Hawaii County Council Meeting Summary - December 17, 2025

The Hawaii County Council convened at 9:03 a.m. in the Kona chambers with remote participation from Hilo and other sites to conduct its 29th session of 2025. The meeting began with an invocation and a moment of silence to honor the late Fire Chief Kasul Todd. The agenda covered public safety, housing, and immigration policy, featuring extensive public testimony and contentious debate regarding budget allocations and confirmation of new departmental leadership.

Consent Calendar

• Communication C622: Council confirmed the appointment of Wesley Sagawa as Director of Public Works by a vote of 5-4.
• Communication C623: Council confirmed the appointment of Daniel Grivan as Director of Environmental Management by a vote of 8-0 (Kirkowitz absent).

Public Comments & Testimony

Immigration Policy (Resolution 399-25)

• Lynn Ryan (Kona): Expressed full support for Resolution 399-25 as a measure to uphold constitutional protections for immigrant communities.
• Corey Harden (Hilo): Expressed strong support for Resolution 399-25 and advocated for six specific amendments, including terminating all MOUs with ICE, prohibiting the use of county property for federal staging, and banning ICE deception tactics.
• Kencho Groung (Hilo): Expressed unequivocal support for Resolution 399-25, citing a statement from an anonymous member of "Aloha Latinos" that emphasized the need to identify and use available powers to protect the community from federal harm.
• Armando Rodriguez (Kona): Shared a personal narrative of hardship, deportation of parents, and detention, expressing a plea for help to stop current immigration enforcement practices.
• Deidra Roni (Kona): Expressed support for Resolution 399-25 but criticized the resolution for urging the state to act rather than county police taking direct protective measures; advocated for ordinances banning HCP collaboration with federal forces.
• Noelle Lindenman (Zoom): Expressed strong support for Resolution 399-25, viewing it as a necessary first step to push back against the federal administration's national security plans.
• Tina Sablon (Zoom - TLC): Expressed strong support for Resolution 399-25, noting it builds on previous actions to safeguard due process and public safety against unconstitutional federal acts.
• Patty Cook: Expressed gratitude for the council's courage to place the resolution on the agenda and urged its passage to address increased fear and harm.
• Tina Marie Evans (Waikoloa Village): Expressed support for Resolution 399-25, characterizing current federal actions as "evil" and urging immediate arrests of agents acting without warrants.

Housing and Homelessness (Resolution 397-25)

• Hope Aloalani (Waimea): Expressed support for Resolution 397-25 and the funding for housing programs, while expressing concern about rising property taxes for seniors.
• Kiala Hill (Kailua Kona): Told stories of families aided by the 808 Homeless Task Force, expressing support for the funding but suggesting funds could be used for other needs like mental health.
• Mona (Kona): Expressed strong support for Resolution 397-25 but argued that funds are not being shared equitably among smaller, effective organizations like the 808 Homeless Task Force.
• Echo White (Zoom): Expressed strong support for Resolution 397-25, highlighting the critical role of mobile hygiene units and street medicine in serving the unhoused.
• Councilmember Kirkowitz: Questioned the effectiveness and ROI of the fund given the visible increase in homelessness, urging a shift from counting services to measuring permanent housing exits.
• Councilmember Viegas: Expressed a conflicted position; acknowledged the Office of Housing was following protocols but argued the system inherently favors large organizations over effective grassroots groups due to paperwork capacity.
• Councilmember Connie Lee Kleinfelder: Expressed deep concern regarding the lack of visible results for taxpayer funds, comparing the situation to California's high spending with increasing homeless populations, and demanded clearer data on outcomes.

Other Testimony

• Mona (Kona): Further expressed that the lack of capacity building funds prevents small nonprofits from securing future grants, risking service cuts.
• Corey Harden: Highlighted statistics regarding the rise in immigration arrests in Hawaii despite claims of targeting only violent criminals.

Discussion Items

Director of Public Works Nomination (Wesley Sagawa)

• Director Sagawa outlined a vision to break down interdepartmental silos, enhance technological capacity (GIS, robotics), and improve customer experience through centralized complaint tracking.
• Councilmember Kagiwada: Expressed concern that the Director's vision lacked understanding of departmental HR and IT constraints and failed to address accountability issues regarding code violations.
• Councilmember Connie Lee Kleinfelder: Expressed strong support for the appointment of Deputy Director Azevedo but raised concerns about the Department of Health's permitting delays affecting the Public Works department's mission.
• Councilmember Kirkowitz & Councilmember Campbell: Expressed disappointment and opposition to the nomination, citing unanswered questions from committee sessions and a lack of understanding regarding department processes.
• Councilmember Houstis: Expressed support for the partnership between Sagawa and Deputy Director Azevedo.

Director of Environmental Management Nomination (Daniel Grivan)

• Director Grivan discussed his plan to engage with the Environmental Management Commission and addressed questions about cesspool conversion, waste-to-energy, and composting.
• Councilmember Houstis: Encouraged the Director to provide updates on the Cesspool Conversion Task Force to the Council.
• Councilmember Viegas: Expressed strong support for the nomination and emphasized the need for strict enforcement of rules, including the plastic bag ban, to ensure community health and safety.
• Councilmember Kagiwada: Expressed support after Grivan assured he would utilize the Environmental Management Commission as a resource.

Resolution 397-25 (Homeless and Housing Fund)

• Administrator Costa (Housing): Defended the grant selection process, noting that 23 proposals were reviewed by a panel and that organizations not awarded funds are reducing services.
• Councilmember Houstis: Expressed concern that data from the Homeless Engagement HUI is not fully shared by all community partners and highlighted the need for better data on rural transit usage.
• Councilmember Kimball: Questioned the high administrative costs relative to program costs in certain awards but acknowledged that staffing is the core of human service programs.
• Councilmember Viegas: Reiterated the distrust residents feel toward large funded organizations and the perceived inability of smaller, effective groups to compete due to bureaucratic barriers.
• Councilmember Connie Lee Kleinfelder: Demanded clear, non-duplicative data showing actual outcomes (permanent exits) rather than service counts (showers) to justify the $30 million invested over three years.

Bill 107 (Fire Code)

• Deputy Corporation Council Wong clarified that the Fire Department issues approvals for fire safety plans rather than permits.
• Councilmember Kimball noted further amendments were required for a future reading.

Key Outcomes

• Resolution 399-25: Amended to change "citizens" to "individuals" in the title. Adopted by unanimous consent (9-0) after suspending the rules for discussion.
• Resolution 397-25: Adopted by a vote of 5-4 (Opposed: Conn. Kleinfelder, Kirkowitz, Viegas, Chair Namba; Aye: Galimba, Houstis, Kagiwata, Kimball, O'Nishi).
• Bill 103 (Property Tax Cap): Amended to clarify application requirements for agricultural properties and passed on first reading (9-0).
• Bill 105 (Housing Production): Approved at second and final reading (8-0, Kirkowitz absent).
• Bill 106 (Emergency Rental Assistance): Approved at second and final reading (8-0, Kirkowitz absent).
• Bill 108 (EMS Funding): Approved at first reading (9-0). Funds $1,750,000 to open ambulance operations at Makaweli Fire Station.
• Bill 109 (No Parking): Approved at first reading (8-0, Kirkowitz absent) to enact "No Parking Anytime" on Hinalani Street.
• Grants Approved: Multiple resolutions (406-417, 418-421) were approved unanimously (or with minor excusals) to fund community events, including the Palace Theater's "Tis the Season," KWXX Hoolaula, Garden Enchantment at Kailua Park, and veteran cemetery grave markers.
• Announcements: Councilmember Houstis announced a new traffic signal at Waikoloa Road and Paniolo Avenue; Councilmember Kagiwada announced a food drive; Councilmember Viegas announced holiday decoration contests at the Civic Center.