HomeMy WebLinkAboutREP PCHSW 004 2025-08-05 2024-2026REPORT OF THE POLICY COMMITTEE
ON HEALTH, SAFETY, AND WELL-BEING
DATE: August 5, 2025 Re: Comm. No. 399Bill No. 71
PLACE: Council Chambers
Hilo, Hawaii
TIME: 9:00 a.m.
Council Chair and Members
Hawaii County Council
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Your Policy Committee on Health, Safety, and Well-being, to which was referred Bill No. 71,
reports as follows:
Bill 71, transmitted by Council Member James Hustace and Council Chair Holeka Goro Inaba,
via Communication No. 399, dated June 26, 2025, Amends Chapter 6 of the Hawaii County
Code 1983 (2016 edition, as amended) by adding an article relating to Naloxone.
Bill 71 requires venues licensed to serve alcoholic beverages for in -person consumption to keep
Naloxone on premises and ensure that employees are aware of its location and method of
administration.
Director of Liquor Control Gerald Takase and Executive Assistant to Mayor Kimo Alameda Erin
Samura were present in the Hilo Chambers.
Committee Member Holeka Goro Inaba stated that this bill is a matter of safety and wellness in
our community, making sure that businesses who are serving alcohol are providing this resource.
In the event if there should be some type of emergency, this would allow a type of response prior
to the EMS (Emergency Medical Services ) arriving on the scene.
Committee Member James Hustace expresses thanks to the fentanyl task force and community
members for providing these resources for the safety and well-being of our community.
Director Takase states this has been in progress since 2023. A survey was done of how effective
it has been. Eighty percent of employees were able to locate it, with two or three locations that
used it. The Department of Health has doses they can provide us with and maybe try to provide
some kind of wall container in the future so that it can be easily seen by employees.
Committee Member Heather Kimball requests Director of Finance and Research and
Development to be present at the next meeting to provide the status of opioid settlement funds.
Committee Member Ashley Kierkiewicz states she is in full support and it's great to have this
life-saving measure in the event that it is needed and we hope we don't need it, but it's great that
it's there.
PCHSW Report No. 4
PCHSW-4 Page 2 August 5, 2025
Director Takase states that there are under 200 locations, Narcan being distributed to all
dispensers including hotels and everyone who serves liquor. Making it available to all licensees
is important. Director Takase notes that hotels are not included in the definition.
Executive Assistant to the Mayor Erin Samura states one settlement check received. A RFI
(Request for Information) is out in order to determine use of funds. As far as purchasing, it is
being done through DBEDT (Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism).
Ms. Samura states that the largest settlement should hold us over for 10 to 5 years.
Member Inaba states the bill doesn't require the County to provide Naloxone to the licensees and
hopes the Department of Liquor Control takes the lead in making sure that it is free of cost for
the foreseeable future.
Your Policy Committee on Health, Safety, and Well-being is in accord with the purpose and
intent of Bill 71, and recommends its passage on first reading.
ki
AYES
NOES
ABS
EX
GAMMA
X
HUSTACE
X
WABA
X
KAGIWADA
X
KANEALI`I-KLEMELDER
X
KIERKIEWICZ
X
KIMBALL
X
ONISHI
X
VILLEGAS
X
Respectfully submitted,
POLICY COMMITTEE ON HEALTH,
SAFETY, AND WELL-BEING
DENNIS "FRESH" ONISHI, CHAIR
PCHSW REPORT NO.: 4
ADOPTED: AUG 2 0 20?5