Waikōloa affordable housing projected halted due to infrastructure and evacuation concerns
Waikōloa Green, a planned affordable housing development with 400 apartments and 300 single-family homes, was recommended by the Leeward Planning Commission but ran into a road block at the County Council committee level.
An affordable housing project proposing 400 apartments and 300 single-family homes on 711 acres of former Parker Ranch land in Waikōloa will not be considered by the full County Council despite a unanimous favorable recommendation from the Leeward Planning Commission.
In June, the planning commission voted 5-0, with one member excused, to forward a favorable recommendation for the project, which would also include a solar energy panel field, food hub, community garden and open space with trails.
But on Tuesday, the County Council’s Committee on Legislative Approvals and Acquisitions reviewed Bills 186 and 187, which would amend state land use district boundaries to allow for a 400-unit multi-family housing complex with a clubhouse and related improvements.
After two hours of testimony and discussion with the Planning Department and the developers, the County Council committee voted 5-3 to give the project an unfavorable recommendation due to concerns about infrastructure, particularly water, and evacuation routes. The bills will still be heard and discussed by the full council during the next meeting and additional amendments may be made at the time.
The project is planned by Waikōloa Green LLC, a partnership between New Jersey developer Daniel Popkin and former Hawaiʻi State senator and Honolulu city councilman Jon Yoshimura, an attorney. In 2022, the limited liability company purchased the land south of Waikōloa Road near the Paniolo Avenue intersection for $4 million from landowner Waikōloa Highlands.
But one major hangup is water. According to the Commission on Water Resource Management, the Waikōloa Green project would draw 1.24 million gallons of water a day from the Waimea Aquifer System Area, in addition to the existing withdrawals of 14 million gallons per day.
“This would bring the total daily draw from the Waimea aquifer to 91% of its sustainable yield per day,” said Ciara W.K. Kahahane, deputy director of the Commission on Water Resource Management.
Popkin and Yoshimura said at the Tuesday meeting that Hawaiʻi Water Service, a private company drawing all potable water from eight wells permitted in the Waimea aquifer, committed to water allocation for the project in a letter dated Aug. 28, 2025.
“This is concerning because the developer is relying on Hawaiʻi Water Service, but they are only capable of estimating how much water they can pump, without knowledge of the water levels in the aquifer,” County Council Member Rebecca Villegas said. “Ninety-one percent does not leave us in a place to provide safe, healthy drinking water, especially water necessary in times of a fire.”
The water would be used for the 675 residential units and to support agricultural lots and food hubs within Waikōloa Green.
Popkin told the County Council: “We need housing for Hawaiʻi local families. We need food sustainability and food stability because about 47% of Hawaiʻi families are food insecure and that is a scary thing.”
Popkin added: “We need to be energy self-reliant. We need to protect open space and cultural resources. Waikōloa Green brings all of these needs together.”
But there was widespread opposition on Tuesday, with most testifiers citing inadequate infrastructure to support growth. Concerns included water availability, insufficient evacuation routes in emergencies, and whether Waikōloa Elementary School could accommodate the influx of students from the housing development.
“I’m not opposed to housing, and I understand it will take years for residents to move in, but now is the time to require infrastructure before we are overpopulated,” Waikōloa Village resident Michelle Stefanik said. “Creating a second access road out of Waikōloa was a priority 18 years ago, and there is still no permanent access road.
“During the last wildfire evacuation study, it took approximately 4.5 hours for the last vehicle to evacuate, assuming all roads were open, which is not always the case during a wildfire.”
Stefanik expressed the need for a cumulative wildfire evacuation study that includes proposed developments in the area before Waikōloa Green is approved.
“Before we increase the number of people, we need to know if they would be able to get out in an emergency,” she said.
The County Council appreciated Waikōloa Green’s plans and goals, but many members could not vote in favor of the zoning changes due to infrastructure concerns.
“There is a desire for development and growth, but significant issues related to water, fire, schools and roads exist,” County Council Member Matt Kanealiʻi-Kleinfelder said. “These problems will only worsen in the future.”
Kanealiʻi-Kleinfelder said he understand Waikōloa residents’ frustrations.
“Past approvals have overlooked community safety, which is what this body must ensure,” he said.
