Hawai‘i County Finance Committee Meeting – April 21, 2026

The Committee on Finance held its 34th session on April 21, 2026, from 11:04 a.m. to 11:26 a.m. at the Westway Civic Center, with members also joining from the county chambers in Hilo, Hawai‘i. No public testimony was offered. The committee reviewed three fund transfer reports (Communications 23.32, 23.33, and 24.31) and two bills (Bill 150 and Bill 151) related to the Safe Routes to School program. All items received favorable recommendations and were forwarded to the full council.

Consent Calendar / Routine Approvals

• Communication 23.32 (Report of fund transfers authorized February 16–28, 2026): Closed file unanimously (8 ayes, 1 excused). During discussion, Parks Business Manager Charmeen Felipe explained that a $50,000 county portion of the Summer Food Service Program in the Kohala–Waimea area was transferred because no vendors responded to the bidding process. Councilmember Houstis asked about the timing (three months ahead) and noted vendors have already been secured for the current year. Councilmember O’Neill clarified that the $50,000 was county funds separate from the federal grant (up to $80,000 per site).
• Communication 23.33 (Report of fund transfers authorized March 1–15, 2026): Closed file unanimously (8 ayes, 1 excused). Councilmember Houstis noted $320,000 for park maintenance equipment and mowers, referencing budget discussions.
• Communication 24.31: Closed file unanimously (8 ayes, 1 excused).

Discussion Items

Bill 150 – Safe Routes to School Non-Infrastructure Grant

• Bill 150 amends the operating budget to appropriate $50,344 from a state grant for the Safe Routes to School Non-Infrastructure Account. Engineering Division Chief Keoni Thompson clarified that “non-infrastructure” covers supplies for student safety, community outreach, and data collection—not construction. The bill was forwarded to the full council with a favorable recommendation (8 ayes, 1 excused).

Bill 151 – Safe Routes to School Infrastructure Project (Kīlauea Avenue, Part 1)

• Bill 151 appropriates $1,386,656 from state grants receivable for sidewalk and bike lane improvements on Kīlauea Avenue near Waiākea Schools. Thompson detailed the project: 8-foot sidewalks, drainage improvements, 14 drywells, and 5–5.5-foot bike lanes, consistent with complete streets design. The total project cost is approximately $10 million, with $8 million in federal funds, $1.386 million from the state grant, and a county match of about $600,000.
• Equity concerns: Councilmember Kalgiwada (likely misspelled as “Calgiwada” in transcript) voiced concerns about equitable distribution of Safe Routes to School funding across the island, noting only two projects have moved forward. He requested a broader plan showing funding for each district. Deputy Director Neil Azevito responded that the department is working on projects island-wide—starting in Ka‘ū, moving to Volcano, then around to Pō‘eilo and Kalānaniole—and will provide a breakdown of schools and costs. The councilmember pressed for more detailed information at the next hearing. The bill was forwarded to the full council with a favorable recommendation (8 ayes, 1 excused).

Key Outcomes

• All four agenda items (3 communications and 2 bills) were approved unanimously (8 ayes, with Councilmember Inaba excused).
• Bill 150 and Bill 151 were forwarded to the full council with favorable recommendations.
• Staff committed to providing a comprehensive Safe Routes to School plan by district, including cost estimates, at a future meeting.