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Home My WebLink About2026-04-01 HCDP Minutes Final HĀMĀKUA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 1 ACTION COMMITTEE 2 COUNTY OF HAWAIʻI 3 4 Final MINUTES 5 April 1, 2026 6 CALL TO ORDER 7 Chair Tisha Mahealani Maikui called the meeting of the Hāmākua Community 8 Development Plan (CDP) Action Committee (AC) to order at 5:05 p.m. This meeting was 9 held in person at the Kulaʻimano Community Center and online via the Zoom platform. 10 The full YouTube video of this meeting can be found here: 11 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oscYwGXKQRY 12 ROLL CALL 13 Members Present (in person): Maile Lavea-Malloe (Vice Chair), Brad Kurokawa, Tawn 14 Keeney, Robert Nishimoto, and Ben Dalauidao 15 Members Present (via Zoom): Tisha Mahealani Maikui (Chair) 16 County Staff (in person): Bethany Morrison (Long Range Division Manager), Jeffrey 17 Darrow (Planning Director), Maryam Palma, Janice Hata, and Jessica Lahip 18 County Staff (via Zoom): Kawelo Kalili 19 There were approximately thirteen (13) members of the public in attendance – five (5) in 20 person and eight (8) via Zoom. 21 APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES 22 Vice Chair Lavea-Malloe moved to approve the February 4, 2026 draft meeting minutes. 23 The motion was seconded by committee member Kurokawa and passed unanimously. 24 [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 5:08] 25 PUBLIC TESTIMONY ON AGENDA ITEMS 26 Jim McMahon provided testimony on Business Items 1 and 2. [SEE YOUTUBE 27 TIMESTAMP 8:10] 28 Gretchen Grove provided testimony on Business Item 2. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 29 13:09] 30 BUSINESS: 31 1. Report from the Planning Director about: 32 • Planning Department’s Public Notices Procedures 33 • Special Permit Process [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 16:35] 34 Chair Maikui called this item to order at 5:21 p.m. 35 HĀMĀKUA CDP ACTION COMMITTEE Minutes of April 1, 2026 2 Planning Director Jeffrey Darrow provided an overview of the Planning Department’s 36 public notice procedures and the special permit process. The presentation focused on 37 how community members can access application information through the County’s 38 website and Electronic Processing and Information Center (EPIC) system. It was 39 explained that public notices are posted regularly and that application details can be 40 accessed by using the assigned permit numbers. During the discussion, several 41 challenges were identified, including inconsistencies in how application numbers are 42 formatted – particularly the omission of leading zeros – and the overall complexity of 43 navigating the system. 44 Committee members raised concerns about accessibility and user experience, noting 45 that the current process may be difficult for the public to follow. Suggestions were 46 offered to improve transparency and usability, such as incorporating direct hyperlinks 47 to application files, standardizing internal data entry practices, and creating district-48 specific summaries of applications. Director Darrow acknowledged these concerns 49 and shared that the department is working toward improving consistency, exploring 50 ways to generate district-level reports, and enhancing public access to information. 51 The discussion also included an overview of the special permit process. Director 52 Darrow explained the distinction between permits under and over 15 acres, the role 53 of the Planning Commission as the decision-making body for smaller applications, and 54 the involvement of the Land Use Commission for larger requests. Additional 55 explanation was provided on the criteria used to evaluate applications, the preparation 56 of staff reports, and the contested case hearing process. Members discussed the 57 importance of public participation and the multiple opportunities for community input 58 throughout the process. 59 2. Letter to Windward Planning Commission regarding the Teppy Mountain 60 Application (PL-SPP-2024-000075): Discussion and decision-making on 61 submitting testimony to the Windward Planning Commission. [SEE YOUTUBE 62 TIMESTAMP 1:16:24, 1:24:19 & 1:59:36] 63 Chair Maikui called this item to order at 6:21 p.m. 64 The Committee discussed whether to submit testimony to the Windward Planning 65 Commission regarding the Teppy Mountain Special Permit application. Building on 66 earlier public testimony, members shared concerns about the nature and potential 67 impacts of the proposed uses. Discussion included the combination of industrial-type 68 activities and large-scale event operations on agricultural land, as well as whether the 69 application aligns with the intent of the General Plan and the Hāmākua Community 70 Development Plan. 71 Members raised concerns regarding potential noise impacts and the adequacy of 72 proposed mitigation measures, noting that sound may travel across the landscape due 73 to local wind patterns and topography. There was also skepticism about the 74 enforceability of certain conditions, such as event time limits, particularly for large, 75 multi-day gatherings. Additional concerns included the precedent that approval of this 76 application could set for future special permit requests, as well as impacts related to 77 HĀMĀKUA CDP ACTION COMMITTEE Minutes of April 1, 2026 3 access, including the use of private roads and potential effects on surrounding 78 communities. 79 In response to these concerns, the Committee discussed the need to provide formal 80 input to the Windward Planning Commission. A Permitted Interaction Group (PIG) was 81 established to draft a letter on behalf of the committee. 82 The motion was clarified by County staff and read as follows: the Action Committee 83 establish a Permitted Interaction Group (PIG), consisting of members Kurokawa, 84 Lavea-Malloe, Nishimoto, and Keeney, to draft and present testimony at the Planning 85 Commission’s scheduled special meeting in May regarding the Teppy Mountain 86 application. The group will work collaboratively to prepare a letter that includes an 87 introductory summary of the application, a rationale outlining its consistencies and 88 inconsistencies with the Hāmākua Community Development Plan (CDP) policies, and 89 any additional recommendations based on those policies. The testimony will be 90 presented on behalf of the action committee. The motion was seconded by committee 91 member Kurokawa. Chair Maikui conducted a roll call vote. Committee Members 92 Kurokawa, Nishimoto, Keeney, Dalauidao, Vice Chair Lavea-Malloe, and Chair 93 Mahealani all voted aye. The motion passed unanimously. 94 Jim McMahon provided testimony. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 2:10:37] 95 THIRD-PARTY REPORTS; GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 96 1:47:40] 97 Council Member Heather Kimball provided updates on several district and legislative 98 matters. She shared progress on the Hāmākua Heritage Trail, noting a potential corridor 99 has been identified and that a feasibility study will be the next step. 100 She also discussed recent developments related to the General Plan, including proposed 101 amendments that may significantly alter the current plan, and encouraged continued 102 community engagement. 103 Additional updates included proposed changes to short-term vacation rental regulations, 104 as well as transportation improvements such as planned bus shelter installations, which 105 are currently pending state permits. 106 PROPOSED NEW BUSINESS 107 Due to the meeting running late, proposed new business can be emailed to Chair and 108 Vice Chair at CDP@hawaiicounty.gov. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 2:23:17] 109 ADJOURNMENT 110 Chair Maikui adjourned this meeting at 7:30 p.m. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 2:25:22] 111 These minutes and all related documents are available in the Planning Department’s 112 Hāmākua Community Development Plan Action Committee folder via the County of 113 HĀMĀKUA CDP ACTION COMMITTEE Minutes of April 1, 2026 4 Hawaiʻi Public Documents Repository. These documents may also be requested from the 114 Planning Department by calling (808) 961-8288 or emailing CDP@hawaiicounty.gov. 115