Committee forwards Waimea land-use bills to council with unfavorable recommendations after split votes

The committee discussed two related measures that would change state and county land-use designations for a 5.349-acre parcel at 64‑983 Mamaloha Highway in Waimea, South Kohala (tax map key 6‑4‑024‑027). The applicant, Kaupulehu Land LLC, proposes a state land-use district boundary amendment for the rear portion of the site and a county zone change for the front portion that would allow a mix of residential-agriculture and neighborhood commercial uses and an 8‑lot subdivision concept (three retail/commercial lots fronting Mamaloha Highway and five 0.5‑acre residential‑agriculture lots in back).

Council members and multiple outside speakers described a community engagement meeting held May 13 to solicit options and comments; the community organizers reported about 80 participants and that participants were overwhelmingly opposed to the project concept as presented. The committee heard from community organizers, the applicant’s attorney Catherine Garson, planning consultant Darren Arai,…