AGENDA
WINDWARD PLANNING COMMISSION
COUNTY OF HAWAII

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN of the following matters to be considered by the Windward Planning Commission of the County of Hawaii at a regular meeting in accordance with the provisions of Chapters 91 and 92, Hawaii Revised Statutes, Section 6-7.5(a) of the Charter of the County of Hawaii and Planning Commission Rules of Practice and Procedure.
DATE: Thursday, January 8, 2026
TIME: 9:00 a.m.
LOCATION: Hawaii County Council Chambers in Hilo
25 Aupuni Street, Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Public Participation: This is an in-person meeting, and the Windward Planning Commissioners will participate in person. The primary way for the public to view or testify at this meeting is in-person; however, as a courtesy to the public, the Commission provides the following additional ways to view or testify remotely at this meeting.
Optional Alternative to Provide Remote Oral Testimony: The public has the option to provide verbal testimony at the meeting by joining Zoom. To provide verbal testimony via Zoom, please use the link below to register prior to the meeting: https://www.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/asnlHMbrRKiASJ_8zAzbHg
Optional Alternative to View Meeting:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAFoRMb3rfWLQMPd6TAkEGA?view_as=subscriber
Please note, as this is an in-person meeting, the hearing may proceed if the Zoom and/or YouTube connections fail.
Submitting Written Testimony: To ensure timely delivery to Commissioners prior to the meeting, written testimony must be submitted no later than 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, by: (1) email to WPCtestimony@hawaiicounty.gov, (2) mail to the Windward Planning Commission at 101 Pauahi Street, Suite 3, Hilo, Hawaii or (3) drop-off at the Planning Department offices in Hilo at the address above or Kona at 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Highway, Building E, 2nd Floor, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. If you are submitting written testimony at the meeting, provide twelve (12) copies. All written testimony, regardless of time of receipt, will be made part of the permanent record. Please submit separate testimony for each item.
Meeting Materials/Board Packet: Pursuant to Hawaii Revised Statutes Section 92-7.5, the meeting materials provided to the commission is available for public inspection three business days before the meeting date during regular business hours at the Planning Department offices in Hilo and Kona and by clicking
‘Board Packets’ at the following Planning Department website link: www.planning.hawaiicounty.gov/about-us/boards-committees/planning-commission-applications. This information can also be requested by sending an email to WPCtestimony@hawaiicounty.gov or by calling (808) 961-8288.
CALL TO ORDER
ELECTION OF OFFICERS
Election of Officers for 2026.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Review and approval of the minutes of November 6, 2025 and December 4, 2025 regular meetings.
STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS
Members of the public may provide public testimony regarding any agenda item now or at the time the agenda item is called to order.
NEW BUSINESS
1. APPLICANT: THOMAS L. SCHAGER AND JOSEPH B. SWICK
(PL-SPP-2025-000103)
Application for a Special Permit to operate a 1-bedroom bed and breakfast operation within an existing farm dwelling on an approximately 1.8-acre parcel of land in the State Land Use Agricultural District. The subject property is located at 31-190 Hawaii Belt Road, approximately 50-feet east of its intersection with Leopolino Road, Hakalau, North Hilo, Hawaii, TMK: (3) 3-1- 001:051.
2. Discussion of proposed amendment to Planning Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure, Rule 1 regarding General Rules of the Commission. The Commission will discuss adding commissioner attendance standards to Rule 1.
3. Discussion of Planning Commissioners’ suggestions for future amendments to the Planning Commission Rules of Practice and Procedure.
PLANNING DIRECTOR’S REPORT
Report on Special Management Area (SMA) determinations and minor permits issued by the Planning Director for December 2025.
AGENDA ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING
The Commissioners will comment on matters not on the current agenda, for consideration at the Commission’s next meeting.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
The Windward Planning Commission’s next regular meeting is scheduled for Thursday, February 5, 2026, at the County Council Chambers in Hilo and the public can also testify via Zoom. The date and venue of the meeting are subject to change.
ADJOURNMENT
Anyone who requires an auxiliary aid or service, or other accommodation due to a disability, please contact the Planning Department at (808) 961-8288 or WPCtestimony@hawaiicounty.gov as soon as possible. If a request is received later than five working days prior to the meeting date, we will try to obtain the auxiliary aid/service or other accommodation, but we cannot guarantee that the request will be fulfilled.
Upon request, this notice is available in alternate formats such as large print, Braille, or electronic copy.