Communication Reports and Council Oversight Committee Meeting – May 4, 2026: SBA Disaster Loan Briefing and File Closure
Communication Reports and Council Oversight Committee Meeting – May 4, 2026
The 19th session of the Communication Reports and Council Oversight Committee convened on May 4, 2026, at 1:30 p.m. in the West Hawaii Civic Center (Kona), with Chair Michelle Galimba presiding. Councilmembers present in Kona included Kagiwada, Houstis, Kanye Lee Kleinfelder, Vieigas, Kimball, and Enabla; Councilmembers Anishi and Kirkwitz joined later from Hilo. The sole agenda item was Communication 871, requesting a presentation by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) on disaster recovery loans available for businesses, nonprofits, homeowners, and renters affected by the Kona Low storm (March 10–24, 2026) and the Hilo downtown fires.
Discussion Items
-
SBA Disaster Loan Presentation – Maurice Fisher (Public Affairs Specialist, SBA) and his colleague Philip Walls provided an overview of SBA disaster loans under declarations 21519/21520 (Kona Low floods/mudslides) and 21475 (Hilo fire). Fisher highlighted loan types and terms: business physical disaster loans and economic injury disaster loans (business loans up to $2 million at rates as low as 4.7%), home disaster loans (up to $500,000 at 2.87%), and nonprofit loans at 3.62%. He emphasized that the program also covers renters and that mitigation funds (up to 20% of verified damage, capped at $500,000 for homes) can be used to build back with greater resilience against future disasters (e.g., floods, hurricanes, earthquakes). The SBA has split the county into two service areas: Fisher covers districts 1–5 (Hilo) and Walls covers districts 6–9 (Kona). They have established a Business Recovery Center (BRC) in Hilo and several Disaster Loan Outreach Centers (DLOCs) in Kona to assist with one-on-one application processing.
-
Councilmember Questions – Councilmember Kagiwada asked how to refer interested constituents; Fisher explained they can contact the SBA specialists directly or visit the recovery centers. Councilmember Kanye Lee Kleinfelder confirmed with Fisher that mitigation loans can be used not only for flood‑related improvements but also for other natural hazards, making the program unusually flexible. Fisher read the relevant SBA language confirming that mitigation funds may cover improvements like retaining walls and sump pumps, up to 20% of approved loan amounts.
Key Outcomes
- Motion to Close Communication 871 – Councilmember Kagiwada moved, seconded by Councilmember Houstis, to close file on Communication 871. The motion carried unanimously with 9 votes (all present in favor). The meeting then adjourned, with the next committee session scheduled to convene shortly thereafter.
Note: No public testimony was offered, and no consent calendar items were considered.
Meeting Transcript
Welcome to the 19th session of the communication reports and council oversight committee. We are in the West Hawaii Civic Center. It's May 4th, 2026, and it is 1.30 p.m. Present here in Kona, Councilmember Kagiwada, Houstis, Kanye Lee Kleinfelder, Vieigas, Kimball, and Enabla, and I'm the chair of this committee. Um Michelle Galimba. And I believe we can read the one item. Don't forget. Oh, oh, yes. Oh, sorry, sorry. And in Hilo. Councilmember Anishi and Councilmember Kirkwitz will be joining us shortly, I believe. Oh dear. Okay. Statements from the public. Thank you, Committee Chair Golem. We don't have any statements from the public, so I'll just read in communication 871, if you don't mind. Communication 871 requested presentation by the small business administration on economic injury disaster recovery loans available for those impacted by the Cornelow Storm and Hilo fires from Councilmember Jennifer Kagiwata dated April 24, 2026. Chair motion to close file and communication 871. It's been moved by Councilmember Kagiwada and seconded by Councilmember Houstis to close file and communication 871. Councilmember Kagiwata. Thank you, Chair. So we have Mr. Maurice Fisher here today from the small business association. Small business association? Administration. Gosh, I knew that was the wrong word. Small business administration to talk to us and just to help get the word out about the loan program they have, both for the Hilo downtown fires that happened, but also specifically for the damage done by the two Kona Low events over here. So I want to bring Mr. Fisher up so he can tell us about what they have to offer. Please, Mr. Fisher, introduce yourself and press the button there, the green button on the bottom of the mic. You see the yeah, press that. And then go ahead and introduce yourself and tell us about the program, please. Hello, everybody. Oh, okay. All right. My name is Maurice Fisher. I'm a public affairs specialist with the small business administration. I'm accompanied by my coworker, Philip Walls, who's also a public affairs specialist. And first off, I want to thank you for allowing me the time to come sit here and j all with you. That's an East Texas term for sit down and visit. So I thought I'd impart a little bit of Texas knowledge on y'all while I was here. Um we have I have passed out a few of some of the flyers that we have. Um I'm not gonna be like my Baptist preacher. He'd always say, I'm not gonna keep you long, and now that 11 o'clock at 130, we were finally getting out of church. So what I want to do is just go over a couple things that were that we're really focusing on. As far as uh the fact sheets, we have one that's for the downtown Hilo fire, which is the declaration 21475. Um, I don't really believe that's gonna really affect a majority of people. It's very select as to who that's going to affect. Um, so I won't spend a lot of time on that, but you have that for your own knowledge right there, form right there.
openpublica.com