‘What Will Waimea Be Like In 2045?’
The Hawai’i County General Plan is a critical blueprint that guides the long term development of the island. Hawai’i County Planning recently released an updated plan – thru 2045 - that addresses a wide range of needs, growth strategies, land use, zoning, economic priorities, recommended capitol expenditures, environmental. cultural and social equity protections and more.
The recently released comprehensive review by County planners and related county agencies is now available for community review and comment through Nov. 20, and input is welcome both online and via non-digital feedback, questions, conversations. The County is hosting a number of community workshops, pop-ups and meetings across the island to facilitate feedback.
To assist with this, Waimea Community Association invited the Hawai’i County Planning Department to introduce the 2045 draft plan during the Thurs., Oct. 5, 2023 town meeting, 5:30-7 p.m. at Tutu’s House. Presenting the County’s update will be Bethany Morrison from the long range planning section of the Planning Department.
As usual, WCA’s town meeting will be in person and concurrently streamed “live” on WCA’s Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/WaimeaCommunityAssociation) and may also be viewed “live” via YouTube by going to www.WaimeaTown.org for a link. The meeting will be saved to Facebook and YouTube for on-demand viewing thereafter.
Also, as always, questions are welcome – ideally in advance – by emailing: WaimeaCommunityAssociation@gmail.com.
Also on the town meeting agenda will be an important update about Waimea’s water resources and services including both potable and ag sources by WCA Board Member David Greenwell and Hawai’i County Department of Water Supply staff Kurt Inaba and Kawika Uyehara. This will be followed with an update by Yishan Wong about not-for-profit Terraformation’s fascinating 21st century water resource exploratory project to convert brackish water to suitable ag uses – most notably here to be used to reforest now arid lands here on Hawai’i Island that are highly susceptible to wildfire.
For more information about the Hawai’i County General Plan Comprehensive Review process, the community may call the County’s Long Range Planning team at (808) 961-8288 or go to GeneralPlan@hawaiicounty.gov.