The Hamakua Coast is looking to its past to plan for its future. ADVERTISING The Hamakua Coast is looking to its past to plan for its future. It’s been more than five years since county planners along with residents began
The Hamakua Coast is looking to its past to plan for its future.
It’s been more than five years since county planners along with residents began the process of creating a Community Development Plan for the region, part of a longterm effort to have CDPs in place for the entire county.
Public review of Hamakua’s draft CDP officially began in March, but kicked off in earnest this month with a series of SpeakOut sessions designed to familiarize residents with the document and allow them to weigh in before it becomes final.
“We’re excited that it’s finally out so we can bring it back to the community,” said Brad Kurokawa, chair of the steering committee for the CDP.
CDPs are tools used to create a foundation for future policy decisions.
Creating one begins in the abstract by laying out values and visions for a community, and ends in the concrete, by establishing policy guidelines to support those values when future planning decisions are made.
For Hamakua, that vision centers on the region’s agricultural history, from ancient taro plots in Waipio Valley to the plantation homes of Honokaa.
The geographical boundaries used to define the Hamakua planning area are not the same as the those that define the judicial district. They extend further south of that boundary to include Wainaku, which is part of the South Hilo judicial district.
“We kind of grappled with that at the beginning, and it was like “Where is the identity of the coast, the Hamakua Coast?” Kurokawa said. “It really combines those parts of South Hilo and parts of North Hilo.”
“One cannot truly understand Hamakua’s people without appreciating the legacy that agriculture has stamped on this land and its people,” the draft CDP states.
“Regardless of their background, the people of Hamakua share a deep appreciation for the historical heritage of their small towns and highly value preserving an ohana-centered community that emphasizes quality of life, neighborhood cooperation, and the aloha spirit.”
“The input we got was pretty clear,” Kurokawa said. “It’s pretty consistent in terms of people appreciating the Hamakua agriculture, wanting more public access to the mountains and the beaches, trying to maintain the character, recognizing the Hawaiian culture and the mixed plantation culture.”
To that end, the CDP emphasizes preserving historic buildings and streetscapes. It is aligned towards development of infrastructure within existing towns rather than enabling what the document deems “rural sprawl.”
“When the plantations when out of business, a lot of those lands were purchased as agriculture lots,” Kurokawa said. But recently, lots have been purchased by home buyers who do not keep much of the land in agricultural use, instead building large homes on the property.
“Even though it’s on a less dense lot, you still get the feeling that it’s like the suburban fringes moving into the agricultural realm,” Kurokawa said.
Keeping development within existing towns also makes continued infrastructure implementation more attainable. That includes everything from more affordable housing to improved water sourcing.
“How do you keep them (the communities) livable and vibrant?” said Ron Whitmore, a county planner who is also project manager for the Ka‘u CDP. For Hamakua, Whitmore said, the CDP emphasizes preserving and celebrating heritage.
It also emphasizes protection of natural resources. Watersheds and viewsheds are considered, as are forests and shorelines. Future planning focuses on preserving the resources that “exemplify Hamakua’s rural character” while “assuring responsible public access for recreational, spiritual, cultural, and sustenance practices,” according to the draft.
Waipio Valley and Mauna Kea are identified as “sacred places needing special attention.”
Mauna Kea is not under county jurisdiction; the CDP instead lays out “kokua actions” that Mauna Kea management agencies can implement, such as establishing clear recreational hunting policies and improving trail networks and firebreaks.
The draft acknowledges county limitation in the area of economic development as well, but emphasizes promoting a diversified economy that allows residents to work and shop closer to home instead of commuting to Hilo or Kona.
The review period for the document continues into June, with two more SpeakOut sessions scheduled and several focus discussions planned to discuss topics like Waipio.
“It’s a way to interact with people,” Whitmore said. Input from residents was crucial in early stages, when the CDP steering committee hosted several talk story sessions to create the initial values and vision statement.
“Now we’re starting back up with the community outreach,” Kurokawa said. The Papaikou event last Saturday was well-attended, with some residents lingering after the scheduled hours to continue discussions.
“I think they’re (CDPs) just an excellent mechanism for the county to interface,” said April Suprenant, manager of longrange planning for Hawaii County.
“It helps guide the future together.”
To view the Hamakua CDP, visit www.hawaiicountycdp.info/hamakua-cdp/draft-cdp. Reference copies are available at local libraries and community centers, as well as the Hawaii County Planning offices.
SpeakOut sessions will be held from 9 a.m. to noon on April 23 at the Papaaloa Gym and on May 7 at the North Hawaii Education and Research Center.
Email Ivy Ashe at iashe@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
