Nothing reported in Unincorporated Hawaii County yet
Who decides here: the Hawaii County Council decides on zoning for land outside city and town limits.
Local votes and rules
📌 Other
The Windward Planning Commission voted 5-1 to tell the County Council it does not favor Bill 170, the data center ban. Commissioners mostly agreed with the goal but said the meaning of "data center" in the bill is not clear enough. They had put off the vote on Sept. 3, 2026. The vote is only advice; the Council decides. The Leeward Planning Commission takes up the bill on Oct. 15, 2026 in Kailua-Kona.
🗺️ Zoning change
Bill 170 would add a new meaning for "data center" to the Big Island zoning code: a place for computers working at industrial scale. Because data centers would not be listed as an allowed use anywhere, they would be banned. Small "data processing" sites that store records stay allowed. A Council committee voted 8-0 on July 7, 2026 to send it to the planning director and the two planning commissions for review before the full Council votes.
What you can do
- Get told first.
We'll email you if anything changes in Unincorporated Hawaii County. - Go to county meetings.
Anyone can speak. Big projects usually need a public hearing. - Ask questions in writing.
Use our checklist.
🔔 Get told first
⚡ Your electric company
Hawaii Electric Light Co. Inc. (company).
Big data centers need a lot of power. Who pays for new power lines depends on state rules. See the rules in Hawaii.