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Home My WebLink About2025-05-27 Kaʻū CDP Minutes Draft KAʻŪ COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 1 ACTION COMMITTEE 2 COUNTY OF HAWAIʻI 3 DRAFT MINUTES 4 May 27, 2025 5 CALL TO ORDER 6 Chair Masters called the Kaʻū Community Development Plan (CDP) Action Committee (AC) 7 meeting to order at 5:14 p.m. A quorum was established with six members in attendance. This meeting 8 was held in person at the Nāʻālehu Community Center 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=kndpuOXGy9w 11 ROLL CALL 12 Members Present (in person): Jason Masters (Chair), Kaʻohinani Mokuhaliʻi, Pernell Hanoa (Vice-13 Chair), Kaweni Ibarra, Catherine Williams, and Babette Morrow 14 Members Absent: Jesse Ke 15 From the County (in person): Maryam Palma, Jessica Lahip, Janice Hata and Shannon Arquitola 16 There were approximately twenty-one (21) members of the public in attendance – (13) in person and 17 (8) via Zoom. 18 APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 3:10] 19 Committee Member Mokuhaliʻi motioned to approve minutes from the January 28, 2025. The motion 20 was seconded by Committee Member Williams. The motion passed unanimously. 21 PUBLIC TESTIMONY ON AGENDA ITEMS: [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 4:40] 22 None at this time. 23 BUSINESS: 24 1. Nāʻālehu Post Office Safe Pedestrian Crossing – Discussion and potential action regarding 25 pedestrian safety at the crosswalk in front of the Nāʻālehu Post Office. 26 This item was called to order at 5:19 p.m. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 5:47] 27 The AC discussed pedestrian safety concerns fronting the Naʻalehu Post Office. Planner Shannon 28 Arquitola reported that the Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation (DOT) conducted a study and 29 confirmed it as a pedestrian safety concern. The department is exploring installation of a 30 temporary speed hump and evaluating long-term solutions; however, implementation of 31 temporary measures has been delayed due to material issues. Community members proposed 32 using the vacant former theater property, owned by the Weinberg Foundation, as a temporary 33 parking area to reduce unsafe pedestrian crossings. 34 Committee Member Mokuhaliʻi made a motion for the AC to write a letter to the Weinberg 35 Foundation requesting to use the former theater property as a temporary parking area to improve 36 KAʻŪ CDP ACTION COMMITTEE Minutes of May 27, 2025 2 pedestrian safety. The motion was seconded by Committee Member Ibarra and passed 37 unanimously. 38 Paul Makuakane provided testimony in support of safe pedestrian crossing at Nāʻālehu Post 39 Office. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 12:21] 40 This item was closed at 5:29 p.m. 41 2. Ka Lae Coastline Access & Resources – Discussion and potential action regarding a previously 42 submitted letter advocating for the protection of cultural sites and natural resources in the greater 43 Ka Lae area, particularly at Mahana Bay. 44 This item was called to order at 5:29 p.m. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 15:57] 45 The AC discussed concerns related to unmanaged access, erosion, and resource degradation in the 46 Ka Lae region, particularly around Mahana Bay. Community members underscored the cultural, 47 historical, and subsistence significance of the area and voiced frustration over the lack of response 48 to a letter originally submitted in 2024 to the former Planning Director, the Department of 49 Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL), and other agencies. 50 District 6 Councilmember Michelle Galimba participated in the discussion, offering support and 51 recommending that the committee resend the original letter to updated department contacts. 52 Committee Member Ibarra made a motion to resend the August 12, 2024 letter to updated contacts 53 at Planning Department, DHHL, Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), State 54 Historic Preservation Division (SHPD), U.S. Coast Guard, and Noho Papa Hawaiʻi, via both email 55 and certified mail. The motion was seconded by Committee Member Mokuhaliʻi and passed 56 unanimously. The revised letter will also include a written statement from community member 57 Kyle Soares. 58 Kyle Soares provided testimony expressing the neglect of the Ka Lae area. [SEE YOUTUBE 59 TIMESTAMP 21:11 & 31:05] 60 Sofia Hanoa provided testimony calling for stronger pressure on DHHL. [SEE YOUTUBE 61 TIMESTAMP 25:55 & 29:56] 62 Paul Makuakane provided testimony expressing frustration for community access. [SEE 63 YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 26:23] 64 Michelle Galimba provided testimony in support of resending the previous letter to updated 65 contacts. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 39:21] 66 Nohealani Kaʻawa provided testimony recommending additional recipients for the updated letter. 67 [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 48:07] 68 This item was closed at 6:05 p.m. 69 3. Pōhue Bay Coastline Access and Resources– Discussion and potential action on prior 70 Committee efforts related to Pōhue Bay. 71 This item was called to order at 6:05 p.m. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 51:54] 72 The AC revisited ongoing concerns about public access to Pōhue Bay, which is now under the 73 ownership of the National Park Service (NPS). While members acknowledged that the pedestrian 74 trail to the bay is currently open and marked, they raised concerns over the continued restriction 75 KAʻŪ CDP ACTION COMMITTEE Minutes of May 27, 2025 3 of vehicle access. Several members and testifiers emphasized the importance of equitable access 76 – particularly for kūpuna, cultural practitioners, and local families – and shared frustration over 77 limited communication and updates from NPS. There was an emphasis on the need to protect both 78 access rights and the area’s natural and cultural integrity. The committee agreed to continue this 79 discussion at the next meeting and to follow up with NPS to request an update on public access 80 plans and community engagement efforts. Committee Member Williams will take the lead on 81 contacting NPS for additional information. 82 Kyle Soares provided testimony in support of Pōhue Bay Coastline accessibility. [SEE YOUTUBE 83 TIMESTAMP 57:10 & 1:01:30] 84 Sofia Hanoa provided testimony in support of Pōhue Bay Coastline accessibility. [SEE YOUTUBE 85 TIMESTAMP 1:00:58] 86 This item was closed at 6:21 p.m. 87 4. Waiʻōhinu Transfer Station – Discussion and action on previously submitted letter to the 88 Department of Environmental Management (DEM) to open the transfer station to seven days a 89 week. 90 This item was called to order at 6:21 p.m. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 1:07:51] 91 The AC reviewed DEM’s response to its prior request to restore seven-day access at the Waiʻōhinu 92 Transfer Station. DEM cited a decrease in trash tonnage, limited staffing, and funding constraints 93 as the rationale for maintaining the current reduced schedule. However. community members – 94 including former site supervisor Gary Davis – testified that reduced usage is due to limited access, 95 not decreased demand. Testifiers also noted an increase in illegal dumping and community 96 frustration. Councilmember Michelle Galimba expressed support for expanded hours, 97 highlighting that Kaʻū is the only district on the island without daily access to a transfer station. 98 Committee Member Mokuhaliʻi made a motion for the AC to respond to DEM’s March 5, 2025 99 letter and to copy the Department of Public Works (DPW). The motion was seconded by 100 Committee Member Ibarra and passed unanimously. Chair Masters will draft the response letter. 101 Committee Member Mokuhaliʻi made a second motion to request a meeting with DEM, with AC 102 representatives Jason Masters and Kaʻohinani Mokuhaliʻi designated to speak on behalf of the 103 committee. The motion was seconded by Committee Member Morrow and passed unanimously. 104 Gary Davis provided testimony in support of opening the transfer station seven days a week. [SEE 105 YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 1:14:10] 106 Michelle Galimba provided testimony in support of opening the transfer station seven days a 107 week. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 1:16:59] 108 Kyle Soares provided testimony in support of opening the transfer station seven days a week. 109 [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 1:18:55] 110 This item was closed at 6:41 p.m. 111 5. The Nature Conservancy’s Hīlea Property Acquisition – Discussion and potential action 112 related to the acquisition of TMK (3) 9-5-018:001. 113 KAʻŪ CDP ACTION COMMITTEE Minutes of May 27, 2025 4 This item was called to order at 6:41 p.m. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP1:28:10] 114 The committee heard from Shalan Crysdale, Director of the Hawaiʻi Island Forest Program at The 115 Nature Conservancy (TNC), who presented TNC’s plans to acquire the Hīlea parcel. The 116 acquisition aims to protect native forests, watersheds, and cultural resources. Crysdale noted that 117 the effort aligns with Kaʻū CDP goals and includes long-term stewardship plans such as invasive 118 species control and potential opportunities for future community access and involvement. 119 Chair Masters made a motion to form a Permitted Interaction Group (PIG) to further study the 120 proposed acquisition and report findings at the next Kaʻū CDP Action Committee meeting. The 121 PIG will include Chair Masters, Vice-Chair Hanoa, and Committee Members Williams and Ibarra. 122 The motion was seconded by Committee Member Mokuhaliʻi and passed unanimously. 123 Michelle Galimba provided testimony and shared additional information on the acquisition. [SEE 124 YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 1:30:27 & 1:44:13] 125 Shalan Crysdale provided testimony and further information in response to questions and 126 comments. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 1:34:29, 1:56:00 & 2:11:22] 127 Kyle Soares provided testimony regarding concerns about water rights associated with the Hīlea 128 property. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 1:45:29] 129 Earl Louis provided testimony on water and access rights. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 130 1:58:24] 131 Nohealani Kaʻawa provided testimony recognizing the positive contributions of TNC to the Kaʻū 132 community. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 2:03:00 & 2:15:30] 133 Sofia Hanoa provided testimony suggesting the addition of a related item to the next meeting’s 134 agenda. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 2:09:15 & 2:12:00] 135 This item was closed at 7:10 p.m. 136 NEW BUSINESS [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 2:23:14] 137 The following items were introduced and may be discussed in more detail at future meetings: 138 • Update on recently passed Sunshine Law bill 139 • Nāʻālehu Hills Subdivision 140 • Green Sands Subdivision emergency access 141 • Permitted Interaction Group (PIG) report on Hīlea Property 142 ANNOUNCEMENTS [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 2:27:08] 143 • The Planning Department is seeking applicants for the Kaʻū CDP Action Committee. 144 Community members are encouraged to apply and help spread the word. Applications are 145 available on the Mayor’s Office website: https://www.hawaiicounty.gov/our-county/boards-146 and-commissions. For inquiries, contact Micah Alameda, Executive Assistant to the Mayor 147 at Micah.Alameda@hawaiicounty.gov or (808) 961-8211. 148 • SB869, relating to Community Outreach Boards, has been signed into law. The Planning 149 Department is working with the State Office of Information Practices (OIP) on a training for 150 staff, Corporation Counsel, and the ACs. 151 KAʻŪ CDP ACTION COMMITTEE Minutes of May 27, 2025 5 • The Planning Commissions concluded their General Plan public hearings on March 11, 152 2025. The recommendations from both commissions can be viewed here: 153 o Leeward Planning Commission: 154 https://records.hawaiicounty.gov/Weblink/1/edoc/147939/2025-03-155 19%20LPC%20Recommendation%20Letter%20for%20General%20Plan%20Review.p156 df 157 o Windward Planning Commission: 158 https://records.hawaiicounty.gov/Weblink/1/edoc/147940/2025-03-159 19%20WPC%20Recommendation%20Letter%20for%20General%20Plan%20Review.160 pdf 161 • Kaʻū Calendar update: The new monthly periodical is titled ʻAlemanaka Kaʻū. 162 • Council Member Michelle Galimba provided updates. 163 164 ADJOURNMENT 165 Chair Masters adjourned this meeting at 7:48 p.m. 166 These minutes and all related documents are available in the Planning Department’s Kaʻū Community 167 Development Plan Action Committee folder via the County of Hawaiʻi Public Documents Repository. 168 These documents may also be requested from the Planning Department by calling (808) 961-8288 or 169 emailing cdp@hawaiicounty.gov. 170