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| A portion of the Nāʻālehu Hill Phase 1 Subdivision showing various lot sizes on the map for 1,600 acres zoned agriculture above Nāʻālehu. See the complete map and subdivision details at https://records.hawaiicounty.gov/WebLink/1/edoc/141569/2024-12-11%20Ka%C5%AB%20CDP%20Meeting%20Packet.pdf. |
While the subdivision, proposed by Kaʻū Royal Hawaiian Coffee & Tea, LP, falls under administrative decisions by the County Planning Department and is neither subject to County Council nor Planning Commission public hearings and decisionmaking, it was taken up by the Kaʻū Community Development Plan Action Committee, which voted to send a letter to the Planning Director in whose hands the approvals lie.
The Action Committee voted to ask newly appointed Acting Planning Director Jeff Harrow, who is awaiting confirmation by the County Council, to give the plan additional consideration. Members said they intend to send a letter asking him to consider requiring the smallest lot sizes to be five acres. They pointed to the county Farm Subdivision Code and the Kaʻū Community Development Plan. They said the code requires a minimum of five acres for leasing to farmers, in order to maintain lot sizes that are economically viable for agricultural production.
The Action Committee voted to ask newly appointed Acting Planning Director Jeff Harrow, who is awaiting confirmation by the County Council, to give the plan additional consideration. Members said they intend to send a letter asking him to consider requiring the smallest lot sizes to be five acres. They pointed to the county Farm Subdivision Code and the Kaʻū Community Development Plan. They said the code requires a minimum of five acres for leasing to farmers, in order to maintain lot sizes that are economically viable for agricultural production.
They also said they would recommend that the county require the developers to take guidance from Soil & Water Conservation regarding preserving, repairing and protecting existing waterways and water resources. They recommended consideration of the condition of Kala'aiki and other roads used to access the proposed subdivision, including Hwy 11.
Of the lots proposed for Nāʻālehu Hill Phase 1 Subdivision, which is zoned for 20-acre agricultural lots, the smallest are .92 acre, .93 acre, 1.12 acre, 2.02 acres and 2.55 acres. Seventeen are under five acres. Twelve are between five and ten acres. Seven are between ten and under 20 acres and one is larger than 20 acres.
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| A map of ahupua'a in and around the planned Nāʻālehu Hill Phase 1 Subdivision on 1600 acres. See more at https://records.hawaiicounty.gov/WebLink/1/edoc/ 141569/2024-12-11%20Ka%C5%AB%20CDP%20Meeting%20 Packet.pdf. Image from Planning Department files |
The 1,600-acres of the proposed Nāʻālehu Hill Phase 1 Subdivision include many kuleana - Hawaiian family lots dating back to Hawaiian Kingdom days. When the old sugar company acquired them it was able to include lots and land surrounding them into one large parcel. Now that the land would be more valuable in smaller lots to sell off, the current owner is employing the process of consolidation and resubdivision.
Consolidation and resubdivision is a common practice among developers of ag land in Hawai'i. On paper, developers move around existing small lots within the large parcel to put them along the shoreline or another place with a great view, along planned roads, existing highways and near utilities. Developers plan for the number of lots to total no more than the maximum allowed by the zoning for 20 acre-agricultural parcels. With this process, many lots in the subdivision are often smaller than 20 acres and concentrated near each other, leaving one or more big lots and open space. Often the big lots are on steep hills or in gulches and other waterways and unbuildable.
In the case of Nāʻālehu Hill Phase 1 Subdivision, under county and state laws and regulations and with approval of the Planning Director, the 1,600 acres could be subdivided into about 80 lots. Instead, through consolidation and resubdivision, smaller and fewer lots are planned and the number of lots would be 39 for Phase 1.
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Consolidation and resubdivision is a common practice among developers of ag land in Hawai'i. On paper, developers move around existing small lots within the large parcel to put them along the shoreline or another place with a great view, along planned roads, existing highways and near utilities. Developers plan for the number of lots to total no more than the maximum allowed by the zoning for 20 acre-agricultural parcels. With this process, many lots in the subdivision are often smaller than 20 acres and concentrated near each other, leaving one or more big lots and open space. Often the big lots are on steep hills or in gulches and other waterways and unbuildable.
In the case of Nāʻālehu Hill Phase 1 Subdivision, under county and state laws and regulations and with approval of the Planning Director, the 1,600 acres could be subdivided into about 80 lots. Instead, through consolidation and resubdivision, smaller and fewer lots are planned and the number of lots would be 39 for Phase 1.
The Action Committee voted to send the Planning Director all of the testimony and minutes of the meeting via document and the YouTube recording. They voted to ask him to listen to people who testified, many of them saying that their family names are included in the many titles of smaller parcels within the big parcel planned for subdivision. Some said the titles are "clouded," a situation that some Committee members noted as a consideration that would be handled in court, not by the Planning Department or Action Committee. Some testifiers said they would take the subdivision to the courts, including the International Court in the Hague. They described the land in terms of the Hawaiian Kingdom, saying it was stolen from them and the titles never cleared.
See more in upcoming news briefs.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar. See upcoming events, print edition and archive at kaunews.com.
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG WARNING for Kaʻū and the Districts of North Kohala, South Kohala, North Kona, and Hawai'i Island Interior through 6 p.m. on Thursday.
Hawai'i County Civil Defense notes that A Red Flag Warning means critical conditions of strong, gusty trade winds, dry fuel, low relative-humidity, and warm temperatures could produce extreme fire behavior.
"Any fires that develop will likely rapidly spread and be difficult to control," states Civil Defense.
Hawai'i County Civil Defense notes that A Red Flag Warning means critical conditions of strong, gusty trade winds, dry fuel, low relative-humidity, and warm temperatures could produce extreme fire behavior.
"Any fires that develop will likely rapidly spread and be difficult to control," states Civil Defense.
Due to the Red Flag Warning, the following Emergency Rules are implemented by Civil Defense:
1. All outdoor burning is banned in the Districts of Kaʻū, North Kohala, South Kohala, North Kona and Hawai'i Island Interior.
2. All outdoor open flames are banned in the Districts of Kaʻū, North Kohala, South Kohala, North Kona and Hawai'i Island Interior.
3. All Hot works is banned; hot works includes, but is not limited to grinding, welding, flame cutting, or other fire or spark-producing operations.
4. The Director of Parks & Recreation is authorized to extend Rules 1 and 2 in county park facilities.
1. All outdoor burning is banned in the Districts of Kaʻū, North Kohala, South Kohala, North Kona and Hawai'i Island Interior.
2. All outdoor open flames are banned in the Districts of Kaʻū, North Kohala, South Kohala, North Kona and Hawai'i Island Interior.
3. All Hot works is banned; hot works includes, but is not limited to grinding, welding, flame cutting, or other fire or spark-producing operations.
4. The Director of Parks & Recreation is authorized to extend Rules 1 and 2 in county park facilities.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar. See upcoming events, print edition and archive at kaunews.com.
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For Coloring Contest for keiki 4 to 7 years of age, see https://www.cuhawaii.com/_/kcms-doc/1582/89204/
Christmas-Coloring-Page-4-7.pdf. For 8 to 14, see
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