HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommunication No. 2026-09 Kaʻū CDP Policy 118 ReportReport on Ingress and Egress at Green Sands and Mark Twain
Subdivisions Regarding
Kaʻū CDP Policy 118, Section 5.7.2.
Catherine Williams and Babette Morrow
Ka’ū CDP policy 118, Section 5.7.2 states: “In collaboration with residents, develop and
adopt a hazard mitigation plan for each community in Ka’ū, including an evacuation
clearance rate and evacuation plans and routes.”
On November 20, 2024, Volunteer Fire Captain Ron Ebert provided a report to the AC on the
egress and ingress challenges at Green Sands Subdivision, emphasizing the key fire safety
concerns that fires move faster uphill and spread rapidly with wind, creating sparks that
increase risk. He highlighted public safety issues, including traffic on narrow roads, only
one means of egress to Highway 11, and the difficulties of accessing water for firefighting.
He brought up the urgent need for another means of egress from Green Sands, with the
only option being through Mark Twain subdivision.
In 2025 Captain Ebert identified a possible connection point between Green Sands and
Mark Twain, and talked with owners in both subdivisions about his ideas. They were both
amenable to finding a way to have temporary emergency access connecting the two.
However, Captain Ebert has since moved to the mainland and is no longer available to work
on this project. Planning staff received contact information for the Mark Twain property
owner for possible temporary emergency easement. They have been unable to make
contact with her.
Next Steps
Our ultimate goal is to get an emergency access easement approved by all parties involved.
However, before we can work out those details, we propose working with the fire
department.
Since the need for this access was initiated by the Fire Department, this is a good time for
them to get involved again. We have talked with the Fire Captain in Ocean View to learn
about chain of command in the Fire Department. Catherine will meet with the Fire Captain
in Pahala sometime the week of May 25, since the Na’alehu area is now under his
command. We have set a goal of meeting with the Fire Department Chief to present our
ideas. However one issue we have is that there currently is an interim fire chief and we may
wait until a permanent fire chief has been appointed.
Communication No. 2026-09