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Record of Proceedings

Hawaii County Council Meeting - January 7, 2026

County Council & Committees — Wednesday, January 7, 2026
BodyHawaii County, Hawaii
SessionCounty Council & Committees
DateWednesday, January 7, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
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0:00

Aloha Kakahiyaka, welcome to the 38th session of the Hawaii County Council.

0:04

The date today is January 7, 2026, and we are meeting at our Hilo Chambers at the Hawaii County Building.

0:13

Uh to get us started this morning, I'd like to call on Kahu Pono Daniel Kawaha of Highly Congregational Church to provide our invocation.

0:25

I'll be providing it then.

0:27

Please bow your heads for Pule.

1:00

For our County Council meeting, we ask that you all be with us as we do the work of the people that our decisions today serve not only each and every one of our friends and families, but most especially the community that we were elected to serve.

1:16

We pray these things.

1:21

Thank you.

1:22

Uh, with that, can we please uh get a roll call vote?

1:26

This meeting is called to order at 9 02.

1:29

Roll call, please.

1:36

Councilmember Golemba.

1:38

Here.

1:38

Councilmember Houstis.

1:40

Present.

1:40

Councilmember Kagiwada.

1:42

Here.

1:42

Councilmember Connie E.

1:44

Lee Kleinfelder.

1:45

Here.

1:46

Councilmember Kirkowitz.

1:47

Present.

1:48

Councilmember Campbell.

1:49

Yeah.

1:49

Vice Chair O'Nishi.

1:51

Present.

1:51

Councilmember Viegas.

1:55

Cherry Nava.

1:56

Chair, you have eight members present.

1:58

You have quorum.

1:58

Thank you, but you please lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance.

2:01

Please stand if you feel comfortable doing so.

2:28

Thank you.

2:29

Before we begin our official part of today's agenda, I'd like to call on Vice Chair Onishi, who has a presentation.

2:36

Vice Chair Onishi, go ahead.

2:44

Good morning, everyone.

2:45

Today I have an honor of recognizing an individual.

2:50

He's a senior at Kamehameha School in Hilo or in Kal.

2:56

And he for the past three years has been like one of the top-notch rifle participants.

3:06

His first, like his sophomore junior year, he was first in the BIF.

3:11

And then in his sec his senior year, he came in second, but he won the state tournament this past year in 2025.

3:19

So I want to recognize Keola Fukunaga.

3:22

Please come up.

3:31

Yeah.

3:32

So when I when I heard about Keola, I called and I found out that his coach was Kelly Gaelonius.

3:40

I said, oh wow.

3:41

So is Keola going to be going to the military?

3:45

He goes, no.

3:46

He's going into engineering.

3:48

So that shows you know how educated he is from going to Kamehameha schools, right?

3:55

And also recognizing his parents that also made him this great guy today, right?

4:01

So congratulations on behalf of the county council.

4:04

We want to present you this certificate of recognition.

4:08

Thank you.

4:14

And usually as a council, we recognize, I guess, more like teams and not too many individuals, but with this happening, waiting and in rifle re judo wrestling, it's all individual sports, right?

4:29

And golf is another one.

4:31

But then we don't have that too many offense where our athletes on the big island gets to that level of winning the individual.

4:39

Usually it's a team effort, right?

4:41

So congratulations again on behalf of the county council.

4:45

But I also wanted to bring up Coach Kelly Galdonias because he can give some history for Keola.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Zoning And Land Use███████████████████19%
Public Safety██████████████████18%
Procedural██████████10%
Affordable Housing██████████10%
Native Hawaiian Law Training███████7%
Public Engagement██████6%
Community Engagement█████5%
Youth Programs████4%
Personnel Matters███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Hawaii County Council Meeting - January 7, 2026

The Hawaii County Council convened on January 7, 2026, to review a variety of resolutions, nominations, and bills, with a significant portion of the meeting dedicated to honoring the late Fire Chief Todd. The session also featured public recognition of a local rifle athlete, several public comments on community safety and land use, and extensive deliberation on zoning changes regarding residential allowances in industrial districts.

Consent Calendar

  • The minutes of the October 8, 2025 meeting were deemed approved without amendment.
  • Resolution 438-25 was withdrawn by the sponsor regarding the Hawaii Police Activities League tournament.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Public Comments:
    • Renee Godoy (Police and Fire Chaplain, Founder of Friends of First Responders): Expressed gratitude for the resolution honoring Fire Chief Todd, sharing personal anecdotes about his warmth, hard work ethic, and impact on her family.
    • Blake McNaughton (President, Mauna Loa Fishing Association): Expressed support for Resolution 436-25, stating that $3,500 in county funds is necessary to fill a grant gap for clearing shoreline access that has been blocked for years.
    • Marissa Harmon (Kamehameha Schools graduate, parent, servant of Aina): Expressed full support for Resolution 427-25, emphasizing the importance of the school's legacy and mission to Native Hawaiians.
    • Patty Cook: Expressed support for the appointment of Mr. Fisher to the police commission and the Kamehameha Schools resolution; also expressed support for Bill 103 regarding Kupuna tax assessments.
    • Josephine Kili Pio (Alumni of Kamehameha School): Expressed full support for Resolution 427-25 as a 1971 graduate.
    • Bill Moore and Riley Smith (Testifiers for Bill 63): Expressed support for allowing residential dwellings in the Westway MCX zone to address workforce housing needs for employees living in cars.
    • Josephine Kelly Pio (Testifier for Bill 63): Expressed opposition to Bill 63, encouraging interested parties to attend the Kona CDP Action Committee meeting.
  • Fire Chief Todd Testimony:
    • Lauren Williamson, Nicole Lonikapu, Daniel Volpe, Jordan Mance, and Kazuo (Chief's son): All expressed profound support for Resolution 429-25, sharing personal testimonies of Chief Todd's leadership, friendship, dedication, and unique personality.

Discussion Items

  • Recognition of Keola Fukunaga: Vice Chair O'Nishi and Coach Kelly Galdones presented a certificate of recognition to Keola Fukunaga, a Kamehameha School senior who won the 2025 Hawaii state air rifle tournament. Coach Galdones described the sport as highly disciplined and safer than football.
  • Resolution 429-25 (In Memory of Fire Chief Todd): Council members unanimously approved the resolution. Multiple members (Kimball, Kirkowitz, Viegas, Kleinfelder, Houstis, Kagiwata) expressed deep personal loss and respect, highlighting his servant leadership, data-driven approach, and openness to community members. One member noted the sadness that he never fully completed his work due to his passing.
  • Resolution 427-25 (Kamehameha Schools Support): Council members unanimously approved the resolution reaffirming Kamehameha Schools' admission policy. Council members Viegas and Kleinfelder expressed strong support for the legacy of Princess Kaiulani and the school's role in Native Hawaiian education, specifically opposing outside lawsuits attempting to alter the mission.
  • Communication 650: The nomination of Alan A. Salabayo to the police commission was withdrawn by the Mayor due to an incorrect district listing.
  • Communications 651 & 652: The Council confirmed the nominations of Shane Policott Nelson to the Kona Community Development Plan Action Committee and Franz Junior Fisher to the Police Commission.
  • Resolution 436-25 (Mauna Loa Fishing Association): Approved to fund shoreline clearing, directly addressing the public testimony regarding blocked access.
  • Resolution 437-25 (Food is Medicine): Approved a $20,000 grant to the Food Basket for a senior cooking program at Puna. The program involves collaboration with Kilauea Elementary and local partners to provide recipe kits and nutritional education.
  • Bill 63 (Residential dwellings in MCX zoning): Significant deliberation occurred regarding an amendment to allow dwellings as accessory uses in the MCX district. Council members Kimball, Viegas, and Kagiwata expressed reservations about the amendment's ability to ensure workforce housing and its potential for manipulation. Councilmember Houstis questioned the lack of density thresholds. The amendment motion failed (1 in favor, 8 against). Consequently, Councilmember Kimball proposed a case-by-case use permit approach instead. The Council voted unanimously to postpone Bill 63 to February 4, 2026.
  • Bill 111 (Waikiki SL Hula Rezoning): Approved at first reading. Councilmember Kagiwata voiced concerns regarding fire truck access but accepted assurances from Deputy Fire Chief Volpe and Planning Director Darrow regarding the property connectivity plan and emergency response protocols.

Key Outcomes

  • Resolution 429-25: Approved unanimously (9 in favor). Honors Fire Chief Todd.
  • Resolution 427-25: Approved unanimously (9 in favor). Supports Kamehameha Schools admission policy.
  • Resolution 436-25: Approved unanimously (9 in favor). Grants $3,500 to Mauna Loa Fishing Association.
  • Resolution 437-25: Approved unanimously (9 in favor). Grants $20,000 to Food Basket.
  • Comm. 651: Confirmed Shane Policott Nelson.
  • Comm. 652: Confirmed Franz Junior Fisher.
  • Bill 107: Approved on second and final reading (amends fire code to adopt state fire code).
  • Bill 108: Approved on second and final reading (appropriates $1.75 million for EMS at Makai Fire Station).
  • Biils 103, 109, 110, 111: Approved at final or first reading as applicable.
  • Bill 63: Postponed until February 4, 2026. The proposed amendment to allow accessory dwellings in the MCX district failed.
  • Resolutions 405, 423, 424, 425, 430, 431, 432, 433, 434, 435, 439, 440, 441: All approved (unanimously or with minor abstentions) regarding funding for various community projects, summits, and festivals.
  • Councilmember Dominic Yung: Passed away; Council commended his legacy as the "voice of the dragons."

Meeting Transcript

Aloha Kakahiyaka, welcome to the 38th session of the Hawaii County Council. The date today is January 7, 2026, and we are meeting at our Hilo Chambers at the Hawaii County Building. Uh to get us started this morning, I'd like to call on Kahu Pono Daniel Kawaha of Highly Congregational Church to provide our invocation. I'll be providing it then. Please bow your heads for Pule. For our County Council meeting, we ask that you all be with us as we do the work of the people that our decisions today serve not only each and every one of our friends and families, but most especially the community that we were elected to serve. We pray these things. Thank you. Uh, with that, can we please uh get a roll call vote? This meeting is called to order at 9 02. Roll call, please. Councilmember Golemba. Here. Councilmember Houstis. Present. Councilmember Kagiwada. Here. Councilmember Connie E. Lee Kleinfelder. Here. Councilmember Kirkowitz. Present. Councilmember Campbell. Yeah. Vice Chair O'Nishi. Present. Councilmember Viegas. Cherry Nava. Chair, you have eight members present. You have quorum. Thank you, but you please lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Please stand if you feel comfortable doing so. Thank you. Before we begin our official part of today's agenda, I'd like to call on Vice Chair Onishi, who has a presentation. Vice Chair Onishi, go ahead. Good morning, everyone. Today I have an honor of recognizing an individual. He's a senior at Kamehameha School in Hilo or in Kal. And he for the past three years has been like one of the top-notch rifle participants. His first, like his sophomore junior year, he was first in the BIF. And then in his sec his senior year, he came in second, but he won the state tournament this past year in 2025. So I want to recognize Keola Fukunaga. Please come up. Yeah. So when I when I heard about Keola, I called and I found out that his coach was Kelly Gaelonius. I said, oh wow. So is Keola going to be going to the military? He goes, no. He's going into engineering. So that shows you know how educated he is from going to Kamehameha schools, right?

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