>>chair holeka goro inaba: kakahiaka. It is
AUGUST 5, 2026, we are meeting
in the west hawai'I kona civic
center. To begin, our in
devotion. Good morning
devotion
invocation.
>>good morning. As I was
invited to give the prayer and
benediction and smile to myself.
I always wonder how many said no
and yes and how many invites go
out. I really view this moment
as a sacred yes and a beautiful
honor. I hear in my heads words
like authority, justice, hard
work. Maybe even intimidating.
And yet those words have no
meaning without the weight
behind them. As I approach
prayer, I want to speak about
the power of the spop
ken word
that we have been given. The
words we speak this morning,
about the decisions made, even
yes, our creator, to cultivate
the health of the land for the
good of the people. As I pray
this morning, I want to use the
power of our word, the authority
that we have been given to pray
for wisdom as we move forward
this morning in all matters.
Amen. Would you bow your heads
and close your eyes. Father GOD,
together we ask in the name of
jesus or wisdom in all matters
from financial to
infrastructure, to even the
voting that is going to be
taking place across our state,
that in the name of jesus, the
health of the land will be
perpetuated in the righteousness
of the land over education,
lord, over our healthcare, lord,
over buildings, over road maps,
that GOD, you would give us
unity and diversity and even in
the moment give us courage and
commitment to carry out the
change that is needed and
necessary in this eason or the
good of our people in the land.
In the name of jesus ricks
, amen.
>>
>>chair holeka goro inaba:
mahalo nui, pastor.
>>[Roll call]
>>
>> council member michelle m.
Galimba: here
>> council member james hustace:
present
>> council member jenn kagiwada:
here
>> council member matt
kanealii-kleinfelder: here
>> council member ashley
kierkiewicz:
>>council member heather l.
Kimball: here
>>vice-chair dennis "fresh"
onishi: present
>> council member rebecca
villegas: here
>>chair holeka goro inaba:
here. You have eight members
present. You have a quorum.
>>thank you, council member
kierkiewicz is excused and will
be joining
and to the republic for which it
stands, one nation, under GOD,
indivisible, with liberty and
justice for all.
>>thank you. We will proceed
this morning on public
statements on agenda items.
>>
>>clerk: we do not have any at
your remote sites. We have three
testifiers on zoom.
Please introduce yourself for
the record. Please introduce
yourself.
>> you have three minutes for
your testimony. If you can
unmute at this time, if you are
not able to do so, we'll take
the next testifier. Megan.
Please introduce yourself.
>> you have three minutes for
your testimony.
>>
>>public speaker: slept,
excellent.
Thank you. Can you hear me?
>>yes, we can.
>>awesome. This is megan, here
on behalf of hawai'I wildlife
funds. I was there in person
and we standby our written
testimony from JULY, and I am
here representing mostly our in
demonic
demic, as I mentioned last
month, it's not just to
reiterate just the palm trees,
while it happens to our coconut
palms would be great, and there
are other agriculture species
that would be impacted from this
spread including the great
economic and cultural importance
such as ulu, our fruit, so I
can't reiterate the impact of
this spread. They are across
the island. I just would like to
add a little story. That is
that a friend of mine from
honolulu traveled to ha
tahiti this
summer and the entire lane was
sprayed. The plane including all
of its passengers. So I share
this just to reiterate that
other jurisdictions are doing a
whole lot more. If the council
stands by this resolution, thank
you, council member hustace and
inaba for putting this forward.
It is only just asking our state
department of ag and biosecurity
to move forward and implement
and enforce the rules that are
already on the books since
march. So, thank you so much for
your time. I know that laila was
planning to log in. I see her
here now. Maybe she can go now.
Please introduce yourself.
>> you have three minutes for
your testimony.
>>public speaker: good morning,
chair and members of the
council. My name is laila,
calling from puna this morning.
One of the co-petitioners of the
interim for kona and it's
opinion a process. So first of
all, I want to ask for your
support for this resolution and
we really appreciate your
support. It's been a long
journey and back in MARCH, we
got the role passed. It's now
APRIL, MAY, JUNE, JULY, AUGUST.
Almost five months past and it's
been a consistent battle with
the state department of ag and
security to implement this rule.
Which is why we went back in
JUNE for legislative support.
The crb is a direct threat to
our food security and to our
cultural livelihood as
practitioners that use, so I
just want to saw mahalo to
hustace and inaba for reaching
out because we sent to all the
legislatures cfo
to county council
for support. I feel like there
is a systemic issue and why it's
been a tough road. We are here,
the community is here, we have
asked them specifically. We are
here to help. It's taken four
months. We had no idea that this
was a thing. We really need our
mayor alameda the get on board.
I have asked for this multiple
times for his weekly updates and
I have not seen it. It's a
county thing. He county.
>>so I would like o end that i
would like to seek your support
and to the mayor. Thank you.
>>please introduce yourself.
>> you have three minutes for
your testimony.
>>public speaker: good morning,
aloha. Our purpose is to work
with the broader species
prevention community and seek
out and coordinate and catalyze
sponsors to those gaps. The big
island interim crb rule is one
of those responses to a gap. We
are grateful to hawai'I county
who has been there every step of
the way in this instance when it
was first detect in the ag part
and thank you to invasive
species for working and training
on the ground and thankful to
the department of transportation
and only the law can make a
regulation and that regulation
to prevent this spread of crb.
The interim rule basically
requires best practices to
prophet from
prevent from the moving of
materials into the infected
areas. The training is fantastic
and critical. They spent months
long to get this adopted. The
implementation has been slow and
we really hope, we are grateful
for all the efforts that
everyone on big island to nudge
this. They have a lot of
priorities. And limited
resources, attention that you
are giving to community groups
on the island will move this up
on the priority list to be fully
implemented to protect the rest
of the island from crb
infestation.
>>mahalo. Please introduce
yourself.
>> you have three minutes for
your testimony.
>>public speaker: mahalo for the
opportunity to testify again in
resolution 603-21 which urges
the department of agriculture to
fully implement. I would like to
thank everyone for rule as
coconut beatles are in this
area. Our dashboard has found
hundreds of beatles in the kona
area mostly. Beetels
les. And we
will continue to seek support.
We know the department of ag has
staff in kona here to support
the implementation of this as
best as we can. Stephanie
easily mentioned dab has the
regular authority and would like
to see this interim rule have
teeth and prevent that movement.
I appreciate the opportunity to
testify.
Testify.
>>
>> thank you for your testimony.
We have an attendee that would
hike to
like to provide testimony,
please press star 9. Seeing
none. We have no other
testifiers.
>>
>>chair holeka goro inaba:
thank you.
>>
approval of minutes MAY 20, 2026
are approved.
>>
>>clerk:
order of resolutions
mayor to enter into an
intergovernmental agreement with
the united states department of
the interior, national park
service, for interagency public
safety coordination
establishes a working
relationship between the
national park service and hawaii
fire department to allow for the
coordination of personnel,
services, equipment, and
facilities required for the
protection of life and
properties during emergency
incidents.
Reference: comm. 955
intr. By: council member
kagiwada
>> council member matt
kanealii-kleinfelder: chair,
motion to approve.
>>
>>chair holeka goro inaba: it's
been moved and seconded by
council member klein
kanealii-kleinfelder and hustace
to approve resolution 602-26.
>> council member matt
kanealii-kleinfelder: yes.S
public works on?
>>
>>kelsey kalua-lewis; public
works, business manager: good
morning. She'll be joining us
shortly.
>>are they available now?
>> she will be available to
answer questions regarding the
program.
>>okay, this is a revolving
issue over the last four years.
Reason being is only two cites
sided
were
-- sites were selected for the
safe routes to school, pahoa and
hilo. Even came up yesterday as
well. So, do you have other
projects besides pahoa and hilo
safe routes to school program
for program/projects that are
coming u. H.
P that are in districts
or just focusing on pahoa and
hilo and maintaining the same
status quo?
>> keone thompson: are you
asking for all or speaking
specifically for the safe routes
to school state grant for
federal money?
>> I understand from our last
meeting hat we are now focusing
on other areas. I understand
over the last few years there
has been a very interesting and
quiet effort to just bring two
projects forward. That decision
was from what I understand was
in pahoa. So what I'm looking
for is other projects that the
department is going to bring
forward, that this funding will
be applied to whether from any
funding source. I'm just looking
for direction from the
department with the safe routes
to school program outside of
hilo and pahoa.
>>okay. Yes, we are looking at
other districts. With the safe
route to school process, their
requirement is to qualify for
the safe routes to school
process in disadvantaged areas.
To qualify for economic
disadvantaged areas, you have to
be on this map. This is why
hilo and kna, the economic
disadvantaged area.
>>okay
>>can I ask a question, MR.
Thompson?
>> yes.
>>I thought about this statement
at length the last time I heard
this. If I was to qualify the
areas on the island that I'm
aware of that are economically
disadvantaged, I don't think I
had choose hilo over places like
ka'u, kona and I really
struggled with that the last
time I heard it. -- these are
underserved areas, yet hilo, I
was surprised why that was an
economic disadvantaged area.
>>the whole decision with the
state made, but it is determined
by the federal government on
their page of what area is
disadvantaged. It's not
determined from us. It's a map
provided and we look at that
area. This area is identified as
this area. Whether hilo is or
not compared to other areas, but
it is. It has to be project
ready and in order to qualify
for this grant. And as well for
the federal side. Being
recognized by the federal
government on the map has to be
one of the qualifications. When
we speak to operation served and
the number of students that are
the ones with no sidewalks.
Kona had sidewalks there are
some areas that can be improved
upon and there were areas
selected by the state. That
wasn't us that selected that.
We put in the application and
they rank it and that's how we
got the funds last year. We only
got one round of funding for
this. We are hoping for more in
the future. We are hoping for
pahoa, improving the whole area
in front of that area. We are
looking around the island. We
also look at how much people are
served by the project and also
going into how they select the
project and district state
money. This funding now that we
are getting, or MAY get, still
has to be determined which is
determined by how they divide
that money up and then award it.
So we are whatever the state
determines and how the money is
managed.
>>thank you for that. So
federally, these areas were
chosen. That was a federal
decision on the underserved
areas is what you are saying?
>> there is a map that shows
underserved areas. It states
from the people that live in the
area. So that is part of the
applications as we apply for
these areas.
>>the state selected the areas
that were going to be receiving
the grant funding?
>> no, we put in for projects
that are ready, has to be a k 1
school, within a mile of the
school, a whole list of. Let me
see if I can pull up the list
real fast.
>>I'm trying to walk through
your process. You say the feds
recognize the areas that are
economically disadvantaged, the
state chose the, the county
wrote and submitted the
application for the grant
funding but the state made the
decisions?
>> so, it depends on what you
are applying for. In this case
the safe routes to school
program we are talking about and
in this case they are adding a
new source of funding that they
are trying to create and this is
what this is about. How the
money is split up is not
determined yet. I still don't
know. It's something the state
will have to answer. And the
process for the more veh
but, in the past, for the last
source of funding which was an
appropriation, and we got a
share of $1.4 million from the
appropriation from the state,
that was determined by the
criteria and based on location
within school zones, within
walking distance. It was a
title one school. If it was a
high need. If the project was
ready and the traffic. I'm going
through the list from the state
application. By school level,
stress, for the children and
cost, available funding. So,
they do the report and consider
and select the projects, the
state committee for this routes
routes
-- safe routes to school
funding.
>>so here forward then, now we
are being allowed to charge the
residents $5 to implement a new
funding source for safe routes
to school program. They are
giving us $6200 to implement 3
process design for our systems
and now going forward, because
I'm not happy where we stand
with the safe routes to school
program if you haven't noticed.
Here we are getting a
substantial amount. I forget
what the total was as far as
what we expect to receive from
$5 per vehicle registration fee
into a program that has a very
interesting past history and I
want to be sure you folks are
building equity into this and
this is coming in as a new fee
we are charging to residents.
That's what I want to know.
>>yes, the funds go straight to
the sate. It's mandated by the
state. How they award that
money, and manage it is
something the state will do.
>>kelsey kalua-lewis; public
works, business manager: we
haven't gotten determination
from the state. This is the very
first step of getting this,
their ability to collect. What
they will do with that program
programatically hasn't reached
the level of discussion to my
knowledge yet. So we are not
sure of the path of how much we
will get awarded, what the
funding criteria is going to
look like. I think those
determinations have not been
passed down to the county yet.
>>so are you saying we are going
to collect $5, give to the
state, per vehicle registration
and they haven't determined how
much they are going to give back
to us yet?
>> to my knowledge, no. Unless
there is something I'm missing.
Right now, I know this is just
so we can do the collection
fees: this is a very basic step
that they entered this agreement
with finance, but from what I
know, I haven't heard anything.
I don't know if keone has heard
anything about yes, this money
will be oing to the safe routes
to school program. But the state
is in charge of delegating that
money out to the counties.
>>that's disturbing. It's not
on you, not to you folks. It's
disturbing that the state wants
to collect $5 and has o
criteria about where the funding
goes, or how much we actually
receive back. Furthermore, if
they are using it to prove
improve
state infrastructure, it's
coming from this tax. My buzzer
went off. I'm going to yield.
Thank you very much. I MAY just
go ahead and vote no on this to
send a message to the state that
they have to do better. Thank
you.
>>
>> council member jenn kagiwada:
thank you, chair.
. Thank you for being here, dpw,
MR. Thompson. When you are
looking at funding your
engineering projects, road
projects across the county, are
you prioritizing the roads that
need to be done be and finding
funding sources.
>>it is based on the need and
there are some projects that are
planned way in advance. With
federal funding, that program
you are looking for securing on
that site down the road. It's
not something we do right away.
It takes time to develop the
project and get funding.
>>I think that equity on funding
across I would is important. I
don't think that grant funds
should be distributed equally to
every part of the island as long
as you are getting funding for
the road somewhere for all the
roads that are prioritized. So,
for me, it's less about
spreading one funding source
equitably as opposed to making
sure there is equitable funding
for all the roads. I hope that's
something you are working on.
And where something like this
supports a project every 12-15
years, you only get that for
these projects. Absolutely, I
want to be sure, earlier when
the question was asked, what
roads are getting supported with
this grant funding and you said,
well, do you mean what roads are
getting funded all across the
island, not just this funding
and I think that's the important
question. At some point, maybe
sharing the projects across the
island with different funding
sources might be talking about
equity as opposed to just this
one funding sources that is just
a couple projects.
>> can I speak to that?
>> absolutely.
>>right now we have different
sources of funding. Right now
with this administration, we
work with highway and we are
doing the designing to do some
projects in-house where we are
making these projects coming up
like the school and the turn
lane, wide shoulder. And
shoulder improvements by the
elementary school, pahoa village
road, so, we are looking around
the island and we don't have
that much funds for these
programs. But we are focusing
on those areas that are provided
for walking around the schools.
We don't have the money for all
the promotion
jects we want to do but
we focus on the areas that are
most critical with the most
people. We have projects that we
are trying to work on and it
takes time. We have to get the
availability of manpower,
equipment, materials,
everything.
>>thank you so much. Maybe at
some point you can share with
the council all the school road
improvements across the county.
That would be really helpful.
>>sure.
>>thank you. I yield.
>>
>>vice-chair dennis "fresh"
onishi: thank you, chair.
MR. Thompson, I was ask if you
can provide the council members
with that list, the proposals,
and possibilities for projects
in the future.
MR. Thompson, if the council
member in a district gets
support from the legislators to
get some funding to help with
these projects, that would help
also, correct?
>> most definitely. If we have
the manpower to do it, yes. It
makes sense.
>>there is only so much that the
state is going to give for these
projects. We have to as a
council member reach out to our
state legislators to see how we
can get it's for example, the
four mile bridge. 12-13 million
for that project. That really
helps the county in getting
these projects moving forward
faster, right?
>> yes, definitely.
>>I just wanted to make that
aware. The county only has so
much, but there is other
partnerships that we can do,
right. So, also, projects have a
lot of funding has to be shovel
ready, correct?
>> yes, correct. That's one of
the requirements for the safe
routes to school program.
>>okay, thank you. I yeld.
>>chair holeka goro inaba:
[Roll call] 3
>>
>>clerk: on the motion to adopt
resolution 604?
>> council member michelle m.
Galimba: aye.
>> council member james hustace:
aye.
>> council member jenn kagiwada:
aye.
>> council member matt
kanealii-kleinfelder: no.
>> council member ashley
kierkiewicz:
>>council member heather l.
Kimball: aye.
>>vice-chair dennis "fresh"
onishi: aye.
>> council member rebecca
villegas: aye.
>>chair holeka goro inaba:
>>you have 7 members, council
member kierkiewicz absent, and
kimball. Is there any testimony
for bill 172? Hearing none.
>>
reading)
Bill 172: amends ordinance no.
26-44, the operating budget of
the county of hawaii for the
fiscal year ending JUNE 30, 2027
appropriates revenues in the
state motor vehicle weight tax
account ($6,282.72)
And appropriates the same to the
vehicle registration other
current expenses
account. Funds will be used for
expenses associated with
programming and
updating the county's motor
vehicle registration system.
Reference: comm. 959
intr. By: council member
it's been moved and seconded by
council member
kanealii-kleinfelder and hustace
to approve bill 172 at first
reading.
>> council member michelle m.
Galimba: I appreciate council
member kanealii-kleinfelder's
attempt to, not attempt, but his
bringing forward the need for 3
spreading the funds around and
probably something we do need o
take up with the state, and our
state representatives to make
sure that happens. At the same
time, I do understand that it's
not simple spreading it around
equally and there are schools
that are in a situation where 3
strategically focusing on those
schools are going to have the
best outcome for the most
people. I think with making
those calculated calls, but
also, being really sure to look
outside of our more densely
populated areas. Thanks, council
member kanealii-kleinfelder.
>> council member matt
kanealii-kleinfelder: just a
thought for everyone to
contemplate. When we as a county
are being asked to collect a fee
and give it to the state, and
the state has no actual
breakdown of how that funding
comes back to the county, but
our county residents are being
taxed, for fuel tax which is a
lot for roads and being taxed at
the cashier for ge taxes, we are
now asking for an additional $5
per motor vehicle, about a
million dollars a year after
paying taxes already. So there
has to be going forward, the
council should be very cognizant
of what's being collected and
what the outcomes are for
hawai'I county before being
asked to foot the bill for
improvements especially if we
are improving state jurisdiction
areas with funds that are
collecting back from us.
>>just a thought for everyone,
thank you.
>>nobody inaba
>>
>>chair holeka goro inaba:
thank you. MR. Clerk, [Roll
call].
>>
>>clerk:
>> council member michelle m.
Galimba: aye,
>> council member james hustace:
aye,
>> council member matt
kanealii-kleinfelder: aye,
>> council member ashley
kierkiewicz: aye,
>>council member heather l.
Kimball: aye,
>>vice-chair dennis "fresh"
onishi: aye,
>> council member rebecca
villegas: aye,
>>chair holeka goro inaba:.
>>you have nine votes in favor.
>>thank you. From the top,
please.
>>clerk: is there any testimony
for resolution 02-26? Hearing
none.
>>
res. 602-26: authorizes the
mayor to enter into an
intergovernmental agreement with
the united states department of
the interior, national park
service, for interagency public
safety coordination
establishes a working
relationship between the
national park service and hawaii
fire department to allow for the
coordination of personnel,
services, equipment, and
facilities required for the
protection of life and
properties during emergency
incidents.
Reference: comm. 955
intr. By: council member
kagiwada
>>
>> council member jenn kagiwada:
chair, a motion to approve
resolution 602-26.
>>chair holeka goro inaba: it's
been moved and seconded by
council member kagiwada and
hustace to approve resolution
602
602-26. All in favor say, "aye"
>> aye.
>> any opposed?
Motion carries, 9 ayes.
Resolution 602-26 is approved.
>>
>>clerk: is there any testimony
for resolution 603-26? Hearing
none.
Department of agriculture and
biosecurity to implement and
enforce plant quarantine interim
rule 26-1, regulating the
transportation of coconut
rhinoceros beetle host material
on hawaii island
reference: comm. 958
intr. By: council members
hustace and inaba
>> council member james hustace:
chair, motion to approve
resolution 603-26.
>>chair holeka goro inaba: it's
been moved and seconded by
council member hustace and
villegas to approve resolution
603-26.
>> council member james hustace:
thank you, chair.
As we heard from our community
partners and non-profit
organizations and committee, the
coconut beetle and plants across
the island and the state. I want
to send my mahalo to all the
community partners for working
in the community. Interim rule,
is a part of the effort y
regulatory movement of high risk
materials and helping to prevent
the spread of this evasive
spread. Resolution works to
provide this work as intended
and to fully implement the rule,
expedite compliance agreements
and stretch outreach and provide
a dedicated coordinator here on
hawai'I county so we have the
support we need to comply. We
need stronger regulations,
staffing, communication and
support to meet that quarantine
rule. I want to mahalo yu,
chair inaba, for bringing
forward this resolution for
addressing this rhinoceros
beetle, thank you very much.
>>
>>chair holeka goro inaba:
>>inaba thank you very much, MR.
Hustace.
>>all in favor say, "aye"
>> aye.
>> any opposed? Motion carries,
9 ayes. Resolution 603.26 is
approved.
>>clerk: is there any testimony
for resolution 605-26? Hearing
none.
>>
res. 605-26: directs the county
clerk to take necessary action
to place the charter amendment
proposed by ordinance
no. 26-47, relating to the
office of the county auditor,
on the 2026 general election
ballot proposes to clarify that
the county auditor has the same
power with respect to
employees within the office of
the county auditor as department
heads in the
executive branch and specifies
that the county auditor MAY
appoint a deputy.
Reference: comm. 962
intr. By: council member inaba
it's been moved and seconded by
council member kierkiewicz and
hustace, all in favor say, "aye"
>> aye.
>> any opposed? 9 ayes.
>>clerk: is there any testimony
for resolution 618-26? Hearing
none.
Transfers/appropriates an
appropriation out and from a
designated fund account and
credits same to a designated
fund account to provide a grant
to the friends of first
responders for the 2026 robust
conference
transfers $10,000 from the
clerk-council services-
contingency relief account
(Council district 8); and
credits to the department of
liquor control, public
programs account.
Reference: comm. 985
intr. By: council member inaba
>> council member ashley
kierkiewicz: motion to approve
resolution.
>>it's been moved and seconded
by council member kierkiewicz
and hustace to approve
resolution 618-26. Asking for my
colleagues support on behalf of
friends of first responders.
This conference will be
happening in SEPTEMBER, and
brings some really great
workshops for our first
responders. If you are a respond
first
responder in hawai'I county,
please reach out to the first
responders to see if you or your
loved one can attend this
conference. Mahalo.
>> council member matt
kanealii-kleinfelder: yes,
chair, thank you. I have known a
few people that have gone
through this program. What our
first responders can go through
can be hernandoous
urndonous and mahalo for
>>chair holeka goro inaba:
mahalo. All in favor say, "aye"
>> aye.
>> any opposed? Motion carries,
9 ayes, resolution 618-26 is
approved.
>>
>>clerk: is there any testimony
for resolution 619-26? Hearing
none.
>>
transfers/appropriates an
appropriation out and from a
designated fund account and
credits same to a designated
fund account to provide a grant
to ku'
ikahi mediation
center inc. For its conflict
prevention and resolution
training series
transfers $3,000 from the
clerk-council services-
contingency relief account
>> council member matt
kanealii-kleinfelder: chair,
motion to approve resolution
619-26.
>>chair holeka goro inaba: it's
been moved and seconded y
council member
kanealii-kleinfelder and hustace
to approve resolution 619-26.
>> council member matt
kanealii-kleinfelder: MR.
Chair, thank you. This is a
really interesting funding
source for this group
specifically. They actually did
a number of workshops for
community, but the last one that
we worked together on was
providing support for our
homeowners to understand board
meetings, taking minutes. A lot
of the things that we take for
granted on this council where we
have someone like MR. Hernandez
ndricks
walking us through our motions
and making the right decisions
on votes on items that come
before us and following robert's
rules of order and what was
providing was extremely
beneficial and well attended.
Thank you for your support.
>>
>>chair holeka goro inaba:
thank you. All in favor say,
"aye"
>> aye.
>> any opposed? Motion carries,
9 ayes.
>>clerk: is there any testimony
for resolution 620-26? Hearing
none.
Transfers/appropriates an
appropriation out and from a
designated fund account and
credits same to a designated
fund account to provide a grant
to the friends of the
palace theater for their
community connections program
transfers $2,000 from the
clerk-council services-
contingency relief account
(Council district 4); and
credits to the department of
research and development,
big island film office account.
Reference: comm. 987
intr. By: council member
kierkiewicz
>>
>> council member ashley
kierkiewicz: chair, motion to
approve resolution 620-26.
>>
>>chair holeka goro inaba: it's
been moved and seconded by
council member kierkiewicz and
hustace to approve resolution
620-26.
>> council member ashley
kierkiewicz: thank you, chair.
I don't know if you know but the
palace theatre turns 100 years
old and continues to be a
vibrant space for storytellers.
This small grant helps the
theatre host year around.
Looking for your support. Thank
you.
>>thank you. All in favor say,
"aye"
>> aye.
>> any opposed? Motion carries,
9 ayes.
>>
>>clerk: is there any testimony
for resolution 621-26? Hearing
none.
Transfers/appropriates an
appropriation out and from a
designated fund account and
credits same to a designated
fund account to provide a grant
to friends of first
responders for the purchase of
officer wellness resource
books
transfers $1,000 from the
clerk-council services-
contingency relief account
(Council district 6); and
credits to the department of
liquor control, public
programs account.
reference: comm. 988
intr. By: council member galimba
galimba: chair, motion to
approve.
>>it's been moved and seconded
by council member galimba and
hustace to approve resolution
621.
>> council member michelle m.
Galimba: thank you. This is
what I'm asking you to support
to help the kids and families
understand that the
responsibilities that the adults
take on as first responders.
Thanks.
>>chair holeka goro inaba:
thank you. All in favor say,
"aye"
>> aye.
>> any opposed? 9 ayes.
>>clerk: is there any testimony
for resolution 622-26? Hearing
none.
Transfers/appropriates an
appropriation out and from a
designated fund account and
credits same to a designated
fund account to provide a grant
to friends of first
responders for their first
responders' kids' camp
transfers $2,000 from the
clerk-council services-
contingency relief account
>> council member ashley
kierkiewicz: chair, motion to
approve resolution 622-26.
>>chair holeka goro inaba: it's
been moved and seconded by
council member kierkiewicz and
hustace to approve resolution
622-26.
>>
>> council member ashley
kierkiewicz: thank you. I want
to say mahalo nui to pastor rene
for going over with me all the
things that her foundation does
and this is something she was
looking for support for. Making
sure that first responders keiki
have a place to go during breaks
and their parents still need to
work in community. Looking for
your support of this project.
Thank you.
>>chair holeka goro inaba:
thank you. All in favor say,
"aye"
>> aye.
>> any opposed?
Motion carries, 9 ayes.
Resolution 622-26 is approved.
>>
>>clerk: is there any testimony
for resolution 623-26? Hearing
none.
>>
transfers/appropriates an
appropriation out and from a
designated fund account and
credits same to a designated
fund account to provide a grant
to friends of the future
to upgrade the
>>
transfers $250 from the
clerk-council services-
contingency relief account
(Council district 1); and
credits to the hawai'
I fire
department, fire operations
other current expenses account.
Reference: comm. 990
intr. By: council member kimba
>>council member heather l.
Kimball: chair, motion to
approve resolution 623-26.
>>chair holeka goro inaba: it's
been moved and seconded by
council member kimball and
hustace to approve resolution
623-26.
>>council member heather l.
Kimball: I ask for my
colleagues support.
>>thank you. All in favor say,
"aye"
>> aye.
>> any opposed?
Motion carries, 9 ayes.
Resolution 623-26 is approved.
>>
>>clerk: is there any testimony
for resolution 624-26? Hearing
none.
>>
transfers/appropriates an
appropriation out and from a
designated fund account and
credits same to a designated
fund account to provide a grant
to laupahoehoe train
museum for its honeybee
education program youth
outreach program
transfers $5,000 from the
clerk-council services-
contingency relief account
(Council district 1); and
credits to the research and
development, agriculture
other current expenses account.
Reference: comm. 991
intr. By: council member kimball
>>council member heather l.
Kimball: chair, motion to
approve resolution 624-26.
>>it's been moved and seconded
by council member kimball and
hustace to approve resolution
624-26.
>>all in favor say, "aye"
>> aye.
>> any opposed?
Motion carries, ayes.
Resolution 624-26 is approved.
>>
>>clerk: is there any testimony
for resolution 626? Hearing
none.
>>
res. 626-26:
transfers/appropriates an
appropriation out and from a
designated fund account and
credits same to a designated
fund account to provide a grant
to ku'
ikahi mediation
center inc. For its conflict
prevention and resolution
training series
transfers $3,000 from the
clerk-council services-
contingency relief account
(Council district 1); and
credits to the office of the
prosecuting attorney, other
current expenses account.
Reference: comm. 993
intr. By: council member kimball
>> council member matt
kanealii-kleinfelder: chair,
motion to approve resolution
625-26.
>>chair holeka goro inaba: it's
been moved and seconded by
council member
kanealii-kleinfelder and hustace
to approve resolution 625-26.
I ask for my colleagues support.
I believe council member hustace
is also supporting this event,
and it's an ohana day for folks
to share and learn about early
childhood educational resources
in the community. So this will
happen on NOVEMBER 7, 2026.
Welcome ur ohana and east 3
hawai'I to make their way over
to attend. I ask for y
colleagues support. All in
favor say, "aye"
>> aye.
>> any opposed? Motion carries,
9 in favor.
>>clerk: is there any testimony
for resolution 628-26.
>>send
res. 626-26:
transfers/appropriates an
appropriation out and from a
designated fund account and
credits same to a designated
fund account to provide a grant
to ku'
ikahi mediation
center inc. For its conflict
prevention and resolution
training series
transfers $3,000 from the
clerk-council services-
contingency relief account
(Council district 1); and
credits to the office of the
prosecuting attorney, other
current expenses account.
Reference: comm. 993
intr. By: council member kimball
>> --
>>chair, motion to approve
resolution 626-26.
>>it's been moved and seconded
by council member kimball and
hustace.
>>thank you for saying the
numbers correctly. Thank you.
>>all in favor say, "aye"
>> aye.
>> any opposed? 9 ayes.
Resolution 626-26 is approved.
>>
>>clerk: is there any testimony
for resolution 628-26? Hearing
none.
>>
transfers/appropriates an
appropriation out and from a
designated fund account and
credits same to a designated
fund account to provide a grant
to the shac foundation
for the '
ulu ho'
olaule'
a 2026
transfers $5,000 from the
clerk-council services-
contingency relief account
(Council district 6); and
credits to the department of
research and development,
agriculture other current
expenses account.
Reference: comm. 995
intr. By: council member galimba
>> council member michelle m.
galimba: motion to approve
resolution 628-26.
>>chair holeka goro inaba: it's
been moved and seconded by
council member galimba and
hustace to approve resolution
628-26.
>> council member michelle m.
Galimba: I'm asking for my
colleagues support and joined by
a couple others in helping to
support this incredible event
that's happening on our island
next month.
>>chair holeka goro inaba: all
in favor say, "aye"
>> aye.
>> any opposed? Motion carries,
9 ayes, resolution 628-26 is
approved.
>>clerk: is there any testimony
for resolution 629-26? Hearing
none.
>>
transfers/appropriates an
appropriation out and from a
designated fund account and
credits same to a designated
fund account to provide a grant
to the shac foundation
for the '
aha '
ulu cultural
gathering
transfers $5,000 from the
clerk-council services-
contingency relief account
(Council district 8); and
credits to the department of
research and development,
>> council member james hustace:
chair, motion to approve
resolution 629-26.
>>it's been moved and seconded
by council member hustace and
galimba to approve resolution
629-26. Asking for my colleagues
support and wanting to share
with the public that the food
celebration in 2026 will be
happening SEPTEMBER 19th through
24th. So we do ask members to
attend and then folks from the
public to look up to the
gathering and head down to gauge
motion carries, 9 ayes.
Resolution 629-26 is approved.
>>
>>clerk: is there any testimony
for resolution 630-26? Hearing
none.
Transfers/appropriates an
appropriation out and from a
designated fund account and
credits same to a designated
fund account to provide a grant
to friends of the future
to assist with expenses for
puakalehua early learning
consortium's 4th annual
celebrate '
ohana festival
transfers $2,500 from the
clerk-council services-
contingency relief account
(Council district 9); and
credits to the department of
research and development,
business development account.
Reference: comm. 997
intr. By: council member hustace
>>
>> council member james hustace:
chair, motion to approve
resolution 630-26.
>>chair holeka goro inaba: we
have a motion and second by
council member hustace and
galimba
galimba.
>>
>> council member james hustace:
I appreciate your support and
keiki in community.
>>chair holeka goro inaba: all
in favor say, "aye"
>> aye.
>> any opposed? Motion carries,
8 ayes, one excused, council
member villegas. Resolution
630-26 is approved.
>>clerk: is there any testimony
for resolution 631-26? Hearing
none.
>>
transfers/appropriates an
appropriation out and from a
designated fund account and
credits same to a designated
fund account to provide a grant
to the shac foundation
to assist with expenses for the
global breadfruit summit
transfers $2,500 from the
clerk-council services-
contingency relief account
(Council district 9); and
credits to the department of
research and development,
agriculture other current
expenses account.
Reference: comm. 998
intr. By: council member hustace
>> council member james hustace:
chair, motion to approve
resolution 631-26.
>>chair holeka goro inaba: it's
been moved and seconded by
council member hustace and
galimba to approve resolution
631-26.
>> council member james hustace:
thank you. I ask for my
colleagues support for this
event come
ing up. Thank you.
>>
>>chair holeka goro inaba: all
in favor say, "aye"
>> aye.
>> any opposed? Motion carries,
8 ayes, one excused, council
member villegas. Resolution
631-26 is approved.
>>
>>clerk: is there any testimony
for bill 174 at first reading?
>> hearing none.
>>
bill 174: amends ordinance no.
26-44, the operating budget of
the county of hawaii for the
fiscal year ending JUNE 30, 2027
appropriates revenues in the
state grants-kona low small
business recovery
grant account ($500,000) And
appropriates the same to the
kona low small
business recovery grant program
account. Funds will be used to
support one-time
relief to eligible hawai?I
island small businesses that
sustained material and
economic or physical damage from
the kona low storm.
Reference: comm. 961
intr. By: council member
kanealii-kleinfelder
>> council member matt
kanealii-kleinfelder: motion to
approve bill 174.
>>we have a motion and second by
council member
kanealii-kleinfelder and
hustace. All in favor say,
"aye"
>> aye.
>> any opposed? Motion carried,
8 ayes, one excused, council
member villegas. Bill 174 passes
first reading.
>>
>>clerk: is there any testimony
for bill 175, at first reading?
Hearing none.
>>
25-50, as amended, an ordinance
amending chapter 6 of the hawaii
county code 1983 (2016 edition,
as amended), relating to
transient accommodations
changes certain responsibilities
for proposed vacation rental
laws under ordinance
no. 25-50 from the finance
director to the planning
director; exempts prospective
vacation rentals that have
submitted a valid use permit or
special permit application
from ordinance no. 25-50; and
requires any funds collected
under ordinance no.
25-50 to be deposited into the
short-term vacation rental
enforcement fund.
Reference: comm. 964
intr. By: council member kimball
>>council member heather l.
Kimball: chair, motion to
approve bill 175 at first
reading.
>>we have a motion and second by
council member kimball and
galimba to approve bill 175 at
first reading.
>>council member heather l.
Kimball: yes, as a reminder
from the conversation at
committee, there is two things
that this bill does. One is
portions of the registration
process overtime would be at the
planning department rather than
finance. So making those
editorial corrections. I will
indicate there are other
portions of this process that
are still unchanged in the
original bill and have to do
with finance. Secondly, this
creates a grace period of four
months for people to register. 3
if they register, they will have
until the 30th to register. And
I have an amendment with that
and would like to deal with that
first. Motion to amend bill 175
with the contents of
communication 964.1.
>>it's been moved and seconded
by council member kimball and
galimba to amend bill 175 with
contents of communication.
>>council member heather l.
Kimball: this is to clarify in
terms of the bed-and-breakfast
that are deemed registered
already, these are the ones that
have already been issued a
permit. This will apply to
anybody that already has a
permit. They will not have to
register is to
register nor do an annual renew.
The folks that apply still have
to register.
>>
>>chair holeka goro inaba:
thank you. Discussion on the
amendment?
>> I just wanted to clarify,
council member kimball, hawai'I
revised status
te section 205-26
that it reads correctly.
>>okay. All in favor say, "aye"
>> aye.
>> any opposed? Is
motion carries,
8 ayes, one excused, council
member villegas. Bill 175 has
been amended with the contents
of communication 964.1.
>> any further discussion?
Hearing nor seeing none. All in
favor say, "aye"
>> aye.
>> any opposed? Motion carries,
9 ayes. Bill 175 as amended is
approved at first reading.
>>
>>clerk: is there any testimony
for resolution 567-26? Hearing
none.
Final reading)
Acquisition of private property
by eminent domain, being certain
portions of tax map key:
1-5-009:012 and 058, situated at
keonepoko iki, puna,
for the construction and
improvement of government
beach road, a public roadway
authorizes the corporation
counsel to initiate proceedings
for the taking, acquisition, and
condemnation of private property
for the improvement and
widening of government beach
road.
Reference: comm. 886
intr. By: council member kimball
first reading: JUNE 3, 2026
postponed: JUNE 17, 2026
note: second of two required
readings, section 101-13,
hawai'
I revised statutes
(Note: there is a motion by
council member kimball, seconded
by council
member galimba, to adopt res.
567-26.)
>>chair holeka goro inaba:
thank you. Before we proceed,
we have been requested to
postpone this to the call of the
chair. But I will hand it over
to council member kierkiewicz to
get an update along with the
director.
>> council member ashley
kierkiewicz: thank you, chair.
I really appreciate the work of
the department and brilhante to
arrive at an amenable solution
for both parties. We will be
postponing this resolution to
the call of the chair. Deputy
corporation counsel, ferguson is
working on the agreement that
will come before council on
executive session. I really
appreciate everyone's hard work
and collaboration. Director, did
you want to say anything? Thank
you for being here.
>>thank you, wes segawa, public
works.
What COUNCILWOMAN Kierkiewicz
just presented is accurate, and
we are pleased that we are at
this stage of the negotiations
where we have an agreement in
principle and we are looking
forward to approaching the
council hopefully in the near
future. Thank you.
>>speaking to deputy corporation
counsel on the agreement will be
on our first week of meetings in
SEPTEMBER. Thank you. At this
time, I will make a motion to
postpone resolution 567-26 to
the call of the chair.
>>chair holeka goro inaba: it's
been moved and seconded by
council member kierkiewicz and
onishi to postpone resolution
567-26 to the call of the chair.
All in favor say, "aye"
>> aye.
>> any opposed? Motion carried,
9 ayes, resolution 567-26 is
postponed to the call of the
chair.
>>
>>clerk: is there any testimony
for bill 168 draft 2 at second
and final reading? Hearing
none.
>>send second
repeals ordinance nos. 19-38,
09-50, 09-49, 06-138, 06-137,
95-118, 92-36, 90-10, 86-49, 533
(1980), and 594 (1973) And
amends chapter 25,
article 8, section 25-8-3 (North
kona zoning map) And section
25-8-5 (Kailua urban zoning
map), of the hawai'
I county code
1983 (2016 edition, as amended),
by changing the district
classification from village
commercial-7,500 square feet
(Cv-7.5) And multiple-family
residential-2,500 square feet
(Rm-2.5) To double-family
residential-3,750 square feet
(Rd-3.75) And agricultural-
five acres (A-5a) At hienaloli
4th, 5th, and 6th, north kona,
hawaii, covered by tax map
key: 7-5-010:013 (Planning
director initiated) (Area: 6.467
acres) The leeward planning
commission forwards its
favorable recommendation to
revert the current zoning of
3.331 acres from village
commercial to doublefamily
residential and 3.227 acres from
multiple-family residential to
unplanned zoning district. This
property is located on the north
side of hualalai road,
approximately 1,000 feet east of
its intersection with kuakini
highway, hienaloli
4th and 5th, north kona.
Reference: comm. 937.5
intr. By: council member kimball
first reading: JULY 23, 2026
>>council member heather l.
Kimball: motion to approve bill
168 draft 2 at second and final
reading.
>>chair holeka goro inaba: it's
been moved and seconded by
council member kimball and
galimba to approve at second and
final reading. All in favor say,
"aye"
>> aye.
>> any opposed? Motion carries,
9 ayes; bill 168 draft 2 is
approved at second and final
reading. This brings us to the
end of our agenda. Any
announcements, council member
hustace?
>> council member james hustace:
yes. Thanks chair. Amid the
events happening friday and
saturday between honoka'a and
waimea, they are holding their
regular evacuation drill. Their
event will be next saturday
AUGUST 15th. Thank you so much.
>>council member heather l.
Kimball: yes, we do have a
webinar this friday starting at
5:00 regarding the transient
vacation rentals registration
portal as well as bill 127 and
information for how to register
for that webinar is available on
hawai'I county website. It
should be very helpful.
>>thank you, council member
kimball. I'm going to hand it
over to our clerk. I wanted to
remind our voters out there if
you haven't voted yet, our
election date is AUGUST 8th,
saturday. If you have not
registered, you can register in
hilo or kona. If you have a
ballot, you can make a decision.
Please encourage you to do so
and drop it in the box.
Encouraging anybody who has any
questions to call our office.
I'm more than happy to work with
you to be sure you have the
opportunity to cast your ballot.
>>
>>chair holeka goro inaba:
thank you, clerk hendricks. As
a courtesy, a reminder to all
voters that voter receptacle
will be closed at -- at
9:00 P.M., the police station,
the memorial hall in mauka in
kona, here at the west hawai'I
civic center. The waikoloa civic
association, the waimea police
station and the north kohala
police station
>>clerk: yes, in addition please
use our county website and state
website for election information
and also nformation if you are
looking for information on the
candidates are on their ballot
as a handy resource. Excellent
information. Everything you
mentioned, location of our
services and other very good
information on how to cast your
ballot during the primary which
can be a bit challenging for
some is located on the website
google search county elections
or state office elections will
get you there. We are here to
help you.
>>chair holeka goro inaba:
thank you, clerk hernandez
ndricks.
Before we adjourn, I want to
send a special mahalo to our
council services, lrb staff and
chair staff who continue year
around to make sure our meetings