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REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON <br />GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS AND EXTERNAL AFFAIRS <br />DATE: November 4, 2025 <br />PLACE: Council Chambers <br />Hilo, Hawaii <br />TIME: 9:30 a.m. <br />Council Chair and Members <br />Hawaii County Council <br />Hilo, Hawaii 96720 <br />Re: Comm. No. 514Bill No. 89 <br />Your Committee on Governmental Operations and External Affairs, to which was referred <br />Bill No. 89, reports as follows: <br />Bill No. 89, introduced by Council Member Ashley L. Kierkiewicz via Communication No. 514, <br />dated September 18, 2025, amends Chapter 7, Article 1, of the Hawaii County Code 1983 (2016 <br />Edition, as amended), relating to the appointment of the Civil Defense Administrator. <br />Bill No. 89 adds a new section requiring the Civil Defense Administrator have a minimum of <br />three years of responsible administrative experience in emergency management, disaster <br />planning, homeland security, or public safely services management. In the event of a vacancy, <br />the Mayor may convene a selection advisory panel consisting of the Fire Chief and Chief of <br />Police to evaluate qualified applicants. <br />This bill was previously heard and postponed on October 21, 2025. <br />Governmental Operations and External Affairs Meeting of October 21, 2025 <br />Committee Member James E. Hustace began by encouraging postponement of this measure as <br />the maker of the bill was unable to be present. <br />Committee Member Dennis "Fresh" Onishi began by saying he wanted to discuss the bill. <br />Mr. Onishi said that he liked the idea of the bill, but in discussing with administrators in the past <br />he believes that the most important element of Civil Defense is communication within the <br />department and Administration. He wants to see that part of the requirement for an administrator <br />is to be able to communicate with the Administration and discuss emergency planning with the <br />community. <br />Committee Member Heather L. Kimball said Section 7-1-3(c) is unnecessary and recommended <br />that Corporation Counsel weigh in. She asked if that language needed to be expressly stated or if <br />the Mayor already had that power to confer with the Chief of Police and Fire Chief. She said that <br />if it were in the Charter it may have to adhere to Sunshine Law requirements, and because their <br />discussions could contain private personnel information that it may be better to not have it <br />included in this bill. She also said Section 7-1-2 needed clean-up to specify who is in charge and <br />when and she encouraged the maker to tighten up that language while working on this bill. <br />GOEAC Report No. 79 <br />