OHA and community advocates urge deferral, cite housing loss risks and call for managed retreat planning

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) and community recovery advocates told the committee the resolutions risk undermining the purpose of Bill 9 and removing potential housing opportunities without adequate justification.

McKenna Woodward (OHA) said the two resolutions discussed would affect 498 apartment‑district units as submitted for Aug. 5 and that, combined with other measures, the total number of units being placed on a pathway toward permanent hotel rezoning is much larger. "If sea level rise exposure is the reason these properties are being treated differently, the county should address that risk directly," she said, and recommended the council postpone permanent rezoning until objective standards and plans for erosion, infrastructure viability and emergency access are resolved.

Community advocates echoed that call and urged the county to adopt a comprehensive shoreline retreat policy and to consider strategic purchases in high‑hazard shoreline areas rather than preserving visitor entitlements. Jackie Keefe, who has worked with wildfire survivors, said the county should prioritize long‑term housing solutions for displaced residents and avoid piecemeal exceptions that preserve tourist entitlements at the expense of locals’ housing prospects.

The committee did not take final action; members asked for more data and for planning staff to clarify the stated criteria and any additional tests the committee would use before making rezoning recommendations.