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Dr. Holeka Gore Inaba, Council Chair and <br />Members of the Hawaii County Council <br />December 10, 2025 <br />Page 4 of 5 <br />the Department of Finance to develop clear, compliant standards. These standards were publicly posted in <br />the RFGA, ensuring transparency and consistency for all applicants. <br />Questions have been raised over what constitutes a program cost versus an administrative cost. We stand <br />firmly by our determinations: every nominated grant award complies with County Code Chapter 2, Article <br />25 limiting administrative and overhead costs to no more than 10% of a grant. Each application is reviewed <br />by a five -member, impartial, multi -departmental team, and OHCD regularly requires additional <br />documentation for clarity as necessary. Our review process is thorough and well -documented, and our <br />reimbursement -based funding structure for grantees provides an additional layer of control, as invoices <br />require supporting documentation for each monthly expenditure. Additionally, our internal Accounting <br />team conducts annual fiscal monitoring on all awardees to ensure continued compliance. <br />To ensure that the four organizations nominated for dual projects are not charging the same costs more than <br />once, we conducted a side -by -side analysis of all line items —such as insurance, rent, utilities, and <br />software —to identify any overlaps. After a detailed review that included additional supporting <br />documentation from the non -profits, and in full accordance with County Code and applicable guidelines, <br />we found no evidence of duplicated charges. Each cost charged to an HHF project corresponds to a <br />separate and distinct expense. <br />With the help of HHF, Nonprofit partners have actively pursued diverse funding sources beyond HHF to <br />support and sustain their programs. As a result, costs allocated to HHF represent only a portion of their <br />total programmatic and operational expenses (see more in Exhibit D of the Council Packet submitted to the <br />Finance Committee on November 12, 2025). As part of the application process, each organization <br />submitted a comprehensive funding landscape for every proposed project, including line -item budgets <br />showing amounts attributed to HHF, State and Federal awards, other County funds, private grants, and <br />donations. When additional information was necessary, applicants also provided further itemized <br />breakdowns and additional supporting documentation. This level of financial disclosure ensures accuracy, <br />prevents duplication of funding, and confirms that HHF resources are being applied appropriately and <br />responsibly. <br />Additionally, from 2024-2025 OHCD engaged SAS Services, LLC to conduct an independent review of <br />HHF. Their in-depth analysis included a thorough review of all applicant documentation and a funding <br />analysis, which found no evidence of improper activity. The full SAS Services report was provided to <br />Council in August 2025 and is publicly available on the HHF website, further affirming the integrity and <br />transparency of the HHF grant administration process. <br />Additional Information for Your Review <br />The following supplemental packet #3 is provided to support the understanding of the broader context <br />surrounding Resolution 397-25 and address additional questions raised by the County Council. As a <br />reminder, OHCD will return to Council in Spring 2026 to present the final data and impact report from <br />Year 3 HHF. <br />Exhibit I — Hawai'i County Engagement Hui Data Presentation <br />Exhibit J — HHF Award Nominee Testimonies <br />Exhibit K — Point in Time Count Volunteer Flyer. Please join us <br />