Hawaii County Council Meeting - April 23, 2026

[Note: The transcript references April 22, 2026, but the required meeting date is April 23, 2026; this summary reflects the latter.] The meeting was held at the West Hawaii Civic Center with Councilmember Vice Chair Nishi presiding. Seven members were present initially (quorum established), with two later joining. The meeting opened with a prayer, roll call, and approval of previous minutes. Numerous public testimonies were heard on several resolutions, followed by routine nominations and bills, and a lengthy debate on overriding the mayor's veto of Bill 127 draft 3 (construction code commission). The transcript ends before a final vote on the veto override.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes of February 4, 2026: Approved unanimously.
• GOEAC 108–113 (nominations): All nominations confirmed unanimously (8 ayes, 1 excused for each). Approved: James Christin (Cost of Government Commission), Robert D. Yagi (Board of Ethics), Kapono Kuikahi (Game Management Advisory Commission), Paul Monts (Windward Planning Commission), and Daniel Thomas (Merit Appeals Board).
• Resolution 496-26: Accept donation for Lincoln Park Tennis Court resurfacing from USTA (estimated $160,000). Approved (8 ayes, 1 excused).
• Bill 149 (first reading): Amend FY 2026 operating budget to appropriate $160,000 for the tennis court project. Approved (8 ayes, 1 excused).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Resolution 475-26 (leasing county-owned homes for supportive housing for mental health/substance abuse):
  • Opposition (neighbors and community members): Jim Doer, Shige Meyer, Marsha Krager, Thomas Krieger, Josie Yedal, Peggy Yoshioka, and Joanne Toledo (via Zoom) cited lack of transparency, safety concerns for children, poor condition of purchased homes (e.g., water damage at 76 Makani Circle), ethical questions about the purchase (seller a retired county employee, realtor a current county employee), and argued the money could be better spent on larger facilities near hospitals. Ashley Ferraro (former Hope Services client and employee) testified about negative experiences and financial misuse concerns.
  • Support (advocates and service beneficiaries): Shirley David (St. Michael's Church, Community Alliance Partners) supported permanent supportive housing for the most vulnerable. Renee Rivera (via Zoom) shared personal recovery story. Laura Balai and Tracy Currents (in person) praised Hope Services and Mental Health Kokua for saving lives. Fred Burkhead (Hale Keeper) and two young men (Kainoa and Tyler) testified to positive impacts of supportive housing on their lives.
• Resolution 495-26 (grant for Kipuka Pharmacy medicinal plant garden): Luana Jones and Kaolana Ka'ahamui (in Pahoa) testified in support of expanding traditional Hawaiian medicinal plant cultivation.
• Resolutions 529, 531, 532, 535, 536, 541 (DARE Day events funding): Roy Valera (President of DARE Hawaii, via Waimea) testified in support, noting May events for East and West Hawaii.
• Resolution 513-26 (conservation easement for Kialoha family loʻi): Dane Kealoha (Hawaii Land Trust) and Beldon Kealoha (family descendant, via Zoom) supported preserving the taro farm for education and cultural practice.
• Resolution 539-26 (MX 808 motocross track funding): Trey Cox (MX 808 Association) testified in support for youth program improvements.

Discussion Items

• Bill 127 draft 3 (override of mayor's veto to establish a Construction Code Commission):
  • Department of Public Works (Director Segawa, Building Chief Spielman) opposed override, citing administrative costs, staff shortages, and existing state-level Building Code Council process for code amendments. Executive Assistant Mike Alameda (Mayor's Office) testified in opposition, highlighting burden on 36 active boards/commissions and suggesting a temporary task force instead.
  • Councilmembers Kirkowitz and Houstis (bill co-sponsors) argued for the commission's advisory role to provide technical expertise for county building code decisions, noting past difficulties with code adoptions. Councilmember Kagiwada expressed sympathy with administration but supported override, suggesting a cyclical commission. Councilmember Kimball favored the commission over a task force due to Sunshine Law transparency and proposed centralizing board/commission administration to reduce burden. Councilmember Galimba opposed override, preferring the mayor's task force approach. The debate was cut off in the transcript; no final vote was recorded.

Key Outcomes

• All nominations, Resolution 496-26, and Bill 149 (first reading) passed unanimously (with excused absences).
• Bill 127 draft 3: Debate on overriding the mayor's veto was incomplete at the end of the available transcript; the final outcome is unknown.
• Resolution 475-26: Public testimony was heard but no subsequent action or vote on the resolution occurred in the recorded portion of the meeting.