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REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON <br />GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS AND EXTERNAL AFFAIRS <br />DATE: April 1, 2025 Re: Comm. No. 200 <br />PLACE: Council Chambers <br />Hilo, Hawaii <br />TIME: 9:01 a.m. <br />Council Chair and Members <br />Hawaii County Council <br />Hilo, Hawaii 96720 <br />Your Committee on Governmental Operations and External Affairs, to which was referred Communication <br />No. 200, reports as follows: <br />Communication No. 200, transmitted by Mayor C. Kimo Alameda, dated March 12, 2025, requests the <br />Council's review and confirmation of the nomination of Rebecca Kawehi Inaba to the Leeward Planning <br />Commission. <br />Executive Assistant to the Mayor Micah Alameda was present in the Hilo Chambers to introduce <br />Ms. Inaba, who was also present in the Hilo Chambers, to the Committee. <br />Committee Member Holeka Inaba disclosed that he had already discussed the circumstances with Corporation <br />Counsel and recused himself from the conversation as the nominee is his mother. <br />Committee Member Rebecca Villegas asked Corporation Counsel Renee Schoen if she would address any <br />potential conflicts of interest regarding appointment of Ms. Inaba into this position considering that her son is a <br />Council Member. Ms. Schoen said that she reviewed this nomination and while there are recommendations <br />that come from the Planning Commissions to the Council Members, the recommendations come from a body <br />that is one of seven and the Council is one of nine. She additionally shared that Member Inaba had filed a <br />petition with the Board of Ethics to address any other possible conflicts of interest. Member Villegas stated <br />that she will be supporting this appointment. <br />Committee Member Michelle Galimba stated that while there is no law against this appointment, she has <br />concerns and is hearing concerns from others around this appointment regarding concentrating power and <br />setting this precedent, and she feels that she cannot support this nomination. <br />Committee Member Heather Kimball said she would be in support of this appointee for any other commission <br />but due to the relationship between the Planning Commissions and Council regarding controversial land use <br />decisions, she is worried that the potential liability may be too great. Member Kimball suggested holding a <br />special meeting after the Board of Ethics provides its opinion and recommendations on this nominee first. <br />Committee Member Ashley Kierkiewicz said she would support this nomination as she believes there are <br />sufficient guardrails in place to protect the integrity of the decision -making process within the Commissions <br />and Legislative branch. She added that these discussions occur in the public arena, and she trusts that this will <br />be enough to address potential concerns. <br />Committee Member Dennis "Fresh" Onishi asked what her thoughts are regarding DHHL (Department of <br />Hawaiian Home Lands) properties being awarded to beneficiaries that are not being subdivided. Ms. Inaba said <br />that she was not sure what she would do, but that she would take her time and research why that is being done <br />and what the background is and that she would use the tools available to understand the situation to make an <br />informed decision. <br />GOEAC Report No. 30 <br />