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Home My WebLink About2026-02-04 HCDP Minutes Final HĀMĀKUA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 1 ACTION COMMITTEE 2 COUNTY OF HAWAIʻI 3 4 FINAL MINUTES 5 February 4, 2026 6 CALL TO ORDER 7 Chair Mahealani Maikui called the meeting of the Hāmākua Community Development Plan 8 (CDP) Action Committee (AC) to order at 5:02 p.m. This meeting was held in person at the 9 Honokaʻa Complex 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=0g_o4DdUJig 12 ROLL CALL 13 Members Present (in person): Mahealani Maikui (Chair), Tawn Keeney, and Ben Dalauidao 14 Members Present (via Zoom): Brad Kurokawa (Interim Vice Chair), Robert Nishimoto, Maile 15 Lavea-Malloe 16 County Staff (in person): Maryam Palma and Jessica Lahip 17 County Staff (via Zoom): Janice Hata 18 There were approximately ten (10) members of the public in attendance – seven (7) in person 19 and three (3) via Zoom. 20 APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES 21 Committee Member Keeney moved to approve the December 3, 2025 meeting minutes. The 22 motion was seconded by Interim Vice Chair Kurokawa and passed unanimously. [SEE 23 YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 3:34] 24 PUBLIC TESTIMONY ON AGENDA ITEMS 25 No public testimony was provided at this time. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 5:07] 26 BUSINESS: 27 1. Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation (DOT) Update on Roadway Safety and 28 Hakalau Bridge Repairs – Hawaiʻi DOT will provide an update on roadway safety 29 concerns on along Hawaiʻi Belt Road on the Hāmākua Coast, including the status of 30 repairs to the Hakalau Bridge. Discussion and potential action to follow. [SEE YOUTUBE 31 TIMESTAMP 6:20] 32 Representatives from the State of Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation (DOT), including 33 Clifford Corpuz and Rob Lee, provided updates on roadway repairs along Hawaiʻi Belt Road 34 (Route 19). DOT reported that temporary repairs are underway at approximately eight 35 locations between Mile Markers 4 and 15 to address roadway dips caused by settlement 36 and erosion. Work was progressing near Mile Marker 12.5 and is anticipated to be 37 HĀMĀKUA CDP ACTION COMMITTEE Minutes of February 4, 2026 2 completed by the end of February 2026. DOT noted that two locations near Mile Markers 4 38 and 14.8 will require geotechnical evaluation before permanent repairs can be designed 39 and constructed, which may take four to six months. Committee members asked questions 40 regarding repair locations and timelines. 41 Committee Member Dalauidao raised concerns regarding bus shelter conditions and rider 42 safety along the corridor. DOT clarified that bus shelters are managed by Hawaiʻi County 43 Mass Transit, not the State. 44 2. Letter Regarding Request for Information on Special Permit Process – The AC will 45 discuss and consider submitting a letter regarding Planning Department’s Special 46 Permit Process. Potential action to follow. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 29:25] 47 The Committee reviewed a draft letter requesting clarification from the Planning Department 48 regarding the Special Permit process. Committee members discussed concerns related to 49 discretionary review authority, consistency of permit decisions, and public understanding of 50 the process. Public testimony emphasized the need for clearer notification procedures and 51 greater transparency regarding permitting decisions. Planning staff explained that public 52 notice requirements include mailed notices to surrounding property owners and public 53 hearing postings through official County channels. Staff also clarified that Special Permits 54 are reviewed using established criteria and include opportunities for public testimony before 55 the Planning Commission. Committee members stated that the intent of the letter is to 56 request additional information to improve community awareness rather than address 57 specific projects. Members agreed that the letter aligns with CDP goals related to 58 transparency and public participation. 59 Committee Member Keeney made a motion to submit the draft letter to the Planning 60 Director. The motion was seconded by Chair Maikui and passed unanimously. 61 3. Letter of Appreciation Kawainui Makai Acquisition – The AC will discuss and 62 consider submitting a letter of appreciation to Nā ʻĀina Kai regarding the PONC 63 acquisition of the Kawainui property. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 1:07:12] 64 Committee members discussed the recent acquisition of the Kawainui Makai property 65 through the County’s Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources Preservation 66 Commission (PONC) program. Background information was provided regarding the 67 property’s cultural, environmental, and shoreline access importance to the Hāmākua 68 community. The Committee acknowledged the cooperation of Nā ʻĀina Kai Botanical 69 Garden in facilitating the sale to the County. Members discussed the significance of 70 preserving coastal access and protecting natural resources for future generations. It was 71 noted that stewardship responsibilities are expected to be managed by the Makahanaloa 72 Fishing Association. Committee members expressed appreciation for the collaborative 73 preservation effort. Members agreed that sending a formal letter of appreciation recognizes 74 community stewardship and supports CDP resource protection policies. 75 HĀMĀKUA CDP ACTION COMMITTEE Minutes of February 4, 2026 3 Committee Member Keeney made a motion to submit the letter of appreciation to Nā ʻĀina 76 Kai Botanical Garden. The motion was seconded by Chair Maikui and passed unanimously. 77 4. Letter of Support for Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources 78 Preservation Commission (PONC) Nominations – The AC will discuss and consider 79 submitting letters of support for the following PONC nominations: 80 • Haina Makai 81 • Kaʻawaliʻi Gulch in Oʻokala 82 [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 1:11:50] 83 The Committee reviewed nominations for the Haina Makai and Kaʻawaliʻi Gulch properties 84 for preservation through the PONC program. Members discussed the importance of 85 preserving shoreline access, protecting natural resources, and maintaining culturally 86 significant areas within the Hāmākua district. The Haina Makai property was described as 87 a coastal area that provides shoreline access and supports traditional fishing practices, and 88 members discussed ways to strengthen the draft letter of support. The Committee agreed 89 that additional revisions were needed and that Chair Maiku‘i and Committee Member 90 Keeney would continue working on the language before bringing the letter back for further 91 consideration. 92 The Kaʻawaliʻi Gulch nomination was also discussed, with members noting its value as a 93 natural resource and watershed area consistent with CDP preservation goals. Members 94 expressed support for the Kaʻawaliʻi Gulch letter as written and did not request any 95 revisions. Overall, the Committee reiterated the importance of supporting preservation 96 efforts that protect resources and access for the Hāmākua community. 97 Chair Maikui made a motion to work with Committee Member Keeney to revise and finalize 98 language for a letter of support for the Haina Makai PONC nomination, and to forward the 99 letter of support for the Kaʻawaliʻi Gulch nomination as drafted. The motion was seconded 100 by Vice Chair Kurokawa and passed unanimously. 101 Melvin Mason Jr. provided public testimony. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 1:33:37] 102 5. Proposed Nīnole Community Hub (TMK (3) 3-2-003-006) – The AC will discuss the 103 proposed Nīnole Community Hub and consider submitting a letter of support. Discussion 104 will include additional information provided by Christy Toledo. [SEE YOUTUBE 105 TIMESTAMP 1:41:39] 106 Planning staff provided an overview of the committee’s advisory role when reviewing 107 conceptual development proposals and emphasized that recommendations must be 108 grounded in CDP policies rather than direct project endorsement. Staff explained that the 109 project is in the conceptual stage and no formal application has been submitted to the 110 Planning Department. 111 Applicant Christy Toledo presented her proposal for a Nīnole Community Hub intended to 112 support agricultural operations and provide community services. The conceptual project 113 includes potential components such as fueling services, a convenience store, commercial 114 HĀMĀKUA CDP ACTION COMMITTEE Minutes of February 4, 2026 4 kitchen facilities to support local agricultural producers, and basic emergency and travel 115 support services such as water and ice. Ms. Toledo described the property as historically 116 functioning as a commercial hub and explained that the proposal aims to restore 117 community-serving uses. 118 Committee members discussed current zoning and General Plan designations for the 119 parcel, including its classification as Important Agricultural Land. Members explored 120 potential future General Plan amendments that could allow limited rural commercial or 121 neighborhood-scale uses. Committee members also discussed maintaining rural character, 122 scale, and compatibility with surrounding agricultural uses. 123 Planning staff advised that any committee correspondence should describe the conceptual 124 proposal, identify CDP policy consistencies and inconsistencies, and provide 125 recommendations for potential mitigation measures or community priorities. Staff also noted 126 that the letter should be addressed to the applicant rather than the Planning Department 127 because no application has been filed. 128 Committee members requested additional research regarding potential General Plan 129 designation pathways and recommended that the applicant continue working with Planning 130 staff and provide additional supporting information for future consideration. 131 Meizhu Lui provided public testimony. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 1:52:49] 132 6. Election of Committee Vice Chair for 2026 – The AC will elect a Vice Chair for the 133 2026 calendar year. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 1:59:12] 134 Chair Maikui made a motion to nominate Committee Member Lavea-Malloe for Vice Chair 135 of the Hāmākua CDP Action Committee for 2026. The motion was seconded by Committee 136 Member Keeney and passed unanimously. Committee Member Lavea-Malloe accepted the 137 role of Vice Chair for 2026. 138 ANNOUNCEMENTS 139 The Planning Department is seeking applicants for the Hāmākua CDP Action Committee and 140 requests assistance to get the word out to interested community members. The application can 141 be found on the Mayor’s office website at: https://www.hawaiicounty.gov/our-county/boards-142 and-commissions [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 2:05:43] 143 ADJOURNMENT 144 Chair Maikui adjourned this meeting at 7:08 p.m. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 2:06:16] 145 These minutes and all related documents are available in the Planning Department’s Hāmākua 146 Community Development Plan Action Committee folder via the County of Hawaiʻi Public 147 Documents Repository. These documents may also be requested from the Planning 148 Department by calling (808) 961-8288 or emailing CDP@hawaiicounty.gov. 149