HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-03-11 Brad KurokawaFrom:Brad Kurokawa
To:WPCtestimony
Cc:Brad Kurokawa
Subject:Verbal testimony WPC 3/11/2025
Date:Tuesday, March 11, 2025 8:08:01 PM
Attachments:Verbal testimony WPC 3112025.pdf
Aloha Planning commission staff,
Would you please add this testimony to my previously submitted testimony for WPC General Plan 2045 meetings
on March 10-11, 2025?
Mahalo,
Brad Kurokawa
Sent from my iPad
Brad Kurokawa
March 9, 2025
Windward Planning Commission, Hawaii County
Aupuni Center 101 Pauahi Street, Suite 3 Hi, Hawaiʻi 96720
RE: Testimony on Hawaii County General Plan 2045, Final Recommended Draft dated
July 2024
Dear Chair Daniele, Vice Chair Perrin, and members of the Windward Planning
Commission,
I am Brad Kurokawa from Hakalau/Honomu.
First, Mahalo for your service to our community!
I have submitted written testimony so this will be a summary of that.
I am testifying as an individual resident of Hamakua though I am a current member of
the Hamakua CDP Action committee and former chair of Steering committee from
2008-2018. I want to bring to your attention 2 specific inconsistencies in the Final
Recommended Draft GP 2045 and the Hamakua CDP adopted by ordinance in 2018.
In both of these cases, there was significant community input and controversy during
the CDP process. The two projects are known as PAPAIKOU POINT AND HAKALAU
POINT. Accordingly, for the public record I am respectfully requesting that the
Planning department provide their written rationale for the proposed deviations from
the adopted HAMAKUA CDP.
PAPAIKOU POINT (TMK 327004025)
At Papaikou Point the The GP Draft recommends LOW DENSITY URBAN while the
HAMAKUA CDP shows it as IMPORTANT AG LANDS, consistent with the State Land
Use AG designation. The proposed GP change is a significant change in land use from
its current A-20a zoning and the CDP. There was significant community opposition to
development at this location.
HAKALAU POINT (TMKs 329002081/329002079)
Here because of the site’s unique coastal location, cultural, historic,
environmental, scenic qualities and public access the Hamakua CDP deliberately
chose to designate the parcels as OPEN. The HCDP deliberately chose to
acknowledge this site where KAMEHAMEHA THE FIRST fought a significant battle
and its Hakalau Plantation history; its environmental sensitivity as high bluff pali
adjacent to a coastal estuary; its subsistence and recreational importance w fishing
trail access; and one of the few rare accessible locations to enjoy scenic panoramic
views of the Hamakua coastline. The HCDP intention is to encourage future
preservation and protection of this extremely unique locale for the enjoyment of the
greater community instead of the prevalent trend of development of private luxury
homes along our coastlines.
The current Recommended GP Draft proposes the majority of the parcels’ area as
LOW DENSITY URBAN with the pali as CONSERVATION and a strip along the top of
pali as RECREATION, while one of the GP policies specifically discourages URBAN
designation along coastal zones. While the current county zoning is MG-5a, Industrial
and State Land Use District (SLUD) is Urban, the HCDP recognized that both the
county zoning and SLUD are a simply a historical “snap shot” of its past plantation
heritage which are NO LONGER appropriate.
The General Plan and Community Development Plans are intended as dynamic
forward-looking, living and adaptive tools to guide the the development of
communities’ future. They should be consistent in reflecting our community’s
collective voice, values and aspirational vision.
———————
My last comments have to do with the OVERALL GP. I generally support the approach
and focus of the plan as a licensed landscape architect and planner with over 40 years
experience here and on the mainland. There is a lot of “planner jargon” which could
have been simplified. But the content and planning principles are sound. Having been
involved with the community outreach process for the last 20 years, has it been ideal?
Absolutely not. There is lots of room for improvement. But we must move forward.
Last is an observation on the need for A LOT OF PUBLIC EDUCATION and more
dialogue. With the advent of Social media there is a massive amount of
misinformation that has colored this crucial process of planning our future. I have
faith that if we continue to connect and discourse w Aloha for the greater good of our
community we will be fine.
Mahalo nui loa for your time and consideration!
Aloha no,
Brad Kurokawa