The Honolulu City Council convened on July 8, 2026, to consider nominations, legislation, and resolutions. Key actions included confirming Krishna Jayaram as managing director, passing bills to expand affordable housing and reduce vehicle weight tax, approving two major conservation easements, and overriding the mayor's veto to cut funding for the Office of Economic Revitalization (OER). The meeting ran from morning into the afternoon.
Good morning, everyone. And welcome. Councilmember Cordero, can you please lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance? Council Member Cordero, would you like to introduce our special guests for the message of Aloha? Holo chair, colleagues, community, and members of the public. So I'll hand it over to Kumu Kao. It is indeed aloha that awakens the very core of the Lehua blossoms of the uplands and brings forth our desires from deep within. We give aloha, we receive aloha, and we share aloha. Today the message that I really want to share with you is something that our Hawaiian culture truly embodies, truly maintains, and is really encapsulated in that sentiment of aloha. And it's something that we can uh learn from, utilize in both our everyday employee as well as our everyday life. And it is the not art, but the hana of reciprocation and balance or for maintaining balance. In the word aloha, um, it is important to know that when someone shares aloha with you, expect aloha back. There we must expect reciprocation in everything that we do. It was always done in our culture pre-contact and should be done today. So when as we leave here, um my halal and I, or sorry, let me back up. Today was a great example of display of aloha. You showed me your aloha by that wonderful certificate of honor. Yeah, and we are allowed to reciprocate through our Oli, through our message. Before we leave today, what I really wanted to share with you folks is to remember that whatever you do in session, out of session, in your own homes. Remember that reciprocation is a must. Reciprocation of sharing aloha and receiving aloha is a must. So walk with aloha today. Aloha. That was beautiful. Thank you so much. Members have some procedural announcements to make. Although remote oral testimony is being permitted, this is a regular meeting and not a remote meeting by interactive conference technology under HRS 92 3.7. Therefore, the meeting will continue notwithstanding loss of audio-visual communication with remote testifiers or loss of the public broadcast of the meeting. Members of the public will be allowed to provide oral testimony on all items on the agenda, either in person in the council chamber or remotely. As both English and Hawaiian are the official languages of the state of Hawaii, pursuant to Article 15, section 4 of the Hawaii State Constitution and Section 1-13 of the Hawaii Vice Statutes. Members of the public may testify in either language. For oral testimonies offered in Olelo Hawaii, additional time may be necessary, will be allowed for the testifier to provide an English translation of their testimony. Before testifying, each person shall state their full name and the agenda item they are testifying on. Each speaker may not have anyone else read their statement and is limited to a three-minute presentation on public hearing and new business items and a one-minute presentation on all other items. Registered in-person testifiers will be called first. Where your name is called, please proceed to the podium and begin by stating your name and the item you're speaking you will be speaking on. When I call for anyone who has not registered to speak in person, please line up to the right of the podium. And when it is your turn, proceed to the podium, begin by stating your name and the item you'll be speaking on. All persons who have registered to testify remotely by video conference or phone will then be called. When your name is called, please monitor your screen and activate your audio feed when prompted. When I call for anyone else standing by remotely, please utilize the zoom raise hand button to indicate your desire to speak. For those joining us by telephone only, please press star nine to indicate your desire to speak. The following are some friendly tips and reminders. Video conference from a quiet location if possible. If you're also watching the proceeding on Olelo, please mute your television when you are called to testify. When the timer on your screen reaches zero, please conclude your remarks promptly. For those who are joining us by telephone only, I will identify you by the last three digits of your phone number. When your number is called, press star six to unmute yourself when prompted. Written testimonies, including the testifier's address, email address, and phone number will be available to the public as described on the posted agenda. As a courtesy, please turn off all cell phones for the duration of the meeting.