Media release | Hamakua CDP

Highlights from the April 5th Steering Committee Meeting in Pāpa’ikou:

During this phase of the planning process, the planning team, with assistance from Steering Committee members, is actively engaged in more in-depth research on 10 specific Strategy Areas. Each month, Progress Reports for the Strategy Areas will be presented by either the Steering Committee member assigned to that area, or by a member of the CDP Team. Here are some highlights from the various Strategy Area Progress Reports presented at the April meeting.

Agricultural Strategy Area
The Pa’auilo slaughterhouse upgrade plans are moving forward. A recent feasibility study identified that anaerobic digestion is the favored disposal method over rendering. The proposed upgrades, which include expanding slaughterhouse capacity, reducing energy costs through anaerobic digestion, and collecting revenues from byproducts, should help the local ranchers to make money with quality grass-fed cattle with local slaughtering (versus the current practice of shipping calves to the mainland). Future phase expansion of anaerobic digestion could attract complementary ag processing industries to the area that could benefit from the cheaper energy while providing organic wastes for the anaerobic digestion process.

Transportation Strategy Area
The group is currently researching Park and Ride options for village centers throughout the planning area, as well as electric car charging facilities.

Waipi’o Valley Strategy Area
The group is engaged with the Waipi’o Circle group as they research & determine whether to seek an official designation to recognize the Valley as an exceptionally sacred place for heightened status and management.

Please join us at the next Steering Committee meeting:

May 3, 2011 @ 5PM in Honoka’a at NHERC – North Hawai’i Education & Research Center, 45-539 Plumeria St.

On the Agenda for the May Meeting:

• CDP Strategy Area Progress Reports with an emphasis on work being done for public access, and land use.
• Discuss preparation plans and create a subcommittee for a Honomū Village Revitalization Workshop