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>> Good morning everyone. And

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welcome to our Council Meeting. Today

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is January 7th, Happy New Year to

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everyone. And wishing everyone a

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wonderful year. Before we get into the

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agenda, we do have a certificate

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presentation, and also, I just want to

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make a real quick announcement, Mr.

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Carvalho has family medical situation

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going on and he may be stepping out

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during the meeting. And we offer our

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prayers to the family, and so just so

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if he walked out it's not because he

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doesn't like you all, but he has some

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personal issues to deal with. With

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that, if I could have tracon Kaneshige

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and Bart. Coming on up, man. For those that don't know

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tricon, he is an artiest and I get it's

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called a muralist. We just used to call

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it graffiti guys that go around

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and spray point everyone, but tracon has

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managed to perfect this Art and for

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those that don't know, he just did an

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amazing mural at the Kaua'i's veteran's

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center that will be unveiled all we'll

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talk about that in a little bit. I

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will go ahead and read the certificate

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and have some discussion on what is

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coming up next. The Council of the

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County of Kaua'i presents this

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certificate to tracon Kaneshige muralist for

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his work at the Kaua'i's veteran as

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Museum and the Council of the County of

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Kaua'i recognizes Mr. Kan shige for

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his amazing dedication and

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Artistion vision for contributing to the

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community with a remarkable set of murals that

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are now a perpetrate nent

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[TP-EUPT/]ture the Kaua'i's veterans Museum.

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We'll be able to show some pictures

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later, yeah? And, in fact, if you want to

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go ahead and put themum. Tracon has

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created three magnet murals spaning

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more than 80' of the Kaua'i veterans

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Museum walls, which have transformed

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the space into a living tribute to the

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courage and sacrifice of America's

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service men and women. These murals

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vividly depict the military con ticket ins our

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nation has endured including World War

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I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam,

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desert storm, Iraq and Afghanistan,

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capturing the hardship and enduring

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spirit of those who served. Through

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Frieson's compassion, vision and Artistic

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mastery, he has given life to images

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that will be remembered and spoken of

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throughout the Kaua'i community for

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generations to come. Tricon's murals

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stand not only as works of Art, but

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enduring symbols of remembrance,

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respect and Aloha for all who have

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served in the military branch of the

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United States. The Kaua'i County

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Council on behalf the Kaua'i veteran's

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Museum and cure community acknowledges

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tricon Kaneshige for the work that will

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forever enrich the legacy of our island

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and our nation. Thank you. And

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appreciate you, man. [ APPLAUSE ]

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Whenever we turn this stuff on, our

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mics go off. So you just have to press

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it. Trison, I guess to start, maybe

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just introduce yourself, and how did

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you get started with muraling? >> I started in High School,

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where I painted a two story mural, at

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Kaua'i High School. And I had

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multiple concussions from soccer, and I

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couldn't paint, but painting became my

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therapy to heal. So this is why I

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started getting into mural Art, which

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is a larger- it's more fun, more

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freeing and easy on the body. This is

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my way to heal and to help Kaua'i as

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far as the community Art scene. I

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want to do more like place space and

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healing murals around Kaua'i,

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hopefully, to help . I had a lot of head

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injuries, that is why I paint.

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>> So what -- what moved you to do one

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as a dedication, or a tribute to our

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veterans? How did that come about?

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press the thing again. Sorry. what's going on?

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>> So my grandpa is in the Korean War

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and he live down the road from me and

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saw me painting and how I was introduced to Bart and I wanted

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to give back to the community, Kaua'i,

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as far as the veterans and everyone,

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because this isn't just about me. It's

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more about the community as well,

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from my heart. That is the reason why

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I really believe in Art being a way to

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heal for our community as well. So that

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is my passion, and that is why I want

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to do long-term for the island.

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>> Nice. Thank you. Thank you. I

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saw the pictures, and is it showing?

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>> Yes. >> It's not -- that is not the

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picture. [Laughter ] my hair is white

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yeah? So Bart, I know you are a big part

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of the Kaua'i's veterans Museum, and

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interestingly enough, a lot of people

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know that the vet center sitses where

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it sits, but there's a lot of people

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that don't know there's a fully functioning Museum in there and

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if you could introduce yourself.

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>> My name is Bart Thomas, I'm a

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veteran as well and a Director of the

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Museum. In the last I would say four

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years we have completely renovated the

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museum. The neat thing about the

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Museum, it's unique, to the islands,

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it's 80% is donate by families on this

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island, which makes it very unique.

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And so there's history, and not just

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history, but military history from

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Kaua'i, which is a great thing. For

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me, I have always loved this thing,

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because we blew out the wall, ceilings

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and we made it so -- you walk in this,

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it's breathtaking. But right now, it's

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phenomenal from what he just did and

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completed; which is really cool. So

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for me, about two, three years ago,

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this kid was in the front of our vet

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center, painting. I get what the hell

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are you doing? And he was actually

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with a project for a gentleman who was

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doing his scout for eagle, so he

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painted the eagle on this. So when you

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guys and see the eagle in front, that

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is trison's work. Which is amazing.

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So for two years, man, I keep driving

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by the road I wanting to find out -- he

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kept changing murals in front of his

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house. I have to acknowledge this is

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his family, if you could stand please.

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[ APPLAUSE ] And you got to give him

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gratitude, because they are dealing with

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this kid's passion, in front of

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their house. And so every time he is

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changing something, and, in fact I was

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upset, because I drove by and he just

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did one in one day, oh, my gosh, I

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didn't even take a picture of it. I mean,

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this is what it is. This kid is just

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phenomenal. And he has something he

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wants to offer to you guys as well at

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the finish, I want you to listen to

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what he wants to accept. Thank you,

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guys and thank you so much for everything that you have done,

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and believe me from the veterans'

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hearts we appreciate it. We really love

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what he has done and it's going to put

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the Kaua'i veterans Museum on the

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map. Because people are going to be

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like I have to see this thing. So

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thank you so much. Anyway, that is what

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I enjoy. And the unveiling is going to

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be Friday, 5:00 come out, we're

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going to be doing is we're going to do a

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small presentation, and then we're

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going to -- Jade is going to do a

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blessing and I have Kaua'i island Brewery

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bringing alcohol in, it's legal, guys.

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And Uncles is providing food.

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Unveiling at 5:00, 5:30 we'll do a tribute

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with Jurassic Park in Kaua'i and

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show the movie premiere of Jurassic

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Park. God bless you. You are awesome. I

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shut the Museum down for two months

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just to give him space and every time I

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walked in this, I watched his wheels

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turn, constantly. His artwork is

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spray-paint, which really blows me

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away, amazing, amazing stuffment I will

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turn it back to you. >> I put together a proposal

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for a teen mural initiative program,

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just to see if there's interest. And

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it's -- I don't know if --

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>> One of our Staff will get it.

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>> He made seven packets for you.

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>> It's to do place-based murals. So

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telling stories about the ahupua'a and

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bringing education into the community

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for people to learn and then it could

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become a tourist, like people could

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take pictures of the murals, with the

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muraling and it could become an educational tool. So kids

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could learn, kids could get involved with

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artwork, because Art is not really as

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supported in the schools any more, and I

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wanted to try and introduce this as a

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way to -- as far as it's also therapy

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for me. So like it becomes a healing

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Art -- Art becomes a healing tool, too,

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for people that are going through it.

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Like for my concussion stuff I had to use

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Art as a way to heal and maybe other

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people could use Art as a way too,

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like how I have been learning from my

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ownself, and that is another way to be a

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part -- like to help the community as

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well from my side, I think, as an Artist.

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A muralist. I am really

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passionate about doing mental health advocacy as

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well, because of my concussions,

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yeah. So I'm trying to do Workshops with

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kids, or more for students that are

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going through stuff with school, you

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know? >> I'm intrigued.

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Because it's like Bart said, you

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painted this with spray cans. I just

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have a hard time understanding how --

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like were you an Artist, pencil Artist

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or regular Artist before? >> Yes.

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I started out drawing and then I

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started getting into, like, just trying

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my dad bought me spray-paint. >> Keeping it legal.

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>> Yes. And that is how I started to

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get into realism. And in the Museum,

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it's actually realism painting.

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It's like I'm actually painting real

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figures, like movement, it looks really

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different from what you think of Art.

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It's more cinematic realism is what I'm

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kind of calling the style I'm painting

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it. It looks like a movie scene with

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Ujima and I paint a lot of bird and

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nature scenes and it's inspirational

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for me. So painting Iwis, but making

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it real on the walls so people know

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what the Iwi ilook like many front of

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them and kids get to see what Iwi looks

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like without going to Koke'e and

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actually learning about educational

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side of mural. That, too. >> Wow, I don't want to -- I

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want to allow my colleagues to ask

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questions, too. I got to ask, did you --

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are you professional trained? Did you

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go to school?

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>> I went to school in San Diego for

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graphic design. >> Okay. All right.

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>> And I picked it up. >> All right. Thanks again.

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>> Thank you. >> And congratulations !

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appreciate it. Thank you. >> Questions?

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>> Well, first of all, I want to say

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thank you, and we're having a little

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bit of audio/visual problem, but I'm

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not. I'm watching your Art going

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across the screen here, it's at the

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Museum. And it's beautiful. >> Thank you.

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>> And thank you. I'm hoping that it

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does make it up for everybody to see,

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but that's extraordinary. I can't wait

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until Friday to go in and look at it.

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I know you have done some things along

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00:13:13,753 --> 00:13:17,355
Rice Street here and I have been able

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to watch you are as you are doing it.

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I appreciate you so much. I'm so

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thankful that you have this -- when I

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was young I had some traumatic brain

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injury and I have been able to overcome

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that pretty well, but I identify with

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what you've endured and I just so much

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gratitude for how it's expressed itself

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00:13:42,648 --> 00:13:44,649
beautifully. And I'm really happy to

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try and help support your ideas for how

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00:13:47,452 --> 00:13:49,988
we can move this even further. >> Thank you.

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>> Thank you, Bart; for doing this for

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00:13:54,259 --> 00:13:56,728
our veterans. And putting us on the

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map, and I'm really, really thrilled

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with how our Museum in there honors our

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00:14:03,868 --> 00:14:05,538
own people here. I have been here and

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00:14:05,538 --> 00:14:08,600
watched it, but I haven't seen it new,

286
00:14:08,600 --> 00:14:12,143
haven't see it now. So yes. >> Anyone else? Mr.

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00:14:12,143 --> 00:14:13,680
Kaneshiro? >> Just a quick question. So

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00:14:13,680 --> 00:14:16,215
the only way you can practice graffiti

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00:14:16,215 --> 00:14:18,484
is on like a big wall? You can't

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00:14:18,484 --> 00:14:21,860
take out a piece of paper; right?

291
00:14:21,860 --> 00:14:24,422
>> Not really. I use ply Board in

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00:14:24,422 --> 00:14:26,358
front of my house and the backyard.

293
00:14:26,358 --> 00:14:29,294
>> , In fact, stop by and take a look

294
00:14:29,294 --> 00:14:34,299
at latest one he just did. Oh, my gosh.

295
00:14:34,299 --> 00:14:37,702
>> That is awesome. I would say,

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00:14:37,702 --> 00:14:39,370
congratulations, and thanks. I'm very

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00:14:39,370 --> 00:14:41,773
excited to see it. I'll be there

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00:14:41,773 --> 00:14:44,109
Friday and keep it up. I was wondering

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00:14:44,109 --> 00:14:46,177
it's not that easy to practice when you

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00:14:46,177 --> 00:14:48,579
need a big landscape. I don't know

301
00:14:48,579 --> 00:14:53,379
when you are practicing. >> Travel. Travel around the

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00:14:54,519 --> 00:14:55,854
island, like Hawai'i painting at

303
00:14:55,854 --> 00:14:58,854
schools. >> Actually gave him 20 images

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00:15:00,125 --> 00:15:02,728
that the veterans thought were great

305
00:15:02,728 --> 00:15:04,396
because we want to break it down into

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con ticket conflict and World War

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00:15:11,952 --> 00:15:14,555
I, II and Korean and Vietnam. So the

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00:15:14,555 --> 00:15:18,155
images turned out really cool. I'm

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00:15:19,160 --> 00:15:21,428
very honored to say that is one of

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00:15:21,428 --> 00:15:24,698
the best murals I have ever seen

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00:15:24,698 --> 00:15:31,898
so you hand sketch to them? >> I have a graphic design and

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00:15:33,775 --> 00:15:36,110
use Photoshop to mock it up to show

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00:15:36,110 --> 00:15:40,310
to the client or whoever for approval.

314
00:15:42,984 --> 00:15:46,584
>> He has another contract with our

315
00:15:48,456 --> 00:15:50,570
Commander for two murals inside the

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00:15:50,570 --> 00:15:54,857
center as well, which is real ly going

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00:15:55,396 --> 00:15:59,802
to be cool. So we're first. >> So I'm assuming this is

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00:15:59,802 --> 00:16:00,468
your business?

319
00:16:00,468 --> 00:16:04,668
>> Yes. >> So how does someone that is

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00:16:04,739 --> 00:16:08,810
watching that wants to? >> So I have a website called

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00:16:08,810 --> 00:16:10,411
inspire to create media.com.

322
00:16:10,411 --> 00:16:17,110
>> Inspire to create media.com. >> And I do logo design, shirt

323
00:16:18,219 --> 00:16:20,221
designs, auto graphic design and murals

324
00:16:20,221 --> 00:16:22,490
is my passion. I'm trying to do more

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00:16:22,490 --> 00:16:26,560
murals for business as well. So like

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00:16:26,560 --> 00:16:28,962
small businesses, more, institutionally, just whoever

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00:16:28,962 --> 00:16:32,100
really is interested. I like to do story

328
00:16:32,100 --> 00:16:33,434
mural stuff, its more fun for me,

329
00:16:33,434 --> 00:16:35,903
because I get to tell a story how to my

330
00:16:35,903 --> 00:16:39,503
Art. That is even more fun.

331
00:16:40,842 --> 00:16:45,446
>> I suck so bad at Art. It's just a

332
00:16:45,446 --> 00:16:47,648
unique talent, and it's just -- anyone

333
00:16:47,648 --> 00:16:52,720
else? Ms. Holland. >> I just want to echo the

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00:16:52,720 --> 00:16:54,789
gratitude for you and excited on Friday

335
00:16:54,789 --> 00:16:57,580
to see your murals. So thank you for

336
00:16:57,580 --> 00:16:58,793
that. >> Thank you.

337
00:16:58,793 --> 00:17:01,528
>> Mr. Bulosan? >> I have been a huge fan

338
00:17:01,528 --> 00:17:03,931
since the beginning. I think I was away

339
00:17:03,931 --> 00:17:06,534
when you did your first mural as a High

340
00:17:06,534 --> 00:17:09,269
School student and I was just

341
00:17:09,269 --> 00:17:13,808
thinking, man, Kaua'i has a star, and I'm

342
00:17:13,808 --> 00:17:15,476
excited, and ever since that beginning you

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00:17:15,476 --> 00:17:19,681
have kind of led the pack on Art in that

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00:17:19,681 --> 00:17:21,682
medium for our community and inspired

345
00:17:21,682 --> 00:17:24,886
so many people. I think one of the

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00:17:24,886 --> 00:17:27,886
things people especially young people

347
00:17:29,490 --> 00:17:31,825
and people in our community you

348
00:17:31,825 --> 00:17:33,427
can't realize the impact that you

349
00:17:33,427 --> 00:17:35,496
have until you get to hear the storiess

350
00:17:35,496 --> 00:17:38,899
and you don't really hear the stories

351
00:17:38,899 --> 00:17:41,169
often. So I just want to thank you for

352
00:17:41,169 --> 00:17:44,769
all your help for our community,

353
00:17:44,972 --> 00:17:46,373
because personally for me, you have

354
00:17:46,373 --> 00:17:50,978
changed my life in so many different ways

355
00:17:50,978 --> 00:17:53,648
it's hard to explain just with my

356
00:17:53,648 --> 00:17:56,984
wife and my kid, every time we go

357
00:17:56,984 --> 00:17:59,192
somewhere and see your mural it make a huge

358
00:17:59,192 --> 00:18:01,594
impact in a positive way. And so I hope

359
00:18:01,594 --> 00:18:04,664
you can take a moment to just feel all

360
00:18:04,664 --> 00:18:07,867
of the goodness that you put out for

361
00:18:07,867 --> 00:18:09,469
our community and really transform

362
00:18:09,469 --> 00:18:12,138
the experience that you had, and

363
00:18:12,138 --> 00:18:14,940
make lives better. We just can't thank

364
00:18:14,940 --> 00:18:16,675
you enough and your family, and everyone

365
00:18:16,675 --> 00:18:19,279
that supports you and is there for

366
00:18:19,279 --> 00:18:20,813
you, because it's just immeasurable

367
00:18:20,813 --> 00:18:22,349
the impact that you are making.

368
00:18:22,349 --> 00:18:24,840
Thank you. >> Thank you. I really

369
00:18:24,840 --> 00:18:26,419
appreciate it. >> Mr. Carvalho.

370
00:18:26,419 --> 00:18:28,822
>> I appreciate your gift. You have a

371
00:18:28,822 --> 00:18:33,492
special gift. A A lot of it also has

372
00:18:33,492 --> 00:18:34,561
to do with visualization too, and

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00:18:34,561 --> 00:18:37,563
dreams and I think that is another big

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00:18:37,563 --> 00:18:39,980
part before it actually happens. I

375
00:18:39,980 --> 00:18:40,633
have seen some of the work you have

376
00:18:40,633 --> 00:18:42,302
done, obviously and look forward to

377
00:18:42,302 --> 00:18:43,436
Friday. Just continue doing what you

378
00:18:43,436 --> 00:18:46,906
are doing and you are an inspiration

379
00:18:46,906 --> 00:18:50,376
for the younger generation coming up.

380
00:18:50,376 --> 00:18:52,178
It's impacting our community and I like

381
00:18:52,178 --> 00:18:53,580
the cultural part, too, that you are

382
00:18:53,580 --> 00:18:55,849
looking at, that will really bring to

383
00:18:55,849 --> 00:18:59,119
the table, upfront and make it have a

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00:18:59,119 --> 00:19:01,253
true meaning and value to each part of

385
00:19:01,253 --> 00:19:04,258
our island, as well as to our community

386
00:19:04,258 --> 00:19:05,992
culturally. So keep doing what you are

387
00:19:05,992 --> 00:19:08,461
doing and we are totally there for you.

388
00:19:08,461 --> 00:19:10,461
Mahalo. >> Thank you.

389
00:19:10,530 --> 00:19:14,534
>> All right, Mr. Kuali'i. >> I was curious because he

390
00:19:14,534 --> 00:19:16,690
asked about any training and you said

391
00:19:16,690 --> 00:19:17,871
you went to school in San Diego,

392
00:19:17,871 --> 00:19:18,338
and you picked it up.

393
00:19:18,338 --> 00:19:21,938
>> Yes. >> So like, was it University,

394
00:19:22,408 --> 00:19:25,545
or you were there for a long time? I

395
00:19:25,545 --> 00:19:28,681
think it's probably more a natural

396
00:19:28,681 --> 00:19:31,284
talent and gift, but I assume you have to

397
00:19:31,284 --> 00:19:33,620
hone that, and learn some skills,

398
00:19:33,620 --> 00:19:36,889
but what was the education exactly,

399
00:19:36,889 --> 00:19:37,891
young people to hear?

400
00:19:37,891 --> 00:19:42,691
>> So I have a Bachelors of science in

401
00:19:45,832 --> 00:19:49,168
graphic design and while I was in

402
00:19:49,168 --> 00:19:50,904
College, started my -- when I was in

403
00:19:50,904 --> 00:19:53,974
College, I did some mural stuff around

404
00:19:53,974 --> 00:19:56,710
the school, and stuff. But I actually

405
00:19:56,710 --> 00:19:59,712
had some people teach me as well along

406
00:19:59,712 --> 00:20:02,382
the way. I actually had to believe in

407
00:20:02,382 --> 00:20:05,518
myself first to be able to do it kind

408
00:20:05,518 --> 00:20:08,521
of mural artform. I had 200 people

409
00:20:08,521 --> 00:20:12,859
that from here and O'ahu, and I want to

410
00:20:12,859 --> 00:20:15,261
acknowledge them as well. I had to --

411
00:20:15,261 --> 00:20:19,532
so I'm kind of trained in both sides,

412
00:20:19,532 --> 00:20:23,690
educationally and that side of the

413
00:20:23,690 --> 00:20:29,690
mentorship. So in my sense I'm bringing lineage of Artists

414
00:20:30,610 --> 00:20:32,277
throughout the generations and not just

415
00:20:32,277 --> 00:20:33,813
one person, but multiple people are

416
00:20:33,813 --> 00:20:37,550
behind me. I kind of want to carry

417
00:20:37,550 --> 00:20:38,818
that throughout my career.

418
00:20:38,818 --> 00:20:42,756
>> Well, I'm in awe of what you do,

419
00:20:42,756 --> 00:20:44,824
and I think it's amazing and beautiful

420
00:20:44,824 --> 00:20:47,693
and I'm looking forward to Friday. I'm

421
00:20:47,693 --> 00:20:52,493
planning on going and Bart let us know

422
00:20:54,850 --> 00:20:57,720
a while ago. I am intrigued with your

423
00:20:57,720 --> 00:21:01,390
proposal and to talk with the Office of

424
00:21:01,390 --> 00:21:02,792
Economic Development and budget is

425
00:21:02,792 --> 00:21:05,394
coming up and assuming money is involved.

426
00:21:05,394 --> 00:21:07,863
>> He is looking for mentors from you

427
00:21:07,863 --> 00:21:09,532
guys, so please whatever you can do,

428
00:21:09,532 --> 00:21:11,400
get this kid on the right path, because

429
00:21:11,400 --> 00:21:14,537
what you is talking about doing, all of

430
00:21:14,537 --> 00:21:17,720
this tagging that we see, let's get the

431
00:21:17,720 --> 00:21:18,809
kids creative to they are tagging to

432
00:21:18,809 --> 00:21:22,411
Art. >> And in a place that people

433
00:21:22,411 --> 00:21:23,746
want it. >> Correct.

434
00:21:23,746 --> 00:21:25,147
>> Thank you. Thank you, Chair.

435
00:21:25,147 --> 00:21:28,951
>> Thank you. I'm in, as you said, I'm

436
00:21:28,951 --> 00:21:32,287
in awe. We don't often get feel-good

437
00:21:32,287 --> 00:21:33,956
moments in these Chambers, but this is

438
00:21:33,956 --> 00:21:36,826
one of those that I'm just inspired.

439
00:21:36,826 --> 00:21:38,694
For me, you know, thinking about the

440
00:21:38,694 --> 00:21:41,630
gift that you have, and the gift that

441
00:21:41,630 --> 00:21:44,990
you are willing to share with the other

442
00:21:44,990 --> 00:21:46,168
kids coming up it's heartwarming, I

443
00:21:46,168 --> 00:21:47,969
guess is the right word. It's just a

444
00:21:47,969 --> 00:21:51,973
would wonderful way to kick off our New

445
00:21:51,973 --> 00:21:53,509
Year. Thank you very much. With that,

446
00:21:53,509 --> 00:21:56,512
we'll take a short break and get the

447
00:21:56,512 --> 00:21:59,248
photo. Mr. Fujimoto is here, who only

448
00:21:59,248 --> 00:22:00,983
comes on very special occasions. So

449
00:22:00,983 --> 00:22:05,183
with that, we'll take a short break.

450
00:27:07,912 --> 00:27:11,450
[ GAVEL ] With that we'll call the

451
00:27:11,450 --> 00:27:13,517
meeting to order, roll call, please.

452
00:27:13,517 --> 00:27:15,917
>> Council Member Bulosan? >> Here.

453
00:27:16,521 --> 00:27:18,455
>> Council Member Carvalho? >> Here.

454
00:27:18,455 --> 00:27:19,791
>> Council Member Cowden? >> Here.

455
00:27:19,791 --> 00:27:21,392
>> Council Member Holland? >> Present.

456
00:27:21,392 --> 00:27:23,792
>> Council Member Kaneshiro? >> Present.

457
00:27:23,795 --> 00:27:25,329
>> Council Member Kuali'i? >> Present.

458
00:27:25,329 --> 00:27:27,650
>> Council Chair Rapozo? >> Here.

459
00:27:27,650 --> 00:27:29,933
>> Seven present. >> Can I get a motion to

460
00:27:29,933 --> 00:27:30,735
approve the agenda.

461
00:27:30,735 --> 00:27:32,735
>> So moved. >> Mic.

462
00:27:33,337 --> 00:27:35,807
>> Second. >> Moved and secondeding. Any

463
00:27:35,807 --> 00:27:37,942
discussion or public testimony? Seeing

464
00:27:37,942 --> 00:27:40,100
none all in favor say aye? >> Aye.

465
00:27:40,100 --> 00:27:41,746
>> Motion carried. Next item, please.

466
00:27:41,746 --> 00:27:43,147
>> Chair, next item on page 2 the

467
00:27:43,147 --> 00:27:45,483
minutes of the following meeting of the

468
00:27:45,483 --> 00:27:46,885
Council, the December 17th, 2025

469
00:27:46,885 --> 00:27:49,620
Council meeting. >> Move to approve.

470
00:27:49,620 --> 00:27:51,688
>> Second. >> Moved and seconded. Any

471
00:27:51,688 --> 00:27:53,357
discussion or public testimony? Seeing

472
00:27:53,357 --> 00:27:54,492
none, all in favor say aye?

473
00:27:54,492 --> 00:27:57,161
>> Aye. >> Motion carried. Next item,

474
00:27:57,161 --> 00:28:00,161
please. >> Item on the Consent

475
00:28:01,310 --> 00:28:03,167
Calendar for receipt C-2026-01.

476
00:28:03,167 --> 00:28:04,350
>> Move to receive. >> Second.

477
00:28:04,350 --> 00:28:06,236
>> Moved and seconded. Any discussion

478
00:28:06,236 --> 00:28:07,371
or public testimony? Seeing none, all

479
00:28:07,371 --> 00:28:09,774
in favor say aye? >> Aye.

480
00:28:09,774 --> 00:28:11,975
>> Motion carried. At this time, if

481
00:28:11,975 --> 00:28:15,713
there's no objection I would like to

482
00:28:15,713 --> 00:28:19,913
take C-2026-04 out of order, please.

483
00:28:20,317 --> 00:28:21,519
>> C-2026-04 communication from

484
00:28:21,519 --> 00:28:23,654
Council Chair Rapozo and Council

485
00:28:23,654 --> 00:28:25,523
Vice-Chair Kuali'i requesting the

486
00:28:25,523 --> 00:28:29,123
presence of the Roslyn Roz Makaula

487
00:28:29,394 --> 00:28:31,929
Director of Government relates Kamehameha Schools to provide a

488
00:28:31,929 --> 00:28:37,329
briefing relating to the legal challenge to Kamehameha Schools

489
00:28:37,335 --> 00:28:38,535
admission policy. >> Move to receive.

490
00:28:38,535 --> 00:28:39,871
>> Second. >> Moved and seconded. Thank

491
00:28:39,871 --> 00:28:44,710
you. With that I will suspend the

492
00:28:46,944 --> 00:28:50,544
rules and invite the Representative of

493
00:28:52,216 --> 00:28:54,819
Kamehameha Schools up here. We have a

494
00:28:54,819 --> 00:28:56,870
companion Resolution and we'll get the

495
00:28:56,870 --> 00:28:58,690
briefing and we'll have the discussion

496
00:28:58,690 --> 00:29:01,225
and questions, and then we'll take the

497
00:29:01,225 --> 00:29:02,827
Resolution immediately following the

498
00:29:02,827 --> 00:29:04,962
briefing. But I would ask that all the

499
00:29:04,962 --> 00:29:06,970
discussion, and things happen here at

500
00:29:06,970 --> 00:29:09,967
the briefing and we can move right to

501
00:29:09,967 --> 00:29:11,569
the Resolution. With that. >> Okay.

502
00:29:11,569 --> 00:29:13,571
>> Good morning and Happy New Year.

503
00:29:13,571 --> 00:29:16,571
>> Good morning. Happy New Year.

504
00:29:26,590 --> 00:29:28,580
Mahalo nui loa. Our Vice President

505
00:29:28,580 --> 00:29:32,596
abad is here and she going to come up

506
00:29:32,596 --> 00:29:34,998
and provide today's briefing and I will

507
00:29:34,998 --> 00:29:36,533
follow-up with the testimony later.

508
00:29:36,533 --> 00:29:38,533
Mahalo. >> Thank you.

509
00:29:43,540 --> 00:29:46,540
>> Good morning. >> Aloha Kakou. Mahalo,

510
00:29:47,277 --> 00:29:50,277
Chair. Mahalo Vice-Chair and Council

511
00:29:50,481 --> 00:29:51,815
Members. So appreciate the opportunity

512
00:29:51,815 --> 00:29:53,684
this morning to have some time with

513
00:29:53,684 --> 00:29:54,485
you folks.

514
00:29:54,485 --> 00:29:57,870
>> If you could just introduce yourself for our captioner.

515
00:29:57,870 --> 00:30:01,287
>> Yes, my name is Kekua abad. I'm

516
00:30:01,359 --> 00:30:04,959
the Vice President of Strategies and

517
00:30:05,696 --> 00:30:07,964
experience at Kamehameha. So one of

518
00:30:07,964 --> 00:30:10,366
the executive team leaders. On behalf

519
00:30:10,366 --> 00:30:12,569
of Jack and the rest of the executives,

520
00:30:12,569 --> 00:30:15,372
we want to share some Aloha with you,

521
00:30:15,372 --> 00:30:17,400
and some information that we think

522
00:30:17,400 --> 00:30:18,308
might be helpful for the Resolution

523
00:30:18,308 --> 00:30:21,378
that you have before you, and we so

524
00:30:21,378 --> 00:30:23,446
thank you, Chair, Vice-Chair, and

525
00:30:23,446 --> 00:30:25,115
Council Members, for consideration of

526
00:30:25,115 --> 00:30:28,318
the Resolution. >> You were at Waimea?

527
00:30:28,318 --> 00:30:30,530
>> Yes. >> At the theater?

528
00:30:30,530 --> 00:30:33,653
>> Yes. >> You were a little more

529
00:30:35,392 --> 00:30:36,793
energetic at the theater, bouncing all

530
00:30:36,793 --> 00:30:37,194
over the place.

531
00:30:37,194 --> 00:30:39,729
>> Yes. >> How it's here, I did attend

532
00:30:39,729 --> 00:30:43,000
and I got to hear, I think a lot of

533
00:30:43,000 --> 00:30:45,936
people have heard about this

534
00:30:45,936 --> 00:30:48,939
litigation that is ongoing. But it was only at

535
00:30:48,939 --> 00:30:52,750
that presentation that I got to

536
00:30:52,750 --> 00:30:54,344
fully understand what is going on,

537
00:30:54,344 --> 00:30:57,881
and in my opinion, how bad it is in what

538
00:30:57,881 --> 00:31:00,617
is going on. So I did want the

539
00:31:00,617 --> 00:31:05,422
community to be able to hear what is truly

540
00:31:05,422 --> 00:31:07,891
going on, and the best people to do that

541
00:31:07,891 --> 00:31:10,891
would be you all. Welcome.

542
00:31:16,833 --> 00:31:21,633
>> Mahalo Nui. Thank you. So before we start

543
00:31:24,707 --> 00:31:27,707
introducing ourselves, maybe we don't

544
00:31:28,177 --> 00:31:30,247
have a whole stack on the situation,

545
00:31:30,247 --> 00:31:31,448
because we have done the presentation

546
00:31:31,448 --> 00:31:35,852
and I didn't want to have you folks

547
00:31:35,852 --> 00:31:38,540
double hear it, but for everyone's

548
00:31:38,540 --> 00:31:41,458
sake, maybe I will just set some

549
00:31:41,458 --> 00:31:44,461
context. So what we're facing as

550
00:31:44,461 --> 00:31:48,610
Kamehameha is a legal challenge brought

551
00:31:48,799 --> 00:31:51,534
forward by Edward bloom of students for

552
00:31:51,534 --> 00:31:56,934
fair admissions. He and his organization are situated in

553
00:31:57,741 --> 00:32:01,144
Virginia, and they are claiming that

554
00:32:01,144 --> 00:32:05,344
we're in violation of a certain law,

555
00:32:06,830 --> 00:32:10,283
federal law 42 U.S.C. 1981 that was

556
00:32:11,354 --> 00:32:13,757
actually written a very long time ago.

557
00:32:13,757 --> 00:32:18,557
It comes to us from 1866. So this was

558
00:32:19,179 --> 00:32:21,515
back right after the Civil War and

559
00:32:21,515 --> 00:32:26,315
there was a piece of law initiated to

560
00:32:27,121 --> 00:32:29,190
ensure that the emancipated slaves at the

561
00:32:29,190 --> 00:32:33,260
time, so this is Abraham Lincoln behind

562
00:32:33,260 --> 00:32:36,860
the original sort of civil rights

563
00:32:39,332 --> 00:32:40,334
legislation that emancipated slaves

564
00:32:40,334 --> 00:32:42,536
would have the opportunity to enter

565
00:32:42,536 --> 00:32:45,536
into contracts like everyone else

566
00:32:45,806 --> 00:32:46,674
without being discriminated against,

567
00:32:46,674 --> 00:32:50,143
because at the time, of course some

568
00:32:50,143 --> 00:32:51,479
were being discriminated against and in

569
00:32:51,479 --> 00:32:53,214
the society at the time. So if you

570
00:32:53,214 --> 00:32:55,883
were trying to rent a home or something, you might not be

571
00:32:55,883 --> 00:32:58,819
able to get a contract. So you are at the

572
00:32:58,819 --> 00:33:01,354
whim of a landlord doing who knows

573
00:33:01,354 --> 00:33:04,491
what? Kicking you out or changing the

574
00:33:04,491 --> 00:33:08,280
rent. There was no contract to hold

575
00:33:08,280 --> 00:33:10,898
to. And so the law said that everyone

576
00:33:10,898 --> 00:33:15,980
should be able to enter into contracts

577
00:33:15,235 --> 00:33:16,370
equally, and no discrimination there.

578
00:33:16,370 --> 00:33:21,108
So that is a law that we're being

579
00:33:21,108 --> 00:33:23,910
accused of breaching right now. Let me

580
00:33:23,910 --> 00:33:26,513
maybe just to introduce ourselves. So

581
00:33:26,513 --> 00:33:30,584
what is at stake? It's our preference

582
00:33:30,584 --> 00:33:33,854
policy, but we're concerned if they are

583
00:33:33,854 --> 00:33:35,790
looking at Hawai'i's estate and saying

584
00:33:35,790 --> 00:33:39,990
that her willing and her wishes that

585
00:33:39,993 --> 00:33:42,129
preference for the Lahui, the people she

586
00:33:42,129 --> 00:33:44,640
was caring for as Chiefess, that

587
00:33:44,640 --> 00:33:48,469
her wish to care for them is up for

588
00:33:48,469 --> 00:33:52,690
interpretation and up for a third-party

589
00:33:52,139 --> 00:33:55,739
from Virginia to impose upon. Than

590
00:33:55,809 --> 00:33:57,945
what else is at stake? Just so share

591
00:33:57,945 --> 00:34:01,415
who we are and what other parts of the

592
00:34:01,415 --> 00:34:03,417
us as an organization might be chipped

593
00:34:03,417 --> 00:34:06,620
away at little by little? If they can

594
00:34:06,620 --> 00:34:08,622
chip away the at this fundamental part

595
00:34:08,622 --> 00:34:10,958
of her willing, what else are they are

596
00:34:10,958 --> 00:34:13,930
able to chip aat? The use of maybe

597
00:34:13,930 --> 00:34:17,893
some of our resource for -- you get

598
00:34:19,700 --> 00:34:21,968
what I mean? So you are familiar with

599
00:34:21,968 --> 00:34:26,168
us. We have our three campuses and 30

600
00:34:26,974 --> 00:34:29,974
preschools. 157 of these students are

601
00:34:31,645 --> 00:34:37,450
from Kaua'i. We have community programs every year about 67

602
00:34:38,530 --> 00:34:42,123
million are used -- dollars are used to

603
00:34:42,123 --> 00:34:43,524
support scholarship and community

604
00:34:43,524 --> 00:34:46,927
grantses. We have about a dozen different

605
00:34:46,927 --> 00:34:48,927
community organizations providing

606
00:34:49,797 --> 00:34:51,532
yearlong services for Kaua'i families

607
00:34:51,532 --> 00:34:55,132
and students here on the island.

608
00:34:55,135 --> 00:34:58,872
In fact, thank you for introducing us to

609
00:34:58,872 --> 00:35:00,875
Trysen, because I talked with him

610
00:35:00,875 --> 00:35:02,877
afterwards and we would love to work with

611
00:35:02,877 --> 00:35:04,478
him with some of the Charter schools

612
00:35:04,478 --> 00:35:06,614
that we support on the island. I would

613
00:35:06,614 --> 00:35:08,616
love to get some murals done here and

614
00:35:08,616 --> 00:35:11,825
that is some of the things that we do

615
00:35:11,825 --> 00:35:14,825
in community. We have nearly

616
00:35:15,895 --> 00:35:19,495
11,000 acres of conservation land. We have

617
00:35:20,968 --> 00:35:24,568
an endowment that Hawai'i has very

618
00:35:25,105 --> 00:35:26,573
generously -- sorry, I'm not sure what

619
00:35:26,573 --> 00:35:32,178
is going on with that -- >> Hold on real quick. I'm

620
00:35:32,178 --> 00:35:34,648
sorry to do this. But we're going to

621
00:35:34,648 --> 00:35:37,517
take a break. We're going to take a

622
00:35:37,517 --> 00:35:38,585
short recess, because the whole

623
00:35:38,585 --> 00:35:40,255
purpose of this is to get this information

624
00:35:40,255 --> 00:35:43,323
out to the community, and when our

625
00:35:43,323 --> 00:35:45,125
thing cannot work, so we'll take a

626
00:35:45,125 --> 00:35:46,861
recess and get I.T. over here. Sorry

627
00:35:46,861 --> 00:35:47,928
about that. >> It's okay.

628
00:35:47,928 --> 00:35:49,928
[ GAVEL ] yes.

629
01:29:47,363 --> 01:29:49,363
Yes. [ GAVEL ]

630
01:31:27,597 --> 01:31:29,331
>> We'll call the meeting back to

631
01:31:29,331 --> 01:31:32,269
order. Thank you for your patience.

632
01:31:32,269 --> 01:31:35,337
With that, if you would not mind coming

633
01:31:35,337 --> 01:31:38,937
back up. Sorry for that disruption.

634
01:31:45,140 --> 01:31:47,140
>> Mahalo. Aloha. >> Aloha.

635
01:31:47,830 --> 01:31:53,683
>> I'm going to try -- I'm going to maybe summarize a

636
01:31:58,940 --> 01:31:59,562
little bit and stick to the slides.

637
01:31:59,562 --> 01:32:03,433
So with a we're talking about when we

638
01:32:03,433 --> 01:32:07,637
last left off is what is the at stake.

639
01:32:07,637 --> 01:32:10,775
What is Kamehameha and what we're

640
01:32:10,775 --> 01:32:13,510
trying to do and a little Artistic rendering

641
01:32:13,510 --> 01:32:15,912
of our theory of change. So every

642
01:32:15,912 --> 01:32:19,249
five years we do a new Strategic Planning.

643
01:32:19,249 --> 01:32:22,584
You see there's a code to it, our SP

644
01:32:22,584 --> 01:32:24,721
Strategic Plan 2030, and really speaks to

645
01:32:24,721 --> 01:32:27,456
where we have come as an organization

646
01:32:27,456 --> 01:32:30,593
and where we're heading. For those

647
01:32:30,593 --> 01:32:31,794
who remember older Kamehameha, like

648
01:32:31,794 --> 01:32:34,807
when I went there, back in the 80s.

649
01:32:34,807 --> 01:32:36,543
We wouldn't have spoken like this.

650
01:32:36,543 --> 01:32:38,211
This wasn't where we were at. We

651
01:32:38,211 --> 01:32:40,790
minor league have said the very first

652
01:32:40,790 --> 01:32:43,216
part and it's kind of hard to read

653
01:32:43,216 --> 01:32:44,683
in this Artistic rendering, so I will

654
01:32:44,683 --> 01:32:47,286
share it. When we operate world-class

655
01:32:47,286 --> 01:32:50,886
schools, that is Kamehameha since 1950s,

656
01:32:52,225 --> 01:32:56,425
60s. But we have been growing and

657
01:32:56,696 --> 01:32:58,765
our theory of change that we're charged to

658
01:32:58,765 --> 01:33:01,567
fulfill in the new Strategic Plan adds

659
01:33:01,567 --> 01:33:05,767
in the notion of 'Oiwi leaders and

660
01:33:10,843 --> 01:33:13,446
seeing our ho Mana, when we think about

661
01:33:13,446 --> 01:33:15,848
what Poi really wanted to do. She

662
01:33:15,848 --> 01:33:21,248
wanted to have and in her will she said

663
01:33:22,540 --> 01:33:23,789
"good and industrious men and women."

664
01:33:23,789 --> 01:33:27,193
Those who will be productive in the world

665
01:33:27,193 --> 01:33:29,728
and help the community, the Lahui,

666
01:33:29,728 --> 01:33:31,640
Hawai'i and beyond. So we're saying

667
01:33:31,640 --> 01:33:35,535
that is what we mean by 'Oiwi leaders

668
01:33:35,535 --> 01:33:39,605
and the set of learner outcomes that we

669
01:33:39,605 --> 01:33:44,405
want to instill the sense of Kuleana in

670
01:33:45,100 --> 01:33:47,546
our student. So this is where

671
01:33:47,546 --> 01:33:51,746
Kamehameha has been moving in the last 10,

672
01:33:52,952 --> 01:33:56,552
15 years and really anchoring to a

673
01:33:58,424 --> 01:34:00,824
Hawaiian organization and saying

674
01:34:04,764 --> 01:34:06,165
regenerate 'aina, again a different

675
01:34:06,165 --> 01:34:08,967
sense of the 60s and 70s, as people saw

676
01:34:08,967 --> 01:34:14,967
our 'aina as a way to make money so the

677
01:34:18,110 --> 01:34:20,113
schools could operate, but to think

678
01:34:20,113 --> 01:34:23,649
about 'aina as community rejuvation and

679
01:34:23,649 --> 01:34:27,849
how the 'aina is regenerated and in

680
01:34:27,854 --> 01:34:29,989
some senses it's generating income, but

681
01:34:29,989 --> 01:34:31,725
in instances it's focusing on making

682
01:34:31,725 --> 01:34:33,861
food for the community, and how it's

683
01:34:33,861 --> 01:34:36,861
bringing water, you know? Creating

684
01:34:36,995 --> 01:34:40,595
these great forests that draw water

685
01:34:42,401 --> 01:34:46,601
that create aquifers that give you Wai

686
01:34:46,606 --> 01:34:51,277
to drink. So it's right in the change

687
01:34:51,277 --> 01:34:54,814
and we say, too, when we offer world-class schools what we

688
01:34:54,814 --> 01:34:58,351
have been doing all along, develop 'Oiwi

689
01:34:58,351 --> 01:35:01,754
leaders the sense of growing new

690
01:35:01,754 --> 01:35:05,954
Homomanu that they have a Kuleana and

691
01:35:08,294 --> 01:35:12,494
regenerate aina, we will together with our

692
01:35:13,365 --> 01:35:15,300
communities, there wasn't 67 million

693
01:35:15,300 --> 01:35:20,440
going into community grant and scholarships, but now it is and

694
01:35:20,440 --> 01:35:21,707
that community partnerships are

695
01:35:21,707 --> 01:35:23,376
essential. We will together with our

696
01:35:23,376 --> 01:35:27,133
communities, and this last part is I feel

697
01:35:27,133 --> 01:35:30,136
like it's the big turn that Kamehameha is

698
01:35:30,136 --> 01:35:33,736
making in this SP 2030 cycle. Exercise

699
01:35:37,343 --> 01:35:40,943
the -- necessary for thriving and

700
01:35:41,347 --> 01:35:42,882
self-determined Lahui and it's one of

701
01:35:42,882 --> 01:35:48,282
the words that we hear a lot of other

702
01:35:48,422 --> 01:35:50,556
instances, and we heard it referenced

703
01:35:50,556 --> 01:35:54,494
as the life of the land is perpetuated

704
01:35:54,494 --> 01:35:56,229
in righteousness, but it's so much more

705
01:35:56,229 --> 01:36:01,290
than life. It's the whole set of ideas

706
01:36:01,768 --> 01:36:06,568
from breath to agency, to rising up, to

707
01:36:10,310 --> 01:36:12,512
sovereignty, to independence. All that

708
01:36:12,512 --> 01:36:15,315
of that is a waand saying as we face

709
01:36:15,315 --> 01:36:20,715
this sort of issues that we have as a

710
01:36:21,121 --> 01:36:23,790
Lahui as Hawai'i and larger Hawaiian

711
01:36:23,790 --> 01:36:26,660
community we're all here to work for

712
01:36:26,660 --> 01:36:29,997
and with, that it is this AWWA that is

713
01:36:29,997 --> 01:36:35,334
ultimate ly some of the biggest solutions to the biggest

714
01:36:35,334 --> 01:36:36,936
problems. This is what we're committed to

715
01:36:36,936 --> 01:36:39,606
and something that we had put forth

716
01:36:39,606 --> 01:36:44,477
at the close of June in order to be

717
01:36:44,477 --> 01:36:46,946
ready for our next Fiscal Year, which is

718
01:36:46,946 --> 01:36:50,683
July. So we put this out there for a

719
01:36:50,683 --> 01:36:52,418
while and sure enough, the kinds of

720
01:36:52,418 --> 01:36:55,421
challenges that are always before us in

721
01:36:55,421 --> 01:37:00,160
October we had SFFA putting out a call

722
01:37:00,160 --> 01:37:03,896
to people, hey who wants to be a

723
01:37:03,896 --> 01:37:06,896
plaintiff? We're looking to sue

724
01:37:07,434 --> 01:37:10,703
Kamehameha and by November they filed

725
01:37:10,703 --> 01:37:13,306
their complaint in court. We're saying

726
01:37:13,306 --> 01:37:15,641
at this stage, some of you may have

727
01:37:15,641 --> 01:37:16,976
heard a recent announcement, we're

728
01:37:16,976 --> 01:37:19,779
saying it's very important for us to

729
01:37:19,779 --> 01:37:21,514
double down and understanding who we

730
01:37:21,514 --> 01:37:24,917
are as an organization. We do not see

731
01:37:24,917 --> 01:37:28,517
ourselves as being founded by a

732
01:37:31,458 --> 01:37:36,858
benefactor for the service of education. No, really it's

733
01:37:39,465 --> 01:37:42,802
always been and they are looking at this

734
01:37:42,802 --> 01:37:44,604
way and we're looking at it this way

735
01:37:44,604 --> 01:37:46,272
and it's always been the same thing.

736
01:37:46,272 --> 01:37:48,141
This is a Chiefess, who is trying to take

737
01:37:48,141 --> 01:37:51,944
care of her people. She was endowed

738
01:37:51,944 --> 01:37:55,281
with 'aina, like many of her Kupuna,

739
01:37:55,281 --> 01:37:58,217
and what they do with their 'aina?

740
01:37:58,217 --> 01:38:00,286
They managed it well so people could

741
01:38:00,286 --> 01:38:02,689
thrive and make a good living off that

742
01:38:02,689 --> 01:38:04,891
land. In this case, she saw that land

743
01:38:04,891 --> 01:38:06,159
as providing people with

744
01:38:06,159 --> 01:38:08,494
education, feeding people with education

745
01:38:08,494 --> 01:38:10,496
to then do good, be good and

746
01:38:10,496 --> 01:38:13,232
industrious. So that is what we're trying to

747
01:38:13,232 --> 01:38:18,360
protect is her will to take care of her

748
01:38:18,360 --> 01:38:22,852
Lahui in this way and make sure if this

749
01:38:22,852 --> 01:38:24,721
is the Ka'auhuhu, the Foundation

750
01:38:24,721 --> 01:38:29,521
provided that they understand all of our Hu

751
01:38:31,328 --> 01:38:34,531
Mauna and it's not like shing is giving

752
01:38:34,531 --> 01:38:38,401
us a gift to go and take care of myself.

753
01:38:38,401 --> 01:38:43,801
No, no, no; this is a kuleana she is

754
01:38:47,770 --> 01:38:53,160
exercising and to be good and industrious. So that is what

755
01:38:53,160 --> 01:38:54,417
is at-stake saying that they want

756
01:38:54,417 --> 01:38:56,153
to define us in their way and

757
01:38:56,153 --> 01:38:59,155
saying that we can't continue the work in

758
01:38:59,155 --> 01:39:01,357
mind. So we so appreciate that you folks

759
01:39:01,357 --> 01:39:04,957
are taking the time to consider

760
01:39:05,628 --> 01:39:08,832
ways that Kamehameha and Poi might be

761
01:39:08,832 --> 01:39:10,567
supported at this juncture. And happy to

762
01:39:10,567 --> 01:39:13,437
answer any questions that might come

763
01:39:13,437 --> 01:39:14,704
up. Mahalo Nui for the time .

764
01:39:14,704 --> 01:39:17,640
} thank you. And again, I apologize. I

765
01:39:17,640 --> 01:39:19,910
know the presentation was a little

766
01:39:19,910 --> 01:39:23,450
longer, not much, and you talk a lot

767
01:39:23,450 --> 01:39:26,645
about the accomplishs and plan for

768
01:39:27,251 --> 01:39:28,518
Kamehameha School and the impacts that

769
01:39:28,518 --> 01:39:32,989
you have with our kids on Kaua'i so I

770
01:39:32,989 --> 01:39:34,658
appreciate that part. For me it was

771
01:39:34,658 --> 01:39:36,526
more important to inform the public of

772
01:39:36,526 --> 01:39:39,196
what is really going on. For the life

773
01:39:39,196 --> 01:39:43,396
of me I can't understand how this

774
01:39:43,400 --> 01:39:46,690
Attorney out in Virginia feels like it

775
01:39:46,690 --> 01:39:49,606
is that important to him, and his firm

776
01:39:49,606 --> 01:39:53,760
or whoever to come out and take on

777
01:39:53,760 --> 01:39:56,680
Kamehameha Schools. For my own non-lawyer, I always wanted to

778
01:39:56,680 --> 01:39:59,283
be a lawyer, but my test scores were

779
01:39:59,283 --> 01:40:00,830
too high

780
01:40:00,830 --> 01:40:04,283
[laughter ]. But you know, again, correct me

781
01:40:08,425 --> 01:40:10,560
if I'm wrong, what I heard at Waimea

782
01:40:10,560 --> 01:40:15,432
and what I heard today this was in the

783
01:40:15,432 --> 01:40:17,567
will -- this was her will and her

784
01:40:17,567 --> 01:40:19,703
desire and what she wanted for the kids of

785
01:40:19,703 --> 01:40:21,772
Hawai'i and this is a private school.

786
01:40:21,772 --> 01:40:25,241
And this is an institution that accepts

787
01:40:25,241 --> 01:40:27,110
no federal funds at all.

788
01:40:27,110 --> 01:40:30,110
>> Zero. >> Which again, in my

789
01:40:34,500 --> 01:40:35,452
non-legal analysis, where and I don't

790
01:40:35,452 --> 01:40:37,386
want to get too technical and legal and I

791
01:40:37,386 --> 01:40:40,123
understand you are in litigation, so we

792
01:40:40,123 --> 01:40:44,127
have to be very careful. How does that

793
01:40:44,127 --> 01:40:47,397
pass the test if we're private, we're

794
01:40:47,397 --> 01:40:51,597
not funded by public funds, and --

795
01:40:52,602 --> 01:40:55,805
sorry, why does this thing keep --

796
01:40:55,805 --> 01:41:03,605
okay. I got to be nice. More important to me is the fact

797
01:41:05,415 --> 01:41:09,152
that this was in Pauahi's will, and to

798
01:41:09,152 --> 01:41:11,776
me, that is a very sacred document. So

799
01:41:11,776 --> 01:41:14,244
how does this thing play out and again

800
01:41:14,244 --> 01:41:18,248
you have to push your mic, because this

801
01:41:18,248 --> 01:41:19,117
thing is cuckoo.

802
01:41:19,117 --> 01:41:21,185
>> There's a host of different civil

803
01:41:21,185 --> 01:41:22,386
rights law; right? As you talked

804
01:41:22,386 --> 01:41:25,386
about it; right? Because we're

805
01:41:25,456 --> 01:41:27,659
private entity, certain civil rights

806
01:41:27,659 --> 01:41:30,394
laws don't apply, because we do not

807
01:41:30,394 --> 01:41:33,264
take any federal or even state funding,

808
01:41:33,264 --> 01:41:36,864
other civil rights laws don't apply.

809
01:41:37,670 --> 01:41:41,867
It's this one piece 42 U.S.C. 1981 that

810
01:41:41,939 --> 01:41:44,808
speaks of contracts and that is the one

811
01:41:44,808 --> 01:41:49,800
that we're being charged -- that we're

812
01:41:49,130 --> 01:41:51,950
supposedly breaching according to SFFA.

813
01:41:51,950 --> 01:41:55,550
Again, we feel that our 2006 Ninth

814
01:42:02,293 --> 01:42:04,960
Circuit Court ruling is solid, and

815
01:42:04,960 --> 01:42:07,970
because it was the same thing back in

816
01:42:07,970 --> 01:42:13,970
2003. There was a case Doe v. Kamehameha Schools the exact

817
01:42:14,105 --> 01:42:18,175
same charge of breaching 42 U.S.C.

818
01:42:18,175 --> 01:42:21,775
1981 and we defended it. Ultimately we

819
01:42:23,470 --> 01:42:25,650
were successful at Ninth Circuit

820
01:42:25,650 --> 01:42:28,453
Court -- sorry, yes, Ninth Circuit

821
01:42:28,453 --> 01:42:32,523
Court, the appellate court where we fought

822
01:42:32,523 --> 01:42:34,392
the case and stated all of our

823
01:42:34,392 --> 01:42:36,593
reasons, you know? We aren't there, we

824
01:42:36,593 --> 01:42:38,664
aren't that, as we were just saying; right?

825
01:42:38,664 --> 01:42:42,864
And we believe that the timeses the

826
01:42:43,601 --> 01:42:45,603
argument was Kamehameha is doing exactly

827
01:42:45,603 --> 01:42:47,805
the kind of thing that Abraham

828
01:42:47,805 --> 01:42:51,876
Lincoln was trying to do, the real reason

829
01:42:51,876 --> 01:42:55,279
for the 1866 law was to even the

830
01:42:55,279 --> 01:42:58,879
playing-field and make sure that those

831
01:42:59,951 --> 01:43:01,419
emancipated slaves who weren't getting

832
01:43:01,419 --> 01:43:05,190
contracts were able to get that

833
01:43:06,491 --> 01:43:10,428
remediation and at that time that is the

834
01:43:10,428 --> 01:43:13,232
argument we put forth. Eight of the seven

835
01:43:13,232 --> 01:43:15,299
Justices of the Ninth Circuit Court

836
01:43:15,299 --> 01:43:19,238
agreed with us. So we won by 8-7 margin

837
01:43:19,238 --> 01:43:21,372
there. On top of that, so we stand in all

838
01:43:21,372 --> 01:43:25,510
of that, but on top of that, we're

839
01:43:25,510 --> 01:43:28,112
putting forth like you saw our

840
01:43:28,112 --> 01:43:31,648
Strategic Strategic Plan and you really

841
01:43:31,648 --> 01:43:34,919
need to think about us not from your

842
01:43:34,919 --> 01:43:36,854
cultural lens, and applying your view

843
01:43:36,854 --> 01:43:40,458
this way of how you see us; that there

844
01:43:40,458 --> 01:43:44,580
is someone who is asking for

845
01:43:44,328 --> 01:43:48,528
tuition, and contract that is grant in

846
01:43:48,866 --> 01:43:51,334
services and this sort of transactional

847
01:43:51,334 --> 01:43:53,300
nature. We're saying really it's always

848
01:43:53,300 --> 01:43:56,340
been more of a relationship between

849
01:43:56,340 --> 01:43:58,542
a Chiefess and her people. And

850
01:43:58,542 --> 01:44:00,611
that is the heart of it. So even if

851
01:44:00,611 --> 01:44:05,226
you look at the tuitions that we have

852
01:44:05,226 --> 01:44:07,629
been charging it was minimal. It's

853
01:44:07,629 --> 01:44:10,566
always been minimal for the education

854
01:44:10,566 --> 01:44:12,367
costs that occur. Tuitions have

855
01:44:12,367 --> 01:44:14,636
always been historically only about 3% of

856
01:44:14,636 --> 01:44:18,236
the total, and that 3% is coming

857
01:44:18,507 --> 01:44:22,778
from the fact that why is it so small?

858
01:44:22,778 --> 01:44:25,180
Well, tuition, and I put it in quote

859
01:44:25,180 --> 01:44:29,184
because it's not like how most school

860
01:44:29,184 --> 01:44:30,852
charge tuition; right? About 85-90%

861
01:44:30,852 --> 01:44:34,523
of all of the costs have always been

862
01:44:34,523 --> 01:44:39,323
borne by Pauahi. So you know, for --

863
01:44:39,461 --> 01:44:42,664
>> Vice-Chair. >> Any of us in this room who

864
01:44:42,664 --> 01:44:46,264
have gone to Kamehameha in earlier

865
01:44:47,736 --> 01:44:50,806
times, that was what was given to us;

866
01:44:50,806 --> 01:44:54,209
right? We were always on massive

867
01:44:54,209 --> 01:44:55,744
scholarship from Pauahi and she has always

868
01:44:55,744 --> 01:44:59,344
been in this relationship. And even

869
01:45:00,820 --> 01:45:05,482
today, 75% of all ho Mauna are on full or

870
01:45:05,553 --> 01:45:07,222
partial financial aid. So what is

871
01:45:07,222 --> 01:45:11,260
being paid by families is just tiny margin

872
01:45:11,260 --> 01:45:13,829
of that 3%. So we definitely feel that

873
01:45:13,829 --> 01:45:18,290
we're able to manage that cost going

874
01:45:18,990 --> 01:45:21,350
forward, and certainly it's not going to

875
01:45:21,350 --> 01:45:24,506
diminish what we're investing in the

876
01:45:24,506 --> 01:45:26,443
community. So we're solidly holding

877
01:45:26,443 --> 01:45:30,430
fast to keeping the same investments

878
01:45:30,645 --> 01:45:33,582
going, scholars and grantss, and making

879
01:45:33,582 --> 01:45:36,520
sure that now what Pauahi had intended

880
01:45:36,520 --> 01:45:37,921
that it be more of a relationship.

881
01:45:37,921 --> 01:45:39,922
That we go all the way, and we make it

882
01:45:39,922 --> 01:45:41,923
clear to everybody, it's always been

883
01:45:41,923 --> 01:45:46,123
this. And that last 3 per % to move

884
01:45:47,463 --> 01:45:50,265
aside and say there should be no

885
01:45:50,265 --> 01:45:52,267
mistake by anyone now. It's the

886
01:45:52,267 --> 01:45:55,870
Chiefess taking care of her people and

887
01:45:55,870 --> 01:46:00,700
the Foundation of Kuleana that has been

888
01:46:00,141 --> 01:46:02,411
established. So that I hope that helps.

889
01:46:02,411 --> 01:46:06,281
>> It helps. I think that whole what

890
01:46:06,281 --> 01:46:08,751
the Chiefess wanted for her people is

891
01:46:08,751 --> 01:46:13,210
more of the issue that I have versus

892
01:46:13,210 --> 01:46:16,358
the -- what they are claiming as

893
01:46:16,358 --> 01:46:18,894
Constitutional violation. I think it's

894
01:46:18,894 --> 01:46:20,696
purely disrespectful to me for them,

895
01:46:20,696 --> 01:46:23,165
because isn't it true that the last

896
01:46:23,165 --> 01:46:28,236
lawsuit that was filed that the Justices ruled in your favor.

897
01:46:28,236 --> 01:46:32,436
That one, there was a student that

898
01:46:32,507 --> 01:46:36,107
was attempting to gain entry into

899
01:46:40,382 --> 01:46:42,510
Kamehameha schools, correct? And may

900
01:46:42,510 --> 01:46:45,254
have sought that person out and try to

901
01:46:45,254 --> 01:46:48,456
apply for Kamehameha School and be

902
01:46:48,456 --> 01:46:50,659
denied and sued. My point there was a

903
01:46:50,659 --> 01:46:52,661
student who was denied entry and the

904
01:46:52,661 --> 01:46:54,329
lawsuit followed. In this case, there

905
01:46:54,329 --> 01:46:59,129
is no student, correct? when the first complaint

906
01:46:59,935 --> 01:47:04,340
oh, they found one subsequently? >> They did. They filed an

907
01:47:04,340 --> 01:47:05,141
amended complaint.

908
01:47:05,141 --> 01:47:07,541
>> You see? >> So yeah.

909
01:47:08,944 --> 01:47:11,944
>> That is even more disrespectful.

910
01:47:13,682 --> 01:47:16,682
>> Neither, you know, so initially

911
01:47:17,886 --> 01:47:21,230
they hadn't even applied and in this --

912
01:47:21,230 --> 01:47:23,292
there was an instance there was someone

913
01:47:23,292 --> 01:47:26,563
who had applied and was put on a

914
01:47:26,563 --> 01:47:28,963
wait-list. >> Any questions? Council

915
01:47:31,567 --> 01:47:33,567
Member Cowden?

916
01:47:34,236 --> 01:47:38,436
>> Well, >> Well, I'm not sure if it's

917
01:47:38,441 --> 01:47:39,775
a question.

918
01:47:39,775 --> 01:47:43,311
>> Questions. Mr. Kaneshiro? >> In general, is it going to

919
01:47:43,311 --> 01:47:45,247
get any traction? When I hear those

920
01:47:45,247 --> 01:47:46,782
types of lawsuits, oh, this thing is

921
01:47:46,782 --> 01:47:48,717
going to try. They can try and fight

922
01:47:48,717 --> 01:47:50,252
it. They can try and make their

923
01:47:50,252 --> 01:47:52,387
argument, but I always feel at the end of the

924
01:47:52,387 --> 01:47:54,189
day, they are just reaching, you know?

925
01:47:54,189 --> 01:47:56,325
That is just my opinion, and from the

926
01:47:56,325 --> 01:47:58,660
very start when I see this type of

927
01:47:58,660 --> 01:48:00,662
stuff, but I know it takes time,

928
01:48:00,662 --> 01:48:03,465
energy and money to fight it, which could

929
01:48:03,465 --> 01:48:05,134
go to better uses; right? It could

930
01:48:05,134 --> 01:48:07,136
be going to more education for students.

931
01:48:07,136 --> 01:48:09,604
But at the end of the day, I always

932
01:48:09,604 --> 01:48:11,940
feel like it's going to go away

933
01:48:11,940 --> 01:48:13,876
eventually, because I feel like they are

934
01:48:13,876 --> 01:48:15,610
just reaching with a lawsuit like

935
01:48:15,610 --> 01:48:18,414
that. You see them getting much traction,

936
01:48:18,414 --> 01:48:20,683
or just a matter we just got to fight

937
01:48:20,683 --> 01:48:25,483
it, spend the time, spend the money and

938
01:48:26,490 --> 01:48:28,690
eventually win? >> We're taking it very

939
01:48:28,690 --> 01:48:31,160
seriously for a number of reasons. One

940
01:48:31,160 --> 01:48:35,360
significant one is that SFFA has been

941
01:48:37,833 --> 01:48:40,168
successful. They sued Harvard University of

942
01:48:40,168 --> 01:48:44,173
North Carolina, and won. So that was

943
01:48:44,173 --> 01:48:48,377
-- they were using the piece of law

944
01:48:48,377 --> 01:48:51,246
relating to federal funding; right? So

945
01:48:51,246 --> 01:48:53,480
because these universities got federal

946
01:48:53,480 --> 01:48:56,585
funding, they are saying that okay now

947
01:48:56,585 --> 01:48:59,855
you can't have affirmative action as part

948
01:48:59,855 --> 01:49:02,570
of your application process. Certain

949
01:49:02,570 --> 01:49:04,459
groups even though what you are trying

950
01:49:04,459 --> 01:49:07,395
to do is create student population

951
01:49:07,395 --> 01:49:10,395
that reflects the regular population

952
01:49:10,465 --> 01:49:12,334
out there. Of course, this is

953
01:49:12,334 --> 01:49:15,334
something that was supported, and

954
01:49:16,938 --> 01:49:20,800
encouraged, ten years ago. In any case, SFFA

955
01:49:20,800 --> 01:49:23,345
won. So the kinds of legal precedence

956
01:49:23,345 --> 01:49:26,810
that had been set that were supportive

957
01:49:26,810 --> 01:49:30,285
of that are no longer. So that is the

958
01:49:30,285 --> 01:49:32,287
change that makes our situation a

959
01:49:32,287 --> 01:49:34,889
little different than it was back in

960
01:49:34,889 --> 01:49:37,289
2003 through 2006 when we were

961
01:49:39,940 --> 01:49:40,495
fighting the Doe case.

962
01:49:40,495 --> 01:49:43,565
>> Council Member Cowden. >> Probably said this, but

963
01:49:43,565 --> 01:49:45,701
what court are you facing right now? What

964
01:49:45,701 --> 01:49:48,115
level of the courts? Is it?

965
01:49:48,115 --> 01:49:51,715
>> The District Court. >> Federal District Court.

966
01:49:51,851 --> 01:49:55,388
>> First level. >> I was looking and it's not

967
01:49:55,388 --> 01:49:56,389
just Harvard. It looks like --

968
01:49:56,389 --> 01:50:00,589
>> Yes. >> The U.S. Air Force Academy.

969
01:50:01,261 --> 01:50:03,930
I mean, the levels of who they

970
01:50:03,930 --> 01:50:05,933
are going after are the big league;

971
01:50:05,933 --> 01:50:07,933
right? >> Yes.

972
01:50:08,334 --> 01:50:11,934
>> So there's about seven or eight

973
01:50:12,720 --> 01:50:15,800
schools that are being challenged and I

974
01:50:15,800 --> 01:50:16,209
don't even see Kamehameha Schools on

975
01:50:16,209 --> 01:50:20,409
the list; right? So these are big

976
01:50:22,348 --> 01:50:25,952
schools. What about the Native American schools which I don't

977
01:50:25,952 --> 01:50:28,488
think have quite the same foundation

978
01:50:28,488 --> 01:50:29,956
that Kamehameha Schools have. I

979
01:50:29,956 --> 01:50:32,959
grew up near the reservations, so they

980
01:50:32,959 --> 01:50:34,694
were reservation schoolss and those

981
01:50:34,694 --> 01:50:37,694
were intended to separate people

982
01:50:38,432 --> 01:50:42,632
from their family and their cultures. How

983
01:50:45,238 --> 01:50:48,838
is that paralleled? Is there any

984
01:50:49,976 --> 01:50:52,376
question on Native-American schools?

985
01:51:04,257 --> 01:51:07,857
>> SFFA hasn't gone through those and

986
01:51:09,620 --> 01:51:10,998
something that our legal team is taking

987
01:51:10,998 --> 01:51:14,598
into consideration. >> Because it's when they

988
01:51:18,400 --> 01:51:21,875
swing they want to hit. When you look at

989
01:51:21,875 --> 01:51:24,275
the Foundational institutions that

990
01:51:24,411 --> 01:51:28,548
they are going after, they're big. So I

991
01:51:28,548 --> 01:51:29,749
think Kamehameha Schools maybe they

992
01:51:29,749 --> 01:51:32,152
are just trying to grab where can we

993
01:51:32,152 --> 01:51:34,287
find an extreme? You know? Because if

994
01:51:34,287 --> 01:51:38,487
they can take down something as pono

995
01:51:39,692 --> 01:51:42,895
as Kamehameha Schools, that is a

996
01:51:42,895 --> 01:51:44,895
very big statement.

997
01:51:45,632 --> 01:51:51,320
>> Anyone else? Mr. Kuali'i? >> Just kind of a broader

998
01:51:54,107 --> 01:51:58,907
question about a lot of the attacks on

999
01:52:01,447 --> 01:52:03,500
the Native Hawaiian people and

1000
01:52:03,500 --> 01:52:05,451
Native Hawaiian program seem to come

1001
01:52:05,451 --> 01:52:09,189
under the guise of discrimination of one

1002
01:52:09,189 --> 01:52:12,325
race of people over another race of

1003
01:52:12,325 --> 01:52:16,525
people. But isn't it true that Native

1004
01:52:17,731 --> 01:52:21,931
Hawaiians in Hawai'i, it's not about our

1005
01:52:22,100 --> 01:52:26,201
race, it's about our origin and being

1006
01:52:31,278 --> 01:52:34,278
the only 'aina-based people from

1007
01:52:34,347 --> 01:52:36,483
this place. So the word indigenous;

1008
01:52:36,483 --> 01:52:39,820
right? We are the indigenous people

1009
01:52:39,820 --> 01:52:44,620
of this place. And our aLili who ran

1010
01:52:48,829 --> 01:52:52,990
the country at the time, continued

1011
01:52:52,990 --> 01:52:55,699
even though their rule ended, their

1012
01:52:56,637 --> 01:53:00,508
connection to the land and to the

1013
01:53:00,508 --> 01:53:03,508
people continues because of their

1014
01:53:05,713 --> 01:53:08,113
intelligence and thoughtfulness, and

1015
01:53:09,850 --> 01:53:12,250
compassion, and forward-thinking to

1016
01:53:13,520 --> 01:53:17,391
continue to invest. What more brilliant way than to ensure

1017
01:53:17,391 --> 01:53:21,261
the future of a people, of a race, of an

1018
01:53:21,261 --> 01:53:23,798
indigenous people from a place, then to

1019
01:53:23,798 --> 01:53:27,934
invest in the education of their young

1020
01:53:27,934 --> 01:53:29,936
people? So that, I mean the most

1021
01:53:29,936 --> 01:53:32,473
important thing I thought you said was

1022
01:53:32,473 --> 01:53:36,100
the thing about the creating industrious young men and

1023
01:53:36,100 --> 01:53:39,610
women, and creating them with the

1024
01:53:40,948 --> 01:53:43,150
responsibility of having to give back, give

1025
01:53:43,150 --> 01:53:45,820
back to your family, give back to your

1026
01:53:45,820 --> 01:53:48,289
neighbors, give back to your community,

1027
01:53:48,289 --> 01:53:50,490
give back to your state, give back to

1028
01:53:50,490 --> 01:53:52,426
the world and planet. I mean, you can

1029
01:53:52,426 --> 01:53:56,626
spend rest of your life living Pauahi's

1030
01:53:56,698 --> 01:54:00,434
legacy and trying to give back. But

1031
01:54:00,434 --> 01:54:03,370
the difference is race-based versus the

1032
01:54:03,370 --> 01:54:05,437
indigenous original people; right?

1033
01:54:05,639 --> 01:54:08,843
>> I think you make a very significant

1034
01:54:08,843 --> 01:54:12,380
point when Pauahi wrote her will in

1035
01:54:12,380 --> 01:54:14,982
1883, the Hawaiian Kingdom was still

1036
01:54:14,982 --> 01:54:17,718
well in existence, very strong, in

1037
01:54:17,718 --> 01:54:21,540
fact. And she does specify very clearly

1038
01:54:21,540 --> 01:54:25,254
in her will that the preference, and

1039
01:54:25,392 --> 01:54:28,992
she uses the word "preference for

1040
01:54:30,464 --> 01:54:31,933
Aboriginals of Native Hawaiian blood."

1041
01:54:31,933 --> 01:54:34,868
Because at the time in Hawai'i, the

1042
01:54:34,868 --> 01:54:38,468
Hawaiian Kingdom had some citizens of

1043
01:54:38,872 --> 01:54:43,720
all sorts of backgrounds, but the lands

1044
01:54:43,770 --> 01:54:47,277
were designated in such a way that

1045
01:54:48,816 --> 01:54:51,351
Native Hawaiian tenets, Aboriginals had

1046
01:54:51,351 --> 01:54:53,687
certain rights to lands -- tenants. So

1047
01:54:53,687 --> 01:54:57,557
she was honoring sort of that understanding that it is as a

1048
01:54:57,557 --> 01:55:00,930
Chiefess, first and foremost, she needs

1049
01:55:00,930 --> 01:55:03,290
to use her lands to support these

1050
01:55:03,290 --> 01:55:07,829
people, who in the Kingdom context had a

1051
01:55:09,769 --> 01:55:13,173
special kuleana to the land. That

1052
01:55:13,173 --> 01:55:14,441
reciprocal relationship with the land. So

1053
01:55:14,441 --> 01:55:16,777
I think that is a really important

1054
01:55:16,777 --> 01:55:20,247
point and some people would make the

1055
01:55:20,247 --> 01:55:25,470
issue that we need to consider the fact

1056
01:55:25,586 --> 01:55:30,386
that the those rights may still in many

1057
01:55:31,257 --> 01:55:34,339
respects, as for instance the Apology

1058
01:55:34,339 --> 01:55:35,541
Resolution that President Clinton

1059
01:55:35,541 --> 01:55:39,741
signed and the Congress at that time

1060
01:55:40,278 --> 01:55:43,278
signed. Recognized those rights were

1061
01:55:47,219 --> 01:55:49,210
never relinquished and President

1062
01:55:49,210 --> 01:55:51,423
Cleveland called it an act of war and

1063
01:55:51,423 --> 01:55:54,359
what is going on in other parts of

1064
01:55:54,359 --> 01:55:58,559
world, it was considered an act of

1065
01:56:00,980 --> 01:56:03,980
war that President Cleveland intervened

1066
01:56:04,971 --> 01:56:05,771
here. >> Thank you. Thank you,

1067
01:56:05,771 --> 01:56:08,171
Chair. >> Ms. Cowden. Nawab

1068
01:56:08,574 --> 01:56:12,174
[ INAUDIBLE ] Many families that maybe don't

1069
01:56:29,394 --> 01:56:31,930
have Hawaiian -- ancestral Hawaiian,

1070
01:56:31,930 --> 01:56:35,530
but deeply care about in their

1071
01:56:35,934 --> 01:56:38,937
lives surrounding hula, or any kind

1072
01:56:38,937 --> 01:56:41,337
of cultural practices. So

1073
01:56:41,940 --> 01:56:43,942
Kamehameha Schools typically support those

1074
01:56:43,942 --> 01:56:47,120
schools; right? >> That is something that we

1075
01:56:47,120 --> 01:56:49,882
want to emphasize that we would

1076
01:56:49,882 --> 01:56:54,820
encourage more people to seek such education

1077
01:56:55,860 --> 01:56:58,860
that are 'aina-based, culture-based and

1078
01:56:59,491 --> 01:57:03,910
we're strong supporters. So all of

1079
01:57:09,436 --> 01:57:12,436
those Kula are -- --

1080
01:57:14,373 --> 01:57:19,173
-- I just mentioned the ones that we

1081
01:57:19,845 --> 01:57:20,779
had historical strong relationships

1082
01:57:20,779 --> 01:57:24,717
with and open to continue to develop

1083
01:57:24,717 --> 01:57:26,500
further relationships. For some over

1084
01:57:26,500 --> 01:57:29,521
20 years we have been supporting these

1085
01:57:29,521 --> 01:57:32,925
schools to some degree and happy to

1086
01:57:32,925 --> 01:57:36,594
continue doing so. >> And even supporting kids go

1087
01:57:36,594 --> 01:57:38,630
to island school. You guys

1088
01:57:38,630 --> 01:57:40,733
support them as well; right? Hawaiian kids

1089
01:57:40,733 --> 01:57:43,535
that go to island school they get [

1090
01:57:43,535 --> 01:57:46,535
INAUDIBLE ] >> So there's -- we're

1091
01:57:48,807 --> 01:57:53,700
finishing up some of those ki Puna

1092
01:58:03,355 --> 01:58:05,824
scholarship and we're continued to redesigning

1093
01:58:05,824 --> 01:58:08,961
with the hope to have them more tailored

1094
01:58:08,961 --> 01:58:12,431
to the specific needs of the different

1095
01:58:12,431 --> 01:58:14,967
regions and what would Kaua'i most find

1096
01:58:14,967 --> 01:58:16,102
useful? So some of the conversations

1097
01:58:16,102 --> 01:58:18,636
we would love to have with you folking

1098
01:58:18,636 --> 01:58:23,108
and others how do we design them to

1099
01:58:23,108 --> 01:58:26,708
really meet the needs of the

1100
01:58:33,986 --> 01:58:38,186
community. They can still do other things

1101
01:59:13,160 --> 01:59:16,296
in the way that they want to do, [

1102
01:59:16,296 --> 01:59:20,496
INAUDIBLE ] It's only in your core campuses

1103
01:59:21,167 --> 01:59:25,967
that you are trying to stay tight to

1104
01:59:26,373 --> 01:59:29,973
be nourishing your own keiki with

1105
01:59:31,512 --> 01:59:33,112
that background. They can be mixed.

1106
01:59:33,112 --> 01:59:35,114
That whole time I was off Sorry.

1107
01:59:35,114 --> 01:59:36,916
>> Thank you for pointing that out,

1108
01:59:36,916 --> 01:59:39,920
because really since the 1970s our

1109
01:59:39,920 --> 01:59:42,920
extension education programs have been

1110
01:59:43,190 --> 01:59:45,124
supporting efforts within the Public

1111
01:59:45,124 --> 01:59:47,994
School System and other areas of the

1112
01:59:47,994 --> 01:59:51,531
community that are completely open to

1113
01:59:51,531 --> 01:59:57,531
any ethnicity, yes. Thank you. >> Following up with that on

1114
02:00:00,730 --> 02:00:04,273
your slide, the is that where this

1115
02:00:17,900 --> 02:00:21,628
extension education comes under? What are some of the examples

1116
02:00:21,628 --> 02:00:24,960
of where -- what that is?

1117
02:00:24,960 --> 02:00:28,100
>> So for instance on island here we

1118
02:00:28,100 --> 02:00:31,700
have so the partners in development

1119
02:00:32,638 --> 02:00:35,308
programs they have I think some program

1120
02:00:35,308 --> 02:00:39,508
on Kaua'i, the four Charter schools I

1121
02:00:40,112 --> 02:00:43,112
had mentioned. Kanaka - listing

1122
02:00:46,919 --> 02:00:50,519
schools -- Kekaha, Kaua'i Kini and

1123
02:00:54,527 --> 02:00:58,265
other programs as well. Let me pull

1124
02:00:58,265 --> 02:01:02,465
those up. The phone is on Trysen's

1125
02:01:07,540 --> 02:01:12,340
site. So let's look at Kaua'i, just a

1126
02:01:24,436 --> 02:01:28,636
SEC. Boys and girls club and centers

1127
02:01:38,500 --> 02:01:42,850
Ku Mana Ikila. Kupuna -- Malama pu yea

1128
02:01:46,458 --> 02:01:52,458
and 'aina site like Waipa. >> Clearly, it's a wide array

1129
02:02:03,475 --> 02:02:05,877
of investment in community across

1130
02:02:05,877 --> 02:02:07,145
the State probably that Kaua'i is

1131
02:02:07,145 --> 02:02:08,680
just an example; right? .

1132
02:02:08,680 --> 02:02:11,800
>> Yes, mahalo. >> Thank you.

1133
02:02:11,282 --> 02:02:14,282
>> Any other questions? For Kamehameha

1134
02:02:14,954 --> 02:02:18,957
Schools? If not, thank you very much.

1135
02:02:18,957 --> 02:02:20,359
>> Mahalo Nui. >> Mahalo.

1136
02:02:20,359 --> 02:02:23,950
>> Is there anyone in the audience

1137
02:02:23,950 --> 02:02:24,963
wishing to testify? Again, we'll be

1138
02:02:24,963 --> 02:02:27,363
doing the Resolution immediately

1139
02:02:27,634 --> 02:02:28,967
following this communication. I will

1140
02:02:28,967 --> 02:02:30,903
entertain all of the discussion in this

1141
02:02:30,903 --> 02:02:35,103
item. We have a couple of young

1142
02:02:35,574 --> 02:02:37,175
students here. Not sure if they want

1143
02:02:37,175 --> 02:02:40,112
to testify or not, but I got to meet

1144
02:02:40,112 --> 02:02:43,716
them yesterday. They are so excited to

1145
02:02:43,716 --> 02:02:45,784
get engaged with local government and

1146
02:02:45,784 --> 02:02:47,318
they look extremely nervous right now.

1147
02:02:47,318 --> 02:02:49,188
That is fine, you don't have to come

1148
02:02:49,188 --> 02:02:50,922
up. If not, I will call the meeting

1149
02:02:50,922 --> 02:02:54,392
back to order. Any further discussion?

1150
02:02:54,392 --> 02:02:56,595
Again, the Resolution we can have the

1151
02:02:56,595 --> 02:02:59,664
discussion about the topic and we'll --

1152
02:02:59,664 --> 02:03:04,464
who? I'm sorry. I will suspend the rules.

1153
02:03:11,744 --> 02:03:15,344
>> Aloha Mai. Aloha again, Chair, and

1154
02:03:15,748 --> 02:03:17,949
the County Council here. I really

1155
02:03:17,949 --> 02:03:20,953
appreciate that you paused, and looked

1156
02:03:20,953 --> 02:03:23,488
over to the folks and the keiki here,

1157
02:03:23,488 --> 02:03:25,357
and just giving the opportunity to

1158
02:03:25,357 --> 02:03:28,957
testify. Thank you for being here.

1159
02:03:30,295 --> 02:03:32,965
Mahalo. My name is Roz Makaula, the

1160
02:03:32,965 --> 02:03:35,965
Director of Government relationships at

1161
02:03:35,968 --> 02:03:37,636
Kamehameha Schools, and it really is a

1162
02:03:37,636 --> 02:03:41,836
privilege and an honor to be here

1163
02:03:42,374 --> 02:03:46,574
before all of you. Aloha Mel Rapozo.

1164
02:03:58,990 --> 02:04:03,790
Kipukai Kuali'i. Aloha Mai. Kamehameha Schools offers our

1165
02:04:05,263 --> 02:04:08,263
very strong support for Resolution

1166
02:04:10,738 --> 02:04:13,738
2026-01 affirming and supporting the

1167
02:04:16,476 --> 02:04:18,278
Kamehameha Schools' admissions policy,

1168
02:04:18,278 --> 02:04:20,147
mission, and its contributions to the

1169
02:04:20,147 --> 02:04:23,147
Native Hawaiian community. We mahalo

1170
02:04:25,285 --> 02:04:28,285
Chair Rapozo, and Vice-Chair Kuali'i

1171
02:04:30,230 --> 02:04:31,492
for introducing this Resolution,

1172
02:04:31,492 --> 02:04:34,940
and we truly support and appreciate --

1173
02:04:34,940 --> 02:04:37,163
we appreciate the support of the

1174
02:04:37,163 --> 02:04:39,967
Kaua'i County Council to uphold and

1175
02:04:39,967 --> 02:04:44,167
affirm the will of Keali'i Bernice Pauahi

1176
02:04:46,906 --> 02:04:48,442
Paki Bishop a very powerful

1177
02:04:48,442 --> 02:04:52,642
expression of her chiefly authority to ensure

1178
02:04:52,846 --> 02:04:54,715
through education, generations of

1179
02:04:54,715 --> 02:04:56,650
Native Hawaiian children will grow,

1180
02:04:56,650 --> 02:05:00,850
they will lead, they will help restore

1181
02:05:01,722 --> 02:05:05,322
and sustain their 'Ohana, their Ky

1182
02:05:08,394 --> 02:05:11,394
Lulu and 'aina. Kamehameha Schools

1183
02:05:14,735 --> 02:05:17,671
continues Pauahi's chiefly charge. We do

1184
02:05:17,671 --> 02:05:21,809
this on our three campuses and on our

1185
02:05:21,809 --> 02:05:24,209
30 preschools focusing on Hawaiian

1186
02:05:25,746 --> 02:05:28,146
culture-based education. We also

1187
02:05:28,816 --> 02:05:32,416
extend Pauahi's reach by investing in

1188
02:05:32,819 --> 02:05:35,219
the community, through educational

1189
02:05:39,426 --> 02:05:41,826
programs, events, 'aina stewardship

1190
02:05:45,298 --> 02:05:46,768
watershed protection, food system,

1191
02:05:46,768 --> 02:05:48,435
renubble energy and all of these things

1192
02:05:48,435 --> 02:05:51,438
not just for Native Hawaiians, but for

1193
02:05:51,438 --> 02:05:55,638
all the people of Hawai'i. So again,

1194
02:05:56,709 --> 02:05:58,177
mahalo for your support, and for all of

1195
02:05:58,177 --> 02:06:02,977
the work that you do. I'm also here

1196
02:06:03,117 --> 02:06:07,317
for questions. >> Any questions for Roz? I

1197
02:06:07,521 --> 02:06:10,924
just want to say thank you. And again,

1198
02:06:10,924 --> 02:06:14,127
for your patience and understanding on

1199
02:06:14,127 --> 02:06:16,129
our technical problems. Thank you,

1200
02:06:16,129 --> 02:06:19,200
Roz. I will give the public one more

1201
02:06:19,200 --> 02:06:20,600
opportunity. If not, I will call the

1202
02:06:20,600 --> 02:06:23,937
meeting back to order. Any further

1203
02:06:23,937 --> 02:06:27,941
discussion? Ms. Cowden? >> I would like to say thank

1204
02:06:27,941 --> 02:06:31,541
you to Kamehameha Schools for the

1205
02:06:31,545 --> 02:06:35,615
endurance that you had since all of this

1206
02:06:35,615 --> 02:06:39,215
time, the commitment to our Chiefess'

1207
02:06:41,154 --> 02:06:45,158
intention and for helping our kids and

1208
02:06:45,158 --> 02:06:49,290
I see Kamehameha Schools as an important if not the Foundation

1209
02:06:49,290 --> 02:06:51,429
of perpetration of Hawaiian

1210
02:06:51,431 --> 02:06:54,834
culture in our islands, and I wanted to call

1211
02:06:54,834 --> 02:06:56,570
attention to the Charter schoolss and

1212
02:06:56,570 --> 02:06:59,372
everything else that it is sprinkled out

1213
02:06:59,372 --> 02:07:02,121
all over the place. But when I think

1214
02:07:02,121 --> 02:07:06,321
about if some how Kamehameha Schools was

1215
02:07:10,129 --> 02:07:12,650
homogenized into a way they couldn't

1216
02:07:12,650 --> 02:07:14,000
really fit their mission and the depth

1217
02:07:14,000 --> 02:07:16,100
at which they need to? I think it's

1218
02:07:16,100 --> 02:07:19,273
good for kids to be in a group, where

1219
02:07:19,273 --> 02:07:21,674
there's a concentration, where they can

1220
02:07:21,674 --> 02:07:24,676
feel like the norm, instead of you

1221
02:07:24,676 --> 02:07:27,120
know, a minority in their own lands. I

1222
02:07:27,120 --> 02:07:29,481
have over the years that I have been

1223
02:07:29,481 --> 02:07:33,681
here, I might go a First Evangelical

1224
02:07:35,200 --> 02:07:38,620
funeral and if it's Hawaiian funeral,

1225
02:07:39,910 --> 02:07:42,228
it's big, but when I only see a small

1226
02:07:42,228 --> 02:07:46,980
handful of people that only have the

1227
02:07:46,980 --> 02:07:49,369
culture so deeply imbedded even in

1228
02:07:49,369 --> 02:07:51,370
their genes. So I think it's great for

1229
02:07:51,370 --> 02:07:56,170
the kids to go and really be nurished

1230
02:07:59,511 --> 02:08:02,511
in a concentration of self-empowerment

1231
02:08:02,783 --> 02:08:06,786
and know they have a real place on the

1232
02:08:06,786 --> 02:08:08,988
island. So it's kind of an attack on

1233
02:08:08,988 --> 02:08:14,127
all of that to lose that anchor for any

1234
02:08:14,127 --> 02:08:16,195
child that is wanting to paddle or to

1235
02:08:16,195 --> 02:08:18,130
be strong with their fishing, or you

1236
02:08:18,130 --> 02:08:20,332
know, all of these different skill sets

1237
02:08:20,332 --> 02:08:23,332
and Aina-based education and it

1238
02:08:31,611 --> 02:08:36,411
rips out the heart of the culture with

1239
02:08:38,484 --> 02:08:40,753
Kuleana to support the culture. I was

1240
02:08:40,753 --> 02:08:44,423
at an event last night and what was

1241
02:08:44,423 --> 02:08:47,260
commented really strongly is how impacted

1242
02:08:47,260 --> 02:08:49,228
they were when they gone across the

1243
02:08:49,228 --> 02:08:50,629
nation in different places to be at a

1244
02:08:50,629 --> 02:08:52,431
place where the culture was still

1245
02:08:52,431 --> 02:08:56,101
alive. And I think for all of us, whether

1246
02:08:56,101 --> 02:08:59,506
we share in that history we can still

1247
02:08:59,506 --> 02:09:04,176
feel into it, you know? We still into

1248
02:09:04,176 --> 02:09:07,312
it, and so removing this vessel that is

1249
02:09:07,312 --> 02:09:10,912
the generator of keeping it alive

1250
02:09:11,517 --> 02:09:14,453
and moving with real fierce and

1251
02:09:14,453 --> 02:09:18,530
effective ability is really, really hard

1252
02:09:19,126 --> 02:09:22,995
on even our economy, you know? I hate

1253
02:09:22,995 --> 02:09:25,731
to be that crass, but it matters to

1254
02:09:25,731 --> 02:09:29,535
all of us. It isn't really about

1255
02:09:29,535 --> 02:09:32,805
civil rights issue in a school admission

1256
02:09:32,805 --> 02:09:35,208
policy. It's about supporting and

1257
02:09:35,208 --> 02:09:37,676
preserving what makes us Hawai'i. So I

1258
02:09:37,676 --> 02:09:39,611
want to thank you, and I will certainly

1259
02:09:39,611 --> 02:09:43,416
when we have our Resolution, I will be

1260
02:09:43,416 --> 02:09:47,616
supporting it. You know, with all my

1261
02:09:48,421 --> 02:09:54,421
mite. So we wish you well. >> Thank you. Anyone else?

1262
02:09:55,296 --> 02:09:57,310
I'm going to take up the discussion on

1263
02:09:57,310 --> 02:09:58,900
the Resolution here. So we can

1264
02:09:58,900 --> 02:10:02,500
just go right through the Resolution.

1265
02:10:03,380 --> 02:10:03,705
Mr. Kaneshiro.

1266
02:10:03,705 --> 02:10:08,505
>> If we're going to do discuss now, I

1267
02:10:09,177 --> 02:10:13,977
just want to say the foresight of her

1268
02:10:15,850 --> 02:10:18,119
willing written 140 years ago and I

1269
02:10:18,119 --> 02:10:19,386
don't think I could write something

1270
02:10:19,386 --> 02:10:22,986
today that would be relevant in 20

1271
02:10:25,727 --> 02:10:29,327
years probable But having thepaque on

1272
02:10:35,737 --> 02:10:39,937
all the lives over the years it's

1273
02:10:40,741 --> 02:10:43,545
humongous. So for me, I will call it a

1274
02:10:43,545 --> 02:10:46,545
frivolous lawsuit. I think it's

1275
02:10:53,354 --> 02:10:55,156
frivolous, they are suing huge schools

1276
02:10:55,156 --> 02:10:57,493
with billions of dollars. Kamehameha

1277
02:10:57,493 --> 02:11:02,893
Schools has provided so much opportunity in Hawai'i, and

1278
02:11:03,431 --> 02:11:04,899
unfortunately it takes time, it takes

1279
02:11:04,899 --> 02:11:07,769
money, it takes resources to fight it.

1280
02:11:07,769 --> 02:11:11,369
But I do believe Kamehameha Schools

1281
02:11:12,106 --> 02:11:13,908
will prevail and will come out on top

1282
02:11:13,908 --> 02:11:17,378
and I will be in full support of our

1283
02:11:17,378 --> 02:11:20,181
Resolution. >> Thank you, Ms. Holland.

1284
02:11:20,181 --> 02:11:23,781
>> thank you. I find this legal

1285
02:11:23,918 --> 02:11:26,120
attack on Kamehameha Schools to be

1286
02:11:26,120 --> 02:11:29,724
pretty atrocious. To me, it's disrespectful, as Chair Rapozo

1287
02:11:29,724 --> 02:11:31,859
said. You know, you have shared so

1288
02:11:31,859 --> 02:11:33,127
much great information today about the

1289
02:11:33,127 --> 02:11:36,640
many things that you give back, and you

1290
02:11:36,640 --> 02:11:40,864
know, for me, when you said about about

1291
02:11:41,468 --> 02:11:42,737
leveling the playing-field and the whole

1292
02:11:42,737 --> 02:11:45,673
point is to do that. Very easy

1293
02:11:45,673 --> 02:11:49,100
searches across the Internet, you can

1294
02:11:49,100 --> 02:11:51,479
see how much inequality there has been

1295
02:11:51,479 --> 02:11:53,879
over generations and Native

1296
02:11:54,682 --> 02:11:57,820
Hawaiians faced significant disadvantages

1297
02:11:57,685 --> 02:12:00,685
through stoyses knows higher poverty,

1298
02:12:04,358 --> 02:12:06,627
homelessness, lower educational opportunities and attainment

1299
02:12:06,627 --> 02:12:08,962
and even worse health outcomes. Some of

1300
02:12:08,962 --> 02:12:11,165
these statistics which I won't read

1301
02:12:11,165 --> 02:12:12,967
are pretty astounding. And then

1302
02:12:12,967 --> 02:12:15,903
when you hook at when Europeans first

1303
02:12:15,903 --> 02:12:19,503
arrived, you know, diseases that were

1304
02:12:20,775 --> 02:12:21,843
brought syphilis, influenza, smallpox,

1305
02:12:21,843 --> 02:12:24,843
things that never had generational

1306
02:12:26,470 --> 02:12:28,382
immunity. 84% of Hawaiians may have died

1307
02:12:28,382 --> 02:12:31,185
over those decades with an estimate

1308
02:12:31,185 --> 02:12:32,986
of hundreds of thousands, reducing

1309
02:12:32,986 --> 02:12:35,386
our population from potentially 800

1310
02:12:36,858 --> 02:12:40,458
to over 50,000, a loss comparable to

1311
02:12:49,484 --> 02:12:51,886
genocide and we lost so many people and

1312
02:12:51,886 --> 02:12:54,886
84% of Native Hawaiians and those

1313
02:13:02,630 --> 02:13:06,230
generational descendants are not given an

1314
02:13:07,301 --> 02:13:10,301
equal playing-field. So it's so

1315
02:13:10,705 --> 02:13:11,839
disrespectful and obviously I support

1316
02:13:11,839 --> 02:13:13,508
the Resolution. I just wanted to share

1317
02:13:13,508 --> 02:13:16,430
some of that when you think about the

1318
02:13:16,430 --> 02:13:17,778
privilege that many have come or come

1319
02:13:17,778 --> 02:13:20,581
to Hawai'i with, and the generational

1320
02:13:20,581 --> 02:13:22,985
white privilege that many people

1321
02:13:22,985 --> 02:13:25,119
obtained. So then to use that, this is

1322
02:13:25,119 --> 02:13:29,123
a direct attack on evening the playing-field. This is a

1323
02:13:29,123 --> 02:13:32,259
direct attack on those equalitis that so many

1324
02:13:32,259 --> 02:13:33,727
people fought for so long. Council

1325
02:13:33,727 --> 02:13:37,265
Member Kaneshiro and I when we were in

1326
02:13:37,265 --> 02:13:38,866
Philadelphia, spent hours going through

1327
02:13:38,866 --> 02:13:41,535
this Museum about the history of The

1328
02:13:41,535 --> 02:13:42,804
Constitutional Amendments that led to

1329
02:13:42,804 --> 02:13:45,206
the emancipation of the slaves and

1330
02:13:45,206 --> 02:13:46,673
equality and 50 years later the right

1331
02:13:46,673 --> 02:13:49,276
for women to vote. And it's incredible

1332
02:13:49,276 --> 02:13:51,547
how hard and how often throughout

1333
02:13:51,547 --> 02:13:53,815
history I noticed in those timelines,

1334
02:13:53,815 --> 02:13:56,885
how many times we took steps backwards.

1335
02:13:56,885 --> 02:14:00,485
We passed these things and they

1336
02:14:00,555 --> 02:14:01,956
legalize all these exemptions for

1337
02:14:01,956 --> 02:14:05,827
slavery and that is the policy change I

1338
02:14:05,827 --> 02:14:07,280
realizeded being involved in politic

1339
02:14:07,280 --> 02:14:11,365
and how hard it is to get that change

1340
02:14:11,365 --> 02:14:14,368
and you must continue to push that

1341
02:14:14,368 --> 02:14:16,703
line. So for me, obviously it's a huge

1342
02:14:16,703 --> 02:14:18,306
support for the Resolution and I'm

1343
02:14:18,306 --> 02:14:20,508
thankful it was introduced and that we

1344
02:14:20,508 --> 02:14:25,908
can help in some way to at least show

1345
02:14:26,380 --> 02:14:28,449
our disappointment and disgust in this

1346
02:14:28,449 --> 02:14:32,490
attack on Kamehameha Schools and this

1347
02:14:32,520 --> 02:14:34,856
opportunity for Pauahi's trust to be

1348
02:14:34,856 --> 02:14:37,392
respected, and to be honored, and know?

1349
02:14:37,392 --> 02:14:40,610
I had nieces and nephews I got to help

1350
02:14:40,610 --> 02:14:42,530
apply through the process and get

1351
02:14:42,530 --> 02:14:45,333
accepted into Kamehameha schools and

1352
02:14:45,333 --> 02:14:48,536
seeing the opportunities that it gave

1353
02:14:48,536 --> 02:14:49,803
them has been incredible. So thank you

1354
02:14:49,803 --> 02:14:51,138
for being here. Thank you for the

1355
02:14:51,138 --> 02:14:52,340
opportunity to share this information

1356
02:14:52,340 --> 02:14:53,942
with the public and I really hope that

1357
02:14:53,942 --> 02:14:57,542
you are victorious in this battle.

1358
02:14:59,813 --> 02:15:04,130
>> Mr. Bulosan. >> Thank you so much, Chair,

1359
02:15:04,618 --> 02:15:07,221
and Vice-Chair for introducing this

1360
02:15:07,221 --> 02:15:09,290
Resolution. I'm going to be if full

1361
02:15:09,290 --> 02:15:11,558
support. Mahalo to everyone who showed

1362
02:15:11,558 --> 02:15:13,428
up and testified, and is present and

1363
02:15:13,428 --> 02:15:16,230
continue to do all the work that is

1364
02:15:16,230 --> 02:15:19,830
being done. Past, present and future.

1365
02:15:26,240 --> 02:15:29,240
Uluhiwa Kamehameha Schools. And ditto

1366
02:15:29,510 --> 02:15:32,510
everything that was shared. Funny

1367
02:15:33,460 --> 02:15:36,451
enough, I have a 21-month-old and I

1368
02:15:36,451 --> 02:15:39,990
joke with my wife every day, oh, I

1369
02:15:39,990 --> 02:15:44,190
can't wait to admit him to Kamehameha

1370
02:15:45,930 --> 02:15:50,730
Schools do they pick them as early as

1371
02:15:51,802 --> 02:15:56,273
21 months and she is no, not going to

1372
02:15:56,273 --> 02:15:58,210
O'ahu, he is going to stay here. I

1373
02:15:58,210 --> 02:16:00,100
joke, because of what this Resolution

1374
02:16:00,100 --> 02:16:01,745
mean and what Kamehameha Schools means

1375
02:16:01,745 --> 02:16:05,945
to our community and to our family,

1376
02:16:05,951 --> 02:16:08,619
especially to me, it's more than just

1377
02:16:08,619 --> 02:16:11,619
education, more than just experiences,

1378
02:16:12,156 --> 02:16:15,756
or responsibilities to a land and

1379
02:16:16,493 --> 02:16:19,764
people, there's this book I just read

1380
02:16:19,764 --> 02:16:23,701
to my son, it recognizes all of the

1381
02:16:23,701 --> 02:16:25,169
indigenous people who have done impact

1382
02:16:25,169 --> 02:16:27,304
in the world and there's several in

1383
02:16:27,304 --> 02:16:30,307
this book. It was actually written a

1384
02:16:30,307 --> 02:16:35,107
while ago. And one -- it was actually

1385
02:16:35,313 --> 02:16:37,181
acknowledging Hawai'i, and the thought

1386
02:16:37,181 --> 02:16:41,251
of legacy and trying to understand how

1387
02:16:41,251 --> 02:16:44,721
important certain things are for us as

1388
02:16:44,721 --> 02:16:48,459
a human race is so immeasurable, and

1389
02:16:48,459 --> 02:16:50,994
it's very important for people who have

1390
02:16:50,994 --> 02:16:56,394
vision like Pauahi, and for organizations, and community to

1391
02:16:56,866 --> 02:16:59,300
continue to work together to build a

1392
02:16:59,300 --> 02:17:01,939
better future, and work in this life to

1393
02:17:01,939 --> 02:17:03,674
keep caring for all of the things that

1394
02:17:03,674 --> 02:17:06,477
we care for. So it's super important

1395
02:17:06,477 --> 02:17:11,281
for us as a body, County Council, to do

1396
02:17:11,281 --> 02:17:13,951
this work, and this work as in this

1397
02:17:13,951 --> 02:17:17,200
Resolution, to help make sure that we

1398
02:17:17,200 --> 02:17:19,222
are on the right path and continue to

1399
02:17:19,222 --> 02:17:22,358
stay on the right path. So when I this

1400
02:17:22,358 --> 02:17:24,494
I about this situation that we're in,

1401
02:17:24,494 --> 02:17:27,631
and I feel it as I'm part of it, not

1402
02:17:27,631 --> 02:17:29,367
separate from what the experience is

1403
02:17:29,367 --> 02:17:31,435
from any organization that is going

1404
02:17:31,435 --> 02:17:33,704
through it. I think it's important

1405
02:17:33,704 --> 02:17:36,906
wherever we can to step into these

1406
02:17:36,906 --> 02:17:38,842
uncomfortable spaces. Whether it's an

1407
02:17:38,842 --> 02:17:41,511
attack on our partner organizations, or

1408
02:17:41,511 --> 02:17:43,180
direct attack on us, because it allows

1409
02:17:43,180 --> 02:17:45,849
us to think about what matters. And

1410
02:17:45,849 --> 02:17:47,718
work on the things that will make a

1411
02:17:47,718 --> 02:17:51,540
better place for all of us. And so I'm

1412
02:17:51,540 --> 02:17:54,390
super excited to pass this, because I

1413
02:17:54,390 --> 02:17:56,460
hope it continues as a part of a

1414
02:17:56,460 --> 02:17:58,796
movement that has already been started

1415
02:17:58,796 --> 02:18:02,996
and restarted and continues to grow to

1416
02:18:03,934 --> 02:18:08,134
empower people to feel inspired to feel

1417
02:18:08,938 --> 02:18:11,207
strong and willing to do the work to

1418
02:18:11,207 --> 02:18:13,944
make sure that we have a better place

1419
02:18:13,944 --> 02:18:15,790
for our community. So thank you to

1420
02:18:15,790 --> 02:18:17,348
everyone that is here and doing all of

1421
02:18:17,348 --> 02:18:20,830
the work, and again, I will be in full

1422
02:18:20,830 --> 02:18:22,830
support. >> Mr. Kuali'i.

1423
02:18:22,219 --> 02:18:26,289
>> Yes, Chair. I wanted to say mahalo

1424
02:18:26,289 --> 02:18:28,492
nui loa to you, to thank you, because

1425
02:18:28,492 --> 02:18:31,175
you brought this forward. And then

1426
02:18:31,175 --> 02:18:33,376
honored me by asking me to join you. I

1427
02:18:33,376 --> 02:18:36,781
was not able to see the presentations

1428
02:18:36,781 --> 02:18:40,981
that was here on-island, because I was

1429
02:18:41,452 --> 02:18:43,788
away traveling and very happy that you

1430
02:18:43,788 --> 02:18:45,723
see the presentation and inspired to do

1431
02:18:45,723 --> 02:18:47,992
this because it's very important. It's

1432
02:18:47,992 --> 02:18:51,729
of course, important to me, so thank

1433
02:18:51,729 --> 02:18:53,731
you. I agree with some -- with all of

1434
02:18:53,731 --> 02:18:57,601
the statements that were said, and I

1435
02:18:57,601 --> 02:19:01,710
would say for sure when Kamehameha is

1436
02:19:01,710 --> 02:19:03,700
under attack, we're all under attack,

1437
02:19:03,700 --> 02:19:05,675
and that is our people, that is our

1438
02:19:05,675 --> 02:19:09,275
community, and our entire state. So

1439
02:19:10,214 --> 02:19:13,814
over 100 years of investment in our

1440
02:19:14,752 --> 02:19:18,210
people; right? So as a class of 1980

1441
02:19:18,210 --> 02:19:22,221
graduate, I was there for Junior high

1442
02:19:22,225 --> 02:19:27,899
and High School from 74-86 and Kamehameha also played a role

1443
02:19:27,899 --> 02:19:29,967
in encouraging me onto college and

1444
02:19:29,967 --> 02:19:33,771
even supporting me while I went to

1445
02:19:33,771 --> 02:19:36,840
College with financial aid as well. So

1446
02:19:36,840 --> 02:19:41,640
I am a living legacy, a part of

1447
02:19:42,245 --> 02:19:45,245
Kamehameha, and Keali'i Pauahi's legacy,

1448
02:19:45,316 --> 02:19:49,516
and her investment in me has meant

1449
02:19:51,122 --> 02:19:55,922
everything in my life, to my family, and

1450
02:19:56,327 --> 02:19:59,196
to everything that I have been

1451
02:19:59,196 --> 02:20:02,796
able to achieve because of that

1452
02:20:03,934 --> 02:20:06,136
investment. I can't thank her enough, and

1453
02:20:06,136 --> 02:20:09,720
thank everyone at Kamehameha enough.

1454
02:20:09,720 --> 02:20:12,720
So please, please, stand behind

1455
02:20:12,143 --> 02:20:14,143
Kamehameha forever.

1456
02:20:15,612 --> 02:20:17,800
Thank you, mahalo. I don't know what

1457
02:20:17,800 --> 02:20:19,550
is happening. >> You are making us all cry,

1458
02:20:19,550 --> 02:20:23,750
that is what is happening. Yeah, you

1459
02:20:25,889 --> 02:20:31,289
know, I never went to Kam Hamm had Kam

1460
02:20:37,501 --> 02:20:39,636
Kamehameha School, but I went to a

1461
02:20:39,636 --> 02:20:42,506
wedding there in a chapel and it was

1462
02:20:42,506 --> 02:20:46,106
like, wow. I would encourage everyone

1463
02:20:49,613 --> 02:20:55,130
go to KSBE . EDA . Ed.Edu and get all

1464
02:20:56,187 --> 02:20:58,389
of the information there. It's a

1465
02:20:58,389 --> 02:21:01,258
compelling presentation. It made me

1466
02:21:01,258 --> 02:21:02,993
release how ignorant I am to the

1467
02:21:02,993 --> 02:21:05,330
history of this place that I call home.

1468
02:21:05,330 --> 02:21:08,132
In High School we learned, again

1469
02:21:08,132 --> 02:21:10,333
Kaua'i High School, not Kamehameha. We

1470
02:21:10,333 --> 02:21:15,133
learned and it was a chore to just

1471
02:21:16,600 --> 02:21:17,475
remember names, Hawaiian names. I

1472
02:21:17,475 --> 02:21:20,100
can't remember. It was very hard for

1473
02:21:20,100 --> 02:21:22,616
me. Anyway listening to the presentation and following the

1474
02:21:22,616 --> 02:21:24,685
timeline that was clearly put out of all

1475
02:21:24,685 --> 02:21:28,354
of the events that had occurred, and

1476
02:21:28,354 --> 02:21:30,557
just the struggles that had to happen

1477
02:21:30,557 --> 02:21:34,940
for us to be where we're at so we can end

1478
02:21:34,940 --> 02:21:37,231
up with the product of that, with

1479
02:21:37,231 --> 02:21:40,701
someone here like Mr. Kuali'i and so many

1480
02:21:40,701 --> 02:21:44,571
others. It just makes me try to realize

1481
02:21:44,571 --> 02:21:47,707
why -- what would drive anyone to try

1482
02:21:47,707 --> 02:21:49,910
to disrupt that? You know, I'm

1483
02:21:49,910 --> 02:21:51,578
trying to be politically correct here,

1484
02:21:51,578 --> 02:21:55,480
but it's very difficult. Because I

1485
02:21:55,480 --> 02:21:56,517
think as was mentioned, so many

1486
02:21:56,517 --> 02:21:59,253
opportunitieses to go sue whoever you want. You

1487
02:21:59,253 --> 02:22:01,922
go and it's not hard anymore,

1488
02:22:01,922 --> 02:22:07,261
especially with AI and ChatGPT you can find a

1489
02:22:07,261 --> 02:22:10,731
defendant someplace, you know? It's just

1490
02:22:10,731 --> 02:22:12,466
disturbing that they would choose this

1491
02:22:12,466 --> 02:22:13,801
little island and this little state and

1492
02:22:13,801 --> 02:22:16,403
I understand that they are looking at

1493
02:22:16,403 --> 02:22:19,339
the past lawsuits and maybe low-hanging

1494
02:22:19,339 --> 02:22:22,142
fruit. I know Mr. Kaneshiro said,

1495
02:22:22,142 --> 02:22:24,478
eventually it will go away. Well, I

1496
02:22:24,478 --> 02:22:26,480
know on the little research I have done

1497
02:22:26,480 --> 02:22:27,881
on this law firm, they are not going to

1498
02:22:27,881 --> 02:22:29,283
go away. They are going to fight.

1499
02:22:29,283 --> 02:22:31,284
They are going to appeal and they are

1500
02:22:31,284 --> 02:22:32,952
going to appeal until it gets to the

1501
02:22:32,952 --> 02:22:35,354
U.S. Supreme Court, which would take

1502
02:22:35,354 --> 02:22:38,291
ten years, or longer. And why? And

1503
02:22:38,291 --> 02:22:41,891
why put the Kamehameha Schools, the

1504
02:22:42,629 --> 02:22:44,765
Foundation, the Pauahi foundation

1505
02:22:44,765 --> 02:22:47,167
through that all expense for what? So

1506
02:22:47,167 --> 02:22:51,638
prove a point. That is where I struggle, and that is where I

1507
02:22:51,638 --> 02:22:54,774
struggle to remain civil. Because I

1508
02:22:54,774 --> 02:22:56,777
just cannot imagine anyone who would choose

1509
02:22:56,777 --> 02:22:59,446
to do that? Are they that immune to

1510
02:22:59,446 --> 02:23:03,383
humanity and to our culture and our --

1511
02:23:03,383 --> 02:23:06,119
just like what -- from what I understand,

1512
02:23:06,119 --> 02:23:08,322
one of those attorneys is actually

1513
02:23:08,322 --> 02:23:10,570
from Hawai'i on the plaintiff's team.

1514
02:23:10,570 --> 02:23:13,657
>> Wow. >> How do they sleep at

1515
02:23:13,927 --> 02:23:16,463
night? Shame on them. Go pick on somebody

1516
02:23:16,463 --> 02:23:20,663
else. So it's frustrating for me. And

1517
02:23:21,535 --> 02:23:25,135
I'm not even Hawaiian. But I'm 6

1518
02:23:25,205 --> 02:23:28,341
generation here and I don't even know my

1519
02:23:28,341 --> 02:23:31,941
Portuguese culture except for the soup

1520
02:23:32,145 --> 02:23:36,749
and bread and Catholic school. I am so

1521
02:23:36,749 --> 02:23:38,552
-- skill still have so much more to

1522
02:23:38,552 --> 02:23:40,353
learn about the Hawaiian -- this has

1523
02:23:40,353 --> 02:23:44,557
helped me so much. For me, I'm trying

1524
02:23:44,557 --> 02:23:47,360
to grapple the why of these people?

1525
02:23:47,360 --> 02:23:49,629
Like why -- shall we just go pick on

1526
02:23:49,629 --> 02:23:53,829
them? Make a name for ourselves, get

1527
02:23:55,769 --> 02:23:57,571
some publicity? At what expense? Come

1528
02:23:57,571 --> 02:24:00,707
on folks. So it's frustrating for me.

1529
02:24:00,707 --> 02:24:03,420
For our public and especially to our

1530
02:24:03,420 --> 02:24:05,246
young ones that I got to meet yesterday

1531
02:24:05,246 --> 02:24:07,180
to talk about how the legislative

1532
02:24:07,180 --> 02:24:08,982
process works. I'm so happy that you

1533
02:24:08,982 --> 02:24:10,516
showed up today. I told them, this

1534
02:24:10,516 --> 02:24:12,319
would be the one to come. I didn't

1535
02:24:12,319 --> 02:24:13,867
know that the whole system was going to

1536
02:24:13,867 --> 02:24:16,737
shut down, but that is okay. You guys

1537
02:24:16,737 --> 02:24:18,405
stayed and you guys are here. What

1538
02:24:18,405 --> 02:24:21,608
we're talking about today is a Resolution versus a Bill. We

1539
02:24:21,608 --> 02:24:23,411
talked about bills yesterday about how

1540
02:24:23,411 --> 02:24:25,146
bills become law. We never really

1541
02:24:25,146 --> 02:24:27,748
talked about Resolutions. So a

1542
02:24:27,748 --> 02:24:30,685
Resolution doesn't have any effect of law

1543
02:24:30,685 --> 02:24:32,686
whatsoever. It is a policy statement

1544
02:24:32,686 --> 02:24:35,556
of this body right here. It's a

1545
02:24:35,556 --> 02:24:36,824
statement of this Kaua'i County Council

1546
02:24:36,824 --> 02:24:38,893
that we want to put out together and

1547
02:24:38,893 --> 02:24:42,897
saying this is how we feel about a

1548
02:24:42,897 --> 02:24:46,497
specific issue. And today's issue is

1549
02:24:46,501 --> 02:24:48,901
about supporting Kamehameha Schools

1550
02:24:50,971 --> 02:24:52,707
admission policy, so we don't have to

1551
02:24:52,707 --> 02:24:56,177
waste fund on defending a lawsuit for

1552
02:24:56,177 --> 02:24:59,181
something that has been in play for so

1553
02:24:59,181 --> 02:25:02,984
long. For all of the right reasons.

1554
02:25:02,984 --> 02:25:07,321
And again, as I have state, yes, I'm a

1555
02:25:07,321 --> 02:25:09,560
law-abiding citizen and sworn an oath

1556
02:25:09,560 --> 02:25:11,859
to uphold the law, but I think the most

1557
02:25:11,859 --> 02:25:13,194
disrespect comes because of the attack

1558
02:25:13,194 --> 02:25:18,594
on the will of of Pauahi and it's like

1559
02:25:19,800 --> 02:25:21,469
spitting on your grave. I know this is

1560
02:25:21,469 --> 02:25:24,271
what you wanted on your last day you

1561
02:25:24,271 --> 02:25:26,740
wanted to take care of your people, but,

1562
02:25:26,740 --> 02:25:28,276
tough, because we don't think that is

1563
02:25:28,276 --> 02:25:32,213
right -- that to me is -- anyway. I am

1564
02:25:32,213 --> 02:25:33,280
not going read the whole

1565
02:25:33,280 --> 02:25:36,217
Resolution, but for the sake of our young ones

1566
02:25:36,217 --> 02:25:38,285
here today, I do want to share you

1567
02:25:38,285 --> 02:25:41,423
just the parts that you can understand

1568
02:25:41,423 --> 02:25:43,424
why we're doing -- oh, you have it. So

1569
02:25:43,424 --> 02:25:45,626
you are telling me to shut up and no

1570
02:25:45,626 --> 02:25:47,695
need to read it? That is fine.

1571
02:25:47,695 --> 02:25:51,698
[Laughter ]That is fine. >> The two resolves. I just

1572
02:25:51,698 --> 02:25:55,703
let me read a couple. And I will read

1573
02:25:55,703 --> 02:25:59,903
it in Hawaiian -- no, I won't.

1574
02:26:02,910 --> 02:26:04,712
Whereas, Princess Bernice Pauahi packi

1575
02:26:04,712 --> 02:26:06,848
Bishop with the rapid [TKHRAO-EUFPB/]

1576
02:26:06,848 --> 02:26:08,515
Hawaiian population due to disease as

1577
02:26:08,515 --> 02:26:10,118
many Holland talked about cultural

1578
02:26:10,118 --> 02:26:12,518
dictionruption and displacement from

1579
02:26:12,519 --> 02:26:15,519
ancestral land and through her 1883

1580
02:26:15,589 --> 02:26:19,189
will establish -- through her 1883 will

1581
02:26:19,594 --> 02:26:22,594
established the Princess Bernice Pauahi

1582
02:26:22,997 --> 02:26:24,332
Bishop Estate and charitable trust

1583
02:26:24,332 --> 02:26:26,266
dedicated to founding school for Native

1584
02:26:26,266 --> 02:26:28,690
Hawaiian children. To me, that is

1585
02:26:28,690 --> 02:26:33,607
power. That to me is the most important thing. Whereas, new

1586
02:26:33,607 --> 02:26:35,810
legal challenges including one

1587
02:26:35,810 --> 02:26:39,410
brought by Students for Fair Admission

1588
02:26:40,814 --> 02:26:43,684
threatened the 140-year-old admission miff

1589
02:26:43,684 --> 02:26:45,619
to full full

1590
02:26:45,619 --> 02:26:48,356
i's intent for the education of Native

1591
02:26:48,356 --> 02:26:49,957
Hawaiian children. Whereas, the

1592
02:26:49,957 --> 02:26:54,628
Council of the County of Kaua'i recognizes the profound

1593
02:26:54,628 --> 02:26:55,630
cultural, educational and historical

1594
02:26:55,630 --> 02:26:59,230
importance of the Kamehameha Schools and

1595
02:26:59,500 --> 02:27:01,368
believes that Princess Puhaie's legacy

1596
02:27:01,368 --> 02:27:03,437
should be [PRAO-EFRBD/] and protected for

1597
02:27:03,437 --> 02:27:06,644
present and future generation of Native

1598
02:27:06,644 --> 02:27:08,379
Hawaiians. And I think more than one

1599
02:27:08,379 --> 02:27:11,449
of my colleagues mentioned about how

1600
02:27:11,449 --> 02:27:13,851
preserving that rights and benefit for

1601
02:27:13,851 --> 02:27:16,530
Native Hawaiians is actually beneficial

1602
02:27:16,530 --> 02:27:18,923
to all of us. So this is the most

1603
02:27:18,923 --> 02:27:20,791
important part of our Resolution where

1604
02:27:20,791 --> 02:27:23,594
we said be it resolved. This is where

1605
02:27:23,594 --> 02:27:25,730
we're telling people giving the people

1606
02:27:25,730 --> 02:27:29,330
our statement, our policy statement, be

1607
02:27:29,867 --> 02:27:32,690
it resolved by the Council of the

1608
02:27:32,690 --> 02:27:34,939
County of Kaua'i, that the Council

1609
02:27:34,939 --> 02:27:37,939
strongly supports and reaffirm the

1610
02:27:41,612 --> 02:27:42,947
Kamehameha Schools' admissions policy,

1611
02:27:42,947 --> 02:27:44,682
mission and its contributions to the

1612
02:27:44,682 --> 02:27:47,618
Native Hawaiian community and the

1613
02:27:47,618 --> 02:27:50,200
preservation of Princess Bernice Pauahi

1614
02:27:50,200 --> 02:27:51,622
Bishop's legacy for future generation

1615
02:27:51,622 --> 02:27:54,158
and be it further resolved that the

1616
02:27:54,158 --> 02:27:57,758
Council urges all levels of government

1617
02:27:59,429 --> 02:28:03,634
to respect Princess Pauahi s' charitable intent and legal and

1618
02:28:03,634 --> 02:28:06,634
cultural Foundation of the Kamehameha

1619
02:28:06,970 --> 02:28:08,238
schools' admissions policy. This will

1620
02:28:08,238 --> 02:28:11,174
be sent across the nation. That is why

1621
02:28:11,174 --> 02:28:12,242
we're here today. Without further

1622
02:28:12,242 --> 02:28:13,245
discussion, this is the communication,

1623
02:28:13,245 --> 02:28:14,645
the motion is to receive, all in favor

1624
02:28:14,645 --> 02:28:16,645
say aye? >> Aye.

1625
02:28:17,448 --> 02:28:20,448
>> Motion carried. Madam Chair, with

1626
02:28:21,652 --> 02:28:23,987
no objection, we'll take the Resolution

1627
02:28:23,987 --> 02:28:27,124
up next. After the Resolution, we'll

1628
02:28:27,124 --> 02:28:31,194
take a caption break and we have

1629
02:28:31,194 --> 02:28:33,131
people for the audit but I will take

1630
02:28:33,131 --> 02:28:35,133
the Kaua'i Coffee issue out of order,

1631
02:28:35,133 --> 02:28:37,100
you because I know you took a lot of

1632
02:28:37,100 --> 02:28:38,803
work time to be here today and he we

1633
02:28:38,803 --> 02:28:44,408
want to get you back to work. >> Chair, on page 4,

1634
02:28:44,408 --> 02:28:46,877
Resolution No. 2026-01 Resolution supporting

1635
02:28:46,877 --> 02:28:49,800
and reaffirming the Kamehameha

1636
02:28:49,800 --> 02:28:50,748
Schools' admissions policy, mission and

1637
02:28:50,748 --> 02:28:52,550
its contributions to the Native

1638
02:28:52,550 --> 02:28:53,351
Hawaiian community.

1639
02:28:53,351 --> 02:28:55,486
>> Move to approve. >> Second.

1640
02:28:55,486 --> 02:28:57,889
>> Thank you. Is there anyone wishing

1641
02:28:57,889 --> 02:29:01,692
to testify on the Resolution? Is there

1642
02:29:01,692 --> 02:29:03,293
any further discussion? Seeing none,

1643
02:29:03,293 --> 02:29:05,362
motion is to approve, roll call. >> Council Member Bulosan?

1644
02:29:05,362 --> 02:29:07,762
>> Aye. >> Council Member Carvalho?

1645
02:29:08,900 --> 02:29:10,234
>> Council Member Cowden? >> Aye.

1646
02:29:10,234 --> 02:29:11,368
>> Council Member Holland . aye.

1647
02:29:11,368 --> 02:29:13,303
>> Council Member Kaneshiro? >> Aye.

1648
02:29:13,303 --> 02:29:14,772
>> Council Member Kuali'i? >> Aye.

1649
02:29:14,772 --> 02:29:16,390
>> Council Chair Rapozo? >> Aye.

1650
02:29:16,390 --> 02:29:18,709
>> Motion passes. >> Motion passes, Resolution

1651
02:29:18,709 --> 02:29:20,844
passes. Thank you all. With that we'll

1652
02:29:20,844 --> 02:29:21,979
take a ten-minute caption break.

1653
02:29:21,979 --> 02:29:23,979
[ GAVEL ] [ GAVEL ]

1654
02:44:18,932 --> 02:44:21,134
>> Call the meeting back to order.

1655
02:44:21,134 --> 02:44:23,936
Members, with no objection, I will like

1656
02:44:23,936 --> 02:44:26,274
I said earlier, we'll take the Kaua'i

1657
02:44:26,274 --> 02:44:27,941
Coffee item up, so we can get these

1658
02:44:27,941 --> 02:44:29,609
people back to work. So with that, can

1659
02:44:29,609 --> 02:44:34,409
we have that item, please. >> Chair, on page 3,

1660
02:44:37,617 --> 02:44:38,951
C-2026-08, communication from Council

1661
02:44:38,951 --> 02:44:42,551
Chair Rapozo requesting the presence of

1662
02:44:43,956 --> 02:44:46,625
Wayne Katayama Senior advisor Kaua'i

1663
02:44:46,625 --> 02:44:48,428
Coffee to provide a briefing regarding

1664
02:44:48,428 --> 02:44:49,963
the current operations of Kaua'i

1665
02:44:49,963 --> 02:44:51,764
Coffee, as well as any future plan.

1666
02:44:51,764 --> 02:44:53,232
>> Move to receive. >> Second.

1667
02:44:53,232 --> 02:44:55,835
>> Thank you. With that I will call

1668
02:44:55,835 --> 02:44:58,571
Mr. Katayama up. Just real briefly,

1669
02:44:58,571 --> 02:45:01,641
the reason this is on the agenda is

1670
02:45:01,641 --> 02:45:05,177
probably a couple weeks ago, social

1671
02:45:05,177 --> 02:45:08,777
media went crazy about Kaua'i Coffee,

1672
02:45:09,582 --> 02:45:13,719
and we had some discussions. This body

1673
02:45:13,719 --> 02:45:16,456
had some discussion during the Planning

1674
02:45:16,456 --> 02:45:19,456
Bill regarding the Plantation camp

1675
02:45:22,661 --> 02:45:24,330
housing, and Numila project and talked

1676
02:45:24,330 --> 02:45:26,332
about the importance of Kaua'i Coffee

1677
02:45:26,332 --> 02:45:27,800
and how this housing Bill that is

1678
02:45:27,800 --> 02:45:30,269
currently at Planning right now is

1679
02:45:30,269 --> 02:45:32,205
going to benefit the employees of the

1680
02:45:32,205 --> 02:45:36,876
Kaua'i Coffee. So it was quite shocking to start reading about

1681
02:45:36,876 --> 02:45:39,745
comments that were being posted about

1682
02:45:39,745 --> 02:45:43,150
the potential closure of Kaua'i Coffee.

1683
02:45:43,150 --> 02:45:47,350
I did have some discussions with the

1684
02:45:49,222 --> 02:45:50,690
landowner Representative and Kaua'i

1685
02:45:50,690 --> 02:45:53,225
Coffee over the last months and I was

1686
02:45:53,225 --> 02:45:54,960
aware that negotiations were happening,

1687
02:45:54,960 --> 02:45:59,699
it was pretty evident by the testimonies that were being

1688
02:45:59,699 --> 02:46:02,635
posted that it was starting to look like

1689
02:46:02,635 --> 02:46:05,438
Kaua'i Coffee may go away. And that

1690
02:46:05,438 --> 02:46:07,707
is quite disturbing, and disappointing,

1691
02:46:07,707 --> 02:46:11,711
and so I contacted Mr. Katayama, see if

1692
02:46:11,711 --> 02:46:14,314
he would be okay with giving us an

1693
02:46:14,314 --> 02:46:16,315
update, more for the benefit of the

1694
02:46:16,315 --> 02:46:18,785
community and of course, our employees, their

1695
02:46:18,785 --> 02:46:20,386
employee, because many of them are here

1696
02:46:20,386 --> 02:46:22,121
today. I thank you again for your

1697
02:46:22,121 --> 02:46:25,721
patience, because of the little technical

1698
02:46:25,858 --> 02:46:27,862
problem. We're way behind schedule.

1699
02:46:27,862 --> 02:46:30,797
So with that, Mr. Katayama, if you

1700
02:46:30,797 --> 02:46:32,465
could come up, I will suspend the rules

1701
02:46:32,465 --> 02:46:37,604
and you can give us an update on what

1702
02:46:37,604 --> 02:46:41,540
is going on, and I think for most of

1703
02:46:41,540 --> 02:46:44,544
us, Kaua'i Coffee has been part of our

1704
02:46:44,544 --> 02:46:47,348
island culture for a long time. And

1705
02:46:47,348 --> 02:46:52,148
it's kind of hard to imagine that they

1706
02:46:53,686 --> 02:46:57,356
would go away. >> Good morning, Chair Rapozo,

1707
02:46:57,356 --> 02:46:59,159
Members of the Council. Thank you for

1708
02:46:59,159 --> 02:47:02,428
having me here today. I'm Wayne

1709
02:47:02,428 --> 02:47:05,428
Katayama, Senior advisor at Kaua'i

1710
02:47:05,965 --> 02:47:09,102
Coffee, and I cannot overestimate the

1711
02:47:09,102 --> 02:47:12,453
seriousness of why I'm here before you today.

1712
02:47:12,453 --> 02:47:15,656
Let me put this in perspective, Kaua'i

1713
02:47:15,656 --> 02:47:19,256
Coffee is a fully integrated premium

1714
02:47:21,596 --> 02:47:24,596
specialty coffee company. What that

1715
02:47:25,666 --> 02:47:28,202
means is that we grow the coffee and put

1716
02:47:28,202 --> 02:47:32,500
it all the way to the bag, all here on

1717
02:47:32,500 --> 02:47:35,543
the Island of Kaua'i. To do that,

1718
02:47:35,543 --> 02:47:38,212
we have about 4 million coffee trees,

1719
02:47:38,212 --> 02:47:41,812
and we farm about 3,000 acres. We

1720
02:47:44,151 --> 02:47:47,151
harvest anywhere from 10 to 12 million

1721
02:47:47,155 --> 02:47:49,156
pound of cherry coffee, which needs to

1722
02:47:49,156 --> 02:47:51,692
be processed into about a million

1723
02:47:51,692 --> 02:47:55,292
to 2 million pounds of green coffee.

1724
02:47:55,564 --> 02:47:58,499
And that is all done at 'Ele'ele,

1725
02:47:58,499 --> 02:48:02,699
and that green coffee is then roasted

1726
02:48:05,173 --> 02:48:07,374
and put into bags that you enjoy as

1727
02:48:07,374 --> 02:48:09,710
Kaua'i Coffee in the mornings. To do

1728
02:48:09,710 --> 02:48:11,513
that, I think, one of the unique things

1729
02:48:11,513 --> 02:48:15,713
that we have, we have three queue

1730
02:48:15,716 --> 02:48:19,916
graders on Staff in the coffee roasting

1731
02:48:22,589 --> 02:48:24,525
business, equivalent to three Ph.D.s.

1732
02:48:24,525 --> 02:48:28,125
Today we have 141 employees that covers

1733
02:48:29,864 --> 02:48:33,464
all of these responsibilities. And at

1734
02:48:34,100 --> 02:48:36,336
least I haven't reflected on it,

1735
02:48:36,336 --> 02:48:39,940
because you see people day after day every

1736
02:48:39,940 --> 02:48:42,943
day, year in, year out, 30% of our

1737
02:48:42,943 --> 02:48:46,948
workforce has over ten years with us. We

1738
02:48:46,948 --> 02:48:50,548
have people with 20 years, and it's

1739
02:48:51,886 --> 02:48:53,421
just a head-scratcher. Three people

1740
02:48:53,421 --> 02:48:55,490
with 50 years. So they must have

1741
02:48:55,490 --> 02:48:57,226
started when they were 3 years old because

1742
02:48:57,226 --> 02:49:02,260
they look like they are in their 50s.

1743
02:49:04,364 --> 02:49:05,967
And we're heavily all our employees are

1744
02:49:05,967 --> 02:49:07,635
in the communities, you are probably

1745
02:49:07,635 --> 02:49:09,703
related to some of them. You probably

1746
02:49:09,703 --> 02:49:11,706
have friends with them, you know

1747
02:49:11,706 --> 02:49:12,973
their families, and certainly you

1748
02:49:12,973 --> 02:49:16,778
have come in contact with them I thought

1749
02:49:16,778 --> 02:49:20,378
your community outreach. And I think

1750
02:49:22,450 --> 02:49:26,520
that is sort of what is the

1751
02:49:26,520 --> 02:49:29,391
seriousness of where we stand today. Now let

1752
02:49:29,391 --> 02:49:33,127
me sort of take a little step back, and

1753
02:49:33,127 --> 02:49:36,727
put this into historic proposal how

1754
02:49:37,331 --> 02:49:41,531
we got here. In 2021 one of the

1755
02:49:43,671 --> 02:49:46,140
largest beverage companies in the world

1756
02:49:46,140 --> 02:49:49,140
purchased the coffee operations for

1757
02:49:49,344 --> 02:49:51,344
Alexander & Baldwin. Alexander &

1758
02:49:51,345 --> 02:49:54,548
Baldwin had been farming that land for

1759
02:49:54,548 --> 02:49:58,748
150 years from sugar and in the late

1760
02:49:59,353 --> 02:50:03,553
1980s, started to plant coffee. So we

1761
02:50:04,290 --> 02:50:08,229
had a landowner that was very attuned

1762
02:50:09,901 --> 02:50:14,701
to how you view the use of agricultural

1763
02:50:14,972 --> 02:50:16,775
land and the horizon was very long and

1764
02:50:16,775 --> 02:50:21,780
knew that once you had a crop you were

1765
02:50:21,780 --> 02:50:25,980
in there for 50-100 years. In 2023, I

1766
02:50:28,653 --> 02:50:32,253
would say Alexander & Baldwin, A&B,

1767
02:50:34,325 --> 02:50:36,661
sold its land assets both here on

1768
02:50:36,661 --> 02:50:40,331
Kaua'i, and as well on Maui, because

1769
02:50:40,331 --> 02:50:42,801
they had changed their focus. They

1770
02:50:42,801 --> 02:50:46,938
also had diversed a lot of their other

1771
02:50:46,938 --> 02:50:49,673
company like Madsen, but the land on

1772
02:50:49,673 --> 02:50:53,873
Kaua'i was solid to BBCP, and they

1773
02:50:56,147 --> 02:50:58,950
assumed the existing lease. So 2023 to

1774
02:50:58,950 --> 02:51:03,150
the expiration of the lease in 2026 was

1775
02:51:08,250 --> 02:51:10,425
really two-and-a-half years. BBCP

1776
02:51:11,295 --> 02:51:12,296
recently has publicly communicated they

1777
02:51:12,296 --> 02:51:16,367
are not willing to renew the lease.

1778
02:51:16,367 --> 02:51:19,437
And that is the reason why I'm here

1779
02:51:19,437 --> 02:51:23,370
this morning before you, because all

1780
02:51:24,909 --> 02:51:28,113
141 of our employees will be receiving

1781
02:51:28,113 --> 02:51:32,117
notices that they are jobs will be

1782
02:51:32,117 --> 02:51:36,317
terminated in the next few weeks. The

1783
02:51:37,321 --> 02:51:43,795
precise date that they will be terminated will depend on how

1784
02:51:43,795 --> 02:51:47,395
we divest ourselves of the operation.

1785
02:51:47,466 --> 02:51:51,660
But nonetheless, they will be given

1786
02:51:53,400 --> 02:51:55,807
notice shortly. Now this doesn't mean

1787
02:51:55,807 --> 02:52:00,144
that we at Kaua'i Coffee have given up,

1788
02:52:00,144 --> 02:52:02,800
and resolve ourselves to the fact

1789
02:52:02,800 --> 02:52:03,681
that we'll be terminating the

1790
02:52:03,681 --> 02:52:06,884
operations at the end of March. It's not --

1791
02:52:06,884 --> 02:52:09,884
it's just the opposite. We'll

1792
02:52:10,155 --> 02:52:14,920
continue to seek some kind of Resolution

1793
02:52:14,920 --> 02:52:18,292
and hopefully, that will be able to

1794
02:52:18,430 --> 02:52:21,430
negotiate something successfully by the

1795
02:52:22,500 --> 02:52:25,169
end of March. That however has put a

1796
02:52:25,169 --> 02:52:28,769
strain on our 2026 crop. For our

1797
02:52:29,507 --> 02:52:31,907
farming operations and processing

1798
02:52:32,176 --> 02:52:35,180
operations, and the employees behind us

1799
02:52:35,180 --> 02:52:37,515
represent all facets of our business.

1800
02:52:37,515 --> 02:52:41,453
We have the AG component. We have the

1801
02:52:41,453 --> 02:52:43,922
processing people, as well as the

1802
02:52:43,922 --> 02:52:45,191
roasting and sales people all here

1803
02:52:45,191 --> 02:52:48,193
today, as well as administrative Staff.

1804
02:52:48,193 --> 02:52:51,196
So that is the reach and the depth of

1805
02:52:51,196 --> 02:52:53,598
the type of employees that will be

1806
02:52:53,598 --> 02:52:57,198
affected if we cannot resolve this

1807
02:52:57,550 --> 02:53:00,550
successfully. Hopefully, we can do

1808
02:53:01,420 --> 02:53:03,823
something, but again, this is to inform

1809
02:53:03,823 --> 02:53:07,226
you that there is a Cliff, and it will

1810
02:53:07,226 --> 02:53:10,826
happen on March 28th, 2026. You know,

1811
02:53:11,697 --> 02:53:14,167
I thank you for your time, and for you

1812
02:53:14,167 --> 02:53:18,367
to give me the opportunity to share

1813
02:53:19,172 --> 02:53:22,308
with you our perspective, and what is

1814
02:53:22,308 --> 02:53:25,645
happening and the impact to not only

1815
02:53:25,645 --> 02:53:29,245
the operations, but also the community.

1816
02:53:29,382 --> 02:53:31,984
In our written testimony, we have

1817
02:53:31,984 --> 02:53:34,653
identified some of the financial

1818
02:53:34,653 --> 02:53:38,253
impacts, as well as social/economic

1819
02:53:40,459 --> 02:53:43,196
impacts, and we have tried to be good

1820
02:53:43,196 --> 02:53:46,796
neighbor, you know? We had 2491 and

1821
02:53:47,533 --> 02:53:50,403
realized that it's very important for

1822
02:53:50,403 --> 02:53:54,300
the community to rest assured that

1823
02:53:54,740 --> 02:53:58,144
we're responsible citizens, and so post

1824
02:53:58,144 --> 02:54:02,944
that, we're not rainforest and free-trade certified with

1825
02:54:03,816 --> 02:54:06,953
independent Auditors at times being more

1826
02:54:06,953 --> 02:54:13,493
restrictive than EPA and OSHA. I think we're one of the few

1827
02:54:13,493 --> 02:54:17,693
farms in the State that have both.

1828
02:54:20,366 --> 02:54:23,366
Unfortunately, I'm unable to discuss

1829
02:54:23,703 --> 02:54:27,303
specific terms and conditions of the

1830
02:54:27,974 --> 02:54:31,574
lease, nor I'm unavailable to speculate

1831
02:54:32,512 --> 02:54:34,713
on any post-March 28th activities.

1832
02:54:34,713 --> 02:54:37,517
Again, I thank you, and I'm available

1833
02:54:37,517 --> 02:54:41,117
for any questions. Thank you, Chair.

1834
02:54:41,587 --> 02:54:45,591
>> Ms. Cowden. >> Thank you for coming, and I

1835
02:54:45,591 --> 02:54:47,727
appreciate the presence of your team

1836
02:54:47,727 --> 02:54:48,595
here, too, because it's important to

1837
02:54:48,595 --> 02:54:51,331
speak to all of you. I have a couple

1838
02:54:51,331 --> 02:54:53,398
of questions you can tell me if you can

1839
02:54:53,398 --> 02:54:57,537
answer them or not? What I read is the

1840
02:54:57,537 --> 02:55:01,730
press was that they are intending to

1841
02:55:01,730 --> 02:55:03,542
continue the coffee just not without

1842
02:55:03,542 --> 02:55:06,478
your Administration, is that -- did I

1843
02:55:06,478 --> 02:55:10,282
read that correctly? >> That has been shared both

1844
02:55:10,282 --> 02:55:14,482
publicly and to us directly that they

1845
02:55:15,621 --> 02:55:19,221
would want to continue coffee operations

1846
02:55:20,560 --> 02:55:23,162
post our exit. May I share something

1847
02:55:23,162 --> 02:55:27,962
with you, not to get too academic? But

1848
02:55:30,103 --> 02:55:32,503
becoming fully integrated specialty

1849
02:55:33,306 --> 02:55:36,306
coffee really required three key

1850
02:55:37,176 --> 02:55:41,460
elements, and it took over 20 years to sort

1851
02:55:41,460 --> 02:55:45,500
of get it to work. One is again I shared

1852
02:55:45,500 --> 02:55:46,585
with you the vision of the

1853
02:55:46,585 --> 02:55:48,258
agricultural land. It's not something that

1854
02:55:48,258 --> 02:55:52,863
you can turn over quickly or change in

1855
02:55:52,863 --> 02:55:55,640
very short periods of time. The

1856
02:55:55,640 --> 02:55:58,664
second is availability of resources, both

1857
02:55:59,335 --> 02:56:01,735
physical resources, the utilities

1858
02:56:03,339 --> 02:56:06,410
required to run the farm, and the

1859
02:56:06,410 --> 02:56:12,410
processing in terms of water, electricity, is huge. You also

1860
02:56:15,351 --> 02:56:18,221
need the financial resources, the

1861
02:56:18,221 --> 02:56:22,421
funding of the equipment, the crop, field

1862
02:56:24,161 --> 02:56:27,230
activities that needed to really start

1863
02:56:27,230 --> 02:56:32,300
in December. You will not get a crop

1864
02:56:34,237 --> 02:56:35,172
until September/October,/November,

1865
02:56:35,172 --> 02:56:36,641
December, middle in January, February

1866
02:56:36,641 --> 02:56:40,841
and probably sell it in March through

1867
02:56:41,177 --> 02:56:45,377
the next December. So you are talking

1868
02:56:46,784 --> 02:56:49,784
financial security of at least 18

1869
02:56:51,540 --> 02:56:54,540
months in turning initially. And

1870
02:56:54,324 --> 02:56:57,324
lastly, you need the intellectual

1871
02:56:58,795 --> 02:57:02,640
capital. Alexander & Baldwin, or A&B,

1872
02:57:02,640 --> 02:57:05,640
very comfortable with long agricultural

1873
02:57:08,471 --> 02:57:11,207
visions, Matzyama beverage, one of the

1874
02:57:11,207 --> 02:57:14,807
largest coffee companies in the world

1875
02:57:15,211 --> 02:57:18,811
very comfortable with vesting in brand

1876
02:57:19,883 --> 02:57:23,483
development. You know, in terms of

1877
02:57:25,220 --> 02:57:28,491
roasting coffee, in terms of investing

1878
02:57:28,491 --> 02:57:30,294
in the market place, very comfortable

1879
02:57:30,294 --> 02:57:34,764
doing that. So it takes those sort of

1880
02:57:34,764 --> 02:57:38,964
three -- two elements to come together

1881
02:57:40,837 --> 02:57:43,306
to help launch the brand development

1882
02:57:43,306 --> 02:57:45,441
and get coffee, Kaua'i Coffee where it

1883
02:57:45,441 --> 02:57:49,641
is today. The last and the most

1884
02:57:50,379 --> 02:57:52,849
important is community support. We

1885
02:57:52,849 --> 02:57:57,490
have from you, from our neighbors in

1886
02:57:58,188 --> 02:58:01,788
'Ele'ele and Kalaheo. That is a

1887
02:58:02,125 --> 02:58:04,327
critical element of why we're here

1888
02:58:04,327 --> 02:58:08,999
today is that our neighbors allow us to

1889
02:58:08,999 --> 02:58:11,200
be here and we're very thankful for

1890
02:58:11,200 --> 02:58:15,939
that, and we do not take that responsibility lightly.

1891
02:58:15,939 --> 02:58:19,539
>> I have another question. Sorry to

1892
02:58:21,780 --> 02:58:24,748
ask about the future, but have they

1893
02:58:24,748 --> 02:58:27,951
shown any intention by coming and

1894
02:58:27,951 --> 02:58:30,754
looking at the equipment, the land, is

1895
02:58:30,754 --> 02:58:33,623
there -- because I'm looking at all of

1896
02:58:33,623 --> 02:58:35,826
these people that I want to keep their

1897
02:58:35,826 --> 02:58:37,428
jobs and we're sure proud of Kaua'i

1898
02:58:37,428 --> 02:58:45,228
Coffee and you are a star of Hawai'i/Kaua'i on the hill in

1899
02:58:46,187 --> 02:58:47,655
Washington, D.C.. Has there been

1900
02:58:47,655 --> 02:58:49,924
outreach to the team? Is there any

1901
02:58:49,924 --> 02:58:52,590
sort of look of intention for forward

1902
02:58:52,590 --> 02:58:55,463
that we're going to keep our coffee?

1903
02:58:55,463 --> 02:58:59,663
>> There has been visits by their teams

1904
02:59:01,469 --> 02:59:06,730
, but in terms of the process, it seem

1905
02:59:06,730 --> 02:59:07,876
that it's very superficial, given the

1906
02:59:07,876 --> 02:59:11,476
length of time there is available.

1907
02:59:11,479 --> 02:59:13,616
Normally these things start a lot

1908
02:59:13,616 --> 02:59:16,751
earlier. Because there's a lot of

1909
02:59:16,751 --> 02:59:18,353
details to comprehend and there's the

1910
02:59:18,353 --> 02:59:21,222
drafting of the documents that go along

1911
02:59:21,222 --> 02:59:25,422
with this. And here we're less than

1912
02:59:26,694 --> 02:59:29,631
100 days, and none of the details have

1913
02:59:29,631 --> 02:59:32,967
been addressed. I mean, it's sort of

1914
02:59:32,967 --> 02:59:35,967
very superficial high-level and again,

1915
02:59:37,638 --> 02:59:39,374
maintaining the specialty premium

1916
02:59:39,374 --> 02:59:42,443
coffee business is a challenge. >> I have one more question.

1917
02:59:42,443 --> 02:59:45,450
Is that okay? I don't mean to

1918
02:59:45,450 --> 02:59:48,115
dominate. I'm concerned about the surface

1919
02:59:48,115 --> 02:59:51,715
water that the 100 what sound like 155

1920
02:59:51,787 --> 02:59:55,550
years since Alexander & Baldwin took it

1921
02:59:55,550 --> 02:59:58,590
away. Surface water on management on

1922
02:59:58,590 --> 03:00:01,130
Kaua'i coming -- we're talking about

1923
03:00:01,130 --> 03:00:04,130
our Hawaiian Kingdom times they

1924
03:00:06,267 --> 03:00:10,467
were very good request surface water and

1925
03:00:11,606 --> 03:00:13,541
plantations were very good with surface

1926
03:00:13,541 --> 03:00:16,210
water. Typically that is not the

1927
03:00:16,210 --> 03:00:19,210
strength of equity capital investor.

1928
03:00:19,881 --> 03:00:23,484
So the surface water management, how is

1929
03:00:23,484 --> 03:00:26,420
that handled now and how will it be

1930
03:00:26,420 --> 03:00:27,822
handed out because surface water is

1931
03:00:27,822 --> 03:00:29,356
critical in terms of how we move

1932
03:00:29,356 --> 03:00:34,756
forward with our island? >> We have been very fortunate

1933
03:00:35,764 --> 03:00:38,833
to inherit a small portion of the

1934
03:00:38,833 --> 03:00:40,101
sugar water system and sugar water

1935
03:00:40,101 --> 03:00:43,705
system s are huge. For our 3,000 acres

1936
03:00:43,705 --> 03:00:46,174
of coffee we have two primary

1937
03:00:46,174 --> 03:00:49,174
water sources one from Alexander

1938
03:00:49,310 --> 03:00:52,910
reservoir and the other from Hanapepe

1939
03:00:53,581 --> 03:00:57,719
river. Our storage capacity is in six

1940
03:00:57,719 --> 03:01:00,255
reservoirs, four of which are regulated.

1941
03:01:00,255 --> 03:01:04,455
And all of those require certain amount

1942
03:01:07,395 --> 03:01:10,395
of attention to manage. Typically

1943
03:01:11,265 --> 03:01:13,134
flows from Alexander between 6-8

1944
03:01:13,134 --> 03:01:17,334
million gallons per day when there is

1945
03:01:17,538 --> 03:01:20,740
water in the reservoir and all of that

1946
03:01:20,740 --> 03:01:22,943
has to be managed. Our earlier speak

1947
03:01:22,943 --> 03:01:24,110
from Kamehameha Schools it's key

1948
03:01:24,110 --> 03:01:27,949
that there has been an effort to restore

1949
03:01:27,949 --> 03:01:31,619
Mauka to Makai flows, but keeping the

1950
03:01:31,619 --> 03:01:35,431
water up on the land and dispersing it

1951
03:01:35,431 --> 03:01:40,231
on the land is far more efficient and

1952
03:01:40,502 --> 03:01:42,304
recharging aquifers. And if we would

1953
03:01:42,304 --> 03:01:46,504
like to maintain our aquifer system, I

1954
03:01:47,420 --> 03:01:50,420
think spraying water over 3,000 acres

1955
03:01:50,450 --> 03:01:54,717
is much more preferable than to have it

1956
03:01:54,717 --> 03:02:00,550
run into the water, ocean. >> So you guys have being

1957
03:02:00,550 --> 03:02:02,258
managing your water system, and then I

1958
03:02:02,258 --> 03:02:04,126
know that your background is in sugar.

1959
03:02:04,126 --> 03:02:07,726
So you really understand this deeply.

1960
03:02:07,930 --> 03:02:11,530
Have with your potential leaving the

1961
03:02:12,334 --> 03:02:15,337
land in less than 100 days is there any

1962
03:02:15,337 --> 03:02:18,807
dialogue going on for passing that

1963
03:02:18,807 --> 03:02:22,407
knowledge along for the water system?

1964
03:02:22,678 --> 03:02:26,810
Is that being handled? >> Well, generally that would

1965
03:02:26,810 --> 03:02:29,952
take place as part of the transition

1966
03:02:29,952 --> 03:02:31,620
process. There are certain things that

1967
03:02:31,620 --> 03:02:35,220
normally take place. There's an asset

1968
03:02:35,224 --> 03:02:37,693
purchase agreement. There's a service

1969
03:02:37,693 --> 03:02:42,493
agreement. There's an employee assumption agreement that if

1970
03:02:43,699 --> 03:02:46,340
you are hiring Kaua'i Coffee employees,

1971
03:02:46,340 --> 03:02:49,340
what terms and conditions? Today

1972
03:02:49,905 --> 03:02:52,975
fortunate we have the iWu, which the

1973
03:02:52,975 --> 03:02:55,644
majority of our workforce are members are.

1974
03:02:55,644 --> 03:02:59,844
There needs to be an agreement what

1975
03:03:00,983 --> 03:03:03,585
is the assumption on the unionized

1976
03:03:03,585 --> 03:03:06,122
labor force? All of those

1977
03:03:06,122 --> 03:03:09,925
conversations have not taken place in any great

1978
03:03:09,925 --> 03:03:11,326
detail. >> Okay.

1979
03:03:11,326 --> 03:03:14,926
>> Thank you. Any other questions? I

1980
03:03:16,266 --> 03:03:21,137
just have I guess for me, for clarification, No. 1, Kaua'i

1981
03:03:21,137 --> 03:03:23,139
Coffee is the largest coffee grower in

1982
03:03:23,139 --> 03:03:24,206
the United States, correct?

1983
03:03:24,206 --> 03:03:28,477
>> That is true, yes. >> Which is significant. I

1984
03:03:28,477 --> 03:03:30,212
mean, there's a lot of coffee

1985
03:03:30,212 --> 03:03:33,815
companies in the world, in the country, and

1986
03:03:33,815 --> 03:03:37,415
so back in 2011, I remember when

1987
03:03:40,622 --> 03:03:43,291
massimo Zen yety, there were a lot of

1988
03:03:43,291 --> 03:03:45,894
skeptics including myself, here we go,

1989
03:03:45,894 --> 03:03:47,963
here comes a mainland company coming

1990
03:03:47,963 --> 03:03:50,833
to take over Kaua'i Coffee, a nice

1991
03:03:50,833 --> 03:03:54,369
local coffee company. I remember reading

1992
03:03:54,369 --> 03:03:56,638
all of the promises of how this would

1993
03:03:56,638 --> 03:03:59,776
benefit the community, and again, I was

1994
03:03:59,776 --> 03:04:02,176
very skeptical. Well, fast-forward

1995
03:04:02,445 --> 03:04:06,315
to 2026 and we find out that was an

1996
03:04:06,315 --> 03:04:09,915
amazing purchase, and, in fact, they

1997
03:04:11,253 --> 03:04:14,590
developed the brand now where Kaua'i

1998
03:04:14,590 --> 03:04:17,659
Coffee is all across the world, which

1999
03:04:17,659 --> 03:04:22,130
would never have been possible if that sale

2000
03:04:22,130 --> 03:04:25,730
never occurred. My question is with

2001
03:04:28,555 --> 03:04:32,755
massimo -- how do you pronounce that.

2002
03:04:34,295 --> 03:04:36,630
>> Massimo Zen yety. >> Italian name.

2003
03:04:36,630 --> 03:04:40,230
>> I thought it was Portuguese. That

2004
03:04:40,834 --> 03:04:42,903
came, this global distribution system

2005
03:04:42,903 --> 03:04:46,240
that allowed for Kaua'i Coffee now to

2006
03:04:46,240 --> 03:04:48,576
be sold across the globe, and, in fact

2007
03:04:48,576 --> 03:04:52,980
if I'm not mistaken, I could be wrong,

2008
03:04:52,980 --> 03:04:57,117
correct me if I'm wrong, isn't our

2009
03:04:57,117 --> 03:04:59,253
coffee sales abroad more than -- I

2010
03:04:59,253 --> 03:05:03,658
heard I could be wrong -- no? >> I need to get back --

2011
03:05:03,658 --> 03:05:07,258
>> I read that somewhere. But the

2012
03:05:10,331 --> 03:05:13,266
point is let's say I was interested in

2013
03:05:13,266 --> 03:05:14,935
purchasing the farm. Let's say Mel

2014
03:05:14,935 --> 03:05:16,737
Rapozo all of a sudden wants to be a

2015
03:05:16,737 --> 03:05:18,806
coffee guy and I find some investors

2016
03:05:18,806 --> 03:05:22,743
and we buy the land, and we work out

2017
03:05:22,743 --> 03:05:25,746
the agreements. What will be missing

2018
03:05:25,746 --> 03:05:28,746
is this global distribution network

2019
03:05:30,217 --> 03:05:36,817
that is required to sustain the business; right? If not for

2020
03:05:37,958 --> 03:05:39,559
massimo Zenetty's purchase of the

2021
03:05:39,559 --> 03:05:43,159
property, that that business, of Kaua'i

2022
03:05:44,699 --> 03:05:46,567
Coffee in 2011, do you think we would be

2023
03:05:46,567 --> 03:05:48,235
where we're at with Kaua'i Coffee?

2024
03:05:48,235 --> 03:05:50,171
>> I was there during that purchase

2025
03:05:50,171 --> 03:05:53,774
and part of that purchase and again, of

2026
03:05:53,774 --> 03:05:55,410
the three critical elements, Alexander

2027
03:05:55,410 --> 03:05:59,241
& Baldwin had half of it, massimo Zen

2028
03:06:01,916 --> 03:06:05,185
yety had the other half and together

2029
03:06:05,185 --> 03:06:09,256
they had the wherewithal to develop a

2030
03:06:09,256 --> 03:06:10,992
fully integrated coffee company. And

2031
03:06:10,992 --> 03:06:13,127
generally speaking, you know, you could

2032
03:06:13,127 --> 03:06:14,928
have people that are good farmers. You

2033
03:06:14,928 --> 03:06:18,866
could have people that are good processers, and you could have

2034
03:06:18,866 --> 03:06:22,466
people that are good marketers. But

2035
03:06:23,404 --> 03:06:25,338
rarely do you have it on Kaua'i in one

2036
03:06:25,338 --> 03:06:28,942
place that you have it all. And look at

2037
03:06:28,942 --> 03:06:31,344
the number of different skills that

2038
03:06:31,344 --> 03:06:34,944
is required to maintain that. I

2039
03:06:38,486 --> 03:06:42,686
think that was the accomplishment of all

2040
03:06:45,626 --> 03:06:48,626
of these partnerships, and literally

2041
03:06:49,563 --> 03:06:51,563
they were partnerships.

2042
03:06:53,634 --> 03:06:57,371
>> I have two more questions. >> Go ahead.

2043
03:06:57,371 --> 03:07:00,971
>> Is there a pathway for Kaua'i

2044
03:07:01,108 --> 03:07:03,511
Coffee to survive off of that property?

2045
03:07:03,511 --> 03:07:05,580
Is there going to be any kind of way

2046
03:07:05,580 --> 03:07:10,980
you can feather on to new land? I know

2047
03:07:11,318 --> 03:07:15,389
it take a while to grow new plants,

2048
03:07:15,389 --> 03:07:16,791
probably, two, three fours year for

2049
03:07:16,791 --> 03:07:20,268
maturity. >> So get a crop -- assuming

2050
03:07:20,268 --> 03:07:25,680
that you had a good varietal selected to

2051
03:07:25,140 --> 03:07:27,800
propagate, to plant it, and to have it

2052
03:07:27,800 --> 03:07:30,478
mature at least five years. >> But we have a good crop.

2053
03:07:30,478 --> 03:07:32,747
So we can just move that crop; right?

2054
03:07:32,747 --> 03:07:36,684
But it would take five years. In

2055
03:07:36,684 --> 03:07:37,618
terms of the variety?

2056
03:07:37,618 --> 03:07:41,218
>> You would probably because of the

2057
03:07:43,357 --> 03:07:46,761
issues with CBB and coffee leaf and

2058
03:07:46,761 --> 03:07:48,960
brewers you would probably want to

2059
03:07:48,960 --> 03:07:51,500
start in a fresh area with a fresh

2060
03:07:51,500 --> 03:07:54,102
coffee plantings. You don't want to

2061
03:07:54,102 --> 03:07:56,771
carry over. >> We would have the seeds

2062
03:07:56,771 --> 03:08:00,175
though. We know what variety we want.

2063
03:08:00,175 --> 03:08:02,845
>> We'll probably want to diversify

2064
03:08:02,845 --> 03:08:05,460
even more. Currently we have five

2065
03:08:05,460 --> 03:08:09,246
different coffee varieties that services maybe about 20

2066
03:08:12,187 --> 03:08:14,522
different coffee profileses that we

2067
03:08:14,522 --> 03:08:15,990
currently offer. We probably want to

2068
03:08:15,990 --> 03:08:18,593
expand that by different varietals

2069
03:08:18,593 --> 03:08:22,193
>> But your market could manage that

2070
03:08:22,730 --> 03:08:24,398
transition if it's abrupt, like the end

2071
03:08:24,398 --> 03:08:27,398
of March? >> That is correct.

2072
03:08:27,869 --> 03:08:29,804
>> Then the other question is probably

2073
03:08:29,804 --> 03:08:31,740
hard to answer, but you're here right

2074
03:08:31,740 --> 03:08:37,140
now. How can we help? >> Hopefully by having this

2075
03:08:43,284 --> 03:08:45,220
conversation, that we can create a

2076
03:08:45,220 --> 03:08:48,356
pathway that is a little longer than

2077
03:08:48,356 --> 03:08:50,558
March. It will help us better transition.

2078
03:08:50,558 --> 03:08:53,695
>> Do you have land that you can move

2079
03:08:53,695 --> 03:08:57,295
to? >> We'll certainly -- if we

2080
03:08:57,631 --> 03:09:01,831
had the runway to do that, we'll

2081
03:09:01,970 --> 03:09:04,305
aggressively start seek something

2082
03:09:04,305 --> 03:09:07,410
alternative. >> Because there seems like

2083
03:09:07,410 --> 03:09:10,641
there's plenty of available farmland on

2084
03:09:10,645 --> 03:09:12,580
the West side

2085
03:09:12,580 --> 03:09:15,580
>> It's consistent with the Community

2086
03:09:16,651 --> 03:09:19,788
Plans there. >> So I don't know if we can

2087
03:09:19,788 --> 03:09:22,560
do a Resolution or anything like

2088
03:09:22,560 --> 03:09:24,659
that? This is business. I'm happy to make

2089
03:09:24,659 --> 03:09:26,194
some phone calls, but I'm sure a lot

2090
03:09:26,194 --> 03:09:29,396
of those phone calls have been

2091
03:09:29,396 --> 03:09:31,932
made. But how can we get them to give you

2092
03:09:31,932 --> 03:09:34,269
a few more years? Or is there

2093
03:09:34,269 --> 03:09:35,804
certain amount of acreage? We can talk about

2094
03:09:35,804 --> 03:09:38,339
that later, but I would like to know

2095
03:09:38,339 --> 03:09:41,942
if you had -- if you let go of x

2096
03:09:41,942 --> 03:09:46,742
amount of acres, X amounts of acres and

2097
03:09:50,885 --> 03:09:52,486
to look at the machinery and

2098
03:09:52,486 --> 03:09:54,230
communicating with your team? Because there are

2099
03:09:54,230 --> 03:09:55,623
jobs out there; right? So I'm sure

2100
03:09:55,623 --> 03:09:58,250
that people will get other jobs and once

2101
03:09:58,250 --> 03:10:02,697
they are gone, it's hard to bring these

2102
03:10:02,697 --> 03:10:06,297
highly-skilled people back. So I want

2103
03:10:07,102 --> 03:10:10,380
to help you survive. >> Can we get back to you on

2104
03:10:10,380 --> 03:10:11,524
that? >> Okay.

2105
03:10:11,524 --> 03:10:16,924
>> Let us think about that. >> So just clarifying real

2106
03:10:17,931 --> 03:10:22,131
quick, 4 million trees, that is a lot

2107
03:10:22,470 --> 03:10:26,272
of tree. If you were to -- and I think I

2108
03:10:26,272 --> 03:10:27,941
heard you say, it would be better to

2109
03:10:27,941 --> 03:10:30,944
start fresh and plant new trees. I

2110
03:10:30,944 --> 03:10:33,120
don't know if you could plant 4

2111
03:10:33,120 --> 03:10:34,948
million trees, but whatever the case

2112
03:10:34,948 --> 03:10:37,884
may be, you wouldn't require 141

2113
03:10:37,884 --> 03:10:40,884
employees during that period; right?

2114
03:10:42,355 --> 03:10:45,559
I mean, you would lose until your crops

2115
03:10:45,559 --> 03:10:48,428
are ready, your crop of coffee is ready

2116
03:10:48,428 --> 03:10:53,166
to pick and roast and my concern is

2117
03:10:53,166 --> 03:10:55,569
that if there's a break in this lease,

2118
03:10:55,569 --> 03:10:58,772
and you go and plant, and acquire the

2119
03:10:58,772 --> 03:11:01,420
land, and prep the land, and there's

2120
03:11:01,420 --> 03:11:03,509
going to be a period of time, where

2121
03:11:03,509 --> 03:11:05,979
some of these employees are going to be

2122
03:11:05,979 --> 03:11:08,979
unemployed. >> We have coffee inventory.

2123
03:11:10,117 --> 03:11:13,717
The coffee that we harvested in

2124
03:11:14,120 --> 03:11:17,191
2025 has not yet been completely milled.

2125
03:11:17,191 --> 03:11:21,391
So we have inventory that will carry

2126
03:11:22,195 --> 03:11:23,463
us 18-24 months.

2127
03:11:23,463 --> 03:11:27,630
>> Right. But you wouldn't have --

2128
03:11:27,200 --> 03:11:29,202
where is all your equipment going to

2129
03:11:29,202 --> 03:11:32,940
be; right? Obviously you are going to

2130
03:11:32,940 --> 03:11:36,943
lose this land; right? >> If we're restoring

2131
03:11:36,943 --> 03:11:40,790
orchards it will still need the spray

2132
03:11:40,790 --> 03:11:42,215
tractors, everybody, but the harvesters.

2133
03:11:42,215 --> 03:11:45,686
>> But you would -- this would be

2134
03:11:45,686 --> 03:11:48,288
dependent on you finding land and

2135
03:11:48,288 --> 03:11:51,491
getting your equipment and your buildings set up to do all of

2136
03:11:51,491 --> 03:11:53,360
these activities; right?

2137
03:11:53,360 --> 03:11:56,290
>> Yes. >> I have a follow-up.

2138
03:11:56,290 --> 03:11:58,231
>> That was going to be my follow-up

2139
03:11:58,231 --> 03:11:59,899
question, having land is just one small

2140
03:11:59,899 --> 03:12:02,636
piece of the puzzle. You can plant as

2141
03:12:02,636 --> 03:12:04,637
many trees as you want and harvest, but

2142
03:12:04,637 --> 03:12:07,707
you need a whole entire facility to

2143
03:12:07,707 --> 03:12:09,710
process and distribute. So that takes

2144
03:12:09,710 --> 03:12:13,450
way longer than a year or two years or

2145
03:12:13,450 --> 03:12:14,781
three years to even try to do if you

2146
03:12:14,781 --> 03:12:21,381
are doing it from scratch. >> If you looking on the West

2147
03:12:23,724 --> 03:12:27,324
side with Gay and Robinson, DHHL,

2148
03:12:29,195 --> 03:12:32,795
this are agricultural suited lands with

2149
03:12:34,266 --> 03:12:37,137
sufficient water supply that look

2150
03:12:37,137 --> 03:12:40,406
pretty good actually. >> So your facility now that

2151
03:12:40,406 --> 03:12:43,276
you require for all of the -- I

2152
03:12:43,276 --> 03:12:46,212
don't know coffee, but that -- are you

2153
03:12:46,212 --> 03:12:48,948
picking up your equipment here and moving

2154
03:12:48,948 --> 03:12:52,850
it to the new site, is that how it

2155
03:12:52,850 --> 03:12:53,953
would work? If that happens then so

2156
03:12:53,953 --> 03:12:56,422
much for the new owners to be carrying

2157
03:12:56,422 --> 03:12:58,491
on with the coffee business like they

2158
03:12:58,491 --> 03:13:00,826
are saying they are?

2159
03:13:00,826 --> 03:13:03,370
>> That is part of the -- there's a

2160
03:13:03,370 --> 03:13:07,237
Section of our lease with conditions on

2161
03:13:08,709 --> 03:13:11,847
termination. And that is the reason

2162
03:13:11,847 --> 03:13:17,452
why there needs to be a serious discussion on asset purchase

2163
03:13:17,452 --> 03:13:21,520
agreement, if not, we're responsible for

2164
03:13:21,723 --> 03:13:24,325
moving the equipment that we want to

2165
03:13:24,325 --> 03:13:27,462
keep. Anything that is left behind

2166
03:13:27,462 --> 03:13:29,396
would be considered abandoned.

2167
03:13:29,396 --> 03:13:31,599
>> So Kaua'i Coffee is going to have

2168
03:13:31,599 --> 03:13:34,599
to make a decision. >> Yes.

2169
03:13:36,271 --> 03:13:40,471
>> Council Member Cowden. >> So this coffee inventory

2170
03:13:40,675 --> 03:13:44,275
that you have it's not roasted?

2171
03:13:45,279 --> 03:13:47,482
>> It's all in green form. >> Okay, if you have to leave

2172
03:13:47,482 --> 03:13:49,817
at the end of the March, how are you

2173
03:13:49,817 --> 03:13:52,817
going to process it anyway?

2174
03:13:55,890 --> 03:13:57,826
>> There's several outlets and we can

2175
03:13:57,826 --> 03:14:01,290
lease the current. >> You could lease?

2176
03:14:01,290 --> 03:14:02,631
>> That would be a discussion, you

2177
03:14:02,631 --> 03:14:03,564
know? >> Okay.

2178
03:14:03,564 --> 03:14:06,968
>> If that doesn't work we'll have to

2179
03:14:06,968 --> 03:14:09,771
look for a cold packer somewhere else.

2180
03:14:09,771 --> 03:14:13,371
>> Okay. >> There are a lot of

2181
03:14:13,908 --> 03:14:15,176
different permutations to this, and

2182
03:14:15,176 --> 03:14:19,376
because the situation is so fluid, the

2183
03:14:19,781 --> 03:14:23,981
ideal situation would be we'll get an

2184
03:14:24,785 --> 03:14:28,189
off-ramp of two years or more. So we

2185
03:14:28,189 --> 03:14:30,324
can sort of craft a win-win situation.

2186
03:14:30,324 --> 03:14:34,524
>> Okay. So you have -- you could

2187
03:14:34,528 --> 03:14:36,131
possibly do that. I'll just say for

2188
03:14:36,131 --> 03:14:37,866
the record, right after the property

2189
03:14:37,866 --> 03:14:42,700
was bought, I was able to go and speak

2190
03:14:42,700 --> 03:14:44,472
with Chad Brew, two days later for a

2191
03:14:44,472 --> 03:14:46,207
couple of hours and Kaua'i Coffee was

2192
03:14:46,207 --> 03:14:48,610
one of the first things I brought up.

2193
03:14:48,610 --> 03:14:51,880
So I was really relieved to hear there

2194
03:14:51,880 --> 03:14:54,820
was a commitment to keeping that going,

2195
03:14:54,820 --> 03:14:58,282
and that seemed like something that was

2196
03:14:59,487 --> 03:15:01,156
very Foundational, because removing all

2197
03:15:01,156 --> 03:15:03,250
of that coffee, all that, you know?

2198
03:15:03,250 --> 03:15:06,628
It's very expensive and I believe that

2199
03:15:06,628 --> 03:15:09,764
is all important ag land and correct me

2200
03:15:09,764 --> 03:15:14,564
if I'm wrong, that can't get turn into

2201
03:15:20,308 --> 03:15:22,244
another Kukui'ula, is that correct?

2202
03:15:22,244 --> 03:15:26,470
>> There's only a sliver of that land

2203
03:15:26,470 --> 03:15:29,317
that is ial. It would require rezoning, but the fact of the

2204
03:15:29,317 --> 03:15:31,186
matter is it could be.

2205
03:15:31,186 --> 03:15:32,854
>> We don't have the roads and the

2206
03:15:32,854 --> 03:15:36,391
water and everything else >> Neither did Kukui'ula when

2207
03:15:36,391 --> 03:15:38,326
they started.

2208
03:15:38,326 --> 03:15:41,926
>> Okay. >> You know? I'm hoping that

2209
03:15:42,530 --> 03:15:46,730
is not the intent. Because that would

2210
03:15:46,801 --> 03:15:49,871
be sad. If that is the intent, again,

2211
03:15:49,871 --> 03:15:52,407
back to the disrespect that we talked

2212
03:15:52,407 --> 03:15:54,762
about earlier. That would be sad for

2213
03:15:54,762 --> 03:15:56,897
these guys to come in, purchase the

2214
03:15:56,897 --> 03:15:58,766
land, talk about preserving the AG,

2215
03:15:58,766 --> 03:16:03,370
and then turn around and I'm not saying

2216
03:16:03,370 --> 03:16:04,971
that is what they are doing, but I'm

2217
03:16:04,971 --> 03:16:07,173
saying that is not all important ag

2218
03:16:07,173 --> 03:16:09,420
land that you cannot farm. There's a

2219
03:16:09,420 --> 03:16:11,244
sliver, and I don't want to put you on the

2220
03:16:11,244 --> 03:16:14,114
spot, because you guys are in

2221
03:16:14,114 --> 03:16:15,782
whatever negotiations you have. I'm

2222
03:16:15,782 --> 03:16:18,651
just saying in my research, there's that

2223
03:16:18,651 --> 03:16:20,721
sliver that is important ag land. So

2224
03:16:20,721 --> 03:16:25,580
that has to remain in farm, in AG, but

2225
03:16:25,580 --> 03:16:27,527
all the rest, that would be terrible to

2226
03:16:27,527 --> 03:16:31,599
get rid of Kaua'i Coffee to put up

2227
03:16:31,599 --> 03:16:33,733
another subdivision. Whether or not it

2228
03:16:33,733 --> 03:16:36,136
would even be passed through the

2229
03:16:36,136 --> 03:16:38,405
Planning and County Council at the time? I

2230
03:16:38,405 --> 03:16:40,874
don't know, but if that is the

2231
03:16:40,874 --> 03:16:44,474
intent, that is disappointing. That is

2232
03:16:46,279 --> 03:16:47,549
disappointing. You know, McDonalds

2233
03:16:47,549 --> 03:16:49,350
over here, I don't know if they own the

2234
03:16:49,350 --> 03:16:53,550
land. Let's say whoever owns that land

2235
03:16:53,554 --> 03:16:56,423
kicks out McDonalds and I go in to open

2236
03:16:56,423 --> 03:16:59,360
up a Hamburger store. I can take over

2237
03:16:59,360 --> 03:17:01,696
the place and take over the building

2238
03:17:01,696 --> 03:17:04,164
and they left back their stoves and

2239
03:17:04,164 --> 03:17:05,899
microwaves I will keep that, but it's

2240
03:17:05,899 --> 03:17:08,101
not a McDonalds. It's not going to be

2241
03:17:08,101 --> 03:17:11,571
a McDonalds. It's going to be Mel's,

2242
03:17:11,571 --> 03:17:13,974
and Hamburger is not going to taste of

2243
03:17:13,974 --> 03:17:15,576
the same. It probably tastes better,

2244
03:17:15,576 --> 03:17:19,776
but my point is the marketing of

2245
03:17:20,180 --> 03:17:23,780
McDonalds is what makes it successful.

2246
03:17:29,560 --> 03:17:31,592
Cheeseburger is better than McDonalds.

2247
03:17:31,592 --> 03:17:35,192
So the global distribution network is

2248
03:17:37,640 --> 03:17:40,934
what the value is at. Who decides to

2249
03:17:40,934 --> 03:17:45,406
buy the land it won't be Kaua'i Coffee.

2250
03:17:45,406 --> 03:17:47,540
It just wouldn't be. Ms. Holland.

2251
03:17:47,540 --> 03:17:49,611
>> I just wanted to follow-up on that.

2252
03:17:49,611 --> 03:17:53,680
Correct me if I'm wrong, aren't there

2253
03:17:53,680 --> 03:17:55,548
some accusations that they actually

2254
03:17:55,548 --> 03:17:57,885
intend to continue to brand under your

2255
03:17:57,885 --> 03:17:59,553
logo and your information even if they

2256
03:17:59,553 --> 03:18:02,222
do kick you guys out? Can you clarify

2257
03:18:02,222 --> 03:18:05,920
that? >> There's an option to buy

2258
03:18:05,920 --> 03:18:08,161
the brand. >> Oh. so they could.

2259
03:18:08,161 --> 03:18:11,761
>> >> There needs to be a brand

2260
03:18:13,320 --> 03:18:15,350
evaluation. That will require capital

2261
03:18:15,350 --> 03:18:17,303
on their part, just for the branding,

2262
03:18:17,303 --> 03:18:19,239
then they have to buy the inventory,

2263
03:18:19,239 --> 03:18:23,439
then they have to buy the equipment.

2264
03:18:24,911 --> 03:18:27,514
And that process really should have

2265
03:18:27,514 --> 03:18:30,249
started months ago, if that were their

2266
03:18:30,249 --> 03:18:32,249
intent. >> Thank you

2267
03:18:35,550 --> 03:18:38,655
>> Thank you. >> Any other questions? If

2268
03:18:41,461 --> 03:18:42,329
not, thank you, sir.

2269
03:18:42,329 --> 03:18:46,529
>> Thank you very much, Chair, for us

2270
03:18:47,476 --> 03:18:51,676
to really present our view of the

2271
03:18:51,947 --> 03:18:54,216
outcome, and the next 90 days that are

2272
03:18:54,216 --> 03:18:56,751
going to be critical. I would like to

2273
03:18:56,751 --> 03:18:58,553
thank the employees for spending their

2274
03:18:58,553 --> 03:19:00,622
day with us today. Thank you very much.

2275
03:19:00,622 --> 03:19:03,825
>> Well, that says a lot when you have

2276
03:19:03,825 --> 03:19:08,250
that many employees show up, you know?

2277
03:19:09,364 --> 03:19:12,166
And I'm on social media a lot, but I

2278
03:19:12,166 --> 03:19:15,503
also recognize that it's not the most

2279
03:19:15,503 --> 03:19:17,305
accurate source of information. And

2280
03:19:17,305 --> 03:19:20,510
that is why I wanted to hear it today,

2281
03:19:20,510 --> 03:19:23,112
so we could get it from Kaua'i Coffee

2282
03:19:23,112 --> 03:19:25,714
and understand from the people and

2283
03:19:25,714 --> 03:19:28,850
families. I just saw people in the

2284
03:19:28,850 --> 03:19:33,321
hallway I have known a long time and

2285
03:19:33,321 --> 03:19:35,923
not aware that they worked at Kaua'i

2286
03:19:35,923 --> 03:19:37,859
Coffee. I looked at your website

2287
03:19:37,859 --> 03:19:40,395
because I couldn't remember massimo's

2288
03:19:40,395 --> 03:19:45,195
name and what do you call it? Roasting

2289
03:19:47,135 --> 03:19:50,872
-- what is roast masters. They are

2290
03:19:50,872 --> 03:19:54,472
water? >> Cube rators. That is like

2291
03:19:55,144 --> 03:19:56,210
having a Ph.D. in coffee.

2292
03:19:56,210 --> 03:20:00,348
>> I look at the pictures on the

2293
03:20:00,348 --> 03:20:02,840
website and they are young local people

2294
03:20:02,840 --> 03:20:05,354
from here, that are roast Masters.

2295
03:20:05,354 --> 03:20:09,157
It's such a -- it's hard to imagine

2296
03:20:09,157 --> 03:20:14,557
Kaua'i Coffee gone. It's like, Ishihara's. You know? You

2297
03:20:17,766 --> 03:20:20,235
just get so used to it, it's part of the

2298
03:20:20,235 --> 03:20:22,437
island. It's part of our culture. It's

2299
03:20:22,437 --> 03:20:26,108
part of our life. And then poof. It's

2300
03:20:26,108 --> 03:20:29,108
gone. >> I think that's the

2301
03:20:30,312 --> 03:20:32,447
seriousness of it, because to have it

2302
03:20:32,447 --> 03:20:37,247
developed to where we're today, it was a

2303
03:20:37,652 --> 03:20:40,255
very long journey. Again, with all of

2304
03:20:40,255 --> 03:20:44,392
the key elements that needed to be put

2305
03:20:44,392 --> 03:20:47,992
together and to have it dissolved

2306
03:20:48,396 --> 03:20:53,196
artificially, I think, that is the issue, and

2307
03:20:55,403 --> 03:20:57,739
the seriousness of it. Thank you,

2308
03:20:57,739 --> 03:21:01,339
Chair. Thank you for your questions.

2309
03:21:01,810 --> 03:21:03,412
>> Thank you. Anyone in the audience

2310
03:21:03,412 --> 03:21:08,212
wishing to testify? No? I will call the

2311
03:21:16,758 --> 03:21:19,895
meeting back to order. Any further

2312
03:21:19,895 --> 03:21:22,897
discussion? Ms. Cowden. >> Well, I really want to make

2313
03:21:22,897 --> 03:21:28,297
sure we find a way to have a solution,

2314
03:21:29,104 --> 03:21:30,773
because the legacy of what Kaua'i

2315
03:21:30,773 --> 03:21:32,440
Coffee has become, you know? That is

2316
03:21:32,440 --> 03:21:34,642
something that we have struggled to

2317
03:21:34,642 --> 03:21:38,242
create, you know, for economic diversity

2318
03:21:39,667 --> 03:21:41,535
and agriculture. You know, it's

2319
03:21:41,535 --> 03:21:44,535
deeply disappointing for Kaua'i to

2320
03:21:44,538 --> 03:21:46,674
endure this potential loss of -- it's been

2321
03:21:46,674 --> 03:21:49,209
a relatively new path forward in

2322
03:21:49,209 --> 03:21:51,612
agriculture relative to sugar. That

2323
03:21:51,612 --> 03:21:55,883
gives us hope for not having overdependence on the visitor

2324
03:21:55,883 --> 03:21:58,218
industry. I think Kaua'i Coffee has done

2325
03:21:58,218 --> 03:22:02,418
a very good job of things, like,

2326
03:22:03,156 --> 03:22:05,559
having an ecotourism piece there. It's

2327
03:22:05,559 --> 03:22:08,559
educational. It's a really good

2328
03:22:08,628 --> 03:22:11,632
presentation for what we do have. I

2329
03:22:11,632 --> 03:22:14,235
also appreciate the many different

2330
03:22:14,235 --> 03:22:16,903
efforts, like, working with Kaua'i

2331
03:22:16,903 --> 03:22:19,903
community correctional center to be

2332
03:22:20,400 --> 03:22:23,440
offering new potential for people who

2333
03:22:23,440 --> 03:22:26,644
maybe made mistakes and have been

2334
03:22:27,181 --> 03:22:28,515
incarcerated. There's many different

2335
03:22:28,515 --> 03:22:32,252
ways that Kaua'i coffee has been a

2336
03:22:32,252 --> 03:22:35,122
very good community partner. I don't

2337
03:22:35,122 --> 03:22:37,526
see benefit for our island, especially

2338
03:22:37,526 --> 03:22:44,598
-- you know, I don't mean to overemphasize the legacy of the

2339
03:22:44,598 --> 03:22:46,998
water distribution system, the

2340
03:22:47,935 --> 03:22:49,803
canals, and the reservoirs. We need to

2341
03:22:49,803 --> 03:22:51,939
really keep that going, you know? The

2342
03:22:51,939 --> 03:22:54,341
island could change in so many different

2343
03:22:54,341 --> 03:22:56,410
ways. The world economy could change in

2344
03:22:56,410 --> 03:22:58,612
so many different ways. And having

2345
03:22:58,612 --> 03:23:00,800
that knowledge that is really

2346
03:23:00,800 --> 03:23:02,283
important about how to manage the land,

2347
03:23:02,283 --> 03:23:04,418
how to manage the water is essential.

2348
03:23:04,418 --> 03:23:07,689
And then another thing that we look

2349
03:23:07,689 --> 03:23:10,357
at since the loss of different

2350
03:23:10,357 --> 03:23:12,760
agricultural products is the Fire

2351
03:23:12,760 --> 03:23:16,360
hazards that comes with unmanaged land.

2352
03:23:16,898 --> 03:23:23,498
And so we look hard to find agricultural tenants on the

2353
03:23:24,905 --> 03:23:27,441
land, if they don't own the land, to be

2354
03:23:27,441 --> 03:23:30,310
there. So it keeps us all safe in many

2355
03:23:30,310 --> 03:23:32,712
ways. So I just wanted to thank

2356
03:23:32,712 --> 03:23:35,583
everybody in this room who does the job that

2357
03:23:35,583 --> 03:23:38,184
you do, and to recognize the

2358
03:23:38,184 --> 03:23:43,457
contribution that you make to the island as a

2359
03:23:43,457 --> 03:23:45,993
whole. I hope very much that we can find

2360
03:23:45,993 --> 03:23:50,793
a way -- I'm hoping that BBCP is

2361
03:23:51,998 --> 03:23:54,200
listening and that somehow they are just

2362
03:23:54,200 --> 03:23:56,700
playing a hard game of cards because I

2363
03:23:56,700 --> 03:23:58,720
can't imagine if they are really

2364
03:23:58,720 --> 03:24:02,750
wanting to take over the coffee business

2365
03:24:02,750 --> 03:24:03,610
that aren't more deeply engaged in

2366
03:24:03,610 --> 03:24:05,678
making sure that they understand the

2367
03:24:05,678 --> 03:24:07,680
water systems and make sure that they

2368
03:24:07,680 --> 03:24:10,483
understand how to hang on to the team

2369
03:24:10,483 --> 03:24:14,683
that is creating this fine product. So

2370
03:24:16,824 --> 03:24:18,892
I haven't tried to step out of line and

2371
03:24:18,892 --> 03:24:21,428
insert myself in this. I wouldn't do

2372
03:24:21,428 --> 03:24:23,960
that without an invitation to do so

2373
03:24:23,960 --> 03:24:24,364
much and I don't know what I can

2374
03:24:24,364 --> 03:24:27,568
create, but I will try my hardest and

2375
03:24:27,568 --> 03:24:30,370
sometimes I'm pretty surprised that I'm

2376
03:24:30,370 --> 03:24:31,580
sometimes able to shove something some

2377
03:24:31,580 --> 03:24:35,384
way. I want you to know I'm right

2378
03:24:35,384 --> 03:24:37,186
there with you and we can talk about

2379
03:24:37,186 --> 03:24:39,655
that. But I would like to see -- I

2380
03:24:39,655 --> 03:24:43,260
would like to see our government do our

2381
03:24:43,260 --> 03:24:46,620
very best to keep you guys solid.

2382
03:24:46,620 --> 03:24:47,930
Because we have your back and want to

2383
03:24:47,930 --> 03:24:49,999
have your back and we need you, and we

2384
03:24:49,999 --> 03:24:52,680
appreciate you, and thank you all for

2385
03:24:52,680 --> 03:24:55,805
what you have done to create a product

2386
03:24:55,805 --> 03:24:57,807
that is really outstanding, and across

2387
03:24:57,807 --> 03:25:01,477
the nation, and I guess in the world.

2388
03:25:01,477 --> 03:25:05,677
So thank you. >> Thank you. Anyone else?

2389
03:25:07,483 --> 03:25:09,285
Mr. Kaneshiro.

2390
03:25:09,285 --> 03:25:12,488
>> I have a lot to say, but it will

2391
03:25:12,488 --> 03:25:14,624
probably be jumbled. So I will keep it

2392
03:25:14,624 --> 03:25:16,426
shorter. I don't need to hear people

2393
03:25:16,426 --> 03:25:18,827
come and testify. I know exactly where

2394
03:25:18,827 --> 03:25:20,631
they all stand already. I appreciate

2395
03:25:20,631 --> 03:25:25,431
them coming out and taking time to be

2396
03:25:25,435 --> 03:25:27,770
here. You know, Kaua'i Coffee is

2397
03:25:27,770 --> 03:25:29,772
exactly what I ran my campaign on

2398
03:25:29,772 --> 03:25:33,972
pretty much, you know? I said I'm

2399
03:25:35,645 --> 03:25:39,245
probusiness, proAG and that is exactly

2400
03:25:39,248 --> 03:25:40,716
what they do. More recently people

2401
03:25:40,716 --> 03:25:44,520
have asked how do we keep AG sustainable? My answer is that

2402
03:25:44,520 --> 03:25:46,122
we have to expand and we have to sell

2403
03:25:46,122 --> 03:25:48,590
our AG outside of Kaua'i, you know?

2404
03:25:48,590 --> 03:25:50,192
During COVID we realize that Kaua'i

2405
03:25:50,192 --> 03:25:53,662
cannot support itself. We have have

2406
03:25:53,662 --> 03:25:56,865
to reach out, outer islands and reach

2407
03:25:56,865 --> 03:26:00,203
the world and Kaua'i Coffee does just

2408
03:26:00,203 --> 03:26:01,338
that, marketing outside of Kaua'i and

2409
03:26:01,338 --> 03:26:04,606
doing a good job. So they have all of

2410
03:26:04,606 --> 03:26:07,276
the plusses that I ran on. They

2411
03:26:07,276 --> 03:26:10,413
provide a great economic impact to the

2412
03:26:10,413 --> 03:26:12,815
island. They provide jobs. They are

2413
03:26:12,815 --> 03:26:15,150
taking care of a large area of land,

2414
03:26:15,150 --> 03:26:17,687
AG land, which I think is precious to us

2415
03:26:17,687 --> 03:26:20,890
and we don't want to see developed.

2416
03:26:20,890 --> 03:26:23,689
You know, they provide a visitor

2417
03:26:24,293 --> 03:26:26,763
attraction. And so for me, I don't know what

2418
03:26:26,763 --> 03:26:30,166
the solution is. You know, I would

2419
03:26:30,166 --> 03:26:32,340
love to see Kaua'i Coffee stay there. I

2420
03:26:32,340 --> 03:26:36,234
don't know what the intention of the

2421
03:26:36,905 --> 03:26:38,841
landlord is, so it's hard to say what

2422
03:26:38,841 --> 03:26:41,110
direction this is going to go. But I do

2423
03:26:41,110 --> 03:26:43,712
hope that they find an amicable

2424
03:26:43,712 --> 03:26:45,915
solution and understand this is -- it's not

2425
03:26:45,915 --> 03:26:48,317
so easy to up and get rid of Kaua'i

2426
03:26:48,317 --> 03:26:50,253
Coffee and think they are going to run a

2427
03:26:50,253 --> 03:26:52,188
coffee company that is exactly the

2428
03:26:52,188 --> 03:26:54,791
same, or maybe a boutique coffee company

2429
03:26:54,791 --> 03:26:57,327
or something. It's not that easy.

2430
03:26:57,327 --> 03:26:59,620
Why do that? You know? At the end of

2431
03:26:59,620 --> 03:27:02,598
the day, with you have an operation that

2432
03:27:02,598 --> 03:27:04,533
is doing great, makes Kaua'i look

2433
03:27:04,533 --> 03:27:08,938
great. You know, why would you want to

2434
03:27:08,938 --> 03:27:11,140
interfere with that? I bring Kaua'i

2435
03:27:11,140 --> 03:27:14,610
Coffee, I have a friend in Las Vegas a

2436
03:27:14,610 --> 03:27:18,810
Council Member in Vegas and I'm always

2437
03:27:20,150 --> 03:27:22,951
bringing him Kaua'i Coffee. We have an

2438
03:27:22,951 --> 03:27:25,974
upcoming NACo event and it was sad I

2439
03:27:25,974 --> 03:27:28,777
said I have to the store stockpiling

2440
03:27:28,777 --> 03:27:32,648
because I don't know what is going to

2441
03:27:32,648 --> 03:27:36,848
happen. Any time Senate Dru Kanaha and

2442
03:27:39,921 --> 03:27:42,324
saying who has better coffee? Kaua'i

2443
03:27:42,324 --> 03:27:43,926
Coffee is the largest coffee Plantation

2444
03:27:43,926 --> 03:27:49,731
in the US, you know? So it is a legacy

2445
03:27:49,731 --> 03:27:51,533
and something to be proud of. I want

2446
03:27:51,533 --> 03:27:53,335
to see it continue. So anything that I

2447
03:27:53,335 --> 03:27:57,206
can do to help support you guys, I'm

2448
03:27:57,206 --> 03:28:00,876
all there. I will say, you know, for

2449
03:28:00,876 --> 03:28:03,876
landowners that have operations like

2450
03:28:04,746 --> 03:28:05,681
yours, future development other things

2451
03:28:05,681 --> 03:28:09,217
that they are trying do is dependent on

2452
03:28:09,217 --> 03:28:11,220
how they treat their tenants, what they

2453
03:28:11,220 --> 03:28:14,223
are doing with their land? And you

2454
03:28:14,223 --> 03:28:16,625
know, I'm just putting it out there, it

2455
03:28:16,625 --> 03:28:18,940
does affect and will affect what they

2456
03:28:18,940 --> 03:28:20,229
do in the future and how they will be

2457
03:28:20,229 --> 03:28:22,431
treated in the future, you know? You

2458
03:28:22,431 --> 03:28:24,433
encourage a good company like Kaua'i

2459
03:28:24,433 --> 03:28:26,635
Coffee, it's a lot easier for people to

2460
03:28:26,635 --> 03:28:30,835
approve things . You kick them out and

2461
03:28:31,439 --> 03:28:33,174
create destruction, it's harder to

2462
03:28:33,174 --> 03:28:35,844
approve things. That is just what I

2463
03:28:35,844 --> 03:28:38,180
have to say. It's pretty sad to hear.

2464
03:28:38,180 --> 03:28:41,490
It's been sad. I have a lot of close

2465
03:28:41,490 --> 03:28:44,253
friends that work there. And it's

2466
03:28:44,253 --> 03:28:46,855
definitely you look at our audit. They

2467
03:28:46,855 --> 03:28:48,257
talk about agriculture, Kaua'i Coffee

2468
03:28:48,257 --> 03:28:51,590
is in there, you know? As one of the

2469
03:28:51,590 --> 03:28:54,659
bright shining stars for agriculture on

2470
03:28:54,930 --> 03:28:58,400
Kaua'i. So I just really hope for some

2471
03:28:58,400 --> 03:29:00,869
type of amicable solution, or you know,

2472
03:29:00,869 --> 03:29:03,805
I wish they came with a plan that said

2473
03:29:03,805 --> 03:29:05,674
we're going make it better and help

2474
03:29:05,674 --> 03:29:08,476
provide more resources and help make

2475
03:29:08,476 --> 03:29:09,811
Kaua'i Coffee even bigger. So I don't

2476
03:29:09,811 --> 03:29:12,747
see that and it's pretty disheartening.

2477
03:29:12,747 --> 03:29:17,547
That is my comments. >> Thank you. Mr. Bulosan.

2478
03:29:18,954 --> 03:29:21,289
>> I want to echo everything that

2479
03:29:21,289 --> 03:29:23,159
Council Member Kaneshiro shared,

2480
03:29:23,159 --> 03:29:25,360
especially whether I first thought

2481
03:29:25,360 --> 03:29:28,960
about running, With businesses and local

2482
03:29:33,969 --> 03:29:35,904
people, it's hard to look into the crowd and

2483
03:29:35,904 --> 03:29:38,400
not be super mad and cry. So think

2484
03:29:38,400 --> 03:29:40,410
about what is happening to our community,

2485
03:29:40,410 --> 03:29:44,841
and the product that has been a staple

2486
03:29:44,914 --> 03:29:48,514
to generations of people that have

2487
03:29:48,583 --> 03:29:50,452
experienced coffee. Funny story, I

2488
03:29:50,452 --> 03:29:52,453
never drank coffee until two years ago,

2489
03:29:52,453 --> 03:29:54,523
so I never understand why coffee was

2490
03:29:54,523 --> 03:29:57,580
important, but now I know. Having a

2491
03:29:57,580 --> 03:30:02,458
21-month-old, I take -- [laughter ]A quad shot of

2492
03:30:03,531 --> 03:30:06,134
espresso every day now and I get it.

2493
03:30:06,134 --> 03:30:07,603
Get coffee to everybody, especially

2494
03:30:07,603 --> 03:30:10,138
parents. I don't know how you function or

2495
03:30:10,138 --> 03:30:13,141
even be a nice person until you have

2496
03:30:13,141 --> 03:30:15,753
coffee. So like in reality, what

2497
03:30:15,753 --> 03:30:17,354
happens to Kaua'i Coffee is like our

2498
03:30:17,354 --> 03:30:20,291
mental health is going to go really bad.

2499
03:30:20,291 --> 03:30:22,294
[Laughter ]Around the world, because if

2500
03:30:22,294 --> 03:30:25,229
you think about the experiences that

2501
03:30:25,229 --> 03:30:27,631
people get; right? Like I literally

2502
03:30:27,631 --> 03:30:30,902
went to the gift shop yesterday, what

2503
03:30:30,902 --> 03:30:33,237
is today? Monday. And you just see

2504
03:30:33,237 --> 03:30:37,437
the people coming out of there super

2505
03:30:38,420 --> 03:30:41,512
happy and super stoked and I had my

2506
03:30:41,512 --> 03:30:45,917
latte that changed my life for the next

2507
03:30:45,917 --> 03:30:50,254
three hours. For my wife and son I'm

2508
03:30:50,254 --> 03:30:52,323
not a grumpy guy, because I'm not that

2509
03:30:52,323 --> 03:30:54,992
old. It's like the earlier conversations, you know?

2510
03:30:54,992 --> 03:30:57,395
Again, thank you to Chair for putting this

2511
03:30:57,395 --> 03:31:01,465
briefing, and for Wayne for sharing with

2512
03:31:01,465 --> 03:31:05,665
us the actual details and everyone for

2513
03:31:06,300 --> 03:31:09,603
being here. Just like the earlier

2514
03:31:09,940 --> 03:31:12,343
conversations that we're having, like,

2515
03:31:12,343 --> 03:31:16,681
we have to stand up. Like this makes

2516
03:31:16,681 --> 03:31:18,483
no sense. It just feels like we're

2517
03:31:18,483 --> 03:31:22,753
starting this year with just a bunch of

2518
03:31:22,753 --> 03:31:25,890
attacks on our people, on our lands,

2519
03:31:25,890 --> 03:31:27,891
and it's like I just want to stand up

2520
03:31:27,891 --> 03:31:32,697
and not feel this way. Can we just be

2521
03:31:32,697 --> 03:31:35,633
in the space? Just make a living and

2522
03:31:35,633 --> 03:31:39,233
do good things, save lives, save

2523
03:31:39,303 --> 03:31:40,905
people's mental health and just be us,

2524
03:31:40,905 --> 03:31:44,776
you know? That is what I hope as we

2525
03:31:44,776 --> 03:31:48,245
deliberate and have these conversations, as everything

2526
03:31:48,245 --> 03:31:52,850
that is going on in the back-end and

2527
03:31:52,850 --> 03:31:54,852
the front-end, I just want everyone

2528
03:31:54,852 --> 03:31:57,922
to know that in this corner, Kaua'i

2529
03:31:57,922 --> 03:32:00,190
Coffee everyone related and all of the

2530
03:32:00,190 --> 03:32:02,927
organizations and the impact that you

2531
03:32:02,927 --> 03:32:06,530
guys do, we are -- I am, I am right

2532
03:32:06,530 --> 03:32:08,933
there with you guys. And any leverage

2533
03:32:08,933 --> 03:32:14,710
that I can do to help make sure that we

2534
03:32:14,710 --> 03:32:15,607
continue what you are going because you

2535
03:32:15,607 --> 03:32:19,143
are exactly -- you are doing exactly

2536
03:32:19,143 --> 03:32:23,814
what our community needs. Your business is exactly what we

2537
03:32:23,814 --> 03:32:27,284
need right now to be successful, and

2538
03:32:27,284 --> 03:32:30,487
continue to make the impact. So it makes

2539
03:32:30,487 --> 03:32:33,900
absolutely no sense why we're in this

2540
03:32:33,900 --> 03:32:37,290
situation with you guys, and I just

2541
03:32:37,961 --> 03:32:42,100
hope as we always hope; right? People

2542
03:32:42,100 --> 03:32:45,302
do good, businesses do good. Organizations can change their

2543
03:32:45,302 --> 03:32:49,706
minds and I hope minds get changed, I

2544
03:32:49,706 --> 03:32:52,106
hope. Perspectives get incorporated,

2545
03:32:52,443 --> 03:32:55,979
and that we keep going on a better path.

2546
03:32:55,979 --> 03:32:59,579
Thank you again, Chair, for putting

2547
03:33:00,853 --> 03:33:02,540
this briefing, and thank you all for

2548
03:33:02,540 --> 03:33:02,720
being here.

2549
03:33:02,720 --> 03:33:07,592
>> Thank you. Ms. Holland. >> Thank you, Chair. This is

2550
03:33:07,592 --> 03:33:09,212
another pretty upsetting topic. I also

2551
03:33:09,212 --> 03:33:11,349
echo a lot of what Council Member

2552
03:33:11,349 --> 03:33:15,286
Kaneshiro said. You know, we do need

2553
03:33:15,286 --> 03:33:20,240
more types of this agriculture. I want to

2554
03:33:20,240 --> 03:33:22,226
commend also how much improvement in

2555
03:33:22,226 --> 03:33:23,894
land management, and the incredible

2556
03:33:23,894 --> 03:33:25,495
benefits that you guys have taken up

2557
03:33:25,495 --> 03:33:29,695
over the last ten years. You know, 2491

2558
03:33:29,700 --> 03:33:31,301
was brought up, and you guys were

2559
03:33:31,301 --> 03:33:34,239
caught up in that. Actually

2560
03:33:34,239 --> 03:33:36,507
unintentionally. But the immediate response to

2561
03:33:36,507 --> 03:33:39,507
doing better, and to transitioning

2562
03:33:39,643 --> 03:33:42,780
into such -- so many changes that were

2563
03:33:42,780 --> 03:33:45,716
moved to move away from restricted use

2564
03:33:45,716 --> 03:33:47,918
pesticides and do what you could do was

2565
03:33:47,918 --> 03:33:49,920
an incredible showing of how much you

2566
03:33:49,920 --> 03:33:51,989
are imbedded in this community. I have

2567
03:33:51,989 --> 03:33:54,792
been so thankful and so encouraged by

2568
03:33:54,792 --> 03:33:58,392
that transition, and the many other

2569
03:33:59,262 --> 03:34:01,198
agricultural efforts that we need to

2570
03:34:01,198 --> 03:34:04,670
see, like these, to expand. We talk so

2571
03:34:04,670 --> 03:34:06,537
much about moving away from dependency

2572
03:34:06,537 --> 03:34:09,139
on tourism and we have goals to double

2573
03:34:09,139 --> 03:34:10,941
agriculture, double food security, but

2574
03:34:10,941 --> 03:34:13,610
instead, we see attackses like this on

2575
03:34:13,610 --> 03:34:16,814
such an important agricultural operation that we have. And at

2576
03:34:16,814 --> 03:34:19,830
this time, too, when so many familis

2577
03:34:19,830 --> 03:34:20,551
are struggling, cost of food have

2578
03:34:20,551 --> 03:34:23,220
gone up an average of 30% and most of

2579
03:34:23,220 --> 03:34:27,358
us had our rents or housing costs

2580
03:34:27,358 --> 03:34:29,560
doubled. And the West side is already

2581
03:34:29,560 --> 03:34:31,828
we're still coming off the back of a

2582
03:34:31,828 --> 03:34:34,828
pretty quick transition out of

2583
03:34:34,899 --> 03:34:37,902
Plantation, and the scale of 150 years of

2584
03:34:37,902 --> 03:34:41,438
history. So this is really upsetting that

2585
03:34:41,438 --> 03:34:44,708
they would come in and do this. It

2586
03:34:44,708 --> 03:34:47,577
just seems a very another

2587
03:34:47,577 --> 03:34:50,714
disrespectful move to our community and the 141

2588
03:34:50,714 --> 03:34:53,716
workers whose jobs are at-risk right

2589
03:34:53,716 --> 03:34:56,854
now. I emphasize and I'm just really

2590
03:34:56,854 --> 03:34:59,923
upset this situation has been brought

2591
03:34:59,923 --> 03:35:02,859
forward. My -- I grew up Kapahi. So I

2592
03:35:02,859 --> 03:35:05,662
didn't spend much time on West side

2593
03:35:05,662 --> 03:35:09,262
outside of my late boyfriend's history

2594
03:35:09,800 --> 03:35:13,300
growing up in camp 6. I didn't really

2595
03:35:13,300 --> 03:35:15,806
have a great appreciation, I think, for

2596
03:35:15,806 --> 03:35:18,806
how incredible that coffee operation

2597
03:35:18,943 --> 03:35:20,879
until I got a monitoring position

2598
03:35:20,879 --> 03:35:23,413
during Lima Ola and the expansion of

2599
03:35:23,413 --> 03:35:27,484
Lima Ola, where I spent a year literally parked between the

2600
03:35:27,484 --> 03:35:30,286
rows of your coffee. I have some

2601
03:35:30,286 --> 03:35:34,486
incredible pictures, too, of just all of

2602
03:35:34,491 --> 03:35:37,694
the flowers and just seeing those

2603
03:35:37,694 --> 03:35:39,496
giant tall harvesting shaky things

2604
03:35:39,496 --> 03:35:43,567
that go through the aisles. And I was

2605
03:35:43,567 --> 03:35:46,704
blown away by the operation and the

2606
03:35:46,704 --> 03:35:50,904
water. I got to watch the decommission

2607
03:35:51,441 --> 03:35:53,841
of that 110 -year-old difficulty

2608
03:35:56,450 --> 03:36:00,245
difficult that ditch system that was just

2609
03:36:00,593 --> 03:36:02,796
an incredible year in 'Ele'ele

2610
03:36:02,796 --> 03:36:05,265
with more rainbows than I have seen in my

2611
03:36:05,265 --> 03:36:07,200
life. It's literally the land of

2612
03:36:07,200 --> 03:36:09,200
rainbows. It's incredible.

2613
03:36:13,473 --> 03:36:16,750
As Council Member Cowden was saying

2614
03:36:16,750 --> 03:36:18,411
that if these people are listening that

2615
03:36:18,411 --> 03:36:20,281
they reconsider, because it's damaging

2616
03:36:20,281 --> 03:36:25,485
with all of us that feel this hit to

2617
03:36:25,485 --> 03:36:27,487
our community. And I don't have too

2618
03:36:27,487 --> 03:36:31,158
much to say except for I really hope

2619
03:36:31,158 --> 03:36:35,358
that a Resolution can come about that

2620
03:36:36,296 --> 03:36:38,498
doesn't result in you guys getting

2621
03:36:38,498 --> 03:36:40,500
kicked off the land. If there is any

2622
03:36:40,500 --> 03:36:42,903
else that this body can do, I would

2623
03:36:42,903 --> 03:36:45,505
encourage us all to do it. I don't

2624
03:36:45,505 --> 03:36:46,907
know how we possibly can, and this is

2625
03:36:46,907 --> 03:36:49,575
the reality of the world we live in

2626
03:36:49,575 --> 03:36:52,579
where money talks. But I really hope

2627
03:36:52,579 --> 03:36:54,648
that there's a solution that keeps

2628
03:36:54,648 --> 03:36:58,248
everyone's jobs and keeps Kaua'i Coffee

2629
03:36:59,186 --> 03:37:01,788
not just in its current state, but

2630
03:37:01,788 --> 03:37:05,324
growing. We need more orchards and we

2631
03:37:05,324 --> 03:37:07,927
need more of this type of agriculture

2632
03:37:07,927 --> 03:37:09,863
as Council Member Kaneshiro said about

2633
03:37:09,863 --> 03:37:11,465
exports. We talk so much about this

2634
03:37:11,465 --> 03:37:13,933
and this is just another hit that is

2635
03:37:13,933 --> 03:37:16,933
really upsetting. Thank you, Chair.

2636
03:37:16,937 --> 03:37:19,937
>> Thank you. Anyone else? Mr.

2637
03:37:20,700 --> 03:37:23,210
Kuali'i. >> I will just primarily just

2638
03:37:23,210 --> 03:37:25,945
want to express my gratitude to you,

2639
03:37:25,945 --> 03:37:28,948
Chair, for bringing this forward, and to

2640
03:37:28,948 --> 03:37:31,551
Mr. Katayama, and everyone at

2641
03:37:31,551 --> 03:37:32,953
Kaua'i Coffee for everything that you have

2642
03:37:32,953 --> 03:37:36,222
done over the years. I mean, you truly

2643
03:37:36,222 --> 03:37:39,826
have been a vital part of Kaua'i's

2644
03:37:39,826 --> 03:37:43,426
agricultural heritage, and local economy for

2645
03:37:44,970 --> 03:37:46,967
38 years; right? So I truly hope

2646
03:37:46,967 --> 03:37:49,235
and pray that something is worked

2647
03:37:49,235 --> 03:37:52,706
out. I mean, we definitely are at a

2648
03:37:52,706 --> 03:37:56,243
critical point. You talked about the

2649
03:37:56,243 --> 03:37:59,843
60-day advance notice, and March 28th,

2650
03:38:02,248 --> 03:38:06,448
2026, so in three weeks you have got

2651
03:38:06,719 --> 03:38:09,522
to make that notification. So I just

2652
03:38:09,522 --> 03:38:11,124
truly hope that something is worked

2653
03:38:11,124 --> 03:38:14,727
out, and I hope you will keep us posted,

2654
03:38:14,727 --> 03:38:16,195
and let us know if there's anything

2655
03:38:16,195 --> 03:38:20,333
that we can do to help. And communities

2656
03:38:20,333 --> 03:38:22,135
stick together and fight, and try.

2657
03:38:22,135 --> 03:38:22,803
Thank you, Chair.

2658
03:38:22,803 --> 03:38:26,205
>> Thank you. Anyone else? If not,

2659
03:38:26,205 --> 03:38:28,675
thank you all for being here today. I

2660
03:38:28,675 --> 03:38:32,211
know it's a long day. I just wanted to

2661
03:38:32,211 --> 03:38:36,411
clarify one thing that Arryl brought up

2662
03:38:36,883 --> 03:38:41,830
about Senator Kanaha. I am a coffee

2663
03:38:42,356 --> 03:38:44,223
aficionado, ask anyone here. This is

2664
03:38:44,223 --> 03:38:45,892
always, always, always filled with

2665
03:38:45,892 --> 03:38:47,828
coffee, morning to night. I can sleep

2666
03:38:47,828 --> 03:38:51,180
after drinking a cup of coffee. And

2667
03:38:51,180 --> 03:38:53,316
there's no dispute that Kaua'i Coffee

2668
03:38:53,316 --> 03:38:57,516
is better than Kona coffee. There's --

2669
03:38:58,121 --> 03:39:00,121
>> I agree. [Laughter ]

2670
03:39:03,260 --> 03:39:05,660
>> Tell Kanaha, sorry. Again,

2671
03:39:06,596 --> 03:39:07,932
thanks. Thanks for your patience. Thank

2672
03:39:07,932 --> 03:39:11,000
you for being here and it says a lot

2673
03:39:11,000 --> 03:39:13,300
what that many employees show up to

2674
03:39:13,300 --> 03:39:15,138
support their employer. The union

2675
03:39:15,138 --> 03:39:17,874
Representatives are here to support the

2676
03:39:17,874 --> 03:39:20,277
employees. So it says a lot. I don't

2677
03:39:20,277 --> 03:39:23,413
know where this road is going to end

2678
03:39:23,413 --> 03:39:26,350
up. I'm hoping that there's at least

2679
03:39:26,350 --> 03:39:30,550
an extension in the lease. So more

2680
03:39:32,880 --> 03:39:34,491
negotiations can occur. And worst-case

2681
03:39:34,491 --> 03:39:38,828
scenario is that if, in fact, the lease

2682
03:39:38,828 --> 03:39:40,697
does expire, that I hope that the

2683
03:39:40,697 --> 03:39:44,297
intention of the landowner is to

2684
03:39:45,350 --> 03:39:47,771
maintain that very important agricultural operation on the

2685
03:39:47,771 --> 03:39:51,174
island. I don't know how this works

2686
03:39:51,174 --> 03:39:55,974
out. My hope is that Kaua'i Coffee will

2687
03:39:57,180 --> 03:40:01,117
remain and continue, but that is well

2688
03:40:01,117 --> 03:40:03,119
above our reach. Thanks again.

2689
03:40:03,119 --> 03:40:04,788
Thanks for being here. With that, the

2690
03:40:04,788 --> 03:40:06,323
motion is to receive. All in favor say

2691
03:40:06,323 --> 03:40:07,857
aye? >> Aye.

2692
03:40:07,857 --> 03:40:09,993
>> Motion carried. Next item, please.

2693
03:40:09,993 --> 03:40:11,260
>> Chair, did you want to go to the

2694
03:40:11,260 --> 03:40:13,260
audit? >> Sure.

2695
03:40:13,796 --> 03:40:16,732
>> On page 2, C-2026-03 communication

2696
03:40:16,732 --> 03:40:18,201
from Council Chair Rapozo requesting

2697
03:40:18,201 --> 03:40:20,202
the presence of the Managing Director,

2698
03:40:20,202 --> 03:40:26,202
Director of Finance, and the Representatives of N&K CPAs,

2699
03:40:27,143 --> 03:40:29,780
Inc. to discuss the Annual

2700
03:40:29,780 --> 03:40:31,947
Comprehensive Financial Report, Single Audit

2701
03:40:31,947 --> 03:40:33,150
Reports, and management advideosor

2702
03:40:33,150 --> 03:40:35,219
report for the FY'[TKP*-RBG/] ended June

2703
03:40:35,219 --> 03:40:37,219
30, 2024. >>

2704
03:40:40,222 --> 03:40:44,422
Hang on. >> Before we take the motion,

2705
03:40:45,762 --> 03:40:50,562
it is my intention for a few reasons,

2706
03:40:50,766 --> 03:40:54,704
but I am going ask this Council to refer

2707
03:40:54,704 --> 03:40:57,440
this to the Committee next week, to the

2708
03:40:57,440 --> 03:40:59,840
Finance Committee next week.

2709
03:41:00,710 --> 03:41:04,470
Because I think we all got to see the

2710
03:41:04,470 --> 03:41:07,983
audit. We all got the audit and we did

2711
03:41:07,983 --> 03:41:10,855
meet with the Administration. Today

2712
03:41:10,855 --> 03:41:13,550
we'll hear from the Auditors and I want

2713
03:41:13,550 --> 03:41:14,924
to have an opportunity to digest what

2714
03:41:14,924 --> 03:41:17,393
we hear today and what we share, or

2715
03:41:17,393 --> 03:41:20,529
what the Auditors share with us to.

2716
03:41:20,529 --> 03:41:23,867
And have some time to formulate some

2717
03:41:23,867 --> 03:41:25,935
questions for the Administration rather

2718
03:41:25,935 --> 03:41:30,135
than drop it like bombs today, and

2719
03:41:30,273 --> 03:41:32,750
force them to be answering questions

2720
03:41:32,750 --> 03:41:34,277
that they may not be prepared to

2721
03:41:34,277 --> 03:41:36,545
answer. So ultimately that is what I

2722
03:41:36,545 --> 03:41:37,814
would like. It's obviously going to be

2723
03:41:37,814 --> 03:41:40,816
up to all of you. But I'm not saying

2724
03:41:40,816 --> 03:41:42,284
that we're not going to have the

2725
03:41:42,284 --> 03:41:44,260
discussion. I want to hear from the

2726
03:41:44,260 --> 03:41:45,961
Auditors. I want to hear from the

2727
03:41:45,961 --> 03:41:48,961
Administration and definitely have some

2728
03:41:48,965 --> 03:41:51,300
Q&A and discussion, but ultimately and

2729
03:41:51,300 --> 03:41:54,303
even more so, Mr. Carvalho is not here

2730
03:41:54,303 --> 03:41:57,306
to have this on the Committee agenda,

2731
03:41:57,306 --> 03:41:58,708
where we can expand the questions to

2732
03:41:58,708 --> 03:42:00,244
more and not put anybody on the spot

2733
03:42:00,244 --> 03:42:02,644
today. >> Move to receive.

2734
03:42:06,490 --> 03:42:09,585
>> Not, we're going move to refer to

2735
03:42:09,585 --> 03:42:11,320
the Committee. >> Refer later?

2736
03:42:11,320 --> 03:42:12,656
>> Why don't you go ahead and make the

2737
03:42:12,656 --> 03:42:15,658
motion. >> Move to refer to Committee.

2738
03:42:15,658 --> 03:42:18,727
>> I have a procedure question. >> Second.

2739
03:42:18,727 --> 03:42:20,596
>> There was so much noise in the

2740
03:42:20,596 --> 03:42:22,598
room, I couldn't hear the agenda item

2741
03:42:22,598 --> 03:42:24,935
that she was reading. >> It's the audit.

2742
03:42:24,935 --> 03:42:28,535
>> So that is agenda item 03. >> 2026-03.

2743
03:42:30,600 --> 03:42:31,941
>> So they are here in the room. So

2744
03:42:31,941 --> 03:42:33,810
we're still going to hear them today?

2745
03:42:33,810 --> 03:42:35,412
>> Yes, we're going hear from the

2746
03:42:35,412 --> 03:42:36,879
Auditors. We're going to hear from the

2747
03:42:36,879 --> 03:42:38,814
Administration. I just want to give us

2748
03:42:38,814 --> 03:42:41,950
an opportunity to expand the discussion

2749
03:42:41,950 --> 03:42:46,756
after -- I'm just asking >> I'm good with that. When

2750
03:42:46,756 --> 03:42:48,491
we move to defer

2751
03:42:48,491 --> 03:42:51,627
we're not moving to defer. >> We're moving to refer.

2752
03:42:51,627 --> 03:42:53,563
>> Refer. >> We're going refer to

2753
03:42:53,563 --> 03:42:54,563
Committee next week.

2754
03:42:54,563 --> 03:42:57,330
>> Do we refer it now or after discussion?

2755
03:42:57,330 --> 03:42:59,168
>> We can refer it now. Because it's

2756
03:42:59,168 --> 03:43:01,370
not -- we can do the motion to refer.

2757
03:43:01,370 --> 03:43:04,637
>> It's just for clarity we're going

2758
03:43:05,175 --> 03:43:09,311
hear it today? >> We're going to treat it as

2759
03:43:09,311 --> 03:43:11,447
a normal item. I just want to based on

2760
03:43:11,447 --> 03:43:13,916
what I read and what I expect to hear

2761
03:43:13,916 --> 03:43:15,651
from the Auditors I will have many more

2762
03:43:15,651 --> 03:43:17,453
questions, but I want to give the

2763
03:43:17,453 --> 03:43:19,789
Administration an opportunity to get

2764
03:43:19,789 --> 03:43:22,124
those questions in advance so they can

2765
03:43:22,124 --> 03:43:28,124
be prepared to respond. So with that we'll suspend the

2766
03:43:29,331 --> 03:43:33,531
rules and have the Auditors and Ms.

2767
03:43:38,141 --> 03:43:40,541
Reiko. >> Good afternoon, Council

2768
03:43:50,860 --> 03:43:53,686
Members. Reiko Matsuyama, Office of the

2769
03:43:54,230 --> 03:43:57,493
Mayor and I'm here to introduce the

2770
03:43:57,493 --> 03:44:00,295
Auditors from N&K. So before they are

2771
03:44:00,295 --> 03:44:02,831
going to give you PowerPoint

2772
03:44:02,831 --> 03:44:07,303
presentation of the audit. They are going to go

2773
03:44:07,303 --> 03:44:09,572
into the technical details of the audit,

2774
03:44:09,572 --> 03:44:12,572
and going over any significant

2775
03:44:14,710 --> 03:44:16,914
variances, or fluctuations from

2776
03:44:16,914 --> 03:44:18,714
prior-year. And then they are going to go

2777
03:44:18,714 --> 03:44:22,651
through some of the findings or all of the

2778
03:44:22,651 --> 03:44:25,521
findings. So there were five findings

2779
03:44:25,521 --> 03:44:28,725
this year, which is less than there as has

2780
03:44:28,725 --> 03:44:33,525
been at least in the prior-year. And I

2781
03:44:34,130 --> 03:44:37,617
just want to point out that all the

2782
03:44:37,617 --> 03:44:40,686
findings were like a record keeping type

2783
03:44:40,686 --> 03:44:43,890
finding, not any money going out the

2784
03:44:43,890 --> 03:44:47,289
door, not any money being laundered or

2785
03:44:47,427 --> 03:44:49,950
fraudulent or any of that kind of

2786
03:44:49,950 --> 03:44:51,631
stuff. So they will be here to explain

2787
03:44:51,631 --> 03:44:54,968
more of that. Obviously, we try to

2788
03:44:54,968 --> 03:44:59,390
avoid findings. But really the findings are what make us

2789
03:44:59,390 --> 03:45:01,774
better. They are ways for us to improve. So

2790
03:45:01,774 --> 03:45:03,376
we thank the Auditor for being

2791
03:45:03,376 --> 03:45:06,513
here and being able to uncover some of

2792
03:45:06,513 --> 03:45:09,582
the things that we have did

2793
03:45:09,582 --> 03:45:11,985
incorrectly in the past or overlooked in the

2794
03:45:11,985 --> 03:45:14,787
past. So that is what they are here for.

2795
03:45:14,787 --> 03:45:17,723
This is the only audit that we have

2796
03:45:17,723 --> 03:45:21,727
on the County that is a recurring

2797
03:45:21,727 --> 03:45:24,530
audit. We welcome other types of other

2798
03:45:24,530 --> 03:45:26,332
operational audits or others that we

2799
03:45:26,332 --> 03:45:28,201
can dive deeper into divisions. This

2800
03:45:28,201 --> 03:45:32,710
audit is done every year and unfortunately it's kind of a

2801
03:45:32,710 --> 03:45:33,540
continuous audit. It has been over the

2802
03:45:33,540 --> 03:45:36,476
last couple of years. And we'll get

2803
03:45:36,476 --> 03:45:40,679
into a little bit more of that. These

2804
03:45:40,679 --> 03:45:43,284
findings will help us, turn things

2805
03:45:43,284 --> 03:45:45,485
around and make sure we're doing things

2806
03:45:45,485 --> 03:45:50,689
better and find where areas of improvement are needed. We do

2807
03:45:50,689 --> 03:45:52,424
have some recurring findings,

2808
03:45:52,424 --> 03:45:54,960
meaning that there were findings in Fiscal

2809
03:45:54,960 --> 03:45:57,296
Year 23, and is there are again findings

2810
03:45:57,296 --> 03:46:00,296
in Fiscal Year 24. Those clearly

2811
03:46:01,900 --> 03:46:03,770
are unwelcomed, because it shows

2812
03:46:03,770 --> 03:46:06,390
that we did not improve. We did not

2813
03:46:06,390 --> 03:46:07,973
make the necessary adjustments from

2814
03:46:07,973 --> 03:46:12,173
year-to-year. I had say that for this

2815
03:46:13,112 --> 03:46:14,847
audit though, it leads us into the

2816
03:46:14,847 --> 03:46:18,447
bigger question, why this is still

2817
03:46:20,319 --> 03:46:22,321
delinquent and as we talk about the

2818
03:46:22,321 --> 03:46:25,921
audit, that is handsing down the

2819
03:46:26,392 --> 03:46:28,394
biggest problem of the audit that we're

2820
03:46:28,394 --> 03:46:31,994
so behind schedule. I fully recognize

2821
03:46:33,266 --> 03:46:35,201
that being so untimely makes the

2822
03:46:35,201 --> 03:46:38,801
information that is presented to you

2823
03:46:41,674 --> 03:46:42,875
basically irrelevant because we're 18

2824
03:46:42,875 --> 03:46:46,790
months past the information you are

2825
03:46:46,790 --> 03:46:47,813
looking at now. I fully acknowledge

2826
03:46:47,813 --> 03:46:50,350
that and I take full responsibility for

2827
03:46:50,350 --> 03:46:55,150
that. So as we sit here today, Malia

2828
03:46:56,622 --> 03:46:58,358
and Chelsea are basically cleaning up

2829
03:46:58,358 --> 03:47:01,227
the mess that I made, that I created

2830
03:47:01,227 --> 03:47:05,431
when I was the Finance Director. So I

2831
03:47:05,431 --> 03:47:07,366
will take full responsibility. So as

2832
03:47:07,366 --> 03:47:10,235
we go through this, I know you will

2833
03:47:10,235 --> 03:47:12,104
have questions about why we're so far

2834
03:47:12,104 --> 03:47:15,508
delayed? Ing And I will also say it's

2835
03:47:15,508 --> 03:47:19,708
not going to be corrected in the

2836
03:47:22,480 --> 03:47:26,848
immediate future and I will fall on the

2837
03:47:27,193 --> 03:47:31,393
sword for that. Malia and Chelsea are

2838
03:47:31,798 --> 03:47:33,533
doing the best they can with the help

2839
03:47:33,533 --> 03:47:36,871
of the Auditors. So I want to be fully

2840
03:47:36,871 --> 03:47:39,720
transparent, yes, we're late. We have

2841
03:47:39,720 --> 03:47:41,808
been late for fiscal 23 and late again

2842
03:47:41,808 --> 03:47:44,543
for fiscal 24 and we'll we late again

2843
03:47:44,543 --> 03:47:47,800
for fiscal 25. We'll try to chip away

2844
03:47:47,800 --> 03:47:49,215
at delinquencies to get us more caught

2845
03:47:49,215 --> 03:47:53,620
up. The delays also have an impact on

2846
03:47:53,620 --> 03:47:56,156
the Auditors' schedule. So we realize

2847
03:47:56,156 --> 03:47:57,623
that ideally, we're timely with this,

2848
03:47:57,623 --> 03:48:02,628
and that is all of our goals. Operationally, also for Malia

2849
03:48:02,628 --> 03:48:07,567
and her shop is that when she we can

2850
03:48:07,567 --> 03:48:09,502
finish this timely, she has more time

2851
03:48:09,502 --> 03:48:11,504
to work on her Staff and do training

2852
03:48:11,504 --> 03:48:13,773
for her Staff and find other

2853
03:48:13,773 --> 03:48:14,841
operational issues, or improvements that

2854
03:48:14,841 --> 03:48:18,577
they can do on a day to day basis with

2855
03:48:18,577 --> 03:48:21,381
regular operations and not involved in

2856
03:48:21,381 --> 03:48:25,718
the ACFR 12 months of the year. It does

2857
03:48:25,718 --> 03:48:30,723
prove a lot of burn up for this. As we

2858
03:48:30,723 --> 03:48:33,660
go through this, we recognize it's

2859
03:48:33,660 --> 03:48:37,263
late and there will be questions on

2860
03:48:37,263 --> 03:48:38,798
it. I will answer questions on why

2861
03:48:38,798 --> 03:48:40,267
we're late, but to make sure that you

2862
03:48:40,267 --> 03:48:43,603
folks know that is by far the biggest

2863
03:48:43,603 --> 03:48:47,803
issue with this audit. So with that,

2864
03:48:53,120 --> 03:48:55,682
>> Because I appreciate you falling

2865
03:48:55,682 --> 03:48:58,617
on the sword, Reiko. I appreciate you

2866
03:48:58,617 --> 03:48:59,886
taking full responsibility, but I also

2867
03:48:59,886 --> 03:49:04,357
want to make it very clear that as you

2868
03:49:04,357 --> 03:49:07,957
know you might say, findings and

2869
03:49:08,962 --> 03:49:10,897
findings are good and we learn and we

2870
03:49:10,897 --> 03:49:13,566
didn't lose my money, but the fact of

2871
03:49:13,566 --> 03:49:18,370
the matter, these are material weaknesses; which is the worst

2872
03:49:18,370 --> 03:49:20,240
kind of finding in an audit. These

2873
03:49:20,240 --> 03:49:22,175
happen every year. So we'll have some

2874
03:49:22,175 --> 03:49:24,978
discussion afterwards, but I want to

2875
03:49:24,978 --> 03:49:26,912
set this upfront, before we hear from

2876
03:49:26,912 --> 03:49:30,512
the Auditors this isn't simply findings

2877
03:49:30,650 --> 03:49:34,387
that make us better. And I am going to

2878
03:49:34,387 --> 03:49:39,187
be honest with you Reiko, we were late

2879
03:49:39,659 --> 03:49:42,128
last year, late this year and next

2880
03:49:42,128 --> 03:49:43,729
year. Is not acceptable. So you need

2881
03:49:43,729 --> 03:49:47,467
to tell us what we can do to make it

2882
03:49:47,467 --> 03:49:50,269
work. Is it staffing? Is it what?

2883
03:49:50,269 --> 03:49:52,472
That is just not an answer that I can

2884
03:49:52,472 --> 03:49:54,874
accept. Oh, we're going to be late

2885
03:49:54,874 --> 03:49:57,744
again next year. Because it just

2886
03:49:57,744 --> 03:50:00,144
exponentially compounds and gets

2887
03:50:03,483 --> 03:50:04,950
worse. So you'll have time and go

2888
03:50:04,950 --> 03:50:06,486
through the presentation, but this

2889
03:50:06,486 --> 03:50:08,870
Administration needs to start thinking

2890
03:50:08,870 --> 03:50:10,356
what this can Council do to help you in

2891
03:50:10,356 --> 03:50:12,240
this upcoming budget to make this work?

2892
03:50:12,240 --> 03:50:14,495
So that is it does be on-time? Do we

2893
03:50:14,495 --> 03:50:17,564
need to bring in a firm? Do we need to

2894
03:50:17,564 --> 03:50:20,100
contract a firm to come in to put

2895
03:50:20,100 --> 03:50:21,323
everything in order? This is not

2896
03:50:21,323 --> 03:50:23,323
acceptable. >> Yes

2897
03:50:23,324 --> 03:50:25,860
that we're going to be late next year.

2898
03:50:25,860 --> 03:50:28,195
>> We did bring a firm in, and we had

2899
03:50:28,195 --> 03:50:32,866
a firm working with us the last two

2900
03:50:32,866 --> 03:50:35,690
ACFRs and what we tried to do to bridge

2901
03:50:35,690 --> 03:50:37,405
that gap. It wasn't as effective as we

2902
03:50:37,405 --> 03:50:40,541
had hoped it would be in dumping more

2903
03:50:40,541 --> 03:50:44,545
of the workload onto them. So it could

2904
03:50:44,545 --> 03:50:48,145
be we weren't balancing correctly. But

2905
03:50:48,282 --> 03:50:50,484
really there's really nothing, like we

2906
03:50:50,484 --> 03:50:53,354
can't add positions. We could add

2907
03:50:53,354 --> 03:50:56,557
positions to Malia's Staff, but if we

2908
03:50:56,557 --> 03:50:59,557
hire just accountant trainees and

2909
03:51:00,227 --> 03:51:02,564
accountant 1s that is not going to help

2910
03:51:02,564 --> 03:51:06,990
her. We need to attract higher-level

2911
03:51:06,990 --> 03:51:10,899
accountants to figure out the complicated GASB GFOA

2912
03:51:12,239 --> 03:51:15,410
recommendations and that was our problem when

2913
03:51:15,410 --> 03:51:17,645
we lost -- when we lost five of the

2914
03:51:17,645 --> 03:51:20,645
eight accounting Staff, we lost

2915
03:51:20,981 --> 03:51:24,584
accountants 3s and above and we replaced

2916
03:51:24,584 --> 03:51:27,584
them with accountant trainees and

2917
03:51:32,726 --> 03:51:36,326
accountant 1s. We tried to recruit

2918
03:51:38,264 --> 03:51:40,533
higher-level accountants and they weren't in

2919
03:51:40,533 --> 03:51:42,736
the pool of candidates. Malia has

2920
03:51:42,736 --> 03:51:45,806
done her best and thank goodness we have

2921
03:51:45,806 --> 03:51:48,742
her and we have somebody helping her

2922
03:51:48,742 --> 03:51:52,790
now that will help us catch up. So I

2923
03:51:52,790 --> 03:51:54,479
don't think it necessarily

2924
03:51:54,815 --> 03:51:57,170
exaggerates the problem if we cut down the time

2925
03:51:57,170 --> 03:51:59,553
of delay. Because right now, we

2926
03:51:59,553 --> 03:52:01,688
should really be presenting fiscal 24?

2927
03:52:01,688 --> 03:52:03,824
>> We're one year behind. >> Yes.

2928
03:52:03,824 --> 03:52:08,240
>> So while you may at say it's

2929
03:52:09,429 --> 03:52:12,766
irrelevant, technically it is, but we

2930
03:52:12,766 --> 03:52:14,300
have internal issues that we have it

2931
03:52:14,300 --> 03:52:16,103
fix is what this audit is telling me

2932
03:52:16,103 --> 03:52:18,706
and we haven't been able to do it.

2933
03:52:18,706 --> 03:52:23,506
That is where I have a serious concern.

2934
03:52:33,520 --> 03:52:37,720
All right. >> If we issued a year-ago

2935
03:52:37,924 --> 03:52:39,393
versus issuing now, the number are not

2936
03:52:39,393 --> 03:52:41,528
going to change; right? The

2937
03:52:41,528 --> 03:52:44,864
Auditors do their job and the findings

2938
03:52:44,864 --> 03:52:46,660
wouldn't change necessarily unless they

2939
03:52:46,660 --> 03:52:47,668
are recurring. So the information

2940
03:52:47,668 --> 03:52:49,936
we're providing wouldn't have changed

2941
03:52:49,936 --> 03:52:52,739
whether we issued on-time or issued

2942
03:52:52,739 --> 03:52:55,141
now. But yeah, we fully recognize it's

2943
03:52:55,141 --> 03:52:57,544
late and it shouldn't be late and we're

2944
03:52:57,544 --> 03:52:59,546
doing what we can to correct it.

2945
03:52:59,546 --> 03:53:01,348
>> Why don't you get started? Thank

2946
03:53:01,348 --> 03:53:02,682
you for being here and thank you for

2947
03:53:02,682 --> 03:53:04,684
your patience. I know we're running

2948
03:53:04,684 --> 03:53:06,486
late from our technical issues later

2949
03:53:06,486 --> 03:53:10,860
on. What time is your flight? >> 3:00.

2950
03:53:10,890 --> 03:53:14,490
>> Okay, you will miss it. [Laughter ]

2951
03:53:20,978 --> 03:53:24,114
[Laughter ] >> If you could start by

2952
03:53:24,114 --> 03:53:26,116
saying your name for our captioner and

2953
03:53:26,116 --> 03:53:29,520
proceed. >> My name is Jong Bautista,

2954
03:53:29,520 --> 03:53:33,120
the audit engagement Principal and Andrew

2955
03:53:33,724 --> 03:53:37,610
Hodat as well. Today we're present

2956
03:53:37,610 --> 03:53:40,264
as Reiko said, June 30, 2024. So we

2957
03:53:40,264 --> 03:53:42,333
issued throw different reports for the

2958
03:53:42,333 --> 03:53:44,801
County. Starting with the Annual

2959
03:53:44,801 --> 03:53:46,404
Comprehensive Financial Report. Everyone

2960
03:53:46,404 --> 03:53:48,673
should have this large book. This is the

2961
03:53:48,673 --> 03:53:52,273
financial statements of the County also

2962
03:53:54,211 --> 03:53:56,615
issue a Single Audit Report on the

2963
03:53:56,615 --> 03:53:59,216
funds expended by the County and

2964
03:53:59,216 --> 03:54:01,850
management advisory report which is an

2965
03:54:01,850 --> 03:54:02,352
additional recommendation that arises

2966
03:54:02,352 --> 03:54:04,200
during the audit.

2967
03:54:04,200 --> 03:54:08,820
So we'll start with the ACFR. So going

2968
03:54:10,940 --> 03:54:12,960
onto the different sections starting

2969
03:54:12,960 --> 03:54:15,499
with page 1, that is an introductory

2970
03:54:15,499 --> 03:54:17,367
Section, including a transmittal from

2971
03:54:17,367 --> 03:54:20,437
the Department of Finance and also

2972
03:54:20,437 --> 03:54:21,305
management's discussion and analysis

2973
03:54:21,305 --> 03:54:25,420
for the results for that current Fiscal

2974
03:54:25,420 --> 03:54:28,420
Year. Page 14 is our independent

2975
03:54:29,513 --> 03:54:31,248
Auditor's report. In the second

2976
03:54:31,248 --> 03:54:34,851
paragraph we do state that we issued an

2977
03:54:34,851 --> 03:54:36,721
unmodified opinion. And the ACFR is

2978
03:54:36,721 --> 03:54:38,321
presented fairly, which is also known

2979
03:54:38,321 --> 03:54:43,794
as a clean opinion on GASB and government auditing standards

2980
03:54:43,794 --> 03:54:47,731
and we go over our basis for opinion,

2981
03:54:47,731 --> 03:54:50,401
that clarifies our responsibles as

2982
03:54:50,401 --> 03:54:54,601
you are Auditors for the audit, further

2983
03:54:56,407 --> 03:55:00,700
detailed on page 15 audit whether the

2984
03:55:03,747 --> 03:55:09,147
ACFR is clear from material misstatements and the standards

2985
03:55:10,422 --> 03:55:13,422
of GASB. Actually clarifieses what

2986
03:55:16,293 --> 03:55:19,363
procedures we did perform, including County's

2987
03:55:19,363 --> 03:55:22,320
internal control and audit procedures

2988
03:55:22,320 --> 03:55:24,901
related to risk assessment. If you

2989
03:55:24,901 --> 03:55:28,501
flip to page 17 we issued another

2990
03:55:29,840 --> 03:55:31,175
report under government auditing

2991
03:55:31,175 --> 03:55:33,110
standards that we'll discuss on another

2992
03:55:33,110 --> 03:55:35,646
slide. After this report, the ACFR

2993
03:55:35,646 --> 03:55:38,782
goes to your government-wide statements. Individual fund

2994
03:55:38,782 --> 03:55:41,782
financial statements, notes to the

2995
03:55:42,319 --> 03:55:44,719
financial statements, other required

2996
03:55:45,722 --> 03:55:48,722
supplementary information and unhe had

2997
03:55:48,926 --> 03:55:52,526
or audited statistical sections on next

2998
03:55:54,465 --> 03:55:57,401
couple of slides. Your County statement of net position

2999
03:55:57,401 --> 03:56:01,601
starts on page 31. So this is basically

3000
03:56:03,473 --> 03:56:05,760
the County's balance sheet. This

3001
03:56:05,760 --> 03:56:07,499
year there was no new pronouncements

3002
03:56:07,499 --> 03:56:09,167
issued for Fiscal Year 2024. So all

3003
03:56:09,167 --> 03:56:12,237
of the line items are consistent

3004
03:56:12,237 --> 03:56:15,173
year-to-year. There's no new line items, but

3005
03:56:15,173 --> 03:56:18,773
going down, the balance sheet for

3006
03:56:20,312 --> 03:56:21,646
significant balances with cash and

3007
03:56:21,646 --> 03:56:23,782
investments an increase of $59 million

3008
03:56:23,782 --> 03:56:26,451
primarily due to interest activity and

3009
03:56:26,451 --> 03:56:29,387
increases in fair market value of the

3010
03:56:29,387 --> 03:56:32,524
investments. Going down a couple of lines

3011
03:56:32,524 --> 03:56:34,926
other government. That had an

3012
03:56:34,926 --> 03:56:37,329
increase of $14.4 million. That is due to

3013
03:56:37,329 --> 03:56:38,864
increased grant activity in the Fiscal

3014
03:56:38,864 --> 03:56:41,532
Year. And the timing of work that was

3015
03:56:41,532 --> 03:56:43,669
performed and we'll see those changes

3016
03:56:43,669 --> 03:56:45,471
also in your statement of activities

3017
03:56:45,471 --> 03:56:48,673
when we go to the following page.

3018
03:56:48,673 --> 03:56:50,341
Though that capital assets had an

3019
03:56:50,341 --> 03:56:53,941
increase of $32 PST 6 million due to

3020
03:56:56,347 --> 03:56:58,282
construction in process of Lima Ola

3021
03:56:58,282 --> 03:57:01,282
housing development and various land

3022
03:57:02,154 --> 03:57:04,554
upgrades and improvements. Deferred

3023
03:57:05,490 --> 03:57:08,759
inflows on pension and OPEB, Other

3024
03:57:08,759 --> 03:57:10,495
Post-Employment Benefits. These always

3025
03:57:10,495 --> 03:57:13,495
have year-over-year changes based on

3026
03:57:13,898 --> 03:57:14,966
third-party actuarial reports that

3027
03:57:14,966 --> 03:57:16,834
driver changes in the balances. And

3028
03:57:16,834 --> 03:57:19,704
finally your net position had an

3029
03:57:19,704 --> 03:57:22,239
increase of $134.4 million. This is

3030
03:57:22,239 --> 03:57:24,376
attributable to current year increases

3031
03:57:24,376 --> 03:57:26,311
in the general revenues such as real

3032
03:57:26,311 --> 03:57:28,460
property taxes that we'll now go over

3033
03:57:28,460 --> 03:57:32,510
on our statement of activities which is

3034
03:57:32,510 --> 03:57:36,251
the following page. This page, this is

3035
03:57:36,387 --> 03:57:38,787
your income statement. Government-wide

3036
03:57:38,923 --> 03:57:42,793
for the County. So on the top left is

3037
03:57:42,793 --> 03:57:46,530
your expenses. For your government-wide. So there was

3038
03:57:46,530 --> 03:57:47,998
an increase here large portion

3039
03:57:47,998 --> 03:57:50,135
being due to temporary hazard pay that

3040
03:57:50,135 --> 03:57:52,137
was accrued prior to the issuance

3041
03:57:52,137 --> 03:57:55,673
of this ACFR to be paid out. And also

3042
03:57:55,673 --> 03:57:58,476
additional expenditures related to OPEB

3043
03:57:58,476 --> 03:58:00,611
and pension experiences. To the right

3044
03:58:00,611 --> 03:58:03,800
is your program revenue. So some

3045
03:58:03,800 --> 03:58:04,949
fluctuations there is an increase in

3046
03:58:04,949 --> 03:58:07,949
your capital grantss and contributions

3047
03:58:08,190 --> 03:58:10,355
of $60 million, and this is again

3048
03:58:10,355 --> 03:58:14,292
related to Housing and Urban Development and state

3049
03:58:14,292 --> 03:58:16,160
transportation construction work such as for

3050
03:58:16,160 --> 03:58:17,829
road improvements. This was shown

3051
03:58:17,829 --> 03:58:19,831
as increases in your capital

3052
03:58:19,831 --> 03:58:22,501
assets on your statement of net position.

3053
03:58:22,501 --> 03:58:23,969
Below that is general revenue. So

3054
03:58:23,969 --> 03:58:28,769
this is all of your taxeses so property

3055
03:58:28,773 --> 03:58:31,176
taxes with an increase due to new

3056
03:58:31,176 --> 03:58:34,646
construction on the island and slight

3057
03:58:34,646 --> 03:58:37,646
increase in the taxable properties.

3058
03:58:39,500 --> 03:58:40,518
And then unrestricted investment, and

3059
03:58:40,518 --> 03:58:42,987
interest earnings also had a large

3060
03:58:42,987 --> 03:58:46,587
increase, again due tot fair value

3061
03:58:47,658 --> 03:58:48,927
increases in investments. The last

3062
03:58:48,927 --> 03:58:50,462
item of note in the business type

3063
03:58:50,462 --> 03:58:51,729
activitis in [KHR-UPLT/] to the right

3064
03:58:51,729 --> 03:58:54,332
of that. There was a prior period

3065
03:58:54,332 --> 03:58:56,732
adjustment. This actually increases

3066
03:58:56,735 --> 03:59:00,335
your net position for your business

3067
03:59:00,482 --> 03:59:04,553
type activities related to a liabilities accrued for the

3068
03:59:04,553 --> 03:59:06,556
sewer fund. We'll go over that in further

3069
03:59:06,556 --> 03:59:10,756
details on one of the following slides.

3070
03:59:12,361 --> 03:59:15,961
So going on to page 34. Yes.

3071
03:59:23,305 --> 03:59:24,840
This presents each individual balance

3072
03:59:24,840 --> 03:59:26,575
sheet and income statement, two pageses

3073
03:59:26,575 --> 03:59:29,178
after that. So as a whole, we went

3074
03:59:29,178 --> 03:59:33,978
over the asset and liability fluctuations, but fluctuations

3075
03:59:40,723 --> 03:59:42,258
are on page 36. So the General Fund

3076
03:59:42,258 --> 03:59:45,594
had an increase of $13.7 million. So

3077
03:59:45,594 --> 03:59:49,131
again, this was due to tax revenue of

3078
03:59:49,131 --> 03:59:50,866
28.4 of an increase that was mentioned

3079
03:59:50,866 --> 03:59:52,802
from the statement of activities, and

3080
03:59:52,802 --> 03:59:56,338
again an increase in your expenditures

3081
03:59:56,338 --> 03:59:59,608
of 23.6. Because of $10 million in the

3082
03:59:59,608 --> 04:00:01,209
temporary hazard pay a lot of it went

3083
04:00:01,209 --> 04:00:02,745
into the General Fund. And on the

3084
04:00:02,745 --> 04:00:05,881
bottom of your General Fund column, we do

3085
04:00:05,881 --> 04:00:08,417
have a prior period adjustment related

3086
04:00:08,417 --> 04:00:09,485
to investments that were accounted

3087
04:00:09,485 --> 04:00:11,555
for in the General Fund, but it should

3088
04:00:11,555 --> 04:00:13,489
have been accounted for in the solid

3089
04:00:13,489 --> 04:00:15,624
waste disposal fund. So you will see

3090
04:00:15,624 --> 04:00:17,559
that exact same period adjustment,

3091
04:00:17,559 --> 04:00:19,562
just fliping it from the two funds.

3092
04:00:19,562 --> 04:00:22,697
On the solid waste disposal fund there

3093
04:00:22,697 --> 04:00:24,767
was a $6.6 million increase. This

3094
04:00:24,767 --> 04:00:26,436
was related to fair market values

3095
04:00:26,436 --> 04:00:28,437
of investments held in that fund.

3096
04:00:28,437 --> 04:00:33,109
And all the way to the right your

3097
04:00:33,109 --> 04:00:36,709
general CIP fund with an increase $19.6

3098
04:00:40,249 --> 04:00:44,449
million to help fund the projects. So

3099
04:00:45,121 --> 04:00:48,721
that was your fund financial statements.

3100
04:00:48,791 --> 04:00:50,793
Your disclosure notes to the

3101
04:00:50,793 --> 04:00:54,993
statements starts on page 51. I will skip

3102
04:01:01,403 --> 04:01:05,300
ahead to page 92. On the very

3103
04:01:10,279 --> 04:01:13,615
bottom is thish header for Employee

3104
04:01:13,615 --> 04:01:16,685
Benefit planss and really this details

3105
04:01:16,685 --> 04:01:18,354
the pension and OPEB plans. So

3106
04:01:18,354 --> 04:01:21,424
there was no major changes in estimates

3107
04:01:21,424 --> 04:01:22,692
are or year-to-year in measurement of

3108
04:01:22,692 --> 04:01:24,920
both liabilitieses

3109
04:01:24,920 --> 04:01:29,431
again, overall changes in your liability deferred outflows and

3110
04:01:29,431 --> 04:01:32,968
inflows, were due to changes in next

3111
04:01:32,968 --> 04:01:34,437
investment or net investment income,

3112
04:01:34,437 --> 04:01:36,380
benefits paid and other factors. Again

3113
04:01:36,380 --> 04:01:38,974
this information that Kaua'i picks up

3114
04:01:38,974 --> 04:01:41,974
comes from third-party actuary reports.

3115
04:01:43,979 --> 04:01:47,579
Another one starts on page 109. This

3116
04:01:47,849 --> 04:01:49,318
is the County's landfill liabilities.

3117
04:01:49,318 --> 04:01:52,655
So it's closure and post-closure care.

3118
04:01:52,655 --> 04:01:54,923
The current year increase here is due

3119
04:01:54,923 --> 04:01:57,993
to a change of some of the inputs in

3120
04:01:57,993 --> 04:01:59,462
the calculation of the estimate. So

3121
04:01:59,462 --> 04:02:02,640
there was a slight change in the amount

3122
04:02:02,640 --> 04:02:06,264
of additional years for Kekaha one and

3123
04:02:06,268 --> 04:02:08,700
Alaka for post-closure and monitoring

3124
04:02:08,700 --> 04:02:10,273
costs and at the same time, for Kekaha

3125
04:02:10,273 --> 04:02:12,673
2 landfill closure and post-closure

3126
04:02:12,876 --> 04:02:14,744
costs were increased due to forecasting

3127
04:02:14,744 --> 04:02:20,144
for inflation for that existing estimate. For those costs.

3128
04:02:21,216 --> 04:02:23,152
And the final notes that I wanted to

3129
04:02:23,152 --> 04:02:26,152
point out was on page 115. 115.

3130
04:02:29,492 --> 04:02:32,294
So here we have note 20 related to

3131
04:02:32,294 --> 04:02:35,300
restatements I mentioned earlier. So

3132
04:02:35,300 --> 04:02:40,235
that 8.8 million is that first paragraph. This was just an

3133
04:02:40,235 --> 04:02:41,971
error in the entry that recorded full

3134
04:02:41,971 --> 04:02:46,171
liability for a loan, but under GASB,

3135
04:02:46,175 --> 04:02:48,243
you just report what was drawn-down as

3136
04:02:48,243 --> 04:02:52,443
of year-end. So it was taking off

3137
04:02:55,384 --> 04:02:59,540
the 8.8 which wasn't drawn down yet and

3138
04:02:59,540 --> 04:03:01,590
the secondentry is related to the

3139
04:03:01,590 --> 04:03:03,392
adjustment to the governmental fund

3140
04:03:03,392 --> 04:03:05,794
under general and solid waste. So

3141
04:03:05,794 --> 04:03:07,996
again, the investments should have been

3142
04:03:07,996 --> 04:03:09,733
flip-flopped between general and solid

3143
04:03:09,733 --> 04:03:11,534
waste. But overall, in the statement

3144
04:03:11,534 --> 04:03:13,136
of activities there wasn't an effect,

3145
04:03:13,136 --> 04:03:16,339
because it's just between those two

3146
04:03:16,339 --> 04:03:17,873
funds. Additional information on this

3147
04:03:17,873 --> 04:03:20,342
prior period is going to be on the

3148
04:03:20,342 --> 04:03:23,212
single audit slides on the findingsing

3149
04:03:23,212 --> 04:03:23,945
and recommendations. Below that

3150
04:03:23,945 --> 04:03:26,149
finally we have a subsequent events

3151
04:03:26,149 --> 04:03:27,883
note. So we just wanted to mention

3152
04:03:27,883 --> 04:03:30,883
this was a significant transaction

3153
04:03:32,956 --> 04:03:35,958
subsequent to 2024, but that information was obtained prior

3154
04:03:35,958 --> 04:03:39,895
to the issuance of 2024. So it is

3155
04:03:39,895 --> 04:03:41,497
required that for users of financial

3156
04:03:41,497 --> 04:03:45,970
statements that you would disclose certain

3157
04:03:45,167 --> 04:03:48,167
significant transactions and this notes

3158
04:03:48,371 --> 04:03:51,373
the that County issued additional bonds

3159
04:03:51,373 --> 04:03:54,973
as additional refunding for A bonds.

3160
04:03:56,445 --> 04:04:00,645
So that concludes the ACFR portion of

3161
04:04:01,117 --> 04:04:02,451
significant transactions and disclosure

3162
04:04:02,451 --> 04:04:05,451
notes. >> Any questions on that

3163
04:04:11,394 --> 04:04:15,594
Section? Can you go over the landfill

3164
04:04:17,733 --> 04:04:19,100
closure again, page 109?

3165
04:04:19,100 --> 04:04:22,601
>> Yes. So under GASB 18 you are

3166
04:04:27,543 --> 04:04:31,480
supposed to accrue 30 years' of closure and

3167
04:04:31,480 --> 04:04:32,949
post-closure care in order to identify

3168
04:04:32,949 --> 04:04:34,282
the liability that should be there,

3169
04:04:34,282 --> 04:04:36,619
that the County will eventually pay

3170
04:04:36,619 --> 04:04:40,219
out. So there's two closed landfills,

3171
04:04:42,636 --> 04:04:45,372
Hal Akala and Kekaha 1 and estimated

3172
04:04:45,372 --> 04:04:47,107
the that post-closure care, since they

3173
04:04:47,107 --> 04:04:51,307
are closed would incur another one, two

3174
04:04:52,246 --> 04:04:53,914
years based on contracts already in

3175
04:04:53,914 --> 04:04:57,383
place. So they accrued for those costs

3176
04:04:57,383 --> 04:05:01,583
and Kekaha 2 that is still opened for

3177
04:05:03,389 --> 04:05:04,858
inflation costs that were in the prior

3178
04:05:04,858 --> 04:05:09,580
year. Tch any other questions for the

3179
04:05:20,730 --> 04:05:21,740
ACFR part?

3180
04:05:21,740 --> 04:05:25,780
>> Okay, with that I will hand it over

3181
04:05:25,780 --> 04:05:32,552
to Andrew for the single audit. >> So I'm going to go over the

3182
04:05:32,552 --> 04:05:36,152
two other handouts the Single Audit

3183
04:05:36,556 --> 04:05:39,250
Report. First if you turn to page 6,

3184
04:05:39,250 --> 04:05:43,960
the first report has a report on internal

3185
04:05:43,960 --> 04:05:45,366
control over financial reporting and

3186
04:05:45,366 --> 04:05:48,366
financial matters. One major highlight

3187
04:05:49,102 --> 04:05:51,838
this mentions the four findings that

3188
04:05:51,838 --> 04:05:53,774
we determininged to be material

3189
04:05:53,774 --> 04:05:56,430
weaknesses. If you flip to page 9, you

3190
04:05:56,430 --> 04:05:59,246
will come across the second report in

3191
04:05:59,246 --> 04:06:02,182
regards to the County's use of federal

3192
04:06:02,182 --> 04:06:05,652
funds under uniform guidance. So pages

3193
04:06:05,652 --> 04:06:08,922
9-1 is report of compliance on either

3194
04:06:08,922 --> 04:06:11,580
program internal control over compliance specifically and

3195
04:06:11,580 --> 04:06:14,658
reporting on the schedule of expenditures

3196
04:06:15,462 --> 04:06:17,131
of federal awards. Page 9

3197
04:06:17,131 --> 04:06:20,467
specifically there's a clean opinion on

3198
04:06:20,467 --> 04:06:24,667
compliance. From there, in this report, you

3199
04:06:25,338 --> 04:06:27,740
can flip to page 11 with the note

3200
04:06:27,740 --> 04:06:31,274
that we did not identify any material

3201
04:06:31,345 --> 04:06:34,481
weaknesses, nor significant deficiencies in internal

3202
04:06:34,481 --> 04:06:35,883
control specifically over compliance

3203
04:06:35,883 --> 04:06:40,830
and page 12 mentions the page of federal

3204
04:06:40,154 --> 04:06:43,357
awards as stated. From there, fliping

3205
04:06:43,357 --> 04:06:44,691
to pages 13-19. This breaks down

3206
04:06:44,691 --> 04:06:48,950
all of the federal programs with the

3207
04:06:48,950 --> 04:06:49,362
specific break down of federal

3208
04:06:49,362 --> 04:06:51,164
expenditures for the Fiscal Year, one highlight

3209
04:06:51,164 --> 04:06:55,364
to mention is that there was an

3210
04:06:57,103 --> 04:07:00,374
increase from the previous year, due to

3211
04:07:00,374 --> 04:07:01,442
housing and Transportation Programs.

3212
04:07:01,442 --> 04:07:04,111
The last thing before I flip to page 22,

3213
04:07:04,111 --> 04:07:06,513
which is the summary of Auditor

3214
04:07:06,513 --> 04:07:11,117
results is going to be this year we had

3215
04:07:11,117 --> 04:07:12,119
eight major programs, major federal

3216
04:07:12,119 --> 04:07:14,454
programs that we had to audit, and some

3217
04:07:14,454 --> 04:07:16,456
of that has to do with required

3218
04:07:16,456 --> 04:07:19,793
programs that need to be audited per the

3219
04:07:19,793 --> 04:07:22,929
Feds. Some of it has to do with the volume

3220
04:07:22,929 --> 04:07:26,529
of dollars that were spent during

3221
04:07:28,680 --> 04:07:31,605
this fiscal period. If you flip to

3222
04:07:31,605 --> 04:07:35,205
page 22, so this is basically a

3223
04:07:36,100 --> 04:07:39,100
high-level summary and John mentioned

3224
04:07:39,880 --> 04:07:43,480
financial statements. And we'll go more

3225
04:07:45,953 --> 04:07:48,890
into depth with specific listings of

3226
04:07:48,890 --> 04:07:50,157
all eight major federal programs

3227
04:07:50,157 --> 04:07:54,161
that we did have to audit. The last

3228
04:07:54,161 --> 04:07:59,561
thing of note is due to the County --

3229
04:07:59,901 --> 04:08:02,704
that was due to prior-year material

3230
04:08:02,704 --> 04:08:04,572
weakness findsingsment so that results

3231
04:08:04,572 --> 04:08:06,574
in a higher percentage of federal

3232
04:08:06,574 --> 04:08:10,110
expenditures that need to be audited.

3233
04:08:10,110 --> 04:08:14,515
>> Just real quick, if we're not -- if

3234
04:08:14,515 --> 04:08:18,585
we're a low-risk auditee, what is the

3235
04:08:18,585 --> 04:08:19,720
difference in number of programs

3236
04:08:19,720 --> 04:08:23,320
generally? >> As a low-risk auditee would

3237
04:08:24,580 --> 04:08:27,658
audit 20%. As a high risk auditee,

3238
04:08:28,864 --> 04:08:31,398
40%. >> One thing to note with the

3239
04:08:31,398 --> 04:08:34,268
mix of programs that were audited

3240
04:08:34,268 --> 04:08:38,468
during this fiscal period, some were must

3241
04:08:39,540 --> 04:08:43,740
selects. So that impacted some of it.

3242
04:08:45,546 --> 04:08:48,148
Moving on, we'll just high-level

3243
04:08:48,148 --> 04:08:52,348
summary of the types of findings. First

3244
04:08:52,686 --> 04:08:56,286
off is material weakness high-level as

3245
04:08:59,893 --> 04:09:02,293
Chair Rapozo mentioned deficiencies

3246
04:09:04,632 --> 04:09:05,834
in internal controls. One thing

3247
04:09:05,834 --> 04:09:07,101
to mention if you are talking

3248
04:09:07,101 --> 04:09:08,835
about compliance and federal awards

3249
04:09:08,835 --> 04:09:12,435
that would be listed as material

3250
04:09:13,174 --> 04:09:17,974
non-compliance. A significant deficiency is a deficiency or

3251
04:09:19,713 --> 04:09:22,113
combination of deficiencies, less

3252
04:09:22,651 --> 04:09:26,851
severe, but to call to attention to

3253
04:09:28,322 --> 04:09:32,522
your folks. One thing to mention is

3254
04:09:34,261 --> 04:09:35,463
the word "material." This will be

3255
04:09:35,463 --> 04:09:38,132
calculated based on the City's financial statements or in this

3256
04:09:38,132 --> 04:09:39,800
case the schedule of expenditures of

3257
04:09:39,800 --> 04:09:41,803
federal awards the dollar amount will

3258
04:09:41,803 --> 04:09:44,204
determine the materialitiality for the

3259
04:09:44,204 --> 04:09:45,940
particular year. In the case of financial

3260
04:09:45,940 --> 04:09:51,940
statements the amounts there. If any we'll get into the

3261
04:09:52,346 --> 04:09:55,820
financial statement findings. So first

3262
04:09:55,820 --> 04:09:59,282
off we have 2024-001 on page 23. This

3263
04:10:00,354 --> 04:10:01,422
is improved controls over

3264
04:10:01,422 --> 04:10:05,220
Financial Reporting. This is the first

3265
04:10:05,425 --> 04:10:07,628
of four material weaknesses. Basically

3266
04:10:07,628 --> 04:10:10,298
there's a bunch of post-closing journal

3267
04:10:10,298 --> 04:10:11,899
entries that came up during the course

3268
04:10:11,899 --> 04:10:14,501
of the audit and these entries needed

3269
04:10:14,501 --> 04:10:18,701
-- should be made before or during

3270
04:10:19,640 --> 04:10:21,108
year-end closing. One thing of note,

3271
04:10:21,108 --> 04:10:25,514
this is one of the repeat findings from

3272
04:10:25,514 --> 04:10:29,714
the previous audit. Second on page --

3273
04:10:32,640 --> 04:10:38,640
>> On the 23, you say we noted numerous instances, what is

3274
04:10:40,739 --> 04:10:44,339
"numerous?" >> So each fund, not every

3275
04:10:44,343 --> 04:10:47,279
fund, but each fund had multiple entries

3276
04:10:47,279 --> 04:10:49,615
not just one or two, but as far as the

3277
04:10:49,615 --> 04:10:53,685
count, we would have to go back to that.

3278
04:10:53,685 --> 04:10:58,485
>> Numerous is a lot. >> I don't think it's 100.

3279
04:10:59,910 --> 04:11:00,626
It's not 10.

3280
04:11:00,626 --> 04:11:04,826
>> It's definitely not 10. >> That is super numerous.

3281
04:11:05,497 --> 04:11:09,970
>> This was again, a repeat finding,

3282
04:11:13,905 --> 04:11:19,305
okay. And just if you could just -- I

3283
04:11:19,511 --> 04:11:21,380
know in your report you say what the

3284
04:11:21,380 --> 04:11:24,383
effect is, but I know like Reiko

3285
04:11:24,383 --> 04:11:27,853
mentioned, it's kind of more ministerial or

3286
04:11:27,853 --> 04:11:30,856
paper, you know, recording and not my -- I

3287
04:11:30,856 --> 04:11:35,656
want to make sure that there is no

3288
04:11:38,640 --> 04:11:41,640
potential for missing money, or

3289
04:11:44,537 --> 04:11:47,537
misallocation or misappropriation of funds.

3290
04:11:48,140 --> 04:11:50,809
>> We didn't detect that kind of

3291
04:11:50,809 --> 04:11:52,612
finding it's more about record keeping.

3292
04:11:52,612 --> 04:11:55,881
>> I know you didn't detect it. It's

3293
04:11:55,881 --> 04:11:58,751
not like you were looking for fraud.

3294
04:11:58,751 --> 04:12:02,821
What I'm asking does this finding tell

3295
04:12:02,821 --> 04:12:07,210
me that there is no misappropriation or

3296
04:12:08,160 --> 04:12:11,564
mis? >> So the objective of the

3297
04:12:11,564 --> 04:12:12,566
audit is not to findpraeed.

3298
04:12:12,566 --> 04:12:14,901
>> Correct. >> This does not tell you

3299
04:12:14,901 --> 04:12:16,901
otherwise, I guess.

3300
04:12:19,104 --> 04:12:21,104
>> Right. Okay. Next.

3301
04:12:22,508 --> 04:12:24,908
>> Page 24 and 25 covers finding

3302
04:12:33,385 --> 04:12:35,785
2024-002, material weakness 2 of 4.

3303
04:12:36,550 --> 04:12:37,989
It's a two-part finding so first off

3304
04:12:37,989 --> 04:12:39,592
during the initial piece of the audit

3305
04:12:39,592 --> 04:12:42,728
at the start of the audit and throughout, County's

3306
04:12:42,728 --> 04:12:44,930
investments were not recorded at fair value as

3307
04:12:44,930 --> 04:12:48,530
of June 30, 204 as stated in the

3308
04:12:48,734 --> 04:12:50,402
third-party custodian statements and the

3309
04:12:50,402 --> 04:12:52,404
second piece that John mentioned

3310
04:12:52,404 --> 04:12:54,740
earlier was a prior period adjustment that

3311
04:12:54,740 --> 04:12:56,760
needed to be occur between the General

3312
04:12:56,760 --> 04:12:58,610
Fund fund and Solid Waste Fund due to

3313
04:12:58,610 --> 04:13:00,120
accounting for an investment account in

3314
04:13:00,120 --> 04:13:02,120
the wrong fund.

3315
04:13:09,221 --> 04:13:12,221
Turn to page 26, 2024-003. Untimely

3316
04:13:14,293 --> 04:13:16,693
processing of expenditures. Material

3317
04:13:17,229 --> 04:13:21,902
weakness. This is -- this is a new

3318
04:13:21,902 --> 04:13:24,171
finding. So in this case, the County,

3319
04:13:24,171 --> 04:13:26,380
there are two things that came up.

3320
04:13:26,380 --> 04:13:29,638
First off, the County didn't record

3321
04:13:30,910 --> 04:13:32,178
roughly $622,000 of expenditures in the

3322
04:13:32,178 --> 04:13:33,847
current fiscal period. So it was

3323
04:13:33,847 --> 04:13:35,782
recorded, it was just in the wrong

3324
04:13:35,782 --> 04:13:38,518
period and cut-off issue. Secondly

3325
04:13:38,518 --> 04:13:41,518
there was approximately $1.9 million of

3326
04:13:41,654 --> 04:13:44,457
expenditures not initially tacked for

3327
04:13:44,457 --> 04:13:46,393
capitalization and initially recordeds

3328
04:13:46,393 --> 04:13:47,660
capital outlay expendituring, rather

3329
04:13:47,660 --> 04:13:51,860
than being designated to book as an

3330
04:13:55,100 --> 04:13:58,601
asset. I misspoke earlier. We have

3331
04:14:00,273 --> 04:14:05,673
three repeat findings, and four material weakness. So I

3332
04:14:06,479 --> 04:14:09,479
miscounted that. The last finding

3333
04:14:09,615 --> 04:14:12,180
2024-004 due to other government prior period

3334
04:14:12,180 --> 04:14:15,354
adjustments cited as a material weakness is a new finding.

3335
04:14:15,354 --> 04:14:17,900
John mentioned earlier was

3336
04:14:17,900 --> 04:14:18,691
specifically relatesed to the sewer fund,

3337
04:14:18,691 --> 04:14:22,891
and the County at the time overstated

3338
04:14:25,565 --> 04:14:27,500
liabilities by approximately $8.8

3339
04:14:27,500 --> 04:14:30,903
million rather than what was drawn down

3340
04:14:30,903 --> 04:14:35,174
in draws from the grantor as of fiscal

3341
04:14:35,174 --> 04:14:38,578
end. Keeping in mind, this came up due

3342
04:14:38,578 --> 04:14:41,180
to reconciliation provided by the

3343
04:14:41,180 --> 04:14:43,316
County during the audit, and some of

3344
04:14:43,316 --> 04:14:47,787
the information that came up in current-year activities caused

3345
04:14:47,787 --> 04:14:51,387
us to ask additional questions, which

3346
04:14:51,925 --> 04:14:55,461
resulted in this finding. I know

3347
04:14:55,461 --> 04:14:58,798
there's a lot that you folks have in

3348
04:14:58,798 --> 04:14:59,865
terms of discussion, and things that

3349
04:14:59,865 --> 04:15:04,650
you might be concerned about. So we

3350
04:15:04,136 --> 04:15:06,539
have good news, statute on prior year

3351
04:15:06,539 --> 04:15:08,541
finding last year's audit I believe we

3352
04:15:08,541 --> 04:15:13,279
had about, what was that? We had five

3353
04:15:13,279 --> 04:15:14,882
of material weaknesses, two significant

3354
04:15:14,882 --> 04:15:16,616
deficiencies for a total of seven

3355
04:15:16,616 --> 04:15:19,616
reported findings in laster's Single

3356
04:15:21,487 --> 04:15:25,687
Audit Report. Sorry, this is on page

3357
04:15:30,763 --> 04:15:34,167
35. You will see the status report in

3358
04:15:34,167 --> 04:15:37,903
the report. But finding 2023-001 is a

3359
04:15:37,903 --> 04:15:42,103
repeat finding that came up again as

3360
04:15:42,375 --> 04:15:44,244
2024-001 and then the investment

3361
04:15:44,244 --> 04:15:46,846
balance finding last year for 2023-002,

3362
04:15:46,846 --> 04:15:51,460
which came up this year as 2024-002.

3363
04:15:51,317 --> 04:15:53,720
The good news is the other findings

3364
04:15:53,720 --> 04:15:57,920
that we have of finding related to

3365
04:15:57,991 --> 04:16:00,391
reconciliation of interfund balances

3366
04:16:00,993 --> 04:16:04,330
2023-003, material weakness was accomplished. And we didn't

3367
04:16:04,330 --> 04:16:06,332
come across issues this year for

3368
04:16:06,332 --> 04:16:11,132
that. If you flip to the next slide,

3369
04:16:12,840 --> 04:16:14,850
2023-004 there was an issue regarding

3370
04:16:14,850 --> 04:16:17,210
controls over accounting for capital

3371
04:16:17,210 --> 04:16:18,223
assets regarding accounting for land

3372
04:16:18,223 --> 04:16:19,892
purchase. We didn't come across issues

3373
04:16:19,892 --> 04:16:22,628
for that in this current Fiscal Year

3374
04:16:22,628 --> 04:16:25,628
audit that was accomplished. Finding

3375
04:16:28,567 --> 04:16:29,901
2023-005 landfill post-closure cost

3376
04:16:29,901 --> 04:16:31,569
prior period adjustment material weakness,

3377
04:16:31,569 --> 04:16:34,573
we didn't come across issues regarding

3378
04:16:34,573 --> 04:16:36,708
that. I think there was an erroneous

3379
04:16:36,708 --> 04:16:41,508
accrual in the prior year, so that was

3380
04:16:41,580 --> 04:16:43,315
accomplished there. Finding 2023-006,

3381
04:16:43,315 --> 04:16:44,983
completeness of transient accommodation

3382
04:16:44,983 --> 04:16:49,721
tax revenue was a significant deficiency. We didn't note any

3383
04:16:49,721 --> 04:16:53,321
issues regarding that in Fiscal Year

3384
04:16:53,525 --> 04:16:55,925
24 audit. And lastly, 2023-007

3385
04:16:59,664 --> 04:17:02,801
reconciliation of lost data was a significant

3386
04:17:02,801 --> 04:17:06,205
deficiency during the prior year's audit

3387
04:17:06,205 --> 04:17:07,272
and we discussed with management and

3388
04:17:07,272 --> 04:17:09,274
looked at what they had done and we

3389
04:17:09,274 --> 04:17:13,474
believe that we think that is accomplished

3390
04:17:14,120 --> 04:17:18,212
as well. So seven findings from last

3391
04:17:18,951 --> 04:17:23,151
year's audit, two repeats down to four

3392
04:17:23,156 --> 04:17:25,156
in the report.

3393
04:17:29,940 --> 04:17:33,294
>> All right. >> The last report we'll cover

3394
04:17:36,340 --> 04:17:37,770
today is the Management Advisory

3395
04:17:37,770 --> 04:17:41,840
Report. So this is a smaller pile. Page

3396
04:17:41,840 --> 04:17:45,440
3, we discuss using this as an

3397
04:17:45,643 --> 04:17:49,181
opportunity to strengthen internal control and

3398
04:17:49,181 --> 04:17:52,181
operating efficiencies. Page we had

3399
04:17:54,530 --> 04:17:56,121
finding 2024-001 compile absents

3400
04:17:56,121 --> 04:17:58,123
records accurately. This is a repeat

3401
04:17:58,123 --> 04:18:01,660
finding during our audit we noted

3402
04:18:01,660 --> 04:18:04,529
Pfeiffer incidents that employee hours

3403
04:18:04,529 --> 04:18:06,665
didn't agree to the Department accrual

3404
04:18:06,665 --> 04:18:10,865
report, which is used for the ACFR.

3405
04:18:13,205 --> 04:18:18,500
>> I got a question. What is -- I

3406
04:18:18,770 --> 04:18:20,545
understand what work day is, what is

3407
04:18:20,545 --> 04:18:22,800
the Department accrual report, is that

3408
04:18:22,800 --> 04:18:26,170
a paper? >> That's -- so like I believe

3409
04:18:26,170 --> 04:18:28,200
what happens each Department will

3410
04:18:28,200 --> 04:18:31,200
submit their breakdown of employees'

3411
04:18:32,958 --> 04:18:35,627
vacation hours and sick and that

3412
04:18:35,627 --> 04:18:37,362
correlates, so they take that information from

3413
04:18:37,362 --> 04:18:38,697
each Department to calculate the

3414
04:18:38,697 --> 04:18:41,330
amount booked as a liability on the

3415
04:18:41,330 --> 04:18:42,100
financial statements.

3416
04:18:42,100 --> 04:18:44,703
>> I would assume though, and maybe we

3417
04:18:44,703 --> 04:18:47,172
can ask the Administration later, I

3418
04:18:47,172 --> 04:18:49,574
would assume that the Department,

3419
04:18:49,574 --> 04:18:51,511
wouldn't the Department accrual report

3420
04:18:51,511 --> 04:18:56,311
come from workday? >> It starts with workday, but

3421
04:18:56,715 --> 04:18:58,984
based on the previous set-up there's

3422
04:18:58,984 --> 04:19:00,919
a bunch of different reports, so it's

3423
04:19:00,919 --> 04:19:03,456
not like you can pull it and set it and

3424
04:19:03,456 --> 04:19:05,258
forget it. I beef there's a Mary Kay

3425
04:19:05,258 --> 04:19:06,793
Fualaau process to get it perfect point

3426
04:19:06,793 --> 04:19:09,262
A to point B and it's not as simple

3427
04:19:09,262 --> 04:19:11,197
as pulling the report, aleast it

3428
04:19:11,197 --> 04:19:14,333
wasn't at that point in time. Due to

3429
04:19:14,333 --> 04:19:16,337
that, there was some human error involved

3430
04:19:16,337 --> 04:19:20,537
and that resulted in some of the

3431
04:19:20,940 --> 04:19:21,874
findings that came up.

3432
04:19:21,874 --> 04:19:23,544
>> Okay. We'll wait for the Admin to

3433
04:19:23,544 --> 04:19:25,544
come up. >> Okay.

3434
04:19:27,413 --> 04:19:29,415
>> Next anybody else have a question

3435
04:19:29,415 --> 04:19:34,870
on that? That one is a burn for me.

3436
04:19:34,870 --> 04:19:37,356
>> And last item page 10 of the

3437
04:19:37,356 --> 04:19:40,956
report, just a status update. So

3438
04:19:40,960 --> 04:19:45,760
2023-001 as you folks know is a repeat

3439
04:19:47,100 --> 04:19:51,300
finding and just wanted to mention that.

3440
04:19:55,842 --> 04:19:59,442
>> Any questions? They won't be here

3441
04:20:01,781 --> 04:20:05,384
next week. So if you have a question

3442
04:20:05,384 --> 04:20:09,522
for them, ask them. >> They are so fast, it's kind

3443
04:20:09,522 --> 04:20:12,191
of challenging to keep up.

3444
04:20:12,191 --> 04:20:14,593
>> It's almost like hearing it again.

3445
04:20:14,593 --> 04:20:16,797
Go ahead, do you have a question?

3446
04:20:16,797 --> 04:20:18,865
>> Yes, please. I'm the newest

3447
04:20:18,865 --> 04:20:21,801
Council Member and I'm learning a lot.

3448
04:20:21,801 --> 04:20:24,336
And I am just wondering you guys, I'm

3449
04:20:24,336 --> 04:20:26,472
assuming you do this for municipalities

3450
04:20:26,472 --> 04:20:29,876
across the country? >> In the State of Hawai'i.

3451
04:20:29,876 --> 04:20:34,147
We do County of Maui as well. >> Okay. That's it?

3452
04:20:34,147 --> 04:20:36,820
>> We used to do County of Hawai'i,

3453
04:20:36,820 --> 04:20:37,550
but that was a couple of years ago.

3454
04:20:37,550 --> 04:20:39,887
>> In your experience of auditing,

3455
04:20:39,887 --> 04:20:44,690
even outside of that, whatever experience you have, is

3456
04:20:44,690 --> 04:20:47,493
findings of five findings like this kind of

3457
04:20:47,493 --> 04:20:51,310
a normal thing that you uncover

3458
04:20:51,310 --> 04:20:55,702
in audits of this nature? Or is it low?

3459
04:20:55,702 --> 04:20:56,636
Is it high?

3460
04:20:56,636 --> 04:20:59,639
>> I believe other Counties also had

3461
04:20:59,639 --> 04:21:01,841
similar amount of findings. >> Okay.

3462
04:21:01,841 --> 04:21:04,644
>> It's not out of the realm of

3463
04:21:04,644 --> 04:21:07,247
possibilities for an organization as

3464
04:21:07,247 --> 04:21:11,851
large as the County? >> If you were to rate these

3465
04:21:11,851 --> 04:21:14,254
findings, in your experience of really

3466
04:21:14,254 --> 04:21:17,189
bad things you may have found in audits,

3467
04:21:17,189 --> 04:21:19,992
and the best of the best, between 1-10,

3468
04:21:19,992 --> 04:21:24,792
can you give me a number of 10 being

3469
04:21:24,864 --> 04:21:28,464
the absolute best and 1 being the

3470
04:21:29,937 --> 04:21:30,603
absolute worst.

3471
04:21:30,603 --> 04:21:33,406
>> I'm not sure I could rate 1-10.

3472
04:21:33,406 --> 04:21:37,743
>> It was worth a try. Thanks. >> I have a follow-up on that.

3473
04:21:37,743 --> 04:21:41,881
My memory is a couple few years

3474
04:21:41,881 --> 04:21:45,218
ago, we got really a good star on our

3475
04:21:45,218 --> 04:21:47,821
audits. Is that right? We were doing

3476
04:21:47,821 --> 04:21:52,210
excellent? >> Well, we did used to finish

3477
04:21:53,160 --> 04:21:54,427
it in January.

3478
04:21:54,427 --> 04:21:58,270
>> We finished it on-time. Weren't we

3479
04:21:58,430 --> 04:21:59,311
getting acknowledged as having done

3480
04:21:59,311 --> 04:22:01,981
very good job on it? There was some

3481
04:22:01,981 --> 04:22:05,250
sort of -- >> If you used to submit by

3482
04:22:05,250 --> 04:22:08,850
that deadline of December 31st, you

3483
04:22:09,855 --> 04:22:12,925
would get the GFOA certificate of

3484
04:22:12,925 --> 04:22:15,594
excellence that used to be in the front of

3485
04:22:15,594 --> 04:22:18,265
ACFR >> So we had a certificate,

3486
04:22:18,265 --> 04:22:20,733
but I guess that is not determining

3487
04:22:20,733 --> 04:22:24,933
the number of findings , but we got

3488
04:22:25,137 --> 04:22:26,710
it done on time.

3489
04:22:26,710 --> 04:22:29,671
>> It's a participation trophy. >> All right.

3490
04:22:34,140 --> 04:22:37,820
>> You turned it in on time and here

3491
04:22:37,820 --> 04:22:40,218
is your little cookie. It's -- I

3492
04:22:40,218 --> 04:22:42,880
always question, like, yeah, we take so

3493
04:22:42,880 --> 04:22:45,688
much pride on certificates that means

3494
04:22:46,359 --> 04:22:52,230
you turned it in on time. >> I just want to support a

3495
04:22:52,230 --> 04:22:53,632
little bit of what you said.

3496
04:22:53,632 --> 04:22:55,168
>> Did you notice it's not Heber this

3497
04:22:55,168 --> 04:22:56,369
time. >> Yes.

3498
04:22:56,369 --> 04:22:59,171
>> I just want to make sure we don't

3499
04:22:59,171 --> 04:23:01,640
normalize having late, because it's too

3500
04:23:01,640 --> 04:23:03,509
late to actually be meaningful for this

3501
04:23:03,509 --> 04:23:08,309
budget, but I appreciate appreciate Malia. We just

3502
04:23:19,925 --> 04:23:24,125
whipped through this so fast, it's hard

3503
04:23:24,196 --> 04:23:26,732
for me to get questions, but I will

3504
04:23:26,732 --> 04:23:27,466
ask our team.

3505
04:23:27,466 --> 04:23:31,660
>> The Auditors are here to pretty

3506
04:23:31,537 --> 04:23:36,337
much the ACFR and the numbers and the

3507
04:23:36,409 --> 04:23:38,900
sheets. It's the findings. That needs

3508
04:23:38,900 --> 04:23:42,348
to come from the Admin. As far as it's

3509
04:23:42,348 --> 04:23:45,484
internal processes that are messed up,

3510
04:23:45,484 --> 04:23:49,221
and that is why in the beginning I'm

3511
04:23:49,221 --> 04:23:51,690
asking the Administration to tell us

3512
04:23:51,690 --> 04:23:53,626
what you need. That -- I'm not going

3513
04:23:53,626 --> 04:23:58,163
to be up here -- my biggest fear is

3514
04:23:58,163 --> 04:24:01,500
Malia quits that is my biggest fear

3515
04:24:01,500 --> 04:24:05,571
that Malia says screw this, they are

3516
04:24:05,571 --> 04:24:07,106
dumping everything on me. I don't want

3517
04:24:07,106 --> 04:24:08,974
to see that happen. That is why we're

3518
04:24:08,974 --> 04:24:12,645
here. That is the value of this audit

3519
04:24:12,645 --> 04:24:15,470
for us to make a determination, what do

3520
04:24:15,470 --> 04:24:19,785
we need to make that happen? I won't

3521
04:24:19,785 --> 04:24:22,721
buy the excuse we lost Staff, people

3522
04:24:22,721 --> 04:24:26,726
left, what do we need? If we have to

3523
04:24:26,726 --> 04:24:28,327
invest, let's invest to get it right.

3524
04:24:28,327 --> 04:24:30,729
I will tell you, it's going to be late

3525
04:24:30,729 --> 04:24:33,131
next year. If we're late next year

3526
04:24:33,131 --> 04:24:35,734
more than likely we'll be late the next

3527
04:24:35,734 --> 04:24:37,536
to year after that. So let's do what

3528
04:24:37,536 --> 04:24:40,139
we got to do to get it right. >> Yes.

3529
04:24:40,139 --> 04:24:43,750
>> That is my whole position. >> It's important for me,

3530
04:24:43,750 --> 04:24:45,477
because for me, I usually go through these

3531
04:24:45,477 --> 04:24:49,677
every single page and as noted make

3532
04:24:50,284 --> 04:24:52,860
my yellow sticky notes because I find

3533
04:24:52,860 --> 04:24:55,289
this is an essential piece for me prepping

3534
04:24:55,289 --> 04:24:56,557
my mindset for looking at the

3535
04:24:56,557 --> 04:25:01,228
budget and knowing where we need to make

3536
04:25:01,228 --> 04:25:04,565
differences. So you know, I needed

3537
04:25:04,565 --> 04:25:06,500
this a year-ago. >> Any more questions.

3538
04:25:06,500 --> 04:25:07,835
>> And there's a lot of changes.

3539
04:25:07,835 --> 04:25:10,835
>> Any questions for the Auditors?

3540
04:25:12,440 --> 04:25:15,511
>> Not their fault. >> If not, thank you

3541
04:25:15,511 --> 04:25:19,780
gentlemen. I guess you will make your flight.

3542
04:25:19,780 --> 04:25:21,316
If we have any questions, we don't

3543
04:25:21,316 --> 04:25:24,118
expect you to be back next week, but

3544
04:25:24,118 --> 04:25:27,121
we'll send them over if we have any

3545
04:25:27,121 --> 04:25:29,121
questions. >> Thank you.

3546
04:25:31,659 --> 04:25:35,329
>> Again, if you guys have any questions for the

3547
04:25:35,329 --> 04:25:38,132
Administration, that they can answer today, again, I

3548
04:25:38,132 --> 04:25:42,690
want to have a little more time to

3549
04:25:42,690 --> 04:25:47,469
digest, and that is entirely up to you all.

3550
04:25:47,608 --> 04:25:51,808
>> I have a question on the workday

3551
04:25:54,681 --> 04:25:56,950
finding. Is in a way we can update it

3552
04:25:56,950 --> 04:26:00,155
so we don't have to do manual work,

3553
04:26:00,155 --> 04:26:01,355
where workday works with the current

3554
04:26:01,355 --> 04:26:03,223
system that we have? It's always been

3555
04:26:03,223 --> 04:26:06,260
an issue, you know, of updating our

3556
04:26:06,260 --> 04:26:08,280
whole system. I know we put some money

3557
04:26:08,280 --> 04:26:11,899
into it. I don't know if we updated

3558
04:26:11,899 --> 04:26:13,500
anything yet or made the transition,

3559
04:26:13,500 --> 04:26:15,903
which I know is difficult to do.

3560
04:26:15,903 --> 04:26:18,840
Workday is a newer system and ideally

3561
04:26:18,840 --> 04:26:26,640
we would not like to do things manually. Have we been able to

3562
04:26:29,116 --> 04:26:31,587
do it so we don't have to do it

3563
04:26:31,587 --> 04:26:33,587
manually. >> Thank you.

3564
04:26:34,655 --> 04:26:38,125
>> Did they prepare you? >> I prepared myself -- yes,

3565
04:26:38,125 --> 04:26:41,462
they did. To answer Arryl's question,

3566
04:26:41,462 --> 04:26:43,531
it's been a continuous work in progress.

3567
04:26:43,531 --> 04:26:46,400
I have been like spending countless

3568
04:26:46,400 --> 04:26:48,803
hours trying to push the button

3569
04:26:48,803 --> 04:26:51,400
report and we magically have the beautiful

3570
04:26:51,400 --> 04:26:53,341
thing with all the right numbers in it.

3571
04:26:53,341 --> 04:26:55,676
The best I can explain based on my

3572
04:26:55,676 --> 04:26:59,276
knowledge of the workday system, there's

3573
04:26:59,546 --> 04:27:02,546
constant updates, workday sends us

3574
04:27:04,180 --> 04:27:06,154
annual things and we have this and this and

3575
04:27:06,154 --> 04:27:07,622
taking the knowledge, how can I use

3576
04:27:07,622 --> 04:27:09,357
this and make these reports to get you

3577
04:27:09,357 --> 04:27:11,759
folks what you want to see to make

3578
04:27:11,759 --> 04:27:14,295
sure that the end-user is happy? So far

3579
04:27:14,295 --> 04:27:18,495
in my research with this system, it's

3580
04:27:18,699 --> 04:27:19,633
a compilation of different

3581
04:27:19,633 --> 04:27:22,770
reports that I have to physically take from

3582
04:27:22,770 --> 04:27:24,906
this, put it in here, take from this one,

3583
04:27:24,906 --> 04:27:29,310
and put it in a spreadsheet, so the

3584
04:27:29,310 --> 04:27:30,911
Department liability report you asked the

3585
04:27:30,911 --> 04:27:33,382
Auditors about, that is my baby right

3586
04:27:33,382 --> 04:27:35,782
now, since Fiscal Year 24.

3587
04:27:37,118 --> 04:27:40,735
>> Let me ask a stupid question, if I

3588
04:27:40,735 --> 04:27:43,738
right now, if I went to our fiscal

3589
04:27:43,738 --> 04:27:46,474
person here Cody and said can you print

3590
04:27:46,474 --> 04:27:50,740
out a list of everybody's vacation

3591
04:27:50,544 --> 04:27:53,547
balances, she cannot do that on workday?

3592
04:27:53,547 --> 04:27:56,217
>> She from my knowledge she can do

3593
04:27:56,217 --> 04:27:59,353
like a record by each person, not all

3594
04:27:59,353 --> 04:28:02,953
on one piece of paper. >> Okay.

3595
04:28:03,891 --> 04:28:06,891
>> Staff by Staff? >> For certain.

3596
04:28:07,562 --> 04:28:09,297
>> So workday won't compile a list.

3597
04:28:09,297 --> 04:28:12,366
This is why I ask and you were here

3598
04:28:12,366 --> 04:28:13,902
last year. Last year we had the same

3599
04:28:13,902 --> 04:28:14,969
finding. >> Yes.

3600
04:28:14,969 --> 04:28:16,971
>> Last year were were told because we

3601
04:28:16,971 --> 04:28:19,374
had half of the year, we had workday

3602
04:28:19,374 --> 04:28:21,709
only half of the year. But next year,

3603
04:28:21,709 --> 04:28:23,711
we're going to be fine, because we're

3604
04:28:23,711 --> 04:28:26,460
going to have a full-year of the

3605
04:28:26,460 --> 04:28:28,316
workday. Well, we had the full-year of

3606
04:28:28,316 --> 04:28:33,116
workday and that is still here. What I

3607
04:28:34,721 --> 04:28:36,858
hear with workday we don't have the

3608
04:28:36,858 --> 04:28:38,526
ability to create overtime balance

3609
04:28:38,526 --> 04:28:39,727
reports even though workday is what

3610
04:28:39,727 --> 04:28:42,863
we're using? >> Are we talking about

3611
04:28:42,863 --> 04:28:44,265
overtime or accrual balances?

3612
04:28:44,265 --> 04:28:49,650
>> So right now as I understand it, if

3613
04:28:49,203 --> 04:28:51,340
an employee wants to take vacation

3614
04:28:51,340 --> 04:28:52,206
that's through workday? >> Yes.

3615
04:28:52,206 --> 04:28:53,340
>> It's electronic? >> Yes.

3616
04:28:53,340 --> 04:28:56,940
>> And a Supervisor approves, like I

3617
04:28:57,745 --> 04:28:59,413
approve everybody's here. >> Yes.

3618
04:28:59,413 --> 04:29:02,413
>> Doesn't workday have the capability

3619
04:29:04,819 --> 04:29:08,419
to process or catalog that information?

3620
04:29:08,490 --> 04:29:12,760
So that if I want to run a report on

3621
04:29:12,760 --> 04:29:16,360
everybody in my Department how many

3622
04:29:18,990 --> 04:29:19,834
vacation hours they had and they took

3623
04:29:19,834 --> 04:29:23,434
that is not available in workday?

3624
04:29:24,305 --> 04:29:27,709
>> You can put as of know as of a

3625
04:29:27,709 --> 04:29:29,643
certain date, that is what I pulled for

3626
04:29:29,643 --> 04:29:31,512
this Fiscal Year one. I want to mo the

3627
04:29:31,512 --> 04:29:33,314
end balance of a certain date for all

3628
04:29:33,314 --> 04:29:35,316
of the these people in this Department.

3629
04:29:35,316 --> 04:29:37,785
I can do that. >> Okay.

3630
04:29:37,785 --> 04:29:40,521
>> What it can't give me is how much

3631
04:29:40,521 --> 04:29:44,391
did they earn over a Fiscal Year? So I

3632
04:29:44,391 --> 04:29:48,395
have to pull another report and add

3633
04:29:48,395 --> 04:29:49,997
that to my one that I have here to get

3634
04:29:49,997 --> 04:29:52,266
all of the information. And that is a

3635
04:29:52,266 --> 04:29:55,690
manual process. So we're still like

3636
04:29:55,690 --> 04:29:57,272
catching up with workday and calling

3637
04:29:57,272 --> 04:30:00,872
consultants, hey, make this work for

3638
04:30:01,275 --> 04:30:03,744
us. So it's in inprogress thing.

3639
04:30:03,744 --> 04:30:06,814
>> So it hasn't made it more efficient

3640
04:30:06,814 --> 04:30:10,351
-- I shouldn't be talking to you. It

3641
04:30:10,351 --> 04:30:14,210
hasn't made it efficient. >> Annette Anderson, Director

3642
04:30:14,210 --> 04:30:15,556
of Human Resources. Thank you for

3643
04:30:15,556 --> 04:30:19,930
the question. I want to emphasize

3644
04:30:19,930 --> 04:30:21,280
the Departmental accrual report is

3645
04:30:21,280 --> 04:30:24,628
needed by the Finance Department for

3646
04:30:28,502 --> 04:30:32,702
the ACFR, there's components of the ACFR

3647
04:30:33,644 --> 04:30:38,444
that needs to be put in. The whole

3648
04:30:39,316 --> 04:30:41,919
workday program is wonderful. Our goal

3649
04:30:41,919 --> 04:30:46,119
since workday is to tweak so we

3650
04:30:46,323 --> 04:30:48,859
didn't have hardly any manual process. I'm

3651
04:30:48,859 --> 04:30:50,527
upset and there's nothing I can do

3652
04:30:50,527 --> 04:30:52,462
about it, in order to complete this

3653
04:30:52,462 --> 04:30:57,262
report that finance needs for the ACFR, we

3654
04:30:57,668 --> 04:31:00,603
need a manual report. She is pulling

3655
04:31:00,603 --> 04:31:04,203
different manual reports from work day,

3656
04:31:05,475 --> 04:31:07,944
putting it into a spreadsheet and doing

3657
04:31:07,944 --> 04:31:10,547
formulas in excel and that is where the

3658
04:31:10,547 --> 04:31:12,684
errors occurred that the Auditors

3659
04:31:12,684 --> 04:31:14,551
pointed out. The good news, when we got

3660
04:31:14,551 --> 04:31:17,870
the findings from the Auditors she has

3661
04:31:17,870 --> 04:31:20,357
also researched how can I make pulling

3662
04:31:20,357 --> 04:31:22,826
of the data together so that we don't

3663
04:31:22,826 --> 04:31:26,430
have errors? And it's my understanding, and she can

3664
04:31:26,430 --> 04:31:28,830
confirm, that we're almost 100%

3665
04:31:29,633 --> 04:31:31,835
confident that we have fixed it going forward,

3666
04:31:31,835 --> 04:31:35,172
because she knows how to create the

3667
04:31:35,172 --> 04:31:37,173
appropriate formulas when she is pulling

3668
04:31:37,173 --> 04:31:41,311
that all of these reports from workday

3669
04:31:41,311 --> 04:31:44,515
into a spreadsheet, which again a Mary

3670
04:31:44,515 --> 04:31:46,915
Mary manual process. It's

3671
04:31:51,789 --> 04:31:54,124
unfortunate, but we have Human Resources work

3672
04:31:54,124 --> 04:31:56,524
day for the payroll,

3673
04:32:01,398 --> 04:32:03,100
Time accrual and recruitment. Workday

3674
04:32:03,100 --> 04:32:06,136
is a big company with different types

3675
04:32:06,136 --> 04:32:09,136
of software. There's a financial

3676
04:32:10,474 --> 04:32:12,142
management software that workday has.

3677
04:32:12,142 --> 04:32:15,812
If we had that, which we don't and I

3678
04:32:15,812 --> 04:32:19,150
don't think we will, it would automatically pull the

3679
04:32:19,150 --> 04:32:22,886
components that are needed for the ACFR. But

3680
04:32:22,886 --> 04:32:23,954
it ain't going to happen.

3681
04:32:23,954 --> 04:32:25,555
>> Why isn't it going to happen?

3682
04:32:25,555 --> 04:32:27,625
>> Well, that is a procurement issue.

3683
04:32:27,625 --> 04:32:29,960
>> Okay. >> So my understanding is that

3684
04:32:29,960 --> 04:32:32,290
we're not going to have that from

3685
04:32:32,290 --> 04:32:33,964
workday. We're going to just like we

3686
04:32:33,964 --> 04:32:35,765
have now, a different financial system

3687
04:32:35,765 --> 04:32:37,701
and that is part of the problem we have

3688
04:32:37,701 --> 04:32:39,770
with this County; right? Because you

3689
04:32:39,770 --> 04:32:41,572
have softwares that cannot integrate.

3690
04:32:41,572 --> 04:32:44,508
>> That is -- >> So we went with workday,

3691
04:32:44,508 --> 04:32:47,644
because I remember the sales pitch. We

3692
04:32:47,644 --> 04:32:50,247
went with workday to make it all

3693
04:32:50,247 --> 04:32:52,182
electronic. Because we're using a different

3694
04:32:52,182 --> 04:32:55,519
software to handle a different part of

3695
04:32:55,519 --> 04:32:58,550
financial reporting, now we have to

3696
04:32:58,550 --> 04:33:01,257
hire somebody to manually input data

3697
04:33:01,257 --> 04:33:04,795
into a spreadsheet and then manually

3698
04:33:04,795 --> 04:33:06,530
recovery the data from workday and now

3699
04:33:06,530 --> 04:33:10,734
you are telling me that workday has a

3700
04:33:10,734 --> 04:33:12,680
module that would eliminate that.

3701
04:33:12,680 --> 04:33:15,668
>> It's a financal system. I don't

3702
04:33:17,407 --> 04:33:21,879
know it's called a module. >> Whatever they have.

3703
04:33:21,879 --> 04:33:25,479
>> It's a huge investment for the

3704
04:33:26,431 --> 04:33:29,967
County; right? So then another way I

3705
04:33:29,967 --> 04:33:33,638
guess it's been represented is HR needs

3706
04:33:33,638 --> 04:33:35,640
HR software. Yes, Human Resources

3707
04:33:35,640 --> 04:33:37,375
Management system; right? So we when

3708
04:33:37,375 --> 04:33:39,111
we went through the procurement, and

3709
04:33:39,111 --> 04:33:42,313
had all of the different vendors;

3710
04:33:42,313 --> 04:33:44,182
right? We decided workday was the

3711
04:33:44,182 --> 04:33:46,451
best for HR needs for payroll and being

3712
04:33:46,451 --> 04:33:48,253
able to do recruitment. So we got

3713
04:33:48,253 --> 04:33:50,254
workday. When you have a finance side

3714
04:33:50,254 --> 04:33:53,124
of the house looking for what all they

3715
04:33:53,124 --> 04:33:55,126
do for the finance, and again, I don't

3716
04:33:55,126 --> 04:33:56,795
want to get into any procurement

3717
04:33:56,795 --> 04:33:58,730
issues, but my understanding there are

3718
04:33:58,730 --> 04:34:01,266
different vendors, you know? Sharing

3719
04:34:01,266 --> 04:34:03,668
what their product could do. And the

3720
04:34:03,668 --> 04:34:06,710
costs of their product; right? And so

3721
04:34:06,710 --> 04:34:09,674
it is what it is that finance has a

3722
04:34:09,674 --> 04:34:12,760
different system now, or will have a

3723
04:34:12,760 --> 04:34:13,144
different system, or will have the

3724
04:34:13,144 --> 04:34:15,480
same? I don't know how to characterize

3725
04:34:15,480 --> 04:34:19,284
it, but my belief it's not going to be

3726
04:34:19,284 --> 04:34:20,818
workday. So yes, I'm frustrated, but

3727
04:34:20,818 --> 04:34:25,180
like I said, I'm confident working with

3728
04:34:25,223 --> 04:34:29,160
Hale and others in HR, Jill, our HR

3729
04:34:29,160 --> 04:34:33,360
Manager, and Brandon, who is the HRMS

3730
04:34:35,166 --> 04:34:37,350
Administrator, that we have done our

3731
04:34:37,350 --> 04:34:39,704
very best to make sure that the way

3732
04:34:39,704 --> 04:34:43,375
that she is going to compile it for the

3733
04:34:43,375 --> 04:34:47,645
next Fiscal Year is not going to have

3734
04:34:47,645 --> 04:34:50,649
the errors, because she figured it out.

3735
04:34:50,649 --> 04:34:52,917
So it what it is and the other thing

3736
04:34:52,917 --> 04:34:55,920
is too, from the past, the Departments

3737
04:34:55,920 --> 04:34:58,589
prepared this report accrual report.

3738
04:34:58,589 --> 04:35:03,389
And she took over last year, so now

3739
04:35:05,863 --> 04:35:08,933
it's on payroll. But I mean, I can't

3740
04:35:08,933 --> 04:35:11,936
promise you that it's to be perfect,

3741
04:35:11,936 --> 04:35:15,139
but I feel good, and I'm sad about what

3742
04:35:15,139 --> 04:35:17,750
I just said about the manual, but I

3743
04:35:17,750 --> 04:35:22,475
feel good we got it. >> Anyone else? Mr. Kaneshiro,

3744
04:35:23,214 --> 04:35:25,684
was that what you got? You got

3745
04:35:25,684 --> 04:35:28,286
your answer? >> It's not possible to

3746
04:35:28,286 --> 04:35:31,886
integrate the two systems. But they're

3747
04:35:32,290 --> 04:35:34,425
trying do their best on doing it

3748
04:35:34,425 --> 04:35:36,294
manually, however they are doing it.

3749
04:35:36,294 --> 04:35:38,363
>> Well, we have to figure out how to

3750
04:35:38,363 --> 04:35:40,631
fix it. I guess that is where I'm at.

3751
04:35:40,631 --> 04:35:43,168
When we look at a material weakness,

3752
04:35:43,168 --> 04:35:45,771
this one isn't necessarily a material

3753
04:35:45,771 --> 04:35:48,106
weakness, but when you get these repeat

3754
04:35:48,106 --> 04:35:52,176
findings, you know? We got to fix it.

3755
04:35:52,176 --> 04:35:56,976
And if it's cost should not be the

3756
04:35:57,248 --> 04:35:59,383
obstacle. I can only imagine how it is

3757
04:35:59,383 --> 04:36:01,585
for you to be pulling all of these

3758
04:36:01,585 --> 04:36:05,185
numbers and then manually putting them

3759
04:36:05,390 --> 04:36:06,790
on spreadsheet, hoping that the number

3760
04:36:06,790 --> 04:36:10,928
you got from your system is correct.

3761
04:36:10,928 --> 04:36:13,328
? >> It's been a learning

3762
04:36:16,604 --> 04:36:19,541
experience, but echoing what Reiko said

3763
04:36:19,541 --> 04:36:22,343
earlier, I'm very appreciative of the

3764
04:36:22,343 --> 04:36:26,947
finding because it makes me want to and

3765
04:36:26,947 --> 04:36:29,150
perform better not only my

3766
04:36:29,150 --> 04:36:32,220
efficiencies, but the end-user. How to use this

3767
04:36:32,220 --> 04:36:35,890
complex and robust system to help not

3768
04:36:35,890 --> 04:36:38,426
only my Department, but everybody, and

3769
04:36:38,426 --> 04:36:40,628
looking at accruals every day and not

3770
04:36:40,628 --> 04:36:42,630
questioning is this right or wrong?

3771
04:36:42,630 --> 04:36:44,766
How can we get to this point? I

3772
04:36:44,766 --> 04:36:47,969
believe this system. It has so much

3773
04:36:47,969 --> 04:36:51,305
capabilitiess, you know? So I think it

3774
04:36:51,305 --> 04:36:53,508
offerss a meaningful insight and

3775
04:36:53,508 --> 04:36:55,430
supports stronger accountability on me

3776
04:36:55,430 --> 04:36:59,843
and my Staff to do better for our

3777
04:36:59,981 --> 04:37:02,183
County employees. So I'm hopeful.

3778
04:37:02,183 --> 04:37:05,987
>> One more thing and when we did get

3779
04:37:05,987 --> 04:37:08,523
the findings the five instances, she

3780
04:37:08,523 --> 04:37:12,660
and her Staff did go through the

3781
04:37:12,660 --> 04:37:14,595
remainder of the employees, you know,

3782
04:37:14,595 --> 04:37:16,531
to assure that everything is correct.

3783
04:37:16,531 --> 04:37:19,000
Because we know audits, they pick

3784
04:37:19,000 --> 04:37:21,603
certain things. So that was another

3785
04:37:21,603 --> 04:37:23,605
step done to assure that everything is

3786
04:37:23,605 --> 04:37:27,205
correct after we received the findings.

3787
04:37:28,276 --> 04:37:32,476
>> That is what the audits are, a

3788
04:37:37,551 --> 04:37:40,955
tool; right? Thank you. With that,

3789
04:37:40,955 --> 04:37:43,230
we can move on. I would expect next

3790
04:37:43,230 --> 04:37:45,360
week at the Committee meeting we can

3791
04:37:45,360 --> 04:37:50,160
dig into each of the other findings, and

3792
04:37:54,102 --> 04:37:56,237
hopefully Administration will be

3793
04:37:56,237 --> 04:37:57,839
prepared to respond. Otherwise, we can

3794
04:37:57,839 --> 04:38:02,639
take a lunch break and come back, and

3795
04:38:03,310 --> 04:38:08,110
hammer it out today. >> Let's just do it.

3796
04:38:22,130 --> 04:38:26,930
>> I think we can wrap up this agenda

3797
04:38:28,402 --> 04:38:32,602
by 1:30. This is- I know it's keeping

3798
04:38:32,740 --> 04:38:36,678
Staff a little longer. If we do the

3799
04:38:36,678 --> 04:38:38,145
Committee meeting briefing, if not,

3800
04:38:38,145 --> 04:38:40,882
then we can -- if we want to do it next

3801
04:38:40,882 --> 04:38:43,818
week, we can get through this agenda

3802
04:38:43,818 --> 04:38:45,953
today and not take a lunch break. Is

3803
04:38:45,953 --> 04:38:49,223
that okay with Staff? Staff, do you

3804
04:38:49,223 --> 04:38:51,625
want to take a break? You are okay?

3805
04:38:51,625 --> 04:38:54,290
Can you do another 15 minutes? 20

3806
04:38:54,290 --> 04:38:58,229
minutes? Okay. All right. So we'll do

3807
04:38:58,699 --> 04:39:00,102
that. We'll proceed. The motion is to

3808
04:39:00,102 --> 04:39:03,705
refer. Is we'll get to Committee next

3809
04:39:03,705 --> 04:39:06,410
week, and the only thing I ask, get

3810
04:39:06,410 --> 04:39:07,975
your questions across the Street as

3811
04:39:07,975 --> 04:39:09,592
soon as possible, so they can be

3812
04:39:09,592 --> 04:39:13,192
prepared when they come back. When

3813
04:39:13,195 --> 04:39:15,464
that, I will call the meeting back to

3814
04:39:15,464 --> 04:39:16,866
order. Any further discussion? Seeing

3815
04:39:16,866 --> 04:39:20,135
none, all in favor say aye? >> Aye.

3816
04:39:20,135 --> 04:39:23,135
>> Motion carried next item, please.

3817
04:39:24,206 --> 04:39:26,409
>> Page 2, C-2026-02 communication

3818
04:39:26,409 --> 04:39:30,900
from Assistant Chief of Police Darren

3819
04:39:30,412 --> 04:39:33,548
Rose, Police operations bureau requesting Council approval of

3820
04:39:33,548 --> 04:39:34,683
the indemnification clause

3821
04:39:34,683 --> 04:39:38,283
contained in the navigate 360 master service

3822
04:39:40,220 --> 04:39:41,289
agreement and training terms and

3823
04:39:41,289 --> 04:39:44,894
conditions which continues to use the P3 tips

3824
04:39:44,894 --> 04:39:46,228
Crime Stoppers platform, enabling

3825
04:39:46,228 --> 04:39:47,764
community members to anonymously report

3826
04:39:47,764 --> 04:39:50,990
council actiest and to indemnify the

3827
04:39:50,990 --> 04:39:53,990
County against claims resulting from

3828
04:39:54,970 --> 04:39:57,370
the company's gross negligence,

3829
04:39:58,707 --> 04:40:00,910
willful misconduct or initial legitual

3830
04:40:00,910 --> 04:40:01,576
property infringement.

3831
04:40:01,576 --> 04:40:03,512
>> Moved. >> Sick.

3832
04:40:03,512 --> 04:40:05,180
>> Any discussion or public testimony?

3833
04:40:05,180 --> 04:40:06,582
All in favor say aye? >> Aye.

3834
04:40:06,582 --> 04:40:07,717
>> Motion carried next I. [PHRAO-RBGS/]

3835
04:40:07,717 --> 04:40:10,717
} It's C-2026-25 communication from

3836
04:40:16,392 --> 04:40:17,793
the Executive on Aging requesting

3837
04:40:17,793 --> 04:40:19,328
Council approval to receive and expend

3838
04:40:19,328 --> 04:40:22,928
federal funds for the first allotment

3839
04:40:23,331 --> 04:40:26,680
in amount of l9,516 for Fiscal Year 2026

3840
04:40:26,680 --> 04:40:29,668
and to indemnify the State Executive

3841
04:40:31,674 --> 04:40:34,100
Office on Paging for the Nutrition

3842
04:40:34,100 --> 04:40:35,944
Services Incentive Program provision on

3843
04:40:35,944 --> 04:40:37,120
congregate and home-delivered meals.

3844
04:40:37,120 --> 04:40:39,120
>> Moved. >> Second.

3845
04:40:39,682 --> 04:40:41,684
>> Any public testimony or discussion?

3846
04:40:41,684 --> 04:40:44,753
If mot, all in favor a aye? >> Aye.

3847
04:40:44,753 --> 04:40:47,753
>> Motion carried. Next item, me.

3848
04:40:48,824 --> 04:40:50,292
>> C-2026-406 communication from the

3849
04:40:50,292 --> 04:40:51,693
Director of Planning requesting Council

3850
04:40:51,693 --> 04:40:55,297
approval to receive and expend Federal-State fortunates for

3851
04:40:55,297 --> 04:40:59,835
the Hawai'i CH2Ms CZM program in an

3852
04:40:59,835 --> 04:41:01,704
amount of $2200,000 and to indemnify

3853
04:41:01,704 --> 04:41:04,172
the State of Hawai'i in accordance with

3854
04:41:04,172 --> 04:41:06,909
the State of Hawai'i general conditions,

3855
04:41:06,909 --> 04:41:09,511
for administering the program, this

3856
04:41:09,511 --> 04:41:10,980
recurring pass-throughbrant will be

3857
04:41:10,980 --> 04:41:12,480
utilized to continue the implementation

3858
04:41:12,480 --> 04:41:14,783
of the Council President program on

3859
04:41:14,783 --> 04:41:17,319
Kaua'i, commencing July 1,2025 to June

3860
04:41:17,319 --> 04:41:19,321
30, 206 uniwill be [KP-EUPBD/] on

3861
04:41:19,321 --> 04:41:20,790
salariess, wages, travel and other item

3862
04:41:20,790 --> 04:41:22,191
for the Council Presidenting program

3863
04:41:22,191 --> 04:41:24,459
specifically for the implementation and

3864
04:41:24,459 --> 04:41:25,661
enforcement of the special management

3865
04:41:25,661 --> 04:41:26,995
area rule and regulations of the County

3866
04:41:26,995 --> 04:41:30,533
of Kaua'i and Shoreline setback provision of Chapter 8 Kaua'i

3867
04:41:30,533 --> 04:41:32,533
County sod

3868
04:41:33,335 --> 04:41:35,735
Code 1987, as amended,. >> Moved.

3869
04:41:35,737 --> 04:41:38,737
>> Second. >> I don't see planning.

3870
04:41:39,341 --> 04:41:41,610
>> I saw Planning earlier. Not sure

3871
04:41:41,610 --> 04:41:44,613
if they stuck around. >> Hi Ka'aina.

3872
04:41:44,613 --> 04:41:48,813
>> I'm just asking if anyone had any

3873
04:41:49,151 --> 04:41:52,751
questions >> I have a simple question,

3874
04:42:03,503 --> 04:42:05,171
this [KR*-PLGZ/] $200,000 is that

3875
04:42:05,171 --> 04:42:09,971
what we continue do with the c Grant

3876
04:42:10,376 --> 04:42:13,976
Program? >> Ka'aina Hull on behalf of

3877
04:42:14,814 --> 04:42:15,982
the Planning. Sorry, Chair, I

3878
04:42:15,982 --> 04:42:20,453
heard you say lunch. So I ran back.

3879
04:42:20,453 --> 04:42:23,589
Apologies, the sea Grant Program is funded

3880
04:42:23,589 --> 04:42:28,389
by the County of Kaua'i CZM funds come

3881
04:42:29,462 --> 04:42:31,197
from the Feds and fund through the

3882
04:42:31,197 --> 04:42:33,866
State Office of Planning and given to

3883
04:42:33,866 --> 04:42:38,471
the County of Kaua'i to run our CZM

3884
04:42:38,471 --> 04:42:42,710
program. I will say that this $200,000

3885
04:42:44,544 --> 04:42:48,144
was not actually released previously by

3886
04:42:49,148 --> 04:42:51,170
the White House and we have been

3887
04:42:51,170 --> 04:42:53,820
somewhat functioning to fund our

3888
04:42:53,820 --> 04:42:56,820
positions internally until we got

3889
04:42:56,956 --> 04:42:59,292
signaled by OEP to create a possible

3890
04:42:59,292 --> 04:43:02,892
funnel in these small, small chance

3891
04:43:03,229 --> 04:43:04,964
that the White House releases the funds.

3892
04:43:04,964 --> 04:43:07,501
>> That is why it's July 1st, I was

3893
04:43:07,501 --> 04:43:08,834
wondering why it's after the fact.

3894
04:43:08,834 --> 04:43:12,434
>> So when we generally come to

3895
04:43:14,107 --> 04:43:15,775
Council, that we annually receive and

3896
04:43:15,775 --> 04:43:17,777
expend the funds, that is early on in

3897
04:43:17,777 --> 04:43:21,181
the year. The Office of Planning had

3898
04:43:21,181 --> 04:43:22,581
made the determination, made the

3899
04:43:22,581 --> 04:43:24,450
assessment that even though Congress

3900
04:43:24,450 --> 04:43:27,120
had allocated these monies the White

3901
04:43:27,120 --> 04:43:28,588
House wasn't going to release them. So

3902
04:43:28,588 --> 04:43:31,325
we never came to this body to request

3903
04:43:31,325 --> 04:43:34,127
permission to receive and expend, and

3904
04:43:34,127 --> 04:43:38,630
now it looks like not a Sun strong

3905
04:43:38,630 --> 04:43:40,466
possibility with discussions with EOP,

3906
04:43:40,466 --> 04:43:44,660
but a strong possibility these funds

3907
04:43:47,273 --> 04:43:50,810
may be released to receive these funds

3908
04:43:50,810 --> 04:43:55,100
the people who run our CZM program?

3909
04:43:58,284 --> 04:44:03,840
>> Four Staff. >> So we have four members and

3910
04:44:03,422 --> 04:44:07,427
so have been pulling that money to pay

3911
04:44:07,427 --> 04:44:09,762
them - excess for unhired people?

3912
04:44:09,762 --> 04:44:13,299
>> We have two vacancies that we'll

3913
04:44:13,299 --> 04:44:15,369
probably get during budget discussions

3914
04:44:15,369 --> 04:44:18,304
with two vacancies that we have not

3915
04:44:18,304 --> 04:44:19,572
filled with express purpose because we

3916
04:44:19,572 --> 04:44:22,975
have been using those funds to fund the

3917
04:44:22,975 --> 04:44:25,379
live body positionses that the Federal

3918
04:44:25,379 --> 04:44:26,379
Government no longer provides funding

3919
04:44:26,379 --> 04:44:29,979
for. >> So we have avoided laying

3920
04:44:30,784 --> 04:44:31,585
off people critical to our program.

3921
04:44:31,585 --> 04:44:34,320
>> Correct. >> Do we think these monies

3922
04:44:34,320 --> 04:44:36,856
are ever going to come in or we're going

3923
04:44:36,856 --> 04:44:38,658
to have to add different General Fund

3924
04:44:38,658 --> 04:44:39,926
dollars for moving forward?

3925
04:44:39,926 --> 04:44:42,729
>> We're going through that discussion with Admin right now.

3926
04:44:42,729 --> 04:44:44,664
>> Okay. With those two positions

3927
04:44:44,664 --> 04:44:46,333
that we didn't hire, there's enough

3928
04:44:46,333 --> 04:44:49,201
money to keep this program going

3929
04:44:49,201 --> 04:44:55,201
through until the end of June? >> The State somewhat in

3930
04:44:57,920 --> 04:44:59,961
response to the White House withholding the

3931
04:44:59,961 --> 04:45:02,430
monies last year appropriated monieses

3932
04:45:02,430 --> 04:45:07,830
statewide for the Coastal Zone Management program and Kaua'is

3933
04:45:08,769 --> 04:45:10,705
was allocated roughly $94,000. So

3934
04:45:10,705 --> 04:45:14,305
we add that $94,000 to the vacancy

3935
04:45:14,909 --> 04:45:19,709
positions and we're able to make the four

3936
04:45:22,716 --> 04:45:25,716
existing fully staffed CZM positions

3937
04:45:26,522 --> 04:45:29,457
whole. >> So we won't have a Money

3938
04:45:29,457 --> 04:45:31,325
Bill between then you anow?

3939
04:45:31,325 --> 04:45:36,125
>> We don't anticipate that. >> The other two positions?

3940
04:45:36,664 --> 04:45:40,264
>> We're tracking all of our positions

3941
04:45:42,136 --> 04:45:45,600
for the reimbursement, but in the

3942
04:45:45,600 --> 04:45:47,275
chance to get that we have been tracking those hours

3943
04:45:47,275 --> 04:45:48,208
specifically for that.

3944
04:45:48,208 --> 04:45:51,345
>> And do you mind telling us what two

3945
04:45:51,345 --> 04:45:53,481
positions aren't being filled? We just

3946
04:45:53,481 --> 04:45:56,750
heard about that we're behind in

3947
04:45:56,750 --> 04:46:02,150
finance, because we had an unanticipated gap in skilled

3948
04:46:02,890 --> 04:46:04,759
staffing. Who aren't we filling in order

3949
04:46:04,759 --> 04:46:06,894
to be taking care of this, if you

3950
04:46:06,894 --> 04:46:09,894
know? >> There's a long range

3951
04:46:12,233 --> 04:46:14,633
planner position and excluded

3952
04:46:15,636 --> 04:46:18,400
managerial position that runses our budget

3953
04:46:18,400 --> 04:46:19,706
and administrative Staff

3954
04:46:19,706 --> 04:46:21,642
>> So two important positions that

3955
04:46:21,642 --> 04:46:24,244
aren't filled right now. Okay; thank

3956
04:46:24,244 --> 04:46:27,244
you. >> Any other questions for

3957
04:46:28,649 --> 04:46:32,249
Planning? If not thank you, Ka'aina.

3958
04:46:32,520 --> 04:46:37,792
>> Thank you for running over. >> Anyone in the audience

3959
04:46:37,792 --> 04:46:39,527
wishing to testify? Seeing none, I will

3960
04:46:39,527 --> 04:46:41,129
call the meeting back to order. Any

3961
04:46:41,129 --> 04:46:42,663
further discussion? The motion is to

3962
04:46:42,663 --> 04:46:43,464
approve, all in favor say aye?

3963
04:46:43,464 --> 04:46:46,464
>> Aye. >> Motion carried. Next item,

3964
04:46:46,467 --> 04:46:48,867
please. >> C-2026-07 communication

3965
04:46:48,869 --> 04:46:50,471
from the executive on age requesting

3966
04:46:50,471 --> 04:46:53,407
Council approval to receive and expend

3967
04:46:53,407 --> 04:46:55,876
donations from three various sources in

3968
04:46:55,876 --> 04:46:58,146
the amount of $340 to help offset the

3969
04:46:58,146 --> 04:47:00,680
costs of meals served from the home-delivered meals program.

3970
04:47:00,680 --> 04:47:02,349
The purpose of the nutrition

3971
04:47:02,349 --> 04:47:04,684
program is to reduce hunger and food

3972
04:47:04,684 --> 04:47:06,353
insecurity, and provide meals to the

3973
04:47:06,353 --> 04:47:08,753
participants. >> Move to approve.

3974
04:47:09,558 --> 04:47:11,291
>> Second. >> Moved and seconded. Any

3975
04:47:11,291 --> 04:47:13,280
discussion or public testimony? Seeing

3976
04:47:13,280 --> 04:47:14,270
none, all in favor say aye?

3977
04:47:14,270 --> 04:47:17,270
>> Aye. >> Motion carried. Next item

3978
04:47:18,899 --> 04:47:19,634
[STKPWHRAO*-EFRPBLGTSZ/] C-2026-09

3979
04:47:19,634 --> 04:47:21,168
communication from the Director of

3980
04:47:21,168 --> 04:47:24,168
Finance, requesting Council approval to

3981
04:47:24,438 --> 04:47:26,640
accept unappropriated and unknown/unspecified future

3982
04:47:26,640 --> 04:47:29,109
obligation terms in the State of work

3983
04:47:29,109 --> 04:47:31,178
associated with the transient

3984
04:47:31,178 --> 04:47:33,647
accommodation tax payments on line with Tyler

3985
04:47:33,647 --> 04:47:35,916
Technologiess, which are typically of

3986
04:47:35,916 --> 04:47:37,384
online payment agreement and present

3987
04:47:37,384 --> 04:47:40,530
limb to no risk to the County. >> Move to approve.

3988
04:47:40,530 --> 04:47:43,530
>> Second. >> Any discussion or public

3989
04:47:43,658 --> 04:47:47,858
testimony? >> Can we ask Chelsea a quick

3990
04:47:49,401 --> 04:47:53,100
question? >> Sure, with that I will

3991
04:47:54,673 --> 04:47:56,673
suspend the rules.

3992
04:48:05,830 --> 04:48:09,283
>> Unknown, unaappropriated, unspecified -- kind of weird

3993
04:48:15,270 --> 04:48:17,270
hearing that.

3994
04:48:17,280 --> 04:48:20,232
>> Chelsea Sakai, this is typical of

3995
04:48:20,232 --> 04:48:22,101
online payment program. So we don't

3996
04:48:22,101 --> 04:48:24,569
know so we don't have it budget. So

3997
04:48:24,569 --> 04:48:31,169
it's unknown in that sense. >> Okay. This is our TAT so

3998
04:48:33,512 --> 04:48:35,514
if somebody's credit card doesn't

3999
04:48:35,514 --> 04:48:38,500
work, something like that? So we

4000
04:48:38,500 --> 04:48:41,500
don't go after Tyler Technologies?

4001
04:48:42,521 --> 04:48:45,521
>> So we're responsible for the

4002
04:48:45,924 --> 04:48:49,994
charge-back, if there are any. >> So Tyler Technologies say

4003
04:48:49,994 --> 04:48:52,731
hey, if you have a bad card it's not

4004
04:48:52,731 --> 04:48:53,398
our challenge. Thank you.

4005
04:48:53,398 --> 04:48:56,998
>> This is not an indemnification, but

4006
04:48:57,936 --> 04:48:59,671
basically allowing them or agreeing to

4007
04:48:59,671 --> 04:49:02,474
the term that we'll pay the charge-backs.

4008
04:49:02,474 --> 04:49:05,474
>> Okay. >> Any other questions? If

4009
04:49:06,678 --> 04:49:07,946
not, thank you.

4010
04:49:07,946 --> 04:49:09,614
>> With that I will call the meeting

4011
04:49:09,614 --> 04:49:11,349
back to order. Any further discussion?

4012
04:49:11,349 --> 04:49:12,818
Seeing none, the motion is to approve,

4013
04:49:12,818 --> 04:49:14,620
all in favor say aye? >> Aye.

4014
04:49:14,620 --> 04:49:17,489
>> Motion carried. Next item, please.

4015
04:49:17,489 --> 04:49:19,224
>> C-2026-10 communication from the

4016
04:49:19,224 --> 04:49:22,224
Director of Finance requesting Council

4017
04:49:22,360 --> 04:49:24,760
approval to accept travel-related

4018
04:49:24,963 --> 04:49:27,432
reimbursed expenses from the International Association of

4019
04:49:27,432 --> 04:49:29,340
Assessing Officers for the County of

4020
04:49:29,340 --> 04:49:32,304
Kaua'i Real Property Tax Manager to attend

4021
04:49:32,304 --> 04:49:33,638
the IAAO Governance Committee meeting,

4022
04:49:33,638 --> 04:49:36,709
which will be held in Kansas City,

4023
04:49:36,709 --> 04:49:39,709
Missouri on February 27-28, 2026, the

4024
04:49:39,779 --> 04:49:42,470
meeting en sures that the County remains

4025
04:49:42,470 --> 04:49:45,250
at foe front of industry standard and

4026
04:49:45,250 --> 04:49:46,852
best practices, provides Mohawking

4027
04:49:46,852 --> 04:49:48,987
with others, gains insights into the

4028
04:49:48,987 --> 04:49:51,560
latest trends and developments in the

4029
04:49:51,560 --> 04:49:52,458
field, and fosters relationships that

4030
04:49:52,458 --> 04:49:54,126
can lead to future collaborations.

4031
04:49:54,126 --> 04:49:55,794
>> Move to approve. >> Second.

4032
04:49:55,794 --> 04:49:58,794
>> Any discussion or public testimony?

4033
04:49:59,198 --> 04:50:00,399
Seeing none, all in favor say aye?

4034
04:50:00,399 --> 04:50:02,669
>> Aye. >> Motion carried. Next item,

4035
04:50:02,669 --> 04:50:05,690
please. >> On page 4, claim.

4036
04:50:06,405 --> 04:50:07,806
C-2026-11, communication from the County

4037
04:50:07,806 --> 04:50:09,740
Clerk transmitting a claim filed

4038
04:50:09,740 --> 04:50:12,210
against the County of Kaua'i by Michael

4039
04:50:12,210 --> 04:50:15,810
Scott for personal loss and injuries

4040
04:50:16,281 --> 04:50:17,416
pursuant to Section 23.06, Charter of the

4041
04:50:17,416 --> 04:50:19,180
County of Kaua'i.

4042
04:50:19,180 --> 04:50:23,155
>> Move to refer to the County Attorney for disposition and

4043
04:50:23,155 --> 04:50:24,757
report-back as necessary. >> Seg[STKPWHR*-PBLT/] moved

4044
04:50:24,757 --> 04:50:27,292
and seconded. Any discussion or

4045
04:50:27,292 --> 04:50:28,626
public testimony? Seeing none, all in

4046
04:50:28,626 --> 04:50:29,940
favor say aye?

4047
04:50:29,940 --> 04:50:31,494
>> Aye. >> Motion carried that

4048
04:50:32,300 --> 04:50:32,831
concludes today agenda

4049
04:50:32,831 --> 04:50:35,000
[ GAVEL ] thank you all.