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Home My WebLink About2026-08-05 HCDP Minutes Final HĀMĀKUA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 1 ACTION COMMITTEE 2 COUNTY OF HAWAIʻI 3 4 DRAFT MINUTES 5 August 5, 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 Paʻauilo Elementary and Intermediate School and online via the 10 Zoom platform. 11 The full YouTube video of this meeting can be found here: 12 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2M6KLmzAVg 13 ROLL CALL 14 Members Present (in person): Tisha Mahealani Maikui (Chair), Tawn Keeney, and 15 Jonathan Zeichner 16 Members Present (via Zoom): Maile Lavea-Malloe (Vice Chair) and Robert Nishimoto 17 Members Absent: Brad Kurokawa, Leonard Luiz, and Ben Dalauidao 18 County Staff (in person): Janice Hata and Jessica Lahip 19 County Staff (via Zoom): Kawelo Kalili 20 There was approximately one member of the public in attendance via Zoom. 21 APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES 22 Committee Member Keeney moved to approve the June 3, 2026 draft meeting minutes 23 with a correction to add Committee Member Leonard Luiz, whose name was inadvertently 24 omitted from the minutes. Vice Chair Lavea-Malloe seconded the motion. The motion 25 passed unanimously. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 4:58] 26 PUBLIC TESTIMONY ON AGENDA ITEMS 27 No public testimony was received at this time. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 7:34] 28 BUSINESS: 29 1. Fire Hazard Concerns Related to Abandoned and Unsafe Structure – 30 Presentation from Hawaiʻi County Fire Department regarding the identification and 31 HĀMĀKUA CDP ACTION COMMITTEE Minutes of August 5, 2026 2 reporting of abandoned or unsafe structures that may pose fire risks hazards. [SEE 32 YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 8:46 & 1:16:16] 33 Chair Maikui called this item to order at 6:20 p.m. 34 Chair Maikui deferred the item until Hawaiʻi County Fire Department representative Royd 35 Henderson joined the meeting by Zoom. 36 Henderson discussed the Fire Department’s challenges with abandoned or unsafe 37 structures, vacant land, overgrown vegetation, and large unmanaged parcels, including 38 difficulties identifying property owners and accessing private property. He emphasized the 39 importance of community-based wildfire prevention, including neighborhood cleanups, 40 working with landowners and the Hawaiʻi Wildfire Management Organization (HWMO), 41 maintaining defensible space and roadways, improving emergency access, and making 42 sure residents know their evacuation routes and have emergency supplies. 43 Henderson also discussed the Fire Department’s efforts to document property 44 information, including gates and access codes, and identify alternative water sources 45 such as tanks, ponds, and reservoirs for firefighting. Committee members asked about 46 recent fires below Paʻauilo and the possibility of an arson task force, and Henderson 47 explained that investigations are currently mostly reactive while a formal task force is still 48 being developed. The discussion also included the HWMO Hawaiʻi Wildfire Urban 49 Interface Wildfire Grant Program, which supports projects such as hazardous-fuels 50 reduction, vegetation management, firebreaks, defensible space, evacuation planning, 51 emergency access, and landscape restoration, with Henderson supporting continued 52 community collaboration on wildfire mitigation. No formal motion was made. 53 2. Ahupuaʻa Signage Along the Hāmākua State Highway – The AC will discuss the 54 process for acquiring Ahupuaʻa signage throughout the Hāmākua district and 55 opportunities for AC participation. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 9:53] 56 Chair Maikui called this item to order at 5:14 p.m. 57 The committee discussed the process for obtaining Ahupuaʻa signage throughout 58 Hāmākua and opportunities for community and action committee involvement. Committee 59 Member Keeney shared information about four brown Ahupuaʻa signs installed in 60 Pepeʻekeo through an effort led by the Makanahaloa Fishing Association, which could 61 serve as a model for other communities. Members discussed the State’s role in providing 62 and installing signs along State highways and emphasized that the effort should be 63 community-led, with input on Ahupuaʻa boundaries, place names, terrain, and cultural 64 knowledge. 65 The committee also discussed recognizing multiple traditional names and possibly using 66 QR codes or other digital resources to provide additional historical and cultural 67 HĀMĀKUA CDP ACTION COMMITTEE Minutes of August 5, 2026 3 information. The committee agreed that the next step should be community outreach with 68 members reaching out to organizations and communities they represent to determine 69 interest. Council Member Heather Kimball offered to share information through her 70 community network, and Committee Member Keeney agreed to invite representatives 71 from the Makanahaloa Fishing Association to a future meeting to share their experience 72 obtaining the Pepeʻekeo signs. Interested community representatives may be invited to 73 the Action Committee meeting on October 7, and Council Member Kimball was asked to 74 provide information on interested groups by September 23. No formal motion was made. 75 3. Hāmākua Heritage Trail Feasibility Study – The Action Committee will discuss 76 establishing a Permitted Interaction Group (P.I.G.) to review project updates and 77 identify community concerns and opportunities. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 40:36] 78 Chair Maikui called this item to order at 5:44 p.m. 79 The Committee discussed the proposed Hāmākua Heritage Trail feasibility study and 80 whether a Permitted Interaction Group (P.I.G.) should be established. Members 81 expressed strong interest in the project and discussed potential trail routes, including the 82 ʻOʻokala to Kukuihaele portion, Lower King Hall Road, and possible routes through 83 Paʻauhau and Waimanu. The discussion also focused on land ownership and access, 84 existing bridges, Hamakua Energy’s property and facilities, ranching and agricultural 85 operations, and the potential need for easements, fencing, and other measures where 86 the trail may cross private lands. 87 Committee Member Keeney shared that Hāmākua Energy representatives were 88 supportive of the trail concept. Council Member Kimball explained that Kamehameha 89 Schools is considering providing the County with a public grant of easement/right-of-entry 90 across portions of its property, subject to agreements and requirements. She also 91 explained that a draft scope of work for the feasibility study/Request for Proposal (RFP) 92 had been prepared and that she was seeking community input before the RFP is issued, 93 particularly on potential routes, phasing, landowner concerns, negotiations, and 94 community impacts. 95 Members agreed that the concerns of ranchers, landowners, and other affected parties 96 should be considered in the study and that the draft scope should address these issues. 97 The committee agreed to review the draft scope individually and provide comments, 98 recommendations, and suggested additions to Council Member Kimball by Friday, August 99 21, 2026. The committee did not establish a P.I.G. or take formal action and instead 100 agreed that members would provide individual feedback on the draft scope. 101 PUBLIC TESTIMONY ON MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA 102 None. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 1:00:05] 103 HĀMĀKUA CDP ACTION COMMITTEE Minutes of August 5, 2026 4 THIRD-PARTY REPORTS; GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS 104 [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 1:00:27] 105 Council Member Kimball provided an update regarding the houseless encampment near 106 the Honokaʻa Post Office. She explained that the approximately 80-acre property on 107 Laihuala Street, makai of Mamane Street near the post office stairs, was deeded to the 108 County in 1995 as part of the Hāmākua Sugar foreclosure agreement and has 42 named 109 owners, including deceased owners whose descendants may retain interests, with 110 approximately $250,000 in back taxes owed. 111 Because ownership is unclear, the County has had difficulty obtaining clear title and has 112 been unable to find a title company willing to conduct the necessary research, while still 113 retaining rights as a property owner without being able to eliminate the rights of other 114 owners. Kimball said the nearby preschool’s main concerns are fire and safety, and 115 potential actions include creating a fuel break along the affected side of the property and 116 considering the County’s authority under the sensitive places law to prohibit firearms on 117 County-owned property. 118 She also reported that previous outreach and service efforts helped relocate several 119 groups, although some individuals declined services and preferred to remain in the area, 120 and she is working with her legislative aide to research the deed and court process for a 121 possible path to resolve the ownership issue. The committee also discussed whether a 122 low-impact, on-site service model could help address sanitation, cooking, and other safety 123 concerns while recognizing the existing community ties of many unhoused individuals in 124 the area. 125 Additional updates: Kimball announced a Friday evening webinar regarding the new 126 transient vacation rental (TAR) registration system, which is scheduled to go live 127 September 1, 2026. She encouraged the Action Committee to share the webinar 128 information with community members who operate hosted or unhosted short-term 129 vacation rentals. She also reported that she is working with the Planning Department on 130 future amendments to the recently adopted General Plan 2045 and is reviewing the 131 process under Bill 166. She plans to circulate three previously proposed amendments 132 (identified in the discussion as 197, 198, and 200) addressing implementation, utilities, 133 and another topic, as well as a proposed cultural stewardship amendment. Kimball also 134 discussed a potential amendment concerning the minimum lot size for agricultural 135 subdivisions, including a possible increase from five acres to ten acres, and encouraged 136 Action Committee members to bring potential General Plan amendments to the 137 committee for review before advancing them. No formal motion was made. 138 HĀMĀKUA CDP ACTION COMMITTEE Minutes of August 5, 2026 5 PROPOSED NEW BUSINESS 139 [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 1:33:27] 140 • Ahupuaʻa Presentation 141 • GP 2045 Possible Amendments 142 ANNOUNCEMENTS 143 [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 1:36:16] 144 • The Planning Department is seeking applicants for the Hāmākua CDP Action 145 Committee and requests assistance to get the word out to interested community 146 members. The application can be found on the Mayor’s office website 147 at: https://www.hawaiicounty.gov/our-county/boards-and-commissions/boards-148 and-commissions-application 149 ADJOURNMENT 150 Chair Maikui adjourned this meeting at 6:41 p.m. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 1:37:04] 151 These minutes and all related documents are available in the Planning Department’s 152 Hāmākua Community Development Plan Action Committee folder via the County of 153 Hawaiʻi Public Documents Repository. These documents may also be requested from the 154 Planning Department by calling (808) 961-8288 or emailing CDP@hawaiicounty.gov. 155