HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-12-18 Ken Honma GP TestimonyFrom: Ken Honma
To: WPCtestimonv; LPCtestimonv
Cc: Stand Toaether Hawaii
Subject: General plan 2045 comments
Date:Wednesday,December 18,2024 12:25:13 PM
The Hawaii County General Plan 2045 is missing critical elements that need to be included in order
to ensure that you the planning commissioners, and the people of Hawaii County can evaluate what
this planning document is about. As this document stands, no one will be able to determine how
any of the elements described in this plan what this plan is to accomplish. Cause and effect is the
basis for this document, but these basic relationships are not clearly defined and explained
anywhere in this plan.
Manmade Climate Change
Using man-made climate change as a justification for unleashing any proposed powers to
government for general planning is making policy based on an opinion, not any scientific fact. To the
contrary there is no proof that normal human activity is causing dangerously high levels of
temperature increases that would warrant this kind of powers to be used in the general plan.
Exclude any references to manmade climate change.
Geoengineering
If this document were even-handed, it would also have a section on geo-engineering, which is
scientifically proven to effect weather. Aerial activities that influence weather have been ongoing for
many decades. What effects do these human activities have on the climate?
Geoengineering should be included in the plan
Societal Controls
There is the assumption that it is necessary to confine and control societal development by limiting
activities to what is and will be considered acceptable development such as where to develop,
where to farm, where people can live, etc. What is the basis, and where is the discussion that these
controls are needed, warranted, wanted or legal?
Where is the ideal, model development example in real life Hawaii that demonstrates that any of
these "development" ideas actually result in whatever is to be achieved?
Eliminate social control planning until these important questions are expounded on in writing in
the plan.
Definitions of terms
The lack of a detailed discussion of what exactly is meant by such words as "thrive", "resilience",
security", "economy', leads to much misinterpretations and confusion.
What exactly is the meaning of"economy" in terms of Hawaii County?What are the metrics that will
be used to determine what the current state of our economy is, and for the future, how progress is
being made or not made? How will success be measured? In other words what will success look like?
Defining success by measuring it against well-defined success-or-failure metrics will make it clear to
all, what the plan intends.
Define all terms.
Intent
With a firm understanding of the intent of the general plan, we the people can more readily vote for
or against the plan. For eample: it "looks like" the intent is to sequester the most possible amount
of land away from human developement into conversation land (out of circulation for meeting
human needs).This is a formula for 15 minute cities.
It should be clearly stated that the the primary intent is to raise the standard of living for all
residents, and support the means for all people to achieve home ownership, land ownership, and
business ownership. Meeting growing energy needs. More transportation options and full
maintanance of existing roads and bridges and public transportation. Better travel connectivity
throughout the island. Support systems for new and innovative businesses. Support small,
independent farmers and food growers.
We do not want 15 minute cities.
Milestones
Milestones need to be established from start to completion with the specific elements to be
completed. It can be seen that in order for this plan to work, a detailed and specific vision on what
success looks like, and how to measure it is not included, but, necessary in order to take the first
steps in the as of yet, not envisioned success description.
Establish milestones for all elements of the plan.
The success metric
It is a waste of time and our money if there is no measure of success like or how to get there.
Without the goals clearly stated, and steps to reach the goals, any legislative actions; taxes,
incentives, fines, fees, or capital allocations toward any of the plan's elements would be fiscally, and
legislatively irresponsible. There is too much room for other hidden agendas to be persued as it is
written.
The plan is after all, for the people; so the major success metric must be the success and happiness
metric of the people. At present there is no section that discusses this metric.
Include a clear and usable success metric.
Accountability
There needs to be a person responsible for the completion of this plan. The Mayor could be
evaluated on how successful or not their administration is in accomplishing the general plan. The
people could be responsible for the mayor's evaluation. Heads of departments likewise could be
responsible for carrying out the initiatives and would also be evaluated for success or failures. An
accountability structure needs to be written into the plan.
Define and include the accountability structure.
Sincerely,
Ken Honma