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Record of Proceedings

Hawaii County Council Health, Safety, and Well-Being Committee Meeting - September 1, 2026

County Council & Committees — Tuesday, September 1, 2026
BodyHawaii County, Hawaii
SessionCounty Council & Committees
DateTuesday, September 1, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 50:38

Transcript — Verbatim
1:05

We're a ways from that, still sorry.

1:08

We're a little behind.

1:13

We've been taking too long.

1:15

Too long.

1:16

Everybody's only concerned.

1:22

Okay.

1:23

Ready?

1:24

Okay.

1:25

We're gonna start.

1:27

Okay, good afternoon.

1:29

Today's a policy committee on health, safety, and well-being.

1:33

It's the 11th session.

1:34

We're at the Hawaii County Building.

1:36

Today's September 1st, 2026.

1:39

Time is 1221 PM.

1:44

In attendance, we have to my far left, Miss Kimbo, Ms.

1:47

Galimba, Ms.

1:48

Viegas, Mr.

1:49

Kanabi Kleinfelder, Chairinaba, to my right is Ms.

1:53

Kagiwata, Mr.

1:55

Houston, and Ms.

1:56

Kirkowitz is talking to someone right now, but she's in the chamber.

2:01

And I'm Councilman Fresh Lishi, and I'm the chair of this committee.

2:06

So clerk, any testimony?

2:08

Thank you, Committee Chair Anishi.

2:09

Let me check with Mr.

2:10

Urcelli, see if you have any testimony for your committee.

2:15

Confirming that we do not have any testifiers, Chair.

2:18

Thank you so much.

2:18

May I start with Bill 184?

2:20

Go ahead.

2:21

Bill 184 amends chapter 14 of the Hawaii County Code 1983, 2016 edition as amended relating to the use of native plants in county landscaping requires use of native plants and county landscaping introduced by Councilmember Kirkowitz.

2:37

Chair motion of forward Bill 184 to Council with a positive recommendation.

2:40

So moved.

2:41

Okay, motion by Mr.

2:42

Houston, second by Ms.

2:43

Kirkworth.

2:44

Go ahead, Ms.

2:44

Kirkkowitz.

2:45

Thank you.

2:46

I apologize in that delay.

2:48

Um this is a very simple concept when the county is landscaping county property prioritizing the kinds of plants that belong here.

2:56

So this through code was establish a county policy to incorporate native wide plants into our parks, into our public facilities, open spaces, streetscapes, and rights of way.

3:06

Whenever practical um and appropriate for the site, this is not an absolute mandate.

3:23

And so again, this is just to put out there for our county departments to take into consideration planting native species on county sites so that um we're leading by example.

3:36

We're telling community members to plant native and to um you know strengthen bolster that native ecosystem.

3:43

That's something that we should be doing and leading as a county.

3:47

Um I also see this as an opportunity to educate when Ohana and Keiki go to different county facilities and they see and recognize these native plants.

3:56

Um that is an opportunity, I think, for them to understand the ecological and cultural importance.

4:03

So there is an element of the bill that does encourage some interpretive signage and educational materials where appropriate.

4:10

And then finally, with the accountability piece as part of the annual budgeting process, departments would report out um some of the strides that they've made to incorporate more native plants into their department's um operation.

4:24

So happy to take any questions.

4:26

Um this bill was reviewed and vetted by both the Department of Parks and Recreation and Department of Public Works.

4:34

They may or may not be here today to answer any questions, but I do want to make sure that folks know that there was coordination with the administration on this legislation.

4:42

Thank you.

4:44

Okay, any other members.

4:48

Okay, hearing no scene now.

4:49

Oh, sure.

4:51

I just want to thank uh council member Kirkworth for bringing this forward.

4:53

I know it's been in some conversations in the past with like the youth commission just trying to look at opportunities to, you know, really improve our county properties with our native native plants.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Works█████████████████████████████████████████████46%
Native Hawaiian Law Training█████████████████████████████30%
Legal Counsel█████████████13%
Procedural███████████11%
Summary of Proceedings

Hawaii County Council Policy Committee on Health, Safety, and Well-Being Meeting - September 1, 2026

The Policy Committee on Health, Safety, and Well-Being of the Hawaii County Council held its 11th session on September 1, 2026, beginning at 12:21 p.m. (agenda noted 11:30 a.m.) at the Hawaii County Building in Hilo. The meeting addressed two bills: Bill 184, requiring native plants in county landscaping, and Bill 189, clarifying the process for clearing unsafe flora. No public testimony was received. Both bills were forwarded to the full Council with recommendations, though Bill 189 passed with a divided vote of 6-3.

Bills for Ordinances

Bill 184: Relating to the Use of Native Plants in County Landscaping

  • Sponsor: Council Member Kierkiewicz
  • Description: This bill amends Chapter 14 of the Hawaii County Code to require the use of native plants in county landscaping on county properties, including parks, public facilities, streetscapes, and rights-of-way, where practical and appropriate. It also encourages interpretive signage and annual departmental reporting on progress.
  • Discussion: Council Member Kierkiewicz explained the bill as a simple policy to prioritize native plants, lead by example, and educate the community. Council Member Inaba suggested including non-invasive lei-making plants that may not be native, and Kierkiewicz committed to a friendly amendment at Council. Council Member Onishi noted the importance of avoiding sidewalk damage from large tree roots. No opposition was voiced.
  • Vote: Motion to forward to Council with a positive recommendation passed unanimously (9 ayes, 0 noes).

Bill 189: Relating to Clearing Unsafe Flora

  • Sponsor: Council Member Onishi
  • Description: The bill amends Chapter 14, Article 25, Section 14-151 of the Hawaii County Code to specify that a department designated by the mayor may investigate and certify complaints of unsafe flora, and that an appropriate expert may be consulted in such cases.
  • Discussion: Council Member Onishi stated the bill aims to clarify the process for addressing dangerous trees on private or vacant properties, especially after experiences with storms like Lala and Iselle. He noted that currently, complaints go to the mayor’s office then to Public Works, but the department lacks arborist expertise. The bill allows the designated department to consult an expert when making determinations.
  • The discussion revealed significant concerns. Council Member Kierkiewicz questioned what the bill actually adds, noting the code already allows the mayor to delegate and that the real issue is resourcing and lack of enforcement. Council Member Kagiwada highlighted that existing code Section 14-152 allows the county to recoup costs from property owners but has never been used, and she expressed frustration that the bill does not address implementation failures. Council Member Kimball worried about an unintended consequence: the mandatory consultation with an expert for all complaints (including non-tree hazards like dry grass) could create unnecessary requirements. Council Member Onishi acknowledged the bill is just a start and that further amendments are needed.
  • Supporters (including Council Members Onishi and Kleinfelder) argued the bill gives departments clear authority to hire experts and is a first step toward better vegetation management.
  • Vote: Motion to forward to Council with a favorable recommendation passed 6-3. Voting aye: Galimba, Hustace?, Inaba, Kleinfelder, Villegas, Onishi. Voting no: Kagiwada, Kierkiewicz, Kimball (Vice Chair).

Key Outcomes

  • Bill 184 was forwarded to the full Council with a unanimous positive recommendation (9-0). A friendly amendment regarding non-invasive lei plants was promised.
  • Bill 189 was forwarded to the full Council with a favorable recommendation (6-3). No amendments were adopted at committee, but the discussion highlighted the need for broader policy changes and resource allocation.
  • No other business was discussed. The meeting adjourned at approximately 12:11 p.m. (timing unclear from transcript).

Meeting Transcript

We're a ways from that, still sorry. We're a little behind. We've been taking too long. Too long. Everybody's only concerned. Okay. Ready? Okay. We're gonna start. Okay, good afternoon. Today's a policy committee on health, safety, and well-being. It's the 11th session. We're at the Hawaii County Building. Today's September 1st, 2026. Time is 1221 PM. In attendance, we have to my far left, Miss Kimbo, Ms. Galimba, Ms. Viegas, Mr. Kanabi Kleinfelder, Chairinaba, to my right is Ms. Kagiwata, Mr. Houston, and Ms. Kirkowitz is talking to someone right now, but she's in the chamber. And I'm Councilman Fresh Lishi, and I'm the chair of this committee. So clerk, any testimony? Thank you, Committee Chair Anishi. Let me check with Mr. Urcelli, see if you have any testimony for your committee. Confirming that we do not have any testifiers, Chair. Thank you so much. May I start with Bill 184? Go ahead. Bill 184 amends chapter 14 of the Hawaii County Code 1983, 2016 edition as amended relating to the use of native plants in county landscaping requires use of native plants and county landscaping introduced by Councilmember Kirkowitz. Chair motion of forward Bill 184 to Council with a positive recommendation. So moved. Okay, motion by Mr. Houston, second by Ms. Kirkworth. Go ahead, Ms. Kirkkowitz. Thank you. I apologize in that delay. Um this is a very simple concept when the county is landscaping county property prioritizing the kinds of plants that belong here. So this through code was establish a county policy to incorporate native wide plants into our parks, into our public facilities, open spaces, streetscapes, and rights of way. Whenever practical um and appropriate for the site, this is not an absolute mandate. And so again, this is just to put out there for our county departments to take into consideration planting native species on county sites so that um we're leading by example. We're telling community members to plant native and to um you know strengthen bolster that native ecosystem. That's something that we should be doing and leading as a county. Um I also see this as an opportunity to educate when Ohana and Keiki go to different county facilities and they see and recognize these native plants. Um that is an opportunity, I think, for them to understand the ecological and cultural importance. So there is an element of the bill that does encourage some interpretive signage and educational materials where appropriate.

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