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Home My WebLink About2026-01-27 Kaʻū CDP Minutes Draft KAʻŪ COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 1 ACTION COMMITTEE 2 COUNTY OF HAWAIʻI 3 DRAFT MINUTES 4 January 27, 2026 5 CALL TO ORDER: 6 Chair Jason Masters called the meeting of the Kaʻū Community Development Plan (KCDP) 7 Action Committee (AC) to order at 5:06 p.m. This meeting was held in person at the 8 Nāʻālehu Community Center and online via the Zoom platform. 9 10 The full YouTube video of this meeting can be found here: 11 https://youtu.be/ZNfaABm-pPU?si=MIvA8nydioJ43-Ow 12 ROLL CALL: 13 Members Present (in person): David Kuahiwanui, Taylor Spurgeon, Kaweni Ibarra, Gary 14 Davis, Vice Chair Kaʻohinani Mokuhaliʻi, Chair Jason Masters 15 Members Present (via Zoom): Babette Morrow 16 Members Absent: Catherine Williams arrived at 5:35pm and left at 7:30pm 17 Planning Department Staff Present (in person): Maryam Palma and Kawelo Kalili 18 Planning Department Staff Present (via Zoom): Janice Hata 19 There were approximately twenty members of the public in attendance in person and five 20 via Zoom. 21 APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES: [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 2:07] 22 Committee Member Kaweni Ibarra moved to approve the minutes with corrections as 23 follows: 24  Line 64 – to read “occurring on The Nature Conservancy land” 25  Line 81 – should read BLNR, not PONC 26  Lines 160, 163, 167, 170, 172 - Brenda’s name should appear as Mrs., not Ms. 27 Chair Jason Masters seconded the motion. The Committee voted unanimously to 28 approve the minutes. 29 PUBLIC TESTIMONY ON AGENDA ITEMS: [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 4:39] 30 No testifiers were present in person or on Zoom. 31 BUSINESS: 32 KAʻŪ CDP ACTION COMMITTEE Draft Minutes of January 27, 2026 Page 2 1. Hīlea Property Permitted Interaction Group – The Hīlea Property Permitted Interaction33 Group will discuss the proposed acquisition with the Action Committee and a34 representative of the Nature Conservancy. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 5:39]35 Shalan Crysdale was invited to speak as a representative of The Nature Conservancy (TNC). 36 Committee Member Kuahiwinui spoke about the community’s need for public access and 37 right-of-way protection. TNC responded that current preserve lands include 3,511 acres; 38 2,000 acres fenced; over six fence crossings for access. Additional Olson Trust acreage 39 under discussion totals 1,960 acres; most is former sugar land with active ranch leases. 40 Approximately 350 acres of native forest may require protective fencing. Public access 41 would continue under TNC’s managed access program. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 42 6:20] 43 Committee Member Kuahiwinui requested that the TNC provide additional outreach and 44 public information meetings with more descriptive maps showing fencing plans, access 45 routes, cultural access, and overall land management intentions. TNC expressed 46 willingness to hold a future community meeting in Pāhala and re-present prior material. No 47 formal action was taken. 48 2. Edmund C. Olson Trust No.2 Highway Project Concept - Discussion and potential49 action regarding the communications drafted by Committee Members Ibarra and Morrow: 50 Communication No. 2026-0151 Communication No. 2026-0252 [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 31:42] 53 54 Mr. John Cross of the Olson Trust provided a synopsis of the project, sharing that Olson 55 Trust is proposing to rezone the land to build a gas station with restrooms, gas, food, EV 56 charging stations and other services. The proposal requires change from Low Density Urban 57 to Medium Density Urban on the LUPAG map, plus a zoning change from Ag-20 to CV-10. 58 The estimated development footprint: 2.8–10 acres (exact area to be determined through 59 Planning Department guidance). Mrs. Brenda Iokepa-Moses of the Olson Trust stated that 60 their outreach meetings have shown strong support for the project which provides economic 61 development, local hiring and safe access for pedestrians from Pāhala. [SEE YOUTUBE 62 TIMESTAMP 33:59] 63 Committee Member Ibarra read his letter – Communication No. 2026-01 [SEE YOUTUBE 64 TIMESTAMP 43:45] 65 Committee Member Morrow read her letter – Communication No. 2026-02 [SEE 66 YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 49:19] 67 Mary Kapon provided testimony in support of the project due to Kaʻū being a food desert 68 and asked if there will be an entrance from Kamani street and the Highway. Tim Banko 69 agreed with Mary and seconded what she shared. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 58:35] 70 KAʻŪ CDP ACTION COMMITTEE Draft Minutes of January 27, 2026 Page 3 Carl Okuyama, president of Ohana Foods Inc. provided testimony in support of the project. 71 He mentioned that Mizuno store customers have asked if they will be providing gas and 72 hot food. His plan is to work with Olson Trust to provide these services in Pāhala. [SEE 73 YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 1:01:40] 74 Guy Enriquez provided testimony to support the project stating that the community would 75 benefit from the gas station and asked AC for their support. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 76 1:03:38] 77 Brenda Iokepa -Moses shared more background information on the project site stating and 78 offering to speak to community members after the meeting to share more, review maps 79 and further information. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 1:11:38] 80 Committee Member Ibarra moved to discuss both letters. Committee Member Williams 81 seconded. The committee clarified that its role is not to approve zoning or the project itself, 82 but to provide feedback grounded in the Community Development Plan and generally 83 agreed to draft a unified letter summarizing support, concerns, and inconsistencies for the 84 applicant to use in future approvals. Members emphasized the need for clearer project 85 details (e.g., acreage, safety, and access) before offering stronger support, while 86 encouraging the applicant to proceed through the formal application process. [SEE 87 YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 1:13:37] 88 Chair Masters moved that Members Ibarra and Morrow draft a unified letter combining 89 Communication Nos. 2026-01 and 2026-02, outlining the project’s consistencies and 90 inconsistencies with the CDP, to be reviewed and voted on at a future meeting. The motion 91 was seconded by Committee Member Davis and passed unanimously. [SEE YOUTUBE 92 TIMESTAMP 1:43:15] 93 3. Kamaʻoa Road Bishop Estate Property Status – Discussion and potential action 94 regarding grading and grubbing activities conducted on a large property along Kamaʻoa 95 Road. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 1:44:06] 96 Ryan Schultz, a third-generation rancher from South Point, explained that the Kamaʻoa 97 Road parcel—zoned agricultural and historically ranch land—is being cleared of invasive 98 Christmas berry to create a sustainable resource for the community, with initial work 99 limited to perimeter grading and awaiting a grubbing permit. Committee members 100 confirmed that the project has an approved NRCS conservation plan, and that 101 archaeological and ecological requirements have been cleared, with documentation 102 submitted to Bishop Estate and pending approval from the Kaʻū Soil and Water Board. 103 [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 1:44:30] 104 105 KAʻŪ CDP ACTION COMMITTEE Draft Minutes of January 27, 2026 Page 4 4. Analysis of Kaʻū CDP Land Use Maps – Discussion and potential action to review and 106 propose changes to the Kaʻū CDP Land Use Maps [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 1:47:58] 107 The committee discussed how the proposed Olson Trust project highlights inconsistencies 108 between the CDP land use maps and the General Plan, clarifying that only portions of a 109 parcel can be amended, and that CDP and General Plan maps serve as long-term policy 110 guidance rather than zoning regulations. Members emphasized their role in reviewing and 111 identifying consistencies or needed updates, while also recognizing the importance of 112 maintaining the CDP’s integrity and only recommending changes when there is a 113 significant, community-driven need. 114 County Planning Staff Maryam Palma shared the relationship between CDP maps, 115 General Plan maps, and zoning and shared how the committee may move forward with 116 updating the CDP maps by (1) individuals do their research on what should be changed, 117 (2) create a Permitted Interaction Group, or (3) 2 committee members work a piece and 118 bring it to the AC. 119 The discussion concluded with agreement that the CDP should be periodically reviewed 120 and potentially updated, with members encouraged to identify outdated elements for future 121 discussion, ensuring the document continues to reflect current community priorities without 122 becoming too easily altered for individual projects. 123 An anonymous community member provided public testimony suggesting that if portions of 124 agricultural land are redesignated for development, the remaining land could be preserved 125 in perpetuity through mechanisms like agricultural preservation, offering a balanced 126 approach that provides community benefits while protecting long-term ag use [SEE 127 YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 2:10:25] 128 An anonymous community member provided testimony emphasizing the importance of 129 balancing preservation of Kaʻū’s identity with supporting future generations, noting that 130 sustaining the community requires opportunities that allow families and children to remain 131 and thrive in Kaʻū [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 2:11:42] 132 PUBLIC TESTIMONY ON MATTERS NOT ON AGENDA: 133 No testifiers were present in person or on Zoom. 134 THIRD-PARTY REPORTS; GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS: 135 No third-party reports or government officials present or on Zoom 136 PROPOSED NEW BUSINESS: [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 2:13:00] 137 1. DMV kiosk installation in Kaʻū 138 KAʻŪ CDP ACTION COMMITTEE Draft Minutes of January 27, 2026 Page 5 2. Waiʻōhinu Transfer Station update 139 3. Need for animal control and police station in Ocean View 140 4. Stop Sign at the bottom of South Point road 141 5. Continuation of CDP land use map review 142 ANNOUNCEMENTS: [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 2:17:50] 143  County Planning Staff Maryam Palma reported department efforts to improve 144 accessibility of permit notifications, including: 145 o Exploring district-specific email lists. 146 o Upgrading ADA compliance. 147 o Better integration with online EPIC permit system. 148 o Planned instructional videos for community use. 149  Councilmember Michelle Galimba is sharing a County of Hawaiʻi Punaluʻu Survey to 150 gather the Kaʻū community’s manaʻo on the present and future of Punaluʻu. Take 151 the survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CXZYRGS 152  The next meeting is tentatively scheduled for March 24, 2026 at the Kaʻū District 153 Gym Multi-Purpose Room. 154 ADJOURNMENT: [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 2:25:40] 155 Chair Masters adjourned this meeting at 7:33 p.m. 156 These minutes and all related documents are available in the Planning Department’s Kaʻū 157 Community Development Plan Action Committee folder via the County of Hawaiʻi Public 158 Documents Repository . These documents may also be requested from the Planning 159 Department by calling (808) 961-8288 or emailing CDP@hawaiicounty.gov. 160