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Record of Proceedings

Hawai‘i County Council Committee on Governmental Operations and External Affairs Meeting - March 17, 2026

County Council & Committees — Tuesday, March 17, 2026
BodyHawaii County, Hawaii
SessionCounty Council & Committees
DateTuesday, March 17, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 2:39

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it
0:07

Aloha and welcome to the committee on government operations and external affairs.

0:13

Today is March 17th, 2026.

0:16

It is 901 a.m.

0:19

I'm calling this meeting to order as the vice chair, today being the chair of the committee.

0:26

Mr.

0:26

Clerk, please note we have members joining us in the Gilo chambers and the chambers here in West Hawaii.

0:36

In Hilo, we have joining us today Councilmember and Vice Chair Jen Kalgiwana and Councilmember Heather Kimball.

0:47

Is that all in Hilo?

0:51

Yes, Ashley should be joining shortly.

0:53

Okay.

0:53

Ashley will be joining us shortly.

0:55

Perfect.

0:55

And then here in Kona, we have Councilmember Houstis, Councilmember Nishi, Councilmember Inava, Councilmember Viegas, and myself with Councilmember Galemba being excused.

1:07

So we have eight, seven, seven members in attendance, Mr.

1:11

Clerk.

1:14

Let's go to uh public testimony, should there be any.

1:18

Thank you, Vice Chair Cunningly Kleinfelder.

1:20

We don't have any testimony at this time.

1:22

Shall I read in the first item?

1:24

Yes, please.

1:25

Thank you, sir.

1:26

Communication 773, the nomination of Alan Okamoto to the liquor commission from Mayor C.

1:32

Kimo Alameda, dated February 27, 2026, requesting the council's review and confirmation.

1:38

May I have a motion, please.

1:40

Motion to close file on communication 773 and for the nomination of Alan K.

1:46

Okomodo to the council with a favorable recommendation.

1:52

We have a motion by Councilmember Inava and a second by council member Houston.

1:58

Mr.

1:59

Alameda, if you would introduce and then we'll go to you Mr.

2:01

Yokomoto.

2:02

Mahalunui, Mr.

2:03

Chair.

2:03

Aloha and good morning, Council members.

2:05

My name is Michael Amida, Executive Assistant, Office of the Mayor.

2:09

It is my honor to present you communication 773, nominating Alan Okamoto to the Liquor Commission.

2:15

If confirmed, Mr.

2:17

Okomoro will serve a term to expire on December 31, 2030.

2:22

Mr.

2:22

Okomoro was nominated to this seat nine months ago.

2:27

He filled a vacancy.

2:29

This would be an opportunity for him to chart his own path in his own new five year term.

2:36

I can just tell you recently they went through a public

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
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Summary of Proceedings

Hawai‘i County Council Committee on Governmental Operations and External Affairs Meeting - March 17, 2026

The Committee on Governmental Operations and External Affairs of the Hawai‘i County Council met on March 17, 2026 at 9:01 a.m. Vice Chair Matt Kānealiʻi-Kleinfelder presided. Roll call indicated seven members present: Jenn Kagiwada, Heather Kimball, Ashley Kierkiewicz (joining later), James Hustace, Dennis Onishi, Holeka Inaba, Rebecca Villegas, and Matt Kānealiʻi-Kleinfelder. Councilmember Michelle Galimba was excused. No oral public testimony was offered.

Discussion Items

  • Comm. 773: Nomination of Alan Okamoto to the Liquor Commission – Mayor Kimo Alameda nominated Alan Okamoto for a five-year term expiring December 31, 2030. Councilmember Inaba moved to close the file and recommend confirmation with a favorable recommendation, seconded by Councilmember Hustace. Michael Amida, Executive Assistant to the Mayor, introduced the nominee. The transcript ends during this introduction, so no further discussion or vote was recorded.

Key Outcomes

  • No votes were recorded in the available transcript. The motion on Comm. 773 was pending at the point the record ends.

Meeting Transcript

Aloha and welcome to the committee on government operations and external affairs. Today is March 17th, 2026. It is 901 a.m. I'm calling this meeting to order as the vice chair, today being the chair of the committee. Mr. Clerk, please note we have members joining us in the Gilo chambers and the chambers here in West Hawaii. In Hilo, we have joining us today Councilmember and Vice Chair Jen Kalgiwana and Councilmember Heather Kimball. Is that all in Hilo? Yes, Ashley should be joining shortly. Okay. Ashley will be joining us shortly. Perfect. And then here in Kona, we have Councilmember Houstis, Councilmember Nishi, Councilmember Inava, Councilmember Viegas, and myself with Councilmember Galemba being excused. So we have eight, seven, seven members in attendance, Mr. Clerk. Let's go to uh public testimony, should there be any. Thank you, Vice Chair Cunningly Kleinfelder. We don't have any testimony at this time. Shall I read in the first item? Yes, please. Thank you, sir. Communication 773, the nomination of Alan Okamoto to the liquor commission from Mayor C. Kimo Alameda, dated February 27, 2026, requesting the council's review and confirmation. May I have a motion, please. Motion to close file on communication 773 and for the nomination of Alan K. Okomodo to the council with a favorable recommendation. We have a motion by Councilmember Inava and a second by council member Houston. Mr. Alameda, if you would introduce and then we'll go to you Mr. Yokomoto. Mahalunui, Mr. Chair. Aloha and good morning, Council members. My name is Michael Amida, Executive Assistant, Office of the Mayor. It is my honor to present you communication 773, nominating Alan Okamoto to the Liquor Commission. If confirmed, Mr. Okomoro will serve a term to expire on December 31, 2030. Mr. Okomoro was nominated to this seat nine months ago. He filled a vacancy. This would be an opportunity for him to chart his own path in his own new five year term. I can just tell you recently they went through a public

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