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Home My WebLink About2025-8-13 HCDP Minutes Final HĀMĀKUA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 1 ACTION COMMITTEE 2 COUNTY OF HAWAIʻI 3 FINAL MINUTES 4 August 13, 2025 5 CALL TO ORDER 6 Acting Chair Brad Kurokawa called the meeting of the Hāmākua Community Development Plan (CDP) 7 Action Committee (AC) to order at 5:13 p.m. This meeting was held in person at the Kulaʻimano 8 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=zJd8ggEJk0Y&t=6s 11 ROLL CALL 12 Members Present (in person): Brad Kurokawa (Acting Chair), Mahealani Maikui (Vice Chair), Tawn 13 Keeney, Robert Nishimoto, and Ben Dalauidao. 14 County Staff (in person): Maryam Palma, Jessica Lahip, and Janice Hata 15 There were approximately eight (8) members of the public in attendance – (4) in person and (4) via 16 Zoom. 17 APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 3:39] 18 Vice Chair Mahealani Maikui made a motion to approve the October 9, 2024 meeting minutes. The 19 motion was seconded by Committee Member Keeney and passed unanimously 20 PUBLIC TESTIMONY ON AGENDA ITEMS [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 7:01] 21 There was no public testimony at this time. 22 BUSINESS: 23 1. Election of Committee Chairperson – Discussion and potential action to elect a Chair to serve 24 the remainder of 2025. 25 This item was called to order at 5:20 p.m. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 7:50] 26 Vice Chair Maikui made a motion to nominate Acting Chair Kurokawa for Committee Chairperson 27 for 2025. The motion passed unanimously. Acting Chair Kurokawa accepted the role of Chair for 28 2025. 29 This item was closed at 5:23 p.m. 30 2. Pāpaʻikou and Pepeʻekeo and Bus Stop Shelters – Update from the Mass Transit Agency (MTA) 31 on bus stop shelters along Hele-On routes, with focus on the Pāpaʻikou and Pepeʻekeo areas. 32 Discussion and potential committee decision-making. 33 34 This item was called to order at 5:23 p.m. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 10:24] 35 36 Mass Transit Program Manager Kasie Kailikea provided an update on planned bus stops and bus 37 shelters in Pāpaʻikou and Pepe‘ekeo. A site visit is scheduled at the end of August with 38 HĀMĀKUA CDP ACTION COMMITTEE Minutes of August 13, 2025 2 representatives from the Mayor’s Office, Department of Public Works, Department of Research and 39 Development, and the State to assess potential locations. 40 41 The proposed Pepeʻekeo location would be situated further up the coast and is envisioned to include 42 a bus pullout, crosswalk, and shelter. The site visit will confirm whether this location is viable. Kasie 43 noted that Mass Transit Agency (MTA) engaged a consultant from SSFM International Inc. to review 44 all flag stops and bus stop sites for ADA compliance, resulting in a recommendation to relocate the 45 Pepeʻekeo stop further along the Hāmākua Coast. 46 47 Because Highway 19 is a State roadway, the State requires a bus pullout to avoid buses stopping 48 directly on the highway. Kasie confirmed the project scope includes a shelter and acknowledged 49 community concerns related to public safety, lighting, and weather protection. She will inform 50 Administrator Zachary Bergum of the Committee’s request for Committee Member Dalauidao to 51 attend the site visit. MTA will provide an update at the next Action Committee meeting. 52 53 Public Testimony: 54 Darrel Argel provided testimony in favor of the bus shelters. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 11:59] 55 He also raised questions about incorporating safety features, such as offsite parking and adequate 56 lighting, into the final design. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 19:50] 57 This item concluded at 5:34 p.m. 58 3. Update from Meeting with the Office of Housing and Community Development (OHCD) – Vice 59 Chair Mahealani Maikui will provide an update from her recent meeting with OHCD. Discussion and 60 potential committee decision-making. 61 62 This item was called to order at 5:34 p.m. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 21:08] 63 64 Vice Chair Maikui reported on a previously proposed Honokaʻa subdivision project of approximately 65 30 homes, noting that the project is on hold due to funding challenges. 66 Concerns were raised about a drainage ditch running through nearby properties and the potential 67 for flooding during heavy rains. Updated road design plans have been developed to address these 68 concerns and provided some clarification at the meeting. 69 Additionally, information was shared about housing resources, including a home improvement loan 70 program available to the community; the Section 8 Housing waitlist, which is currently open; and a 71 coordination center to help residents connect with financial and housing resources, similar to what 72 Vibrant Hawaiʻi is doing with their Navigator services. Vice Chair Maikui expressed interest in 73 ensuring these resources are shared widely within the community. 74 75 This item concluded at 5:38 p.m. 76 77 4. Proposed Amendment to the Planning Department’s Public Notice Procedures – Committee 78 Member Brad Kurokawa will present a proposed amendment to the Planning Department’s public 79 notice procedures. Discussion and potential committee decision-making. 80 81 HĀMĀKUA CDP ACTION COMMITTEE Minutes of August 13, 2025 3 This item was called to order at 5:39 p.m. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 26:05] 82 83 Planning Staff Maryam Palma provided background on ongoing discussions regarding the Planning 84 Department’s public notice procedures. The issue was previously raised at a chair meeting, and 85 draft language for a potential amendment to the Hawai‘i County Code has been prepared. Currently, 86 the Planning Department publishes public notices for certain applications in two county newspapers 87 on a semi-monthly basis. Notices typically include the property owner, Tax Map Key, land area, and 88 street address. Similar procedures apply for subdivision applications. While the Planning 89 Department posts these notices online as a courtesy, they are limited to the Department’s website. 90 The proposed amendment would require distribution through additional digital platforms or public 91 notification systems, such as an email listserv where residents could sign up to receive notices 92 directly. 93 94 Chair Kurokawa emphasized that the intent of this item is to increase transparency and public 95 access to information related to land use activities. The Committee reviewed and discussed the 96 draft amendment, noting that the language could be further refined. Members also raised the idea 97 of providing district-specific notices; however, Maryam reported that, after consultation with the 98 Planning Department’s GIS and IT staff, the County’s online permitting system (EPIC) does not 99 currently support district-specific notifications. 100 101 Council Member Heather Kimball expressed support for advancing the draft amendment to the 102 Legislative Research Branch (LRB) for review. She also recommended refining the phrase “other 103 digital platforms or public notification systems” to specify practical and feasible methods of 104 distribution. 105 Chair Kurokawa moved to submit the revised draft language, including the request for district-106 specific notification, to the Planning Department and Corporation Counsel, for review. Vice Chair 107 Maikui seconded the motion. The motion was approved unanimously by voice vote. 108 109 5. Waipiʻo Steering Committee Update – Council Member Heather Kimball will share updates from 110 the most recent Waipiʻo Steering Committee meeting. Discussion and potential committee decision-111 making. 112 113 This item was called to order at 6:02p.m. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 49:49] 114 115 Council Member Heather Kimball reported on the recent reconvening of the Waipiʻo Valley Steering 116 Committee. The meeting provided an opportunity for members to reconnect and share visions for a 117 valley management program. A key theme of the discussion included a strong interest in developing 118 educational components for both residents and visitors, focusing on the cultural, historical, and 119 environmental significance of Waipiʻo Valley and encouraging respectful behavior. Additionally, 120 there was support for shifting the visitor experience from extractive to reciprocal by creating a 121 system where visitors can contribute during their time in the valley. 122 123 There was some discussion about pedestrian access on Waipiʻo Road. Council Member Kimball 124 plans to reintroduce legislation prohibiting pedestrian access during specific high-use time periods 125 HĀMĀKUA CDP ACTION COMMITTEE Minutes of August 13, 2025 4 (morning, midday, and afternoon) as well as between dusk and dawn, balancing safety with the 126 need for access. 127 128 Work is underway on draft legislation to establish a wahi pana overlay designation – a first in Hawaiʻi 129 and potentially in the nation. This designation would apply to culturally significant sites that require 130 management plans. Protocols based on historical texts would guide respectful interaction with these 131 areas, addressing issues such as resource management, carrying capacity, and visitor limits. A draft 132 is approximately 75% complete and further review is planned with the Steering Committee before 133 the end of the year. 134 135 Lastly, the Department of Information Technology is working with Salesforce on a new permitting 136 system for park facilities. The Steering Committee hopes to leverage this system to manage valley 137 access permits. Progress has been slow but given that road repairs are expected to take 1.5–2 138 years, there is time to integrate these improvements. 139 140 The Committee raised questions on the permitting system, public access, and enforcement 141 measures. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 58:47] 142 PUBLIC TESTIMONY ON MATTERS NOT ON AGENDA 143 There was no public testimony at this time. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 1:14:59] 144 THIRD-PARTY REPORTS; GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS 145 [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 1:15:27] 146 Council Member Kimball provided updates on several initiatives: 147 Ad Hoc Committee on Action Committees – The Council has formed an ad hoc committee (Members: 148 Heather Kimball, Ashley Kierkiewicz, Rebecca Villegas, and Jennifer Kagiwada) to review the Hawai‘i 149 County Code provisions on Community Development Plan (CDP) Action Committees. The committee 150 will evaluate how Action Committees function and identify ways to improve their role. Council Member 151 Kimball acknowledged the limitations Action Committees currently face and emphasized the County’s 152 need for these groups to effectively bridge government and community priorities. Feedback from Action 153 Committees will be sought. 154 General Plan Update – The Council has received the draft General Plan and begun initial hearings. The 155 plan will be reviewed section by section throughout the year, with in-depth amendment discussions 156 expected in early 2026. Council intends to proceed deliberately, as this is only the fourth General Plan 157 update in County history. 158 Bill 212 (Permitting in Agricultural Areas) – Passed by Council. This measure allows structures 1,000 159 square feet or less on agricultural lands to be exempt from building permits and raises the home 160 improvement threshold (non-structural, non-electrical, non-plumbing work) to $25,000 before requiring 161 a permit. 162 Bill 121 (Short-Term Vacation Rentals [STVR]) – The Council has broken up the original comprehensive 163 bill into multiple measures: 164 • The first component, a registration requirement for all STVRs (hosted and unhosted), was 165 passed in June and takes effect in December. Registration must be renewed annually and will 166 HĀMĀKUA CDP ACTION COMMITTEE Minutes of August 13, 2025 5 require proof of tax compliance (Transient Accommodations Tax [TAT] and General Excise [GE] 167 licenses). 168 • Fines for noncompliance include a $10,000 penalty and up to two times the nightly rental rate 169 for violators, to strengthen enforcement. 170 • An economic study of the STVR market estimated that the County is losing approximately $12 171 million annually in uncollected TAT revenues. The study is available on 172 www.hawaiicountytar.com. 173 • Future bills will address: 174 o Standards of operation (e.g., quiet hours, parking, signage). 175 o Land use amendments to clarify existing regulations. 176 o Designation of vacation rental nodes in areas with high concentrations of STVRs, where 177 rentals would no longer be treated as nonconforming uses. 178 NEW BUSINESS [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 1:28:50] 179 Public Testimony: 180 Wanda Louis provided testimony, sharing information about the collaboration between Pepeʻekeo 181 Community Development Corporation (PCDC) and Makahanaloa Fishing Association. [SEE YOUTUBE 182 TIMESTAMP 1:29:34] 183 Committee Member Nishimoto recommended inviting Ryan Okano from the State Division of Aquatic 184 Resources (DAR) to the next Hāmākua CDP Action Committee meeting to share information about 185 DAR’s work and explore opportunities for collaboration with the County. 186 ANNOUNCEMENTS [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 1:46:59] 187 • Requesting Agenda Items for Action Committee Meetings – Members of the public may request 188 that a topic be added to a future Community Development Plan Action Committee meeting 189 agenda. To make a request, please email CDP@hawaiicounty.gov or contact the Action 190 Committee Chair or Vice Chair. Planning Department staff will coordinate with the Chair and 191 Vice Chair in advance of each regularly scheduled meeting to review and confirm the agenda. 192 • The Planning Department is seeking applicants for the Hāmākua CDP Action Committee and 193 requests assistance to get the word out to interested community members. The application can 194 be found on the Mayor’s office website at: https://www.hawaiicounty.gov/our-county/boards-and-195 commissions/boards-and-commissions-application 196 ADJOURNMENT [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 1:53:03] 197 Chair Kurokawa adjourned this meeting at 7:08 p.m. 198 These minutes and all related documents are available in the Planning Department’s Hāmākua 199 Community Development Plan Action Committee folder via the County of Hawaiʻi Public Documents 200 Repository. These documents may also be requested from the Planning Department by calling (808) 201 961-8288 or emailing CDP@hawaiicounty.gov. 202