Presentation to the American Planning Association-Hawaii Chapter, January 9, 2013, by Jesse K. Souki, Director, State of Hawaii Office of Planning. NOTE: DOWNLOAD SLIDES TO VIEW TRANSITIONS. Executive Summary: The purpose and intent of the planning/land use laws of Hawaii are timeless, but the systems that implement these laws may need to change. On the one hand, the state is doing well in some areas, but on the other hand, people (e.g., developers, environmentalists, native Hawaiians, communities) seem to be unhappy with how the system works. We should consider changing/modernizing the system to better achieve the original purpose and intent of the statewide planning/land use laws. This means calling the regulators, the regulated, and representatives of the various public interests to the table to rethink how we plan and develop in Hawaii. The problem needs to be addressed holistically from top to bottom. The occasional tweak of the land use law here and there is not productive, judging from recent outcomes. The law is a complex tapestry, picking at the threads can have unintended consequences for all involved. The inquiry must be disciplined and balance the need for both economic development and stewardship. If the Office of Planning is to take a central role in this process, it needs to be properly funded. Currently the office leverages large amounts of federal funding for its work to supplement a historic disinvestment by the legislature and previous administrations.

1. What is the APA-HI Presents
Role of State
January 9, 2013
Presentation by
Planning?
Jesse K.
Souki, Director, Office of
Planning

2. State
Office of
Planning
Hawaii Revised Statutes
Chapter 225M

3. Why was the Office created?
• Fix responsibility and accountability to successfully
carry out statewide planning
programs, policies, and priorities
• Improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the
operations of the executive branch
• Ensure comprehensive planning and coordination
to enhance the quality of life of the people of Hawaii
Source: HRS §225M-1.

4. Why Plan?
• Meet the physical, economic, and social needs of
Hawaii's people
• Provide for the wise use of Hawaii's resources in a
coordinated, efficient, and economical manner
• Conserve
natural, environmental, recreational, scenic, historic
, and other limited and irreplaceable resources
which are required for future generations
Source: HRS §225M-1.

5. What does OP do?
1. State comprehensive planning and program
coordination
2. Strategic planning
3. Planning coordination and cooperation
4. Statewide planning and geographic information
system (GIS)
5. Land use planning
6. Coastal and ocean policy management
7. Regional planning and studies
8. Regional, national, and international planning
Source: HRS §225M-2.

6. Regulatory Activities
• Some SMA Approvals. Reviewing and issuing of
special management area permits for projects
within the Hawaii community development districts
• CZM Determinations. Reviewing and issuing of
Coastal Zone Management (CZM) Act federal
consistency determinations for certain federal
actions and activities
• LUC Recommendations. Developing and
presenting the position of the State in all boundary
change petitions and proceedings before the Land
Use Commission
Source: HRS Chapters 205, 205A, and 225M.

7. Key
Policies
that Guide
OP
•Hawaii State Planning
Act
•State Land Use Law
•Coastal Zone
Management Act

8. • Serves as a guide for the future long-
range development of the State
• Identifies the
goals, objectives, policies, and
priorities for the State
• Provides a basis for determining
priorities and allocating limited
Hawaii resources, such as public
funds, services, human
State resources, land, energy, water, and
other resources
Planning • Improves the coordination of
federal, state, and county
plans, policies, programs, projects, and
Act regulatory activities
• Establishes a system for plan
Hawaii Revised Statutes formulation and program coordination
Chapter 226 (1978) to provide for an integration of all
major state, and county activities

9. A STATEWIDE PLANNING SYSTEM
Part I: Overall Theme, Goals, Objectives and Policies
Population Part III: Priority Guidelines
Economy
Economic
Physical
Population Growth Part II: Statewide planning system
Crime and criminal
environment justice
Affordable housing Functional plans County general plans State programs
• Define and implement Parts • Desired population • State budget
Facility systems Education I and II • Physical development • Land Use Commission
• Identify priority issues patterns • Board of Land and Natural
Sustainability • Implementing actions • Further define Parts I and II Resources
Climate Change
Socio-cultural Adaptation
advancement

10. Have We Achieved the Goals of
the State Plan?
• Gallup Poll 2012:
Hawaii Still No. 1 in
A Healthy
Economy
Wellbeing
Human Well-
Being
• Hawaii Biz Magazine
A Quality
2012
Environment
• Hawaii Above U.S.
Average in
Economy, Environment
and Health
• Below Average in
Hawaii Today? Housing/Transportation

12. • Purpose
• “preserve, protect and encourage the
development of the lands in the State for
those uses to which they are best suited
for the public welfare[.]” L. 1961, c
187, §1.
• Implementation Mechanisms
• 5-Year Boundary Review
• District Boundary Amendments
State Land • Important Agricultural Lands
Designation
Use Law • State Special Use Permits
Hawaii Revised Statutes
Chapter 205

13. State Land Use Classifications
1969 2011
R U R
0%
0% 3% U
5%
A A
48% 47%
C C
49% 48%

16. Have We Accomplished the
Intent of the Law?
• Does the current land use system:
• Ensure long-term gains for our economy?
• Promote uses that best serve the well-being of the owner
and the public?
• Prevent scattered subdivisions with expensive, yet
reduced, public services?
• Direct development away from prime agricultural lands for
residential uses when other lands are available to meet
urban needs?
• Promote the utilization of multi-purpose lands?

17. • Purpose
• “provide for the effective
management, beneficial
use, protection, and development of the
coastal zone.” See L. 1977, c 188, § 1.
• Implementing Mechanisms
• Special Management Area Permits
• Federal Consistency
Coastal Zone • Comprehensive Planning and
Coordination
Management
Act
Hawaii Revised Statutes
Chapter 205A

21. • The Hawaii State Planning Act is a
Planning System
• Overall theme, goals, objectives, and
policies
• Priority guidelines
• State functional plans
• County general plans
• State programs
Decline of • State functional plans were last
updated in 1991
Hawaii’s • Last 5-Year District Boundary Review
Planning was in 1992
• OP taken out of governor’s office
System • State Plan Policy Council dissolved
Expectations vs. Reality • Funding and staffing of the office has
declined significantly over time

22. Expectations
Cayetano’s Term Ends Lingle’s Term Ends
(1994-2002) (2002-2010)
Reality
Waihee’s Term Ends
(1986-1994)

23. Expectations
Lingle’s
Term Ends
Cayetano’s
Term Ends
Waihee’s Reality
Term Ends

24. Current
Projects
and
Initiatives
2011 and 2012

25. Leveraging State Agency involvement in
Transit-Oriented Development to
Strengthen Hawaii’s Economy
A Tool for Meeting New
Recommendations
Day Agenda
• Improving the Economy and • Executive policy identifying TOD as a
Advancing Education priority for implementing smart
growth in the New Day Plan
• Promoting Energy Independence
• Identify a lead agency within state
government to advance TOD
• Protecting the Environment and
Promoting Local Food Production
• Prioritize state-owned properties
and assets within transit areas to
• Ensuring the Health of Hawaii’s understand sustainable development
People potential or the need to preserve
existing uses on environmentally and
• Meeting the Needs of Older Adults culturally sensitive lands.
• Ensuring Access to Affordable • Target resources to support TOD and
Housing and Human Services walkable, smart growth communities.

26. Sustainability
• Act 181
(2011), Sustainability
Priority Guidelines
• UH Public Policy Center
• Hawaii Green Growth
Group
• Counties

27. Climate Change Adaptation
• Act 286
(2012), Climate
Change Adaptation
Priority Guidelines
• UH Law School CRest
Project
• Working with state and
county planners to design
options for
implementation
• Incorporating coastal
hazard assessments as
part of state and county
planning and decision-
making

28. Increased Food Security and
Food Self-Sufficiency Strategy
• Sets forth objectives, policies and actions to increase
the amount of locally grown food consumed by
Hawaii’s residents
• Emphasizes increasing production by strengthening
agricultural infrastructure (i.e. agricultural
parks, irrigation systems and distribution
systems/facilities)
• Recommends actions to provide for food safety, pest
prevention and control, workforce
training, research and extension services

29. National Ocean Policy
• Executive Order 13547
--Stewardship of the
Ocean, Our Coasts, and
the Great Lakes, July
19, 2010
• NOAA Grant
• NOP Coordinator Hired
• Pacific Regional Ocean
Partnership
• Regional Planning Body
• Bureau of Ocean Energy
Management (BOEM)

30. Important Agricultural Lands
• County Designations
• Each county must identify and map potential important
agricultural lands within its jurisdiction
• OP and DOA must make recommendations to LUC
• Landowner Designations
• Designated IAL lands to-date approximately 89,859 acres
• Proposed to-date approximately 11,880 acres

31. 5-Year Boundary Review &
LUBDA Process Review
Requirements Intended Benefits
• Review of the classification • Improved coordination with
and districting of all lands in county planning process
the State
• Context for improvements
• Focus review on the Hawaii
to the boundary
amendment process
state plan, county general
plans, and county • Better linking of state
development and infrastructure and services
community plans to future growth areas
• Submit a report of the • Greater ability to use
findings to the state land context sensitive planning
use commission and Smart Growth
principles
Source: HRS §205-18.

32. Statewide GIS Program
Modernization
• To encourage use of and facilitate access to geospatial
data, tools, and analysis by decision makers and
geospatial professionals alike. This project is included in
and funded through the CIO's business transformation
plan.
• Provide robust server- and cloud-based geospatial
environments
• Provide application development resources and support to all
state agencies
• Negotiate a statewide Enterprise License Agreement
• Develop and implementing data and metadata standards
• Develop geospatial data and tools, and provide analysis and
support to facilitate planning and decision making (e.g., coastal
and marine spatial planning, renewable energy)

33. Other Planning Efforts
• EDA Grants
• CEDS Implementation and Green Industries Collaboration
• Hawaii Natural Disaster Economic Recovery Strategy
• Economic Development Strategies for Native Hawaiian
Communities
• CZM Studies and Activities
• Alternative Financing for Public Access Easements
• Evaluating Cumulative and Secondary Impacts of Stormwater
Runoff
• Valuing the Avoided Costs of SMA Permitting
• National Estuarine Research Reserves System Site
• NOAA National Ocean Policy
• Coastal and Marine Spatial Planning

34. “It will be tragic if in the year
2000, the leaders of that time look
back…with great remorse for what
might have been.
What can we say to our children, and
to their children, if we fail to act
now?”
– George R. Ariyoshi, 1981.