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<br />Merit Appeals Board October 30, 2025 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />MS. TOKIHIRO: That could be. We can discuss that when we get to the Director’s Report— <br /> <br />CHR. CABANAS: (Inaudible.) <br /> <br />MS. TOKIHIRO: Yeah, I’m glad to see the down trend in property damage. <br /> <br />CHR. CABANAS: Mm-hmm. <br /> <br />MR. THOMAS: It’s down under 100 after being over 200. <br /> <br />MS. TOKIHIRO: Yeah. I think some increased security has helped with that as well. <br /> <br />CHR. CABANAS: That would be under another division’s report, so we can discuss it— <br /> <br />MR. THOMAS: Okay. <br /> <br />CHR. CABANAS: —when we get to that. On the other side of the coin, since the staff are here <br />and we have new Board members—I just would like to have our Board members say a little <br />something about themselves, so that you get to know what their background is. And so, Niel, do <br />you want to start? <br /> <br />MR. THOMAS: Sure. Thank you. I’m—I came from a position on the Board of Appeals in the <br />years of the Kim Administration. And then, Kimo—the new current Mayor, put me on this <br />group and I’m happy to be here. <br /> <br />I moved here from Alaska about 10 years ago. I ran the Human Rights Commission up there and <br />then got into a career of real estate before moving here in 2015. So, big difference in climate, <br />but Hawaiʻi always was the Alaskan—and still is, the Alaska point where I’m at, I think. <br /> <br />CHR. CABANAS: Thank you, Niel. Suzi? <br /> <br />MS. BOND: Okay. Let’s see—I’m a four-family, six generation missionary descendent—my <br />family’s been here since the 1820’s. I was born on Maui, raised on Oʻahu, but moved here in ’78 <br />and have not left because—forget the rest of it. <br /> <br />I mostly have worked in the volunteer and nonprofit world. I met Gabriella when we were Band <br />Booster parents for all those many years ago. I run an all-volunteer theatre company—the <br />Kilauea Drama and Entertainment Network—KDEN. And I also have spent, since 2008, I’ve <br />been working disaster recovery with Civil Defense—I’m the Chair of the Hawaiʻi County <br />Citizen Corp. Council, which is preparedness and response and recovery. We try and be ready <br />ahead of what’s going on. <br /> <br />So—and Mitch got me on here because I bitched about some of the hiring practices and so he <br />says, “Well, you should sit on the (inaudible) and then you can do something about it.” That’s <br />why I’m here. <br />Page 8 <br /> <br /> <br />