Hawaii County committee schedules multi‑week review of draft General Plan 2045, requests updated mapping and references

Ashley L. Kirkowitz, chair of the Hawaii County Council policy committee on Planning, Land Use and Economic Development, outlined a multi‑meeting schedule on Tuesday for review of the draft General Plan 2045 and asked the Planning Department to transmit an updated draft package for committee review.

The committee voted to close the communications file on the proposed review process (Communication 3‑26) after hearing the schedule and related discussion; a motion by Councilmember Galimba, seconded by Councilmember Kimball, carried with nine ayes. The schedule as described sets two meetings per plan section and three meetings for the “sustainable and resilient communities” section, and proposes holding those meetings in non‑council weeks to allow focused review while ensuring commissions have the 120 days required to review council recommendations.

Why it matters: The General Plan governs islandwide land‑use direction for the next 20 years. Committee members emphasized dedicating time and staff resources to review the draft carefully; Chair Kirkowitz said her intention is to complete review and adoption within this council term.

Planning staff and committee discussion

Bethany Morrison, Long Range Planning Program Manager, told the committee the department is finalizing mapping work and expected to file the next draft incorporating commission recommendations “within the next 10 days.” Chair Kirkowitz said the committee would receive copies of the versions transmitted to both Windward and Leeward Planning Commissions and that the committee could schedule additional meetings if more time is required.

Committee members debated whether to hold the review meetings in the same weeks as regular council sessions or in off weeks. Some members supported meeting during council weeks to consolidate travel and testimony; others preferred off‑week meetings to allow a break between regular business and the in‑depth plan review. Chair Kirkowitz said she would consider a hybrid approach (one meeting during council week, the second in an off week) as a middle ground and asked the clerk and planning staff to coordinate logistics.

Public testimony and requests

Chuck Flaherty, who testified by Zoom on Communication 3‑26, urged the committee to keep the schedule flexible and to provide “a bit more reference material” so reviewers can compare the draft against the current general plan’s goals, policies and courses of action. He asked the committee to explicitly reference how goals from the current plan are carried forward in the draft.

Abraham Antonio, a former chair of the Hawaii Game Commission (District 5), said the Game Commission has sought to place an item on its agenda for months but was blocked by corporation counsel; he asked the committee to include language in the general plan that protects hunting and gathering rights.

Process and next steps

The committee will take public testimony at the first meeting for each section. Chair Kirkowitz asked staff to work with the clerk to ensure resources and noticed dates are available; the committee’s office said it will prepare amended schedules if needed and that Legislative Review Branch housekeeping edits will be incorporated before final council consideration. The committee closed the communications file on the schedule and affirmed its intention to proceed with the multi‑meeting review process.

Ending

The Planning Department will transmit the revised draft (mapping complete) to the council and committee for review. The committee signaled it expects to receive the updated materials shortly and to refine the meeting calendar as needed before formal deliberations begin.