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Home My WebLink About2026-01-27 Kaʻū CDP Minutes Final KAʻŪ COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 1 ACTION COMMITTEE 2 COUNTY OF HAWAIʻI 3 FINAL MINUTES 4 January 27, 2026 5 CALL TO ORDER: 6 Chair Jason Masters called the meeting of the Kaʻū Community Development Plan Action 7 Committee (AC) to order at 5:06 p.m. This meeting was held in person at the Nāʻālehu 8 Community Center and online via the Zoom platform. 9 The full YouTube video of this meeting can be found here: 10 https://youtu.be/ZNfaABm-pPU?si=KlVoeXUGVKsCGNtW 11 ROLL CALL: 12 Members Present (in person): David Kuahiwinui, Taylor Spurgeon, Kaweni Ibarra, Gary 13 Davis, Vice Chair Kaʻohinani Mokuhaliʻi, Chair Jason Masters 14 Members Present (via Zoom): Babette Morrow 15 Members Absent: Catherine Williams arrived at 5:35pm and left at 7:30pm 16 Planning Department Staff Present (in person): Maryam Palma and Kawelo Kalili 17 Planning Department Staff Present (via Zoom): Janice Hata 18 There were approximately twenty members of the public in attendance in person and five 19 via Zoom. 20 APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES: 21 Committee Member Kaweni Ibarra moved to approve the draft minutes of the January 27, 22 2026, meeting with corrections as follows: 23  Line 64 – to read “occurring on The Nature Conservancy land” 24  Line 81 – should read “DLNR”, not “PONC” 25  Lines 160, 163, 167, 170, 172 – Brenda’s name should appear as “Mrs.”, not “Ms.” 26 Chair Jason Masters seconded the motion. The Committee voted unanimously to approve 27 the minutes. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 2:07] 28 PUBLIC TESTIMONY ON AGENDA ITEMS: 29 [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 4:39] 30 No testifiers were present in person or on Zoom. 31 KAʻŪ CDP ACTION COMMITTEE Final Minutes of January 27, 2026 Page 2 BUSINESS: 32 1. Hīlea Property Permitted Interaction Group – The Hīlea Property Permitted Interaction 33 Group will discuss the proposed acquisition with the Action Committee and a 34 representative of the Nature Conservancy. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 5:39] 35 Shalan Crysdale was invited to speak as a representative of The Nature Conservancy 36 (TNC). Committee Member Kuahiwinui spoke about the community’s need for public 37 access and right-of-way protection. TNC responded that current preserve lands include 38 3,511 acres; 2,000 acres fenced; over six fence crossings for access. Additional Olson 39 Trust acreage under discussion totals 1,960 acres; most is former sugar land with active 40 ranch leases. Approximately 350 acres of native forest may require protective fencing. 41 Public access would continue under TNC’s managed access program. [SEE YOUTUBE 42 TIMESTAMP 6:20] 43 Committee Member Kuahiwinui requested that 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 present prior material. No 47 formal action was taken. 48 2. Edmund C. Olson Trust No.2 Highway Project Concept – Discussion and potential 49 action regarding the communications drafted by Committee Members Ibarra and Morrow: 50  Communication No. 2026-01 51  Communication No. 2026-02 52 [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 31:42] 53 John Cross of the Olson Trust provided a synopsis of the project, sharing that Olson 54 Trust is proposing to rezone the land to build a gas station with restrooms, gas, food, EV 55 charging stations and other services. The proposal requires change from Low Density 56 Urban to Medium Density Urban on the LUPAG map, plus a zoning change from Ag-20 57 to CV-10. The estimated development footprint: 2.8–10 acres (exact area to be 58 determined through Planning Department guidance). Brenda Iokepa-Moses of the Olson 59 Trust stated that their outreach meetings have shown strong support for the project which 60 provides economic development, local hiring and safe access for pedestrians from 61 Pāhala. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 33:59] 62 Committee Member Ibarra read his letter – Communication No. 2026-01. [SEE 63 YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 43:45] 64 Committee Member Morrow read her letter – Communication No. 2026-02. [SEE 65 YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 49:19] 66 KAʻŪ CDP ACTION COMMITTEE Final Minutes of January 27, 2026 Page 3 Mary Kapon provided testimony in support of the project due to Kaʻū being a food desert 67 and asked if there will be an entrance from Kamani street and the Highway. Tim Banko 68 agreed with Mary and seconded what she shared. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 58:35] 69 Carl Okuyama, president of Ohana Foods Inc. provided testimony in support of the 70 project. He mentioned that Mizuno store customers have asked if they will be providing 71 gas and hot food. His plan is to work with Olson Trust to provide these services in Pāhala. 72 [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 1:01:40] 73 Guy Enriques provided testimony to support the project stating that the community would 74 benefit from the gas station and asked AC for their support. [SEE YOUTUBE 75 TIMESTAMP 1:03:38] 76 Brenda Iokepa -Moses shared more background information on the project site stating 77 and offering to speak to community members after the meeting to share more, review 78 maps and further information. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 1:11:38] 79 Committee Member Ibarra moved to discuss both letters. Committee Member Williams 80 seconded. The Committee clarified that its role is not to approve zoning or the project 81 itself, but to provide feedback grounded in the Community Development Plan and 82 generally agreed to draft a unified letter summarizing support, concerns, and 83 inconsistencies for the applicant to use in future approvals. Members emphasized the 84 need for clearer project details (e.g., acreage, safety, and access) before offering 85 stronger support, while encouraging the applicant to proceed through the formal 86 application process. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 1:13:37] 87 Chair Masters moved that Members Ibarra and Morrow draft a unified letter combining 88 Communication Nos. 2026-01 and 2026-02, outlining the project’s consistencies and 89 inconsistencies with the CDP, to be reviewed and voted on at a future meeting. The 90 motion was seconded by Committee Member Davis and passed unanimously. [SEE 91 YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 1:43:15] 92 3. Kamaʻoa Road Bishop Estate Property Status – Discussion and potential action 93 regarding grading and grubbing activities conducted on a large property along Kamaʻoa 94 Road. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 1:44:06] 95 Ryan Schultz, a third-generation rancher from South Point, explained that the Kamaʻoa 96 Road parcel – zoned agricultural and historically ranch land – is being cleared of invasive 97 Christmas berry to create a sustainable resource for the community, with initial work 98 limited to perimeter grading and awaiting a grubbing permit. Committee members 99 confirmed that the project has an approved Natural Resources Conservation Service 100 (NRCS) conservation plan, and that archaeological and ecological requirements have 101 been cleared, with documentation submitted to Bishop Estate and pending approval from 102 KAʻŪ CDP ACTION COMMITTEE Final Minutes of January 27, 2026 Page 4 the Kaʻū Soil and Water Board Conservation District. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 103 1:44:30] 104 4. Analysis of Kaʻū CDP Land Use Maps – Discussion and potential action to review and 105 propose changes to the Kaʻū CDP Land Use Maps. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 106 1:47:58] 107 The Committee discussed how the proposed Olson Trust project highlights 108 inconsistencies between the CDP land use maps and the General Plan, clarifying that 109 portions of a parcel can be amended, and that CDP and General Plan maps serve as 110 long-term policy guidance rather than zoning regulations. Members emphasized their 111 role in reviewing and identifying consistencies or needed updates, while also recognizing 112 the importance of maintaining the CDP’s integrity and only recommending changes when 113 there is a 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 on a piece 118 and 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 121 future discussion, ensuring the document continues to reflect current community 122 priorities without becoming too easily altered for individual projects. 123 An anonymous community member provided public testimony suggesting that if portions 124 of agricultural land are redesignated for development, the remaining land could be 125 preserved in perpetuity through mechanisms like agricultural preservation, offering a 126 balanced approach that provides community benefits while protecting long-term 127 agricultural use. [SEE 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 131 remain 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 KAʻŪ CDP ACTION COMMITTEE Final Minutes of January 27, 2026 Page 5 PROPOSED NEW BUSINESS 137 [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 2:13:00] 138 1. DMV kiosk installation in Kaʻū 139 2. Waiʻōhinu Transfer Station update 140 3. Need for animal control and police station in Ocean View 141 4. Stop sign at the bottom of South Point Road 142 5. Continuation of CDP land use map review 143 ANNOUNCEMENTS 144 [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 2:17:50] 145  County Planning Staff Maryam Palma reported department efforts to improve 146 accessibility of permit notifications, including: 147 o Exploring district-specific email lists 148 o Upgrading ADA compliance 149 o Better integration with online EPIC permit system 150 o Planned instructional videos for community use 151  Council Member Michelle Galimba shared County of Hawaiʻi Punaluʻu Survey to 152 gather the Kaʻū community’s manaʻo on the present and future of Punaluʻu. Link to 153 the survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CXZYRGS 154  The next meeting is tentatively scheduled for March 24, 2026 at the Kaʻū District Gym 155 Multi-Purpose Room. 156 ADJOURNMENT: 157 [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 2:25:40] 158 Chair Masters adjourned this meeting at 7:33 p.m. 159 These minutes and all related documents are available in the Planning Department’s Kaʻū 160 Community Development Plan Action Committee folder via the County of Hawaiʻi Public 161 Documents Repository . These documents may also be requested from the Planning 162 Department by calling (808) 961-8288 or emailing CDP@hawaiicounty.gov. 163