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REPORT OF THE <br />COMMITTEE ON FINANCE <br />DATE: October 17, 2023 <br />PLACE: Council Chambers <br />Kailua-Kona, Hawaii <br />TIME: 10:50 a.m. <br />Council Chair and Members <br />Hawaii County Council <br />Hilo, Hawaii 96720 <br />Re: Comm. No. 521/Res. No. 304-23 <br />Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred Resolution No. 304-23, reports as follows: <br />Resolution No. 304-23, transmitted by Finance Director Deanna S. Sako, via Communication No. 521 <br />dated September 29, 2023, authorizes the Department of Research and Development to award funds to <br />the Hawaii Local203O HUB. <br />This resolution provides grant funds in the amount of $75,000 for community engagement and <br />communication plans to support the County's sustainability and climate action programs, and the <br />Aloha+ Challenge. <br />Committee Member Cindy Evans asked Sustainability Specialist Jake Sykes why the Department of <br />Research and Development decided not to staff this internally and decided to work with a nonprofit. <br />Mr. Sykes provided an overview of this project and the benefits of using this nonprofit. Climate Action <br />Specialist Kendra Obermaier provided comment to Ms. Evans's question, stating that although they <br />have staff working on this, there is a lack of knowledge and understanding within the department of the <br />Hawaiian language and culture that Community Engagement and Communications Coordinator Kihei <br />Seto of the Hawaii Local203O HUB can provide, especially when engaging with the community. <br />Ms. Evans asked Finance Director Deanna Sako why the department funded this via a nonprofit grant <br />and not as a temporary hire. Ms. Sako provided a brief overview of the funding process and why the <br />department decided to fund via a grant. <br />Committee Member Holeka Goro Inaba asked how this nonprofit was selected and if the department <br />sent out a Request for Proposal (RFP). Ms. Sako replied by stating that an RFP was not sent out for this <br />particular project, and it is not always required. She continued by saying that the department knew of <br />this nonprofit's knowledge and skill set and decided they wanted to work with this specific nonprofit. <br />Mr. Inaba then asked if the Aloha+ Challenge was an existing project or something new that they were <br />working on. Mr. Sykes replied that the Aloha+ Challenge is a current project that former Mayor Billy <br />Kenoi initiated. Mr. Inaba requested a quick presentation on the Aloha+ Challenge dashboard at the next <br />Council meeting, to which Mr. Sykes agreed. <br />FC Report No. 93 <br />