Hawaiʻi County Council Meeting Summary – August 5, 2026

The Hawaiʻi County Council convened on August 5, 2026, at the West Hawaiʻi Civic Center in Kailua-Kona, with Chair Holeka Goro Inaba presiding. The meeting began at 9:04 a.m. and adjourned at 10:15 a.m. All nine council members were present (Councilmember Kierkiewicz joined later). The agenda included approval of minutes, several resolutions, first-reading bills, and second-reading items. Key topics included interagency safety coordination, coconut rhinoceros beetle quarantine enforcement, Safe Routes to School funding, emergency small business grants, and an eminent domain action for road improvement.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes of May 20, 2026, were approved without amendment.
• Resolutions 602‑26 (Interagency Public Safety Coordination with National Park Service), 603‑26 (Urging DOA/Biosecurity to enforce CRB interim rule), 605‑26 (Charter amendment for County Auditor), 618‑26 (Grant for First Responders’ Robust Conference), 619‑26 (Grant for Ku‘ikahi Mediation Center training), 620‑26 (Grant for Palace Theater community program), 621‑26 (Grant for First Responder wellness books), 622‑26 (Grant for First Responders’ Kids’ Camp), 623‑26 (Grant for AED upgrade for ‘Ōʻōkala Mauka Community Association), 624‑26 (Grant for Laupāhoehoe Train Museum honeybee education), 625‑26 (Grant for Celebrate ‘Ohana Festival – District 8), 626‑26 (Grant for Ku‘ikahi Mediation Center training – District 1), 628‑26 (Grant for SHAC Foundation ‘Ulu Ho‘olaule‘a), 629‑26 (Grant for SHAC Foundation ‘Aha ‘Ulu Cultural Gathering), 630‑26 (Grant for Celebrate ‘Ohana Festival – District 9), and 631‑26 (Grant for Global Breadfruit Summit) were all adopted unanimously (8, 9, or 8 ayes as noted; Councilmember Viegas was excused for a few votes).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Laila Kealoha (Pohaku Pāleʻa Maka) testified in support of Resolution 603‑26, urging the state Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to fully implement the coconut rhinoceros beetle interim rule. She noted that nearly five months have passed since the rule passed and implementation has been slow, and asked the council to also speak to the mayor about promoting the rule in his weekly updates.
• Megan Lamson Leatherman (Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund) supported the resolution, emphasizing that 30 agricultural and culturally important species (e.g., ʻulu, kalo) are at risk. She described a friend’s experience in Tahiti where the entire plane was fumigated to prevent pests, contrasting that with Hawaiʻi’s slower response.
• Stephanie Easley (Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species, UH) noted that only the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity has enforcement authority under the interim rule, and that community groups like the Big Island Invasive Species Committee are doing outreach with limited resources. She urged the council to help move CRB enforcement up the department’s priority list.
• Kavehi Young (Big Island Invasive Species Committee) reported that over 600 beetles have been found on island (mostly in Kona), and that BISC is providing compliance trainings. She reiterated the need for the rule to have “teeth” and requested the council’s support.

Discussion Items

• Resolution 604‑26 and Bill 172 (Safe Routes to School Funding): These authorize an intergovernmental agreement with the state to receive $6,282.72 to update the county’s motor vehicle registration system and implement a $5 per vehicle surcharge for the Safe Routes to School program. Councilmember Kānealiʻi-Kleinfelder expressed concerns about equity, noting that only two projects (Pāhoa and Hilo) have been funded historically. Public Works staff explained that state and federal criteria (e.g., economically disadvantaged areas, project readiness) drive site selection, and that the state will determine how surcharge funds are distributed. Councilmember Kānealiʻi-Kleinfelder voted no on the resolution, stating he wanted to send a message to the state about better accountability. The resolution passed 7‑1‑1 (Kierkiewicz absent). Bill 172 passed first reading unanimously (9‑0).
• Bill 174 (Kona Low Small Business Recovery Grant): Appropriates $500,000 in state grants to support one-time relief for small businesses damaged by the Kona Low storm. Passed first reading unanimously (8 ayes, 1 excused).
• Bill 175 (Transient Vacation Rental Amendments): Changes certain responsibilities from the finance director to the planning director, creates a four‑month registration grace period, and exempts prospective vacation rentals that have submitted a valid use/special permit application from Ordinance 25‑50. Councilmember Kimball introduced an amendment (Communication 964.1) to clarify that bed‑and‑breakfasts already holding a permit are deemed registered and do not need annual renewal. The amendment passed unanimously, and Bill 175 as amended passed first reading (9‑0).
• Resolution 567‑26 (Eminent Domain for Government Beach Road): This second‑reading item would authorize condemnation of private property for road widening in Keonepoko Iki, Puna. Councilmember Kierkiewicz reported that negotiations with the landowner (ʻOhana) have reached an agreement in principle, and Corporation Counsel is finalizing documents to be presented in executive session. The council voted unanimously (9‑0) to postpone the resolution to the call of the chair.
• Bill 168 (Zoning Change – Hienaloli, North Kona): Repeals several older ordinances and rezones 6.467 acres from Village Commercial (CV‑7.5) and Multiple‑Family Residential (RM‑2.5) to Double‑Family Residential (RD‑3.75) and Agricultural (A‑5A) based on the Leeward Planning Commission’s favorable recommendation. Passed second reading unanimously (9‑0).

Key Outcomes

• Resolution 603‑26 approved unanimously (9‑0): Council urges the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to fully implement and enforce interim rule 26‑1 to prevent the spread of coconut rhinoceros beetle.
• Resolution 604‑26 adopted (7‑1‑1, with Councilmember Kānealiʻi-Kleinfelder opposed and Kierkiewicz absent): Authorizes the intergovernmental agreement and system upgrade for the Safe Routes to School surcharge.
• Bill 172 passed first reading (9‑0) to appropriate the $6,282.72 in state funds for the registration system update.
• Bill 174 passed first reading (8‑0‑1) to appropriate $500,000 for the Kona Low Small Business Recovery Grant Program.
• Bill 175 passed first reading as amended (9‑0), clarifying registration exemptions for existing permitted bed‑and‑breakfasts.
• Resolution 567‑26 postponed (9‑0) to the call of the chair pending finalization of a negotiated settlement with the property owner.
• Bill 168 approved on second reading (9‑0), rezoning property at Hienaloli.
• All consent resolutions (618‑631) were approved with near-unanimous support. (Vote counts: 9 or 8 ayes as recorded.)
• Councilmember Kānealiʻi-Kleinfelder expressed strong reservations about the Safe Routes to School surcharge’s equity and lack of state criteria, but the measure passed.
• Announcements included: Agri‑Food Summit (Aug. 7‑8), Waikōloa evacuation drill (Aug. 15), webinar on TVR registration portal (Aug. 7), and reminders for the August 8 primary election (mail ballots due by 7 p.m. on election day; drop boxes available countywide).