Kauai County Council Meeting - May 13, 2026
Kauai County Council Meeting - May 13, 2026
The Kauai County Council convened on May 13, 2026, for a regular meeting that included an invocation, certificate presentations, approval of minutes, a consent calendar, a resolution on beach access, second reading of two bills, and afternoon public hearings on the fiscal year 2026-2027 operating budget, capital improvements budget, and real property tax rates.
Consent Calendar
- Approved minutes of the April 8, 2026 council meeting, April 8, 2026 public hearing on Bill 2987, and April 22, 2026 public hearings on Bills 2990 and 2991.
- Approved receipt of a $3,629,152 Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Section 5339 grant and a $1,460,150 FTA Section 5311 grant to fund 80% of the purchase cost for 12 diesel gas buses (nine via 5339, three via 5311) to replace buses beyond useful life, with 20% from the Transportation Agency’s FY 2027 budget request.
- Approved indemnification for Smiths Detection X-ray screening equipment maintenance at police holding facilities.
- Approved accepting terms of a First Hawaiian Bank e-deposit agreement for electronic check deposit.
- Deferred item C2026-109 per request from the Office of Economic Development.
- Approved receipt of $50,000 in state funds for the Healthy Aging Partnership (nutrition and fitness programs for older adults).
- Approved purchase of a mobile shelving system for the police department's evidence section ($96,235.86).
- Approved receipt of $760,000 in recurring federal homeland security grant funds for emergency preparedness.
- Approved renewal of Autodesk software licenses with indemnification provisions (two licenses for engineering design).
- Approved indemnification for Avalon Unity security camera software at the relocated Koloa substation.
- Approved receipt of $19,363 in federal funds for nutrition services for older adults.
- Approved Calio software license agreement (law enforcement operations).
- Referred a property damage claim (Ymail. Cut Y Apartments) to the county attorney.
Public Comments & Testimony
On Resolution 2026-16 (Aliomanu Bay beach access):
- Agnes Ke Alani Marty Kinney (Kauai, Aha Moku Advisory Committee alumna) testified in strong support, recounting decades of advocacy for public access and stating the easement is vital for customary Hawaiian practices.
- Nalani Kaneyakua (Jose Lavo Foundation/Ko‘a Loa Limu Project) testified in support, emphasizing cultural and educational uses, and noting that landowners have blocked access despite community efforts.
- Barbara Weidner (Surfrider Foundation volunteer) testified in support, stating beach access is a core pillar and that the purchase guarantees public access.
- Tommy Pasarella (Kauai community member) testified in support, urging systematic removal of all beach access obstructions without requiring purchase.
On Bill 2988 (FY 2026-2027 operating budget):
- Multiple YWCA Kauai staff (including licensed social workers, directors, and a survivor) testified unanimously in support of continued funding. They urged the council to maintain the YWCA as a named sole-source contractor for family violence shelter services and sexual assault treatment, arguing no comparable provider exists on Kauai and that a competitive procurement process would risk disruption of critical services.
- Yelena Okman testified requesting additional funding for homeless services and safe parking zones.
On Bill 2989 (FY 2026-2027 CIP budget):
- Greg Basilio (Kauai Skate Ohana) testified in support, highlighting skate parks’ positive impact on at-risk youth and community. He noted Mayor Derek Kawakami's $5 million budgeted for skate parks and urged continued investment in high-quality facilities.
- Kyle Dopick testified in support, sharing personal accounts of homeless youth finding community at skate parks and stressing the need for ongoing funding.
Discussion Items
- Resolution 2026-16 (beach access eminent domain): Council members expressed strong support. Council members noted the long history of this issue, the landowner’s refusal to grant a 10-foot pedestrian easement, and that the acquisition is necessary for cultural and recreational access. The resolution was moved to schedule a public hearing on June 3, 2026 and refer to the June 17, 2026 council meeting.
- Bill 2990 (operating budget amendment for FY 2025-2026) and Bill 2991 (real property tax amendment) were advanced on second reading with no discussion and approved.
Key Outcomes
- Consent calendar items unanimously approved.
- Resolution 2026-16: Scheduled for public hearing on June 3, 2026, with referral to June 17, 2026 council meeting (7-0 roll call).
- Bill 2990 and Bill 2991 passed second reading (7-0 roll call each).
- Public hearings held on FY 2026-2027 operating budget (Bill 2988), capital improvements budget (Bill 2989), and real property tax rates (Resolution 2026-11). No final votes taken; hearings closed.
- Council recessed after morning session and reconvened at 5:00 PM for public hearings.
Meeting Transcript
Good morning everyone and welcome to today's council meeting of uh May 13th. Before we get started, as we do every first council meeting of the month, we invite uh our community leaders up to give us some words of wisdom. And today I am happy to introduce Father E.J. Recinto from St. Catherine of Alexandria Church. If you could please come up and give us your blessings. Yes, please. Okay, just hit the hit the if you you want to stand, you said. Okay, yeah. If you could sit down and just hit that little round button on the mic. There you go. Good morning, uh council members. It's an honor and a joy uh to be here with all of you this morning. So let us place ourselves in the presence of God. And our scripture passage from this morning comes from the letter of St. Paul to the Ephesians. St. Paul tells us, I then a prisoner for the Lord urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love, striving to preserve the unity of peace through the bond of peace, one body and one spirit, as you were called also, as as you were called, as you're also called to one hope of your call. Let us pray. Heavenly Father, we give you thanks for the gift of this day for the beauty of our island home, and for the people of Kauai, whom we are called to serve and protect. We ask your blessings this morning upon the members of the Kauai County Council, upon all elected leaders, public servants, and all who are gathered here today. Grant them wisdom in their deliberations, integrity in their decisions, and compassion in their service to the people of our island. Send forth your Holy Spirit upon them that they may that they that their work may always seek the common good, promote peace and unity, and foster mutual respect, even amidst of differing opinions and perspectives. Teach us to care reverently for the land entrusted to us, the mountains, oceans, rivers, forests, and fields of these islands, that we may be faithful stewards of your creation for future generations. Open our hearts to the cries of the poor, the vulnerable, and the forgotten. May we never lose sight of the dignity and sacred worth of every human person, the unborn and the elderly, the local family struggling to make ends meet, the immigrant, the homeless, the lonely, and those who are searching for hope and love. May this council chamber be a place not of division, but of respectful dialogue, prudent leadership, and sincere service. And may all that is done here today and always be guided by justice, mercy, humility, and aloha. Amen. Thank you all very much. Have a beautiful day, and God bless all of you. Thank you, sir. And we do have certificate presentations for two uh very special people today. Uh, we'd like to call up uh Kaimana McDermott Sa and Sergeant Jonathan Anderson, if you could both come up, please. Big day, big day. Umana and Sergeant Anderson uh will be heading off to uh the mainland for uh the the Special Olympics USA game. Um and they'll be headed to Minneapolis, Minnesota. In 1995, uh I was coaching Special Olympics back. I think I started coaching in 1990, but in 95 I got the letter, uh the invitation to participate in the world games, which was in Connecticut that year. And uh it was such an amazing event. Uh I think it'll I don't know if you've been to a uh world games or at US Games yet, but um it'll change your life. I guarantee you that it's amazing how everyone can come together in unity at a venue for sports, and you know um if our world leaders could just follow that model, we'd be in a much better place. So uh again, I'm going to read uh Kaimanas first because he is the athlete. Uh and the county council of the county of Kauai probably recognizes Caimana McDermott saw for his outstanding dedication, perseverance, and commitment in preparation for the 2026 Olympics US Special Olympics USA Games in Minneapolis. Kaimana is representative of Team Hui O Hawaii and is consistently training and has a strong passion for bowling. He has exemplifies both determination and resilience. His journey reflects the true spirit of inclusion, sportsmanship, and aloha, inspiring his community and fellow athletes to dream, persevere, and find joy in life. Kaimana earned his place on the national stage and demonstrated excellence both on and off the lanes. His hard work and a positive attitude serves as a powerful example to others. And we also want to recognize Sergeant Jonathan Anderson for his exceptional commitment, leadership, and support in preparation for these games.
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