REP GOEAC 015 2025-02-04 2024-2026

Home

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS AND EXTERNAL AFFAIRS DATE: February 4, 2025 Re: Comm. No. 97 PLACE: Council Chambers Hilo, Hawaii TIME: 9:00 a.m. Council Chair and Members Hawaii County Council Hilo, Hawaii 96720 Your Committee on Governmental Operations and External Affairs, to which was referred Communication No. 97, reports as follows: Communication No. 97, transmitted by Mayor C. Kimo Alameda, dated January 8, 2025, requests the Council's review and confirmation of Laura Acasio as Administrator of the Office of Sustainability, Climate, Equity, and Resilience (OSCER). Mayor Alameda was present in the Kona Chambers to introduce Ms. Acasio, who was present in the Hilo Chambers, to the Committee. Ms. Acasio introduced herself and shared her understanding of the Department and goals that she would be focusing on. Committee Member Heather Kimball stated that despite how she feels about Ms. Acasio as an individual, she believes that she is not qualified to hold this position based on the minimum requirements outlined in the Hawaii County Code Section 2-271. She discussed each of the six criteria listed in the Code and explained the history behind how this OSCER was created and what the intentions were in including those requirements. Member Kimball was particularly concerned that Ms. Acasio did not have experience leading a major program in sustainability, climate action, or environmental management as required by the first criteria. Committee Member Holeka Inaba asked Ms. Acasio to describe her experience with the Kaiao Community Gardens. Through Ms. Acasio's description of her involvement with this project, Member Inaba stated that through that and her other experiences listed within her resume made him feel confident that she met the requirements of the first provision within the Code. Member Inaba questioned if perhaps the language in the Code might need to be revised as some Council Members might have different perceptions of what the definitions are regarding technical knowledge of climate change mitigation. He said that he would be in support of Ms. Acasio's nomination and believed she met the other requirements. Committee Member Michelle Galimba asked Ms. Acasio to address the concerns regarding technical knowledge as brought up by Member Kimball. Ms. Acasio stated that while she has no published papers, she has done deep study in her field and has applied her technical knowledge of the systems that are affected by climate change. She added that technical knowledge in the field of climate change is ever evolving and that she will continue to read and gain the knowledge necessary as the information continues to evolve. She additionally added that there GOEAC Report No. 15