Hawaii County Council Committee Meeting Summary - April 21, 2026
Hawaii County Council Committee Meeting Summary - April 21, 2026
The Hawaii County Council Committee met on April 21, 2026, at 9:04 AM, chaired by Councilmember Kany Kleinfelder, with 8 members present (Councilmember Inaba excused). The meeting covered ad hoc committee recommendations on the PONK program, nominations to boards and commissions, and an invasive species grant resolution.
Consent Calendar
- Communication 340 was filed, closing the ad hoc committee to review the Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources Preservation Commission (PONK) acquisition process, accepting recommendations.
- Communication 851: Nomination of Jason McGwin to the Board of Ethics was forwarded to full council with unanimous support (8-0).
- Communication 852: Nomination of Kari Clark to the Cost of Government Commission was forwarded unanimously (8-0).
- Communication 853: Nomination of Leonard Luiz to the Hamakua Community Development Plan Action Committee was forwarded unanimously (8-0).
Public Comments & Testimony
- No public testimony was offered for any agenda item.
Discussion Items
- PONK Ad Hoc Committee Report (Communications 340 & 340.1): Councilmember Galimba presented the committee's final report, which reviewed processes, procedures, and stakeholder input for the PONK acquisition program. Common themes included administrative turnover and staffing improvements; the program is now fully staffed. The report did not evaluate specific projects. Councilmembers Galimba, Houstis, and Kimball (all committee members) thanked participants. The motion to close file and dissolve the ad hoc committee passed 8-0.
- Nomination of Jason McGwin to Board of Ethics: Micah Alameda (Executive Assistant, Office of the Mayor) introduced McGwin, a software engineer and five-year West Hawaii resident. McGwin stated he applied to give back to the community, citing experience with rule application and financial disclosures. He committed to the proposed meeting schedule starting May 13, 2026. Unanimously forwarded.
- Nomination of Kari Clark to Cost of Government Commission: Alameda introduced Clark, a COO and financial advisor, district 9 resident, mother of a firefighter and State Representative Kirsten Kahaloa. Clark expressed interest in improving government efficiency. Councilmembers noted her community service. Councilmember Kalguana suggested the commission could explore combining boards/commissions to reduce constraints. Clark agreed, citing her background in efficiency. Councilmember Kirkwitz encouraged analysis of lifecycle costs for county assets. Unanimously forwarded.
- Nomination of Leonard Luiz to Hamakua CDP Action Committee: Alameda introduced Luiz, a Navy veteran (two tours in Vietnam) and Eucharistic minister, who seeks to improve safety and support for seniors in his community. Councilmember Kimball noted his active involvement in classic cars and community. Unanimously forwarded.
- Resolution 517-26: Intergovernmental Agreement with UH Big Island Invasive Species Committee (BISC): This resolution authorizes a $250,000 grant to BISC for invasive species control (e.g., rubber vine, giant Burmese honeysuckle, devil weed, coconut rhinoceros beetle (CRB), Queensland longhorn beetle, two-lined spittlebug). Discussion focused on budget breakdown ($172,000 for salaries/fringes, $10,000 other, $22,000 administrative), the need for flexibility in fund use given shifting priorities (CRB), and whether the state should bear more responsibility for border biosecurity. Several councilmembers expressed frustration with state inaction. Councilmember Onishi voted no, citing concerns over the majority of funds going to staffing/administration and state jurisdiction. Councilmember Viegas supported. Final vote: 6 yes, 1 no (Onishi), 1 absent (Viegas). Motion carried.
Key Outcomes
- Communication 340 (PONK ad hoc committee) closed file; committee dissolved. Recommendations may be used for future legislation.
- Communications 851, 852, and 853 forwarded to full council with favorable recommendations (unanimous 8-0).
- Resolution 517-26 forwarded to full council with favorable recommendation (6-1-1).
- Staff asked to provide before the next council meeting: (1) breakdown of the $250,000 grant budget, (2) a summary of state-level funding for invasive species research through UH.
Meeting Transcript
Today is April 21st. It is 9 04 AM. I'm calling this meeting to order. Here in the CONA chambers, we have Councilmembers Hustis, Oneshi, Galimba, Viegas, and myself. And in Gilo joining us today, we have Council members. Kurt Oitz, Councilmember Kalgiwada, Councilmembers Kimball. That gives us uh eight members today. Uh Mr. Inaba is excused for our meetings. Uh Mr. Clerk, is there any public testimony? I've been informed that there is no testimony for your committee vice chair Conley Lee Kleinfelder. Thank you very much. Let's go to our first order of business. Communication three four zero request information of an ad hoc committee to review the public access open space and not your resources preservation commission process from Councilmember Michelle Galimba dated June 3, 2025. This matter is postponed June 17, 2025. And then motion there's a motion on the floor by Councilmember Glombus, seconded by Councilmember Houstis to close file and communication three four zero, and we have communication three four zero point one from Councilmember Michelle M. Galimba dated March 31, 2026, transmitting the public access open space not your resources preserved commission process ad hoc committee recommendations. Okay, so we have a motion on the floor already. Councilmember Gilemmo, do you want to start us off this morning? Thank you, Chair. Um as stated the ad hoc committee was formed to r review the existing preservation acquisition program, um just the acquisition portion and to um look at processes and procedures, um the applicable sections of the county charter code and punk rules of practice. The committee also consulted with stakeholders, including um community members, staff, um, and the punk commission. Um the committee has a final uh report of recommendations, and we did not uh review or evaluate any specific um projects or acquisitions. So this was about um process and the current state of the um punk program and we have a number of um common themes that we found and recommended actions, which um I can go over. I I'm not too sure. Should I the do I uh clerk is that enough of a um overall should I go into it any deeper or or not? I think that's at your discretion. I'm not hearing anything too interesting so far. That's not a criticism. That means you're doing well. Thank you. Right. Um well, I just make I'll make a few comments. Um of the common themes that we found or um ideas or were that there has been a lot of uh administrative changes and staff turnover during the past few years. However, we are in a really good place right now. We have um the program is fully staffed and probably staffed better than it ever has been. So I think good things are um forthcoming. Um we also wanted to thank the commissioners for their dedication. Um they've really work hard at um making this program work. And it is a it is uh really one of the best things about Hawaii County that we have such a um strong punk program. Um so the idea here is that um the we're presenting this final report and um we can talk about process um but if we'd like to have deeper conversations we would need to postpone um this until the next meeting to have conversations on content. However, um I would like to ask my fellow uh committee members, ad hoc committee members, if they would like to add any comments at this time. Thank you very much, Councilmember. Councilmember Houston. Thank you, Chair. And I just want to thank Councilmember Galimbo and Councilmember Kimball uh for participating in this process and kind of the overall review of the acquisition portion of Punk and kind of going through those recommendations, but uh really appreciate the time and energy that we put into it and kind of considering some ideas and opportunities uh going forward on that. So yeah, mahalo. Thank you. Councilmember Kimball.
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