Hāmākua Soil & Water Conservation District

FINAL MEETING AGENDA

Date:   Tuesday, November 3, 2026                                                                                  Time: 3:00pm

Place: Teleconference connecting the following locations:

1)      NRCS Hilo Field Office, 154 Waianuenue Ave, Room 203, Hilo, HI 96720

2)      NRCS Waimea Field Office, 67-1185 Mamalahoa Hwy, Ste. H148, Kamuela, HI 96743

For more information on the meeting, call (808) 289-3132

Click the link for Microsoft Teams or use the Meeting ID and Passcode:

Join the meeting now

Meeting ID: 297 128 186 673

Passcode: 4nemiU

TESTIMONY:

Interested people can submit written testimony in advance of each meeting that will be distributed to the Board of Directors prior to this meeting. Written testimony must be submitted no later than 24 hours prior to the meeting to ensure time for Board Members to review. Late written testimony will be retained as part of the record, but it is not guaranteed that Board Members will receive it with sufficient time for review prior to decision-making.

Submit written testimony to hamakuaswcd1990@gmail.com

To provide live oral/video testimony during the online meeting, email your request to hamakuaswcd1990@gmail.com at least 24 hours in advance, with your name, phone number email address, and the agenda item on which you would like to testify. You will need a computer with internet access, video camera, and microphone to participate. Testimony will be limited to a maximum of three (3) minutes per person per agenda item.

The Board may go into Executive Session pursuant to Section 92-5(a)(4), Hawaii Revised Statues, in order to consult with its attorney on questions and issues pertaining to the Board’s powers, duties, privileges, immunities, and liabilities.

I.        Call to Order                                                                                                                                  - Beaton

II.      Approval of the Minutes                                                                                                         - Manor

III.    Cooperator Activities (New Cooperator, Plan Approvals, Revisions, Updates, Cancellations)

a.      RK Farms- Plan Approval

b.     Doug Beaton- Cooperator update

c.      Earthline Hawaii LLC- New Cooperator

d.     Austin Bello- New Cooperator

e.      Aporn Stein- New Cooperator

IV.    Subdivision/Change of Zoning/ Additional Farm Dwelling Application Reviews

a.      Neal E. Arnold (PL-SUB-2026-000441) on 83.488 acs, into 2 lots, 40.575 acs & 42.913 acs, Hamakua, TMKs: 4-2-009:004 & 005

V.      Conservation Planner Update

a.      Perimeter Fence Program Updates

b.     CTA Plans

c.      NRCS Plans

d.     Laulima Community Cost-Share Program: Webinar training 10/26

VI.    NRCS DC Report- Hilo and Waimea Field Office                                               - Nagata/ Fujii

VII.  Treasurer’s Report                                                                                                                    - Shropshire

VIII.           HACD Report

a.      Director Ethics Training: Complete to avoid late fines or other administrative penalties

                                                             i.      Financial disclosures: https://ethics.hawaii.gov/disclosure-e-filing/ 

                                                            ii.      Ethics training: https://ethics.hawaii.gov/training/

b.     CASH4ʻĀina: Part of inaugural round of Green Fee funding. Proposes using districts as soil sample collection hubs at $1,500 per site. Details on staffing, logistics, and outreach roles remain unresolved. No commitments have been made, the arrangement may not be cost-effective given anticipated staff time and coordination needs.

c.      Green Fee Updates: HACD submitted project proposals through the initial Green Fee ideas portal, but those submissions have not resulted in funding for HACD.

                                                              i.      October 21 Webinar: Attended by Robin Hill, recording not available on website yet.

                                                           ii.      Public Ideas Portal: Directors review as able existing project ideas and their funding status, support ideas through votes and comments, and submit new ideas where a need is not already represented.

IX.    New Business

a.      HSWCD Cooperative Agreement: Review updated form & approval

X.      Old Business

XI.    Open Forum

XII.  Next Meeting: 12/1/2026

XIII.           Adjournment

Individuals requiring special assistance or auxiliary aids or services (e.g., sign language interpreter, wheelchair accessibility, or parking designated for the disabled) at the SWCD meeting, please contact staff at least 72-hours prior to the meeting at (808) 289-3132 so that arrangements can be made.