Hawaii County Council Meeting – June 17, 2026

[The meeting began at approximately 9:00 AM HST with an invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance. Chair Nabi presided with seven members present (quorum). Councilmember Viegas was excused. The council considered a lengthy agenda including public testimony, routine approvals, and several contested items involving eminent domain, firefighter health screenings, native Hawaiian training, and public land preservation funding.]

Consent Calendar

• Minutes Approval: The minutes of the April 8, 2026 council meeting were approved without amendment.
• GOEC 135, Communication 910: Nomination of Tristy Luquan to the Liquor Commission – closed and confirmed, 8 ayes (Viegas excused).
• GOEC 136, Communication 911: Nomination of Anna Leeu to the Board of Appeals – closed and confirmed, 8 ayes (Viegas excused).
• Resolution 575-26: Pre-authorization to accept donations (FY 2026-2027) – approved, 8 ayes (Viegas excused).
• Resolution 576-26: Grant agreement for the Kuono Lo Business Recovery Program ($500,000) – approved, 8 ayes (Viegas excused). [Discussion noted non-agricultural businesses only; agriculture directed to USDA FSA.]
• Resolution 587-26: Hawaii State Association of Counties budget (FY 2026-2027) – approved, 8 ayes (Viegas excused).
• Resolution 589-26: Nonprofit grants and aid ($2,515,000 for 62 programs) – approved, 6 ayes (Councilmembers Kirkowitz and Conley-Kleinfelder recused; Viegas excused).
• Resolution 590-26: Transfer $3,028 for 4th of July Hilo Bay Blast fireworks – approved, 8 ayes (Viegas excused).
• Resolution 591-26: Transfer $7,525 for volleyball equipment in District 9 – approved, 8 ayes (Viegas excused).
• Bill 162 (first reading): Paid parking facilities amendment – approved, 8 ayes (Viegas excused).
• Bill 166 (second/final reading): Delay transit accommodations effective date to Sept. 1, 2026 – approved, 8 ayes (Viegas excused).
• Bill 167 (second/final reading): Appropriation for federal justice assistance grant ($35,002) – approved, 8 ayes (Viegas excused).
• Bill 160 (second/final reading): Transfer $1.125M for PONC maintenance – approved, 8 ayes (Viegas excused).
• Bill 161 (second/final reading): Appropriation from fund balance ($443,775.57) – approved, 8 ayes (Viegas excused).
• Bill 156 (second/final reading): Requires nonprofit grant applicants to certify internal policies – approved, 8 ayes (Viegas excused).
• Bill 152 (third/final reading): Charter amendment to authorize a deputy county auditor – approved, 8 ayes (Viegas excused).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Resolution 567 (Eminent Domain – Government Beach Road): Public speakers (Rolance Ni, Franklin Pacaro, Carl Henry, Erlin Lum, Robert Nash, Alan Silva, Wayland Lum) uniformly opposed the taking. They described the Lum family’s century-long stewardship, lack of due process, increased theft/dumping after earlier widening, and argued the widening is unnecessary. Wayland Lum noted the county continued grading after the 2014 taking was rescinded in 2020. Several speakers requested rejection of the resolution.
• Bill 157 (Disaster Recovery): Amadeo Markov and Eileen O’Harrow testified in strong support, emphasizing the need for sustained recovery coordination post-2018 lava flow.
• Bill 165 (PONC Maintenance Fund): Tony Wittington supported the charter amendment but urged adding stewardship activities to county code before November. Deborah Ward supported the bill but recommended requirements for yearly deposits and transparency.
• Resolution 588 (Firefighter Medical Exams): No public testimony.

Discussion Items

• Resolution 567 (Eminent Domain): Councilmember Kirkowitz (district) noted the county’s poor communication and proposed postponement to August 5, 2026, to allow renegotiation with the Lum family. Deputy Director of Public Works Neil Azevedo agreed to work with the Lums. After discussion, the council voted 8-0 to postpone to the August 5 meeting (Viegas excused). Councilmember Kirkowitz offered to facilitate meetings.
• Resolution 588 (Firefighter Medical Exams): Fire Safety Specialist Chris Sloman explained the donation from 1582 Medical Group – 150 NFPA-compliant exams valued at $131,250 in honor of late Fire Chief Kazul Todd. Temporary Chief Daniel Bulpe thanked the council. The resolution was approved 8-0 (Viegas excused).
• Resolution 577 (Native Hawaiian Law Training): Councilmember Kagiwada proposed amendments (deadline within 24 months, exemption for prior training, record-keeping by chair). After debate on enforcement, the amendment passed 7-2 (Conley-Kleinfelder and Viegas absent). A subsequent motion to suspend rules for further discussion failed on a roll call (4-3, two absent). The resolution was deferred to the July 8, 2026 meeting.
• Bill 165 (PONC Maintenance Fund – Charter Amendment): Councilmember Kirkowitz introduced an amendment (Communication 915.2) that would make the 0.5% allocation optional (0.25% baseline plus up to 0.25% from acquisition fund at finance director’s discretion). After extensive discussion and public input from Deborah Ward, the amendment was withdrawn to allow public review. The original bill (increasing allocation from 0.25% to 0.5% and removing the $3M cap) passed first reading 7-1 (Galemba opposed, Viegas excused).
• Bill 157 (Disaster Recovery): Councilmember Kirkowitz amended the bill (Communication 888.5) to move recovery functions from Civil Defense to the Mayor’s Office. Passed as amended, first reading, 8-0 (Viegas excused).

Key Outcomes

• Resolution 567 – Postponed to August 5, 2026, second and final reading; county and Lum family to negotiate a solution.
• Resolution 588 – Approved (8-0), accepting donation of 150 medical exams for senior firefighters.
• Resolution 577 – Amendment approved but rule suspension failed; item deferred to July 8, 2026.
• Bill 165 – First reading passed (7-1); amendment withdrawn; next reading on July 8, 2026.
• Bill 157 – First reading passed with housekeeping amendment (8-0).
• All consent items approved with mostly 8-0 votes (Viegas excused; two recusals on 589).