Hawaiʻi County Council Finance Committee Meeting - September 1, 2026
Hawaiʻi County Council Finance Committee Meeting - September 1, 2026
The Committee on Finance of the Hawaiʻi County Council met on September 1, 2026, from 10:36 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. to consider several communications, resolutions, and bills. All nine council members were present. The meeting included public testimony, discussion of a transformative community paramedicine grant, and unanimous approval of all agenda items.
Consent Calendar
- Communication 23.41 (Report of fund transfers, June 16–July 15, 2026): Closed file after discussion about a $90,000 increase for Wilder Transitional Housing renovation and Parks salary transfers.
- Communication 24.39 (Report of change orders, May 1–15, 2026): Closed file after questions about the Civic Auditorium design and a $90,000 change order for affordable housing work.
- Communication 24.40 (Report of change orders, June 1–15, 2026): Closed file after discussion about a $2 million increase for the Public Safety Building consulting contract.
- Communication 27.7 (Donations from Daniel R. Sayre Memorial Foundation): Closed file after Fire Chief Volpe and Ocean Safety Chief Young described funding for rescue watercraft operator certification.
- Resolution 645-26 (Software license renewal for Real Property Tax Division, $61,110/year for three years): Forwarded to council with favorable recommendation. Assistant Administrator Keda Joe explained the AI-driven software reduces processing time from five months to four weeks.
- Resolution 646-26 (Grant for trial advocacy training, $86,932): Forwarded to council with favorable recommendation.
- Resolution 651-26 (Community Paramedicine Program grant, $2,355,000): Forwarded to council with favorable recommendation after extensive discussion (see below).
- Resolution 658-26 (Transfer $113,000 for Pāhoa Aquatic Center upgrades): Forwarded to council with favorable recommendation after public testimony.
- Resolution 665-26 (Grant for HIBIKE bike share program, $240,000): Forwarded to council with favorable recommendation.
- Resolution 666-26 (Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act grant, $1,300,000): Forwarded to council with favorable recommendation.
- Bill 182 (Budget amendment for trial advocacy training, $86,932): Forwarded to council with favorable recommendation.
- Bill 188 (Budget amendment for community paramedicine, $2,355,000): Forwarded to council with favorable recommendation.
- Bill 190 (Budget amendment for workforce programs, $1,300,000): Forwarded to council with favorable recommendation.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Kelly Hudik (public) testified in support of Resolution 665-26, stating that the HIBIKE bike share program promotes transportation options, reduces traffic congestion, integrates with the Hele-On bus system, and supports bicycle safety and infrastructure. She noted that Hawaiʻi Island is the only island with a bike share system integrated into mass transit.
- Dorothy Staskowitz (Pāhoa High School swim coach) testified in support of Resolution 658-26, explaining that the pool has had no equipment upgrades in 30 years, diving boards are non-operational, and the funding would allow the Pāhoa pool to host complete high school swimming and diving meets. She emphasized the importance of outdoor activities for youth.
- Tegan Staskowitz (PhD candidate and lifelong swimmer) testified in support of Resolution 658-26, sharing personal experiences of the pool's impact on the Puna community and the need for safe, modern diving boards and blocks.
Discussion Items
- Resolution 651-26 (Community Paramedicine Program): Chief Volpe and EMS Chief Kanai presented the $2.355 million grant from the Rural Health Transformation Program. The program will fund mobile integrated health care, telehealth equipment, two type-2 ambulances, and partnerships with healthcare providers to reduce 911 calls and emergency room visits. Councilmembers Kirkiewicz, Onishi, and Kierkiewicz asked about staffing (15% vacancy rate for paramedics), telehealth kits (Lenovo tablet, hotspot), integration with Starlink for rural connectivity, and sustainability after the five-year grant. Chief Kanai noted that the first year includes equipment costs; future years will have lower funding. The program aims to divert non-emergency calls and address social determinants of health. Councilmember Kirkiewicz urged planning for long-term funding by pursuing the homeless and housing fund.
- Resolution 658-26 (Pāhoa Aquatic Center): Councilmember Kierkiewicz highlighted community advocacy and the need for the pool to host state and national meets. The $113,000 transfer from the Geothermal Community Benefits Fund will replace diving boards, starting blocks, and related equipment.
- Resolution 666-26 (Workforce Development): Deputy Director Dennis Lynn and Clinton Mercado (Workforce Development RD) described the $1.3 million grant for adult, dislocated worker, and youth programs, including internships and apprenticeships. They noted a $260,000 federal cut this year. Councilmember Onishi discussed partnerships with Hawaiʻi Community College for wastewater training and youth internships. Councilmember Kierkiewicz asked about workforce board membership and data transparency; the department is working on ADA-compliant website updates.
- Communication 23.41 (Fund transfers): Councilmember Hustis questioned the $90,000 increase for Wilder Transitional Housing (sewer-to-septic conversion, ADA bathrooms). Royce Shiro (Office of Housing) explained that the sub-recipient agreement with Hope Services needed additional funds to award the construction contract. Councilmember Kagiwada asked about Parks maintenance salary transfers; Sharmae Felipe (Parks business manager) said vacancies were used to cover year-end expenses.
- Communication 24.39 (Change orders): Councilmember Hustis asked about the Civic Auditorium renovation; Ms. Felipe explained that flooring and bleacher replacements were separated into a new design scope due to a change in flooring material. Councilmember Onishi noted that previous administration had already paid for design, and the department is now redesigning. Councilmember Hustis also asked about an affordable housing subdivision public meeting cost of $26,000.
Key Outcomes
- All resolutions and bills were forwarded to the full County Council with unanimous favorable recommendations (9-0 votes, with occasional abstentions/excused noted).
- Communications 23.41, 24.39, 24.40, and 27.7 were closed files.
- The committee received extensive updates on the community paramedicine program, workforce development, and Pāhoa pool upgrades.
- The meeting included a brief interruption for a test of the county's emergency broadcast system.
Meeting Transcript
Aloha, welcome to the 43rd session for the committee on finance. Today is September 1st, 2026. It's 1036 a.m. Please bear with us running a little bit behind this morning. Calling this meeting to order. To my left, we have Councilmembers Kimball, Galimba, Viegas to my right. We have Councilmembers Kagiwana, Houston Kirkowitz. He's not to my right, but he is in the building, Mr. Onichi, and Councilmember Ian Nava and myself. That makes nine members in favor. Mr. Clerk. Is there any testimony this morning? Chair. Thank you, Chair. Sorry about that. I believe we do have one testifier in Kona. Scott, if you could lead us with your testifier, please. Thank you, Raleigh. Yeah, this morning we have Kelly Hudik. In support of resolution 665-26. Kelly, go ahead and state your name for the record and proceed. You have three minutes. So I'm want to support resolution 66526 in support of funding to PATH to support the high bike bike share program. The high bike project will promote transportation options for Hawaii Island, residents, visitors, and I like to utilize and encourage a healthy fun way to get around the island and around town and support development of appropriate infrastructure for biking, bicycle safety, and bicycle ridership on Hawaii Island. It helps reduce traffic congestion and improve automobile and transit times, and also seamlessly integrates into the Halley on bus system. So riders of the Helion Bus can scan a QR code now and get free ridership on the high bike bike share system for unlimited 30-minute rides for 24 hours. It's an intergest intergenerational bicycling culture in Kailua Kona and Hilo that normalizes the bicycle for transportation and recreation. It stimulates public support for expanding bicycle infrastructure. Under the membership options designed for Hawaii Island residents in mind, the more you use the system, the greater value of the membership fee, and the farther your transportation dollars in high bike membership goes. Hawaii Island is actually at the forefront. We're ahead of the curve compared to the rest of the islands because we have a bike share system that incorporates into the mass transit system. We're the only ones that do this. Oahu is trying to follow suit with the Bicky system, but this is an incredible opportunity that any kind of anyone that rides the free Helion bus system can also use the bike share program for free to get around and supplement the first and last mile with the transit program. In addition to the mass transit um component of the high bike system, Path also utilizes the high bike for programming for adults and children. So for instance, we've used the high bike system to do safe riding programs for adults. Teach them how to ride safe in traffic, how to use the high bike program in order to encourage people to utilize it and get out and have active transportation options for them in lieu of using their car for everything. We also have a program that's coming up in Kona on September 26th, where we close down a portion of Ali Drive and bring out bikes for kids to ride. We'll also have the high bikes out for adults to ride with their kids or just to ride on their own. Again, to let them learn more about using the system and have bicycling be a more integrated part of the culture on both sides of the island. So thank you. Thank you for your support of this program. Thank you, Kelly. That's it for Kona. Thank you so much, Scott. And chair with that, those are all the testifiers you have here at the beginning of your meeting. Thank you very much. Okay, Mr. Clerk, let's go to the first item on the agenda. Communication 23.41.
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