The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About2025-04-08 Minutes Final KONA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 1 ACTION COMMITTEE 2 COUNTY OF HAWAIʻI 3 FINAL MINUTES 4 April 8, 2025 5 CALL TO ORDER 6 Chair Charles Young called the Kona Community Development Plan (CDP) Action Committee 7 (AC) to order at 12:06 p.m. This meeting was held in person at the West Hawai’i Civic Center, B2 8 Conference Room and online via the Zoom platform. 9 The full YouTube video of this meeting can be found here: 10 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VL9KEbZU_z8 11 ROLL CALL 12 Members Present (in person): Charles Young (Chair), Nancy Pisicchio (Vice-Chair), John Pelletier, 13 and Charla Thompson 14 Members Present (via Zoom): David Huerta 15 Members Absent: Roselyn Molina and Heather Korotie 16 County Staff Present (in person): Kawelo Kalili and Maryam Palma 17 County Staff Present (via Zoom): Jessica Lahip 18 There were approximately 13 members of the public in attendance (3 in person and 10 via 19 Zoom). 20 APPROVAL OF MINUTES 21 Committee member John Pelletier moved to approve the minutes of the March 11, 2025 meeting 22 as drafted. Vice-Chair Nancy Pisicchio seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. 23 [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP: 3:48] 24 PUBLIC TESTIMONY 25 Janice Palma-Glennie provided testimony on agenda item #5 regarding the proposed General Plan 26 amendment [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP: 5:52] 27 Lamakū Roy provided testimony on the General Plan. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP: 8:53] 28 BUSINESS: 29 1. Kealakehe Regional Park Update – Update from Action Committee members, followed by 30 a discussion on potential Committee actions. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP: 11:15] 31 This item was called to order at 12:16 p.m. 32 KONA CDP ACTION COMMITTEE Minutes of April 8, 2025 2 Committee member John Pelletier shared insights from his conversation with Parks and Recreation 33 Planner James Komata, who has been deeply involved with the park project for several years. He 34 reported that the Environmental Assessment (EA) is currently under review but on hold due to the 35 larger wastewater treatment plan (WWTP) upgrade issue. While the Department of Water Supply 36 will provide potable water for drinking fountains and sinks, irrigation must rely on recycled water. 37 The County plans to upgrade the water system to R1 standards, in line with the mayor’s 100-day 38 plan. Vice-Chair Pisicchio clarified that while the governor’s executive order does not require the 39 use of recycled water, the Department of Water Supply lacks resources to meet irrigation needs. A 40 portion of the site, protected by the US Fish and Wildlife Service, will be fenced off to preserve 41 native species, with the remainder allocated for park use. The committee also discussed the island’s 42 west side well water history and credit allocations. Despite challenges, the County remains 43 committed to advancing the project. 44 Janice Palma-Glennie provided testimony regarding concerns about local uses for the park. [SEE 45 YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP: 22:36] 46 Lamakū Roy provided testimony opposing the Community Development Plan. [SEE YOUTUBE 47 TIMESTAMP: 26:16] 48 This item concluded at 12:33 p.m. 49 2. Draft County Capital Improvements Program (CIP) Budget – Discussion and potential 50 action on proposed priority projects within the Kona CDP region. [SEE YOUTUBE 51 TIMESTAMP 27:37] 52 This item was called to order at 12:33 p.m. 53 The committee reviewed a list of CIP recommendations, led by Vice-Chair Pisicchio, who 54 emphasized the need for updated transportation planning to address infrastructure capacity 55 between North and South Kona. She highlighted key priorities including extending Lako Street 56 makai, funding a sewer line along Ali‘i Drive, upgrading the Kealakehe Wastewater Treatment 57 Plant to comply with Clean Water Act standards, and acquiring land for public parking in Kailua 58 Village. Committee member Pelletier added the need for a public transit shelter behind Target in 59 Kona, noting issues with inadequate shelter and poor signage. Planner Maryam Palma provided an 60 overview of the County’s budget process, explaining that departments submit proposals for review 61 and revision by the Mayor before they are forwarded to the County Council. The AC also discussed 62 submitting timely testimony to the Council’s Finance Committee and agreed to support funding 63 requests for Kealakehe Regional Park and Planning Department initiatives. 64 Josephine Keliʻipio provided testimony emphasizing the need to prioritize safe pedestrian 65 pathways over car-centric design, sharing personal experiences of unsafe walking conditions along 66 Ali‘i Drive. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 44:40] 67 Janice Palma-Glennie provided testimony regarding a new development near Kuakini Highway 68 and public parking in Kona. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 46:11] 69 KONA CDP ACTION COMMITTEE Minutes of April 8, 2025 3 Lamakū Roy provided testimony stating that no further development should occur between Kaloko 70 and Hōnaunau, including projects like Lako Street and Ali‘i Parkway, as the area is spiritually 71 protected and guided by ancestral authority and divine revelation. She emphasized that this 72 message has been formally shared with the County and State and is rooted in her role as Kahunanui 73 of Ahu‘ena Heiau at Kamakahonu. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 49:47] 74 A discussion followed between Lamakū and Chair Young regarding the inclusion of her comments 75 in the official meeting minutes. While staff clarified that a summary would be included, the full 76 recording of the meeting is publicly available for reference. 77 Committee member Pelletier moved to have Vice-Chair Pisicchio prepare written testimony to the 78 County Council in support of the line items discussed. The letter will be reviewed by the AC prior 79 to submission and will be signed by Vice-Chair Pisicchio. The motion passed unanimously. [SEE 80 YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 1:05:28] 81 Lamakū requested that her testimony, which emphasized the historical and spiritual significance 82 of the issue, be included in the committee’s draft letter to the County Council. The Chair clarified 83 that while her comments would be reflected in the meeting minutes, the letter must represent the 84 collective voice of the AC. She was encouraged to submit her testimony independently, as the 85 committee cannot formally endorse individual statements. 86 This item concluded at 1:28 p.m. 87 3. Update on SB1602, SD1 – Chair Young/Vice-Chair Pisicchio will provide an update on the 88 bill’s status in the current legislative session. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 1:22:34] 89 This item was called to order at 1:28 p.m. 90 The AC discussed a bill proposing the drilling of two monitoring wells in the Keauhou Aquifer, 91 supported by the Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR), to assess downstream impacts of 92 groundwater withdrawals. The bill has advanced through both chambers with little opposition and 93 is expected to proceed to conference committee. While the bill itself (SB1623) appears to have 94 broad support, the actual funding is included in House Bill 300, which is still under consideration. 95 The AC noted the importance of this measure, especially given limited current knowledge about 96 water extraction volumes. The monitoring wells are seen as critical to advancing water 97 management and are supported by a wide range of testimonies. The funding amount has increased 98 from $100,000 over two years to $4 million, reflecting the urgency and scale of the effort. The AC 99 expressed optimism and emphasized the bill’s alignment with long-overdue water monitoring 100 needs. 101 Lamakū Roy provided testimony emphasizing that the proposed development lies within a 102 culturally protected 40-mile zone, presenting new information to the legislature about sacred sites 103 and ancestral burials that must be considered in all planning decisions. [SEE YOUTUBE 104 TIMESTAMP 1:26:54] 105 This item concluded at 1:34 p.m. 106 KONA CDP ACTION COMMITTEE Minutes of April 8, 2025 4 4. Update on SB869, SD1 – Vice-Chair Pisicchio will provide an update on the bill’s status in 107 the current legislative session. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 1:29:17] 108 This item was called to order at 1:34 p.m. 109 Vice-Chair Pisicchio reported that the neighborhood board community outreach bill is progressing 110 well, with both House and Senate versions aligned and advancing toward final approval. She 111 credited the coordinated efforts of staff and other CDP ACs for the bill’s strong momentum. 112 This item concluded at 1:36 p.m. 113 5. Amendment Request to Draft General Plan 2045, County Planning System, page 33 – 114 Discussion and decision-making on submitting Communication No. 2025-08 as testimony to 115 County Council. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 1:30:59] 116 Vice-Chair Pisicchio requested an amendment to the planning system diagram on page 33 of the 117 Draft General Plan to depict CDPs as distinct from functional plans, noting that the current diagram 118 misrepresents their role. Further details are provided in Communication No. 2025-08 included in 119 the meeting packet. 120 Chuck Flaherty provided testimony supporting the amended language, recommending clarification 121 of CDPs’ legal basis by ordinance, and included a referral to Nā Ala Hele Advisory Council’s 122 comments, support for returning the Hokuliʻa project area to agriculture, and a request to address 123 development plans for five lots on the northern slope of Puʻu Ohau, despite its burial site 124 designation. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 1:37:05] 125 Janice Palma-Glennie provided testimony in support of Chuck’s addition to the amendment to 126 include something about the legal basis for the general public to see. [SEE YOUTUBE 127 TIMESTAMP 1:40:53] 128 Committee member Pelletier moved for the AC to submit Communication No 2025-08 to the 129 County Council during the General Plan hearing. Committee Member Thompson seconded the 130 motion. All in favor, aye. The motion passed unanimously. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 131 1:41:43] 132 Lamakū Roy provided testimony regarding the authority of Akua (Most High God) and sacred 133 ancestral knowledge supersedes human law, emphasizing that Hawaiʻi – originally Kaluaokalani 134 – is the heart of creation, home to the restored temple Ahuʻena Heiau, and that true stewardship of 135 sacred sites comes from divine lineage, not state governance. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 136 1:42:48] 137 This item concluded at 1:50 p.m. 138 PROPOSED AGENDA ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING: [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 139 1:06:45] 140 1. Keauhou Aquifer Adaptive Management Plan Presentation 141 2. Tree City USA 142 KONA CDP ACTION COMMITTEE Minutes of April 8, 2025 5 ADJOURNMENT 143 The meeting was adjourned at 2:09 p.m. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 2:03:44] 144 These minutes and all related documents are available in the Planning Department’s Kona 145 Community Development Plan Action Committee folder via the County of Hawaiʻi Public 146 Documents Repository. These documents may also be requested from the Planning Department by 147 calling (808) 961-8288 or emailing cdp@hawaiicounty.gov. 148