Hawaiʻi Island – The County of Hawaiʻi Planning Department has announced that it has accepted a number of new applications for development projects across the island. The applications, submitted in July 2025, range from a new wastewater treatment plant in Kaʻū to commercial expansions and new shoreline dwellings.
Maps and documents related to these applications are available for public inspection during office hours at the Planning Department offices in Hilo and Kailua-Kona.
Planning Commission Referrals
- Wastewater Treatment Plant (Kaʻū): The County of Hawaiʻi Department of Environmental Management has applied for a Special Permit to construct and operate a new wastewater treatment plant facility on 14.9 acres at 96-3303 Maile Street, Kaʻū.
- Change of Zone (Puna): William Cox Morris has applied for a Change of Zone for a 25,111-square-foot portion of land at 19-4046 Old Volcano Road, Puna, from Single-Family Residential (RS-20) to Village Commercial (CV-20).
- New Dwelling (South Hilo): Pono Cann and Michele Sasaki-Cann have applied for a Special Management Area Use Permit to demolish an existing dwelling and construct a new single-family home on a 10,874-square-foot shoreline parcel at 55 Honoliʻi Place, South Hilo.
Additional Farm Dwelling Agreements
- North Kohala: Christian and Sherry Brandt on 1.15 acres at 56-753 Kūʻalapa Place.
- South Hilo: Eric Lau, Ellen, and Tina Meiser on 3.2 acres at 84 Akolea Road.
Plan Approvals
- North Kona: Applications include new comfort stations and a concession stand, a portable modular office for the State of Hawaiʻi Division of Aquatic Resources, a wedding event venue, a brewery addition for Kona Brewing Co., and a hotel on 1.75 acres on Aliʻi Drive.
- South Kohala: An application for a maintenance facility and a PV carport at 62-100 Mauna Kea Beach Road.
- Puna: Applications for new industrial, office, and electrical buildings on 557.18 acres in Kapoho, and a drive-thru expansion for McDonald’s USA, LLC on Old Volcano Road.
- South Hilo: An application for a photovoltaic system installation for the State of Hawaiʻi-DLNR Aquatic Resources Division on Kamehameha Avenue.
SMA Assessments
- North Kona: Applications for a fuel storage facility expansion, a canoe storage shelter, and two separate film productions on Ehukai Street.
- South Kohala: An application for interior tenant improvements at Kawaihae Shopping Center.