HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-04-21 Hawaii Regional Council of Carpenters TestimonySubject:Written Testimony for LPC 4/23/26 Agenda - Item #2
From:Sam Kim
To:Planning LPC Testimony
Date:Tuesday, April 21, 2026 11:01:00 AM
Attachments:Outlook-nqcukdfa.png
04-23-2026 - Item No. 2 - Comments.pdf
Aloha,
I hope this email finds you well.
Please find the written testimony submitted on behalf of the Hawaii Regional Council of
Carpenters with comments on Item #2 of the 4/23/26 LPC Agenda attached to this
email.
Mahalo,
Sam Kim
Government Relations Representative
HAWAII REGIONAL COUNCIL OF CARPENTERS
1311 Houghtailing Street
Honolulu, Hawaii 96817-2712
Direct: (808) 440-9141
Council Fax: (808) 440-9188
Switchboard: (808) 847-5761
Email: skim@hrcc-hawaii.com
HAWAII REGIONAL COUNCIL OF CARPENTERS
ST A TE HEADQUARTERS & BUSINESS OFFICES
OAHU: 1311 Houghtailing Street, Honolulu Hawaii 96817-2712 • Ph. (808) 847-5761 Fax (808) 440-9188
HILO OFFICE: 525 Kilauea Avenue, Room 205, Hilo, Hawaii 96720-3050 • Ph. (808) 935-8575 Fax (808) 935-8576
KONA OFFICE: 75-126 Lunapule Road, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96740-2106 • Ph. (808) 329-7355 Fax (808) 326-9376
MAUI OFFICE: 330 Hookahi Street, Wailuku, Maui 96793-1449 • Ph. (808) 242-6891 Fax (808) 242-5961
KAUAI OFFICE: Kuhio Medical Ctr Bldg., 3-3295 Kuhio Hwy, Suite 201, Lihue, Kauai 96766-1040 • Ph. (808) 245-8511 Fax (808) 245-8911
April 23, 2026
TO: Member Dean Au, Chair
Member Donna “Kinuko” Noborikawa, Vice Chair
Members of the Leeward Planning Commission
RE: LEEWARD PLANNING COMMISSION AGENDA ITEM #2: DHL MAHI
SITE M LLC AND DHL MAHI PROPCO LLC, FOR AN APPLICATION
TO AMEND SPECIAL MANAGEMENT AREA (SMA) USE PERMIT NO.
07-019
Aloha Chair Au, Vice Chair Noborikawa, and Members of the Commission,
The Hawaiʻi Regional Council of Carpenters (HRCC) submits comments on Agenda Item No. 2
regarding the application by DHL Mahi Site M LLC and DHL Mahi Propco LLC to amend SMA
Use Permit No. 07-019. HRCC, representing over 6,000 skilled union carpenters and tradespeople
across the islands, has a sustained interest in ensuring that projects proceed responsibly while
balancing local workforce and economic needs with community concerns.
The application seeks to amend the existing SMA Use Permit No. 07-019 by extending the
deadline to complete construction by an additional 10 years, while also modifying the project scope
by reducing overall density from 1,207 units to 925 units, including fewer residential and hotel
units, eliminating previously approved components such as a golf course and conference center,
increasing the amount of preserved open space, and adding a new emergency evacuation road for
the Mauna Lani Resort area.
The Commission has received substantial community testimony raising concerns about the
inadequate and outdated analyses of the site’s infrastructure capacity, including traffic, water, and
wastewater systems. We take these concerns seriously and acknowledge that responsible
development must prioritize accurate and current studies. Considerations on time extensions must
ensure that the project will be evaluated under present-day conditions paired with such updates.
On the matter of traffic, safety impacts along North Kaniku Drive, including increased trip
generation and congestion, should be addressed through concrete mitigation measures such as
roadway improvements, traffic controls, and phased development tied to infrastructure capacity.
The proposed reduction in units and increased open space, compared to the originally entitled
project, may help moderate concerns regarding density and environmental impact if properly
managed. Furthermore, it is important to note that the inclusion of an emergency evacuation road
further addresses a longstanding public safety need for the area and should be weighed as part of
the project's overall impact assessment.
Finally, while prior inactivity is a legitimate concern, it is equally appropriate to consider if the
project’s updated conditions, revised financing, and a refined project scope may be a viable path
in moving forward at this site.
HRCC strongly supports local development that creates quality jobs and career opportunities for
Hawai'i's construction workforce. At the same time, we believe that development must proceed
responsibly and with genuine regard for the communities it affects. It is precisely that balance that
motivates these comments.
Mahalo for the opportunity to provide testimony.