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Home My WebLink About2026-06-03 HCDP Minutes Draft HĀMĀKUA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 1 ACTION COMMITTEE 2 COUNTY OF HAWAIʻI 3 4 DRAFT MINUTES 5 June 3, 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 5:04 p.m. This meeting was 9 held in person at the Honomū Gym 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=eZLpQO3eGNQ 12 ROLL CALL 13 Members Present (in person): Tawn Keeney, Robert Nishimoto, and Ben Dalauidao 14 Members Present (via Zoom): Tisha Mahealani Maikui (Chair), Maile Lavea-Malloe (Vice 15 Chair) 16 Members Absent: Brad Kurokawa 17 County Staff (in person): Jeffrey Deason, Maryam Palma, and Jessica Lahip 18 County Staff (via Zoom): Janice Hata 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 Committee member Keeney moved to approve the April 1, 2026 draft meeting minutes. 23 The motion was seconded by committee member Nishimoto and passed unanimously. 24 [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 7:06] 25 PUBLIC TESTIMONY ON AGENDA ITEMS 26 No public testimony was received at this time. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 9:44] 27 BUSINESS: 28 1. Teppy Mountain Application (PL-SPP-2024-000075) Permitted Interaction 29 Group Report – The group members will provide their report of the testimony they 30 provided at the recent Windward Planning Commission Special meeting. The 31 HĀMĀKUA CDP ACTION COMMITTEE Minutes of June 3, 2026 2 committee may vote to dissolve the permitted interaction group if no further action 32 is expected. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 11:59] 33 Chair Maikui called this item to order at 5:16 p.m. 34 Staff clarified that the purpose of the agenda item was to receive the report and that 35 no further action was required at this time. Staff further explained that the permitted 36 interaction group (PIG) would effectively dissolve following the presentation of its 37 report unless future action was directed by the Committee at a subsequent meeting. 38 Jim McMamon provided testimony and thanked the committee members who 39 participated in drafting testimony and explained that he and his wife had intervened in 40 the contested case proceedings. He expressed concerns regarding the use of 41 agricultural lands for industrial-type activities and discussed the Windward Planning 42 Commission's approval of the Falls on Fire annual festival and heavy equipment 43 baseyard. The testifier stated that community members often have limited awareness 44 of special permit applications and emphasized the importance of public involvement. 45 Additional concerns included public safety impacts, noise, and the removal of a 46 proposed permit condition that would have limited amplified music after 9:00 p.m. 47 Committee members briefly discussed whether permit conditions adequately 48 addressed community concerns. No action was taken. 49 Jim Mcmahon testimony [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 12:55] 50 2. Kaiwilahilahi Stream Bridge Repair – The Action Committee will discuss 51 sending a formal letter to the Department of Public Works Engineering Division 52 requesting an update on the Kaiwilahilahi Stream Bridge Repair Project. [SEE 53 YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 19:51] 54 Chair Maikui called this item to order at 5:24 p.m. 55 Council Member Heather Kimball provided an update received from the Department 56 of Public Works (DPW), reporting that repairs to four bridge columns remained 57 underway and that additional structural damage discovered during construction had 58 extended the project schedule. The anticipated completion date has been revised to 59 the end of 2026. Council Member Kimball also shared that DPW continues to explore 60 options for reopening a portion of the bridge to pedestrian traffic to assist residents of 61 the nearby senior housing facility in accessing services located across the stream. 62 Committee members expressed appreciation for the update. No testimony was 63 received, and no action was taken. 64 3. Hāmākua Trails Program Review Feasibility Study – Presentation by Council 65 Member Heather Kimball on the proposed Hāmākua trail project, including an 66 overview of the proposed route and a discussion to gather committee input on the 67 HĀMĀKUA CDP ACTION COMMITTEE Minutes of June 3, 2026 3 development of the feasibility study scope of work. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 68 22:51] 69 Chair Maikui called this item to order at 5:28 p.m. 70 Council Member Kimball presented an overview of the proposed Hāmākua Trails 71 Program Feasibility Study. The presentation described a potential multimodal trail 72 corridor connecting Hāmākua communities while highlighting historic plantation 73 infrastructure, cultural resources, recreational opportunities, economic development 74 potential, and alternate emergency evacuation routes. Council Member Kimball 75 emphasized that the project is currently limited to a feasibility study and that no trail 76 construction is being proposed at this stage. 77 The proposed feasibility study would evaluate existing corridors, cultural and 78 environmental resources, public safety considerations, emergency preparedness 79 opportunities, land ownership and access issues, stakeholder engagement, 80 conceptual engineering requirements, trailhead locations, and potential funding 81 sources. The study would also identify implementation strategies and long-term 82 maintenance considerations. 83 During the presentation, significant audio and connectivity issues affected both in-84 person and remote participants. Several portions of the presentation were interrupted 85 due to loss of audio while presentation slides were being shared. Staff and participants 86 worked to troubleshoot the issues, and Council Member Kimball ultimately continued 87 with reduced use of screen sharing to improve connection quality. 88 Committee members requested copies of the feasibility study materials and discussed 89 public access, easements, landowner participation, infrastructure costs, maintenance 90 responsibilities, parking, restroom facilities, and the potential use of e-bikes along the 91 trail. Council Member Kimball indicated that the feasibility study would address these 92 issues and that public and private funding opportunities would be explored. No 93 testimony was received and no action was taken. 94 4. Hawaiʻi County Council Bill 66 (Draft 2) – The AC will discuss Bill 66 (Draft 2) 95 and may take action, including the consideration of submitting testimony. [SEE 96 YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 56:17] 97 The Committee received an update regarding Bill 66, Draft 2, which would adopt the 98 Hawaiʻi County General Plan 2045. Staff reported that the County Council had 99 approved the measure earlier that day and that it would next be transmitted to the 100 Mayor for consideration. Committee members discussed whether the Action 101 Committee should submit a letter encouraging the Mayor to sign the bill. Discussion 102 focused on the extensive public testimony received throughout the General Plan 103 HĀMĀKUA CDP ACTION COMMITTEE Minutes of June 3, 2026 4 process, opportunities for future amendments, and concerns previously raised by the 104 Committee regarding various sections of the plan. Council Member Kimball shared 105 observations from the County Council hearing and stated her understanding that 106 future amendments would likely be pursued after adoption of the General Plan. 107 Members discussed the importance of remaining engaged in future amendment 108 discussions and ensuring that community concerns continue to be represented. No 109 motion was made and no action was taken. 110 Kevin Hill testimony [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 1:11:20] 111 PUBLIC TESTIMONY ON MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA 112 Christian Baker testimony on General Plan 2045. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 113 1:27:05] 114 A discussion followed between Mr. Baker, Council Member Kimball, and Committee 115 members regarding the General Plan amendment process, local land use authority, 116 special permit approvals, and efforts to restrict or prohibit AI data centers through 117 future legislation and zoning amendments. Committee members emphasized the 118 importance of continued community involvement in future planning and land use 119 decisions. 120 THIRD-PARTY REPORTS; GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS 121 No reports were provided. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 1:26:30] 122 PROPOSED NEW BUSINESS 123 • Abandoned houses 124 • Houseless encampment area near the Honokaʻa Post Office 125 • Possible Amendments to the GP 126 [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 1:44:20] 127 ANNOUNCEMENTS 128 • Hawaiʻi County has received the Tree City USA designation in recognition of its 129 commitment to urban forestry, tree stewardship, and community investment in 130 maintaining and expanding tree resources throughout the county. 131 • The Environmental Notice: Halepōhaku Fuel Storage System Upgrade – Final EA 132 (FONSI) – Proposed by the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo to upgrade the fuel storage 133 system at Halepōhaku (Hāmākua, TMK: 4-4-015:012). The project involves 134 replacing underground storage tanks with aboveground tanks to meet regulatory 135 requirements and support ongoing Maunakea operations. 136 HĀMĀKUA CDP ACTION COMMITTEE Minutes of June 3, 2026 5 • The Planning Department is seeking applicants for the Hāmākua CDP Action 137 Committee and requests assistance to get the word out to interested community 138 members. The application can be found on the Mayor’s office website 139 at: https://www.hawaiicounty.gov/our-county/boards-and-commissions/boards-140 and-commissions-application 141 ADJOURNMENT 142 Chair Maikui adjourned this meeting at 6:51 p.m. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 1:50:55] 143 These minutes and all related documents are available in the Planning Department’s 144 Hāmākua Community Development Plan Action Committee folder via the County of 145 Hawaiʻi Public Documents Repository. These documents may also be requested from the 146 Planning Department by calling (808) 961-8288 or emailing CDP@hawaiicounty.gov. 147