North Kohala Community Development Plan Advisory Group
Meeting of 1/5/26 Kohala Judiciary Building.
Minutes by Annalene Williams
Call to order at 4:34pm
Approx 5 in attendance from the community. 5 In attendance from AG committee:
Jack Hoyt, Annalene Williams, John Winter, Sadie Young
December Meeting minutes approved – yes
SubGroup meeting reports:
Affordable Housing:
Rural Planning Standards for North Kohala. The group wishes to start a community dialogue over this to build relationships between those in need of housing and those who oppose new development. This will be a working document of standards, with examples like narrow paved roads, grass drainage swales, limited street lighting, and smaller projects (10-20 units).
Mitigate what happened with Hawi Nani, the developer shows up with a plan without community input. Meet with various neighborhoods and create guidelines that could be given to a developer who wants to develop affordable housing units.
The group is reviewing and commenting on Chapter 11, Section 23 of the draft 2045 Hawai’i County Code. The County Council will be introducing a bill early this year to revise it.
Concessions to developers to get affordable housing built. The current code has 21 sections. The code didn’t mention water or waste, which should be part of the consideration under affordable housing. Commented that wastewater is a state issue, concerned about what might develop for improving wastewater systems . More efficient systems might be available in the future.
Affordable housing units in clusters, can they use the same wastewater system? No, those systems don’t exist. If we locked it in, we would ignore future developments, such as dehydration. Recommended perhaps in return for utilities underground, consider a greywater system to reduce size, don’t lock it in, as we might have better systems in the future.
A link to the Homes for Kohala Survey is available on the North Kohala CDP website at: https://kohalacommunityplan.org/housing/
Hawi Nani. The developer is aware that the community does not support vacant lots as a solution. He has hired a consultant to work with the County Planning and Housing departments to restart the stalled project.
Mark Lester hired a man who helped him develop everything makai of the 33 acres . Couldn’t get water meters for those 5 or 6 makai lots had to install a well, but the well doesn’t cover the other 33 acres of the parcel. Exploring other options.
Infrastructure for the HICDC Self-Help Waimea project was set to begin in late 2025, with Kohala Phase 3 Kumakua following in mid-2026. Interested buyers are encouraged to join the HICDC waiting list and explore the requirements on their website: https://www.hicdcorp.org/home/homeownership-program
Next meeting will discuss the self-help program, saying they are going to break ground in Kohala, in the middle of 2026. PDF on their website on how to qualify for self-help. A 2-pager PDF summary will be available at the NKCRC office.
The County OHCD Home Improvement Loan Program (HILP) offers low-interest loans for repairs and upgrades to low- and moderate-income homeowners, with potential principal forgiveness for eligible seniors and those with disabilities. In 2025, the OHCD distributed $11.8 million to six projects island-wide, including Ho’omalu at Waikoloa ($3M for 229 rental units) and Ua Hale Aʻela ($4.1M for 28 rent-to-own units). The County also purchased the Dolphin Bay Hotel in Hilo for $2.68 million using federal ERA 2 funds. It will be converted into 18 affordable rentals (studio, 1, and 2-bedroom) for residents earning up to 50% of the Area Median Income, with units ready in early 2026.
Help people make repairs.
Loans to seniors who are at risk of foreclosure. Potential forgiveness of loans to seniors. Need to qualify for forgiveness.
The next meeting will be January 14th, 9 am at Pomaika’i Café.
Agriculture:
Did not meet in December.
Next meeting January 29th 5pm NKCRC office.
Community Access:
Hawaii Island Retreat. Landowner met with the county planner to speed up their application.
The planning department is holding up the permit.
Honoipu. Mayor Alameda rejected an offer from National Park Service to transfer control of Old Coast Guard Road. At the group’s request the NKCDP Advisory Group unanimously approved a letter at the 12/7 meeting and sent it to the mayor on 12/8 urging the transfer and giving many reasons. The mayor’s office has not answered multiple requests to comment.
At the bottom of the Coast Guard Road meeting, it was considered to have a rally whether he is there or not to show interest. Did not respond to the NKCDP-AG letter. Low bar for response. It is possible that the State might fund a one-time improvement before turning it over to the County; that is a possibility. It would be much appreciated if the Mayor responded
Are others experiencing the same non-responsiveness from the entire cabinet?
John will send an email to other CDP chairs and ask them if they have received speedier responses from the County Government
The group assigned members to contact and get comments from the Fire Department, Police and CERT about the dangers faced by no entity being in charge.
HILT has a Visiting Mahukona video on their website. https://www.hilt.org/mahukona
Several meetings and hikes comming up in 2026
Next meeting January 7th, 4:30 pm Senior Center.
Growth Management.:
Apparently, someone is planning a self-storage facility in Halaula on the industrial zoned land. We will look into it.
A subdivision notice sign appeared on Maluhia Road. More research is needed.
The Sugiyama’s theater property in Kahei sold to an unknown buyer on Dec. 2. – possible subdivision of 4 lots, the theater needs to be torn down.
Next meeting is January 14th, 5pm, Senior Center.
Cultural and Historical:
Did not meet in December.
Next meeting will be at huaka’i o Keawewai. Date and location TBD.
Health and Wellness:
Did not meet in December.
Next meeting January 16th.
3:30 – 4:40 library Ila Jahveri
Parks, Roads Erosion Control and View-planes (PREV):
Did not meet in December.
2 FOREVER ISSUES
MAHUKONA PARK – tear down the building
Will Check in after holidays, asked them to separate design and planning from construction so we can get busy without a huge price tag.
They said they had money for planning, but haven’t heard from them. They said we had $400 000, asked them in November 2024, asked where the money is, and they didn’t know about it. Submitted report in March, never heard a word since then from the Director of Parks & Recreation.
Other issue = road high school intersection paving section from hospital to Halaula – no reply from Director of Public works, county council just approved a new director, will contact him
The playground is not for toddlers. – will be addressed at next meeting
Next meeting is January 21st, 5:00 Senior Center.
Utilities:
Did not meet in December.
Next meeting is January 21st, 3:30 Senior Center.
New Business
- Afordable Housing group asks to change its name to “Homes For Kohala.” – will discuss at next meeting
Announcements:
- A membership meeting is scheduled for Kohala Community Land Trust (KCLT) on January 27, 2026, at 5 PM at the HUB Barn.
- CERT training in Waimea – March 7&8 will have a table at Ohana fun day – March 14, Civil defense will attend, mini resilience fair
- Anniversary for KIC in the back 20th anniversary. Focussed more on agriculture. Also March 14
- Collecting diapers for the Diaper bank – at Night Market, st Augustine’s, and NKCRC office
- Night market on first Wednesday at Hub Mural
- Vision boards – craft night at st Augustine’s chruch
- Attended a Kona CDP meeting, learned that HRS 92 chapter 7 on neighbourhood boards has been amended, it includes CDP Action committee groups – relaxing the sunshine law for CDP meetings
Report From Our Council Representative, James Hustace.
DPW Director Wes Segawa & DEM Director Daniel Girvan were confirmed by Council following vacancies and recent Mayoral appointments.
Resolution 397 – approved by Council (12/17); awards $6 million from Residential Tier Two property tax revenues to 8 different nonprofit organizations to address housing and homelessness challenges.
Resolution 399 – approved by Council (12/17); encourages the State Legislature to safeguard residents from federal overreach.
Resolution 411 – approved by Council (12/17); grant for Boys to Men mentoring programs.
Resolution 412 – approved by Council (12/17); grant to purchase wreaths for the West Hawaiʻi Veterans Cemetery for the National Wreaths Across America Day.
Bill 105 – approved by Council (12/17); appropriates $16.5 million for affordable housing production.
Resolution 422 – Committee on Governmental Operations and External Affairs (1/6); urges the State Legislature to prohibit the harvest of aquatic life from State marine waters for commercial aquarium purposes.
Resolution 427 – Council (1/7); supports and reaffirms the Kamehameha Schools’ admission policy.
Resolution 430 – Council (1/7); grant for Kohala Center for a community screening of Keeper of the Bay at Kahilu Theatre.
Resolution 431 – Council (1/7); grant for North Kohala Community Resource Center to assist with expenses related for the King Kamehameha Day Celebration.
Resolution 432 – Council (1/7); grant for Kohala Animal Relocation and Education Service to assist with veterinary care and spay/neuter services.
Resolution 433 – Council (1/7); grant for Friends of the Future to support Tutu’s House.
Bill 63 – postponed measure; still at first Council reading (1/7); allows residential use in mixed commercial and light industrial zoning.
Bill 103 – final Council reading (1/7); supports aging farmers by establishing property tax relief after demonstrating commitment to agricultural production.
Bill 107 – final Council reading (1/7); administrative updates to the Fire Code.
Captain William Derr was promoted as the new Hawaiʻi Police Department Captain for the North Kohala region, effective January 1st.
Adjourned at 5:37pm
Next meeting: on Monday, February 2nd, 4:30pm, Senior Center.