FINAL RECOMMENDED DRAFT GENERAL PLAN 2045

The Planning Department is using Konveio, an online platform for public engagement and document review, to host the General Plan and gather community feedback. Emailed or written comments will also be accepted. 

• Access the Final Recommended Draft General Plan 2045 on the Konveio platform here.

• Access the General Plan Land Use (GPLU) Maps here.

• Access the Change Map here.
  (This map highlights all areas with proposed land use changes)

• Download a PDF copy of the Final Draft: Final Recommended Draft General Plan 2045_July2024

• Download a PDF copy of the Policy Rationale: General Plan 2045 Policy Rationale_July2024

What is the General Plan? 

The County of Hawai‘i’s General Plan is the blueprint that guides the long-term development of Hawai‘i Island. It considers the needs of the entire island, and provides a sound growth strategy that directs future opportunities related to land use, zoning amendments and capital expenditures. The General Plan strives to position Hawai‘i Island for economic progress while preserving the environment and strengthening community foundations.

2005 General Plan

The current General Plan was adopted in 2005 and continues to define our County structure and future growth.

Please visit our 2005 General Plan page for more information about the plan's content.

General Plan Comprehensive Review

We are currently engaged in the comprehensive review of the Final Draft General Plan 2045. 

More information can be found on our Comprehensive Review page.

General Plan FAQs

Q: When did the comprehensive review update process begin?

A: The Planning Director initiated the comprehensive review of the County of Hawai‘i General Plan (GP) (2005 edition, as amended) on February 6, 2015, pursuant to sections 3-15 and 6-7.2(b)(2) of the Charter of the County of Hawai‘i and section 16.1 of the General Plan.

Q: What happened to the 2019 Draft General Plan?

A: The 2019 draft was presented in workshops around the island in every district. We also hosted topic-focused workshops in Hilo and Kona. We received almost 4,000 comments and have created another draft to address the feedback.

Q: Will changes from the 2019 Draft be shown?

A: The draft includes revisions to address the feedback that was received on the August 2019 draft.

Q: How does the General Plan impact different parts of our island?

A: The General Plan serves as the overarching policy document that guides development, land use, and resource management across the entire island. The plan encourages growth in areas with existing infrastructure while minimizing impacts on sensitive environments and agricultural lands. While the General Plan outlines island-wide policies, it allows for flexibility to address the unique needs and character of individual regions, ensuring that rural, urban, and coastal areas are all considered. It provides the foundation for more localized community development plans (CDPs), which reflect the specific priorities of different parts of the island. In this way, the General Plan balances island-wide vision with community-level input.  

Q: What revisions have been made to the Land Use Map and how will those be implemented?

A: The General Plan Land Use (GPLU) Maps have been revised based on the input received on the August 2019 draft maps that were available at that time. The GPLU Maps have also incorporated community feedback since the release of the 2023 Draft.  

Q: How does the General Plan relate to the Zoning and Subdivision Code Update?

A: This General Plan update has been ongoing since 2015 and one of the biggest implementation factors has been updates to our codes. There was an opportunity with funding to get the code updates started. The General Plan is prioritized to be completed first and then inform that code update process.

Q: What is the General Plan adoption process?

A: The Final Recommended Draft was released on July 29, 2024. Following the end of the last public workshop (September 5 webinar), the public will have until September 26 to submit comments on the Recommended Draft. In accordance with the 2005 General Plan, Section 16.1, the Recommended Draft and supporting materials will be submitted to the Windward and Leeward Planning Commissions. The community will have the opportunity to testify during those hearings. After the Planning Commissions complete their process, the package will go to the County Council for review and adoption, which will also be open for public testimony at the public hearings.

Q: What is the relationship between the General Plan and Community Development Plans (CDPs)?

A: The General Plan represents the highest level of the County Planning System and contains long-range strategies for the entire County. The CDPs translate broad General Plan statements to specific actions as they apply to specific geographical areas. They serve to provide a forum for community input to reflect the character of each community.

Inquires about the General Plan Comprehensive Review may be directed to our Long Range Planning team at (808) 961-8288 or GeneralPlan@hawaiicounty.gov.

Mailing List 

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