Windward Planning Commission, May 6, 2026
Recommends approval: Favorable recommendation on Bill 126 - Downtown Pahoa Commercial special district code, 6-0
How this board votes
The Windward Planning Commission approved 73% of 22 recorded land-use decisions this period. Most frequent dissent: JoNelle Fukushima (1 of 17 recorded votes).
Parsed from the official meeting recordings. Verify against the official minutes.
See the full board record, member by memberWhat happened
On May 6, 2026, the Windward Planning Commission recommended approval of Favorable recommendation on Bill 126 - Downtown Pahoa Commercial special district code (6-0).
The Windward Planning Commission (Hawaii County) forwarded favorable recommendations to the County Council on three Pahoa-related bills: Bill 126 (establishing the Downtown Pahoa Commercial special district zoning code), Bill 124 (rezoning map amendment from VC-10/RS-10 to DPC wi…
- Jurisdiction
- Hawaii County, HI
- Governing body
- Advisory (makes a recommendation)
- Date
- May 6, 2026
- Decisions
- 9 zoning decisions
- Outcome
- Recommends approval, 6-0
- Next step
- Final board vote (pending)
Projects in this meeting (3)
Each is its own project; some span multiple hearingsCase PL-SMA-2025-000083
Recommended 6-0Case PL-SMA-2025-000084
Recommended 6-0Favorable recommendation
Recommended 6-0Free sample: decision 1 of 9
Favorable recommendation on Bill 126 - Downtown Pahoa Commercial special district code
County Council-initiated Bill 126 amends Chapter 25 to establish the Downtown Pahoa Commercial (DPC) zoning district as a special district, adding new permitted uses (co-working/innovation hub, creative media space, cultural enterprise), a 30-foot height limit, 7,500 sq ft minimum building site area, 50-foot minimum width, no minimum yards except by plan approval, and no off-street parking requirements. Includes a voluntary opt-in mechanism. Commission forwarded a favorable recommendation with the planning director's proposed language. Passed 6-0, one absent/excused.
The other decisions are listed below. Available full write-ups and conditions are included with Pro.
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Key Decisions (9)
Favorable recommendation on Bill 126 - Downtown Pahoa Commercial special district code
Favorable recommendation on Bill 124 - Pahoa zone map amendment to DPC
Favorable recommendation on Bill 125 - Pahoa Village Design District updates
Grant of standing to Orchid Land Community Association in contested case (SPP 870 amendment)
Defer SPP 870 amendment contested case to a hearings officer
SMA use permit approval - Pueo Project educational and research facility
SMA use permit approval - single-family dwelling in Hawaiian Paradise Park
Special permit approval - four-bedroom bed and breakfast in Hawaiian Ocean View Estates
Defer discussion of proposed amendments to Planning Commission rules of practice
6 recorded roll calls, member by member, in Pro.
Full write-ups and conditions for all 9 decisions in Pro.
Development Activity (5)
Regional Trade Center (Special Permit 870 amendment)
Commercial
Pueo Project
Mixed-Use
Schrader single-family dwelling
Residential
2 additional development records with full detail in Pro.
Market Signals (4)
Infrastructure
Pahoa faces significant water, wastewater, and roadway capacity constraints; FEMA…
Commercial Demand
The county is creating a voluntary opt-in Downtown Pahoa Commercial…
Housing Demand
Rural Kau/Hawaiian Ocean View Estates (nearly 11,000 lots) shows demand…
Infrastructure
Longstanding road ownership defects in Orchid Land Estates (roads still…
Who spoke
22 distinct speakers; 14 identified names.
All speaker roles: 6 Staff, 1 Chair, 3 Applicant Rep, 4 Commissioner, 1 Councilmember, 3 Applicant, 1 Clerk, 1 Attorney, 2 Public.
Identified name roles: 4 Staff, 1 Chair, 3 Applicant Rep, 2 Commissioner, 1 Councilmember, 2 Applicant, 1 Attorney.
Speaker sample: Jack Kruszewski, Applicant.
13 more identified names in Pro: 4 Staff, 1 Chair, 3 Applicant Rep, 2 Commissioner, 1 Councilmember, 1 Attorney, 1 Applicant.
Full speaker roster in Pro
Meeting audio
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Audio in Pro
Zoning terms (15)
138 recorded timestamps
- deferred (3 timestamps)
- zoning (44 timestamps)
- commercial (29 timestamps)
- mixed use (3 timestamps)
- residential (7 timestamps)
- rezone (1 timestamps)
Decision moments (9)
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Go deeper on this meeting
9 recorded decisions, 4 conditions across 4 decisions. Available full write-ups are included with Pro for Hawaii County.
Full write-up and conditions in Pro
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