§226-104  Population growth and landresources priority guidelines.  (a)  Priority guidelines to effect desiredstatewide growth and distribution:

(1)  Encourage planning and resource management toinsure that population growth rates throughout the State are consistent withavailable and planned resource capacities and reflect the needs and desires ofHawaii's people.

(2)  Manage a growth rate for Hawaii's economy thatwill parallel future employment needs for Hawaii's people.

(3)  Ensure that adequate support services andfacilities are provided to accommodate the desired distribution of futuregrowth throughout the State.

(4)  Encourage major state and federal investments andservices to promote economic development and private investment to the neighborislands, as appropriate.

(5)  Explore the possibility of making available urbanland, low-interest loans, and housing subsidies to encourage the provision ofhousing to support selective economic and population growth on the neighborislands.

(6)  Seek federal funds and other funding sourcesoutside the State for research, program development, and training to providefuture employment opportunities on the neighbor islands.

(7)  Support the development of high technology parkson the neighbor islands.

(b)  Priority guidelines for regional growthdistribution and land resource utilization:

(1)  Encourage urban growth primarily to existingurban areas where adequate public facilities are already available or can beprovided with reasonable public expenditures, and away from areas where otherimportant benefits are present, such as protection of important agriculturalland or preservation of lifestyles.

(2)  Make available marginal or nonessentialagricultural lands for appropriate urban uses while maintaining agriculturallands of importance in the agricultural district.

(3)  Restrict development when drafting of water wouldresult in exceeding the sustainable yield or in significantly diminishing therecharge capacity of any groundwater area.

(4)  Encourage restriction of new urban development inareas where water is insufficient from any source for both agricultural anddomestic use.

(5)  In order to preserve green belts, give priorityto state capital-improvement funds which encourage location of urbandevelopment within existing urban areas except where compelling public interestdictates development of a noncontiguous new urban core.

(6)  Seek participation from the private sector forthe cost of building infrastructure and utilities, and maintaining open spaces.

(7)  Pursue rehabilitation of appropriate urban areas.

(8)  Support the redevelopment of Kakaako into aviable residential, industrial, and commercial community.

(9)  Direct future urban development away fromcritical environmental areas or impose mitigating measures so that negativeimpacts on the environment would be minimized.

(10)  Identify critical environmental areas in Hawaiito include but not be limited to the following: watershed and recharge areas;wildlife habitats (on land and in the ocean); areas with endangered species ofplants and wildlife; natural streams and water bodies; scenic and recreationalshoreline resources; open space and natural areas; historic and cultural sites;areas particularly sensitive to reduction in water and air quality; and scenicresources.

(11)  Identify all areas where priority should be givento preserving rural character and lifestyle.

(12)  Utilize Hawaii's limited land resources wisely,providing adequate land to accommodate projected population and economic growthneeds while ensuring the protection of the environment and the availability ofthe shoreline, conservation lands, and other limited resources for futuregenerations.

(13)  Protect and enhance Hawaii's shoreline, openspaces, and scenic resources. [L 1978, c 100, pt of §2; am L 1984, c 236, §16;am L 1986, c 276, §31]