The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About2025-08-12 KCDP Meeting Packet County of Hawai‘i KONA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN ACTION COMMITTEE Aupuni Center • 101 Pauahi Street, Suite 3 • Hilo, Hawaiʻi 96720 (808) 961-8288 • Fax (808) 961-8742 www.planning.hawaiicounty.gov Hawai`i County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer planning@hawaiicounty.gov C. Kimo Alameda, PhD. Mayor John Pelletier Raymond Kirchner Heather Korotie Vacant Charles Young, Chair Nancy Pisicchio, Vice-Chair Charla Thompson David Huerta Roselyn Molina NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN of the following matters to be considered by the Kona Community Development Plan (CDP) Action Committee (AC) in accordance with the provisions of Sections 92-3.7 and 92-7, Hawaiʻi Revised Statutes (HRS). This meeting will be held in-person at the location listed in this notice and by Interactive Conference Technology (ICT) through Zoom. DATE: Tuesday, August 12, 2025 TIME: 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM LOCATION: West Hawaiʻi Civic Center, B2 Conference Room 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Highway Kailua-Kona, HI 96740 ZOOM: https://www.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/VfMO7w_8QZKp3QCJneBRgA INTERACTIVE CONFERENCE TECHNOLOGY (ICT): A meeting held by ICT shall be automatically recessed for up to 30 minutes to restore communication when audiovisual communication cannot be maintained with all members participating in the meeting or with the in-person location identified in this notice. The meeting may reconvene when either audiovisual communication is restored, or audio-only communication is established after an unsuccessful attempt to restore audiovisual communication. If it is not possible to reconvene the meeting as provided in this subsection within 30 minutes after an interruption to communication, the meeting will be automatically terminated. PUBLIC TESTIMONY: The public may provide oral testimony at the meeting by joining Zoom or attending in-person at the physical location listed above. Although not required, to register in advance for oral testimony please contact staff at cdp@hawaiicounty.gov or (808) 961-8288. Pursuant to Section 92-3, HRS, interested persons who want to provide oral testimony may do so either at the time the committee takes public statements on the agenda, or at the time the specific agenda item is called. Please note that public testimony may be limited to three (3) minutes in length per agenda item. In addition, although not required, to ensure timely delivery of written testimony to committee members, it is requested that written testimony be submitted by 4:30 p.m. at least two business days prior to the meeting via email to cdp@hawaiicounty.gov. When submitting written testimony, please specify for which agenda item written testimony is being submitted. All written testimony will be a part of the public record. AGENDA I. ANNOUNCEMENT • Welcoming the newest Kona CDP Action Committee member, Mr. Raymond (RJ) Kirchner. II. CALL TO ORDER & ROLL CALL III. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES – The Committee will consider approving the draft minutes from the July 8, 2025, meetings. www.planning.hawaiicounty.gov Hawai`i County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer planning@hawaiicounty.gov IV. PUBLIC TESTIMONY ON AGENDA ITEMS – Pursuant to Section 92-3, HRS, interested persons who want to provide oral testimony may do so now, or at the time the specific agenda item is called. Public testimony may be limited to three (3) minutes in length per agenda item. V. BUSINESS 1. Keauhou Adaptive Management Plan – Update from Action Committee Vice Chair Nancy Pisicchio, followed by a discussion on potential Committee actions. 2. Tree City USA – Update from Action Committee member Charla Thompson, followed by a discussion on potential Committee actions. VI. PUBLIC TESTIMONY ON MATTERS NOT ON AGENDA – Public testimony may be limited to three (3) minutes per speaker. (Pursuant to SB 869) VII. THIRD-PARTY REPORTS; GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS – The Action Committee may receive and discuss information from third-party reports by any government official not included in a publicly noticed agenda. The Action Committee may only make decisions on matters originally raised by third- party reports from any government official at a later meeting, where the agenda for the meeting gives notice of decision-making on the matter. (Pursuant to SB 405) VIII. NEW BUSINESS – The Committee will discuss potential agenda items for the next meeting. IX. ANNOUNCEMENTS • Kona Open Space Network (KOSN) update from Vice Chair Nancy Pisicchio • The Environmental Notice – University of the Nations, Kona Inc. Master Plan Update – Withdrawal of FEIS https://files.hawaii.gov/dbedt/erp/The_Environmental_Notice/2025-07-23- TEN.pdf • The Planning Department is currently seeking applicants for the Kona CDP Action Committee and the Cultural Resources Commission and requests assistance in spreading the word to interested community members. The application can be found on the Mayor’s office website at: https://records.hawaiicounty.gov/weblink/ElectronicFile.aspx?openfile=true&dbid=1&docid=1382 00 X. ADJOURNMENT NOTICE: This agenda and all related documents are available in the Planning Department’s Kona Community Development Plan Action Committee folder via the County of Hawaiʻi Public Documents Repository: hhttps://records.hawaiicounty.gov/weblink/Browse.aspx?dbid=1&startid=9059&row=1&cr=1. These documents may also be requested from the Planning Department by calling (808) 961-8288 or emailing cdp@hawaiicounty.gov. The recorded video of this meeting will be uploaded to the Planning Department’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@cohplanningdepartment The purpose of the public hearings is to afford all interested persons a reasonable opportunity to be heard on the above items. A person desiring to submit oral or written testimony shall indicate their name and whether the testimony is on their behalf or as a representative of an organization or individual. Written testimony can be submitted via email or hard copy. Hard copies should include an original and nine copies and be submitted no later than 4:30pm two business days prior to the meeting. Anyone who requires an auxiliary aid or service, other reasonable modification, or language interpretation to access this meeting please contact the Planning Department at (808) 961-8288 or cdp@hawaiicounty.gov as soon as possible, but no later than five business days prior to the meeting date, to arrange for accommodations. If a response is received after the five-business days deadline, we will try to obtain the auxiliary aid/service or accommodation, but we cannot guarantee that the request will be fulfilled. “Other reasonable modification” refers to communication methods or devices for people with disabilities who are www.planning.hawaiicounty.gov Hawai`i County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer planning@hawaiicounty.gov mentally and/or physically challenged. Upon request, this notice is available in alternate formats such as large print, Braille, or electronic copy. If you are a lobbyist, you must register with the Hawai‘i County Clerk within five days of becoming a lobbyist. (Article 15, Section 2-91.3(b), Hawai‘i County Code). A lobbyist means, “any individual engaged for pay or other consideration who spends more than five hours in any month or $275 in any six-month period for the purpose of attempting to influence legislative or administrative action by communicating or urging others to communicate with public officials.” (Article 15, Section 2-91.3(a)(6), Hawai‘i County Code). Registration forms and expenditure report documents are available at the Office of the County Clerk-Council, 25 Aupuni Street, Hilo, Hawai‘i 96720. KONA CDP ACTION COMMITTEE CHARLES YOUNG, Chair Meeting Packet QR Code: KONA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 1 ACTION COMMITTEE 2 COUNTY OF HAWAIʻI 3 DRAFT MINUTES 4 July 8, 2025 5 CALL TO ORDER 6 Chair Charles Young called the Kona Community Development Plan (CDP) Action Committee 7 (AC) to order at 12:01 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=qfDXhC3nzjY&t=819s 11 ROLL CALL 12 Members Present (in person): Charles Young (Chair), Nancy Pisicchio (Vice-Chair), and Charla 13 Thompson 14 Members Present (via Zoom): John Pelletier, Heather Korotie, and David Huerta 15 Members Absent: Roselyn Molina 16 County Staff Present (in person): Kawelo Kalili 17 County Staff Present (via Zoom): Maryam Palma, Janice Hata, and Jessica Lahip 18 There were approximately 25 members of the public in attendance (5 in person and 20 via Zoom). 19 APPROVAL OF MINUTES 20 Vice Chair Pisicchio moved to approve the May 13, 2025, meeting minutes. Committee Member 21 Pelletier seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 22 3:40] 23 Vice Chair Pisicchio moved to approve the June 10, 2025, meeting minutes. Committee Member 24 Pelletier seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 25 4:20] 26 PUBLIC TESTIMONY 27 There was no public testimony at this time. 28 BUSINESS: 29 1. Keauhou Aquifer Adaptive Management Plan – Presentation by representatives of the State 30 Commission on Water Resource Management (CWRM) on the proposed Adaptive 31 Management Plan for the Keauhou Aquifer. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 5:05] 32 Ciara Kahahane, Deputy Director of the Commission on Water Resource Management 33 (CWRM), gave an overview of the agency’s role and shared a presentation on the Adaptive 34 Management Plan (AMP) for the Keauhou Aquifer. She explained that the AMP is being 35 KONA CDP ACTION COMMITTEE Minutes of July 8, 2025 2 developed to better understand and manage groundwater in the Keauhou area, which supports 36 ecosystems, cultural practices, and water supply needs. The plan responds to concerns about 37 development, climate change, and gaps in current data and modeling methods. The AMP aims 38 to identify key areas, indicators, and thresholds to help monitor and respond to changes in the 39 aquifer system. A diverse advisory panel and expert groups are supporting the effort, and 40 public input will be gathered through outreach and commission presentations. A first-41 generation plan is expected to be submitted to the commission in November 2025, with the 42 intention to update and improve it over time. The goal is to strengthen protections, support 43 informed decision-making, and serve as a model for future water management efforts across 44 the state. 45 Ciara Kahahane answered questions regarding the placement of deep monitoring wells, 46 explaining that CWRM will determine locations based on expert input and land considerations, 47 and how the Adaptive Management Plan (AMP) relates to the Kona CDP. She shared that 48 while the AMP and Water Use and Development Plan (WUDP) are separate, the AMP will 49 help inform future County planning. An updated statewide framework is underway to guide 50 the development of a Keauhou-specific WUDP. 51 Deputy Director Kahahane explained that the County will likely use the State’s sustainable 52 yield numbers in its water plan. While she could not speak for the County’s priorities, she 53 noted the updated framework will place more emphasis on protecting traditional and customary 54 practices, and counties will likely be asked to consider how their plans impact Native Hawaiian 55 interests, including DHHL. 56 Loke Aloua provided testimony regarding water resource planning in Kona, emphasizing the 57 importance of in-person engagement and inviting agency staff to visit Kaloko fishpond. She 58 expressed concerns about the outdated Water Use and Development Plan being treated as 59 current, the need to better understand how aquifers are connected, and the importance of 60 including climate change impacts in water availability estimates. She also raised questions 61 about how water users are prioritized, how water credits are managed, and how ongoing 62 developments are being reviewed. Loke encouraged the inclusion of traditional knowledge and 63 community experiences in the planning process and asked for stronger coordination and 64 communication between agencies and the public [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 43:04] 65 Chuck Flaherty provided testimony regarding improving the clarity and coordination between 66 county and state water plans. He suggested the inclusion of a flowchart or visual tool to help 67 the public understand how different regulatory frameworks intersect and how county-level data 68 and approvals relate to state-level policies. He also raised questions about incorporating 69 enforceable water-related development standards into the General Plan to ensure effective 70 implementation. Additionally, he asked whether existing water quality monitoring data from 71 SMA permits would be used and expressed concern about unknown factors in groundwater 72 systems, such as aquifer vulnerability during well drilling. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 73 53:00] 74 Chair Young and Vice-Chair Pisicchio emphasized the need for better coordination between 75 state and county efforts in water resource management. Chair Young highlighted the 76 importance of connecting state-level planning with county-level implementation so residents 77 can support meaningful action locally. Vice-Chair Pisicchio expressed concern that current 78 KONA CDP ACTION COMMITTEE Minutes of July 8, 2025 3 efforts are too reactive and called for a more proactive, long-term approach that links water 79 data, resource protection, and sustainable development. Both stressed the need to align state 80 and county roles to ensure effective planning, and Chair Young offered to help organize future 81 public engagement efforts. Vice-Chair Pisicchio offered to help organize additional public 82 meetings in the future if the State team plans to engage more community members. She 83 expressed a willingness to assist in facilitating broader outreach efforts to ensure greater public 84 participation. 85 PROPOSED AGENDA ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING: [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 86 1:19:40] 87 1. Tree City USA 88 2. General Plan Discussion 89 3. KOSN Next Steps 90 ADJOURNMENT 91 The meeting was adjourned at 1:40 p.m. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 1:37:19] 92 These minutes and all related documents are available in the Planning Department’s Kona 93 Community Development Plan Action Committee folder via the County of Hawaiʻi Public 94 Documents Repository. These documents may also be requested from the Planning Department by 95 calling (808) 961-8288 or emailing cdp@hawaiicounty.gov. 96