REP FC 111 2025-12-02 2024-2026 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

DATE: December 2, 2025 PLACE: Council Chambers Hilo, Hawaii TIME: 1:00 P.M. Council Chair and Members Hawaii County Council Hilo, Hawaii 96720 REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE Re: Comm. No. 618/Res. No. 397-25 Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred Resolution No. 397-25, reports as follows: Resolution No. 397-25, transmitted by Housing Administrator Kehaulani M. Costa via Communication No. 618, dated November 12, 2025, authorizes the Office of Housing and Community Development to award grants for programs addressing housing and homelessness. This resolution proposes 12 grant awards to 8 different nonprofit organizations for a total of $6,000,000 in funding derived from Residential Tier Two property tax revenues, pursuant to Section 19-90(f) of the Hawaii County Code. Housing Administrator Kehaulani M. Costa provided a brief introduction to the topic at hand. Project Oversight Manager Michelle Hiraishi then presented an overview of the grant award nominations and recommendations from the Office of Housing and Community Development for Council approval. Committee Member Dennis "Fresh" Onishi thanked Ms. Costa, Ms. Hiraishi, and Assistant Housing Administrator Keiko Mercado for meeting with him and addressing all his questions prior to this meeting. Committee Member Jenn Kagiwada also expressed her gratitude for the meeting and noted that she would be asking questions for the benefit of the public during this session. Ms. Kagiwada asked to clarify where they identified the greatest need for services and where homeless individuals are located on the island. Ms. Hiraishi responded that the highest concentration of unsheltered individuals is on the Hilo side, followed by the Kona side. Ms. Kagiwada commented that she believes a more balanced distribution of services in other areas could help reduce the concentration of unsheltered individuals in one location. Committee Member Rebecca Villegas stated that she sees the same awardees on these recommendations that she has questioned this before. She further stated these organizations continue to receive funding for their programs, yet there is minimal impact and questioned the statement made regarding unsheltered individuals on the Hilo side versus the Kona side, and where that data came from. Ms. Hiraishi replied that the Hawaii County Homeless Engagement Hui collects the data. Ms. Villegas commented that the numbers may be flawed, as she knows the engagement hui is unable to reach all individuals. Committee Member Holeka Goro Inaba expressed concerns regarding line items in several applications and mentioned that there may be instances of "double dipping" and requested the department to investigate this matter before the next meeting. FC Report No.111