Council rejects proposed Waimea rezoning after months of opposition from residents

HILO — Two companion measures asking the County Council to reclassify and rezone a 5.349-acre property in Waimea (South Kohala) drew sustained, often emotional opposition from residents at the June 4 meeting and were not approved on first reading.

The proposals—Bill 198 (a state land-use boundary amendment to move a portion of the parcel from agricultural to rural) and Bill 199 (a county zoning change to allow smaller residential ag lots and three commercial parcels along Mamalahoa Highway)—had drawn large turnouts and extensive written and oral testimony over several years. Opponents argued the project threatened prime agricultural soils, would increase traffic on already-congested local roads, and would accelerate gentrification and higher property taxes for long-term residents.

Community objections and council action: Several dozen residents and community leaders testified in Hilo and via remote sites across the island. Testimony emphasized agricultural preservation, traffic safety on Mamalahoa Highway, cultural and generational ties to the land, and skepticism that the project would result in affordable housing for local residents. Kristen Counter, who lives adjacent to the site, urged the council to keep the land in agricultural zoning and proposed alternative approaches to create housing while preserving ag land that she said could produce more housing units without commercial rezoning.

The county planning department and the applicant described voluntary commitments from the developer, including offering two half-acre parcels to an affordable-housing land trust and design-limitations for commercial buildings; council debate focused on whether those commitments and the proposed design changes were sufficient to address community concerns.

Formal votes: The council considered amendments and motions on both bills. After a sponsor-amendment process and full roll-call votes, the council rejected the rezoning measure (Bill 199 as amended) by a council tally recorded as four in favor and five opposed; the motion failed. The state-land-use boundary amendment (Bill 198) was put to a first-reading vote separately and was not approved; the clerk recorded the motion as failing with one vote in favor and eight opposed. Because the bills are interdependent, council members said the sequence and the conflicts between state land-use designations and county zoning made the approvals complex; planning staff also warned that approving one without the companion measure would create inconsistent land-use classifications.

Why it matters: The decisions preserve the property—s existing agricultural classification for now and reflect strong community resistance to infill commercial development on prime soils in Waimea. Multiple residents said the project would accelerate housing cost pressure and further erode Waimea—s ranching and agricultural character.

What's next: Because the measures were not approved, the applicant may choose to revise the proposals, return with new conditions or pursue other legal land-use pathways. Council members and staff said the department will continue to review any supplemental materials the applicant sends and that future hearings could occur if the applicant changes the application.

Speakers and testimony highlights: Long-time Waimea residents described the area as irreplaceable prime agricultural land and warned of traffic and infrastructure strain. Donna Payne Parker, CC Davenport, Anna Kaho'pe and others described Waimea—s agricultural programs, local culture and the risk of gentrification. Developer John Metzler and representatives said they would donate two half-acre lots for affordable housing to a land trust and limit some commercial uses, but those offers did not change the council—s final votes.

Sources: Hawaii County Council transcript, June 4, 2025; council roll-call and sponsor statements recorded in the meeting minutes.