HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-10-10 Claresa Lynn Makalapua Asuncion Support
From: Claresa Asuncion
To: Planning LPC Testimony
Date: Saturday, October 10, 2026 7:38:45 AM
Aloha Kakahiaka,
ʻO wau Claresa Lynn Makalapua Asuncion. Noho au Keaʻau Ahupuaʻu. ʻO Mauna a
Wākea kuʻu mauna. Currently, I have ʻohana that live in Kealakekua Auhupuaʻa. I am
submitting testimony in strong support of Bill 170 and urging the Leeward Planning
Commission to recommend a stronger definition of "hyperscale data center" before
sending it back to the County Council.
The original bill defines a data center using subjective language that a developer's
attorney can argue around in court. I am asking the commission to recommend a
definition that is objective and airtight, grounded in what the facility physically contains
and how much power it draws.
Specifically I am asking the commission to recommend this language:
"Hyperscale data center means any facility or campus of facilities whose primary
purpose is the housing, operation, or co-location of computer servers, networking
equipment, and associated cooling, power, and support infrastructure, including but not
limited to servers, network equipment and appliances, telecommunications equipment,
data storage systems, systems for monitoring and managing infrastructure performance,
environmental controls, fire protection systems, security systems, electrical substations,
generators, and redundant power supplies; and which requires or is designed to require
20 megawatts or more of electrical capacity at full build-out. This definition includes a
single facility and any campus of multiple facilities on contiguous or adjacent parcels
under common ownership or control whose combined electrical demand meets or
exceeds 20 megawatts. This term includes facilities commonly described as large-scale,
hyperscale, neocloud, and artificial intelligence data centers and colocation campuses.
This term does not include telecommunications facilities regulated under Section 25-4-
12, hospital or government data systems, university educational and research facilities,
or business offices in which servers are incidental to the primary use."
The 20 megawatt threshold draws a clear definition that cannot be disputed. The campus
language ensures a developer cannot manipulate that threshold by building multiple
smaller facilities side by side on adjacent parcels under common ownership. Together
these two elements make the prohibition meaningful and durable.
As a kanaka maoli and steward of this ʻAina, I demand that the powers at be take action
to protect our āina, keiki and future generations. Recommend these clear and strong
definitions of data centers for this bill. Do what is pono. Ua mau ke ea o ka ʻāina i ka
pono. Mahalo nui.
--
Kūʻe,
Claresa Lynn Makalapua Asuncion
Keaʻau Ahupua’a
Peace, Love & Aloha, Claresa