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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN LAAC 2023/01/04 (2022-2024)Committee on Legislative Approvals and Acquisitions l't Session Hawaii County Building 25 Aupuni Street Hilo, Hawaii January 4, 2023 CALL TO The regular meeting of the Committee on Legislative Approvals and Acquisitions ORDER: was called to order at 2:40 p.m. in the Council Chambers, Hilo, by Mr. Holeka Goro Inaba, Chair. ROLL CALL: Present: Mr. Holeka Goro Inaba, Chair Ms. Michelle M. Galimba, Vice Chair Ms. Cindy Evans, Member Ms. Jenn Kagiwada, Member Mr. Matt Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Member Ms. Heather L. Kimball, Member Ms. Susan L. K. Lee Loy, Member Ms. Rebecca Villegas, Member Absent & Excused: Ms. Ashley L. Kierkiewicz, Member STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business, Statements from the Public on Agenda Items. The following individuals registered to speak and came forward when called by the Chair: Kawehi Inaba: Jesse Potter: Karen Eoff: (representing Kohanaiki `Ohana) Res. 26-23 (Comm. 23), in support. Res. 22-23 (Comm. 23), in support. Res. 22-23 (Comm. 23), in support. CHR. INABA: At this time, let the record reflect that I am going to give the chair to my Vice Chair, Council Member Galimba, and she will continue the meeting for us. Thank you. Relinquish Chair: At this time, the Chair relinquished the chair to Vice Chair Galimba. ACTING CHR. GALIMBA: Thank you, Council Member Inaba. LAAC-1 January 4, 2023 ORDER OF The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business, RESOLUTIONS: Order of Resolutions. ACTING CHR. GALIMBA: So we're going to take a couple of items out of order, and we'll start with item number 26-23. Change Order As directed by the Chair and with no objection from the Council Members, the of Business: following item was taken out of order: Res. 26-23: AUTHORIZES THE DEPARTMENT OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT TO AWARD FUNDS TO LA`I`OPUA 2020 Provides grant funds of $100,000, to support the Ho`okahua Food Preservation Project that will teach food preservation techniques, encourage the community to buy local produce, and support a food program for qualified students in West Hawaii. Reference: Comm.27 Intr. by: Mr. Inaba (B/R) Motion to Approve: Ms. Lee Loy moved to recommend adoption of Res. 26-23. Seconded by Mr. Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder. Point of Order: MS. KIMBALL: Chair, may I make a point of order? I just would suggest that we put for the record that Council Member Galimba has assumed the chair prior to the reading of this item, and the motions being made. MR. BROWN: Yeah, we can do that. The record should reflect that. To be safe, we could make the statement that Council Member Galimba has assumed the chairmanship from Council Member Inaba. If you'd like, I could read in the agenda item again, Chair, then we could MS. KIMBALL: I don't think that's necessary since we have the transcripts of the meetings available, post -meetings. Just make sure that is clear that he that you assumed the chair before the meeting went in —we went into the reading and the motion. MR. BROWN: Okay. So with that said, Chair Galimba, if you could, please for the record, state who made the motion, which I think it was Council Member Lee Loy, and then also, who made the second. ACTING CHR. GALIMBA: So it was moved by Council Member Lee Loy and seconded by Council Member Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder. MR. BROWN: Thank you. Page 2 LAAC-1 January 4, 2023 ACTING CHR. GALIMBA: Discussion? Council Member Evans. MS. EVANS: Thank you. This is just kind of a technical question. When we were talking about the PONC (Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources Commission) funds and we gave a grant, we said they were coming out of the Preservation Maintenance Fund. When we've talked about R&D (Research and Development Department) awarding funds, it doesn't say where the money is coming from. So, it's kind of a technical question. Should we point out where the funds are coming from? What account? I don't know. Just a technical question, thank you. (Note: At this time, Property Management Technician Maxine Cutler came forward to address the members of the Committee.) MS. CUTLER: Thank you, Chair Galimba. I'm Maxine Cutler. I am the Property Management Technician. I also work with the Stewardship Grant Program. So your question, Councilwoman Evans, this particular motion covers Research and Development. It's a completely different funding source. So later on, with the other resolution that you'll be hearing later in this meeting, that covers your question. Did I say that correctly? ACTING CHR. GALIMBA: Does that answer your question, Ms. Evans? MS. EVANS: No, sorry. So I guess —so when money comes into the Department of Research and Development, it just dumps into one account? MS. CUTLER: No. MS. EVANS: And then because it's not —it's not identifying for me where the money is coming from, so that's why I'm asking the question. MS. CUTLER: Okay. So, we have two different grant programs here. I represent one, and Bob (Agres) represents Research and Development's program. (Note: At this time, Research and Development Deputy Director Robert Agres came forward to address the members of the Committee.) MR. AGRES: Aloha. Bobby Agres, Deputy Director for Research and Development. Mahalo for the question, Council Member Evans. So the innovation grant comes out of Research and Development's budget, and so this is regular budget monies. There are resources taken from each of the program areas, and that was put into an approximately about $600,000 pool, that was a focus of the innovation grant Request for Proposals (RFP) that we put out in September, Page 3 LAAC-1 January 4, 2023 I'm sorry, in August. We received 51 applications in response to that Request for Proposals. And then in September, we had eight of our economic development specialists as part of the Innovation Grant Evaluation Committee, under the guidance of the Chief Purchasing Officer Sarah Yeckley; and went through a review process. In Phase 2 of the process, the specialist reviewed all 51 of the applications, under their independent review, so they individually scored all 51 of the applications. And then those applications that were made —secured a score of at least 70 made it into the second the last phase of evaluation. There were 20 of the 51 that made it to that point, at which point then the committee deliberated on all of the 20, and then individually scored again. And then, the recommendations on all the 20, relative to funding, were sent to the director for his consideration. And so, all 20 had scores, and they were ranked in priority. Then based upon the amount that was allocated for the innovation grant, the director made decisions on what (inaudible) of the applications. But, all those funds come from the budget for the Department of Research and Development. MS. EVANS: Okay, so it sounds like an initiative that was done by the department instead of a separate fund, where money got sent out to a separate fund? MR. AGRES: That is correct. MS. EVANS: I think that's really good for clarity. I just —the reason I found it confusing is that the resolutions on the previous were so they had a lot explanation in it, and yours was very simple. MR. AGRES: That's correct. MS. EVANS: It was hard to understand why there was such a difference between one and the other. MR. AGRES: Sure. MS. EVANS: So I appreciate the discussion. MR. AGRES: And actually, this is a grant program that Research and Development has had for a long time, but this year Director Adams kind of switched it up, focused on innovation, and then for the first time, developed provided opportunities for large grants up to $100,000. This is the reason why we're in front of you today with the six resolutions because it's an amount that requires your action. Page 4 LAAC-1 January 4, 2023 MS. EVANS: When that decisionI'm sorry, I have a follow -up —with that said, when the director made the decision to up the dollar amount, how did the greater community of Hawaii Island find that out? MR. AGRES: It's distributed through the normal media outlets, and then there's a Request for Proposals that's put out, and it's out there on the streets for a month. And then we also MS. EVANS: So the RFPs are probably mostly on your website? Is that where you? MR. AGRES: It's also on our website. We also had a webinar for all those interested, to walk them through the process, explain what the objectives were and the like. MS. EVANS: Because I'm seeing some of the names that we are covering today, and these are people that are always they're always working with government and getting funding from government, so they would be like really plugged into this, and there are smaller groups that may not know. So I need to now I know. MR. AGRES: Great. MS. EVANS: Thank you. MR. AGRES: Thank you. ACTING CHR. GALIMBA: Thanks, any other discussion, questions? Okay, I'm hearing none. All those in favor, please say "aye." Vote on Res. 26-23: The motion to recommend adoption of Res. 26-23 was (Approved) carried by the following voice vote: Ayes: Committee Members Evans, Kagiwada, Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Kimball, Lee Loy, Villegas, and Acting Chair Galimba — 7. Noes: None. Absent: Committee Members Inaba and Kierkiewicz — 2. Excused: None. ACTING CHR. GALIMBA: Next, we will be taking up Resolution 22-23. Return to Order The Chair directed the Committee to return to the order of business. of Business: Page 5 LAAC-1 January 4, 2023 MR. BROWN: Excuse me, Chair Galimba, I'm not sure if Council Member Inaba wanted to take up the Kohanaiki resolution, Resolution 22-23. Would you like to assume the chairmanship? Let me know. Gotcha. Res. 22-23: AWARDS A PUBLIC ACCESS, OPEN SPACE, AND NATURAL RESOURCES PRESERVATION MAINTENANCE FUND STEWARDSHIP GRANT TO KOHANAIKI `OHANA Approves a grant of $20,380 to Kohanaiki `Ohana, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, to protect, preserve, and restore the `O`oma Beach property in North Kona, (Tax Map Key: 7-3-009-0004), pursuant to Section 10-16(h) of the Hawaii County Charter. Reference: Comm.23 Intr. by: Mr. Inaba Motion to Approve: Mr. Inaba moved to recommend adoption of Res. 22-23. Seconded by Ms. Lee Loy. ACTING CHR. GALIMBA: Any discussion? MR. INABA: Yes, Chair. ACTING CHR. GALIMBA: Council Member, Inaba. MR. INABA: Thank you. We have Maxine here from PONC; and thank you to former Council Member Eoff in our Kona remote location for her testimony and involvement with the Kohanaiki `ohana and the management down there. We prepared this based on the work that has been done and supporting that even though there was some lapse in getting funding out. But Maxine is here, and if you want to speak to this. Thank you. (Note: At this time, Property Management Technician Maxine Cutler came forward to address the members of the Committee.) MS. CUTLER: Thank you, Chair Galimba and members of the committee. I'd just like to say personally I visited the property, and as one of the persons involved in this stewarding grant program, part of the process too is to make sure that the funding goes where it was asked to go, so we do a visual inspection after a progress report is submitted. I must say I'm really impressed with the volunteers that have come to malama the property and the `aina, and especially the efforts from Karen Eoff and her gang. I know that, Ms. Eoff, you were involved at the beginning of this acquisition, and it's a special place and all the sacrifices that were made during that time. Getting to know the property intimately is a special feeling. Page 6 LAAC-1 January 4, 2023 Now, one of the questions I'm going to answer is Ms. Evans' question regarding this fund, so some of you who don't know, the fund comes from the quarter percent from the taxpayers when they pay their property tax. It goes into the specific fund. The two percent that is coming in from the real property taxes goes into the Preservation Fund, and the Preservation Fund is used to acquire these special places. So, those are the two funds that I am intimately involved with. So, I would like to yield the mic to Karen. She has been involved in this process and the grant application process since they first applied for it. Thank you. (Note: At this time, Karen Eoff, representing Kohanaiki `Ohana, came forward to address the members of the Committee.) MS. EOFF: Thank you, Maxine. I didn't really have anything else to add unless somebody has a question. ACTING CHR. GALIMBA: Thanks, Karen. I don't see any questions. Oh, hang on. Council Member Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder. MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Thank you, Chair. Thank you for being here today, Ms. Eoff. We were talking about you outside. We all miss you. I just wanted to say, this is for the Kohanaiki `Ohana, correct? ACTING CHR. GALIMBA: Yes. MS. EOFF: Yes, and it's for the `O`oma property. It's different than the MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: I appreciate you taking, not control, what's a good word just being a lead for this. I have been to these areas, and they're absolutely beautiful, and they offer a tremendous amount to the community because a lot of our beach parks are full, and these offer more space and more for our community to enjoy our coastline when we find time in our busy lives. It's just awesome. So, I'll be supporting this today. Thank you for being here; and thank you, Ms. Cutler, as well. MS. EOFF: It's actually a privilege for me to be able to have the time and be in the position to follow all of this through, from the late 80s, when we were first fighting for the land to go through all of the evolution to now be under the stewardship of the County, `O`oma and Kohanaiki, in different ways, but it's the same coastline to most of us. Everybody appreciates it. I just think it's a privilege for me, personally, to have been there throughout the whole process and to be here now. MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Thank you for your continued leadership, Ms. Eoff. Appreciate it. I yield, Chair. Thank you. Page 7 LAAC-1 January 4, 2023 MS. CUTLER: Chair, I just want to make a quick note, if I may, excuse me. One of the things that they're very modest about, stewarding these properties, is this particular nonprofit is presently working with the Ala Kahakai Trail, national trail. What that means is we are connecting the trail from the northern part of the island, this is a federal trail, and connecting the history of that particular trail through `O`oma, and hopefully we can get it down to Kawa, which we're working with them now. So working with the federal agency to connect these trails, it's very significant in our history. Thank you, Karen. Another thing that this group does is they particularly pay attention to the SMA requirements, the Special Management Area requirements, and my hats go off to them for getting an exemption letter from the Planning Department. They're also well -versed with our Hawaii Revised Statute 343, and working with other State and County agencies for any required permits; so just putting it online, not only do they ask for money, there are requirements that they need to fulfill in order to be qualified for those fundings. Thank you. ACTING CHR. GALIMBA: Mahalo, Maxine, and Karen, for all that you do. Oh, Council Member Villegas. MS. VILLEGAS: Thank you, Council Member Galimba. Thank you, Maxine, for being here and for all the kind words that you share about the history and legacy of not only leadership but service at Kohanaiki, and to Karen Eoff for her decades of devotion, and just constant contribution and volunteering her skills and connections in relationships and whatnot. I just wanted to go ahead and put out there that I was a prior president of Kohanaiki `Ohana. I did relinquish that role after being inaugurated and to serve on the County Council, so I don't believe there's any conflict of interest for this. I'm so grateful for this space that I hold dear to my own heart, and I'm excited that we're in planning stages for the 25 h Annual Keiki Surf for the Earth and beach clean-up, and this year it will be for two days. Kohanaiki has become and will remain in perpetuity a model of a vision that was brought together through the leadership of Maile David, Karen Eoff, Angel Pilago, and a number of other grassroots community members of a property that is managed and cared for by a three-part consortium of representatives of the developer of the County and of the community. It has been tremendously successful. I count it as one of my great life privileges to be able to sit at the table and have worked with a number of amazing people, and to perpetuate the beauty. Now that we have the star compass and we have the canoe halau, and all the work being done at `O`oma, with native species, for shoreline restoration to prohibit erosion, if any of you have not had a chance to get there, I highly recommend it. Karen and her husband, Gary Eoff, he himself has been —had his work featured at Page 8 LAAC-1 Vote on Res. 22-23 (Approved) Relinquish Chair; January 4, 2023 the Smithsonian. He's a cultural practitioner that makes pieces of traditional canoe apparatus and whatnot, and cordage, it's just really a powerful and impactful experience to get to sit and learn with the both of them. So we miss you up here, Karen, but I'm grateful you're at Kohanaiki on the daily, and we have your watchful eyes, ears, and your heart forever committed to that place. I yield. ACTING CHR. GALIMBA: Thank you. Seeing no further discussion, all in favor please say "aye." The motion to recommend adoption of Res. 22-23 was carried by the following voice vote: Ayes: Committee Members Evans, Inaba, Kagiwada, Kimball, Lee Loy, Villegas, and Acting Chair Galimba — 7. Noes: None. Absent: Committee Members Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder and Kierkiewicz — 2. Excused: None. ACTING CHR. GALIMBA: And I will be passing it back to the Chair. At this time, Acting Chair Galimba relinquished the chair to Chair Inaba. CHR. INABA: Thank you, Vice Chair Galimba. Let the record reflect that I have reassumed the chair. At this time, we'll proceed to Resolution 23-23. Res. 23-23: AWARDS A PUBLIC ACCESS, OPEN SPACE, AND NATURAL RESOURCES PRESERVATION MAINTENANCE FUND STEWARDSHIP GRANT TO POHAHA I KA LANI Approves a grant of $39,710 to P6h5h5 I Ka Lani, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, to protect, preserve, and restore the Waipi`o Valley Lookout property in Hamakua, (Tax Map Key 4-8-004-006), pursuant to Section 10-16(h) of the Hawaii County Charter. Reference: Comm.24 Intr. by: Ms. Kimball Page 9 LAAC-1 January 4, 2023 Motion to Approve: Ms. Kimball moved to recommend adoption of Res. 23-23. Seconded by Ms. Kagiwada. (Note: At this time, Property Management Technician Maxine Cutler came forward to address the members of the Committee.) CHR. INABA: Ms. Kimball. MS. KIMBALL: Thank you. I'll let Ms. Cutler to say few words as well, but I just wanted to start by saying mahalo to Jesse Potter, who I believe still may be on the line, and his wife Kulia, and their broader extended family who do so much work on this property, to care for it and maintain it, but also to share it with the larger community, as well. They do a number of service projects with local students and things like that, so they've done excellent work over the years, and I encourage everyone to help us continue the support their efforts up there. Maxine, did you have anything to add? MS. CUTLER: Thank you, Councilwoman Kimball, and thank you, Chair Inaba. What can I say about Jesse and Kulia? They are such an awesome group of people who spearhead a fabulous program, and being one of the first grant awardees in this program, back in 2016. A little background on that. I met Jesse in 2017 when I took this position in Accounting, and they had waited for their application that was filed back in 2014. Fortunately, for me, we pushed it forward and was able to get funding for them in 2016, and actually got monies into their hand in 2017. Since then, the Stewardship Grant Program and its process have been tweaked and tweaked and we now, under the authority of the Finance Department, we can even make the program go a lot smoother and user-friendly for our nonprofit group. Kulia and Jesse have been a model, shall I say, advocates of this program. The amount of work and community involvement that they put into stewarding this property is just absolutely tremendous. If you're not familiar with the lookout, there are a number of outside influences that they need to deal with: homelessness, parking issues with the lookout, working with the schools, who want to come and malama the property, and also the universities that come and malama the property. There's a natural history of this program, where it used to be a dumpsite, and constant soil contamination needs to be done. So with this amount of grant funding, I put my hats off to them because you're talking about hours and hours of in -kind services that make this type of amount doable. So I'd like to say that Jesse —if he'd like to say anything, I'll turn the mic to him. Page 10 LAAC-1 January 4, 2023 (Note: At this time, Jesse Potter, representing P6h5h5 I Ka Lani, came forward to address the members of the Committee.) CHR. INABA: Okay. You can go ahead, Jesse, when you're ready, if you have anything more to add. MR. POTTER: Yeah, I just want to mahalo Maxine and Heather for your kind words. And yeah, as Maxine has mentioned, you know, that place was partially a dumpsite that was overgrown vehicles, trash, and we still find stuff, like glass, metals, fiberglass, things on a regular basis. Yeah, we just yesterday, we hosted a Wisconsin University group of 18 students and two faculty, and so even during times of no funding, we continue to host local and traveling groups to help steward the place, and (inaudible) place them. Mahalo for your support, and feel free to ask any questions. Aloha. CHR. INABA: Thank you, Jesse. Opening it up to the Council Members? Council Member Kagiwada. MS. KAGIWADA: Thank you, Chair. Hi, Jesse. I just wanted to say thank you for all the work you've been doing. I will be supporting this. I've had the privilege, along with my husband and my two children, to come volunteer, for you and Kulia, pulling weeds and planting native plants, and it was a really important event for my children especially, and thank you for that opportunity. Keep up the great work. Thanks. I yield. CHR. INABA: Mahalo. With that, I'll wrap up. As Maxine was kind of recapping us, I was scrolling through my social media feed, because I had visited P6h5h5 I Ka Lani, and I found it back in November of 2014. All those years ago the good work was already being done, so ho`u maika`i, Jesse and Kulia. Vote on Res. 23-23: The motion to recommend adoption of Res. 23-23 was (Approved) carried by the following voice vote: Ayes: Committee Members Evans, Galimba, Kagiwada, Kimball, Villegas, and and Chair Inaba — 6. Noes: None. Absent: Committee Members Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz and Lee Loy — 3. Excused: None. CHR. INABA: With that, we'll move on to the next agenda item. Please, Mr. Clerk. Page 11 LAAC-1 January 4, 2023 Res. 24-23: AUTHORIZES THE DEPARTMENT OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT TO AWARD FUNDS TO THE FOOD BASKET Provides grant funds in the amount of $91,500, to cultivate fresh produce, reduce food waste, increase the volume of fruits and vegetables diverted to local food assistance programs, expand the consumption of local agricultural products, deepen engagement with Hawaii Island's food system, and heighten the program's sustainability. Reference: Comm.25 Intr. by: Mr. Inaba (B/R) Motion to Approve: Ms. Lee Loy moved to recommend adoption of Res. 24-23. Seconded by Ms. Galimba. (Note: At this time, Research and Development Deputy Director Robert Agres and Economic Development Specialist Glenn Sako came forward to address the members of the Committee.) CHR. INABA: We have folks here from R&D. Deputy Director, if you would like to give us an introduction to this resolution, please. MR. AGRES: Aloha, Chair Inaba. Just some quick context, just to continue the conversation, in response to Council Member Evans. There are three resolutions, this one, the one with La`i`Opua 2020, and the one for huiMAU (Hui Malama I ke Ala `Ulili) that's coming up, are all agriculture innovation grants, and these three together are pushing on food systems. As Kawehi Inaba indicated earlier, what we're trying to do with the innovation grant this year, is actually bring the grantees together as a cohort, and we push connections between the grantees as well as other nonprofits in the community so that they're growing networks, and it's not just one project being invested in. So in this particular case, as you heard in the resolution, The Food Basket is pushing on island -wide gleaning projects. The reason why we are excited about this is that there are many gleaning projects in communities around the island, and this provides an opportunity to begin the process of developing a support system and better coordination and collaboration between these kinds of initiatives. The other thing that I think is innovative about this initiative is to push on value- added products in developing that. They have a specific target mark, which is a keiki backpack program; so they start with this initial program as their market but then provide the opportunity for expansion. You'll see this actually, based on what you heard from what La`i`Opua 2020 is doing and what you hear from huiMAU, provide some interactive and collaborative efforts in that regard. Page 12 LAAC-1 January 4, 2023 This is Glenn Sako, our Agricultural Specialist. If you have any technical questions —did you have anything else you wanted to add about The Food Basket? MR. SAKO: Good afternoon, Committee. I'm Glenn Sako, Economic Development Specialist, working specifically with agriculture. I just wanted to add, along with Deputy Director's comments, is that there is an existing gleaning program right now being managed by The Food Basket, however they have one person who is running that program. The idea is to hire four other personnel to be strategically placed around the island because the idea is that having people familiar with the neighbors would help to increase the participation in this gleaning project. So, that is the angle that The Food Basket is looking at. Thank you. CHR. INABA: Thank you, Mr. Sako. Opening it up to discussion for Council Members. Chair Kimball. MS. KIMBALL: Thank you. Thank you both for leading this effort. I think it's really excellent. You know, I understand that it grew out of the pandemic efforts. But I was just curious, was this also part of the grant —the larger grant that you had? The Build Back Better grant, was this one of the maybe sub -programs of that, that you're just keeping moving forward? MR. SAKO: No. The Food Basket, as far as their portion of that Build Back Better grant application, was with the Ag Innovation Center that is proposed for on Ponahawai Street. MS. KIMBALL: I see, okay. Well, at any rate, I do want to thank you for this. I've heard, and continue to find a way to support our food security on the island, so thank you. CHR. INABA: Mahalo. With that, perhaps one last question just so everyone knows, and I wasn't here on the first grant awarding, these are just for grants that were over a certain amount, right? MR. AGRES: Yes, that's correct. There were a total of eight innovation grant awards. Six were small grants, so that is not before you. One of those was for devil weed detection, using dogs; and the other was an innovative effort to look at different products out of `ulu, that were non-food related, to help increase the viability of the `ulu production industry. So those are two smaller grants that totaled $39,528. CHR. INABA: Got it. But I'm looking across all of the resolutions in our committee today, there are others from R&D, just not ag-specific, but these are grants that were over $25,000 a piece? Page 13 LAAC-1 Vote on Res. 24-23: (Approved) January 4, 2023 MR. AGRES: They were over $25,000. CHR. INABA: Okay, perfect. Thank you, Deputy Director. With that, all those in favor of forwarding this resolution to Council with a favorable recommendation, Resolution 24-23, say "aye." The motion to recommend adoption of Res. 24-23 was carried by the following voice vote: Ayes: Committee Members Evans, Galimba, Kagiwada, Kimball, Lee Loy, Villegas, and and Chair Inaba — 7. Noes: None. Absent: Committee Members Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder and Kierkiewicz — 2. Excused: None. CHR. INABA: Moving on to Resolution 25-23. Res. 25-23: AUTHORIZES THE DEPARTMENT OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT TO AWARD FUNDS TO HUI MALAMA I KE ALA `ULILI Provides grant funds of $100,000, to establish a community resilience hub in Pa`auilo to address the current and future needs for food systems, a sustainable economy, and community care. Reference: Comm.26 Intr. by: Mr. Inaba (B/R) Motion to Approve: Ms. Galimba moved to recommend adoption of Res. 25-23. Seconded by Ms. Lee Loy. CHR. INABA: Before we begin the discussion, I do want to point out that I have a few friends who work for this nonprofit. I don't believe it would prevent me or cloud my judgment on making this vote, but I want to put that out there for my colleagues before we begin. Okay, with that, Deputy Director. (Note: At this time, Research and Development Deputy Director Robert Agres and Economic Development Specialist Glenn Sako came forward to address the members of the Committee.) MR. AGRES: Mahalo, Chair Inaba. So huiMAU is —we're looking for $100,000 of R&D funding to them. They're matching that with $156,606, which they were able to secure from three foundations for this community resilience hub in Pa`auilo. Their community kitchen food distribution program was really demonstrated ahugely successful during the pandemic, and they're building Page 14 LAAC-1 January 4, 2023 on that to actually expand on this effort. They're going to have 18 food distribution events. They'll have about 1,000 pounds of locally sourced produce, and value-added food products that they'll distribute. They'll reach about 245 individuals per month. They will be piling sales of huiMAU products based on locally sourced foods as a way to generate a mission, and align revenue to actually help sustain the effort. As you know, the County turned over lands to them, so they're actually taking an ahupua`a management approach to all of this, which is hugely innovated and pretty exciting to see. Glenn, do you have any additional things to share? MR. SAKO: No, I don't. You've covered everything. So, just thank you very much. CHR. INABA: Thank you, Mr. Sako and Deputy Director. Yes, just for the record for our new Council Members, just at the end of the term, huiMAU secured a 1,000-acre lease, I believe for 75 years, for the entire ahapua'a of Kohola—was it Pa`auilo or Koholalele? Koholalele. Okay, maika`i. Okay, with that, opening it up to discussion. Council Member Evans. MS. EVANS: Thank you. So, this was looking for ag innovation. So in terms of —they must have competed, I guess is what I'm getting at. There was probably a competition because of the way it's described, it sounds like some things going on in my district, in North Kohala. I'm just kind of curious how many other hubs or resiliency this community —how many applied? MR. AGRES: If you're specifically talking about resilience hubs, and so as an example, there's Vibrant Hawai`i's network of resilience hubs, and then there's also other community center -type facilities that act as resilience hubs. Of the Vibrant Hawaii resilience hubs, I think there wereI want I can get back to you, but I'm pretty sure there are about five that applied for the innovation grant, but they were not necessarily agriculturally focused. So some of them fell under the category of community well-being, and then I'm not sure. Anyway, there were others. Just to clarify in terms of how the procurement process and the selection process happen, this was a hugely competitive grant program. Fifty-one applications, way more than we've ever had at Research and Development, but because the RFP was for agriculture and food systems, community place -based tourism, community well-being energy, creative industries, business industry development, and sustainable economic development, people could put proposals in any of those. But basically they competed against the other 50 applications, hugely competitive. As I mentioned, only 13 went after small grants, 30 applied for large grants. Page 15 LAAC-1 January 4, 2023 So yeah, that's why we're continuing even though only eight initiatives got awarded. We continue to work with those that did not get funding, so as an example we had a debriefing to help them think through how to improve on their applications. We continue to work and connect them to other funding sources, in addition to look at other resources we have to try to fund, and these kinds of connections in terms of building networks. So yes, that was long way of saying it was a very competitive class. MS. EVANS: Very competitive, that's what I was thinking because I have people that are doing this in my district. The other thing is, just one other question about the events with the local farmers and pilot sales, was there a vision for like a farmer's market or roadside stand, food trucks? Did they explore it in any detail? MR. AGRES: Yeah, I believe because of that Ahapua'a approach, as well as working with Kamehameha Schools and taking up commercial —so there are some commercial areas. They're exploring a range of things that are going to happen there. So this is one part of the broader mission they have for stewarding the land, it's sort of restoring abundance there. Yeah, it's specifically around the food hub focus. MR. SAKO: I just wanted to add that when the proposals come in, we ask that they be specific; because once they start talking about other things that may not have been part of their original focus, then they need to expand on that. So some of these proposals were dot -points because they might have mentioned something for the future or what they were planning, but then there was no other information provided for it. You know, the recommendation was to be focused and specific in their proposal write-ups. MS. EVANS: So was the money —so can they spend it on, I'm thinking, equipment, salaries, capital improvement, building an infrastructure, renting, leasing a building? Does it cover any and all of that? MR. SAKO: Well, there is ain the RFP, there is a list of what is acceptable. When you mentioned like the building part, no, I don't believe that's included, but they could hire a designer to work on plans and that kind of thing. MS. EVANS: Okay, all right. I will definitely follow through and get more specifics. Thank you. CHR. INABA: Thank you, Council Member Evans. I think that kind of just leads us to perhaps the idea that maybe we request the report as to everyone who was awarded. Just a simple overview so the Council knows. Not just those that were over $25,000 but who got what and for what type of purpose, just so we know what projects are happening across our island, especially in our own districts. If we could request that, please Deputy Director. Page 16 LAAC-1 January 4, 2023 MR. AGRES: We will definitely follow up on that. CHR. INABA: Thank you so much. With that, there's a motion on the floor to forward Resolution 25-23 to Council with a favorable recommendation. All those in favor, please say "aye." Vote on Res. 25-23: The motion to recommend adoption of Res. 25-23 was (Approved) carried by the following voice vote: Ayes: Committee Members Evans, Galimba, Kagiwada, Kimball, Lee Loy, Villegas, and and Chair Inaba — 7. Noes: None. Absent: Committee Members Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder and Kierkiewicz — 2. Excused: None. CHR. INABA: Before we move on, I want to point out we are overtime already, so we'll try and get through these last three resolutions quickly. Mr. Clerk, Resolution 31-23, please. Res. 31-23: AUTHORIZES THE DEPARTMENT OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT TO AWARD FUNDS TO THE EDITH KANAKA`OLE FOUNDATION Provides grant funds of $90,525, to support the KIPA (Known Indigenous Perspectives and Alignment) Business Cultural Training program. Reference: Comm.38 Intr. by: Mr. Inaba (B/R) Motion to Approve: Ms. Lee Loy moved to recommend adoption of Res. 31-23. Seconded by Ms. Kagiwada. CHR. INABA: Deputy Director, go ahead. (Note: At this time, Research and Development Deputy Director Robert Agres and Tourism Specialist Frecia Cevallos came forward to address the members of the Committee.) MR. AGRES: So this award along with the next two that you'll hear are all pushing on initiatives that advance regenerative tourism. We have Frecia Cevallos here, our Tourism Specialist, who can share a little bit more about that. Would you just quick context, for all these three together, we are providing $277,572, and they matched that with $1.70 more dollars. So every dollar of County monies, the three that you'll be hearing about, matched with Page 17 LAAC-1 January 4, 2023 $1.70. So, a lot of leverage and a lot of strong partnerships behind these initiatives. Frecia, you want to share some specifics about KIPA? MS. CEVALLOS: So the KIPA program, we piloted it this past year. The target audience are tour operators and other businesses in the visitor industry. The intention is to bring to light ike kupuna of places, right, and so we focus on moku, specific areas, and we have participants study mete and oli of that place, the pono practices, and they become more attuned to the places that they visit, and they bring guests too. This program also provides the opportunity to learn protocol; so when you enter into a space, there's a mete, kahea, mete komo, and those types of protocols that they learn. Very simple for folks to follow. The curriculum was developed and redone over the past year because it was a pilot, and so now we're ready to scale the program in other areas. We started it —we did it in Hilo, targeted to our operators in Hilo, but we had some folks from Kona, so that was a good thing, and now we want to offer it in other communities. The KIPA program is part of our larger effort, as Bob said, for regenerative tourism, but it's also really bringing to light indigenous knowledge, science and the importance of it, and how we visit our place, because most of our places, if not all, are sacred. We are host to our visitors, and we need to acknowledge our host culture, which is Native Hawaiian culture, as well. So, that's all I have to add. CHR. INABA: Mahalo, Ms. Cevallos. Open it up for discussion. Okay, Council Member Lee Loy. MS. LEE LOY: Yeah, thank you, and I will make it quick, Chair. Frecia, thank you so much. I think this definitely was something that was born out of community. We've been having this discussion for a long time, specifically down in Keaukaha and some other tour operators, and to see this scale in a way to really shift what's going on, not only grow capacity around our culture, but provide opportunities for the next generation to continue to tell those stories of our wahi pana across the entire island. I'm really excited to support this and the next two resolutions. I think this really becomes, you know, that next wave of tourism/caring for and managing those resources, not only by the tourists but by our families. Thank you. Chair, I yield. CHR. INABA: Thank you, Council Member Lee Loy. Council Member Villegas. MS. VILLEGAS: Sure, just a quick thing. Thank you for being here, Frecia, and for all of your hard work. Navigating a topic that's so sensitive, and looking for Page 18 LAAC-1 January 4, 2023 solutions within a paradigm that's almost counter -intuitive. So thank you for your tenacity in taking that on. I remember kind of a brain -storming meeting a number of years ago with the hotel, and taking those tables and people writing things out, and how far you've brought that, and working with the businesses and companies that work in the visitor industry to ensure that the messages that are being shared with our visitors and the travelers are authentic. And as much as can be more uniformed, like that they're really in line with what we want people to be paying attention to. I just have a quick question. With some CRF (Contingency Relief Fund) funding that kind of came through R&D recently, there were some challenges with the organization feeling that there was too much of a push in the documentation, that it need to be related to tourism; and with CRF, like it doesn't necessarily have to be that. All I could remember was, back in my old era with Kona Brewing Company and working with some of the different things with R&D and at the State level, is there a way to navigate that process for small community groups that are doing very community -centric, let's say a holiday event? That sure, visitors can come, but they were just feeling a little protective of making sure that the message and the alignment were directly authentic. That their intentions for the festival or for what they were putting together were actually for their community. So is there some cross-pollination in the application or paperwork with CRF and kind of this R&D grants kind of a thing? MR. AGRES: So we can look at that, especially ones that we administer. MS. VILLEGAS: Okay. MR. AGRES: The thing that I will lift up is our mantra relative to tourism comes out of the Tourism Strategic Plan for the island, which is if the land and the people are healthy MS. VILLEGAS: Yes. MR. AGRES: Then the industry will be healthy. MS. VILLEGAS: Yes. MR. AGRES: And so I think in that way, we can then work with community groups to ensure that the messaging is a point relative to that, which sounds like I think we are in alignment with them. MS. VILLEGAS: I think we are. I think they're just —you know, somewhere there was a little bit of misconnection; and my apologies, it was of course before the holidays, and then here we came through it all. But I look forward to working with the both of you as we move forward. I'm not sure about my colleagues, but I Page 19 LAAC-1 January 4, 2023 know that I have some contingency funds left. As we navigate the rest of this fiscal year, I want to make sure that things go as smoothly not only for those requesting it, but for the departments that get the opportunity to be the go-between for that, and that you guys get all the information you need for that alignment. So, thank you for that. I appreciate you. I yield. CHR. INABA: Thank you, Council Member Villegas. Brings us to the end, there is a motion on the floor to forward Resolution 31-23 to Council with a favorable recommendation. All those in favor, please say "aye." Vote on Res. 31-23: The motion to recommend adoption of Res. 31-23 was (Approved) carried by the following voice vote: Ayes: Committee Members Evans, Galimba, Kagiwada, Kimball, Lee Loy, Villegas, and and Chair Inaba — 7. Noes: None. Absent: Committee Members Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder and Kierkiewicz — 2. Excused: None. CHR. INABA: Taking us next to Resolution 32-23, please. Res. 32-23: AUTHORIZES THE DEPARTMENT OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT TO AWARD FUNDS TO THE EDITH KANAKA`OLE FOUNDATION Provides grant funds of $100,000, to support the Kukulu ka Pahukapu Program and advance Responsible Tourism and Pono-Based Communication. Reference: Comm.39 Intr. by: Mr. Inaba (B/R) Motion to Approve: Ms. Lee Loy moved to recommend adoption of Res. 32-23. Seconded by Ms. Kimball. CHR. INABA: Deputy Director? (Note: At this time, Research and Development Deputy Director Robert Agres and Tourism Specialist Frecia Cevallos came forward to address the members of the Committee.) MR. AGRES: Thank you, Chair Inaba. In regards to this one, I want to maybe reiterate what I just said about the Tourism Strategic Plan, healthy people, healthy `aina, means the industry will be healthy. Because what this one does is different from the first one you just heard, with i kea, this one is on the community side and Page 20 LAAC-1 January 4, 2023 the process to really build capacity there. So Frecia will provide some quick details on that. CHR. INABA: And thank you. Ms. Cevallos, if we can just keep it pretty brief because we're getting double -overtime late now, thank you. MS. CEVALLOS: Okay. Yeah, sorry. Okay, so the outcomes for this program is for our communities in partnership with government stakeholders and other stakeholders to do the research and identify the kanawai and kapu of these specific places. So, that's the outcome. And then the hope is that becomes a foundation for educational opportunities, educational programs, and even branding and marketing on that space. CHR. INABA: Thank you very much. Opening it up to discussion by Council Members. MS. VILLEGAS: I have a question. CHR. INABA: Go ahead, Ms. Villegas. MS. VILLEGAS: Sure. One of the hot topics earlier today was the Ali`i Parkway. I'm just wondering how this correlates, or connects, or could be some synchronicity in utilizing programs like this. Does it only apply to public lands or would it apply to private lands, as well? MS. CEVALLOS: It could be applied to private lands. You know, if I can help set up a meeting with Ike to talk further about Ali`i Parkway, we can do that. MS. VILLEGAS: Okay, great. Just as we continue to navigate a time of growth, especially in District 7, I am noticing that —you know, historically, not as much care was given, and a lot of things were lost. A lot of our cultural treasures were lost; and the properties that are left, I feel it's imperative that we authentically look at them for what's there, and make sure that we prioritize them being valued and preserved. It kind of just seems to me like a lot of the lands that are left, yeah, in my district, especially off of Ali`i Drive, which was such a historic and culturally rich are there are sites there, and so kind of the I'm really excited for the validation and historical documentation of all that, to make sure it's taken into consideration. Thank you. I yield. CHR. INABA: Thank you, Council Member Villegas. One question for me regarding all of these resolutions. I know you mentioned when `aina and kanaka are good then tourism is good. To what degree do these grants interplay or relate to HTA's (Hawai`i Tourism Authority) Master Strategic Plan, and even our Hawaii Island specific plan? Page 21 LAAC-1 January 4, 2023 MR. AGRES: I'll quickly respond by these are all in line with the Hawaii Island Tourism Strategic Plan as well as HTA's Destination Management Action Plan for this island. CHR. INABA: Perfect. MR. AGRES: Is there anything else? CHR. INABA: That's wonderful. Thank you, Deputy Director. There is a motion on the floor to forward Resolution 32-23 with a favorable recommendation. All those in favor, please say "aye." Vote on Res. 32-23: The motion to recommend adoption of Res. 32-23 was (Approved) carried by the following voice vote: Ayes: Committee Members Evans, Galimba, Kagiwada, Kimball, Lee Loy, Villegas, and and Chair Inaba — 7. Noes: None. Absent: Committee Members Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder and Kierkiewicz — 2. Excused: None. CHR. INABA: Last agenda item, Resolution 33-23. Res. 33-23: AUTHORIZES THE DEPARTMENT OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT TO AWARD FUNDS TO THE KOHALA CENTER Provides grant funds of $87,047, to support the Pulama Kahalu`u: Supporting Ongoing Stewardship Program. Reference: Comm.40 Intr. by: Mr. Inaba (B/R) Motion to Approve: Ms. Kagiwada moved to recommend adoption of Res. 33-23. Seconded by Ms. Lee Loy. CHR. INABA: Deputy Director? (Note: At this time, Research and Development Deputy Director Robert Agres came forward to address the members of the Committee.) MR. AGRES: Thank you, Chair Inaba. The Kohala Center as you know has been stewarding Kahalu`u Bay for a long time, and this builds off of their work by pushing an innovative pilot parking program with the County. This will help Page 22 LAAC-1 January 4, 2023 generate revenues that would be put back into the stewardship of that area. So we're pretty excited about this opportunity to support them in this effort. CHR. INABA: Thank you. Council Member Villegas. MS. VILLEGAS: I'll be very quick. I just want to mahalo you guys deeply and from the bottom of my heart Cindi Punihaole has been trying to get this moved forward. I, myself, have worked on it a number of times, within the prior administration, so I'm really happy to see you guys taking the chance and pushing this forward, and see what we can be accomplished through this program. So thank you again, and mahalo to Cindi out there for all of her hard work, tenacity, and just insatiable determination to get things done. So, I yield. CHR. INABA: Thank you, Council Member Villegas. Council Member Kimball. MS. KIMBALL: Thank you, Chair. I'll also be quick. Thank you both for being here. I'll support my colleague's statement in appreciation of what you're doing here. I just wanted to mention that I was able to go to Kauai this last —over Christmas and see Ha`ina and how they've set up the stewardship program there. Like you said, there's a fee, there's a permitting process. The fund goes to the local community members to help manage the program. They've got trails, you know, no more feral tourists running around everywhere. It's really well-done, and I'm really hopeful that in some of these over -loved places, like Kahalu`u Bay, like Waipi`o, like Pohoiki, we can start to adopt some similar things. So I'm really looking forward to seeing how these pilot programs work out and what we can export to some of the other sensitive areas. We see models across the State where it's working, and I think it's time for us to jump onboard. We can do it, as well. Thank you, Chair. I yield. CHR. INABA: Thank you, Chair Kimball. All right, and with that, there's a motion on the floor to forward Resolution 33-23 to Council with a favorable recommendation, all those in favor? Vote on Res. 33-23: The motion to recommend adoption of Res. 33-23 was (Approved) carried by the following voice vote: Ayes: Committee Members Evans, Galimba, Kagiwada, Kimball, Lee Loy, Villegas, and and Chair Inaba — 7. Noes: None. Absent: Committee Members Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder and Kierkiewicz — 2. Excused: None. Page 23 LAAC-1 CHR. INABA: Things brings us to the end of our agenda. January 4, 2023 ADJOURN- There being no further business, at 3:48 p.m., Ms. Lee Loy moved to adjourn MENT: the meeting. Seconded by Ms. Galimba and carried by the following voice vote: Ayes: Committee Members Evans, Galimba, Kagiwada, Kimball, Lee Loy, Villegas, and and Chair Inaba — 7. Noes: None. Absent: Committee Members Kaneali `i-Kleinfelder and Kierkiewicz — 2. Excused: None. CHR. INABA: This meeting is adjourned at 3:48 p.m. Mahalo. Approved: '; �; � �'/ 4 .,. � c' C� //It, Mr. Holeka Goro Inaba, Chair (Date) Legislative Approvals and Acquisitions Committee H I/na Page 24