Hawaii County Council Policy Committee on Health, Safety, and Well-being Meeting - May 19, 2026

The Policy Committee on Health, Safety, and Well-being held its 8th session on May 19, 2026, at 4 p.m. in the Hawaii County Building, Hilo, to discuss Bill 157, an ordinance amending Chapter 7 of the Hawaii County Code relating to disaster recovery. Three members of the public testified in strong support, and council members deliberated on the bill's details, including the structure and authority of the proposed recovery officer. The bill was postponed to the June 2, 2026 committee hearing to incorporate friendly amendments.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Amadeo Markov (Executive Director, Pahoa Lava Zone Museum) testified in strong support of Bill 157, stating that it is essential for the island's resilience but argued the bill does not go far enough. He urged the council to grant the recovery officer greater administrative authority and expedited operational powers during declared recovery periods, and to accelerate implementation timelines (e.g., six months for an interim strategy is still too slow). He emphasized that recovery is a generational process and that the county must institutionalize recovery before the next disaster.
• Susan Osborne testified in strong support, sharing her personal experience of losing her home, animals, and school in the 2018 Kīlauea eruption. She praised the bill as a first step and commended Councilmember Kirkowitz for her leadership. She also urged the council to ensure that the current recovery team compiles and stores final recovery documents for future use.
• Eileen O'Hara testified in strong support, echoing previous testifiers and adding that the county lacked a framework in 2018, leading to a chaotic response. She stressed the need for better financial reporting and audit mechanisms to track recovery funds, noting that the county lost federal highway funds due to slow action. She also noted that other communities have recovered from similar disasters in five years, while Puna remains in recovery after eight years.

Discussion Items

• Introduction of Bill 157: Councilmember Kirkowitz introduced the bill, explaining that it establishes a county disaster recovery program housed within the Civil Defense Agency. The program is activated upon a federal disaster declaration, state proclamation, or mayoral determination. It creates a recovery officer (cabinet-level, appointed by the mayor, not confirmed by council, and not a civil service position) responsible for recovery planning, interagency coordination, community engagement, and funding management. Key deliverables include an interim recovery strategy within six months and a long-term recovery and resilience plan within 12 months, adopted by council resolution. The bill also requires annual reporting to the council.
• Council Questions and Discussion:
  • Councilmember Gimbel questioned the removal authority of the recovery officer (answer: at will by mayor) and suggested adding language clarifying that the position is not civil service. She also raised concerns about oversight of departmental resources committed to recovery and proposed an amendment for a timeline on the after-action report. Administrator Magno from Civil Defense noted that timelines for after-action reports are difficult due to back-to-back events.
  • Councilmember Kaniela Kleinfelder expressed support, citing frustrations with delayed projects (e.g., $1.4 million grant for Kalapana Armory with no work done) and the need for a dedicated recovery team to expedite spending and project completion.
  • Councilmember Kimball asked about the decision not to make the recovery officer a permanent civil service position. Councilmember Kirkowitz explained the majority consensus of the working group was against permanence, emphasizing the need for a singular focus on a specific disaster rather than ongoing mitigation. Administrator Magno advocated for a permanent position with additional mitigation duties to retain institutional knowledge and improve project tracking.
  • Councilmember Kagawa asked about multiple simultaneous disasters; Councilmember Kirkowitz responded that one recovery officer could oversee divisions for each disaster.
  • Chair Yonishi and others expressed support, noting the lessons from the 2018 eruption and the need for proactive coordination (e.g., helping businesses and farmers document losses before lava destroyed their property).
• Friendly Amendments and Postponement: Councilmember Kirkowitz offered friendly amendments to add definitions and clarify language, and moved to postpone Bill 157 to the June 2, 2026 committee hearing to incorporate these changes. The motion was seconded.

Key Outcomes

• Motion to Postpone Bill 157: Councilmember Kirkowitz moved to postpone Bill 157 to the June 2, 2026 committee hearing to allow for friendly amendments (including definitions and clarification). The motion was seconded by Councilmember Cherinaba and passed unanimously (9 ayes).
• Meeting adjourned at 4:53 p.m.