Hilo meeting draws broad opposition to proposed geothermal development as consultant pitches "community-led" model

A Hawaii County committee hearing in the Hilo Council Chambers drew lengthy public testimony opposing proposed geothermal development on the island and a presentation from a consultant for a developer group that framed geothermal as a locally controlled source of firm renewable power.

Public testimony, delivered in person and by Zoom during the Communication 3-5-4 agenda item, emphasized cultural and health harms attendees said were associated with past geothermal operations and raised questions about oversight and conflicts of interest. Following the speakers, Bridal Lee, a contractor presenting on behalf of Waika (WICA/IDG), summarized a multi-stage development roadmap and called geothermal "an indigenous, firm baseload renewable" that could create local jobs and royalties.

Why it matters: The discussion pits advocates who say geothermal could lower Hawaii's high electricity costs and provide long-term jobs against residents and culture practitioners who say past geothermal operations caused illness, environmental damage and cultural desecration and who question whether state and county regulators can provide adequate oversight.

Speakers and main claims

- Tara Kiai, testifier: urged council opposition, saying geothermal development has produced permanent environmental and cultural harms in other places and alleging conflicts of interest tied to consulting contracts. Kiai said Waikau Consulting (doing business as Power for the People) received more than $1,000,000 from a $3,000,000 legislative appropriation tied to SB 1269 and described the consultants as "paid insiders" rather than neutral community facilitators.

- Sarah Steiner, testifier: said she had obtained a state compliance letter showing Puna Geothermal Venture (PGV) operated a well identified as KS-21 without a permit for about two years. She told the committee she included the state's enforcement letter in emailed testimony and said the state’s compliance division has warned of fines and potential criminal penalties for unauthorized injection-well operations.

- Multiple resident testifiers (including Emily Naioli, Elaine San Jose, Pali Kapu Dedman, Terry Napiahi and others) described past incidents in Puna (including a 1991 blowout and reported gas exposures) and said geothermal operations have harmed families, livestock and cultural resources. Several speakers invoked constitutional protections for traditional and customary Hawaiian practices and urged full consultation with native Hawaiian institutions such as the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA).

- RJ Hampton and others asked for stronger, locally grounded oversight and for training and jobs to go to island residents if development proceeds.

- Bridal Lee, presenting on behalf of Waika/IDG: described a staged, science-driven process that DBEDT (Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism) is considering: (1) project initiation and planning, (2) surface geology and geochemistry (no drilling), (3) surface geophysics, then an up-or-down (go/no‑go) decision by about 2027, and (4) if merited, subsurface test drilling and later siting of power plants. Lee said the current proposal seeks approximately $6 million for surface exploration (not the full, commonly cited $20 million cost of full exploration and development) and outlined estimated employment: roughly 150–300 construction jobs, 60–120 permanent operations jobs, and a range of indirect jobs depending on downstream applications.

Key lines of dispute and clarifications from testimony

- Oversight and enforcement: Steiner asserted state enforcement documents showed an active compliance case for PGV’s KS-21 well. She also said many county building-permit records for PGV dating back decades are incomplete or expired, which she described as weak agency oversight. Those assertions were presented as testimony and documents were said to be filed with the council; the county did not issue an enforcement finding on the record at the meeting.

- Conflicts of interest and public funding: Kiai alleged that consultants hired for community engagement had institutional ties (she named Matsumoto and Waikau Consulting LLC) and that some of those firms had received public funds under SB 1269. Those claims were presented as testimony and are noted here as such.

- Cultural and health impacts: Multiple speakers described physical illness, evacuations and psychosocial trauma tied to past geothermal incidents (including a 1991 incident cited repeatedly). Presenters for WICA acknowledged the cultural dimensions and promoted what they described as “native-to-native” partnership models used in Aotearoa/New Zealand but several council members and multiple speakers said invoking culture within a project marketing campaign raised red flags and demanded stronger, community-led safeguards.

- Alternatives and economics: Several testifiers (including Robert Petrici) urged accelerated rooftop solar and distributed generation investments as lower-cost, readily deployable alternatives. Lee argued geothermal could supply firm baseload power, reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels, and yield royalty streams that could be distributed locally; he also said the state’s DBEDT map of geothermal subzones needs updating.

Formal actions and next steps

The committee recorded motions to close related files following presentations. Communication 3-5-4 (the geothermal presentation) was closed by the committee after the Waika presentation. The DBEDT surface-exploration phase described by the presenter would include a go/no‑go decision point before any subsurface drilling; proponents described the current request as funding for surface work only.

Ending note

Speakers and presenters asked the council and the public to watch for forthcoming community meetings and DBEDT actions. Several council members urged residents to attend upcoming Waimea and Kona meetings to hear the developer's panels and to continue submitting written testimony.