NORTH KOHALA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN ADVISORY GROUP
DATE: Monday, July 7th, 2025, 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. 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
Kohala Community Land Trust continues to work to keep our existing housing stock local and welcomes volunteers for the four working committees: Strategy and Governance, Property Acquisition and Stewardship, Development of Donors and Membership, and Finance and Accounting. KCLT has been working on getting applications in for two programs, one from the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trust Foundation (NARIT) by June 13th and the Request for Proposals (RFP) by Hawaii County by July 7th.
Vacant Home Inventory Project list helps us get more existing houses in service as either rentals or possibly local home ownership. Please contact us if you would like to add a home to the list for consideration. We plan to continue connecting with the Kupuna group.
We updated our community survey, which allows us to provide data and real statistics about Kohala when we submit for grants and other funding. We will be ready to gather new data at the Kohala Reunion, complete with both paper print-outs and a digital QR code to connect.
The next meeting will be July 10th, 9 am at Pomaika’I Café.
Agriculture
All efforts directed at Reunion table and presence.
Next meeting, July 25th, 5–6:30 pm, Kohala Resource Center.
Community Access (see maps on last page for locations)
No report for June meeting.
Next meeting July 3rd, 4:40 pm Senior Center.
Growth Management
Pololu Lookout- DLNR plan + valley rim subdivision: No update on lookout. Subdivision; multiple groups have written letters to PD with their concerns. J. Darrow, Director has granted until June 30 for the review of the variance and public comment.
Kohala Theater (Sugiyama) property update; was rumored that it sold but not so per listing realtor. Necessary removal of the theater building is an obstacle. GM is interested in meeting with any buyer. Parcel is 2 acres residential and likely buyer will apply for re-zone and subdivision.
Upolu Point open space purchase advances: A resolution authorizing the Finance Department to begin negotiations was passed by County Council
Old Coast Guard Road transfer still in a tangle: Ala Kahakai folks asking for State Parks to get involved so the road can be serviced for Mo’okini and Birthplace. There is urgency for a decision and players need to be “squeaky wheels”.
Kohala Shoreline report from Planning Dept. site visit: Report from PD site visit with owner’s planner said historic sites and trails are not significantly damaged. Final decision will be with the Director. Toni will write a letter to PD with our concerns. Planning report was emailed to GM committee.
Hawaii Island Retreat Center: Access Group worked with owner; sticking point was a ten-month delay. Toni and owner made an improved map approved by Access Group to PD Director, it was approved in late June. Permit will double the allowed capacity when approved.
DWS has a new planning consultant being brought in for water line replacement on Beers Road. Utilities group is following this
Toni reports there are several ways to find out about land issues in Kohala; EPIC and Property Tax search. Toni will provide training for GM group.
Next meeting is July 9th, 5pm, Senior Center.
Health and Wellness/WRK
All efforts directed at Reunion table and presentations.
Next meeting July 19th, 4pm. NKCRC.
Kohala Culture & History Advisory Group (KCHAG).
No June meeting. Efforts directed at Reunion table and presence.
Next meeting July 8th,10 am Walker Hall.
Parks, Roads, Erosion Control and View-planes (PREV)
School intersection. John sent an email to Neil Azevedo, Director of Public Works, inquiring if they plan to address construction of the roadways during the summer break. So far no reply.
Hisaoka fitness room. Old machines are in poor shape. Mauna Lani donated 6 new ones, but they are heavy duty and hard for seniors (the principal users) to use. A group is organizing to outfit the room. They will seek funding with the Resource Center.
Tree planting. Melody Moore came and asked about the recent tree removal at Kamehameha Park. She wondered if P&R has plans to plant new trees. Doubts were expressed and Melody will see if this can be done. A discussion ensued about past tree removal and organizing a Kohala citizen’s group to plant new trees throughout Kohala.
Next meeting is August 20th, 5 pm. Senior Center.
Utilities
Kohala Reunion. The group will share manning the NKCDP table and create a poster and handouts.
Electric redundancy and the battery project. The group continued its discussion. We will meet with the owner of the windmills next month to discuss this further.
Beers Road waterline. An RFP has been issued by DWS. They hope to award a contract to replace this old water line soon.
Next meeting is August 20th, 3:30 pm. Senior Center.
NEW BUSINESS:
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
PUBLIC INPUT AND AGENDA SUGGESTIONS FOR THE NEXT MEETING
The Next Advisory Group Meeting will be Held on MONDAY July 7th, 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
