HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommunication No. 2026-01 Olson Trust Draft Letter - IbarraNovember 18, 2025
RE: Letter in Support of the Proposed Pāhala Center along Hawaiʻi Route 11
Pāhala, Kaʻū, Hawaiʻi
Tax Map Key: (3)9-6-012: 012 (por.)
To whom it may concern,
The Kaʻū Community Development Plan Action Committee (CDPAC) has heard presentations from
the Olson Trust on July 22, September 23, and November 18, 2025 in the communities of Pāhala,
Nāʻālehu, and Ocean View, regarding their proposed Pāhala Center at TMK (3)9-6-012: 012 (por.),
which is classified as part of the John Bull Subdivision.
The project proposes to develop a coffee shop, convenience store, fuel station, and public
restaurants along Hawaiʻi Route 11 near the Kamani Street entrance to Pāhala. Under the current
Land Use Pattern Allocation Guide (LUPAG) the parcel is classified as Low Density Urban (ldu) per
the County of Hawaiʻi (COH) 2005 General Plan, and is zoned as Agriculture (A-20a) per County of
Hawaii Chapter 25. To allow for this development, the Olson Trust proposes to request a
modification of the LUPAG to Medium Density Urban (mdu) from the Planning Commission for an
8-10 acre portion of the parcel and apply for that to be re-zoned to Village Commercial (CV-10)
through the COH. The Olson Trust proposes to use 122,880 square feet, or approximately 2.82 acres,
for their proposed development.
The Kaʻū CDPAC offers the following comments on community input and Kaʻū CDP compliance.
Community Input
Given the existing settlement pattern of Pāhala, its current urban center designated through the
Kaʻū CDP Land Use Policy lacks sufficient infrastructure to support this project. Thus, the Kaʻū
CDPAC notes that the project does not align with the current CDP Land Use Policy, which designates
the area as Important Agricultural Lands. However, multiple community members have identified
the proposed project area as a viable place to provide the services proposed by the Olson Trust,
with the understanding that the remaining 77 acres of this parcel will remain under an LUPAG
designation of ldu and a COH zoning of A-20a, and that retail facilities will utilize local products (i.e.
crops from local farmers, etc.). The services proposed by the Olson Trust, such as a fuel station, will
provide desired services to the residents of Pāhala, who currently live at least 33 miles away from
an accessible fuel station.
As such, community input has demonstrated alignment with Section 14.1 of the 2005 General Plan,
which is cited in the Kaʻū CDP and states:
“The urban centers include high, medium and low density designations. These centers and clusters
provide physical, social, governmental and economic concentrations so that the total activities of the
community can be more readily and easily conducted [...]. The future improvement and development
objectives are directed toward making urban and rural centers more efficient, livable, and safe.
Growth should be encouraged in terms of renewing older areas or extending existing areas. The
creation of new urban and rural centers should be initiated only when it is in the public interest and
must be accompanied by commitments from both government and the private sector for the
development of basic community and public facilities and services. Infrastructure costs less when
new residential areas are located near existing highways, water and sewer lines, and employment
centers.”
Kaʻū CDP Compliance
In accordance with the Kaʻū CDP, the proposed actions would align with the following provisions:
Section 1.5.1 Community Objectives
Objective 11: Increase the number and diversity of income sources for residents, including jobs and
entrepreneurial opportunities that complement Ka‘ū’s ecology, culture, and evolving demographics.
Objective 12: Establish or expand retail, service, dining, and entertainment centers in rural villages
and towns capable of supporting Ka‘ū-appropriate growth.
Section 3.4 Land Use Policy
Policy 2: Concentrate commercial uses within and surrounding central core areas in Pāhala,
Nāʻālehu, and Ocean View and do not allow strip or spot commercial development outside of the
designated urban areas. (GP 14.3.3(e), 14.3.5.9.2(a, b))
Section 6.1.3 Community-Based, Collaborative Actions
Community Action 23: Coordinate regional strategies to increase “buying local.”
Section 6.3.3 County Action
Policy 141: Assist in the promotion of products produced in Ka‘ū. (GP 2.3(t))
Closing Remarks
The Kaʻū CDP supports future requests to alter the current LUPAG and rezone the parcel as relevant
to proposed commitments presented by the Olson Trust for the Pāhala Center development, and
supported by community members for an approximate 8-10 acre portion of TMK (3)9-6-012: 012.
Mahalo for your time. The Kaʻū CDP looks forward to seeing our comments taken into
consideration and seeing the input from our community in Pāhala addressed.