HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommunication No. 2024-16 LATE TESTIMONY Rebecca MelendezLahip, Jessica
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Rebecca Melendez
Tuesday, March 19, 2024 11:10 AM
Planninq CDP
Communication No. 2024-16 Late
Testimony rec'd 3/19/24 11:10AM
Subject: KONA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN ACTION COMMITTEE Meeting 19th 12pm
Business 3) Draft General Plan Comments Discussion
Follow Up Flag:
Flag Status:
Follow up
Completed
Dear Action Plan Committee Members,
I am Rebecca Melendez and I was scheduled to zoom with you but I am coughing too much today. I have
a small cold.
Please, consider my views for your draft of the 2045 General Plan.
1) The bus system used to be $2 a person and it seemed to not be so late and not break down so much.
Please, look into how the bus system has been doing since it changed from charging to ride, to riding for
free, because many locals and visitors use the bus and making it free, seems to have caused the buses
to not be as well maintained as they were when they were able to charge a small fee of $2 each way.
I hear Oahu buses charge and are very well maintained and on time.
Please, look into if the buses were breaking down as often when there was a fee, and if the buses were as
late as they are now that it is free to ride.
Please, look and see if keeping the buses free is causing them not to be able to stay well maintained
because they seem to break down all the time and are usually late.
2)My letter is my petition that 335 people are agreeing with https://www.change.org/p/help-prioritize
big-island-development-to-keep-island-s-resources-safe-for-all
We stand to keep The Big Island in a place where the Island's resources are safe for the entire
population and visitors.
We ask that you look at all these articles about Big Island resources and learn that the island's
resources are limited and are already being affected negatively.
Please, read these articles and learn through other sources as well, how all the development
that has already been built, and the many years of new development that has already been
approved for the future, will affect the island's resources.
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We stand and ask that you stop before approving more and more developments and learn
what is happening to the island's resources and what will happen to the island's resources after
the years of development that is already scheduled for the future. Because a lot of
development is having negative impacts on the island's resources as of today.
What will future development do to the island's resources if there are already resource issues
happening today?
Please, learn how to take island resources seriously because you have approved many more
years of development to come and today the island's resources are having issues. What will the
future look like if you don't start taking island resources seriously?
What is happening to Big Island Resources
1) Hawaii Deals with Burgeoning Waste Management Problem
As landfills face closure and waste-to-energy projects stall, various counties in Hawaii are
dealing with waste management issues. Waste360 Staff January 10, 2020
“Hawaii Island is in the enviable position of having a landfill with anywhere from 20 to 100 years
of capacity left to take in trash. But the island still wrestles with significant issues like plastic
products that are no longer being recycled.” https://www.waste360.com/landfill/hawaii-
deals-with-burgeoning-waste-management-problem
2) "Big Island Now readers seem to agree that there’s likely no single solution for slowing down
the timeline of the West Hawai‘i Sanitary Landfill reaching capacity.
The West Hawai’i Sanitary Landfill, the only remaining landfill on the Big Island, is forecast to
reach capacity within the next 20 to 25 years." https://bigislandnow.com/2023/09/17/big-
island-now-poll-no-27-results-more-than-one-solution-needed-to-help-extend-life-of-
west-hawaii-landfill/
3) Hawaii Island Has Decades of Landfill Space But Still Faces Challenges In Dealing With Its
Waste Hawaiʻi Public Radio Published January 9, 2020 at 5:00 AM HST
“Hawaii Island is in the enviable position of having a landfill with anywhere from 20 to 100 years
of capacity left to take in trash. But the island still wrestles with significant issues like plastic
products that are no longer being recycled.
For the past four decades, trash from the east side of Hawaii Island has been dumped in a
landfill outside of Hilo. But now trash from all parts of the island is being trucked to a facility
north of Kona.” https://www.hawaiipublicradio.org/local-news/2020-01-09/hawaii-island-
has-decades-of-landfill-space-but-still-faces-challenges-in-dealing-with-its-waste
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4)“What happens to Hawaii Island’s trash and recyclables? BY MICHELLE BRODER VANdyke
HAWAII ISLAND PUBLISHED 11:30 AM ET DEC. 17, 2022 By Michelle Broder Vandyke Hawaii
Island PUBLISHED 11:30 AM ET Dec. 1The future of the landfill
The West Hawaii Landfill will be full in about 20 years. Finding a location for the next landfill is a
concern, according to the DEM officials. They said it will be challenging to find a location for a
future landfill because of stringent regulations and costs related to planning, environmental
regulations, design and construction that will take many years to complete. It will also require
community support.” https://spectrumlocalnews.com/hi/hawaii/news/2022/12/15/what-
happens-to-hawaii-island-s-trash-and-recyclables
5) “The overwhelming plastic waste Hawaii visitors leave behind
By Natasha BourlinAug 24, 2023
Hawaii saw more than 9 million visitors last year. Those tourists’ first stops are often big-box
and convenience stores, where they buy bottled water, plastic sand toys, single-use
bodyboards, noodles, floaties and inner tubes for their
trips.” https://www.sfgate.com/hawaii/article/plastic-waste-hawaii-visitors-leave-
behind-18286076.php
6) “A county commission drafts ordinance aiming to ban recyclables at West Hawai‘i landfill By
Megan Moseley September 6, 2023 · 1:00 AM HST
* Updated September 6, 2023 · 2:02 PM
Hawai‘i County’s Environmental Management Commission is developing an ordinance that
aims to prohibit the amount of recyclable materials ending up in the island’s only working
landfill.” https://bigislandnow.com/2023/09/06/new-draft-ordinance-aims-to-ban-
recyclables-at-west-hawaii-landfill/
7) ” Hawai‘i County issues mandatory 25% water restriction for North Kona August 7, 2023 · 5:21
PM HST
A mandatory 25% water restriction has been issued for various communities in North Kona due
to the failure of the Honokōhau Deepwell over the
weekend.” https://bigislandnow.com/2023/08/07/hawaii-county-issues-mandatory-25-
water-restriction-for-north-kona/
8) “Hawaiʻi Water Supply Closely Monitored As Severe Drought Continues by Big Island Video
Newson Nov 6, 2023 at 3:28 pm STORY SUMMARY
HAWAIʻI COUNTY - Officials say a special focus will be placed on the South Kohala Water System,
which is more susceptible to drought
conditions.” https://www.bigislandvideonews.com/2023/11/06/water-supply-closely-
monitored-as-hawai%CA%BBi-under-severe-drought/
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9) “Big Island Concerns About Water Quality Prompt A Lawsuit Over A Kona Sewage Plant
Kealakehe sewage plant discharges more than 1 million gallons of wastewater into a lava pit
near the ocean. By Paula Dobbyn / February 6, 2024
Settlement talks are scheduled in an environmental lawsuit involving a county-operated Big
Island sewage plant in Kona.” https://www.civilbeat.org/2024/02/concerns-about-water-
quality-prompt-a-lawsuit-over-a-kona-sewage-plant/
10) “Researchers find sewage from an oceanfront Big Island community reaches nearshore
waters Hawaiʻi Public Radio | By Russell Subiono, Sophia McCullough Published December 20,
2021 at 5:56 PM HST
There are nearly 50,000 cesspools on the Big Island, with tens of thousands posing a risk to
water resources, according to the Hawaiʻi Department of
Health.” https://www.hawaiipublicradio.org/the-conversation/2021-12-20/researchers-
find-sewage-from-an-oceanfront-big-island-community-reaches-nearshore-waters
11) Has this issue been fixed? It’s going on 3 years since this article was written.
”Kona coast faces stark wastewater tradeoffs Current situation
There are approximately 88,000 cesspools across the state, releasing more than 200,000 cubic
meters of wastewater per day to the
environment. https://www.hawaii.edu/news/2021/09/10/kona-stark-wastewater-
tradeoffs/
12) "BIG ISLAND NEWS HECO restores power after initiating emergency outages on Big Island
by: Elizabeth 'Ufi Posted: Jan 30, 2024 / 09:43 AM HST Updated: Jan 30, 2024 / 04:15 PM HST
An unexpected loss of several large Hawaii Electric generators left some residents on Big Island
without power for parts of the morning on Tuesday, Jan. 30." https://www.khon2.com/big-
island-news/heco-initiates-30-min-rolling-outages-after-loss-of-generators/
13) Hawai'i State News Update: Hawaiian Electric initiates rolling outages throughout Big Island
February 13, 2024 · 5:23 PM HST
* Updated February 14, 2024 · 4:21 PM
The emergency outages are being initiated in various areas around the entire island to prevent
loss of power to an even greater number of customers. The timing and extent of the outages
will depend on the amount of demand on the system and the availability of
generators.” https://bigislandnow.com/2024/02/13/hawaii-island-customers-asked-to-
reduce-electricity-use/
14) “LOCAL NEWS
HECO issues rolling power outages around Big Island by: Emily Cervantes Posted: Feb 13, 2024 /
05:11 PM HST Updated: Feb 13, 2024 / 09:12 PM HST Hawaiian Electric initiated rolling outages
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for Big Island after several large generators became unavailable and reduced output Tuesday
night.”
https://www.khon2.com/local-news/heco-releases-conservation-alert-for-big-island/
15) "Here's how power outages can have repercussions for Hawaiʻi's water supply Hawaiʻi
Public Radio | By Savannah Harriman-Pote
Published February 13, 2024 at 10:59 AM HST
Water departments on Oʻahu and Hawaiʻi Island have advised customers to conserve water
ahead of possible storm-related power outages this month.
But what does the power grid have to do with the water supply?
It is impossible to separate Hawaiʻi's power system from its water system, said Kawika Uyehara,
deputy director of Hawaiʻi County's Department of Water
Supply." https://www.hawaiipublicradio.org/local-news/2024-02-13/residents-on-hawaii-
island-and-oahu-are-asked-to-conserve-water-amid-power-outages
These articles show that Big Island resources are currently being affected negatively from the
development on island, there are years of new developement that has already been approved,
and even more development is still being approved before learning if the island's resources can
handle more development.
We stand to say LEARN WHAT IS HAPPENING TO THE ISLAND'S RESOURCES before approving
more development because this is an island, it's not the mainland.
We stand and say that Big Island resources needs to be FULLY considered before any more new
development is approved for the safety of ALL who live here and visit.
There are many, many developments that have been approved for years to come and we stand
and say we need to learn how the island's resources will be affected when these developments
are finished before you keep approving more and more developments!
We stand and say NO DEVELOPING ON BURIAL GROUND. The history of the island needs to be
preserved and the burial grounds need to be respected at all costs.
We stand and say NO more approving of future developments because there are hundreds of
acers that have been approved for future development and the Big Island needs to address
these resource issues before more land is approved for development.
We stand and ask to make it mandatory for vacation rentals and ALL resorts and hotels to
provide drinking water machines to their guests to help stop all the empty water bottle waste
on the island.
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We stand and ask to make it mandatory for vacation rentals and ALL resorts and hotels to
provide shampoo, conditioner, body wash in bulk containers rather than continuously using
different containers for every new guest, to help stop all the empty bottles waste in the limited
landfill.
Can Hawaii Planning Department put in a stipulation in all development applications that to
build on The Big Island they must sell a high percentage of their homes to locals at an
affordable rate first before selling to newcomers because this is an island, and the island’s
resources need to be seriously considered?
A stipulation put in to be able to build could help the local homes shortage as well as slow the
increase in population and help with the island’s resources.
An example, of a stipulation could be, to build on the Big Island they must sell 50% of their
homes to native Hawaiian locals who have lived on the island for 10 years or more, 25% to
regular locals who have lived on the island for 10 years or more and all at an affordable rate
and sell 25% to newcomers at whatever rate they want.
A Big Island building stipulation that would offer 75% of homes that developers build, sold to
locals in order for the developer to be approved to build on the island would help the island's
resources because it would slow the population growth to help keep the island's resources safe
for all who live here.
The articles above prove that island resources are already have serious issue and this needs to
be taken seriously, ASAP.
To have a building stipulation, this would help the locals who have lived here for years be able
to purchase a home before big investors, as well as help, slow down homes from becoming
vacation rentals instead of family homes, and will help decrease the fast increase in population
until the Planning Department can know for sure that the island's resources can handle a
serious increase in population.
We ask for a Population Enviormental Impact Report to be done on what would be a safe
population for the Big Island resource landfill, water, sewer, power... as shown in the articles
above, resources are already being affected and it's 2024.
Also, there are mostly only 2 lanes throughout the entire Big Island and some places where cars
cannot pull over if an ambulance needs to get by.
The traffic has seriously increased and if the island's population keeps increasing there will be
hours and hours of constant serious traffic in the near future, how will ambulances get by in
emergencies?
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What if there is a tsunami and people need to get to higher ground? Will they be able to get to
higher ground in time with such an increased in population causing a serious traffic?
The island's small road infrastructure isn't made for a high population and that needs to be
taken seriously.
What is a safe population for the Big Island? A Population Environment Impact Report can tell
us. We ask this to be done.
We ask for another hospital to be built, as well as a trauma center and dive chamber to be put
on the island to accommodate all types of injuries because of all the years of new future
development that you have already approved.
Alii Drive is only two lanes and right now there are three big developments in progress, and
over 10 more acres of land on this street has just been approved for even more development
on this street.
Did you research to see how this one road can handle more development before your
approval?
Did you research and check on the island's resources before you approved this and many other
developments all over the Big Island?
We stand to slow down development to learn how roads will handle all the new homes that
Hawai’i has already approved for years to come before more development is approved because
right now there is serious traffic issues all over Big Island?
We stand to say what are you doing about the growth in homeless on the island? We stand and
ask that this be taken seriously.
What about parking?
All of the Big Island towns have parking issues, especially during high tourist seasons and
especially Ironman.
With more subdivisions comes more cars and the island towns are already overcrowded with
parking issues. How will parking Improve with more houses? Is the Hawaii Planning
Department considering the parking issues?
We stand for you to find a way to improve the parking issues before approving more
development.
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There are over 50,000 cesspools on The Big Island. Have these all been upgraded to ensure they
will not pollute the land and ocean? This needs to be addressed ASAP before more
development is approved.
We stand that all cesspools be upgraded ASAP to ensure safety for the land and ocean around
the island.
If you agree with this info, please sign this petition.
There are possibly thousands of new homes that have been approved for future development
and are currently being built right now.
This petition states that we strongly OPPOSE approving any and all new development
applications because the island’s resources are currently having serious issues, as you can see
from the articles above, and many more homes have already been approved for future years
developments.
We oppose these applicates below, and all new development applications because it is known
that the Big Island’s resources can’t handle more development as you can see the island’s
resource issues from the articles above.
Tax Map Key 7-8-004: 059 & 060 size of property 1.3 Acres
Tax Map Key: (3) 7-3-065:044 approx. 3.418 Acres
Tax Map Key 7-8-010:077 size of property 74 Acers Keauhou area
Tax Map Key 7-5-003:023 size of property 129 Acers Queen K Hwy area
Tax Map Key 7-7-008:121 size of property 11 Acers Alii Drive area
Tax Map Key 7-7-004:063 size of property 8 Acers Alii Drive area
Tax Map Key 8-1-007:013 size 1.74 Acres
Tax Map Key 8-1-008: 004 size 6.875 Acres
Tax Map Key 7-9-007: 055 size 2 Acers
Tax Map Key 7-5-017:040
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Tax Map Key 7-5-019:049, 050,054 size 47.389 Acres
Tax Map Key (3) 8-1-036: 001 & 002 size 54 Acres
Tax Map Key 3-709-5-79 size 94 Acres
Tax Map Key (3) 7-5-020:066 9.9 sq. ft
Tax Map Key (3) 7-5-018:071 size 3 Acres
Tax Map Key 7-6-021:016 & 017 size 68 Acres
Tax Map Key 7-6-008: 012 size 10 Acres
Tax Map Key (3) 7-5-018: 095