HomeMy WebLinkAboutArborist Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes 3-25-26
ARBORIST ADVISORY COMMITTEE
c/o Office of the Mayor, 25 Aupuni Street, Suite 2603
Hilo, Hawai‘i 96720
ARBORIST ADVISORY COMMITTEE
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 2026, 2:00 PM
HAWAI‘I COUNTY BUILDING, PUNA CONFERENCE ROOM
25 AUPUNI STREET, SUITE 1501, HILO, HAWAI‘I
CALL TO ORDER
Vice Chair Hanano called the meeting to order at 2:02 p.m.
ATTENDANCE
Present:George Applegate, Member
Jill Kubojiri, Member
Joel Rathje, Member (Planning Director’s Designee) (Via Zoom)
Jill M. Wagner, Chair (Via Zoom)
Michelle “Michi” Hanano, Vice Chair (Via Zoom)
Not Present: Ty Medeiros, Member
Also present: Micah Alameda, Office of the Mayor
Jean Campbell, Deputy Corporation Counsel
STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC
1) Cynthia Reynolds testified via Zoom in support of her exceptional tree application,
agenda item 4a, 5.
2) Myles Ritchie testified via Zoom in support of agenda item 4b.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
a. Approval of the meeting minutes of February 25, 2026.
1) Chair Wagner called for public testimony. There being no public testimony, the
meeting continued as follows.
Action: Chair Wagner called for a motion to approve. A motion was made by
Member Joel Rathje to approve the regular meeting minutes of February 25,
2026, which was seconded by Vice Chair Michi Hanano. The motion was carried
by a vote of 5:0.
BUSINESS
a. Review exceptional tree applications.
1) TMK 5-9-11:34 - Bernard and Valerie Sadoulet’s Common Kiawe tree, Kohala
Ranch.
Site visit conducted; tree was found to be healthy and mature, with no neighbor
objections. Committee to transmit recommendations to the County Council for
final approval. Notification to the applicant will follow.
Action: Chair Wagner called for a motion to approve. A motion was made by
Member George Applegate to recommend approval of the exceptional tree
application, which was seconded by Chair Jill Wagner. The motion was carried
by a vote of 5:0.
2) TMK 2-4-001:167 - Spectabilis Palm:
Site visit to be coordinated in April; members Kubojiri and Medeiros participate.
Action: Staff to coordinate site visit.
3) TMK 5-2-009:053 –
Site visit conducted; some confusion regarding property boundaries and an
easement. The committee requested additional information to clarify the
easement’s impact on the tree.
Action: Staff to contact the applicant for a detailed explanation and, if
appropriate, organize another site visit with the applicant present.
4) TMK 3-7-4-008-057-0000 - Jill Wagner (Applicant and Owner), Wili Wili Tree,
-Kona.
The application was resubmitted as a grove (four trees). Site visits planned;
Chair Jill Wagner will recuse herself from discussion of her own application.
Action: Staff to coordinate site visit.
5) TMK 383-010-045-0000, Cynthia B. Reynolds (Applicant and Trustee of the
Estate), Kapok Tree, Captain Cook.
Action: Staff to coordinate site visit.
b. Discussion on Senate Bill No. 2372, Senate Draft 2, Relating to Trees.
1) Myles Ritchie explained major points of the bill, including new selection criteria, a
"significant tree" designation, formation of a statewide advisory committee, and
clarification of county committee roles. The committee discussed the potential
impact and voted unanimously to support the bill.
Action: Draft and submit testimony in support of Senate Bill No. 2372, SD2,
coordinating with the mayor’s office for approval before legislative submission.
c. Update on the Review of the Designated Exceptional Tree List in Article 10, Section 14-
1) The committee agreed to review and update the existing designated tree list,
focusing on verifying the current status of trees and property ownership. Action:
Staff will organize the list by region, begin contacting property owners, and
catalog trees; updates will be presented at the next meeting.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
1) The next meeting will take place on April 29, 2026, at 2:00 p.m., via Interactive
Virtual Technology (ICT) and in-person at:
25 Aupuni Street, Suite 1501
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PunaConference Room
Hilo, HI 96720
ICT participation via Zoom Webinar: https://www.zoomgov.com/j/1616186264
ADJOURNMENT
a. Adjournment
1) Meeting adjourned at 3:10 p.m.
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