HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-07-28 Ka'ū CDP Meeting Packet
County of Hawai‘i
KAʻŪ COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN ACTION COMMITTEE
Aupuni Center • 101 Pauahi Street, Suite 3 • Hilo, Hawaiʻi 96720
(808) 961-8288 • Fax (808) 961-8742
C. Kimo Alameda, Ph.D. Mayor
David Kuahiwinui Kaʻohinani Mokuhaliʻi, Vice Chair Taylor Spurgeon Babette Morrow Jason Masters, Chair Vacant Catherine Williams Kaweni Ibarra Gary Davis
NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN of the following matters to be considered by the Kaʻū Community
Development Plan (CDP) Action Committee (AC) in accordance with the provisions of Sections
92-3.7 and 92-7, Hawaiʻi Revised Statutes (HRS). This meeting will be held in person at the location listed in this notice by Interactive Conference Technology (ICT) through Zoom.
DATE: Tuesday, July 28, 2026
TIME: 5:00 P.M . – 7:00 P.M.
LOCATION: Nāʻālehu Community Center
95-5635 Mamalahoa Hwy Nāʻālehu, HI 96772
ZOOM: https://www.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/4n2SYDHFREyXRuNi2XJzOw
INTERACTIVE CONFERENCE TECHNOLOGY (ICT): A meeting held by ICT shall be
automatically recessed for up to 30 minutes to restore communication when audiovisual
communication cannot be maintained with all members participating in the meeting or with the in-person location identified in this notice. The meeting may reconvene when either audiovisual communication is restored, or audio-only communication is established after an unsuccessful attempt to restore audiovisual communication. If it is not possible to reconvene the meeting as
provided in this subsection within 30 minutes after an interruption to communication, the meeting will be automatically terminated.
PUBLIC TESTIMONY: The public may provide oral testimony at the meeting by joining Zoom or attending in-person at the physical location listed above. Although not required, to register in advance for oral testimony please contact staff at CDP@hawaiicounty.gov or (808) 961-
8288. Interested persons who want to provide oral testimony may do so either at the time the committee takes public statements on the agenda, or at the time the specific agenda item is called. Please note that public testimony may be limited to three (3) minutes in length per agenda item. Testimony may be submitted via email to CDP@hawaiicounty.gov or in person
at the Hilo or Kona Planning Department. Please specify the agenda item for which the
testimony is being submitted. All written testimony will become part of the public record. Hard copy submissions should include one original and nine copies.
AGENDA
I. CALL TO ORDER & ROLL CALL
II. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES: The AC will consider approving the draft minutes from May 26, 2026.
III. PUBLIC TESTIMONY ON AGENDA ITEMS: Pursuant to Section 92-3, HRS, interested persons may provide oral testimony now, or when the specific agenda item is called.
IV. ANNOUNCEMENTS:
• Public Meeting Decorum Guidance by Jean Campbell, Office of the Corporation Counsel, regarding Communication 2026-13, CC Memo 2026-3: General Guidance Regarding Unruly or Disruptive Conduct During Public Meetings.
• Bill 147 Update by Chair Masters relating to transient accommodations and short-term vacation rentals, including proposed definitions and potential impacts. V. BUSINESS:
Non-Action Items
1. Ingress and Egress at Green Sands and Mark Twain Subdivisions Regarding Kaʻū CDP Policy 118, Section 5.7.2. – Report by Committee Members Morrow and Williams regarding status of letter from Hawaii Fire Department to Green Sands and Mark Twain subdivisions property owners requesting permission for an emergency
access easement.
2. Information on County of Hawaiʻi Acquisition of Punaluʻu Beach Park through Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources Preservation Commission (PONC) – Informational presentation by Chair Masters regarding County acquisition through PONC of 6.622 acres in Punaluʻu.
Action Items
3. Kaʻū CDP Section 7.1 Develop and Implement Plans for Punaluʻu – Discussion and deliberation regarding the creation of a Permitted Interaction Group (P.I.G.) to conduct outreach to Punaluʻu landowners, gather their perspectives on Councilmember Michelle Galimba's Punaluʻu Survey results, and report those
findings back to the Action Committee.
4. The Nature Conservancy (TNC) Request for CDP Guidance on the Hīlea Property PONC Application – Brief presentation by TNC representative, Shalan Crysdale, followed by Action Committee discussion and deliberation regarding TNC’s request for CDP guidance on the protection of Makanau and adjecent lands.
VI. PUBLIC TESTIMONY ON MATTERS NOT ON AGENDA
VII. THIRD-PARTY REPORTS; GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS: The AC may receive and discuss information from third-party reports by any government official not included in a publicly noticed agenda. The AC may only make decisions on matters originally raised by third-party reports from any government official at a later meeting, where the agenda
for the meeting gives notice of decision-making on the matter.
VIII. PROPOSED NEW BUSINESS: The AC will discuss potential agenda items for future
meetings.
IX. ADJOURNMENT
NOTICE: This agenda and all related documents are available in the Planning Department’s Kaʻū Community Development Plan Action Committee folder via the County of Hawaiʻi Public Documents Repository:
https://records.hawaiicounty.gov/weblink/1/fol/88959/Row1.aspx.
These documents may also be requested from the Planning Department by calling (808) 961-8288 or emailing cdp@hawaiicounty.gov. The recorded video of this meeting will be uploaded to the Planning Department’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@cohplanningdepartment
A person desiring to submit oral or written testimony shall indicate their name and whether the testimony is on their behalf or as a representative of an organization or individual. Anyone who requires an auxiliary aid or service, other reasonable modification, or language interpretation to access this meeting please contact the Planning Department at (808) 961-8288 or cdp@hawaiicounty.gov as soon as possible to arrange for accommodations. If a response is
received after the five-business days deadline, we will try to obtain the auxiliary aid/service or accommodation, but we cannot guarantee that the request will be fulfilled. “Other reasonable modification” refers to communication methods or devices for people with disabilities who are mentally and/or physically challenged. Upon request, this notice is available in alternate formats such as large print, Braille, or electronic copy.
If you are a lobbyist, you must register with the Hawai‘i County Clerk within five days of becoming a lobbyist. (Article 15, Section 2-91.3(b), Hawai‘i County Code). A lobbyist means, “any individual engaged for pay or other consideration who spends more than five hours in any month or $275 in any six-month period for the purpose of attempting to influence legislative or administrative action by communicating or urging others to communicate with public officials.”
(Article 15, Section 2-91.3(a)(6), Hawai‘i County Code). Registration forms and expenditure report documents are available at the Office of the County Clerk-Council, 25 Aupuni Street, Hilo, Hawai‘i 96720.
Meeting Packet QR Code: KAʻŪ CDP ACTION COMMITTEE JASON MASTERS, Chair
KAʻŪ COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 1 ACTION COMMITTEE 2
COUNTY OF HAWAIʻI 3
DRAFT MINUTES 4
May 26, 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 5:05 p.m. This meeting was held in person at the 8
Nāʻālehu Community Center 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=SQ-LITlcJ2g 11
Roll Call 12
Members Present (in person): 13
• Jason Masters, Chair 14
• Kaʻohinani Mokuhaliʻi, Vice Chair 15
• David Kuahiwinui 16
• Taylor Spurgeon 17
• Gary Davis 18
• Catherine Williams 19
• Kaweni Ibarra 20
Members Present (via Zoom): Babette Morrow 21
Planning Department Staff Present: 22
• Maryam Palma (in person) 23
• Kawelo Kalili (in person) 24
• Jessica Lahip (Zoom) 25
Other County Representatives Present (in person): 26
• Michelle Galimba, Council Member 27
• Neil Azevedo, Department of Public Works Deputy Director 28
• Talmadge Magno, Department of Civil Defense Administrator 29
• Lori Enomoto, Office of Aging Acting Administrative Services Assistant 30
Other County Representatives Present (via Zoom): 31
• Kaʻuionalani Fukuda, Office of Aging County Executive 32
There were approximately 15 members of the public in attendance (5 in person and 10 33
via Zoom). 34
KAʻŪ CDP ACTION COMMITTEE Minutes of May 26, 2026 2
Approval of Minutes 35
Committee Member Williams moved to approve the draft minutes of the March 24, 2026, 36 meeting. Vice Chair Mokuhaliʻi seconded the motion. The motion was passed 37
unanimously. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 2:48] 38
Public Testimony on Agenda Items 39
Chair Masters called for public testimony on agenda items. No public testimony was 40 provided at this time. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 3:35] 41
Business 42
Action Items 43
1. Ingress and Egress at Green Sands and Mark Twain Subdivisions Regarding Kaʻū 44 CDP Policy 118, Section 5.7.2. – Update and discussion by Committee Members 45 Morrow and Willams. The AC may take action, including consideration of drafting a letter 46
to property owners. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 4:34] 47
Committee Member Williams provided background on the item and summarized 48
information regarding emergency access between the Green Sands and Mark Twain 49
subdivisions. The Committee discussed prior map review, potential access routes, and 50
the need for emergency ingress/egress in the event of wildfire or other emergency 51
conditions. 52
Committee Member Williams reported that the issue had originally been raised by 53 Volunteer Fire Captain, Ron Ebert, who previously identified fire-safety concerns 54 including narrow roads, limited egress to Highway 11, and water-access challenges for 55 firefighters. Captain Ebert has since moved away and is no longer available to assist 56
with the effort. 57
Committee Members Morrow and Williams reached out to the Ocean View Fire Captain, 58
who explained that the Nā‘ālehu station is ambulance-only and that the Pāhala Fire 59
Station oversees the Nā‘ālehu area. The Ocean View Fire Captain referred them to 60
Pāhala Fire Captain Daniel Dierking, who has knowledge of the issue and indicated a 61
willingness to assist with drafting a letter to affected property owners. 62
The Committee discussed that the goal is to pursue an access easement for emergency 63
access by the Fire Department only, not to open the route for public use. Committee 64
Members Kuahiwinui and Davis encouraged the AC to speak with the affected 65
neighborhoods before making a proposal. 66
KAʻŪ CDP ACTION COMMITTEE Minutes of May 26, 2026 3
Bill Savage, Mark Twain subdivision resident, provided testimony stating that access 67 through private property already exists and had been opened during a previous fire event. 68 He explained that the gate had historically been closed due to liability concerns and said 69
that, if the intent is to formalize emergency-only access, affected property owners and 70
residents should be consulted. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 12:33] 71
The AC discussed options for notifying the subdivisions, including posting notices on 72
community bulletin boards, posting the next meeting agenda, and inviting residents from 73
both Green Sands and Mark Twain to attend the next meeting. Members agreed that 74
the next step should be to notify the affected communities, draft a letter in coordination 75
with the Fire Department, and invite Pāhala Fire Captain Dierking to participate in the 76
next discussion. 77
Vice Chair Mokuhaliʻi moved to authorize Committee Members Morrow and Williams to 78
draft a letter with and from the Fire Department to property owners in both Mark Twain 79
and Green Sands, and to invite the affected communities and the Pāhala Fire Captain 80
to the next meeting for the AC to review the letter. Jason seconded the motion. The 81
motion passed unanimously. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 23:59] 82
Non-Action Items 83
Chair Masters moved Business Items 3 and 4 to Business Item 2 and 3, respectively. 84
2. Flood Impacts Update – Report from Civil Defense Director Talmadge Magno 85
regarding the recent storm event, precipitation levels, and contributing factors to the 86
damaging flooding in Kaʻū. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 28:25] 87
Civil Defense Director Talmadge Magno reported on recent rain and flooding events 88 affecting Kaʻū, using information from the National Weather Service. He highlighted 89 three major events: the March 2026 Kona low event, the February 2023 storm event, 90 and the November 2000 remnant tropical system that severely damaged bridges and 91
infrastructure. 92
Director Magno explained that the geography of Hawaiʻi Island, including Mauna Loa’s 93 elevation and south-wind moisture patterns, can cause heavy rainfall to remain over 94 Kaʻū and produce extreme localized flooding. He stated that recent storms produced 95 rainfall in the range of approximately 25 to 30 inches in some areas, while the 2000 96
event produced nearly 40 inches in places and caused significant infrastructure 97
damage. 98
Director Magno emphasized personal and community preparedness, including 99 understanding local vulnerabilities, recognizing where flooding occurs, and signing up 100 for Civil Defense alerts through Everbridge (https://hawaii-county-civil-defense-agency-101
hawaiicountygis.hub.arcgis.com/pages/alerts). He also noted that, following the 102
presidential disaster declaration, a Community Assistance Center opened at the 103 Nā‘ālehu Library and was expected to operate through June 12, 2026, with agencies 104 such as FEMA, the Small Business Administration, Vibrant Hawaiʻi, NRCS, and other 105 partners available to assist residents and farmers with claims and recovery resources. 106
KAʻŪ CDP ACTION COMMITTEE Minutes of May 26, 2026 4
107
3. Department of Public Works Update – Report by Department of Public Works 108
Deputy Director Neil Azevedo regarding South Point Road street signage and storm 109
impacts in Kaʻū. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 51:56] 110
Department of Public Works Director Neil Azevedo reported on the Kona Low storm-111
response and recovery work, including removal of debris from flood channels, drone 112
review of flooded areas, repair and maintenance of drainage facilities, and continued 113 work to understand why water moved through particular locations during the event. He 114 stated that approximately 2,600 cubic yards of material remained in one area and that 115 crews had been hauling significant amounts of material daily. 116
Director Azavedo discussed impacts to drainage infrastructure, culverts, and bridges, 117
including a trailer or debris blocking drainage during the storm. He stated that Public 118 Works crews would continue cleaning and maintaining drainage channels, removing 119 debris, and preparing contracts for additional work. He also stated that the department 120 would follow up regarding road/street signs. 121
4. Punaluʻu Survey – Report by Councilmember Michelle Galimba regarding Punaluʻu 122 Survey results: https://www.rd.hawaiicounty.gov/data-information/punalu-u-123 community-survey [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 1:00:04] 124
Councilmember Michelle Galimba reported on the Punaluʻu survey results and stated 125 that the full results and comments were available online through a website and QR 126
code. The survey was described as a way to begin a community conversation and allow 127 anonymous input rather than a final decision-making document. 128
She referenced the Kaʻū Community Development Plan and prior community-based 129 planning work, noting that Punaluʻu has long been recognized as a complicated and 130 important place with many stakeholders, including private landowners, the State of 131
Hawaiʻi, the County of Hawaiʻi, Kamehameha Schools/Bishop Estate, and individual 132 parcel owners. Councilmember Galimba stated that Punaluʻu has often been addressed 133 only in response to development proposals and suggested that a proactive community 134 plan is needed. 135
The committee discussed the possibility of placing a Punaluʻu planning item on a future 136
agenda, potentially beginning with process questions, stakeholder identification, and the 137 role the Action Committee might play. It was noted that the Planning Department was 138 expected to have funding in the upcoming budget for facilitation and related planning 139 support. 140
Committee members and community participants expressed interest in keeping 141
Punaluʻu open and accessible, protecting natural and cultural resources, and creating 142
opportunities for local economic development and community-based businesses. 143
A member of the public asked that landowners and other stakeholders be involved 144
before any plan is developed, noting the importance of including those parties in early 145
discussions. 146
KAʻŪ CDP ACTION COMMITTEE Minutes of May 26, 2026 5
5. Office of Aging Kūpuna Survey – Report by the Hawaiʻi County Office of Aging 147 regarding its four-year Area Plan and community input efforts to help guide future 148 programs and services for Hawaiʻi Island kūpuna. 149
• Kūpuna/Caregiver survey link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/YK2XGVG 150
• Provider survey link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CMD9C2V [SEE 151
YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 1:14:14] 152
Office of Aging County Executive Kaʻuionalani Fukuda reported that the Office of Aging 153
is updating its four-year area plan and is collecting community input through two 154
surveys: a kupuna/caregiver survey and a provider survey. She explained that the state 155 develops and approves the surveys, while each county is responsible for distribution 156 and collecting input from its districts. 157
Ms. Fukuda stated that the surveys will help tailor programs and services for kupuna 158
and support funding requests. Hard-copy surveys were available, and the Office of 159
Aging is planning focus groups in each district. Staff can also assist kupuna with 160 completing surveys at focus groups, senior centers, congregate sites, or by phone 161 through the Office of Aging. The Office of Aging has reached out to Vibrant Hawaiʻi and 162 expects to coordinate with its community network and hubs as the process continues. 163
Public Testimony on Matters Not on the Agenda 164
Pursuant to Hawaiʻi Senate Bill 869 (2025), signed into law as Act 53, testimony on 165 matters not on the agenda may be limited to three minutes per speaker. No testimony 166 was provided. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 1:19:45] 167
No public testimony was provided at this time. 168
Third-Party Reports; Government Officials 169
Pursuant to Hawaiʻi Senate Bill 405 (2025), signed into law as Act 72, the AC may receive 170 and discuss information from third-party reports by any government official not included 171 in the publicly noticed agenda, but may not make decisions on matters raised through 172 such reports until a later meeting with proper notice. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 173
1:20:19] 174
Councilmember Galimba shared information regarding the Council District 6 newsletter 175 and that interested community members may email to be added to the distribution list. 176 The newsletter is expected to include resources, events, and meetings, including 177 information relevant to Kaʻū. Committee members also encouraged residents to sign up 178
for Everbridge Civil Defense alerts by phone, text, and/or email. [SEE YOUTUBE 179
TIMESTAMP: 01:20:49 180
Proposed New Business [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 01:23:32] 181
• Green Sands and Mark Twain emergency ingress and egress, including draft letter, 182
Fire Department participation, and community notification. 183
• Punaluʻu planning and community plan discussion, including discussion 184
regarding the Action Committee’s role. 185
KAʻŪ CDP ACTION COMMITTEE Minutes of May 26, 2026 6
• Bill 147 regarding transient accommodations and short-term vacation rentals, 186
definitions, and potential impacts, subject to timing and agenda capacity. 187
Announcements [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 01:31:59] 188
• The letter to Olson Trust was finalized with corrections and sent to Mr. John 189
Cross on April 2, 2026. 190
• Kaʻū Transfer Stations Updates effective June 1, 2026: 191
o Waiʻōhinu Transfer Station will transition to a Monday, Wednesday, 192
Thursday, and Saturday schedule from 6:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Wednesday 193
has been added as a new day of service. 194
o Ocean View Transfer Station will transition to a Sunday, Tuesday and 195
Friday schedule from 6:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Saturday service will be 196
discontinued. Scrap metal and appliance collection will be available on 197
Sundays. 198
• Vice Chair Kaʻohinani Mokuhaliʻi provided an update on possible DMV kiosk 199 locations in Kaʻū. She said the DMV kiosk company is currently merging with two 200
other companies, so it is not yet clear who will make the final decision on kiosk 201 locations. The company is using a demographic survey to help decide where 202 kiosks should be placed around the island. Vice Chair Mokuhaliʻi said she 203 discussed Kaʻū’s logistics with the company representative, and the company has 204 not said no. There is still a possibility that the project may move forward. 205
Adjournment 206
Chair Masters adjourned the meeting at 6:40 p.m. 207
These minutes and all related documents are available in the Planning Department’s 208 Kaʻū Community Development Plan Action Committee folder via the County of Hawaiʻi 209 Public Documents Repository. These documents may also be requested from the 210
Planning Department by calling (808) 961-8288 or emailing CDP@hawaiicounty.gov. 211
Communication No. 2026-13
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PUNALU’U BEACH F
NEGOTIATIONS The
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PUNALU’U BEACH FUTURE IN NEGOTIATIONS
The leases of three ocean-front contiguous parcels leased by the County of Hawai’i were set to expire
on June 30, 2026. Black Sand Beach LLC and the County of Hawai’i reached an agreement to extend
the leases through September 1, 2026 on June 19th.
The County of Hawai’i has leased parcels TMK 9-6-001-006 (5.992 acres), 9-6-001-011 (0.442 acre) &
9-6-001-012 (0.188 acre) for the use as a public beach park from various land owners since 1946 for
$1. The current lease was executed in 1998. The parcels contain multiple pavilions, a paved parking
lot and public restrooms totaling approximately 6.622 acres per County tax records.
Ka’ū News contacted Hawai’i County for information about the status of Punalu’u Beach. Executive
Assistant to Mayor Alemeda (Public Information Officer), Tom Callis, replied with the following:
“During lease negotiations, the County said it was interested in pursuing purchase of the leased
parcels through the County’s Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources Preservation
Commission[1] (PONC) program. That process requires the property to be appraised, and the County
has hired an appraiser in order to continue pursuing this option. Purchases through PONC require a
willing seller and the County can’t offer more than the maximum purchase price established by the
appraisal. That appraisal is expected to be done in July.”
For the properties to be eligible for purchase with PONC funds, the properties are required to
complete the PONC process. Public records indicate that the properties were nominated, reviewed
and ranked by the PONC Commission in 2006[2], in accordance with PONC requirements. Resolution
#169-07 to purchase the parcels was introduced and approved in 2007 by the Hawai’i County Council.
These 3 parcels have successfully completed the PONC process and are eligible for purchase by
Hawai’i County with PONC funds pending successful negotiations with the current owner.
Because the properties have successfully completed the PONC process, please refrain from contacting
PONC about the purchase of these parcels.
For more information about the PONC Commission and program, visit
https://www.openspace.hawaiicounty.gov/
Ka'ū News is at Punalu‘u Beach.
June 25 at 9:59 AM
Comment as Ka'ū Community Development Plan
Communication No. 2026-14
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Duke E. Ah Moo Kris Billeter Anne S. Carter Kaʻiulani de Silva Daniel J. Dunn Dave Eadie Jan Elliott Matt Emerson Hon. Judith Epstein Dr. Alan M. Friedlander Benjy Garfinkle Puni Jackson David Lassner Brett MacNaughton (Chair) Janet Montag Alicia Moy Katherine G. Richardson John R. Sabas Bradley E. Smith Julie Smolinski Vern Yamanaka
Ihupani Advisory Council: Christopher J. Benjamin Kenton T. Eldridge Eiichiro Kuwana
Duncan MacNaughton Jean E. Rolles Crystal K. Rose Nathan E. Smith
Founders: Samuel A. Cooke Herbert C. Cornuelle
The Nature Conservancy, Hawaiʻi and Palmyra
923 Nu‘uanu Avenue
Honolulu, Hawaiʻi 96817
Tel (808) 537-4508
nature.org/HawaiiPalmyra
hawaii@tnc.org
Shalan Crysdale
Director, Hawaiʻi Island Terrestrial Program The Nature Conservancy 5/26/2026
Kaʻū Community Development Plan Action Committee
Subject: Request for Guidance and Support – Protection of Makanau and Adjacent Lands
Dear Members of the Kaʻū Community Development Plan Action Committee,
Aloha and mahalo for your continued leadership in advancing the Kaʻū Community Development Plan (CDP) and its vision for mālama ʻāina and community stewardship.
The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is currently pursuing the protection of a 1,916-acre property in Kaʻū that includes Makanau, a prominent hill specifically identified in the CDP as being vulnerable to development and in need of conservation. As noted under Focused Initiative 4.2, Community Action 2, Makanau—along with Puʻu ʻEnuhe—is recognized as “relatively unprotected from development” and a priority for securing “in public trust (fee simple or by easement)” to achieve community objectives.
Our effort is directly aligned with the needs and immediate next steps outlined in Initiative 4.2, including:
•Protecting priority lands through acquisition or conservation easements
•Supporting the work of organizations such as TNC and other land trusts
•Advancing nominations and recommendations for conservation through mechanisms such asthe Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources Preservation Commission (PONC)
•Engaging landowners in long-term protection strategies
Given this strong alignment, we respectfully seek the Action Committee’s manaʻo, guidance, and potential support for this effort. Specifically, we would greatly value:
•Affirmation that protection of this property is consistent with CDP priorities under Initiative 4.2
•Any recommendations regarding community engagement, cultural considerations, orstewardship approaches
•Consideration of formal support, such as a letter or resolution, consistent with the Committee’srole in advocating for priority lands
•Guidance on coordination with partners and agencies identified in the CDP
Communication No. 2026-15
The Nature Conservancy, Hawaiʻi and Palmyra
May 26, 2026
Page 2
We recognize that the CDP calls for the Action Committee to provide leadership by affirming priorities, supporting conservation partnerships, and advocating for protection of critical lands such as Makanau. We believe this project represents a timely opportunity to advance those objectives in a meaningful and lasting way.
TNC remains committed to working in close partnership with the Kaʻū community to ensure that conservation outcomes reflect local values, cultural significance, and long-term resource stewardship goals.
We would welcome any opportunity to brief the Committee and provide additional details on the project. Mahalo for your consideration, and we look forward to your guidance.
With respect and appreciation,
Shalan Crysdale Director, Hawaiʻi Island Terrestrial Program The Nature Conservancy