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Home My WebLink About2025-09-18 SKCDP Draft Minutes SOUTH KOHALA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 1 ACTION COMMITTEE 2 COUNTY OF HAWAIʻI 3 DRAFT MINUTES 4 September 18, 2025 5 CALL TO ORDER 6 Chair Tristie Licoan called the South Kohala Community Development Plan (CDP) Action 7 Committee (AC) to order at 5:01 p.m. A quorum was established with seven members in 8 attendance. This meeting was held in person at the Waikōloa Village Association 9 Community Room. 10 The full YouTube video of this meeting can be found here: 11 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X86ehqxqcSA&t=5s 12 ROLL CALL 13 Members Present (in person): Tristie Licoan (Chair), Scott Nagata (Vice-Chair), 14 Josephine (Jojo) Tanimoto, Bambi Lau, Owana Wilcox and Julia Alos 15 Members Present (via Zoom): Karen Anderson 16 Members Absent: Ruth Smith & Kevin McLaughlin 17 County Staff Present: Jessica Lahip, Kawelo Kalili, and Maryam Palma (via zoom) 18 There were approximately three (3) members of the public in attendance (three in 19 person). 20 PUBLIC TESTIMONY ON AGENDA ITEMS [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 3:44] 21 Public Testimony #1: A resident expressed concern that overgrown trees are 22 blocking ocean views and creating fire hazards, urged the committee to adopt tree-23 height limits similar to Kohala Ranch, and asked them to reconsider their previous 24 decision against such regulations. 25 Public Testimony #2: Kendra Bruno described ongoing district water challenges, 26 recent wildfire-mitigation discussions with Fire Chief Todd and community partners, 27 noted uncertainty and lack of updates about the stalled library project after a brief 28 conversation with a state library representative, and offered to connect if further 29 questions or updates are needed. 30 BUSINESS 31 1. Mahalo Letters – Vice-Chair Scott Nagata requests the committee sends letters of 32 appreciation to schools for their willingness to serve as evacuation centers. [SEE 33 YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 22:10] 34 35 Vice-Chair Nagata proposed sending appreciation letters to schools and facilities that 36 were voluntarily opened as evacuation centers. The committee discussed refining the 37 draft letter, confirming all appropriate recipients, and noting communication needs 38 such as Wi-Fi access at evacuation sites. 39 40 SOUTH KOHALA CDP ACTION COMMITTEE Minutes of September 18, 2025 Page 2 Motion by Committee Chair Licoan: Table the item for the next meeting. Seconded by 41 Committee Member Alos and passed unanimously. 42 2. Puakō Sewer Project Update – Committee member Karen Anderson will provide an 43 update on the Puakō Sewer Project. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 38:23] 44 Karen Anderson reported that the Puakō Sewer Project is progressing positively, with 45 Councilmember James Hustace’s support, County Council approval of a $1 million 46 revolving fund, no major technical barriers, and favorable initial environmental and 47 cultural surveys. Progress remains limited because the County lacks staffing and 48 financial capacity, and state legislators will not provide additional funding until the 49 County takes a lead role. The community is pursuing private and philanthropic funding 50 to advance the project while advocating for County support and compliance with 51 environmental and cesspool-conversion goals. 52 3. Water Resources Update – Vice-Chair Scott Nagata will provide update on 53 resources for South Kohala. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 51:34] 54 Vice-Chair Scott Nagata reported that construction of the Lalamilo Reservoir, the 55 island’s largest, is progressing steadily despite previous delays. Work on Waikoloa 56 Reservoir #1 is also advancing, ensuring improvements to water storage and 57 distribution for the community. He emphasized that these projects are critical for 58 long-term water reliability and emergency preparedness in South Kohala. 59 60 Public Testimony #3: Resident Matt Chalker highlighted ongoing repairs and 61 limitations at the Waikoloa Village well, noting high costs for rehabilitation or new 62 drilling to support firefighting and community water access. 63 4. Waikōloa Public Library – Committee will discuss the status of the library followed 64 by potential decision making. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 56:59] 65 The committee discussed supporting the Waikoloa Village Public Library and 66 considered potential actions such as sending a letter of support. It was clarified that 67 the library is a state-funded project, with the county only involved in ancillary planning, 68 such as shared parking for a community center. Committee members acknowledged 69 the long-standing nature of the project and agreed to continue discussion on how best 70 to support the library within the community. 71 5. Revitalization of Kawaihae’s Cultural and Historic Resources – Committee 72 member Jojo Tanimoto will provide an update followed by potential decision making. 73 [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 1:00:46] 74 Committee member Jojo Tanimoto provided an update on revitalizing Kawaihae’s 75 cultural and historic resources, including trails, fishponds, and other historic features 76 that are not currently documented. Previous general plan updates did not notify the 77 community, limiting opportunities for input on these resources. She proposed efforts 78 be made to update the CDP document to accurately reflect and preserve 79 Kawaihae’s cultural and historic heritage. 80 Motion by Committee Chair Licoan: The action committee approve the creation and 81 submission of a letter to the Planning Department and/or County Council encouraging 82 SOUTH KOHALA CDP ACTION COMMITTEE Minutes of September 18, 2025 Page 3 the support for the revitalization of Kawaihae’s cultural and historical resources in the 83 drafted General Plan. Seconded by Committee Member Lau and passed 84 unanimously. 85 6. Kawaihae-Kailapa Evacuation Road – Committee member Jojo Tanimoto will 86 provide an update followed by potential decision making [SEE YOUTUBE 87 TIMESTAMP 1:09:29] 88 Motion by Committee Chair Licoan: The action committee approve the creation and 89 submission of a letter to the Planning Department on behalf of Jojo. The letter will 90 address the general policy and advocate for transportation and circulation 91 improvements for the Kawaihae-Kalāpa evacuation road and other emergency 92 situations. Seconded by Committee Member Wilcox and passed unanimously. 93 PUBLIC TESTIMONY ON MATERS NOT ON AGENDA [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 94 1:16:30] 95 Public Testimony #4: Sharon Gilbert testified about safety concerns and potential 96 hazards on the Kawaihae-Kailapa evacuation road, noting past incidents and the need 97 for repairs to prevent accidents. 98 THIRD-PARTY REPORTS; GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS 99 PROPOSED NEW BUSINESS [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 1:25:38 ] 100 1. Letter of support for Waikōloa Public Library 101 2. Update from Mayor’s Board and Commission Chairs Meeting 102 3. Waikoloa Second Access Road - Update from Matt Chauper 103 4. Waikoloa Community Center & Gym 104 5. CDP and CRC Notification on Infrastructure Affecting Historic and Cultural 105 Resources 106 6. Priority items from Committee members Lau and Wilcox 107 7. Waimea Community Center Rehabilitation 108 ANNOUNCEMENTS [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 1:45:48] 109 ADJOURNMENT 110 Chair Licoan adjourned the meeting at 6:48 p.m. 111 These minutes and all related documents are available in the Planning Department’s 112 South Kohala Community Development Plan Action Committee folder via the County of 113 Hawaiʻi Public Documents Repository. These documents may also be requested from the 114 Planning Department by calling (808) 961-8288 or emailing cdp@hawaiicounty.gov. 115