OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Hawaii County Council 36th Session - April 8, 2026

County Council & Committees — Wednesday, April 8, 2026
BodyHawaii County, Hawaii
SessionCounty Council & Committees
DateWednesday, April 8, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
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0:00

Hello Hakaka Hiyako, welcome to the 36th session of the Hawaii County Council.

0:04

The date today is April 8th, 2026.

0:07

We are meeting at the Hawaii County Building, 25 Al Puni Street here in our Hilo Chambers this morning.

0:14

And to start this morning's meeting, I'd like to call on Pastor Robert Frick of Puna Covenant Church to provide our invocation.

0:21

Yes, sir.

0:22

You're welcome.

0:26

All right, before I pray, how many of you all out there agree with everybody with anything?

0:34

All the time.

0:36

How many of you guys in the council agree a hundred percent of the time on anything?

0:43

I need to disagree.

0:46

The thing is we need to seek peace.

0:53

Because with there is peace, there is rest.

0:56

When there is rest, there is truth.

1:01

And so as I pray uh for this council uh this morning, and for you guys, I have no idea what the agenda is.

1:11

That we need to seek that rest.

1:13

We need to seek that peace.

1:16

Whatever it may be, and a compromise, but also an agreement in that same way.

1:24

So let's bow our heads in prayer.

1:28

Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you.

1:33

As we just close on Easter, the amazing peace that you sent us through pain through sacrifice, but reconciliation was your goal.

1:53

And I pray for each of us this morning that we would seek that peace, that we would seek that record reconciliation because out of that will become joy.

2:14

Amen.

2:17

Thank you, sir.

2:18

Mahalo imposter calling this meeting to order.

2:21

9 03 a.m.

2:23

Mr.

2:23

Clerk, roll call, please.

2:24

Councilmember Galimba.

2:27

Here.

2:27

Councilmember Houstis.

2:29

President.

2:29

Councilmember Kagiwada.

2:31

Councilmember Connie Lee Pinefelder.

2:34

Councilmember Kirkowitz.

2:35

President.

2:36

Councilmember Kimball.

2:37

Here.

2:37

Here.

2:38

Vice Chair O'Nishi.

2:39

President.

2:40

Councilmember Viegas.

2:41

Chair Inama.

2:43

Chair Nava.

2:44

You have seven members present this time.

2:45

You have quorum.

2:46

Thank you.

2:46

Would you please lead the group in the Pledge of Allegiance?

2:48

Please stand if you feel comfortable doing so.

3:20

Before we begin this morning's formal agenda, we do have a few certificates, and the first being our Jove Award for April 2026.

3:30

So if I could call upon police chief Mahuna as well as our recipient to come forward to the table.

4:07

Good morning, Councilmember.

4:08

So thank you for this opportunity to recognize one of South Hilo District's finance officers in my opinion.

4:14

This is Officer Chris Bartel.

4:16

He's assigned to South Hilo Patrol, but as of July, almost a year, he's been temporarily reassigned to community policing because we've been short.

4:34

Since being here.

4:35

So this is Officer Bartle.

4:40

Good morning, everybody.

4:41

Thank you for the this opportunity in giving me this award.

4:53

And my family for uh allowing me and supporting me to do what I do.

5:04

So thank you.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Engagement█████████████████████████████29%
Procedural██████████████████████22%
Public Safety███████████████████19%
Disability Rights██████6%
Community Engagement████4%
Zoning And Land Use████4%
Agriculture and Land Use████4%
Budget Equity Analysis████4%
Parks and Recreation███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Hawaii County Council 36th Session - April 8, 2026

The Hawaii County Council convened its 36th session on April 8, 2026, at 9:03 AM in the Hilo Chambers. The meeting began with an invocation by Pastor Robert Frick of Puna Covenant Church and roll call, confirming seven members present and a quorum. The council presented awards, confirmed five mayoral nominations, heard public testimony on community grant resolutions, and approved a legislative agenda spanning zoning changes, budget amendments, and policy bills.

Awards & Recognitions

  • Jove Award (April 2026): Presented by Police Chief Mahuna to Officer Chris Bartel of South Hilo Patrol for outstanding work in community policing. Officer Bartel was recognized for responding to a situation where county employees received 282 threatening phone calls within a three-hour period, initiating a harassment complaint, and pursuing an ex parte temporary gun violence protective order, marking only the second time the Hawaii Police Department has used this legal mechanism. Councilmembers Kimball, O'Nishi, and Viegas praised his service.
  • National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week: Recognized by Pastor Renee Godoy of Friends of First Responders. The Fire Department, represented by Mr. Fernando and Battalion Chief Domingo, and the Police Department highlighted their communications officers. The departments noted a nearly 50% staffing shortage and that dispatchers routinely work 12 to 16-hour shifts. Dispatchers Richard Arias (22 years), Tatiana Rodriguez (19 years), Laura Janine Siegel, and Leanne Tehero were honored.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Sholo Kohiapo Treveno expressed strong support for Resolution 508, stating the annual Celebration of Life event by Hawaii Care Choices provides vital bereavement education and support for East Hawaii residents facing isolation and limited access to services.
  • Jessica McCullum, founder of the Ava Sophia Foundation (Autism Moms of Kona), expressed strong support for Resolution 506. She advocated for the Light It Up Blue initiative and noted that autism prevalence has shifted from 1 in 168 children in 2013 to 1 in 31 children today, highlighting significant gaps in services and support for families on the Big Island.
  • Susan Collins, representing the World B Day Hawaii team, expressed support for Resolution 510. She highlighted that the 2025 event attracted over 1,100 attendees and emphasized the event's role in connecting beekeepers, farmers, and educators while promoting Hawaii's contributions to queen bee breeding and agriculture.

Nominations (GOEC Items)

The council confirmed five mayoral nominations, all by votes of 8 ayes with 1 absent (Councilmember Kleinfelder):

  • Alan Okamoro to the Liquor Commission.
  • David G. Okumura to the Game Management Advisory Commission.
  • Stephen Pavau to the Cost of Government Commission.
  • Maile Luway to the Cost of Government Commission.
  • Doreen L. Raymond to the Veterans Advisory Committee.

Resolutions (Community Grants & Contracts)

The council approved a series of resolutions transferring funds for district grants and county operations:

  • 480-26: Authorized a three-year agreement with NeoGov for HR software licensing ($34,100 in Year 1, $36,570 in Year 2, $39,230 in Year 3).
  • 501-26: Grant to the Puna Community Medical Center Foundation supporting Kupuna who cultivate and distribute thousands of medicinal plant starts (olena, awa, kukui, kalo) for chronic disease prevention.
  • 502-26: Grant supporting the Kona Town Nights Lay Day Bloom event.
  • 505-26: Grant to Full Life for the Able Hawaii Artist Art Immersion Exhibit at the Wailoa Art Center.
  • 506-26: Grant to the Ava Sophia Foundation for its Light It Up Blue autism awareness campaign.
  • 507-26: Grant to the Hilo Downtown Improvement Foundation for spring events (free family movie night and Haili Street block party).
  • 508-26: Grant to Hospice of Hilo for its 22nd Annual Celebration of Life.
  • 509-26: Grant to the Ocean View Skate Park Association to purchase supplies for an interim DIY skate park.
  • 510-26: Grant supporting the 2026 World B Day Hawaii event at the Discovery Center.
  • 511-26: Grant to the Hawaii Saddle Club for a new roping chute at the Honokaa Rodeo Arena.
  • 512-26: Grant supporting a 4-H Club program at Papaikou Hall to teach young people animal raising and food production.
  • 514-26: Grant to the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney for advanced training on strangulation and staged crime scene investigations.
  • 515-26: Resolution urging the Governor and DOE Superintendent to prioritize repair of Konawaena High School, Konawaena Middle School, and Ka'u schools following damage from the Kona Low storm, with an estimated $20 million in damages. The high school was moved to distance learning for the rest of the school year. Councilmember Galimba stated this was the most damaging aspect of the storm. Councilmember Kimball disclosed her husband's architecture firm holds DOE contracts. Councilmember Viegas urged investigation into the ecological causes of the flooding.

Legislative Matters (Bills)

  • Bills 130 & 131 (Second Reading): Approved zoning changes from Single-Family Residential to Neighborhood Commercial for a Hawaii Federal Credit Union branch in South Hilo. Councilmember Kimball recused himself from both votes (8 ayes, 1 recused).
  • Bill 129 Draft 2 (Second Reading): Approved a no-parking schedule amendment.
  • Bill 133 (Second Reading): Accepted a SAFER federal grant of $271,447 to fund 12 temporary firefighter positions in four high-risk wildfire communities for three years. Councilmember Kirkowitz urged the council to advocate for making these positions permanent.
  • Bills 134 & 143 (Second Reading): Amended the FY2026 operating budget, including housing program income repayment and operational appropriations.
  • Bills 139, 140, 141 (First Reading): Amended the FY2026 operating budget to accept federal grants for Medicare enrollment and adjust accounts for the Housing Agency's Dolphin Bay and Halikikaha programs.
  • Bill 137 (First Reading): Approved a zone change from Agriculture to Family Agriculture for a five-lot subdivision in Puna.
  • Bill 138 (First Reading): Amended county code to authorize commercial activity permits at Kekuaiki Beach Park.
  • Bill 142 (First Reading): Established an Adopt-a-County-Street program, enabling volunteers to assist the Department of Public Works in maintaining county streets and right-of-ways.

Key Outcomes & Announcements

  • All agenda items were approved, most with unanimous support.
  • Councilmember Houstis announced that the Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization (HWMO) and DLNR are offering approximately $1.5 million in grant funding for shovel-ready wildfire mitigation projects. Nonprofits, homeowner associations, and county agencies were encouraged to apply through the end of the month.
  • The meeting was adjourned at 10:18 AM.

Meeting Transcript

Hello Hakaka Hiyako, welcome to the 36th session of the Hawaii County Council. The date today is April 8th, 2026. We are meeting at the Hawaii County Building, 25 Al Puni Street here in our Hilo Chambers this morning. And to start this morning's meeting, I'd like to call on Pastor Robert Frick of Puna Covenant Church to provide our invocation. Yes, sir. You're welcome. All right, before I pray, how many of you all out there agree with everybody with anything? All the time. How many of you guys in the council agree a hundred percent of the time on anything? I need to disagree. The thing is we need to seek peace. Because with there is peace, there is rest. When there is rest, there is truth. And so as I pray uh for this council uh this morning, and for you guys, I have no idea what the agenda is. That we need to seek that rest. We need to seek that peace. Whatever it may be, and a compromise, but also an agreement in that same way. So let's bow our heads in prayer. Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you. As we just close on Easter, the amazing peace that you sent us through pain through sacrifice, but reconciliation was your goal. And I pray for each of us this morning that we would seek that peace, that we would seek that record reconciliation because out of that will become joy. Amen. Thank you, sir. Mahalo imposter calling this meeting to order. 9 03 a.m. Mr. Clerk, roll call, please. Councilmember Galimba. Here. Councilmember Houstis. President. Councilmember Kagiwada. Councilmember Connie Lee Pinefelder. Councilmember Kirkowitz. President. Councilmember Kimball. Here. Here. Vice Chair O'Nishi. President. Councilmember Viegas. Chair Inama. Chair Nava. You have seven members present this time. You have quorum. Thank you. Would you please lead the group in the Pledge of Allegiance? Please stand if you feel comfortable doing so. Before we begin this morning's formal agenda, we do have a few certificates, and the first being our Jove Award for April 2026. So if I could call upon police chief Mahuna as well as our recipient to come forward to the table.

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