source: State Department of Health
•Bacteria levels in water and in sand on beaches
Data Source: State Department of Health
Evaluative Question: Is the Puakö forest being properly managed?
Indicators:
•Frequency of thinning the forest
Data Source: Puakö Community Association
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•Number of recreational programs or plans being designed or implemented for the
forest
Data Source: Puakö Community Association
9.5.4 INCREASE TRAFFIC SAFETY
Evaluative Question: Has the Puakö community reached consensus on appropriate courses of
action to improve traffic safety?
Indicator:
•Number of traffic safety programs or actions that the community has reached
consensus on to implement
Data Source: Puakö Community Association
Evaluative Question: Has progress been made on improving the safety for vehicles merging onto
Queen Kaÿahumanu Highway from Puakö Beach Drive?
Indicator:
•Progress made finalizing the Kawaihae Road Bypass
Data Source: State Department of Transportation
•Progress made on planning, designing, and constructing a refuge lane for left turns
out of Puakö onto Queen Kaÿahumanu Highway.
Data Source: State Department of Transportation
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10 GLOSSARY
Action Program – The set of steps needed to carry out a “Strategy,” including “WHO will take the
lead,” “WHAT needs to be done,” “WHEN will actions take place,” “HOW MUCH will it cost,” and
“Intended Outcome.”
Aquifer Sector Area (ASEA) – A large region with hydrogeological similarities. “Sectors reflect
broad hydrogeological similarities yet maintain traditional hydrographic, topographic and historical
boundaries where possible. An ASEA usually consists of one or more Aquifer System Areas.
Aquifer System Area (ASYA) – An area within an ASEA showing ground water hydraulic continuity.
Cluster Development – Development in which the lots are clustered on a portion of a site so that
significant environmental/historical/cultural resources may be preserved or recreational amenities
provided. While smaller lot sizes are permitted in a cluster subdivision to preserve open space, the
overall density cannot exceed that which is permitted in the zoning district if the site were
developed as a conventional subdivision.
Complete Street – A street that is designed and operated to enable safe access for all users including
pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists, and bus riders.
Concurrency – An infrastructure finance and growth management policy implemented by local
government that is designed to match public facilities and levels of public services (such as streets or
recreational facilities) with proportionate levels of private development. When implemented, a
concurrency policy withholds land development approval unless selected facilities and services
exist in accordance with locally adopted level of service standards by the time the impacts of the
land development on those facilities occur.
Conservation Easement - A restriction placed on a piece of property to protect its associated
resources. The easement is either voluntarily donated or sold by the landowner and constitutes a
legally binding agreement that limits certain types of uses or prevents development from taking
place on the land in perpetuity while the land remains in private hands. In many instances,
conservation easements protect land for future generations while allowing owners to retain many
private property rights and to live on and use their land, at the same time potentially providing them
with tax benefits.
Easement - A right to use another person's real estate for a specific purpose. A common type of
easement is the right to travel over another person's land, known as a right of way. In addition,
property owners commonly grant easements for the placement of utility poles, utility trenches, water
lines or sewer lines.
Environmental Assessment (EA) – An informational document prepared in compliance with Chapter
343, Hawaiÿi Revised Statutes, and which discloses the environmental effects of a proposed action,
effects of a proposed action on the economic and social welfare of the community and state, effects
of the economic activities arising out of the proposed action, measures proposed to minimize
adverse effects, and alternatives to the action and their environmental effects. An EA is usually
prepared for proposed actions that are assumed to have no significant impact on the surrounding
environment. If it is determined that a project will have a significant impact, then an EIS will be
required for the project.
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) – Similar to an EA, except that an EIS is prepared for projects
that are highly likely to have significant impacts on the surrounding environment. An EIS is much
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more detailed and thorough than an EA and usually takes a substantially longer time to prepare than
an EA.
Farm Dwelling – A single-family dwelling located on or used in connection with a farm, or if the
agricultural activity provides income to the family occupying the dwelling.
Firebreak – Areas that are cleared of all vegetation, down to the dirt. Firebreaks are usually cleared
by bulldozers and usually require substantial approvals or permits.
Fuelbreak – Areas where vegetation is reduced, but not completely eliminated. Fuelbreaks may also
contain vegetation that does not easily carry fire. Fuelbreaks do not usually require substantial
approvals or permits.
Green Building – The design, construction, and operation of buildings in an environmentally
friendly way.
Injection Well - A well constructed for the purpose of injecting treated water, often wastewater,
directly into the ground.
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) – A rating system designed to encourage
Green Building. The rating system was designed by the United States Green Building Council. The
LEED rating system awards points to projects based on how the project incorporate green building
principles into its design and construction.
Leech field - A method used to treat/dispose of sewage in rural areas not accessible to a municipal
sewer system. Sewage is permitted to be filtered and eventually discharged into a section of the lot
called a leech field
Lot – A building site or a parcel of land shown as a unit on an approved subdivision map, or a
survey map.
Land Use Pattern Allocation Guide (LUPAG) – The County of Hawaiÿi General Plan LUPAG map
indicates the General location of various existing and future land uses in relation to each other.
Non-potable water - Water that is unsafe or unpalatable to drink because it contains pollutants,
contaminants, minerals, or infective agents
Ordinance – Law enacted by a municipal body, such as a city or county council. Ordinances
govern matters not already covered by State or Federal laws.
Ohana Dwelling – A second dwelling unit permitted to be built as a separate or an attached unit on
a building site, but does not include a guest house or a farm dwelling.
Plan - A coordinated set of actions, which may not work unless implemented in a fairly
comprehensive way.
Planned Unit Development (PUD) - A zoning classification that allows flexibility in the design of a
subdivision. PUDs include individually owned units as well as some common space that is jointly
owned usually by a community association of which all owners inside of the PUD area are
members.
Policies – A specific statement that guides decision-making. It is based on and helps to implement a
plan’s vision and values. In this document, policies are referred to as either “General Policies” or
“Sub-Policies.”
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Potable water - Water of a quality that is suitable for drinking.
Program - A set of actions that can be implemented individually, any of one which would make a
positive contribution to the achievement of a policy.
Purchase of Development Rights – A program where a landowner voluntarily sells his/her rights to
develop a parcel of land to a public agency or qualified conservation organization. The landowner
retains all other ownership rights attached to the land, and a conservation easement is placed on the
land and recorded on the title. The buyer (often a local unit of government or land trust) essentially
purchases the right to develop the land and extinguishes that right permanently, thereby assuring
that development will not occur on that particular property. In placing such an easement on their
farm and/or forest land, participating landowners often take the proceeds from sale of the
development rights to invest in their farming operations or retire from the business, and may allow
another farmer to purchase the land at lower rates (i.e. rates devoid of development rights).
Reclaimed Wastewater - Wastewater that becomes suitable for a specific beneficial use as a result
of treatment.
Run-off – That part of rain, snow or irrigation water that runs off the land into streams or other
surface water. It can carry pollutants from the air and land such as soil and sediments into receiving
waters such as streams, rivers, lakes, or the ocean.
Special Management Area – The land extending inland from the shoreline as delineated on the
maps filed with the County Planning Commission as of June 8, 1977 or as amended pursuant to
State of Hawaiÿi Revised Statutes 205A-23.
Strategies – Specific ways for policies to be reached. The strategies then need a sequence of action
steps to be carried out.
Subdivision – The division of a tract of land into defined lots, either improved or unimproved,
which can be separately conveyed by sale or lease, and which can be altered or developed.
Sustainable Yield – Forced withdrawal rate of ground water that could be sustained indefinitely from
an aquifer without affecting either the quality of the pumped water or the volume rate of pumping.
The sustainable yield is meant to be a guide for planning.
Timeshare – A term used to describe a method of use and/or shared ownership of vacation real
estate where purchasers acquire a period of time (often one week) in a condominium, apartment or
other type of vacation accommodation.
Transfer of Development Rights – The conveyance of the rights to develop from one property to
another, typically involving the relocation of development from an area undesirable for
development (e.g., environmentally sensitive areas) to an area suited for development.
Watershed – An area of land that contributes runoff to one specific delivery point; large watersheds
may be composed of several smaller "sub-sheds", each of which contributes runoff to different
locations that ultimately combine at a common delivery point.
Vision Statement – A statement that describes a community’s ideal conditions for its future.
Zoning - The division of a municipality, town or city by legislative act into districts where
construction is limited to a prescribed type of building, with specific structural and architectural
design and where only certain uses of the land are permitted.
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References
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11 REFERENCES
Bergin, Billy. 2004. Loyal to the Land: The Legendary Parker Ranch, 750-1950. University of
Hawaiÿi Press, Honolulu.
Clark, Jeffrey T. 1986. Waimea – Kawaihae: A Leeward Hawaiÿi Settlement System. University
Microfilms International. Urbana-Champaign
Cordy, Ross. 2001. Exalted Sits the Chief: The Ancient History of Hawaiÿi Island. Mutual
Publishing, Honolulu.
County of Hawaiÿi, February 2005, County of Hawaiÿi General Plan.
County of Hawaiÿi Civil Defense Agency. October 2003. County of Hawaiÿi Hazard Mitigation
Plan.
County of Hawaiÿi Department of Research and Development. June 2007. County of Hawaiÿi Data
Book. <http://www.Hawaiÿi-county.com/databook_current/dbooktoc.htm>
County of Hawaiÿi Planning Department. April 2007, New Residential Permits in Hawaiÿi County
2003-2006.
Fukunaga and Associates, Inc. December 2006. Hawaiÿi County Water Use and Development Plan
Update Draft Report. County of Hawaiÿi Department of Water Supply
Group 70 International Inc. April 2007. Pelekane Bay Watershed Sediment Runoff Analysis. U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers.
Hawaiÿi County Resource Center. 2007. Community Voices: South Kohala Community Readiness
Program Summary.
Huynh, Lisa. May 9, 2006. “Home Ownership: Just a Dream”. West Hawaiÿi Today.
Kelly, Marion. April 1974. Historical Survey of the Waimea to Kawaihae Road Corridor Island of
Hawaiÿi. Bishop Museum Department of Anthropology, Honolulu.
Parker Ranch Trust Foundation. <http://www.prft.org/smart.asp> (June 16, 2007)
Puakö Historical Society. 2000, Puakö An Affectionate History. Creative Connections Publishing,
Vancouver British Columbia.
R.M. Towill Corporation. May 2007, Final Environmental Impact Statement Waikoloa Highlands
State Land Use Boundary Amendment, Waikoloa Mauka LLC.
R.M. Towill Corporation. December 1992. Final Environmental Impact Statement Kawaihae Ten-
Year Master Plan, State of Hawaiÿi Department of Hawaiian Home Lands.
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North Hawaiÿi Community Hospital. <http://www.northHawaiÿicommunityhospital.org/index.html>,
(June 16, 2007)
Sperry, Mollie. A Brief History of Waimea. <http://www.kamuela.com/history.asp> (July 2, 2007)
Spiegel, Richard. August 2004. Final Environmental Assessment Puakö Kiawe Forest Apiary. State
of Hawaiÿi Department of Land and Natural Resources Land Management Division.
State of Hawaiÿi Department of Business Economic Development and Tourism, July 2007, Various
GIS Data, <http://www.state.hi.us/dbedt/gis/download.htm>,Hawaiÿi Statewide GIS
Program.
State of Hawaiÿi Department of Hawaiian Homelands. December 2006. Lälämilo / Puÿukapu
Regional Community Development Plan.
U.S. Census Bureau. U.S. Census 2000 & 1990 . <http://www.census.gov> (June 15, 2007)
Waimea Community Association. <http://www.waimeaplan.org/issues/roadways/index.html>
Waimea Water Services, Inc. February 2001. Hydrogeologic Study of the Waimea High-Level
Ground Water, County of Hawaiÿi Department of Water Supply.
Waimea Trails and Greenways. <http://www.ahualoa.net/wtg/> (August 17, 2007)
Walker, Nino. August 2006. Waimea, Facing Future. Department of Landscape Architecture and
Environmental Planning University of California, Berkeley. Berkeley.
Wilson Okamoto Corporation. October 2004. County of Hawaiÿi Drought Mitigation Strategies.
Hawaiÿi Drought Committee and State of Hawaiÿi Department of Land and Natural
Resources Commission on Water Resource Management.
APPENDIX A: Focus Group Acknowledgments
South Kohala CDP November, 2008
FINAL APPENDIX A-1
APPENDIX A
List of Focus Group Members
Waimea
Leslie Agorastos
Billy Bergin
Pomai Bertelmann
Gail Byrne
Cheryll Callahan
Linda Copman
Judith Ellis
Zion Estes
Anne Field-Gomes
Paul Fischer
Susan Fischer
Ian Glass
David B. Gomes
Howard Hall
Jacqui Hoover
Bob Hunter
Mary Hunter
William N. Jardine
Chris Kanezawa
Uvonne Lindsey
Mike Luce
Douglas MacIlroy
Joan Maute
Calley O'Neill
Mike Price
Joleen Quitugua
John Ray
Najha Ray
Eric Renz
Tim Rice
Ric Rocker
Patrick Sullivan
Bevil Walker
Margaret Wille
Waikoloa
Val Belanio
Ruth Bernstone
Gail Byrne
Molly Carter
Waikoloa (Continued)
Carol Douglas-Hammer
Mike Fischer
Jennifer Grossart
Bryan Hilman
Gail Jackson
Sandy Jilton
Tom Kelley
Zack Kennedy
Ben Kenney
Cindy Kester
Pohai Kirkland
Mike Luce
Cliff Luczak
Allyson Milberg
Grant Mitchell
Sara Peck
Mike Price
Becky Ryan
Les Seto
Bill Simonsma
Ruth Smith
Alice Tinsman
Morris Torbert
Sharon Torbert
Mark Willig
Lisa Yee
Kawaihae
William Akau
Lani Akau
Mayden Bowman
Doug Carr
Lyle Case
Kristy Copp
Jim Donovan
Katherine Donovan
Tammie Ferry
Susan Fischer
Paul Fischer
Roger Harris
Pete Hendricks
Danette Kahanui
Diane/Roger Kanealiÿi
Kawaihae (Continued)
Roger Kanealiÿi
Rebekah Kaufmann
Greg Kaufmann
Daniel K. Kawaiaea Jr.
Mike Luce
Gunner Mench
Sara Peck
Virgil A. Place
Irine Place
Kelly Pomeroi
Mike Price
Jeff Sacher
Analu Silva
Marcia Sullivan
Josephine “Jojo” Tanimoto
Sherm Warner
Marcia & Stanley Wishnick
Puakö
Gail Byrne
M. Cabntaye
Mary Fox
George Fry
Peter Hackstedde
John Hoover
Michael Kimball
Neil Logan
Mike Luce
Holly O'Riordan
Narand Patel
Barbara Poole
Warren Poole
Mike Price
George Robertson
Rob Shallenberger
Annarie Shallenberger
Richard Spiegel
Lorie Casuga
Sherry Davis
APPENDIX B: Meetings held during the CRP and CDP processes
South Kohala CDP November, 2008
FINAL APPENDIX B
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APPENDIX B: Meetings held during the CRP and CDP processes
South Kohala CDP November, 2008
FINAL APPENDIX B-1
APPENDIX B:Meetings held during the CRP and CDP processes
CRP MEETINGS – SUMMARY OF CAPACITY BUILDING & GATHERING IDEAS
TIMEFRAME ACTIVITY # OF PARTICIPANTS
Jan 5th, 2006 South Kohala CRP Introduction in
Waimea
70
April 1st 2006 Smart Growth Workshops 54
June 4th 2006 CRP Introduction for Kawaihae
Stakeholders
22
June 22nd CRP introduction to Puakö
Stakeholders
17
July 14th 2006 “Nobody asked me?” Waikoloa
Meeting
76
July 19th 2006 W.C.A. CRP/CDP follow up 43
June – July 2006 Script Facilitation Briefing 32
September 8th 2006 South Kohala Land Use Workshop 72
June – October 2006 Small Group Meetings 678
October 6th 2006 Waikoloa “Housing & Nobody asked
me 2?”
71
October 2006 South Kohala CRP Follow up meeting
– Waimea
37
January 26th 2007 South Kohala CRP Follow up “What
are we saying?”
67
Total # of CRP Participants 1239
APPENDIX B: Meetings held during the CRP and CDP processes
South Kohala CDP November, 2008
FINAL APPENDIX B-2
SOUTH KOHALA
STEERING COMMITTEE MEETINGS
MEETING # MEETING DATE
1 June 27, 2007
2 July 25, 2007
3 August 22, 2007
4 September 26, 2007
5 October 24, 2007
6 November 28, 2007
7 January 23, 2008
8 February 27, 2008
9 March 26, 2008
10 April 23, 2008
11 April 30, 2008
12 May 28, 2008
13 June 4, 2008
14 June 11, 2008
15 June 20, 2008
16 June 25, 2008
17 July 16, 2008*
18 August 27, 2008*
19 September 24, 2008*
*Meetings to be held
SOUTH KOHALA FOCUS GROUP MEETINGS
WAIMEA WAIKOLOA
VILLAGE KAWAIHAE PUAKÖ
October 19, 2007 October 12, 2007 November 1, 2007 November 7, 2007
November 16, 2007 November 9, 2007 January 26, 2008 January 26, 2008
January 26, 2008 January 26, 2008 March 29, 2008 March 28, 2008
March 29, 2008 March 28, 2008 May 17, 2008 May 16, 2008
May 17, 2008 May 16, 2008
SOUTH KOHALA COMMUNITY MEETINGS
MEETING # MEETING DATE LOCATION
1 August 29, 2007 Waimea
2 August 30, 2007 Waikoloa Village
3 February 12, 2008 Waimea
4 February 15, 2008 Waikoloa Village
5 May 20, 2008 Waimea
6 May 22, 2008 Waikoloa Village
APPENDIX C: County Zoning and LUPAG Acronyms and Descriptions
South Kohala CDP November, 2008
FINAL APPENDIX C-1
APPENDIX C County Zoning Acronyms and Descriptions
Zoning
Acronym
Zone Description
A Agricultural
Provides for agricultural and very low density agriculturally-based
residential use, encompassing rural areas of good to marginal
agricultural and grazing land, forest land, game habitats, and areas
where urbanization is not found to be appropriate.
RS Single-Family
Residential
Provides for lower or low and medium density residential use, for
urban and suburban family life.
RA Residential
Agricultural
Provides for activities or uses characterized by low density
residential lots in rural areas where “city-like” concentrations of
people, structures, streets, and urban level of services are absent,
and where small farms are intermixed with low density residential
lots. The RA district is intended to be only within areas designated
as being in the State land use Rural or Urban districts.
RM Multiple-Family
Residential
Provides for medium and high density residential use. It covers
areas with full community facilities and services. It may occupy
transition areas between commercial or industrial areas and other
districts of less intense land use.
CV Commercial
Village
Provides for a broad range or variety of commercial and light
industrial uses that are necessary to serve the population in rural
areas where the supplementary support of the general business uses
and activities of a central commercial district is not readily
available.
OPEN Open
Applies to areas that contribute to the general welfare, the full
enjoyment, or the economic well-being of open land type use
which has been established or is proposed. The objective of this
district is to encourage development around it such as a golf course
and park, and to protect investments which have been or shall be
made in reliance upon the retention of such open type use, to
buffer an otherwise incompatible land use or district, to preserve a
valuable scenic vista or an area of special historical significance, or
to protect and preserve submerged land, fishing ponds, and lakes
(natural or artificial tide lands).
FR
State
Conservation
District
Includes all lands designated by the State as Conservation.
Conservation lands are under the jurisdiction of the State DLNR
and not the County of Hawaiÿi
MG General
Industrial
Applies to industrial areas for uses that are generally considered to
be offensive or have some element of danger.
V Resort-Hotel
Applies to areas to accommodate the needs and desires of visitors,
tourists and transient guests. It applies to specific areas where
public roads and public utilities are available or where suitable
alternate private facilities are assured. It may apply to a single
isolated hotel or resort with or without a commercial mall or
shopping section.
Source: County of Hawaiÿi Zoning Code adopted as Ord. No. 96-160
Numbers following acronym indicate maximum lot size, usually indicated in 1000s of square feet or
in acres (a)
APPENDIX C: County Zoning and LUPAG Acronyms and Descriptions
South Kohala CDP November, 2008
FINAL APPENDIX C-2
APPENDIX C LUPAG Acronyms and Descriptions
LUPAG
Acronym
Land Use Description
HDU High
Density
General commercial, multiple family residential and related services
(multiple family residential – up to 87 units per acre)
MDU Medium
Density
Village and neighborhood commercial and single family and multiple
family residential and related functions (multiple family residential – up
to 35 units per acre)
LDU Low
Density
Residential, with ancillary community and public uses, and
neighborhood and convenience-type commercial uses; overall
residential density may be up to six units per acre
REN Resort
Node
These areas include a mix of visitor-related uses such as hotels,
condominium-hotels (condominiums developed and/or operated as
hotels), single family and multiple family residential units, golf courses
and other typical resort recreational facilities, resort commercial
complexes and other support services. Only Major Resort Areas are
identified as Resort Nodes on the LUPAG Map.
RES Resort Area
These areas include a mix of uses such as hotels, condominium-hotels
(condominiums developed and/or operated as hotels), and support
services. Intermediate Resort, Minor Resort, and Retreat Resort Areas
are identified as Resort Areas on the LUPAG Map.
UE Urban
Expansion
Allows for a mix of high density, medium density, low density,
industrial, industrial-commercial and/or open designations in areas
where new settlements may be desirable, but where the specific
settlement pattern and mix of uses have not yet been determined.
IND Industrial
Area
These areas include uses such as manufacturing and processing,
wholesaling, large storage and transportation facilities, light industrial
and industrial-commercial uses.
RUR Rural
This category includes existing subdivisions in the State Land Use
Agricultural and Rural Districts that have a significant residential
component. Typical lot sizes vary from 9,000 square feet to two acres.
These subdivisions may contain small farms, wooded areas, and open
fields as well as residences. Allowable uses within these areas, with
appropriate zoning, may include commercial facilities that serve the
residential and agricultural uses in the area, and community and public
facilities. The Rural designation does not necessarily mean that these
areas should be further subdivided to smaller lots. Most lack the
infrastructure necessary to allow further subdivision.
ORC Orchard
Those agricultural lands which though rocky in character and content
support productive macadamia nuts, papaya, citrus and other similar
agricultural products
IAL
Important
Agricultura
l Land
Important agricultural lands are those with better potential for sustained
high agricultural yields because of soil type, climate, topography, or
other factors.
EA Extensive
Agriculture
Lands not classified as Important Agricultural Land. Includes lands that
are not capapble of producing sustained, high agricultural yields
without the intensive physical application of modern farming methods
and technologies due to certain physical constraints such as soil
composition, slope, machine tillability and climate. Other less
intensive agricultural uses such as grazing and pasture may be included
in the Extensive Agriculture category
APPENDIX C: County Zoning and LUPAG Acronyms and Descriptions
South Kohala CDP November, 2008
FINAL APPENDIX C-3
LUPAG
Acronym
Land Use Description
UU University Public university, including ancillary public uses, residential, and
support commercial uses.
OPE Open Parks and other recreational areas, historic sites, and open shoreline
areas
CON Conservati
on Area
Forest and water reserves, natural and scientific preserves, areas in
active management for conservation purposes, areas to be kept in a
largely natural state, with minimal facilities consistent with open space
uses, such as picnic pavilions and comfort stations, and lands within
the State Land Use Conservation District.
APPENDIX D: GENERAL PLAN “Courses of Action” for the District of South Kohala
South Kohala CDP November, 2008
FINAL Appendix D
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APPENDIX D: GENERAL PLAN “Courses of Action” for the District of South Kohala
South Kohala CDP November, 2008
FINAL Appendix D-1
APPENDIX D: GENERAL PLAN “Courses of Action” for the District of South Kohala
The County of Hawaiÿi General Plan is the policy document for the long range comprehensive
development of the Island of Hawaiÿi. Community Development Plans are intended to translate the
broad General Plan statements to specific actions as they apply to specific geographical areas. This
“PREFACE” to the CDP lists “courses of action” that the General Plan specifies for the district of
South Kohala. These General Plan “courses of action” provide direction for the more detailed CDP
recommendations and “action programs.”
ECONOMIC
a)Assist in the development of agriculture by protecting important agricultural land from
urbanization, providing or having provided the necessary capital improvements, such as water,
and working cooperatively with the agricultural sector and government.
b)Work closely with the State and the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to provide adequate
land close to Kawaihae Harbor for industrial activities.
c)Recognize the diversity of climate, the quality of the ocean water and the natural beauty of the
hills as vital economic and social assets of the region to be protected through appropriate
regulations.
d)Resort development in the district shall be in an orderly fashion and consistent with the physical
and social goals of the residents of the area. Utilize tools such as incremental zoning to insure
development that will best meet the needs of the County.
e)Encourage the preservation of the rural, ranching character within the town of Waimea.
f)Support the growth of astronomical research and development.
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY (POLICIES)
a)Take positive action to further maintain the quality of the environment.
b)Reinforce and strengthen established standards where it is necessary, principally by initiating,
recommending, and adopting ordinances pertaining to the control of pollutants that affect the
environment.
c)Advise the public of environmental conditions and research undertaken on the island’s
environment.
d)Encourage the concept of recycling agricultural, industrial, and municipal waste material.
e)Encourage the State to establish air and water quality monitoring stations in areas of existing
and potential urban growth.
f)Encourage the State to continue aircraft noise abatement strategies at Hilo International Airport
and the Kona International Airport at Keahole.
g)Participate in watershed management projects to improve stream and coastal water quality and
encourage local communities to develop such projects.
APPENDIX D: GENERAL PLAN “Courses of Action” for the District of South Kohala
South Kohala CDP November, 2008
FINAL Appendix D-2
h)Work with the appropriate agencies to adopt appropriate measures and provide incentives to
control point and non-point sources of pollution.
i)Support programs to prevent harmful alien species from becoming established.
j)Require golf courses to implement best management practices to limit leaching of nutrients to
groundwater in areas where they may affect streams or coastal ecosystems.
k)Require implementation of the management measures contained in Hawaiÿi’s Coastal Nonpoint
Pollution Control Program as a condition of land use permitting.
l)Review the County grading and grubbing ordinances to ensure that they adequately address
potential erosion and runoff problems.
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY (STANDARDS)
a)Pollution shall be prevented, abated, and controlled at levels that will protect and preserve the
public health and well being, through the enforcement of appropriate Federal, State and County
standards.
b)Incorporate environmental quality controls either as standards in appropriate ordinances or as
conditions of approval.
c)Federal and State environmental regulations shall be adhered to
FLOODING AND OTHER NATURAL HAZARDS
a)The Hawaiÿi County "Drainage Master Plan" for the Kawaihae, Hapuna Bay-Puako, Pauoa Bay-
Honokaope Bay, and Waimea areas shall be updated and implemented.
b)Conduct a flood study for the Auwaiakeakua Stream.
HISTORIC SITES
a)Support the establishment of Hawaiian Heritage Corridors.
HOUSING
a)Require developments that create a demand for employee housing provide for that need.
b)Aid and encourage the development of State lands for housing for all socioeconomic levels
through leasehold or purchase.
c)Aid and encourage housing programs for low and moderate income, "gap groups" and the
elderly.
d)County-owned land at Waikoloa Village shall be made available for the development of
affordable housing.
APPENDIX D: GENERAL PLAN “Courses of Action” for the District of South Kohala
South Kohala CDP November, 2008
FINAL Appendix D-3
NATURAL BEAUTY (POLICIES)
a)Increase public pedestrian access opportunities to scenic places and vistas.
b)Develop and establish view plane regulations to preserve and enhance views of scenic or
prominent landscapes from specific locations, and coastal aesthetic values.
c)Maintain a continuing program to identify, acquire and develop viewing sites on the island.
d)Access easement to public or private lands that have natural or scenic value shall be provided
or acquired for the public.
e)Develop standard criteria for natural and scenic beauty as part of design plans.
f)Consider structural setback from major thoroughfares and highways and establish development
and design guidelines to protect important viewplanes.
g)Maintain a continuing program to identify exceptional trees or tree masses.
h)Protect the views of areas endowed with natural beauty by carefully considering the effects of
proposed construction during all land use reviews.
i)Do not allow incompatible construction in areas of natural beauty.
NATURAL BEAUTY (STANDARDS)
The following standards provide guidelines for designating sites and vistas of extraordinary natural
beauty that shall be protected.
a)Distinctive and identifiable landforms distinguished as landmarks, e.g. Mauna Kea, Waipio
Valley.
b)Coastline areas of striking contrast, e.g. Laupahoehoe Point.
c)Vistas of distinctive features.
d)Natural or native vegetation attractive to a particular area.
e)Areas that are harmoniously developed and enhanced by man to appear natural.
PUBLIC FACILITIES
Education
a)Encourage the expansion of the public school and library facilities as needs arise.
b)Encourage continual improvements to existing educational facilities.
c)Encourage the installation of walkways to and around schools and street crossing facilities for
pedestrian safety.
APPENDIX D: GENERAL PLAN “Courses of Action” for the District of South Kohala
South Kohala CDP November, 2008
FINAL Appendix D-4
d)Encourage the development of State and private higher educational facilities in West Hawaiÿi.
e)Support the development of an intermediate or middle school in Waikoloa.
f)Encourage the Hawaiÿi State Library System to establish a public library in Waikoloa.
g)Encourage the State Department of Education to explore the feasibility of establishing a high
school in the South Kohala district.
Protective Services
a)Service facilities shall be improved to meet needs.
b)Government Services -- Expand/improve facilities as necessary.
c)A civic center site shall be reserved at Waikoloa.
Health and Sanitation
a)A solid waste transfer site or alternative means of refuse collection should be established for
Waikoloa.
PUBLIC UTILITIES
Water
a)Seek alternative sources of water for the Lälämilo system.
b)Improve and replace inadequate distribution mains and steel tanks.
c)Continue to seek additional groundwater sources for the Waimea System.
Electricity
a)There shall be minimal obstruction of scenic views and vistas by electrical facilities.
b)Facilities such as substations shall mitigate and minimize any aesthetic impacts to surrounding
properties and scenic vistas.
Gas
a)County ordinances shall reflect appropriate safety standards for gas facilities.
Sewer
a)Construct a Waimea sewerage system to provide sewer service and wastewater treatment
facilities with an ultimate treatment capacity adequate for foreseeable growth. Consider water
reclamation or subsurface type disposal.
b)Construct a sewerage system in the Puako beach lot area to service flows by utilizing existing
resort wastewater treatment facilities as a means of wastewater disposal.
APPENDIX D: GENERAL PLAN “Courses of Action” for the District of South Kohala
South Kohala CDP November, 2008
FINAL Appendix D-5
RECREATION
a)Encourage the full implementation of the Hapuna Beach State Park Master Plan including
Wailea Bay Area.
b)Improve picnic and camping facilities at Samuel M. Spencer Beach Park.
c)Acquire and develop additional public shoreline recreation areas.
d)Encourage the establishment of neighborhood parks.
e)Ensure public use of and access to beach areas.
f)Develop parking areas for Waimea Park.
g)Develop additional recreational facilities in Waimea, including an approximate 30-acre
regional park on land to be donated by Parker Ranch.
h)Encourage the expansion of outdoor recreational areas around Waimea School.
i)Develop recreational facilities in Waikoloa, including an enclosed community center/sports
complex.
j)Develop trail systems linking residential areas to Waimea's urban center.
k)Support the passive use of Church Row Park.
l)Encourage development of Waimea Trails & Greenways and Waimea Nature Park (Ulu Laÿau).
TRANSPORTATION
Roadways
a)Improve existing homestead roads.
b)Encourage the construction of a Waimea by-pass road from Mud Lane to Mämalahoa Highway
on the Kona side of Waimea.
c)Encourage the construction of connector roads from the Waimea Bypass Road to the
Mämalahoa Highway.
d)Encourage the construction of a new Waimea to Kawaihae road from Mämalahoa Highway to
the Queen Kaÿahumanu Highway.
e)Encourage the widening of Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway as the need arises.
f)Support the installation of suitable bikeways and/or jogging paths.
g)To relieve traffic congestion through Waimea town, implement construction of a) Parker
Ranch’s connector road from Kamamalu Street to Mämalahoa Highway; and b) the County’s
extension of this road, between Mämalahoa Highway and Kawaihae Road in the vicinity of the
Waimea solid waste transfer station.
APPENDIX D: GENERAL PLAN “Courses of Action” for the District of South Kohala
South Kohala CDP November, 2008
FINAL Appendix D-6
h)Construct, at a minimum, one other paved two-lane access road out of the Ke Kumu Housing
area onto Paniolo Drive.
i)Extend Paniolo Drive in Waikoloa north to intersect with the Kawaihae Road and the proposed
Waimea-Kawaihae Road, and build a road connecting the northern end of Paniolo Drive to the
Queen Kaÿahumanu Highway to provide alternate access to Waikoloa Village.
j)Provide traffic signals at the Waikoloa Road-Paniolo Drive intersection.
Transportation Terminals: Airports & Harbors
a)The State Department of Transportation should continue to provide improvements to terminal
and runway facilities at the Waimea-Kohala airport.
b)The State Department of Transportation should continue to improve harbor facilities at
Kawaihae to meet increased shipping activities and cruise ship passenger arrivals.
c)Continue to support the Department of Land and Natural Resources in its plans to develop a
small boat harbor at Kawaihae.
LAND USE
Agriculture
a)Protect important agricultural lands from urban encroachment.
b)Encourage buffer zones or compatible uses between important agricultural land and adjacent
uses of land.
Commercial Development
a)The establishment of Waimea as a regional commercial center for northern Hawaiÿi shall be
encouraged.
b)Establish controls to insure orderly development and minimize speculation of commercially
zoned lands.
c)Continue the concentration of commercial uses in Waimea, Kawaihae, Waikoloa Village, and
in the resort areas. Do not allow strip or spot commercial development on highways outside of
these primary commercial areas.
Industrial
a)Encourage the development of a regional industrial park at Kawaihae and centralize limited
industrial activities in Waimea.
b)Industrial development should be in harmony with surrounding uses and the environment.
c)Identify sites suitable for future industrial activities as the need arises.
Multiple Residential
a)Basic infrastructure shall be provided to those areas zoned for higher density use.
APPENDIX D: GENERAL PLAN “Courses of Action” for the District of South Kohala
South Kohala CDP November, 2008
FINAL Appendix D-7
b)Appropriately zoned lands shall be allocated as the need arises.
Single-Family Residential
a)Encourage the development of appropriately located and serviced State-owned, Hawaiian
Home Lands and privately-held lands for houselots.
Resort
a)Adequate access, sewer, water systems, and other basic amenities shall be provided in all areas
where higher density uses are allowed.
APPENDIX D: GENERAL PLAN “Courses of Action” for the District of South Kohala
South Kohala CDP November, 2008
FINAL Appendix D-8
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APPENDIX E: Referenced County Codes in the South Kohala CDP
South Kohala CDP November, 2008
FINAL Appendix E-1
APPENDIX E: Referenced County Codes in the South Kohala CDP
Referenced County Codes in CDP Chapter 3 Sub-policy 1.2
Section 23-62. Tentative approval of preliminary plat.
(a) Within forty-five days after submission of the preliminary plat, the director shall review the plan
and may give tentative approval of the preliminary plat as submitted or as modified or may
disapprove the preliminary plat, stating the reasons for disapproval in writing or shall defer
action pending further review. Approval of the preliminary plat shall indicate the director’s
directive to prepare detailed drawings on the plat submitted, provided there is no substantial
change in the plan of subdivision as shown on the preliminary plat and there is full compliance
with all requirements of this chapter. The action of the director with reference to any attached
documents describing any conditions shall be noted on two copies of the preliminary plat. One
copy shall be returned to the subdivider and the other retained by the director. At such time the
director shall stamp the above two preliminary plats:
“Subdivider authorized to prepare detailed drawings on plat as submitted including
corrections noted.”
“Recordation with the Bureau of Conveyances, State of Hawai‘i, not authorized until
approved for record at a later date.”
(b) If no action (approval, disapproval, modification, or deferral) is taken by the director within
forty-five days after submission of the preliminary plat, or such longer period as may have been
agreed upon in writing, the preliminary plat shall be deemed approved. The approval shall be
on condition that the subdivider construct roads to the standards required by this chapter, a
water system to the standards of the department of water supply, drainage meeting with the
approval of the department of public works under section 23-92, that sewage disposal shall
conform with section 23-85, if applicable, and the requirements of the department of health,
and that the lot sizes and dimensions must be adjusted to conform to the zoning code on the
final plat. The subdivider shall comply with the provisions of this chapter in order to receive
final subdivision approval.
(c) The director shall disapprove a preliminary plat or a subdivision map where the subdivider has
failed to comply with the provisions of chapter 25, zoning code.
(d) The subdivider shall complete all requirements specified as conditions for approval of the
preliminary plat (tentative approval) within three years of said approval. An extension of not
more than two years may be granted by the director upon timely written request of the
subdivider. At the end of said three year period or its approved extension, unless all said
conditions are completed, the approval of the preliminary plat shall expire and shall be of no
further force or effect, or shall be subject to the technical review of the applicable agencies for
compliance with current Code and rule requirements. This subsection shall be applied to all
subdivision applications which have received tentative subdivision approval and which have
not completed subdivision improvements, provided the three year period, and extension, if
applicable, shall be taken from December 4, 1992 and not from the date of preliminary plat
(tentative) approval.
(e) The director’s deferral of a subdivision for further review under subsection (a) constitutes an
acceptance of the contents of the preliminary plat as submitted, and the director’s issuance of
tentative and final subdivision approval is valid despite the failure of the preliminary plat to
include all of the information specified in sections 23-63 to 23-66, provided that there has been
APPENDIX E: Referenced County Codes in the South Kohala CDP
South Kohala CDP November, 2008
FINAL Appendix E-2
actual compliance with the substantive requirements of this chapter and chapter 25, zoning
code. The director may require the subdivider to submit supplementary information prior to
tentative or final approval and may condition tentative or final approval on the submission of
such information and on the performance of conditions attached to the tentative approval.
(1975 C.C., c. 9, art. 2, secs. 3.07 and 5.11; Am. 1992, Ord. No. 92-138, sec. 6; Am. 2006,
Ord. No. 06-104, sec. 5.)2
Section 23-131. Tentative approval.
The director shall grant tentative approval to a preliminary map for a condominium property regime
in the same manner as tentative approval of a preliminary plat, with conditions consistent with those
that would be imposed for a preliminary subdivision plat.
(2002, Ord. No. 02-111, sec. 2.)23-
Section 25-2-46. Concurrency requirements.
(a) Purpose. In addition to requirements otherwise imposed, this section creates concurrency
standards for roads and water supply in change of zone actions.
(b) Applicability. This section applies to any application for change of zoning district, or for an
extension of time to perform a condition of zoning, received by the planning department after the
effective date of this ordinance.
(c) Definitions. As used in this section:
“Acceptable level of service” means that the level of service of a transportation facility at
the a.m. and p.m. peak hour is “D” or better.
“Approved development” means development for which zoning has been granted by the
County.
“Critical road area” means a geographical area where any of the transportation facilities
serving the area have been determined by the council to be worse than the acceptable level
of service.
“Immediate vicinity of a project” means the area in which transportation facilities will be
required to mitigate impacts caused primarily by the project.
“Level of service, or LOS” means a qualitative measure describing operational conditions
within a traffic stream, and shall be determined using the procedures in the latest edition of
the Highway Capacity Manual, Transportation Research Board.
“Mitigation” means specific actions to reduce traffic congestion. Mitigation is of two types:
“Local mitigation” which consists of improvements to roads and intersections that are in the
immediate vicinity of a project, including channelization of intersections, turn lanes into a
project and similar improvements.
“Area mitigation” consists of improvements which increase the capacity of an arterial or
other major road, such as additional lanes, in the general region containing the project, or
construction of a new arterial or collector road in the general area containing the project, or
improvements to public transportation such as buses or park and ride facilities, sufficient to
offset the traffic demand generated by the project.
APPENDIX E: Referenced County Codes in the South Kohala CDP
South Kohala CDP November, 2008
FINAL Appendix E-3
“Occupancy” means (1) the issuance of a certificate of occupancy for a commercial,
multifamily, industrial building, hotel or other structure requiring a certificate of occupancy;
(2) the issuance of a building permit for residential buildings that do not require a certificate
of occupancy; or (3) final subdivision approval for subdivisions where dwellings are
allowed, but dwellings are not being constructed before sale of any lot.
“Project area” means the area in which the project is expected to have an impact on the
level of service of transportation facilities.
“Reasonable assumptions” means the percentage of full build-out that is expected to occur
during the twenty-year period after the date of the application, as determined by the
planning director.
“Transportation facilities” means State and County highways, roads, and public
transportation facilities.
“Worse than the acceptable level of service” means that the level of service at the a.m. or
p.m. peak is “E” or “F”.
(d) Traffic impact analysis report required.
(1) A traffic impact analysis report (TIAR), prepared or updated within six months before the
submission of the application, shall be included with the application for any change of
zone that can generate fifty or more peak hour trips. The determination of peak hour trips
shall be based on the Institute of Transportation Engineers, “Trip Generation Handbook”, or
any other nationally recognized source. When the number of trips depends upon the exact
future uses of the site, and those are unknown at the time of rezoning (for example, the
types of commercial uses), the determination shall be based upon a typical mix of uses
found in that zoning type in the community. The TIAR shall be certified as having been
conducted in accordance with best practices by a professional engineer licensed in the
State of Hawai‘i.
(2) The TIAR shall assess impacts to transportation facilities in the immediate vicinity and
general area of the project, and to the transportation facilities serving the project area.
(3) The TIAR shall include projections for future growth in traffic, for a minimum of five,
ten, and twenty years, and shall include other approved or proposed development that is
expected to impact the project area, with reasonable assumptions about the build-out of
such development.
(4) The TIAR shall present an assessment of the impacts of the project on LOS and an
evaluation of alternative plans for mitigating those impacts. The evaluation shall include
budgetary cost estimates for the capital and operating costs of promising alternative plans.
(e) Mitigation required.
(1) If the LOS for any transportation facility in the project area is (A) currently worse than
the acceptable level of service, or (B) projected to become worse than the acceptable level
of service during the five year period of the TIAR, any rezoning of the property, if approved,
shall contain conditions that require mitigation of adverse traffic effects before occupancy
of the project is permitted, or that occupancy be delayed until the level of service has
reached the acceptable level and is no longer projected to be worse than the acceptable
level.
(2) Where the LOS deficiency is due to roadway or intersection deficiencies in the
immediate vicinity of the project, the conditions of zoning shall require local mitigation.
APPENDIX E: Referenced County Codes in the South Kohala CDP
South Kohala CDP November, 2008
FINAL Appendix E-4
Where the deficiency in LOS is due to insufficient capacity in the transportation facilities
serving the project area, the conditions of zoning shall require area mitigation.
(3) If there is more than one way to mitigate an adverse effect, the director shall present to
the council the pros and cons of the alternatives.
(f) Mitigation requirements will be deemed satisfied when:
(1) A public agency has committed funds for area mitigation that will remove the LOS
deficiency. In the case of the State, commitment of funds means that the governor has
released funds to complete the improvement. In the case of the County, commitment of
funds means that the council has appropriated funds to complete the improvement; or
(2) The private developer’s commitment to implement mitigation has been secured by bond
or equivalent security, or mandatory participation in an improvement district, community
facilities district, or other equivalent means of guaranteeing performance.
(g) A developer’s area mitigation expenses shall be credited against any fair share or similar fee
requirement for roads. A developer’s local mitigation expenses shall be credited against any fair
share or similar fee requirement for roads if the council determines that the mitigation
substantially benefits the general public and was not necessary primarily for the benefit of the
project. In general, roads that are necessary for access to or within a development or turn lanes
for a private project shall not qualify for fair share credit.
(h) The following types of rezoning applications shall be required to submit a TIAR when required
by this section, but shall not be required to perform area mitigation:
(1) Residential or other rezonings where the applicant commits, and the conditions of
zoning require, that the project earn at least two times the number of affordable housing
credits otherwise required under chapter 11, County affordable housing policy, provided
further that the applicant shall be entitled to the full amount of “excess credits” under
section 11-15, County affordable housing policy, based on the number of affordable
housing credits normally required.
(2) Rezoning to CV, CN, MCX, PD, or ML where the council determines that the project
will reduce regional traffic congestion by providing necessary commercial or light industrial
opportunities to serve an area where there is a shortage of available space zoned for such
uses, and substantial residential development has already been approved, provided that
conditions of zoning shall ensure that any commercial development be of a scale consistent
with the standards of a “neighborhood center” as described in the general plan.
(i) The restrictions on occupancy shall not apply to the construction of infrastructure such as
water tanks, roads, sewage treatment plants, or other project elements that do not generate
substantial traffic.
(j) The council may designate critical road areas by ordinance.
(k) In a critical road area, all rezonings shall be subject to local and area mitigation, except as
stated in subsection (h).
(l) In order to determine whether a rezoning application meets the TIAR threshold of fifty or
more peak hour trips, and to prevent applicants from going below the TIAR threshold by
dividing a project into segments, the director shall review all development proposed on the
same or adjacent properties, and shall include traffic that may be generated by any
development application approved after the effective date of this ordinance, or by any other
APPENDIX E: Referenced County Codes in the South Kohala CDP
South Kohala CDP November, 2008
FINAL Appendix E-5
pending development application, if it is on a portion of the same lot or tax map key parcel, or
an adjoining lot or tax map key parcel, or in the immediate vicinity of the development.
(m) A change of zone application shall not be granted unless: (1) the department of water supply
has determined that it can meet the water requirements of the project and issue water
commitments using its existing system; or (2) specific improvements to the existing public water
system, or a private water system equivalent to the requirements of the department of water
supply will be provided to meet the water needs of the project and conditions of zoning delay
occupancy until the necessary improvements are actually constructed.
(n) To facilitate the development of village centers in rural areas that are not currently served by a
public water system, the council may waive the water supply requirements for rezonings for
commercial or light industrial uses in areas that do not currently have a public water system,
and where the department of water supply has no plans to build a public water system, and
which are (1) designated as an “urban and rural center” or “industrial area” on table 14-5 of the
general plan and (2) designated for urban use on the land use pattern allocation guide map of
the general plan; provided that conditions of zoning shall require water supply consistent with
public health and safety needs such as sanitation and fire-fighting.
(o) Nothing in this section shall limit the ability of the council to impose reasonable roadway or
water improvement requirements on changes of zone or to deny change of zone applications to
the extent otherwise allowed by law.
(2007, Ord. No. 07-99, sec. 2.)
Section 25-2-75. Action on plan approval application.
(a) The director may issue plan approval subject to conditions or changes in the proposal which,
in the director’s opinion, are necessary to carry out and further the purposes of this chapter and
the considerations contained in section 25-2-76.
(b) The director may only issue plan approval for a bed and breakfast establishment if the
proposed use meets all of the conditions contained in sections 25-2-76 and 25-4-7, and if the
operator of the bed and breakfast establishment provides all verification required under section
25-2-73.
(c) The director may only issue plan approval for a telecommunication antenna or tower if the
proposed use meets all of the conditions contained in sections 25-2-76 and 25-4-12, and if the
applicant provides all verification required under section 25-2-74.
(d) The director may only issue plan approval for a temporary model home or real estate office if
the proposed use meets all of the conditions in section 25-2-76 and 25-4-8.
(e) The director shall render a decision to either approve or deny a plan approval application
within thirty days after acceptance of the application. If the director fails to render a decision
within the thirty-day period, the application shall be considered approved without further
certification by the director.
(1996, Ord. No. 96-160, sec. 2; ratified April 6, 1999)
Section 25-6-6. Actions by director on P.U.D. permit applications.
(a) Except as provided in section 25-6-5, the director shall, within sixty days after acceptance of a
P.U.D. permit application, deny the application or approve it subject to conditions.
APPENDIX E: Referenced County Codes in the South Kohala CDP
South Kohala CDP November, 2008
FINAL Appendix E-6
(b) The conditions imposed by the director shall bear a reasonable relationship to the P.U.D.
permit issued, and to the approved uses, plans, and variances of district standards; provided,
however, that no improvements or alterations off-site of the project shall be required as a
condition of a P.U.D. permit. The conditions may include, but not be limited to the following:
(1) Commencement and completion time frame for the project;
(2) Boundary and density changes approved in the project;
(3) Uses that are prohibited or limited;
(4) Specifications for the minimum development standards;
(5) Specifications for street improvement and dedication;
(6) Utilities to be furnished; and
(7) The extent and limitations upon the variances permitted.
(c) The director may, within the sixty-day period after acceptance of a P.U.D. permit application,
grant a partial approval of the request where all plans and drawings have not been submitted
with the original application. Provided, however, that no building permit shall be issued, nor
shall any construction on the property commence until the drawings have been reviewed and
approved by the director and full P.U.D. permit approval has been issued for the portion of
development comprising the proposed construction.
(d) When plans and drawings are submitted after a partial approval of a P.U.D. permit application
has been issued under subsection (c) above with a request for further partial approval or full
approval, the director shall review the drawings and shall either approve or deny the request
within thirty days from the date that the drawings are filed by the applicant. In the event of a
denial of such request, the applicant may resubmit a revised request for further partial or full
P.U.D. permit approval of the application and in accordance with this subsection.
(e) If the director fails to act upon a P.U.D. permit application within the prescribed sixty-day
period as required by subsection (a) above, the application shall be considered as having been
denied and the
director shall immediately inform the applicant of such denial. If the director fails to act upon
filed plans and drawings within the thirty-day period required by subsection (d) above, the plans
shall be considered as having been approved and a full P.U.D. permit issued.
(1996, Ord. No. 96-160, sec. 2; ratified and amended April 6, 1999.)
Section 25-6-22. Application for C.P.D.
(a) An application for a C.P.D. permit shall be on a form prescribed by the director and shall be
accompanied by a filing and processing fee as set forth under chapter 23, the subdivision
control code.
(b) The procedure for processing an application for a C.P.D. permit shall be the same as that
prescribed for a subdivision application under chapter 23, the subdivision control code.
(c) The applicant shall post a sign for public notification on the property as provided by section
25-2-12.
(1996, Ord. No. 96-160, sec. 2; ratified April 6, 1999; Am. 2005, Ord. No. 05-136, sec. 7.)
Section 25-6-46. Review and approval of site plans.
(a) After adoption of a project district enabling ordinance, the applicant shall submit to the
director detailed site plans for the project district development. The site plans shall conform to
the project district enabling ordinance and shall include the following:
(1) Plans for required infrastructure improvements;
(2) All items required for a plan approval application, as provided by section 25-2-72; and
(3) Any other information required by rules adopted by the director in accordance with chapter
91, Hawai‘i Revised Statutes.
APPENDIX E: Referenced County Codes in the South Kohala CDP
South Kohala CDP November, 2008
FINAL Appendix E-7
(b) Within sixty days after acceptance of the site plans, the director shall either deny or approve
the plans.
(c) The director may approve site plans for a project district only if the applicant has complied
with all of the conditions contained in the project district enabling ordinance and the site plans
conform to the standards contained in the project district enabling ordinance. The director may
approve the site plans subject to conditions, or the director may approve the site plans subject
to certain changes when, in the director’s opinion, such conditions or changes are necessary to
carry out the purposes of the project district, this chapter and the considerations contained in
section 25-6-47.
(d) If the director fails to render a decision on the site plans within the prescribed period, the site
plans shall be considered approved without further certification by the director.
(1996, Ord. No. 96-160, sec. 2; ratified April 6, 1999.)2
Section 25-6-56. Review and approval of site plans.
(a) After adoption of an agricultural project district enabling ordinance, the applicant shall submit
to the director detailed site plans for the agricultural project district development. The site plans
shall conform to the agricultural project district enabling ordinance and shall include the
following:
(1) Plans for required infrastructure improvements;
(2) All items required for a plan approval application, as provided by section 25-2-72; and
(3) Any other information required by rules adopted by the director in accordance with chapter
91, Hawai‘i Revised Statutes.
(b) Within sixty days after acceptance of the site plans, the director shall either deny or approve
the plans.
(c) The director may approve site plans for an agricultural project district only if the applicant has
complied with all of the conditions contained in the agricultural project district enabling
ordinance and the site plans conform to the standards contained in the agricultural project
district enabling ordinance. The director may approve the site plans subject to conditions, or the
director may approve the site plans subject to certain changes in the proposed site plans when,
in the director’s opinion, such conditions or changes are necessary to carry out the purposes of
the agricultural project district, this chapter and the considerations contained in section 25-6-
57.
(d) If the director fails to render a decision on the site plans within the prescribed period, the site
plans shall be considered approved without further certification by the director.
(1996, Ord. No. 96-160, sec. 2; ratified April 6, 1999.)2
APPENDIX E: Referenced County Codes in the South Kohala CDP
South Kohala CDP November, 2008
FINAL Appendix E-8
Referenced County Codes in CDP Chapter 3 Sub-policy 1.3
HCC 8-2(8) Definition of “parks and playground”
(8) “Parks and playgrounds” means areas and facilities used for active or passive recreational
pursuits.
HCC 8-4(a)(1) Exemptions to Chapter 8 of the Hawaiÿi County Code relating to “Dedication of
Land”
This article shall not apply to:
(1) Subdivision of land in any district where the ratio of acres of public parks and playgrounds
within the district and not federally owned, to the resident population within the district is
greater than the minimum ratio of five acres of land for parks and playground purposes for each
one thousand persons;
Referenced County Codes in CDP Chapter 3 Sub-policy 5.3
HCC 23-85 Sewage disposal systems
(a) In a subdivision to be laid out after December 21, 1966 sewer lines shall be installed where the
subdivision is within three hundred lineal feet of the existing sewer system. These lines shall
conform to the minimum requirements of the department of public works.
(b) In subdivisions where sewer connections cannot be made to an existing sewer system under the
requirements of this chapter, the subdivider shall meet the minimum requirements of the State
Health Department relating to sewage disposal. (1975 C.C., c. 9, art. 2, sec. 5.02.)2
APPENDIX F: South Kohala Wildfire Hazard Map
South Kohala CDP November, 2008
FINAL Appendix F-1
APPENDIX F: South Kohala Wildfire Hazard Map
Note: The areas in the district that are shaded by the diagonal blue lines on the map are areas
considered to be wildfire hazard areas.
APPENDIX G: Walkway and Bikeway Diagrams for Waimea
South Kohala CDP November, 2008
FINAL Appendix G
THIS PAGE LEFT INTENTIONALLY BLANK
APPENDIX G: Walkway and Bikeway Diagrams for Waimea
South Kohala CDP November, 2008
FINAL Appendix G-1
Appendix G: Walkway and Bikeway Diagrams for Waimea
APPENDIX G: Walkway and Bikeway Diagrams for Waimea
South Kohala CDP November, 2008
FINAL Appendix G-2
APPENDIX G: Walkway and Bikeway Diagrams for Waimea
South Kohala CDP November, 2008
FINAL Appendix G-3
APPENDIX G: Walkway and Bikeway Diagrams for Waimea
South Kohala CDP November, 2008
FINAL Appendix G-4
APPENDIX H: Suggested Recreational Trails, Bikeways, and Pedestrian-ways for South Kohala
South Kohala CDP July 11, 2008
FINAL Appendix H-1
APPENDIX H: Suggested Recreational Trails, Bikeways, and Pedestrian-ways for South Kohala
3 Waimea Trail and Greenway
expansion Eastward
Church Row to
Mana Rd.,
possibly to Mud
Lane
Trail through Puÿu
Kapu hills
connecting east
side one lane
subdivisions
4 Kapuni O Hawaiÿi trail Kawaihae to
Waikoloa
Mauka side of
Queen
Kaÿahumanu
Highway
paralleling utility
easement.
5 Ala Kahakai National Historic
Trail
See Map of Alternative C in Ala
Kahakai National Historic Trail EIS
(http://parkplanning.nps.gov/alka)
6 Trails detailed in the Kohala
Watershed Management Plan
See Trails and Public Recreational Use
Area Maps
(www.state.hi.us/dlnr/dofaw/wpp/KW
P_MgmtPlan_Dec07.mkp.2.pdf)
7 Trails detailed in the Parker
Ranch Equestrian Plan
See Parker Ranch 2020 Equestrian
Plan
8 Mämalahoa Highway Pathway Waimea in
vicinity of
Waimea District
Park 6.3 miles to
South
Makai side of
highway,
paralleling DOT’s
alignment and
utility pole line,
also hooks up
with old
Mämalahoa road
9 Bike/Ped Network along
existing and proposed
roadways
Kawaihae,
Mämalahoa;
Lälämilo and
Parker Ranch
Connector roads
Incorporate
equestrian,
walking an
bicycle use as
part of “Complete
Street” concept
10 Waikoloa Emergency Access
Road
Hulu St. to
Queen
Kaÿahumanu
Highway
Non motorized
transportation
and recreational
corridor
No.Name of Trails Start / End Description
1 Waimea Trail and Greenway
Phase I and II
Along Waikoloa
Stream from
vicinity of
Lälämilo field
system to Church
Row
Stream side trail
2 Expansion of Waimea Trail
and Greenway Westward
Lälämilo to
Kohala Coast
Stream side trail
with fingers to
Paniolo Ave
extension
APPENDIX H: Suggested Recreational Trails, Bikeways, and Pedestrian-ways for South Kohala
South Kohala CDP July 11, 2008
FINAL Appendix H-2
No.Name of Trails Start / End Description
11 Kawaihae village pedestrian
and bicycle network
Kawaihae Village
area, along Akoni
Pule Highway
Non-motorized
transportation
and recreational
corridor
12 Puakö and Waikoloa village
fire break roads
Waikoloa Village
and Puakö
Use of fire breaks
for recreational
use
13 Walkways along second
access to Queen Kaÿahumanu
Highway
Waikoloa Village
to Queen
Kaÿahumanu
Highway
Include walking
and bicycling
facilities along
roadway
14 Trails described in Nino
Walker’s Paths in the Country
Map
See www.waimeaplan.org
APPENDIX I: Hawaiÿi County Council Bill 297 re: CDP Action Committees
South Kohala CDP November, 2008
FINAL Appendix I-1
APPENDIX I:Hawaiÿi County Council Bill 297 re: CDP Action Committees:
COUNTY OF HAWAI‘I STATE OF HAWAI‘I
BILL NO.
ORDINANCE NO.
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 16, HAWAI‘I COUNTY CODE 1983
(2005 EDITION, AS AMENDED), ESTABLISHING A FRAMEWORK FOR THE
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLANS AND ESTABLISHING THE
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN (CDP) ACTION COMMITTEE.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAI‘I:
SECTION 1. Purpose. The purposes of this ordinance are: 1) to establish a
framework to adopt and amend the Community Development Plans and 2) to establish the
Community Development Plan (CDP) Action Committee that shall succeed each CDP
Steering Committee upon adoption of a community development plan by the County
Council.
SECTION 2. Chapter 16, Hawai’i County Code 1983 (2005 Edition, as amended),
is amended by grouping the existing sections relating to the General Plan into an article to
read as follows:
“Article 1. General Plan
Section 16-1. The County of Hawai‘i general plan.
(a) That certain planning code known and designated as “County of Hawai‘i
general plan,” as adopted on December 5, 1971, by the council of the County
of Hawai‘i, is hereby adopted by reference, subject to later amendments by
ordinance, and may be cited as the “general plan.”*
(b) A copy of the general plan and amendments shall be available for public
inspection at the planning department.”
SECTION 3. Chapter 16, Hawai’i County Code 1983 (2005 Edition, as amended),
is amended by adding a new article to read as follows:
“Article 2. Community Development Plans
Section 16-2. Adoption of community development plans. The
community development plans listed below are adopted and incorporated by
APPENDIX I: Hawaiÿi County Council Bill 297 re: CDP Action Committees
South Kohala CDP November, 2008
FINAL Appendix I-2
reference. A copy of the plans and amendments shall be available for public
inspection at the planning department.
Section 16-3. Review and amendment. A comprehensive review of the
community development plans shall commence within ten (10) years from the date of
adoption.”
SECTION 4. Chapter 16, Hawai‘i County Code 1983 (2005 Edition, as amended),
is amended by adding a new article called “CDP Action Committee” to read as follows:
“Article 3. CDP Action Committees
Section 16-4 CDP Action Committees.
(a)A Community Development Plan (CDP) Action Committee shall
succeed each CDP Steering Committee upon adoption of a community
development plan.
(b)The purpose of the CDP Action Committee is to be a proactive,
community-based steward of the plan’s implementation and update.
(c)The Planning Department shall administer the CDP Action
Committees and be responsible for developing a selection process for
committee members and establishing rules of procedure, as needed.
Section 16-5. Membership and tenure.
(a)The CDP Action Committee shall consist of 9 (nine) members. All
members shall have a primary residence in the area covered by the
CDP. The members shall be appointed by the Mayor and approved by
the County Council. Prior service as a member of a CDP steering
committee shall not disqualify an individual from serving on the CDP
Action Committee.
(b)The members shall serve staggered terms of four years. Upon the
initial appointment of the committee, three members shall serve for a
term of two years, three members for a term of three years, and three
members for a term of four years. When the term of a member expires,
the member shall continue to serve until a successor is appointed.
Members whose terms expire may not be reappointed for at least two
years, however, members appointed for one year or less may be
reappointed for an additional term without the passage of two years'
time.
(c)The membership should reflect a broad cross-section of the
community. The community development plan may specify more
detailed selection criteria consistent with this objective.
(d)A chairperson shall be elected from its membership annually.
APPENDIX I: Hawaiÿi County Council Bill 297 re: CDP Action Committees
South Kohala CDP November, 2008
FINAL Appendix I-3
(e) Except as provided for in this section, the committee shall be governed
by the County Charter, section 13-4.
Section 16-6. Duties and responsibilities of the CDP action committees.
The duties and responsibilities of the committee are:
(1) Provide ongoing guidance and advocacy to advance implementation
of the CDP goals, objectives, policies, and actions;
(2) Broaden community awareness of the CDP and build partnerships,
as appropriate, with governmental and community-based
organizations to implement CDP policies and actions;
(3) Take into consideration state-wide objectives and legislation for
long-term and sustainable plans for the island as a whole;
(4) Provide timely recommendations to the county on priorities relating
to the county operational budget and the CIP budget and program;
(5) Receive briefings, as requested, from the planning department on
pending and approved permit applications involving property located
within the planning area, and on other issues related to the CDP;
(6) Receive briefings from other county agencies, as requested, on
priority actions identified in the CDP, which briefings may be
integrated and consolidated by the mayor’s office or the planning
department into a plan of action for the forthcoming year and a status
report on the current year’s plan of action;
(7) Monitor the progress and effectiveness of the CDP including the
need for CDP revisions based on emerging statewide plans, new
technologies, innovative ideas, or changing conditions;
(8) Review and make recommendations on interim amendments to the
CDP;
(9) Serve as the steering committee, as set forth in the General Plan, in
any comprehensive update of the CDP;
(10) Provide recommendations to amend the General Plan; and
(11) Carry out other duties specified in the CDP and/or in agreement with the
Planning Department.”
SECTION 5. Material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New material is
underscored. In printing this ordinance, the brackets, bracketed material, and
underscoring need not be included.
SECTION 6. If any provision of this ordinance or the application thereof to any
person or circumstance, is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect other provisions or
applications of the ordinance that can be given effect without the invalid provision or
application, and to this end, the provisions of this ordinance are declared to be severable.