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Home My WebLink About2026-06-03 HCDP Minutes Final HĀMĀKUA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 1 ACTION COMMITTEE 2 COUNTY OF HAWAIʻI 3 4 FINAL 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, Ben Dalauidao, and 14 Leonard Luiz 15 Members Present (via Zoom): Tisha Mahealani Maikui (Chair), Maile Lavea-Malloe (Vice 16 Chair) 17 Members Absent: Brad Kurokawa 18 County Staff (in person): Jeffrey Deason, Maryam Palma, and Jessica Lahip 19 County Staff (via Zoom): Janice Hata 20 There were approximately thirteen (13) members of the public in attendance – five (5) in 21 person and eight (8) via Zoom. 22 APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES 23 Committee member Keeney moved to approve the April 1, 2026 draft meeting minutes. 24 The motion was seconded by committee member Nishimoto and passed unanimously. 25 [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 7:06] 26 PUBLIC TESTIMONY ON AGENDA ITEMS 27 No public testimony was received at this time. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 9:44] 28 BUSINESS: 29 1. Teppy Mountain Application (PL-SPP-2024-000075) Permitted Interaction 30 Group Report – The group members will provide their report of the testimony they 31 provided at the recent Windward Planning Commission Special meeting. The 32 HĀMĀKUA CDP ACTION COMMITTEE Minutes of June 3, 2026 2 committee may vote to dissolve the permitted interaction group if no further action 33 is expected. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 11:59] 34 Chair Maikui called this item to order at 5:16 p.m. 35 Staff clarified that the purpose of the agenda item was to receive the report and that 36 no further action was required at this time. Staff further explained that the permitted 37 interaction group (PIG) would effectively dissolve following the presentation of its 38 report unless future action was directed by the Committee at a subsequent meeting. 39 Jim McMamon provided testimony and thanked the committee members who 40 participated in drafting testimony and explained that he and his wife had intervened in 41 the contested case proceedings. He expressed concerns regarding the use of 42 agricultural lands for industrial-type activities and discussed the Windward Planning 43 Commission's approval of the Falls on Fire annual festival and heavy equipment 44 baseyard. The testifier stated that community members often have limited awareness 45 of special permit applications and emphasized the importance of public involvement. 46 Additional concerns included public safety impacts, noise, and the removal of a 47 proposed permit condition that would have limited amplified music after 9:00 p.m. 48 Committee members briefly discussed whether permit conditions adequately 49 addressed community concerns. No action was taken. 50 Jim Mcmahon testimony [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 12:55] 51 2. Kaiwilahilahi Stream Bridge Repair – The Action Committee will discuss 52 sending a formal letter to the Department of Public Works Engineering Division 53 requesting an update on the Kaiwilahilahi Stream Bridge Repair Project. [SEE 54 YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 19:51] 55 Chair Maikui called this item to order at 5:24 p.m. 56 Council Member Heather Kimball provided an update received from the Department 57 of Public Works (DPW), reporting that repairs to four bridge columns remained 58 underway and that additional structural damage discovered during construction had 59 extended the project schedule. The anticipated completion date has been revised to 60 the end of 2026. Council Member Kimball also shared that DPW continues to explore 61 options for reopening a portion of the bridge to pedestrian traffic to assist residents of 62 the nearby senior housing facility in accessing services located across the stream. 63 Committee members expressed appreciation for the update. No testimony was 64 received, and no action was taken. 65 3. Hāmākua Trails Program Review Feasibility Study – Presentation by Council 66 Member Heather Kimball on the proposed Hāmākua trail project, including an 67 overview of the proposed route and a discussion to gather committee input on the 68 HĀMĀKUA CDP ACTION COMMITTEE Minutes of June 3, 2026 3 development of the feasibility study scope of work. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 69 22:51] 70 Chair Maikui called this item to order at 5:28 p.m. 71 Council Member Kimball presented an overview of the proposed Hāmākua Trails 72 Program Feasibility Study. The presentation described a potential multimodal trail 73 corridor connecting Hāmākua communities while highlighting historic plantation 74 infrastructure, cultural resources, recreational opportunities, economic development 75 potential, and alternate emergency evacuation routes. Council Member Kimball 76 emphasized that the project is currently limited to a feasibility study and that no trail 77 construction is being proposed at this stage. 78 The proposed feasibility study would evaluate existing corridors, cultural and 79 environmental resources, public safety considerations, emergency preparedness 80 opportunities, land ownership and access issues, stakeholder engagement, 81 conceptual engineering requirements, trailhead locations, and potential funding 82 sources. The study would also identify implementation strategies and long-term 83 maintenance considerations. 84 During the presentation, significant audio and connectivity issues affected both in-85 person and remote participants. Several portions of the presentation were interrupted 86 due to loss of audio while presentation slides were being shared. Staff and participants 87 worked to troubleshoot the issues, and Council Member Kimball ultimately continued 88 with reduced use of screen sharing to improve connection quality. 89 Committee members requested copies of the feasibility study materials and discussed 90 public access, easements, landowner participation, infrastructure costs, maintenance 91 responsibilities, parking, restroom facilities, and the potential use of e-bikes along the 92 trail. Council Member Kimball indicated that the feasibility study would address these 93 issues and that public and private funding opportunities would be explored. No 94 testimony was received and no action was taken. 95 4. Hawaiʻi County Council Bill 66 (Draft 2) – The AC will discuss Bill 66 (Draft 2) 96 and may take action, including the consideration of submitting testimony. [SEE 97 YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 56:17] 98 The Committee received an update regarding Bill 66, Draft 2, which would adopt the 99 Hawaiʻi County General Plan 2045. Staff reported that the County Council had 100 approved the measure earlier that day and that it would next be transmitted to the 101 Mayor for consideration. Committee members discussed whether the Action 102 Committee should submit a letter encouraging the Mayor to sign the bill. Discussion 103 focused on the extensive public testimony received throughout the General Plan 104 HĀMĀKUA CDP ACTION COMMITTEE Minutes of June 3, 2026 4 process, opportunities for future amendments, and concerns previously raised by the 105 Committee regarding various sections of the plan. Council Member Kimball shared 106 observations from the County Council hearing and stated her understanding that 107 future amendments would likely be pursued after adoption of the General Plan. 108 Members discussed the importance of remaining engaged in future amendment 109 discussions and ensuring that community concerns continue to be represented. No 110 motion was made and no action was taken. 111 Kevin Hill testimony [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 1:11:20] 112 PUBLIC TESTIMONY ON MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA 113 Christian Baker testimony on General Plan 2045. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 114 1:27:05] 115 A discussion followed between Mr. Baker, Council Member Kimball, and Committee 116 members regarding the General Plan amendment process, local land use authority, 117 special permit approvals, and efforts to restrict or prohibit AI data centers through 118 future legislation and zoning amendments. Committee members emphasized the 119 importance of continued community involvement in future planning and land use 120 decisions. 121 THIRD-PARTY REPORTS; GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS 122 No reports were provided. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 1:26:30] 123 PROPOSED NEW BUSINESS 124 • Abandoned houses 125 • Houseless encampment area near the Honokaʻa Post Office 126 • Possible Amendments to the GP 127 [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 1:44:20] 128 ANNOUNCEMENTS 129 • Hawaiʻi County has received the Tree City USA designation in recognition of its 130 commitment to urban forestry, tree stewardship, and community investment in 131 maintaining and expanding tree resources throughout the county. 132 • The Environmental Notice: Halepōhaku Fuel Storage System Upgrade – Final EA 133 (FONSI) – Proposed by the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo to upgrade the fuel storage 134 system at Halepōhaku (Hāmākua, TMK: 4-4-015:012). The project involves 135 replacing underground storage tanks with aboveground tanks to meet regulatory 136 requirements and support ongoing Maunakea operations. 137 HĀMĀKUA CDP ACTION COMMITTEE Minutes of June 3, 2026 5 • The Planning Department is seeking applicants for the Hāmākua CDP Action 138 Committee and requests assistance to get the word out to interested community 139 members. The application can be found on the Mayor’s office website 140 at: https://www.hawaiicounty.gov/our-county/boards-and-commissions/boards-141 and-commissions-application 142 ADJOURNMENT 143 Chair Maikui adjourned this meeting at 6:51 p.m. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 1:50:55] 144 These minutes and all related documents are available in the Planning Department’s 145 Hāmākua Community Development Plan Action Committee folder via the County of 146 Hawaiʻi Public Documents Repository. These documents may also be requested from the 147 Planning Department by calling (808) 961-8288 or emailing CDP@hawaiicounty.gov. 148