Draft EA Released for Partial Demolition, New YWCA Campus in Hilo

Portions of the YWCA of Hawaii Island campus at TMK (3) 2-3-013:002 in downtown Hilo are identified for partial demolition under a document listed as "Hilo YWCA Demolition and Construction of New Campus – Draft EA (AFNSI)," with the Environmental Notice showing a statutory 30-day public review that began in the Feb. 23, 2026 issue and comments due by March 25, 2026.

The Environmental Notice sets out the project scope in specific terms: "YWCA intends to secure federal funding through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program and other public funding sources to demolish a portion of its current campus, construct a new preschool and transitional housing facility/community center, and renovate an existing multipurpose building to offices." The applicant is listed as YWCA of Hawaii Island at 145 Ululani Street, Hilo, HI 96720 with contact Kathleen McGilvray, (808) 930-5760, kmcgilvray@ywcahawaiiisland.org.

The notice cites HRS §343- 5(a) Trigger (1) - "Propose the use of state or county lands or the use of state or county funds" - and identifies the approving agency as the County of Hawaiʻi, Office of Housing and Community Development. Royce Shiroma is listed as the agency contact at (808) 961-8379, royce.shiroma@hawaiicounty.gov, with an office address of 1990 Kino'ole Street, Suite 102, Hilo, HI 96720. The permit type shown in the notice is "Building Permits."

Land Planning Hawaii LLC is listed as the consultant and preparer of the EA with a Hilo office at 194 Wiwoole Street and a consultant contact of John Pipan, (808) 333-3391, john@landplanninghawaii.com. The Environmental Notice instructs readers: "Please click on title link above to read the document, then send comments to john@landplanninghawaii.com." The listing carries the AFNSI label but does not define AFNSI in the excerpt provided.

The Environmental Notice provides project title, TMK, district (South Hilo), approving agency, applicant and consultant contacts, and the March 25, 2026 comment deadline, but it does not include the full Draft EA text in the excerpt. Absent from the notice excerpt are details commonly requested by reviewers: construction schedule and phasing, the number of transitional housing units or preschool capacity, estimated project cost and funding breakdown, specific mitigation measures for demolition (for example asbestos or lead abatement procedures), and any public hearing schedule or consultation with State Historic Preservation Division or Native Hawaiian groups.

The statutory 30-day review window closes March 25, 2026; the Environmental Notice shows the document in the Hawaiʻi EAS/EISS listing dated February 23, 2026. To request the full Draft EA, maps, appendices, or to submit written comments, the notice directs inquiries and comments to consultant John Pipan at john@landplanninghawaii.com and lists contacts for the applicant and approving agency as noted above.