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Home My WebLink About2026-10-22 PCDP Agenda Final County of Hawai‘i PUNA 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 Vacant Jennifer Scheffel Gary Rosenberg Jaylyn Rose Brendlen Melissa Leilani DeMello, Vice Chair Stephanie Bath Leila Kealoha Susan Osborne, Chair Frances Brewer NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN of the following matters to be considered by the Puna 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 and by Interactive Conference Technology (ICT) through Zoom. DATE: Thursday, October 22, 2026 TIME: 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. LOCATION: Keaʻau Community Center 16-186 Pili Mua Street Keaʻau, Hawaiʻi 96749 ZOOM: https://www.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/MZBcLzdJSDGy75KvjzXbig 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. Although not required, to ensure timely delivery of written testimony to committee members, it is requested that written testimony be submitted by 4:30 p.m. at least two business days prior to the meeting via email to CDP@hawaiicounty.gov. Please specify the agenda item for which written testimony is being submitted. All written testimony will be a part of the public record and may be submitted by email or hard copy. Hard copy submissions should include one original and nine copies. 2 AGENDA I. CALL TO ORDER & ROLL CALL II. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES: The AC will consider approving the draft minutes from the April 23, 2026 meeting. A meeting record was prepared for the August 27, 2026 meeting, as quorum was not established and no official business could be conducted. III. PUBLIC TESTIMONY ON AGENDA ITEMS: Pursuant to Section 92-3, HRS, interested persons may provide oral testimony either at this time or when the applicable agenda item is called. IV. 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 provides notice of decision-making on the matter. V. BUSINESS 1. Council District 4 Updates – Council Member Ashley Kierkiewicz: Council Member Kierkiewicz will provide updates on district initiatives and priorities, which may include native plants, ahupuaʻa markers, the Town Revitalization Fund, recovery efforts and related legislation, the County’s information technology (IT) audit, and the Smoke It Up initiative. The AC may discuss these initiatives and consider recommendations or other action related to the identified topics. 2. Pāhoa Village Ordinances and Role of the Puna CDP Action Committee: The AC will discuss the recently adopted Ordinance No. 26-56 and Ordinance No. 26-57, which affects Pāhoa Village, including potential implications for implementation of the Puna Community Development Plan and the Action Committee’s advisory role. 3. Road Connectivity Update: Update regarding road connectivity matters within the Puna District, including the status of current or proposed roadway connections, related planning or coordination efforts, and anticipated next steps. Discussion and possible action. 4. Letter of Support for Disaster Recovery and Mitigation Staff: The AC will discuss and consider a proposed draft letter supporting recovery efforts in the Puna District, including recovery priorities relevant to the Puna Community Development Plan. The Committee may consider approving the letter, proposing revisions, and authorizing its transmittal to appropriate agencies or officials. 5. Letter of Support for Community Planning Staff: The AC will discuss and consider a proposed draft letter supporting staffing resources for the implementation and administration of Community Development Plans, including the Puna CDP. The Committee may consider approving the letter, proposing revisions, and authorizing its transmittal to appropriate County officials. 6. Agricultural Development and Community-Based Economic Initiatives in Hawaiian Acres: Discussion regarding opportunities to advance agricultural development and local food production in Hawaiian Acres, consistent with the Puna 3 Community Development Plan, Section 3.2 Agriculture and Economic Development. The AC will consider a member’s proposal to explore coordination with State agencies to develop a technology-supported, coordinated small-farm model. Discussion may include opportunities to support agricultural production on individual properties, explore productive uses and improved stormwater management along private roads, complete renovations to the Hawaiian Acres Community Center, and expand the facility’s role in supporting local economic development. The Committee may consider recommendations, potential partnerships, and appropriate next steps to advance these initiatives. VI. PUBLIC TESTIMONY ON MATTERS NOT ON AGENDA VII. PROPOSED NEW BUSINESS: The AC will discuss potential agenda items for future meetings. VIII. ANNOUNCEMENTS • The County of Hawaiʻi invites Puna residents to participate in a community survey launched as part of the Puna Alternate Route Study. The online survey seeks to gather public input on travel patterns in and out of Puna, existing transportation conditions and concerns, and emergency access and resilience. Responses will help inform the Puna Alternate Route Study, funded by the County and State of Hawaiʻi. The study will identify potential alternate routes to alleviate traffic congestion in Puna. The survey can be found at https://punaalternateroute.org. As the study moves forward, the website will be updated to include additional information, including public meeting notices and draft route alignments. • The Planning Department is seeking applicants for the Puna CDP AC. The application can be found on the Mayor’s office website at: https://www.hawaiicounty.gov/our-county/boards-and-commissions IX. ADJOURNMENT NOTICE: This agenda and all related documents are available in the Planning Department’s Puna Community Development Plan Action Committee folder via the County of Hawaiʻi Public Documents Repository: https://records.hawaiicounty.gov/Weblink/1/fol/13985/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 4 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: PUNA CDP ACTION COMMITTEE SUSAN OSBORNE, Chair