HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommunication No. 2025-01 Kailapa Talk Story 12.27.2024Kailapa Talk Story
December 27, 2024
Kailapa Community Center
Special Guests: Senator Tim Richards
Acquiring Water Resources for Kawaihae
Talmadge Magno-Director, County Civil Defense
Develop Kailapa Emergency Road
Attendance: DHHL-(Land Management Division)-Linda Chinn
(Kahana) Peter Albinio
(NAHASDA)-Kaliko Chun, Oriana Le’ao
DHHL-Planning Division-Liliane Makaila
On December 27, Friday morning, Kailapa had the pleasure of hosting
Senator Tim Richards and Civil Defense Director-Mr. Talmadge Magno.
They were gracious enough to spend some time with Kailapa to share our Goals for 2025 and
guide us along.
It was an opportune time to request opportunities to acquire potable water resources, to update
information about where the water is near our community and funding resources for storage,
transmission systems, etc. The Senator is Chairman of the Hawaiian Affairs Committee in the
Legislature. The Senator and his family is also part of our homestead community, so his mana’o
and commitment to Malama this aina is greatly appreciated.
The Senator shared an opportunity to construct a new hydrology water system from the mauka
lands. He says there is lots of water in ponds up there. It might cost in the hundreds of millions
of dollars, but would fulfill the capacity needed for Kawaihae. Unfortunately, he has no authority
over the County Water System but now he is aware of the Kailapa need for cheaper water rates.
He will monitor legislative bills for the South Kohala District.
Much intelligent discussion was made about attaining water resources. The hard work this
community worked on the DHHL Regional Plan was discussed and the locations are in that
document. There was a discussion on why DHHL doesn’t use Hawaiian Water Rights to
takeover the Kohala Ranch water resource. There is a request for DHHL to include Kawaihae
homestead to acquire sufficient water resources from the Lalamilo 10 MGD project, for more
residential development, fire risks, Kailapa Center expansion, and the makai Wellness Park.
The Senator shared that a challenge is getting larger transmission lines to Kawaihae. The Ouli
well and Parker Ranch wells once slated for Kawaihae, is gone for the new Hapuna subdivision
and the Resort communities.
Mr. Magno shared that the County is updating their Hazard Mitigation Plan-2020. Due date for
comments is January 10. The public survey is on their website. Items like flooding, recognition
Communication No. 2025-01
that Kawaihae has Gulches, streams and bridges- don’t seem to be included. Impacts to the
cargo if the bridges break, don’t offer alternatives.
Your inspiring mana’o, commitment and dedication to our community will be appreciated to
update this Plan. He has committed to talk with DHHL about our emergency road.
Lastly, DHHL was gracious to share that the Planning Division will be presenting to the
Hawaiian Homes Commission, a Plan to reactivate the Water Subsidy for Kailapa. The
beneficiaries will pay the County water rate and DHHL will pay the difference.
Also, a serious concern was discussed regarding the Kailapa Grant for developing a
Desalination Water System in Kailapa. There will be ongoing discussions.
Mahalo to all those who participated this time. We realize it was a working day, but attendance
and email communication was more than expected.
Have a safe and wonderful Happy New Year!