NORTH KOHALA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN ADVISORY GROUP
DATE: Monday, April 6nd, 2026, 4:30 pm
PLACE: Kohala Senior Center (behind the statue)
AGENDA
CALL TO ORDER – Please put all cell phones on silent mode.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
PUBLIC COMMENTs ON AGENDA ITEMS: Members of the public are welcome and are invited to speak to any items on the agenda. Public comments and input are welcome at designated periods at the beginning and end of each meeting. People may, however, speak during AG discussions, if the situation warrants. Please raise a hand to be recognized. Comments should be limited to three (3) minutes in length per agenda item, subject to the discretion of the chair. We typically have a lot of information to get through, so please respect everyone’s time. The chair may table lengthy discussions to be continued after the meeting officially closes. Recommendations for agenda additions for the next meeting should be made during the input session at the meeting end.
APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING.
SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS
Affordable Housing
Meeting was dedicated to the preparation for the March 14th ‘Ohana Fun Day, which was unfortunately canceled due to the first Kona Low storm.
Prepared survey questions focusing on apartment/home rental affordability for housing advocacy and mortgage help. Survey will be posted on Google Forms
Kohala Community Land Trust (KCLT) received a grant for $20K for education. Their board will be attending a virtual “non-profit board leadership” training, and they are preparing to hire a part-time administrator.
No updates on (HICDC) Kumakua Self-help Phase 3 or Hawi Nani. We are interested in finding out more about the former botanical garden affordable housing project in Kohala Estates, which might include a factory facility for prefabricating homes on-site.
Affordable Housing Hawai’i expecting pre-approval for permits on Friday.
The next meeting will be April 8th, 9 am at Pomaika’i Café.
Agriculture
Iole background: 5 years ago, the New Moon Foundation donated ‘Iole to the Hawaii Community Foundation. Only started working on the property in 2023. ‘Iole is a collaboration between HCF, University of Hawaii & Arizona State University.
Kohala ditch update:
Short term: Portion from ‘Iole to Meadow Gold Dairy farm. Identify surplus water at ‘Iole; its water sources could supply some water to the Kohala Ditch. Meadow Gold Dairy plans to install a pipeline from ‘Iole to the Dairy and hopes that nearby small farmers will also be able to access water through this pipeline. (a lot of water seeps out of the ditch if it were to flow, and a lot of the ditch is overgrown)
Iole & Meadow Gold Dairy are developing an MOA to enable small farmers to access the pipeline. They are also inquiring about the status of the COOP that previously managed the ditch—are they still active? A co-op structure that allows the community to also access the pipeline would create an opportunity for the state to contribute to the infrastructure.
Meadow Gold Dairy can install a 4-6-inch pipeline and manage it. Iole has seasonal amounts of excess water that they could donate. There are also other water sources that could be identified to feed into this pipeline
At the moment, excess water from ‘Iole is only watering invasive species (cane grass), so capturing and using the excess water would be a better option. Meadow Gold Dairy needs water to grow feed for their cows; they are the only operating Dairy in the whole state of Hawaii
Long term: Mitigate Climate Change (droughts)
Capture rainwater & store it in reservoirs which can be fed into the Kohala Ditch. ‘Iole has 3 water sources: The Bond tunnel, Hapa hapai stream, and the Watt tunnel All are above the ditch and could feed into it (rainy times). New Reservoirs would also be above the ditch
Other:
There is a suggestion for ‘Iole to create a community garden.
Kohala Zipline is planning to install a zipline running through ‘Iole’s terraformation project, a pilot parcel used for reforestation. Kohala Zipline will educate tourists about land revitalization.
Farmers’ Union Update: Convention Update: Involved going through 200 pages of Ag Policy. Only 7 from Hawaii – small representation, Democracy in Action, different styles of farming, usually small family farms. Civil gathering, even though there are many people with different opinions, no fighting. Amended some policy. The Maui chapter is the most active, only 50 people in North Kohala are members of the Farmers’ Union
Hawi Farmers Market. Planning to meet with the Plantation Market & the Village Hub next week to discuss the market and will give an update at the next meeting.
Next meeting April 30th 5pm NKCRC office.
Community Access (see maps on last page for locations)
Meeting of March 4.
Pololu Lookout. Waiting for funding for the central stewardship location. Working on funding for stewardship past 2026 (end of current funding).
Hapu’u – Kapanaia Squatters are gone but left 2 cars and lots of garbage. PONC representatives will come to inspect this area.
Upolu Point There will be a meeting with councilman James Hustace, the landowner’s representative, and 2 lineal descendants of this area.
Kohala Coastal Network had a ZOOM meeting at 11:00 on Monday, 3/16/26.
Mauka Database Committee will not pursue this for now and will use the last CDP document.
New Items/Announcements Committee should organize and digitize the old and current maps.
Next meeting May 6th, 4:30pm Senior Center.
Growth Management
Did not meet in March due to weather.
Next meeting is April 16th, 5pm, Senior Center.
Culture & History Advisory Group (KCHAG).
Did not meet in March due to weather.
Next meeting will probably be April 16th.
Health and Wellness/WRK
March meeting cancelled due to weather.
Next meeting April 17th, 4:30pm. NKCRC.
Utilities
MicroGrid Update. Discussion on the stalled microgrid project in light of the power outages that resulted from the recent storm. Suggested that a letter be sent to the HECO Executive Director highlighting the effects of the repeated outages in our area on the public, particularly on healthcare facilities, businesses and elders. In addition, future scheduled outages for maintenance on the Mountain Road line will have similar disruptive effects. Barbara will do background research on the Hana Health solar microgrid that will benefit from $2.5 million State funding if Senate Bill 3254 passes. Group will meet with HECO reps at next meeting.
Greenwaste Update. Plan to contact Solid Waste for the cost of transferring greenwaste waste to the landfill. This will highlight the savings to the County of a local greenwaste processing facility in our area. Got volunteers to write a letter to the Division of Solid Waste to propose that they use some of the savings to underwrite the Aikane start-up.
Beers Road Update.Toni reported that the Public Works Highway crew was preparing to resurface Beers Road prematurely since the new water line has not yet been installed. Toni sent a letter to the Head of DWS after talking with the road crew who were unaware of the issue.
Next meeting is April 15th, 3:30pm Senior Center.
Parks, Roads, Erosion Control and View-planes (PREV)
Mahukona Councilman James Hustace and the Parks & Recreation deputy director met with the public on March 11th. Discussion over the delays experienced in rehabilitating Mahukona Park especially in light of the estimated cost to rebuild the bridge to Coconut Island of $20 million that the Mayor seems ready to allocate.
High- and Elementary School intersection issue. Problems arising over encroachment on DOE property and issues between high school and elementary school.
Next meeting is April 15th, 5:00pm Senior Center.
NEW BUSINESS:
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Report From Our Council Representative, James Hustace.
- Resolution 475 – Committee (4/7); Office of Housing and Community Development seeking lease approval for properties to be used for long-term permanent housing
- Resolution 497 – Committee (4/7); Accepts $2.97M in US Department of Housing and Urban Development funds
- Resolution 498 – Committee (4/7); Accepts $1M from State Office of Planning and Sustainable Development for Rainbow Drive affordable housing project
- Resolution 513 – Committee (4/7); Authorizes negotiations for conservation easement for Kealoha Family Loʻi (PONC)
- Bill 66 – Committee (4/7); General Plan review and adoption
- Bill 147 – Committee (4/7); comprehensive overhaul of short-term rental system – clarifies rental categories, stronger STVR enforcement and establishes enforcement fund, zoning allowances, good neighbor policy
- Resolution 515 – Council (4/8); Urges State to expedite repairs to Konawaena School following storm damage
- Bill 142 – Council (4/8); Adopt-a-County-Street Program
- Bill 132 – Committee (Postponed to 4/21); regulations on paid parking facilities in Kailua Village
His office is working with community partners, Civil Defense, and Hawaiian Electric to reestablish a community resilience fair at the end of August to substitute for the unfortunate cancellation of the Ohana Fun Day and resilience event cancelled.
PUBLIC INPUT AND AGENDA SUGGESTIONS FOR THE NEXT MEETING
The Next Advisory Group Meeting will be held on Monday, May 4th, 4:30pm, Senior Center.
Adjournment
NOTICE: The purpose of the public hearings is to afford all interested persons a reasonable opportunity to be heard on the above items. They may also bring up another item for consideration by the AG. A person wishing to submit written testimony may email winterj@whitman.edu.
John Winter, Chair NORTH KOHALA CDP ADVISORY GROUP
