Communications, Reports, and Council Oversight Committee – September 15, 2026

The 26th session of the Hawai‘i County Council’s Communications, Reports, and Council Oversight Committee convened at 4:00 p.m. (actual start 5:15 p.m.) on September 15, 2026, with Chair Michelle Galimba presiding. All nine council members were present at some point. The committee considered four communications: the quarterly affordable housing report, a presentation on Project WAO (traditional watershed stewardship), a follow-up audit of the abandoned vehicle program, and a presentation on the wastewater facility plan and cesspool conversion evaluation. No public testimony was offered. All communications were closed with unanimous votes.

Consent Calendar

• Comm. 35.9 – Quarterly Affordable Housing Report (Apr–Jun 2026): Housing Administrator Kehaulani Costa confirmed no changes since the last report. The committee closed the file with 9 ayes.

Discussion Items

Comm. 999 – Project WAO Presentation

• Kamuela Plunkett (Pacific Islands Climate Adaptation Science Center) presented Project WAO, a pilot project in West Hawai‘i that maps traditional ahupua‘a boundaries, vegetation zones, and aquifer recharge areas to inform modern land-use planning. He highlighted that ancestral watershed districting capped ahupua‘a at the forest line (Wao) and that fog interception can increase water budgets by up to 30%. Future rainfall projections show 30–50% decreases by end of century, with some aquifers already impaired.
• Council members expressed strong support: Councilmember Kimball called it “profound” and noted the opportunity to synthesize traditional practices with Western governance. Councilmember Villegas praised the “synchronicity” with earlier discussions and the return to host-culture wisdom. Councilmember Kleinfelder appreciated the layered approach and questioned aquifer claims made in other land-use decisions. The committee closed the file with 9 ayes.

Comm. 1061 – Follow-Up Audit of DEM’s Abandoned Vehicle Program

• Maxine Peshecko (Office of the County Auditor) presented the follow-up review (Report 2026‑02). Of five original recommendations: three completed (PPE use, increased reporting options with QR code flyer, cross-training), two in progress (formalizing policies/SOPs – target end of 2026; vehicle auctions – last auction Dec 2024, need 55–60 vehicles to proceed).
• Councilmember Hustace asked about backlog; Tiffany Wallace (DAV specialist) stated inventory not yet sufficient. Councilmember Kagiwada requested the flyer for inclusion in her newsletter. Chair Galimba asked when policies/SOPs would be finalized; Wallace said by year’s end. The committee closed the file with 6 ayes (members Kierkiewicz, Kleinfelder, and Inaba excused).

Comm. 1062 – Wastewater Facility Plan and Cesspool Conversion Evaluation

• Gary Deese and Jason Nikaido (Corolla Engineers) presented a summary of the two reports. Key findings:
  • Wastewater Facility Plan: Condition assessment of 6 treatment plants and 17 pump stations: 20% good/minor defects, 50% fair/significant defects, 25% poor, 5% failed. 70 capital projects identified. Total 20‑year program cost: $1.1 billion (near‑term legally mandated) + $0.5 billion (20‑year horizon) = $2.3 billion total wastewater needs. Most spending required in first 10 years due to AOC and Kīlauea settlement mandates.
  • Cesspool Conversion Evaluation: 48,600 cesspools in county. Three conversion methods: county sewer extensions ($784 million, ~$93,000 per cesspool), new decentralized systems (~$3 billion, ~$300,000 per cesspool), individual wastewater systems (IWS, ~$1.2 billion, ~$40,000 per cesspool). Full technical conversion would cost $5 billion. Proposed plan reduces county role to 10 priority sewer extension projects (3,100 cesspools, $266 million), with most conversions (80–90%) via IWS by property owners. Total proposed plan cost: ~$2 billion.
• Councilmember Kleinfelder questioned cost per mile for sewer lines; asked about cost comparison with IWS. Noted that $40,000 per IWS is far cheaper than $93,000+ per sewer connection. Called for taking findings to EPA. Councilmember Kimball noted that IWS may not improve water quality in some locations, and workforce shortages may hinder mass conversions. She also asked whether the most recent UH prioritization tool (with 14 criteria) was used; presenters confirmed they used the initial 3‑level tool. Kimball also questioned whether Phase 2 of the Hilo WWTP (activated sludge upgrade, required by 2035) is cost‑effective; Kelly Hartman (DEM) confirmed it is regulatorily required under the AOC.
• Councilmember Villegas expressed hope for future technology to manage waste without water. Kelly Hartman clarified the AOC mandates. Chris Laude (DEM temporary wastewater chief) emphasized that DOH requires cesspool closure but does not mandate the county to do it; he cautioned that IWS may not prevent near‑shore water impairment, and that the Hilo NPDES permit may soon include nutrient limits. The committee closed the file with 6 ayes (Inaba and Kierkiewicz excused).

Key Outcomes

• All four communications were closed with unanimous votes (Comm. 35.9 and 999: 9‑0; Comm. 1061 and 1062: 6‑0, with three members excused).
• The abandoned vehicle program audit follow-up will be finalized when SOPs are completed by end of 2026.
• The wastewater facility plan and cesspool conversion report will be finalized by January 31, 2027 to meet AOC deadline.
• Council expressed interest in further discussion with DOH on IWS feasibility, water quality impacts, and workforce capacity for mass conversions.