Hawaii County Zoning Decisions: July 2026

In July 2026, Hawaii County held 13 public meetings covering zoning matters. 25 zoning decisions had a recorded outcome this month: 22 approved (100% approval rate), 3 deferred. Activity was down 15% compared to June (620 activity items across 13 meetings).

Zoning Decisions This Month

Bill 168 - Rezoning reversion at Hualalai Road, North Kona (TMK 7-5-010013)

Approved.

Planning director-initiated repeal of ordinances 19-38, 09-50, 09-49, 06-138, 06-137, 95-118, 92-36, 90-10, 86-49, 533-1980, 594-1973, reverting 6.55 acres. Reverts 3.331 acres from village commercial CV-7.5 to double-family residential RD-3.75 and 3.227 acres from multifamily residential RM-2.5 to agricultural A-5A. Landowners Andy and Carrie Zee Trust, Weilin Zhao, Yulix Qiu, Fanghong Trust, and Fred Ming Lee. Intent to develop 38 duplex rental units on RD portion plus a single-family dwelling and three ADUs on the ag portion. Forwarded to council for first reading on 8 ayes, Councilmember Villegas excused.

See the vote tally and conditions for this decision →

Adoption of findings of fact for Tepe Mountain special permit

Approved.

Motion to adopt findings of fact, conclusions of law, decision and order for Tepe Mountain special permit allowing annual multi-day festival with overnight camping for up to 500 attendees and legitimizing storage of commercial vehicles on a 14.7 acre portion of a 1,419.17 acre agricultural property at 27-476 Indian Tree Road. Special permit itself was previously approved; this vote adopts supporting findings. Passed.

See the vote tally and conditions for this decision →

Use Permit for one-bedroom B&B at Amaama Street, Kona Palisades

Approved.

Application by Sangwook Lee for a use permit to establish a one-bedroom bed and breakfast within an existing three-bedroom dwelling on a 10,125 sq ft property in the state land use urban district, zoned A-5A. Located west/Makai side of Amaama Street, 90 feet north of Kaiminani Drive, Kona Palisades. Motion to approve; passed 6 ayes, 1 excused (Commissioner Ayers absent).

See the vote tally and conditions for this decision →

Change of zone at 283 West Puainako Street

Approved.

Change of zone from single-family residential 15,000 sq ft (RS-15) to single-family residential 10,000 sq ft (RS-10) for a 21,792 sq ft parcel to allow subdivision into 2 lots for single-family dwellings for long-term rental and estate planning. Applicant Zach Saito. Forwarded favorable recommendation to County Council 6-0, one absent/excused.

See the vote tally and conditions for this decision →

Special permit for food vendor / ag training classes on Hawaiian Paradise Park parcel

Deferred.

Application for special permit to legitimize food vendor agricultural training classes and sale of fresh produce on 1.06 acres in state land use agricultural district. Applicants Krua and Brent Klein. Deferred because applicant failed to complete second surrounding property owner notice within the allowed timeframe.

See the vote tally and conditions for this decision →

Support letter for Nature Conservancy acquisition of Kaʻalāiki property

Approved.

Committee approved a motion (moved by Anthony Coley, seconded by Morrow) authorizing correspondence to the appropriate body (mayor's office or county council) supporting the Nature Conservancy's request for acquisition of the ~1,960-acre Haleah/Kaʻalāiki property (Wilson Trust II) for watershed and forest conservation via the county PONC fund and/or Legacy Lands Fund, with a conservation easement stripping development/subdivision rights. Babette Morrow volunteered to draft the letter with staff. Passed unanimously by voice vote.

See the vote tally and conditions for this decision →

Bill 168 zoning reversion at Kealoli, North Kona (TMK 75-010013)

Approved.

Repeals prior zoning ordinances and reverts district classification from Village Commercial 7,500 sq ft and Multiple Family Residential 2,500 sq ft to Double Family Residential 3,750 sq ft and Agricultural 5 acres at Kealoli 4th, 5th and 6th, North Kona; TMK 75-010013; Planning Director initiated, 6.467 acres, on north side of Hualalai Road approximately 1,000 feet east of intersection with Kuakini Highway. Leeward Planning Commission forwarded fair recommendation to revert 3.331 acres from Village Commercial to Double Family Residential and 3.227 acres from Multiple Family Residential to unplanned zoning. Item was tabled to verify clear title, then removed from table, amended with comm 937.2 to remove conditions section, and approved at first reading 9-0. A proposed affordable-housing condition (comm 937.4) was withdrawn. Applicant is the Jay family, represented by Ronald Kim and Darren Arai. Planning estimated 62 fewer units result from reversion.

See the vote tally and conditions for this decision →

Bill 170 - Defining data centers vs. data processing facilities (forwarded to Planning Director and Commissions)

Deferred.

Bill 170 amends Chapter 25, Article 1 of the Hawaii County Code 1983 (2016 edition) relating to zoning, distinguishing data centers from data processing facilities for zoning and land use purposes and defining 'data center.' Introduced by Council Member Kimball. Data processing facilities are permitted in industrial, commercial, and mixed-use (MCX) zoning districts; data centers would not be permitted. Committee voted to forward the bill to the Planning Director and Planning Commissions for their recommendations. Vote was 8 ayes; Council Member Onishi excused.

See the vote tally and conditions for this decision →

Showing the 8 most significant of 25 recorded zoning decisions. See all Hawaii County meetings →

Zoning Changes

• CV-7.5 → RD-3.75, 6.467 acres at north side of Hualalai Road, approximately 1,000 feet east of intersection with Kuakini Highway, Kealoli 4th/5th/6th, North Kona; TMK 75-010013 (Jay family)
• Zoning change at Downtown Pahoa
• CV-7.5 → RD-3.75, 3.331 acres at Hualalai Road, north side approximately 1,000 feet east of Kuakini Highway, Kienaloli 4th and 5th, North Kona (TMK 7-5-010013) (Andy and Carrie Zee Trust, Weilin Zhao, Yulix Qiu, Fanghong Trust, Fred Ming Lee)
• RM-2.5 → A-5A, 3.227 acres at Hualalai Road, north side approximately 1,000 feet east of Kuakini Highway, Kienaloli 4th and 5th, North Kona (TMK 7-5-010013) (Andy and Carrie Zee Trust, Weilin Zhao, Yulix Qiu, Fanghong Trust, Fred Ming Lee)
• RS-15 → RS-10, 21,792 square feet acres at 283 West Puainako Street, Waikea, South Hilo (Zach Saito)

Top Keywords This Month

• zoning: 132 instances
• commercial: 93 instances
• residential: 56 instances
• land use: 53 instances
• subdivision: 24 instances

What to Watch

• Commercial mentions were up 98% from June.

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