Hawaii County Council Legislative Approvals & Acquisitions Committee – May 19, 2026
Committee on Legislative Approvals and Acquisitions Meeting Summary – May 19, 2026
This meeting of the Hawaii County Council committee convened at 11:36 AM in Hilo to address grants process items and a resolution authorizing eminent domain for a road widening. No public testimony was received. The committee approved a non‑profit grant recommendation, formed a permitted interaction group to improve the grant process, and forwarded a condemnation resolution to the full council.
Consent Calendar
- Communication 752 (FY2026‑2027 VII non‑profit grant awards) – The committee voted to close the file on this communication, which had been postponed from March 3, 2026. The vote was 7 ayes (Councilmembers Kimball, Houstis, Onishi, Inaba, and others present) with Councilmembers Camili‑Kleinfelder and Kirkowitz excused.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No members of the public testified.
Discussion Items
-
Communication 904 – Formation of a Permitted Interaction Group (PIG) for VII Grant Process
Chair Kimball introduced a proposal to form a PIG to evaluate the FY2026‑2027 grant application process, discuss code amendments, develop a scoring rubric for FY2027‑2028, and review the six‑month process report. Councilmember Inaba moved to form the PIG with members Kimball (as chair), Houstis, Kagiwada, and Inaba. The motion passed 7 ayes (same excused members). Subsequently, a motion to postpone closing the file on Communication 904 to the call of the chair passed 8 ayes (Councilmember Camili‑Kleinfelder excused). -
Resolution 567‑26 – Eminent Domain for Government Beach Road
Deputy Chief of Public Works Engineering Melanie Dimelo and Deputy Corporation Counsel Sinclair presented the resolution to acquire 40 feet of private property (tax map key 1‑5‑009, 012, and 058) in Keonepoko Iki, Puna, by eminent domain. The acquisition would widen an existing 10‑foot county right‑of‑way to a standard 50 feet, correcting an encroachment issue. Staff explained that the county had paved onto the adjacent property in 2014 and had been unable to negotiate a purchase. Councilmember Onishi questioned the fairness of taking land from only one side of the road and asked about potential court challenges. Staff noted that a litigation process is required; the primary dispute would likely be over land valuation. The committee forwarded the resolution to the full council with a favorable recommendation by a vote of 9 ayes.
Key Outcomes
- Communication 752 – File closed (7‑0‑2 excused).
- Communication 904 – Permitted Interaction Group formed; file postponed to the call of the chair (formation: 7‑0‑2 excused; postponement: 8‑0‑1 excused).
- Resolution 567‑26 – Forwarded to the council with a favorable recommendation (9‑0).
The meeting adjourned at 11:51 AM.
Meeting Transcript
Aloha everyone. I am going to get us started on the legislative approvals and acquisitions committee. If I can have folks take their seats, are we there? We are perfect. All right. Good morning, everyone. Welcome to the 26th session of the Committee on Legislative Approvals and Acquisitions. The time is now 1136 here today in the Hilo chambers. We have Councilmember Houstis, Councilmember Onishi, Councilmember Canielia Kleinfelder, Councilmember Kilimba, our other colleagues will be joining us shortly, and I am Council Member Kimball. Mr. Clerk, do we have any testimony at the beginning of the agenda for today? Thank you so much, Chair. Just want to confirm that at this time I do not believe that you have any testifiers. Yep. Just receive confirmation. No testifiers here at the beginning of your meeting, ma'am. Thank you, sir. All right, Mr. Clerk, go to the top of the agenda. All right, communication 752. Request formation of an ad hoc committee for the purpose of reviewing applications and developing recommendations for fiscal year 2026-2027, VI nonprofit grant and aid awards from Councilmember Heather L. Kimball, dated February 11, 2026. This was postponed on March 3, 2026. There's already a motion on the floor by Councilmember Inaba, seconded by Councilmember Houstis to close file in communication 752. And communication 752.1 from Finance Director Diane Nakagawa dated March 12, 2026. Transmitting applications from eligible nonprofit organizations and communication 752.2 from Councilmember Heather L. Kimball, dated April 30, 2026. Transmitting recommendations for Vi VI nonprofit grant organizations for fiscal year 2026-2027. And communication 904. Oh, sorry, that's the next item. We'll end it right there. Okay. All right. So just to remind everyone, um, the motion is already on the floor to close file on this communication. We can discuss process at this meeting. Um, if there are any deeper questions with regard to the content of the recommendations, this um communication the vote should be postponed to the next hearing and we can have that conversation. Um before I go forward, I do want to mohalo Councilmember Inama, Councilmember Houstis, and Councilmember Kakiwata for their efforts in scoring and participating in the process of selecting our vibe grants for this next fiscal year. Any questions on process from the body? Is there any interest in postponing to have a conversation about the recommendations or just move forward? Doesn't look like it. So Mr. I I will just go ahead and take the vote. All those in favor of closing file on communication seven by two. Please say aye. Any opposed? Mr. Clerk, you have seven ayes, council member uh Camili Kleinfelder and Kirkowitz excused. If anyone would like to testify in communication 904, please speak up now. Hearing and seeing non-communication 904, request formation of a permitted interaction group regarding the VIVI grants from legislative approvals and acquisitions chair Heather L. Kimball, dated April 30, 2026.
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