HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-03-24 Kaʻū CDP Minutes Draft
KAʻŪ COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 1 ACTION COMMITTEE 2
COUNTY OF HAWAIʻI 3
DRAFT MINUTES 4
March 24, 2026 5
Call to Order 6
Chair Jason Masters called the meeting of the Kaʻū Community Development Plan (CDP) 7 Action Committee (AC) to order at 5:13 p.m. This meeting was held in person at the Kaʻū 8
Gym Multi-Purpose Room and online via the Zoom platform. 9
The full YouTube video of this meeting can be found here: 10 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8r6WUPtUuR4&t=3s 11
Roll Call 12
Members Present (in person): 13
• Jason Masters, Chair 14
• Kaʻohi Mokuhaliʻi, Vice Chair 15
• David Kuahiwinui 16
• Taylor Spurgeon 17
• Gary Davis 18
• Babette Morrow 19
• Kaweni Ibarra 20
Members Present (via Zoom): Catherine Williams 21
Planning Department Staff Present: 22
• Janice Hata (in person) 23
• Kawelo Kalili (in person) 24
• Jessica Lahip (Zoom) 25
Other County Representatives Present (in person): 26
• Michelle Galimba, Council Member 27
There were approximately 25 members of the public in attendance (15 in person and 10 28
via Zoom). 29
Approval of Minutes 30
Chair Masters moved to approve the draft minutes of the January 27, 2026 meeting with 31 the following corrections: 32
• Line 14 – to correct the misspelling of the name “Kuahiwinui” 33
• Line 27 – to correct the misspelling of the name “Enriques” 34
• Line 109 – to remove the word “only” for clearer context 35
KAʻŪ CDP ACTION COMMITTEE Minutes of March 24, 2026 2
• Line 103 – to include the full name of “Kaʻū Soil and Water Conservation District 36 Board” 37
Committee Member Ibarra seconded the motion. The Committee voted unanimously to 38 approve the minutes with corrections. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 4:45] 39
Public Testimony on Agenda Items 40
Chair Masters called for public testimony on agenda items. No public testimony was 41 provided at this time. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 05:00] 42
Business 43
1. Letter to Olson Trust: The AC will consider whether to submit Communication No. 44 2026-05 letter regarding the proposed Pāhala center along Hawaiʻi Route 11. The AC 45 may approve the letter as written or with revisions and authorize Planning Department 46 staff to transmit the letter to Olson Trust. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 5:39] 47
Committee Member Morrow presented an overview of Communication No. 2026-05, 48
stating that the AC voted for her and Committee Member Kaweni Ibarra to combine 49 their drafted letters, from previous meetings, outlining the proposed Pāhala Center’s 50 consistencies and inconsistencies with the Kaʻū CDP. 51
Committee Member Ibarra suggested that the letter be edited with the following 52
corrections: 53
• Second paragraph – change “public restaurants” to “public restrooms” 54
• First paragraph of the last page – clarify that the project site is approximately 55
0.6 miles from the core of Pāhala town 56
Committee Member Spurgeon moved to disapprove Communication No. 2026-05 and 57 instead approve Committee Member Ibarra’s original letter, presented at the January 58 27 meeting as Communication No. 2026-01, supporting the proposed Pāhala Center. 59 Committee Member Kuahiwinui seconded the motion. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 60
14:15] 61
Before discussion of the motion, Chair Masters requested that the applicant return to 62 the Kaʻū CDP Action Committee to present their plans after submitting an application 63 to the Planning Department. Mrs. Brenda Iokepa-Moses, community engagement 64 staff for the Olson Trust, stated that community input has been a priority throughout 65
their application process for several months. She added that the Trust’s next step is 66
to submit an application for the Pāhala Center to the Planning Department. 67
Discussion then proceeded regarding the intent of Communication No. 2026-05. Vice 68 Chair Kaʻohi Mokuhaliʻi clarified that the role of the Action Committee is to assess 69 whether a project is consistent or inconsistent with the goals and objectives of the 70
CDP, and not to state whether it supports or approves a project. 71
John Ray provided testimony expressing concern about delays, urged the Committee 72 to take action, and highlighted the need for a local gas station to support bus drivers 73
KAʻŪ CDP ACTION COMMITTEE Minutes of March 24, 2026 3
and students traveling between Ocean View and Pāhala. [SEE YOUTUBE 74
TIMESTAMP 32:16] 75
The AC deliberated about the motion and Chair Masters proceeded with a roll call vote 76
for Committee Member Spurgeon’s motion. The motion did not pass with 2 ayes and 77
6 nays. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 37:15] 78
Committee Member Ibarra moved to approve the letter to Olson Trust, Communication 79 No. 2026-05, with revisions. Committee Member Davis seconded the motion. Chair 80 Masters proceeded with a roll call vote. The motion passed with 6 ayes and 2 nays. 81
2. County Facilities in Ocean View: Discussion and potential action regarding the need 82
for an animal control center and police station in Ocean View. [SEE YOUTUBE 83
TIMESTAMP 40:23] 84
Council Member Michelle Galimba provided an update on efforts to establish an 85
animal control facility in Ocean View, noting a recent setback in acquiring a property 86
and introducing a new conceptual plan to develop a facility on County land near 87
Kamaʻoa Road, with the goal of creating a small, scalable site to support local animal 88
control services. She also noted that Animal Control vehicle conditions have improved, 89
staffing shortages remain a significant challenge, there is currently no dedicated 90
animal control officer in Ocean View, and efforts to establish a local facility could 91
improve response times and reduce the need to transport animals to Hilo or Kona. 92
She invited the community to identify potential sites with existing kennels or suitable 93
facilities, noting that repurposing such properties could expedite the establishment of 94
an animal control facility. 95
Chair Masters noted that the CDP does not address animal control but does include 96 policies supporting a police substation in Ocean View (Policies 5.6 and 5.62) and 97 suggested the AC could consider expressing support for a new animal control facility 98
while also mentioning a potential site at the former Waiʻōhinu jail property. 99
Council Member Galimba clarified that there is currently a substation in Ocean View, 100 and it is a priority of the mayor to start designing and planning for a full station with 101 holding facilities. 102
Vice Chair Mokuhaliʻi moved for the AC to invite Council Member Gamilba to a future 103
meeting to give an update on the progress of these projects as she works with the 104 mayor. Chair Masters seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. [SEE 105
YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 57:31] 106
Public Testimony on Matters Not on the Agenda 107
Pursuant to Hawaiʻi Senate Bill 869 (2025), signed into law as Act 53, testimony on 108
matters not on the agenda may be limited to three minutes per speaker. No testimony 109 was provided. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 58:32] 110
KAʻŪ CDP ACTION COMMITTEE Minutes of March 24, 2026 4
Third-Party Reports; Government Officials 111
Pursuant to Hawaiʻi Senate Bill 405 (2025), signed into law as Act 72, the AC may receive 112 and discuss information from third-party reports by any government official not included 113
in the publicly noticed agenda, but may not make decisions on matters raised through 114
such reports until a later meeting with proper notice. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 58:51] 115
Council Member Galimba reported that her Punaluʻu survey will close on March 31 and 116 encouraged participation, noting over 260 responses to date with minimal input from 117 outside districts. She added that results will be shared online and that she is seeking 118
funding to support facilitation and a community planning process based on survey results 119 and focus groups, Lastly, she shared resources for residents impacted by the recent Kona 120 Low storm, including Civil Defense, Vibrant Hawaiʻi, and the Farm Service Agency. 121
Proposed New Business [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 01:03:31] 122
• Green Sands Mark Twain Emergency Access 123
• Waiʻōhinu Flood Control Update by Council Member Galimba 124
• Waiʻōhinu Park Restroom Update 125
• Pāhala Pool Update by Council Member Galimba 126
• Pāhala and Nāʻālehu Field Lighting 127
Announcements [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 01:12:59] 128
• Kaʻū Forest Reserve Management Plan Update by Department of Land and 129 Natural Resources (DLNR) Representative Ian Cole – Ian Cole shared new 130 fencing unit progress and referred to DLNR Kaʻū Forest Reserve Plan Maps 131 (Communication No. 2026-06). The AC requested that DLNR keep the committee 132 informed, particularly if there are opportunities for community consultation or input. 133
[SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 01:13:28] 134
• Waiʻōhinu Transfer Station – Chair Masters announced as of March 17, 2026, 135 the Solid Waste Division reported that the supervisor position for Waiʻōhinu 136 remains unfilled, limiting operational capacity. The Ocean View Transfer Station 137 has been open on Saturdays for the past two months, but due to low usage, the 138
division is considering reverting to a three-day schedule and potentially 139
reallocating that additional day to Waiʻōhinu; however, current demand does not 140 support adding another day there. At the Pāhala Transfer Station, subsidence 141 issues behind the chute retaining wall prompted the installation of a safety 142 barricade on March 20, which allows the station to remain open but requires users 143
to carry waste a short distance from their vehicles. Emergency repairs are planned 144
for the week of April 20 and will require temporary closure, with additional details 145 to be provided in advance. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 01:22:30] 146
• Nāʻālehu Post Office Speed Feedback Sign Update – Chair Masters announced 147
The Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation (HDOT) is currently awaiting the 148 processing of an electrical contract needed for installation. HDOT has encountered 149 challenges in securing a contractor and is actively exploring alternative solutions 150
KAʻŪ CDP ACTION COMMITTEE Minutes of March 24, 2026 5
to expedite the installation of the speed feedback sign. Updates will be provided 151 as the project progresses. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 01:25:37] 152
• Proposed Stop Sign on South Point Road Update – Chair Masters shared that 153 at the last meeting, concerns were raised regarding traffic safety at the bottom of 154 South Point Road, where there is currently no stop sign. Based on recent 155 communication with the Department of Public Works, the County maintains 156 approximately 11 miles of South Point Road, including the intersection with Ka Lae 157
Road; however, Ka Lae Road falls under State jurisdiction. The Planning 158 Department will coordinate with both the Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation 159 (HDOT) and the Department of Public Works to pursue this request. Additionally, 160 requests for traffic signage may be submitted through the County’s Traffic Division 161 website at https://hawaiicounty.311service.com/. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 162
01:26:24] 163
• DMV Kiosk in Kaʻū Update by Vice Chair Mokuhaliʻi – Vice Chair Mokuhaliʻi 164 reported that she has reached out to the DMV kiosk vendor, who is currently 165 working on a demographic survey to assess feasibility. Vice Chair Mokuhaliʻi will 166
continue to stay in communication with the vendor and provide updates to the 167
committee as the process moves forward. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 01:27:49] 168
Next Meeting – The next Kaʻū CDP Action Committee meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, 169 May 26, 2026. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 01:29:37] 170
Adjournment 171
Chair Masters adjourned the meeting at 6:43 p.m. 172
These minutes and all related documents are available in the Planning Department’s 173 Kaʻū Community Development Plan Action Committee folder via the County of Hawaiʻi 174 Public Documents Repository. These documents may also be requested from the 175 Planning Department by calling (808) 961-8288 or emailing CDP@hawaiicounty.gov. 176