Hawaii County Council Policy Committee Meeting Summary - April 7, 2026
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Hawaii County Council Policy Committee on Planning, Land Use and Economic Development - April 7, 2026
The Policy Committee on Planning, Land Use and Economic Development convened on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at 3:18 p.m., delayed by approximately 1.5 hours due to a prior committee running late. The meeting addressed two major bills: Bill 66 (the General Plan update) and Bill 147 (transient accommodation regulations). Seven council members were present, with one excused. Extensive public testimony was heard on both bills, covering the General Plan 2045 vs. 2026 debate and short-term rental regulations.
Consent Calendar
- No consent calendar items were noted.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Marie Ruland (Hilo) testified in support of her short-term rental, stating she had paid all taxes since 2000 and that enforcement of the current Short-Term Rental Law (enacted 1992) has been "arbitrary and excessive," resulting in an eight-fold property tax increase after losing her homeowners' tax classification.
- Dr. James Juvik (Hilo) urged the committee to include climate adaptation elements in the General Plan, sharing that freezing nights at Mauna Loa have decreased from 100 days per year in the 1950s to about 30 days per year currently.
- Chris Ewan (via Zoom), former Planning Director (2000-2008) criticized the 2026 plan for downgrading the role of General Plan maps, reducing map categories from 14 to 4, and for being overly general.
- April Lee (via Zoom) argued the 2026 General Plan lacks accountability and financial transparency, and called for a rerun of the public process.
- Kenneth Honma (Hilo) expressed support for GP 2026, stating it "stripped out the illegal and insidious WEF and United Nations language," and opposed Bill 147 as an unconstitutional taking without just compensation.
- Donna Grabo (Hilo) called for deferring Bill 66 due to lack of public insight on changes, and supported GP 2026.
- Chuck Flaherty (Kona, Sierra Club Hawaii Island Group) opposed Communication 372.192 (GP 2026), supported the planning director's communication 372.196 (option one), and opposed enabling data centers without a moratorium. He also supported amendments to Bill 66 draft two to address wastewater and watershed reforestation.
- Bob Bianchi (Kona, Wildfire Safety Advocates) highlighted the failure to implement the Waikōloa second road (a priority for 18 years) and requested cost estimates and budget alignment for community development plans (CDPs).
- Michelle Melendez (via Zoom) strongly supported GP 2026, stating it is "a thousand times better than 2045," and opposed Bill 147, calling for the sponsor to be removed from office.
- Krista Olsen (via Zoom), a farmer opposed Bill 147, noting that farm stays are integral to agricultural operations and that the economics of the B&B pathway would not work for farmers. She encouraged a "farm stay" category.
- Darren Morris (Hilo) supported hosted vacation rentals in Honokaʻa, asking for a clear compliance pathway and grandfathering for existing operators.
- Ronald Riley (Volcano Village) opposed Bill 66, citing that GP 2026 removes the climate change chapter (chapter 3) and state law requires working toward net-zero and fossil fuel independence.
- Matt Chalker (Waikōloa Village, Wildfire Safety Advocates) emphasized that community development plans (CDPs) must be implemented, noting that the second road for Waikōloa has been a stated priority since 2008 but has not been funded.
- Josephine Kalipio (Kailua-Kona) now supports GP 2045 over GP 2026, as GP 2026 does not provide for CDP committees. She urged against introducing data centers into the General Plan until the public is fully educated.
- Heather Karati (via Zoom), a farm stay operator raised concerns about Bill 147's impact on farms and requested clarity on grandfathering, the special permit process, and whether farms can continue operating while applications are pending.
- Janice Paul Maglaney (Kailua-Kona) opposed Bill 147, arguing it opens the door to more vacation rentals and worsens affordability. She also opposed GP 2026, calling it a "dangerous non-plan" that undermines decades of community effort.
- Aaron Zieman (Hilo) stated he filed a temporary restraining order challenging the process behind Bill 66, calling for a pause on the vote until the court reviews the legality of the process.
- Millicent Cummings (Hilo) argued that GP 2045 and its offshoots are procedurally illegitimate due to the "gut and replace" tactics by the planning director, and called for deferral of Bill 66.
- Jason Isert (Kona), owner of Rising Kona Coffee Farm Tours opposed Bill 147, describing how he built his business based on written guidance from the planning department that Bill 147 would erase.
- Jewel Rain (via Zoom) opposed GP 2045, called GP 2026 "way better," and opposed Bill 147, sharing that she stopped doing VRBOs after a three-year back-tax assessment.
- Margaret Willie (via Zoom) encouraged continued discussion on both bills and called for further debate and comparison of GP 2026 and GP 2045.
- David DeCleene (Hilo), a high school English teacher supported GP 2026 for removing outside influence and expressed concerns about data centers.
- Noelle Lindenman (via Zoom) opposed GP 2026, conditionally supported Bill 66 draft two (GP 2045), and called for improvements regarding wastewater, flooding, public access, and climate change.
- Roger Jensen (Kailua-Kona), a trustee of a legally established bed and breakfast opposed Bill 147, fearing it would make legal B&Bs illegal overnight and asked for protection for non-owner on-site operators.
- Chris Hirose (Hilo) supported GP 2026 and its amendment, and raised concerns about food security and fertilizer imports in light of geopolitical conflicts.
- Caitlin Miller (via Zoom), Executive Director of Hawaii Mid and Short Term Rental Alliance asked for clear grandfathering for existing permitted B&Bs and urged alignment of penalty structures.
- David Webb (via Zoom) opposed GP 2045 and supported GP 2026 as a clear, concrete starting point.
- Robert Golden (via Zoom, co-founder of Puna Rising ʻOhana) supported a balanced approach to Bill 147, noting that short-term rentals are essential for local economic circulation in Puna. On Bill 66, he suggested using citizen assemblies (as done in Europe) to inform the public and reach consensus.
- Fran Kopp (Hilo) opposed GP 2045, concerned about county bankruptcy and data centers, and urged focus on infrastructure and food security. On Bill 147, she raised concerns about rules forcing property owners to sell.
Discussion Items
- Bill 66 (General Plan Update): Chair Kirkwitz explained that her GP 2026 proposal is an amendment to GP 2045, distilled from community input and edited to focus on county authority and land-use connection. Corporation Counsel provided guidance on the amendment process: the 2005 General Plan sets a blackout period for substantial amendments, but the Charter grants the Council authority to amend without restriction. The committee discussed whether mapping changes are substantial, with Councilmember Houstis noting errors in the current maps and Councilmember Kimball arguing the Council can determine substantiality. Several council members expressed support for GP 2045 (Councilmembers Viegas, Kimball) or GP 2026 (Chair Kirkwitz, Councilmember Inaba). Councilmember Inaba stressed the need to pass a plan by the end of the council term (first Monday of December).
- Bill 147 (Transient Accommodations): Councilmember Kimball explained that the bill aligns state law, county code, and the Rose Hill decision regarding short-term rentals and bed and breakfasts. Key points: hosted rentals are defined as bed and breakfasts; a use permit is no longer required in residential areas but a special use permit is still required in agricultural districts due to farm dwelling definitions; previously issued permits run with the land; a grace period (6 months to a year) will be provided for compliance. The committee voted to forward the bill to the planning director and commissions for review.
Key Outcomes
- Bill 66 (Draft Two): Postponed to the May 4, 2026 committee meeting, with a request to schedule it at 9:00 a.m. to allow adequate time for public testimony and deliberation. The motion passed 7-0 (Councilmembers Kane K. Kleinfelder and Onishi excused).
- Bill 147: Forwarded to the planning director and commissions (Leeward and Windward Planning Commissions) for their review and recommendation. The motion passed 7-0 (Councilmembers Kane K. Kleinfelder and Onishi excused).
- The committee acknowledged that the Council plans to develop codified General Plan amendment procedures for future use.
- Chair Kirkwitz stated she will conduct public outreach outside formal meetings to gather community input on the General Plan in parallel with the commissions' review.
Meeting Transcript
Aloha and good afternoon. Welcome to the Policy Committee on Planning, Land Use and Economic Development. Hi, we're convening the meeting. If you could please take your seats and refrain from speaking because we are getting to official council business. Thank you. Today is excuse me, decorum. Excuse me, decorum. We've started the meeting. If you need to have a conversation, I ask that you take it outside. After everyone waited for an hour and a half to testify, thank you so much for your patience. Today is Tuesday, April 7th, 2026. We are calling this meeting to order at 318 p.m. I apologize for the delay. Our last committee ran very late, but I appreciate the public's patience. Present for committee today are council members Heather Kimball, Michelle Galimba, Fresh O'Nishi, James Houstis, and Jennifer Kagiwada joining us shortly. Our council members Holaka Inaba and Rebecca Viegas. Excused is Councilmember Matt Kenneli Kinefelder. My name is Ashley Kirkwitz, Chair and Presiding Officer. At this time, we will be taking statements from the public. Mr. Ariselli, could you please check in with our Outer Sites Zoom and take testifiers here in Hilo and Kona? Thank you. Thank you so much, Chair. Just noting that we do not have any testifiers at your remote sites. We do have a number of testifiers via Zoom and here in the Hilo Chamber. So we'll do is we'll start with our a couple testifiers in Hilo, then we'll take a couple testifiers via Zoom, and then we'll continue that rotation until we've exhausted our list. So first off, testifying here in the Hilo chamber is Marie or Mari Ruland testifying on Bill 147 to be followed by Dr. James Juvik testifying on Bill 66. Mari, when you begin, you'll have three minutes after you introduce yourself. So please begin whenever you're ready. Oh, sorry, you'll just have to turn the mic on by hitting that green button. There you go. Good afternoon, Council members. Thank you for your time and your uh commitment to the community. My name is Marie Rulin, and my husband and I have lived in Hilo since 1987. I am a retired RN from the Hilo Medical Center, and I was the director of home care. I retired in 2012. We have five children, 11 grandchildren, and it is a pleasure and a privilege to be the owner of a short-term rental since 2000. My rental is a 330 square foot room attached to our home. We have welcomed thousands of local mainland international guests over the last 25 years. Many have become friends and have returned. Many are parents of UHH students. I've been supporting some of these students at the request of their parents. I mean, you know, they they're the only ones that I knew, uh they knew in Hilo. So I said, here's my number. Have them call me if you need anything. The majority of my guests are tourists who have never been to the Hawaii before. Many are looking for local venues to to rent due to the higher cost of the local hotels. Hilo Hawaiian starting at about 172, Nani No starting at 300 something, plus the incredibly high rental car rates in Gilo. Since 2000, I have paid state GET, TAT, in addition since 2025, and paid TAT taxes to the County of Hawaii.
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