Digital zoning maps have been established by the Planning Department for the Hawaii islands, Lanai, and Molokai. The parcel layer for the 2019 Real Property Tax for the real estate is overlaid on the digital map for the islands, which depicts the current zoning. The 2020 Real Property Tax parcel layer is overlaid for Lana'i by the zoning. The zoning for Moloka'i sits on top of the 2021 Real Property Tax layer.

 

The Evolution of the Project to Update the Digital Zoning Map (DSSRT):

The goal of this initiative, fondly referred to as "DSSRT," an abbreviation for the Dead Sea Scroll Replacement Team, has been to replace the County's official paper zoning maps with digital or electronic counterparts since 2005. Other objectives include investigating and verifying zoning for thousands of parcels, correcting unintentional mapping errors, inconsistencies, and alignment problems, updating parcel zoning with zoning districts that have standards and are consistent with their community plan designation and uses, creating a sin database, and replacing the County's prized but very old, tattered, and outdated "Dead Sea Scrolls" paper zoning maps with accurate, up-to-date GIS data layers. The Community Plan designation for each parcel must be consistent with any updates and suggestions provided to an accepted digital map.

 

Moloka'i, Maui, and Lana'i:

Maui: For the Digital Zoning Map in 2017, the Department sponsored four public informative events. The planning commissions and County Council's Planning Committee unanimously endorsed the map. The measures were overwhelmingly supported, approved, and signed into law on October 10, 2018.

 

The Planning Department stated at the time of the initial adoption of the digital zoning maps that more errors and corrections would be found and maps would be continuously improved due to the complexity of using a variety of outdated zoning maps, comprehensive zoning ordinances, individual changes in zoning, and the poor quality and lack of technical mapping and GIS tools in the past. The Hawaii Council approved the updated Digital Map, which became a law on November 13, 2019, and the amended  Digital Zoning Map, which became a law on March 22, 2022. The Department will keep asking Hawaii Council to approve updated or corrected digital maps whenever new mapping problems are found.

 

For roughly 11 public facility sites (13 TMKs) that are presently designated P-1, M-1, PK, R-2, and R-3, the Department is recommending changes to the Digital Zoning Map. Due to the public uses and buildings present on the sites as well as their classification as Public/Quasi-Public in the community plan, these properties would be more properly categorised as Public/Quasi Public P-2. On October 12, 2021, the Hawaii Planning Commission conducted a public hearing and unanimously decided to recommend approval to the County Council. The Planning and Sustainable Land Use Committee of the Hawaii Council subsequently held a public hearing on the draught Map on May 25, 2022. It is expected that the issue will be rescheduled for further sessions in July or August 2022 after being postponed.

 

Lanai: The Department hosted a public informative meeting on Lanai for the Lanai Digital Zoning Map on December 3, 2019. Again, there was unanimity in favour of the map, which the Hawaii Council approved and signed into law on August 31, 2020.

 

Moloka'i: On April27,2021, the Department hosted a public informative meeting for the Moloka'i Digital Zoning Map through BlueJeans video conference (1). On May 26, 2021, the Molokai Planning Commission received the draught map for study and feedback. With one exception to a revision suggested by the Department, the Commission backed the approval of the Moloka'i Digital Zoning Map. After being approved by the Hawaii Council on November 19, 2021, with one change suggested by the Moloka'i Planning Commission, the map was signed into law on November 26, 2021.

 

Usage for Digital Zoning Maps:

The Hawaii Department of Planning website solely offers its data for public use or reference. The borders of the zoning districts are roughly shown on the digital zoning maps together with land uses and infrastructure.

The computerised versions of the zoning maps for all Hawaii Island and Lanai Island are thought to be current, although the County does not guarantee their correctness. The Planning Department is required to provide the last word on zoning.

Regarding the electronic zoning map, shall not be liable in any other way. Hawaii disclaims all responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or timely correction of any errors or faults in the map or that the map will satisfy user needs. The user is solely responsible for evaluating the accuracy and usefulness of the map and zoning designations, as well as for any risks associated with using or relying on this map and its accompanying documents. In no event shall the Hawaii, or anyone else involved in the development, production, or delivery of this map, be liable for any damages whatsoever, whether in contract or in tort, including but not restricted to lost profits, lost savings, lost data, business interruption, computer failure or malfunction, other pecuniary loss, or any direct, indirect, incidental, or consequential damages, or for any claim or demand made against the Hawaii by any third party.

Any outside entity that provides documents to the Hawaii is likewise subject to the limitations on remedies outlined in this Section. Hawaii and its third-party suppliers' liability restrictions do not stack on top of one another. Each of these third-party suppliers is one of the Section's targeted beneficiaries.

Although the Hawaii has made every attempt to provide the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, accidental mistakes in information are always possible, and the aforementioned zoning map is provided and without warranty of any kind.

Real Estate Analysis:

The Digital map provided by the Hawaii Development authority will be helpful for the growth of real estate in Hawaii islands. Based on the map the building regulations has been formulated in terms of height, building foot print and setbacks as well. This increases the development opportunity in real estate sector not only residential but also commercial real estate, hospitality real estate and industrial real estate. This map shows the proposed future development where the projects can come in future and the place to make real estate investment.