Archive for the ‘Ka’u CDP’ Category
January 29th, 2012 | Author: Kau Dave
Aloha, and happy new year!
During the Ka’u CDP Steering Committee meeting in December, Chair Leina`ala Enos recapped where we’ve been, where we are, and where we’re going. Aunty Leina’ala covered:
The foundations of the CDP process: balanced perspectives, appropriate roles, and strategic decision points informed by community input
The step-by-step CDP process affirmed by the Steering Committee: identify the community vision, learn about Ka’u, develop the CDP, adopt the CDP, and take action
The building blocks of the CDP, based on community input: values, vision, community objectives, policies, and action steps
The draft CDP table of contents and examples of CDP strategies under development
The process underway to produce the first draft of the CDP
Current and future plans for community outreach.
The presentation slides and the draft meeting minutes are available at www.kaucdp.info in the “Steering Committee” section.
After some discussion, the Steering Committee agreed that changes to the CDP process aren’t necessary at this point and that time is needed to complete the current step in that process — produce an initial draft of the CDP for community and Steering Committee review. Recognizing that the draft CDP will be completed more quickly if the project manager is allowed to focus on the analysis and writing required, the Steering Committee agreed to schedule its next meeting in April. That decision has already borne fruit — since the holidays, I’ve been able to devote most of my time to completing the draft CDP.
The next Steering Committee meeting will be on Tuesday, April 10, at 5:30pm, at the Pahala Community Center.
As always, find more information about the Ka`u CDP at www.kaucdp.info or contact your Steering Committee members, Community Planning Assistance Nalani Parlin, or me if you have any questions or suggestions.
Mahalo,
Ron
Ron Whitmore
Long Range Planner
Hawai’i County Planning Department
101 Pauahi, Suite 3
Hilo, HI 96720
(808) 961-8137
Fax: (808) 961-8742
rwhitmore@co.hawaii.hi.us
Posted in 
December 8th, 2011 | Author: Kau Dave
Aloha,
The Ka’u CDP Steering Committee is continuing its November 8 meeting next Tuesday, December 13, at 5:30pm at the Na’alehu Community Center.
Draft minutes from the November 8 portion of the meeting and the agenda for Tuesday’s meeting are available in the Steering Committee section of www.kaucdp.info.
Please note that the single business item on the agenda is the CDP process. Specifically, the Steering Committee will be discussing the role of the Steering Committee and the community in the CDP production process. The likely outcome of the discussion will be recommendations to the Planning Director for how to best complete the first draft of the CDP (and the supporting analysis) for review by the community and the Steering Committee.
The Steering Committee will not be discussing the content of the CDP, including strategies under development or the related analysis. There will be many opportunities in the future to discuss draft CDP strategies, and they will be publicized on this email list and through many other avenues.
Tuesday’s meeting is a business meeting. So that the Steering Committee can focus on its agenda, public comment at the meeting will be limited to agenda items. If you are not interested in the agenda items but have questions or concerns about CDP content or other issues in Ka’u, you are always welcome to contact the Planning Department or Steering Committee members.
Below is information about a few “hot topics” in Ka’u and where to go for more information. Please direct comments about these issues to the appropriate source.
Ocean View Readjustment Strategy (explored by the County Planning Department): The concept is not being pursued any further. See the Planning Director’s October 20 memo.
Kahuku Village/Nani Kahuku Aina (proposed private development): The comment period for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) closed November 6. The Draft EIS is available at the State’s Office of Environmental Quality Control website. When the Final EIS is published, more public comment will be invited. No development can begin until the EIS is accepted and several permits are secured. The next step will likely be amendments to the County General Plan and to State land use districts, which require public hearings.
Aina Koa Pono Biofuels Project (proposed private development): The Public Utilities Commission (PUC) rejected the HELCO contract. See the Aina Koa Pono “Frequently Asked Questions” handout.
Ka‘? Forest Reserve Environmental Assessment (State Dept. of Fisheries and Wildlife): Ron Terry of Geometrician Associates (969-7090, geometricianassociates.com) is inviting public comment on the Ka`u Forest Reserve Management Plan that is under development.
Volcanoes National Park Draft Plan/EIS for Managing Non-Native Ungulates: The comment period for the Draft Plan and EIS continues through January 20.
Kawa Drainage Environmental Assessment (State Dept. of Transportation): The comment period for the Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) continues through December 23.
As always, lots more information is available at www.kaucdp.info. Feel free to also contact Steering Committee members or me if you have any questions about the CDP.
Mahalo,
Ron
Ron Whitmore
Long Range Planner
Hawai’i County Planning Department
101 Pauahi, Suite 3
Hilo, HI 96720
(808) 961-8137
Fax: (808) 961-8742
rwhitmore@co.hawaii.hi.us
November 6th, 2011 | Author: Kau Dave
Aloha Kakou,
By now, most everyone in Ka`u knows about the Nani Kahuku `Aina resort proposal.
This is a very serious proposition with strong support on both sides of the controversy. The effect that this development will have on the area is not fully understood.
Numerous groups have stepped forward with concerns about the effect the development will have on the pristine Ka`u coastline, while others worry about off-shore fishing conditions or of the unwitting (or otherwise) destruction of currently unknown archeological/cultural sites on the selected land parcel, which is currently conservation land.
Pro resort groups or individuals have based their support of the project on the economic benefits the communities of Ka`u will receive, due to both the future influx of tourists and the conveniences the resort will have to offer to the Kama`aina, or residents of the area.
This disagreement appears to be far from over.
Tomorrow is the deadline for comments on the project. Regardless of your position on the development, please take the time to state your opinion. This affects all of us. We will be seeing the effect that this decision will have for years to come. Let us take time to reflect on both sides of the argument, and make our voices heard.
Please contact:
bsmart@co.hawaii.hi.us
dikeda@co.hawaii.hi.us
donishi@co.hawaii.hi.us
fblas@co.hawaii.hi.us
jyoshimoto@co.hawaii.hi.us
wkenoi@co.hawaii.hi.us
bford@co.hawaii.hi.us
dyagong@co.hawaii.hi.us
phoffmann@co.hawaii.hi.us
apilago@co.hawaii.hi.us
counciltestimony@co.hawaii.hi.
senkahele@capitol.hawaii.gov
Testimonies must be received by November 6, 2011.
Mahalo,
*Ka`u Anamei*
October 28th, 2011 | Author: Kau Dave
Aloha!
I’m writing with information about the October 11 and November 8 Ka`u CDP Steering Committee meetings:
OCTOBER 11 STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING: Draft minutes from the meeting are available in the “Steering Committee” section of www.kaucdp.info.
HOVE READJUSTMENT CONCEPT: Information about the draft concept for HOVE is available in the “CDP Input” section of www.kaucdp.info. A related memo from the Planning Director is attached. Note that the Planning Department is not pursuing the HOVE readjustment concept any further at this point.
NOVEMBER 8 STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING: The next Steering Committee meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, November 8, at 5:30pm at the Ocean View Community Association (OVCA) center on Leilani Circle. The agenda will be published next Wednesday, and we’ll distribute it through this email list. The focus of the meeting will be the role of the Steering Committee and the community during the CDP production process. Because the HOVE readjustment concept is not being pursued, it will not be discussed during the meeting.
Additional CDP information is available at www.kaucdp.info. Information about recent activities and links to related information can always be found in the “Where are we? And what’s next?” section at the top of the page.
Ron
October 6th, 2011 | Author: Kau Dave
Aloha,
The next Ka’u CDP Steering Committee meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, October 11, at 5:30pm, at St. Judes Episcopal Church in Ocean View. The church is located at 92-1572 Keaka Parkway, at Paradise Circle. The agenda is attached.
Additional information about the CDP and the Steering Committee is available at www.kaucdp.info, including draft minutes from the September 13 Steering Committee meeting. You are also welcome to contact Steering Committee Chair Leina‘ala Enos (929-8641; lenos@qlcc.org), other Steering Committee members, Community Planning Assistant Nalani Parlin (217-6893, kaucdp@gmail.com), or me.
Mahalo,
Ron
Ron Whitmore
Long Range Planner
Hawai’i County Planning Department
101 Pauahi, Suite 3
Hilo, HI 96720
(808) 961-8137
Fax: (808) 961-8742
rwhitmore@co.hawaii.hi.us
September 7th, 2011 | Author: Kau Dave
Aloha,
Following up on the message below, the agenda for next Tuesday’s Ka’u CDP Steering Committee meeting is attached. The meeting starts at 5:30pm at the Pahala Community Center.
Note that the meeting will not include a discussion of the content of the CDP, which is still under development. There will be a project update, a short introduction to one of the new consultants, and a discussion of recent outreach at community events.
You can download the agenda here: http://www.kauweb.com/cdp/KauCDPSC.agenda.091311.pdf
Mahalo, Ron
From: Whitmore, Ron
Sent: Thursday, August 25, 2011 9:26 AM
To: ‘kau-cdp-announce@hawaiicountycdp.info’
Subject: Ka’u CDP Steering Committee: 9/13, 5:30, Pahala
Aloha,
A Ka’u Community Development Plan (CDP) Steering Committee meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, September 13, at 5:30pm, at the Pahala Community Center.
Likely agenda items include: a project update; an introduction to staff from Chris Hart & Partners, which is helping to complete elements of the CDP; and a review of recent outreach activities. Since the draft CDP is not yet complete and ready for review, there will not be a discussion of potential CDP policies and strategies.
The agenda will be finalized by September 7, at which point I will distribute it by email and post it at http://www.kaucdp.info.
For more information about the Steering Committee, including its membership, roles, and materials from past meetings, visit that section of http://www.kaucdp.info.
For more information about the Ka’u CDP, go to http://www.kaucdp.info or contact Steering Committee Chair Leina’ala Enos (929-8641; lenos@qlcc.org), other Steering Committee members, Community Planning Assistant Nalani Parlin (217-6893, kaucdp@gmail.com), or me.
Mahalo, Ron Whitmore
Long Range Planner
Hawai’i County Planning Department
101 Pauahi, Suite 3 Hilo, HI 96720
(808) 961-8137
Fax: (808) 961-8742
rwhitmore@co.hawaii.hi.us
September 1st, 2011 | Author: Kau Dave
I finally heard back from the Hawaii State Historic Preservation Division. They have confirmed that the developers have submitted the draft Environmental Impact Study and the Archaeological Inventory Survey. I was told that people familiar with the area will be reviewing the documents soon and that the deadline for comments is September 21, 2011. So if you have any comments to make about this you need to get them in soon.
If everything looks good and there are not many negative comments we should see this land get re-zoned and work can start within a year or two.
August 26th, 2011 | Author: Kau Dave
Aloha,
A Ka’u Community Development Plan (CDP) Steering Committee meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, September 13, at 5:30pm, at the Pahala Community Center.
Likely agenda items include: a project update; an introduction to staff from Chris Hart & Partners, which is helping to complete elements of the CDP; and a review of recent outreach activities. Since the draft CDP is not yet complete and ready for review, there will not be a discussion of potential CDP policies and strategies.
The agenda will be finalized by September 7, at which point I will distribute it by email and post it at www.kaucdp.info.
For more information about the Steering Committee, including its membership, roles, and materials from past meetings, visit that section of www.kaucdp.info.
For more information about the Ka’u CDP, go to www.kaucdp.info or contact Steering Committee Chair Leina’ala Enos (929-8641; lenos@qlcc.org), other Steering Committee members, Community Planning Assistant Nalani Parlin (217-6893, kaucdp@gmail.com), or me.
Mahalo,
Ron Whitmore
Long Range Planner
Hawai’i County Planning Department
101 Pauahi, Suite 3
Hilo, HI 96720
(808) 961-8137
Fax: (808) 961-8742
rwhitmore@co.hawaii.hi.us
June 2nd, 2011 | Author: Kau Dave
Aloha,
The June 2011 Ka`u CDP project update is attached. Highlights include:
NEW CONSULTANTS CONTRACTED: As of last week, the County officially
engaged three consultants to address remaining gaps in the draft CDP.
Project funds left over from the original consultant contract (not
additional funding) were used.
The Hawai`i Alliance for Community Based Economic Development (HACBED)
has been a sub-consultant for the CDP since 2009 and will continue its
work on the economic development and capacity building elements of the
CDP. HACBED (www.hacbed.org) is a statewide nonprofit that provides
community planning, capacity building, and asset building services.
PBR Hawai`i & Associates was also a project sub-consultant and prepared
the Ka`u Community Profile for the CDP. PBR will focus on strategies to
develop and preserve Ka`u’s “green infrastructure” and to repair its
“nonconforming” subdivisions. PBR Hawai`i (www.pbrhawaii.com) has been
a full-service planning firm in Hawai`i for 40 years and has an office
in Hilo.
Chris Hart & Partners will develop strategies to revitalize Punalu`u in
character with rural Ka`u and craft policies and actions for new towns
and resort nodes in Ka`u relative to community values, vision, and
objectives. Chris Hart & Partners (www.chpmaui.com) is based on Maui
and has extensive experience with both private and rural community
planning, including the Lana`i and Moloka`i community plans.
OTHER RELATED TOPICS:
Resolution 60-11: Councilmember Brittany Smart has introduced Resolution
60-11, Delaying Council Action on Certain Land Use Approvals, and she is
holding a “District 6 Matters” meeting to discuss it with the community
on June 9, at 7:00pm, at the Na`alehu Community Center.
Dunk Your Favorite Planner: Help raise money for the Bay Clinic’s new
Na`alehu facility at the Family Fun Fest on Saturday, June 11. I’m
scheduled to be in the dunking booth at 1:00pm, so please come and take
your best shot!
For more information about the Ka`u CDP, go to www.kaucdp.info or
contact Steering Committee Chair Leina`ala Enos (929-8641), other
Steering Committee members, Community Planning Assistant Nalani Parlin
(217-6893), or me.
Mahalo,
Ron Whitmore
Long Range Planner
Hawai`i County Planning Department
101 Pauahi, Suite 3
Hilo, HI 96720
(808) 961-8137
Fax: (808) 961-8742
rwhitmore@co.hawaii.hi.us
March 21st, 2011 | Author: Kau Dave
I tried to find out if they knew of any large development occurring in Ka’u. And they said they didn’t know of any but the only way to be sure is to look up the TMK numbers. So I will be doing this in the next week or so. If they do not know of any development I will certainly inform them of this. If they do know I will request information as to the status of their findings.
This article here claims:
http://www.bigisland-bigisland.com/big- … -area.html
“More importantly, the developer and their consultant, PBR Hawai’i, have already revealed their lack of consideration for the Native Hawaiian people and their culture by not disclosing in the EISPN that Nani Kahuku ‘Aina must go through the National Historic Preservation Act Section 106 process.”
I have it on VERY GOOD AUTHORITY that Pohue Bay has one of the largest Petroglyph sites on the islands along with numerous house sites, religious and agricultural features and the kings trail. Before anything is alowed to be developed in this area there needs to be a complete cultural inventory of the area to determine the full extent of these cultural features. I believe that this has not been performed.
If it is true that the developer is trying to do an end run around the Hawaii State Preservation Society we need to do whatever it takes to stop them and make them do whatever it takes to inventory this site and preserve everything that is there for the Hawaiian culture and for the citizens of this state. It does not matter if it takes a year or more they must follow and respect our laws here.
Whether we can stop this development or not I am not sure. But the first step in this development is to make them abide by our laws. This will preserve everything that is in Pohue Bay for the Hawaiian culture, the people of Hawaii, future generations and those who want to study and learn about the Hawaiian culture.
I welcome your comments.
December 20th, 2010 | Author: Kau Jason
The following are my personal thoughts & observastions regarding:
The Kau Community Development Plan Steering Committee meeting 12/14 5:30pm – 9:30 pm at the Na’alehu community center.
Click here for the link for the CDP webiste: HERE
After several months of quiet and anticipation the CDP steering committee finally met. At the meeting this is what I discovered…
PlaceMakers (the consulting team hired by the state to produce a draft CDP) is going to get sacked and Ron Whitmore (from the planning department) will assume their role. The existing work of the PlaceMakers will provide a foundation from which Ron will complete the CDP. The meeting consisted of: Call to order, Approval of Minutes from the Feb. 9th 2010 meeting, Business (1. Project Update 2. Community Outreach), Setting Future Meeting Agendas (1. Evaluation of the 12/14/10 Meeting 2. Future Meeting Agenda Items), Announcements and finally Adjournment.
During the meeting, Ron elaborated on the Planning Department’s rational for firing PlaceMakers. The meeting was over 3 hours in length, so I will point out some of the highlights:
1. The Planning Department (primarily Ron) felt that PlaceMakers work didn’t meet the contract requirements.
2. No additional monies will need to be spent in order to completed the CDP ($127,000 is already allocated to finish the work).
3. A rough draft of the CDP “hopefully” will be ready in June of 2011 and possibly be adopted near the end of 2011 or in 2012 sometime.
4. Sequence of events once the draft finally is completed…
A. Draft #1 — > Steering Committee + Public Comment — > Draft #2
B. Draft #2 — > Steering Committee + Public Comment — > Draft #3
C. Draft #3 — > Steering Committee + Public Comment — > Final Approval
D. Final Approval — > Planning Department (with public input) — > Background + Recomendations Report
E. Background + Recomendations Report — > Planning Commisioner —> Planning Commisioner’s Recomendations
F. Planning Commissioner’s Recomendations — > County Council — > FINAL VOTE
Note- Only the steering committe can make substantive changes to the CDP.
More personal observations….
I am concerned:
That to date the Steering Committee didn’t have a copy of any of the work that was provided by PlaceMakers and didn’t seem to be very informed about what was going on – it seemed to me that a lot of power was being held in one person’s hands..
This could be a good thing in that one person isn’t an elected official who has ulterior motives, it will cut out a lot of the red tape, the remainder of the monies that were going to be spent on the project will now stay on island (in the form of Ron’s salery which hasn’t changed), and that a local will have greater insight.
This could be a bad thing in that one person is in charge…
Personally, I feel that Ron is more than capable. In all my interactions with him (which is limited) my gut tells me that he is truthful, competent, diligent, and unbaised. I believe he will do a fine job and am “hopeful” that the draft will be done in June 2011.