HomeMy WebLinkAboutREP GOEAC 070 2025-09-16 2024-2026REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON
GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS AND EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
DATE: September 16, 2025
PLACE: Council Chambers
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
TIME: 1:00 P.M.
Council Chair and Members
Hawaii County Council
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Re: Comm. No. 483/Res. No. 303-25
Your Committee on Governmental Operations and External Affairs, to which was referred Resolution
No. 303-25, reports as follows:
Resolution No. 303-25, transmitted by Assistant Police Chief Sherry D. Bird via Communication No. 483,
dated August 13, 2025, authorizes the Mayor to enter into an intergovernmental agreement with the State of
Hawaii, the County of Kauai, the County of Maui, and the City and County of Honolulu for the statewide
multi jurisdictional drug task force. This resolution authorizes the Hawaii Police Department to enter into a
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to interdict drugs via apprehension and arrest of individuals
smuggling and distributing illicit narcotics into the State.
Captain Edwin Buyten, commander of the Kona Vice Unit, was present in the Kona Chambers to speak on this
resolution and explained that this is an important MOU, as it allows County agencies to communicate with one
another to reduce drug crime.
Committee Member Rebecca Villegas asked Captain Buyten to share additional information about the amount
of narcotics that has been recovered in our County. Captain Buyten responded to say that our County's police
force is responsible for recovering 70 percent of the narcotics within the State. He said that recently both of our
County's Vice sections have been unified into one division. He added that meth, cocaine, and fentanyl were
recovered in large amounts.
Committee Member Michelle M. Galimba asked for clarity regarding whether the MOU is reviewed regularly
or just when updates occur. Deputy Corporation Counsel Cody Frenz said that this MOU was being updated
and that MOUs are supposed to be in effect, uninterrupted, unless there are updated changes initiated by either
ply.
Your Committee on Governmental Operations and External Affairs is in accord with the purpose and intent of
Resolution No. 303-25, and recommends its adoption.
slm
AYES
NOES
ABS
EX
GALIMBA
X
HUSTACE
X
INABA
X
KAGIWADA
X
KANEALI'I-KLEINFELDER
X
KIERKIEWICZ
X
KIMBALL
X
ONISHI
X
VILLEGAS
X
Respectfully submitted,
COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL
OPERATIONS AND
EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
JE KAGIW A, CHAIR
GOEAC REPORT NO.: 70
ADOPTED: OCT 0 8 2025