Committee on Legislative Approvals and Acquisitions Meeting - March 17, 2026: Bill 137 (Change of Zone in Puna)
STREAMING COPY IN PREPARATION — RECORDING AVAILABLE FROM THE ORIGINAL SOURCE
Committee on Legislative Approvals and Acquisitions Meeting - March 17, 2026
Vice Chair Onishi chaired the meeting at 1:31 PM at the Westwai Civic Center (Kona) with members in Hilo participating remotely. The committee considered Bill 137, a change of zone application by Benjamin and Olympia Love for a 5.79-acre parcel in the Puna District. The bill proposes reclassifying the property from Agricultural 20-acre (AG-20) to Family Agricultural 1-acre (FA-1) to enable a five-lot subdivision. The meeting adjourned at 1:45 PM.
Discussion Items
-
Planning Director Presentation: Jeff Darrow presented the application, noting the property is located at 17-4050 Ku Aina Road in the Curtisstown area, Puna. The state land use designation is agricultural, but adjacent residential lots are in the state urban district. The general plan designates the area as low-density urban. The proposed site plan shows five one-acre lots accessed via Ku Aina Road. The existing dwelling is on site.
-
Water Infrastructure: Vice Chair Onishi asked about water supply for the subdivided lots. Darrow explained that Chapter 25-27.6 of the county code prohibits a change of zone without county water, so catchment systems cannot be used. He confirmed that the water department had indicated sufficient water credits for each lot.
-
Traffic Concerns: Onishi expressed concern about traffic congestion on Ku Aina Road and its intersection with Highway 11, noting cumulative impacts from multiple small subdivisions. Darrow replied that a traffic impact analysis is triggered only at 50 peak-hour trips, which this small subdivision does not approach. He added that the department reviews cumulative impacts when multiple applications are received. Darrow noted that the road (North Road) adjacent to the property is a private road, not a county road, so the subdivision will use Ku Aina Road for access. A condition requires a future 60-foot right-of-way dedication along North Road.
-
Future Rezoning Potential: Onishi asked whether FA-1 lots could later be rezoned to RS-20. Darrow agreed that the property abuts state urban lands and is within a low-density urban general plan designation, but noted that water availability would likely prevent further subdivision into RS-20 or RS-15 lots.
Key Outcomes
- Motion to Approve Bill 137: Councilmember Kanili Kleinfelder moved to approve Bill 137 and forward it to the full council with a favorable recommendation. Vice Chair Onishi seconded the motion.
- Vote: The committee voted 8 ayes in favor, with one member (Ms. Kalimba) excused. The motion carried.
- Next Step: Bill 137 will be referred to the Hawaii County Council for final consideration.
Meeting Transcript
Good afternoon, everyone. I'm Vice Chair Onishi. Today is a 20 second session. This is the committee on legislative approvals and acquisitions. It's March 17th, 2026, and the time is 131 p.m. We're at the Westwai Civic Center. I'm introducing members of this committee. We have on the back. Mr. Houston is to my right, Mr. Kanili Kleinfelder. Mr. Cherinaba, and on the right side back, and in Hilo, we have Ms. Kagiwara, Kirkowitz, and is Ms. Kimball there. Oh, yeah. No. Step out for a second. Okay. She'll be back. She'll be joining us shortly. And excuse this Ms. Galimba. Mr. Clerk, any testimony? Thank you, Vice Chair Nisha. Confirm we don't have any testifiers here in the Hilo Council Chambers. Mr. Aerosali, any testifiers elsewhere. Confirming that we do not have any other testifiers for this meeting, sir. Thank you so much. I shall read in the bill, Bill 137, amend section 25-8-22, Pune District Zone Map, Article 8, Chapter 25 of the Hawaii County Code, 2016 edition has amended by change of district classification from agriculture 20 acres to family agriculture one acre at Wala Puna, Hawaii, covered by tax map key 17016010. Applicant Benjamin and Olympia Love, Area 5.79 acres. We have the commission forwards its favorite recommendation for this request to change of zone, which allowed applicants to buy the property into five lots. Properties located at 17 4050 Ku Aina Road, introduced by Councilmember Kimball by request and communication 760.1 from planning director Jeffrey W. Darrow. Date of February 24, 2026, transmitting a PowerPoint presentation for Bill 137. Can you have a motion to approve Bill 137? Chair motion to approve Bill 1. 37. 37. And for the council with a favorable recommendation. Second. Okay, motion by Mr. Conley Kleinfelder, second by Chair Naba. Go ahead, planning director. Thank you, Chair. Members of the committee, Jeff Darrell with the planning department. We'll wait till the presentation starts here. If I could direct your attention to our presentation, the uh applicants in this case are Benjamin and Olympia Love.
openpublica.com