Media release | Hamakua CDP

At the February 1, 2011 CDP Steering Committee meeting, a report from the Waipi’o Valley Gathering subcommittee was given, a discussion of the Steering Committee members’ roles as liaisons for Strategy Areas was discussed and members were given opportunities to volunteer for various groups, and the Values and Vision Statement Draft was presented. For meeting information & Handouts, please see the “Steering Committee” folder on the CDP website.

The Values and Vision Statement Draft is based on the 17,000+ comments that were received from the community. The Steering Committee discussed the draft and suggestions were received from Steering Committee members and members of the public. To see the original Values and Vision Statement Report, which includes the draft statement and an explanation of the process, please go the CDP website listed below. To simply see the draft statement, please see page 2 of this update. Currently, the CDP team is revising the draft statement based on the Steering Committee suggestions, and this revised version will be presented at the March 1, 2011 Steering Committee meeting.

Please join us at the next meeting, where the Steering Committee will vote on their preferred wording of the Values and Vision statement. This statement will help set the tone for the plan development process.

Also on the agenda will be a discussion of the recent Waipi’o Valley gathering in January, and an update on the CDP Strategy Areas.

Coming up next: The Steering Committee Votes on the Values and Vision Statement
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
5:00-7:00pm at Laupāhoehoe School Band Room, North Hilo

Values Draft

[based on the question: What do you love about Hāmākua?]

Hāmākua values our close-knit communities, rich with Hawaiian and Plantation heritage, cultural diversity, strong families, and spirit of Aloha.

We value our natural beauty , with sweeping views of our mountains and ocean. We value our land from mauka to makai, rich, deep, fertile soil, abundant waterways, tradewindweather patterns, open spaces, and excellent environmental quality.

We value our laid back, rural lifestyle centered in small, quiet towns surrounded by farms and open space.

We value our ability to be self-sufficient, to grow our own food and support our farmers, ranchers, and local businesses.

We value active recreation at our parks, community places, festivals, and our access to hunting, fishing, and hiking areas.

We value our history and culture by honoring our sacred places, practicing cultural traditions, and passing them on to the next generation.

Vision Draft

[based on the question: What would you like to see in Hāmākua in 20 years?]

Hāmākua is a rural community thriving on sustainable agriculture. A strong entrepreneurial spirit supports a vibrant economy, and local businesses are able to provide jobs and access to goods and services.

Hāmākua offers an array of outdoor activities such as hunting, fishing, and hiking. We host festivals for music, culture, and the arts, and are known for our parks, gathering places, and recreation programs for youth and seniors.

We support lifetime learning by expanding educational opportunities for the entire community. We support our ‘ohanaby providing high quality healthcare, elderly care, and affordable housing.

Hāmākua is a model of environmental quality and stewardship. Our pristine landscapes, sweeping viewplanes, open spaces, native species, maukaforests, and watersheds are protected. We protect our culturally significant and sacred places. We rely primarily on clean and local energy sources that contribute to the sustainability and resiliency of our communities.

Our communities are connected by a network of safe, well maintained roadways and enjoy multiple transportation choices. Our community prides itself on its heritage roads as alternative, slower routes between our popular destinations and our historic plantation villages.

Hāmākua is a place where change is thoughtful & deliberate. We support smart, sustainable development that balances our unique characteristics with responsible land use policies.