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Record of Proceedings

Hawaii County Committee Meeting - March 17, 2026: Nominations to Multiple Commissions

County Council & Committees — Tuesday, March 17, 2026
BodyHawaii County, Hawaii
SessionCounty Council & Committees
DateTuesday, March 17, 2026
StatusFILED
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Transcript — Verbatim
0:09

We're back from recess.

0:10

We're having some uh technical difficulties on this side of the island.

0:15

Uh thank you for bringing with us.

0:17

Mr.

0:17

Oneshi was mid-sentence before I cut him off.

0:21

And now he is not here.

0:23

Yep, Mr.

0:24

Chair, he was mid-sentence, and it was just clarifying that there are two Alan Okamoros on the island.

0:29

And the Alan Okamoto here is Alan K.

0:31

Okamoro.

0:32

Um so Mahalo for that clarification, and I will make sure that your middle initial is on off all communications going forward.

0:41

Thank you very much, Mr.

0:43

Alameda.

0:44

I don't have any discussion.

0:46

Thank you for being here this morning.

0:47

Uh nice to meet you in person.

0:49

Thank you.

0:50

Um, Mr.

0:51

Kirk, with that, a signal for the discussion on forwarding the nomination of Alan K.

0:58

Okomoro to the Liquor Commission.

1:03

To council with a favorable recommendation.

1:05

All in favor?

1:07

Aye.

1:08

Oh, sorry, Mr.

1:09

Anishi.

1:10

Do you want to that's okay?

1:11

Okay, okay.

1:13

Thank you.

1:13

Thank you, thank you.

1:14

Uh all in favor.

1:17

Any opposed.

1:19

Mr.

1:20

Kirk, you have six seven eyes.

1:24

Council members Galimba and Kirkworth being excused.

1:29

Next communication, please.

1:30

Thank you very much for being here, Mr.

1:31

Okamura.

1:32

Mr.

1:33

Chair, can we move communication 774 to the bottom of the list?

1:37

Um he was supposed to be here, Mr.

1:39

Okumura, but he's not able to.

1:40

I'm trying to get him to log into the Zoom.

1:43

If someone in the clerk's office could text me the Zoom login ID and the password, I will get that to Mr.

1:49

Okumura, and hopefully we can line him up to go last.

1:54

Perfect.

1:54

Uh Mr.

1:55

Chair.

1:55

Thank you, Mr.

1:56

Alameda.

1:56

Mr.

1:57

Clerk, let's go to communication 775, please.

1:59

Is there any testimony for communication 775 hearing none?

2:07

Communication 775, nomination of Stephen Pavau to the cost of government commission from Mayor C.

2:12

Kingo Alameda, dated February 26, 2026, requesting the council's review and confirmation.

2:20

May I have a motion, please, Councilmembers?

2:22

Motion to close file on communication 775 and forward the nomination of Steve Pavau to the cost of government commission to council with a favorable recommendation.

2:34

I have a motion by Councilmember Inava and a second by Councilmember Hustis.

2:44

Thank you, Chair.

2:45

Yes, I just want to let you know that Mr.

2:47

Pavau is here in the Hilo Chambers, and I've known Steve for a little while.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Personnel Matters█████████████████████████████████████████████46%
Procedural███████████████████████23%
Veterans Affairs██████████████████18%
Government Structure██████6%
Fiscal Sustainability████4%
Veterans Services███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Hawaii County Committee Meeting - March 17, 2026: Nominations to Multiple Commissions

The committee met on March 17, 2026, to consider nominations to the Liquor Commission, Cost of Government Commission, Veterans Advisory Committee, and Game Management Advisory Commission. All nominations were advanced to the full council with favorable recommendations. Technical difficulties affected the participation of some nominees and council members.

Discussion Items

  • Nomination of Alan K. Okamoto to the Liquor Commission: Councilmember Alameda clarified that there are two Alan Okamotos on the island, and the nominee is Alan K. Okamoto. The nomination was forwarded with a favorable recommendation.
  • Nomination of Stephen Pavau to the Cost of Government Commission: Introduced by Mayor's representative Alameda, who noted Pavau's previous service on the Salary Commission and his community involvement. Councilmembers expressed support. Pavau answered a question about balancing salary needs with county debt. The nomination was forwarded with a favorable recommendation.
  • Nomination of Maile Luvay to the Cost of Government Commission: Due to an unforeseen circumstance, Luvay was unable to attend. Alameda requested that the nomination be forwarded to the next council meeting where she would be present. Councilmembers Houstis, Inaba, and Kierkewicz supported the request, noting Luvay's qualifications as an attorney and community leader. Concerns were raised about seating the commission quickly given its 18-month timeline. The nomination was forwarded with a favorable recommendation.
  • Nomination of Doreen L. Raymond to the Veterans Advisory Committee: Alameda delivered an emotional introduction, detailing Raymond's 40+ years of service including in the U.S. Navy, support for Navy SEALs, and work in Afghanistan. Raymond expressed her desire to use her experience to support veterans on Hawaii Island. Councilmembers praised her background and commitment. The nomination was forwarded unanimously.
  • Nomination of David G. Okumura to the Game Management Advisory Commission: Okumura was unable to join via Zoom due to technical difficulties. Alameda introduced him as a program director for the Hawaii State Judiciary and an active hunter and fisherman. Councilmembers agreed to forward the nomination despite his absence, noting the technical issues. The nomination was forwarded with a favorable recommendation.

Key Outcomes

  • Alan K. Okamoto: Motion to forward to council with favorable recommendation passed with 7 ayes (Councilmembers Galimba and Kirkworth excused).
  • Stephen Pavau: Motion to forward passed with 7 ayes (Councilmembers Galimba and Kirkworth excused).
  • Maile Luvay: Motion to forward passed with 8 ayes (Councilmember Galimba excused).
  • Doreen L. Raymond: Motion to forward passed with 7 ayes (Councilmembers Viegas and Galimba excused).
  • David G. Okumura: Motion to forward passed with 7 ayes (Councilmembers Galimba and Viegas excused).

The meeting adjourned at 9:49 a.m. The next committee meeting was scheduled to start at 10 a.m.

Meeting Transcript

We're back from recess. We're having some uh technical difficulties on this side of the island. Uh thank you for bringing with us. Mr. Oneshi was mid-sentence before I cut him off. And now he is not here. Yep, Mr. Chair, he was mid-sentence, and it was just clarifying that there are two Alan Okamoros on the island. And the Alan Okamoto here is Alan K. Okamoro. Um so Mahalo for that clarification, and I will make sure that your middle initial is on off all communications going forward. Thank you very much, Mr. Alameda. I don't have any discussion. Thank you for being here this morning. Uh nice to meet you in person. Thank you. Um, Mr. Kirk, with that, a signal for the discussion on forwarding the nomination of Alan K. Okomoro to the Liquor Commission. To council with a favorable recommendation. All in favor? Aye. Oh, sorry, Mr. Anishi. Do you want to that's okay? Okay, okay. Thank you. Thank you, thank you. Uh all in favor. Any opposed. Mr. Kirk, you have six seven eyes. Council members Galimba and Kirkworth being excused. Next communication, please. Thank you very much for being here, Mr. Okamura. Mr. Chair, can we move communication 774 to the bottom of the list? Um he was supposed to be here, Mr. Okumura, but he's not able to. I'm trying to get him to log into the Zoom. If someone in the clerk's office could text me the Zoom login ID and the password, I will get that to Mr. Okumura, and hopefully we can line him up to go last. Perfect. Uh Mr. Chair. Thank you, Mr. Alameda. Mr.

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