[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6540309,"mediaKeyId","3429267-948293bbdaa25b5dcfa8c9fd6d9a53f6","parentId",3429267,"title","Hundreds of residents urge council to reject rezoning and commercial plan for Waimea parcel","audioSeconds",3577,"startMs",269000,"endMs",3846000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3429267-948293bbdaa25b5dcfa8c9fd6d9a53f6&start=269&end=3846","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3429267-948293bbdaa25b5dcfa8c9fd6d9a53f6/thumbnail_269000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6540309/Hawaii-County/Hawaii/Hundreds-of-residents-urge-council-to-reject-rezoning-and-commercial-plan-for-Waimea-parcel","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6540309-aa0929908f937c4a6ca9baf0ee16c601/orig.mp4?Expires=1771103795&Signature=SqUhPHO9XLpZ6emu3Ds7r~2QGrV0auSNa5YvvZB~p0Co8Iqa-c9J~tJVGI3~t5DUVxKX6eQmGDZNUjLhiPocQSUOCUMJp5RMTvT71suquHoHBn5V230LdSatLVz5Z0M5kc6BjdhLUM7zRyyOq8wMn1acsvKEpVHkTBPbJPWLEFWe8yYUTShTKo6CS1v4eb5iri0ecX~qZYIYR3neEXDX3xpmOy~77J8TD5GMWJZCcEJ8Zfg6ohg4YL7LSgo9TOdhqMaOv9nrefIOKxYDPQgTk1MypP3FiEuW40P9FOughtmiH1vW3x3K1iy~~ZOPHv2CGVb97zRfQtcoKF5MPXd2Zg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Hawaii County","date","2025-05-20T15:48:00Z","article","Dozens of residents from Waimea told the Committee on Legislative Approvals and Acquisitions on Wednesday that Bills 198 and 199 — requests to change zoning and allow a commercial/residential subdivision on a parcel in South Kohala — should be denied.

The testimony focused on water availability, traffic and infrastructure, loss of agricultural land and precedent for future subdivision. Many speakers said the Leeward Planning Commission had given an unfavorable recommendation; residents offered written community reports and urged the council to uphold that recommendation.

Why it matters: Testifiers said approval would allow subdivision of prime agricultural lots into smaller parcels and open the door to commercial development they say Waimea cannot support. Several speakers framed the issue as one of long-term food security, local housing affordability and protection of cultural and community ties.

Residents and community representatives presented specific concerns and figures. “This project will possibly need 20 water meters,” said Ladonna Shively, a Waimea resident of 36 years. Multiple speakers described difficulty securing a single water meter for existing residents and said new development would worsen shortages. Pua Case, a kumu hula, appealed to the council on cultural grounds: “please save me for your future, for your children, for your grandchildren.”

Several testifiers described the parcel and nearby development patterns. Cece Davenport described the property across from the Minute Stop as a 0.73‑acre lot that was converted from agriculture to commercial use and warned that the proposed project — including a 2.35‑acre commercial frontage she attributed to the applicant — “will only contribute not only to the traffic, but to the noise.” Ikalani (Kalani) Flores and other speakers said the applicant originally owned 15 acres that were subdivided into three 5‑acre parcels and is now requesting further subdivision into half‑acre lots; Flores characterized that as spot zoning that would create a domino effect across neighboring AG‑5 parcels.

Multiple speakers cited process and outreach concerns. Dr. Momi Naughton and Anna Kahaupi‘i raised questions about local community association subcommittees and whether community outreach reached all impacted residents; Anna Kahaupi‘i said she personally walked the neighborhood and handed out more than 85 flyers and that about 80 people attended recent community meetings. The community submitted what attendees described as hundreds to more than a thousand written oppositions; speakers gave different counts during testimony (one speaker referenced “close to a thousand letters,” another referenced “1,800 testimonies opposing”).

Not all testimony opposed the bills. Nancy Karr Smith said the project follows planning guidance and urged the council to approve the entitlements, calling opposition “not in my backyard” sentiment. Patty Cook, who said she has attended many Waimea community meetings, told the council, “I ask you to please vote yes,” and urged residents to engage in planning processes for long‑term solutions to water and transport.

What the council took: The hearing recorded public testimony; no formal vote on Bills 198 or 199 occurred during the session. Council members present at the meeting were named at the outset (Council members Kaguata, James Eustace, Galimba, Kani Lee Kleinfelder and Chair Halaki Nava). The clerk noted the meeting would recess at 5 p.m. for a scheduled budget hearing; at 04:56 the chair recessed the session to continue with the finance meeting.

Outcomes and next steps: The transcript records only public testimony. There was no motion or vote recorded on either bill during this meeting; the formal decision on the bills was not specified in the public record of this session. The Leeward Planning Commission had previously issued an unfavorable recommendation for at least one related entitlement, according to multiple testifiers.

Community context: Testimony repeatedly tied the zoning and subdivision requests to broader concerns in Waimea — water supply, growing costs and the loss of agricultural land used for local food production, school capacity, road congestion and cultural continuity. Speakers identified affected groups including Hawaiian homesteaders, farmers, long‑term residents, teachers and health professionals who they said are being priced out of the area.

Documentation: Residents said they submitted a community report and multiple written testimonies to the council; several speakers offered to leave physical copies for the record. Planning staff materials and previous Leeward Planning Commission records were referenced by speakers but were not read into the record during public testimony.

Ending note: The council recessed the meeting to attend to the scheduled finance meeting and did not take formal action on Bills 198 or 199 during the session.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Hawaii County - Legislative Approvals and Acquisitions Committee (Part 1 of 2) - May 20, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Dozens of residents from Waimea told the Committee on Legislative Approvals and Acquisitions on Wednesday that Bills 198 and 199 — requests to change zoning and allow a commercial/residential subdivision on a parcel in South Kohala — should be denied.","taxTitle","Hawaii County, Hawaii","taxId",12825,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6540299,"Hu‘a Ola Hui outlines canoe‑carving and workshops for Native Hawaiian veterans and first responders",31,216000,247000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3429267-948293bbdaa25b5dcfa8c9fd6d9a53f6&start=216&end=247","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3429267-948293bbdaa25b5dcfa8c9fd6d9a53f6/thumbnail_216000.jpg","/articles/6540299/Hawaii-County/Hawaii/Hua-Ola-Hui-outlines-canoecarving-and-workshops-for-Native-Hawaiian-veterans-and-first-responders","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6540299-010e66b07475d6e3e71c2f26f6ebdaf0/orig.mp4?Expires=1771103795&Signature=N2gb0NO2iMJMIfW2b1PT35HFhlAxQzJNSxrjtRV19Obt438af7RweVI3v2o28ns8~fyFoZd6nE-HtNn8JfvKhGvBCvC7igoS1eFid3Ld4A-TKhagiSKI~4hl3AMDtXjTQ~oM3Od3HXFWbdJE4wstrxVZ7GCyID416a6~75-bXraEXf53PSMJk2~hKj09MzE-RjxipCCUjaGG6GjKRR0~qRo7Ri3knidLJmJvsTDE2SEF1KgaC12z6tcU8gSuiITACiwBeerenY~v-W1VlExPvVtQNi8ga36mrFmS16hYMJbj9hYQ-Y~Mbe45pBm-YuTNIogTzjjg8IQtfb6qFgjCIQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Zach Shimose, representing Hu‘a Ola Hui, told the committee the group plans canoe‑carving and co‑making workshops aimed at Native Hawaiian veterans and Native Hawaiian first responders and said the group would welcome broader community participation.

“My name is Zach Shimose with Hu'a Ola Hui. I believe I emailed all of you folks just giving you a foundation of what we're doing. We're gonna be doing a canoe carving, and co e making workshops for native Hawaiian veterans, native Hawaiian first responders,” Shimose said in public testimony.

Shimose said the organization would not turn away other participants and offered to provide information by email to council members. Testimony was part of the committee’s public testimony rotation; no formal council action on the project was recorded during this session.","A representative of Hu‘a Ola Hui described planned canoe carving and workshop activities meant to serve Native Hawaiian veterans and first responders; the group said it will not turn away other participants and that it has notified council members by email.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6540304,"Roots and RISE Hawaii thanks council for Bye Bye grant funding to support nature and arts therapy",71,129000,200000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3429267-948293bbdaa25b5dcfa8c9fd6d9a53f6&start=129&end=200","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3429267-948293bbdaa25b5dcfa8c9fd6d9a53f6/thumbnail_129000.jpg","/articles/6540304/Hawaii-County/Hawaii/Roots-and-RISE-Hawaii-thanks-council-for-Bye-Bye-grant-funding-to-support-nature-and-arts-therapy","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6540304-31995475750985ba4771992f6a83590d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771103795&Signature=YHs2WSDcvV0689AI702VVbUFZb1fCif5St4qlQjR9fPFo4cE3vx50uMEYLHbblipFy9jxO-62flD97aB7Ztygnw7j-69JnSWtTPDWlbluB8eUDAo9T-nUSlQGA4X5UzQnoH7lqP-~B20Bwh4BU1mBJuW0WvCVkqADXJ0oCqDHJoK~EklylDnDwbXjMOirUyW8Z~tgH4bA-rt5wBf8iQQzeNt5jsufG~~MVF5qeo4U5b8BhHzCczdk6zwXwvtsPz1-ukXMuG7LaM3r265uy5JmIkzz3LpIwjNG-mIAAFHJomcx5AbFkt~7jGf36PpoHjJyKwVrjxHKBp8~ygX56ALsQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Kayla Hill of Roots and RISE Hawaii testified in support of the organization’s application for the county “Bye Bye” grant funding, telling the Committee on Legislative Approvals and Acquisitions that the support would expand nature‑based and art‑therapy programs for people with severe persistent mental illness.

“Your support means some of our island's most vulnerable population, those with severe persistent mental illness, have regular access to nature and artist therapy, as well as a community they can feel safe in, accepted for who they are, and understood,” Hill said.

Hill said the current round of funding includes transportation so participants from remote locations on the island can attend events. She described the programs as focused on community, social connection and wellness rather than clinical treatment; organizers named co‑founders Eliza Gebben and Mona Trane Maynard as attending a separate convening on O‘ahu.

The testimony was delivered during the committee’s public testimony rotation and was limited to the speaker’s three minutes. No formal county action on the grant was recorded during this session.","A Roots and RISE Hawaii representative told the committee the nonprofit will use the county’s Bye Bye grant funding to expand nature‑based and arts therapy services for people with severe persistent mental illness, including transportation to reach remote participants.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Hundreds of residents urge council to reject rezoning and commercial plan for Waimea parcel

Hu‘a Ola Hui outlines canoe‑carving and workshops for Native Hawaiian veterans and first responders

Roots and RISE Hawaii thanks council for Bye Bye grant funding to support nature and arts therapy