HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN COUNCIL 2025-10-22 2024-2026 Hawaii County Council
251h Session
West Hawaii Civic Center
74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Highway, Building A
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
October 22, 2025
INVOCATION: Kahu David de Carvalho of Mokuaikaua Church gave the morning's invocation.
CALL TO The regular meeting of the Hawaii County Council was called to order at
ORDER: 9:03 a.m., in the Council Chambers, Kailua-Kona, by Mr. Holeka Goro Inaba,
Chair.
ROLL CALL:
Present: Mr. Holeka Goro Inaba, Chair
Mr. Dennis "Fresh" Onishi, Vice Chair
Ms. Michelle M. Galimba, Member
Mr. James E. Hustace, Member
Ms. Jenn Kagiwada, Member
Mr. Matt Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Member (via videoconference from Hilo; came in
later)
Ms. Ashley L. Kierkiewicz, Member(via videoconference from Hilo)
Ms. Heather L. Kimball, Member
Ms. Rebecca Villegas, Member
PLEDGE OF The Chair directed the Council to the next order of business, Pledge of
ALLEGIANCE: Allegiance.
(At this time, County Clerk Jon Henricks led the Council in
the Pledge of Allegiance.)
PETITIONS, The Chair directed the Council to proceed to the next order of business, Petitions,
MEMORIALS, Memorials, Certificates of Merit, and Expressions of Condolence.
CERTIFICATES
OF MERIT, AND (Note: At this time:
EXPRESSIONS OF 1) Mr. Hustace presented Certificates of Merit to Oscar Amos and
CONDOLENCE: Rachel Wilczewski in recognition of their accomplishments on a local,
state, and national level as to academic achievement and debate;
2) Mr. Inaba presented a Certificate for Red Ribbon Week in Hawaii County
from October 23-31, 2025; and
3) Mr. Inaba presented the October 2025 Haweo Award to Detective Carrie
Akina of the Hawaii Police Department.)
Hawaii County Council-25 October 22,2025
Recess: At 9:22 a.m., the Chair called for a recess.
Reconvene: The meeting reconvened at 9:27 a.m.
STATEMENTS The Chair directed the Council to proceed to the next order of business,
FROM THE Statements from the Public on Agenda Items.
PUBLIC ON
AGENDA ITEMS: The following individuals registered to speak and came forward when called by
the Chair:
David Wiseman: Res. 320-25 (Comm. 516), in support.
Julie Williams: Res. 363-25 (Comm. 568), in support.
(representing Volcano
Cymbidium Acres Road
Maintenance Corporation)
Elizabeth Fujiwara: Res. 320-25 (Comm. 516), in support.
Cory Harden: Res. 320-25 (Comm. 516), in support.
Mila Goldsmith: Res. 320-25 (Comm. 516), in support.
(representing Party for Socialism
and Liberation)
Linda Boranian: Res. 351-25 (Comm. 556); and
(representing H61ualoa Village Res. 360-25 (Comm. 565), in support.
`Ohana)
Janice Palma-Glennie: Res. 320-25 (Comm. 516), in support; and
Bil 63 (Comm. 333), in opposition.
Tina Sablan: Res. 320-25 (Comm. 516), in support.
(representing The Legal Clinic)
Colonel Deb Lewis: Res. 346-25 (Comm. 551);
Res. 358-25 (Comm. 563); and
Res. 366-25 (Comm. 571); in support.
Torry McDonald: Res. 320-25 (Comm. 516), in support.
(representing Indivisible Hilo
One)
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Hawaii County Council-25 October 22,2025
John Pelletier: Bill 63 (Comm. 333), comment.
(representing Kona Community
Development Plan Action
Committee)
Chuck Flaherty: Res. 320-25 (Comm. 516), in support.
(representing Sierra Club of
Hawaii —Hawai`i Island Group)
Joseph Winkie: Res. 320-25 (Comm. 516), in support.
Sam Gucrewheimer: Res. 320-25 (Comm. 516), in support.
(representing Kona Indivisible)
Patti Cook: Res. 320-25 (Comm. 516), in support.
Josephine Keliipio: Bill 52, Draft 2 (Comm. 286.6), in support; and
Bill 63 (Comm. 333), in opposition.
APPROVAL The Chair directed the Council to proceed to the next order of business, Approval
OF MINUTES: of Minutes.
Chair Inaba announced that the Minutes of July 9, 2025,
were approved.
REPORTS: The Chair directed the Council to proceed to the next order of business, Reports.
GOEAC-74 NOMINATION OF JOHN K. MCBRIDE TO THE TRANSPORTATION
(Comm. 538): COMMISSION
Vote on GOEAC-74: Ms. Kagiwada moved to adopt Governmental Operations
(Adopted) and External Affairs Committee Report No. 74. Seconded
by Mr. Hustace and carried by the following voice vote:
Ayes: Council Members Galimba, Hustace, Kagiwada,
Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz, Kimball,
Onishi, and Chair Inaba—8.
Noes: None.
Absent: Council Member Villegas — 1.
Excused: None.
ORDER OF The Chair directed the Council to proceed to the next order of business, Order of
RESOLUTIONS: Resolutions.
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Hawaii County Council-25 October 22,2025
Res. 285-25: AUTHORIZES THE PAYMENT OF FUNDS OF LATER FISCAL YEARS TO
ENTER A MULTI-YEAR AGREEMENT FOR INTERNET TELEPHONE
SERVICES TO BE USED BY THE OFFICE OF THE PROSECUTING
ATTORNEY
Authorizes the Mayor to enter into a five-year agreement with an estimated cost
of$260 per year for Voice-over-Internet-Protocol phone service at the office's
workroom located in the Kona Judiciary Complex.
Reference: Comm. 456
Intr. by: Council Member Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder (B/R)
Approve: FC-80
Postponed: September 17, 2025
(Note: There is a motion by Council Member Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, seconded by
Council Member Galimba, to adopt Res. 285-25.)
; and
Comm. 456.2: From Office of the Prosecuting Attorney Business Administrator Grant Nagata,
dated October 10, 2025, requesting that Res. 285-25 be postponed to the call of the
Chair.
Vote on Motion to Mr. Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder moved to postpone Res. 285-25
Postpone: to the call of the Chair. Seconded by Ms. Galimba and
(Approved) carried by the following voice vote:
Ayes: Council Members Galimba, Hustace, Kagiwada,
Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz, Kimball,
Onishi, and Chair Inaba—8.
Noes: None.
Absent: Council Member Villegas — 1.
Excused: None.
Res. 318-25: AUTHORIZES THE MASS TRANSIT AGENCY TO AWARD A GRANT TO
PEOPLE FOR ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION HAWAI`I
Provides $240,000 of grant funds for the HIBIKE bike share program to cover day-
to-day operations and maintenance.
Reference: Comm. 510
Intr. by: Council Member Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder (B/R)
Approve: FC-89
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Hawaii County Council-25 October 22,2025
Vote on Res. 318-25: Mr. Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder moved to adopt Res. 318-25 and
(Adopted) Finance Committee Report No. 89. Seconded by
Mr. Hustace and carried by the following voice vote:
Ayes: Council Members Galimba, Hustace, Kagiwada,
Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz, Kimball,
Onishi, and Chair Inaba—8.
Noes: None.
Absent: Council Member Villegas — 1.
Excused: None.
Res. 319-25: AUTHORIZES THE PAYMENT OF FUNDS OF LATER FISCAL YEARS TO
ENTER INTO A LEASE AGREEMENT FOR TWO MULTIFUNCTION COPY
MACHINES TO BE USED BY THE OFFICE OF THE PROSECUTING
ATTORNEY
Authorizes the Mayor to enter into a five-year lease agreement with an approximate
total cost of$13,000 per year, to be used by the department's Hilo and Kona
offices.
Reference: Comm. 511
Intr. by: Council Member Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder (B/R)
Approve: FC-90
Vote on Res. 319-25: Mr. Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder moved to adopt Res. 319-25 and
(Adopted) Finance Committee Report No. 90. Seconded by
Mr. Hustace and carried by the following voice vote:
Ayes: Council Members Galimba, Hustace, Kagiwada,
Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz, Kimball,
Onishi, and Chair Inaba—8.
Noes: None.
Absent: Council Member Villegas — 1.
Excused: None.
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Hawaii County Council-25 October 22,2025
Res. 320-25: EXPRESSES SUPPORT FOR DUE PROCESS AND THE PROTECTION OF
CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS FOR ALL RESIDENTS OF THE COUNTY OF
HAWAI`I AND AFFIRMS THE COUNTY'S COMMITMENT TO
MULTICULTURALISM AND ITS IMMIGRANT HERITAGE
Requests the Mayor to review existing and potential agreements with public and
private partners to ensure constitutional rights of residents are protected and
requests the Hawai`i Police Department to limit its involvement with the United
States Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement
to cases involving criminal activity.
Reference: Comm. 516
Intr. by: Council Member Galimba
Approve: GOEAC-75
(Note: Comm. 516.1, from Council Member Michelle M. Galimba dated
October 14, 2025, transmitting proposed amendments to Res. 320-25, was
circulated.)
Motion to Approve: Ms. Galimba moved to adopt Res. 320-25 and
Governmental Operations and External Affairs Committee
Report No. 75. Seconded by Ms. Kagiwada.
CHR. INABA: Council Member Galimba.
MS. GALIMBA: Thank you. I want to just thank all of the testifiers and other
folks in support of this measure. And I also wanted to make an amendment to this
resolution.
Motion to Amend: Ms. Galimba moved to amend Res. 320-25 with the
contents of Comm. 516.1. Seconded by Ms. Kagiwada.
CHR. INABA: Council Member Galimba.
MS. GALIMBA: Thanks. This amendment is taking the advice of Council
Member Onishi to send this resolution to more folks. These include the
Governor, our Federal representatives, State representatives, as well as
specifically calling out the Hawaii County Police Commission. So just sending
them a copy of this resolution.
CHR. INABA: Thank you. Council Member Villegas.
MS. VILLEGAS: If it's okay, I have a question for Council Member Galimba.
Thank you to all the testifiers who have come. There were a number of suggested
amendments to be included into this resolution. And I wondered if that was
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Hawaii County Council-25 October 22,2025
something that you had been considering, or if there was potential reason from
Corp. (Corporation) Counsel why some of the asks for more, I guess, severe
statements could or couldn't be included in the resolution.
CHR. INABA: Council Member Villegas, that could be addressed as part of the
main discussion, because we're just on this specific amendment right now.
MS. VILLEGAS: Apologies. I'll return to that.
CHR. INABA: Okay. Any other discussion on this amendment? Seeing none,
all those in favor of amending Resolution 320-25 with the contents of
Communication 516.1,please say "aye."
Vote on Motion to The motion to amend Res. 320-25 with the contents of
Amend: Comm. 516.1 was carried by the following voice vote:
(Approved)
Ayes: Council Members Galimba, Hustace, Kagiwada,
Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz, Kimball,
Onishi, Villegas, and Chair Inaba—9.
Noes: None.
Absent: None.
Excused: None.
Vote on Motion to Ms. Kimball moved to suspend Council Rule 23 to waive
Suspend Council the holdover for the substantive amendment of
Rules: Res. 320-25. Seconded by Ms. Galimba and carried by the
(Approved) following voice vote:
Ayes: Council Members Galimba, Hustace, Kagiwada,
Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz, Kimball,
Onishi, Villegas, and Chair Inaba—9.
Noes: None.
Absent: None.
Excused: None.
CHR. INABA: Council Member Galimba.
MS. GALIMBA: Thank you. Responding to Council Member Villegas'
question, I do think some of the suggestions for amendments were valid.
However, I think I would like to just pass this as it is at this time, and either I or
other Council Members can follow up with another resolution perhaps or an
appropriate legal document that can take up some of those ideas that testifiers
brought forward.
CHR. INABA: Council Member Villegas.
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Hawaii County Council-25 October 22,2025
MS. VILLEGAS: Thank you for answering that question. That is really helpful
and I am in full support of this resolution. And I'm in full support of any and all
actions we can take as a County Council to stand strong in opposition to what I
believe are illegal actions on the part of the Federal Government right now. So
thank you, Council Member Galimba, for bringing this forward. I yield.
CHR. INABA: Council Member Kagiwada.
MS. KAGIWADA: Thank you. And once again, thank you to the maker of this
resolution. I stand in full support. I do think there's room for us as a body to
send a stronger message to our State Legislature, our State Government about
specific actions that we want them to take to support us in the counties, support
our police departments to make sure that they are able to do what they are
supposed to do, which is protect and serve our residents here on Hawaii Island.
I do have grave concerns about future actions by our Federal administration to
potentially starve us of resources, and then offer lots of resources with the caveat
that we collaborate with Federal enforcement and operations of ICE (Immigration
and Customs Enforcement) and immigration issues. So I really do think we need
to go beyond this, but I do fully support this resolution as it is. Happy to vote to
pass it without any amendments at this time. I yield.
CHR. INABA: Council Member Hustace.
MR. HUSTACE: Thank you, Chair. Once again, I want to mahalo the maker of
this resolution and the conversations we've had here on the dais. There's
definitely been the tension, the concern, of course the fear. And we also saw that
earlier this year with Resolution, I think it was 74,that conversation with our
partnership at the local level with our agencies going upward.
This past Saturday, I had the opportunity to be with over a thousand people in the
Waimea space near Ikua Purdy Statue. Really felt that sense of what this speaks
to, what the resolution speaks to about spirit of aloha, fairness, equality, and our
diversity, our multiculturalism that you're really honing in on here, Council
Member Galimba. So I want to mahalo you for that.
We also have that opportunity, as we've heard from some of the testifiers,
opportunity to have further discussion about funding these legal immigration
services and how we can further support that effort here locally. But I really want
to mahalo you and really speaking to the rainbow race that we are here in
Hawaii, and all that we bring to the table from all the different facets of life we
walk and all the communities and cultures that we come from to this small space.
So mahalo. Thank you, Chair.
CHR. INABA: Council Member Kimball.
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Hawaii County Council-25 October 22,2025
MS. KIMBALL: Thank you. I wanted to speak directly to a couple of comments
that I made last time, which was I thought the resolution could benefit from some
language about restricting masking and identification of ICE agents and whatnot,
although at the time I said I would explore our opportunities to do something
legislatively around that. So just in the context of having mentioned that before,
particularly with the masking and the identification of vehicles, the identification
of ICE officials, it seems to be clearly outside of our jurisdiction, and we would
not be able to legislate that. However, looking at, I think, I'm not sure if it was
you, Council Member Villegas mentioned what was being done in Chicago in
terms of prohibiting ICE actions on county-owned, or in that case city-owned,
property. Do you think that is within our jurisdictions of—so I'll be putting
something forward with respect to that.
I know that there's a sense that, you know, damn the torpedoes, let's just
introduce stuff even if it's outside of our jurisdiction so that we can have that
conversation, and I was thinking about that. But one of the things around us to be
really sensitive about is if it were to go to court and we were not satisfactorily
armed to defend ourselves, it's the kind of thing that could set a precedent that
would hurt the overall picture nationally. So we want to make sure that we
solidly have our ducks in line with respect to legal jurisdiction and what we
actually have authority to regulate.
That said, coming back then to this resolution, I would like to suggest that we
include a clause that requests that the State address the masking and
identification, the transparency issue, because they would really have to be the
one that does it. And I'm going to suggest that we hold this and do that next
hearing, and perhaps consider some of these other amendments. Because let me
just suggest that the urgency is not actually to deliver this resolution to the people
on the list, but the urgency is to publicly put out this information about where this
County Council stands on immigration issues, and using this forum, the Council
hearing, to discuss that and publicize that. The amount of publicity that was given
to the original introduction of this resolution was fantastic. Across the State, folks
know what we are trying to do and the message we are trying to send.
So my suggestion is actually let's just keep it here, have another conversation in
two weeks and expand the scope of the resolution before we send it off, because
they're hearing it anyway. Just my thoughts.
CHR. INABA: Any further discussion on Resolution 320-25, as amended?
Council Member Galimba.
MS. GALIMBA: I guess I am open to that and would like to hear, I guess, from
my fellow Council Members if they have any reservations. But I guess I'm okay
with it, because I want to put it out there to the group.
CHR. INABA: Vice Chair Onishi.
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Hawaii County Council-25 October 22,2025
MR. ONISHL Thank you, Chair. I would suggest that we move forward
because, as one of the testifiers mentioned, the State Legislature will be
scheduling these meetings. So once we can get this moving forward approved,
then it can be sent to them. And you have the list of the Senators, right, the
President and also the House Speaker and so forth. So can tell—show that
Hawaii County Council is engaged and wants to see this certain legislation, or I
guess showing that we care, and we want them to also kind of do the same. So
we're kind of like setting the lead. Yeah. Thanks, I yield.
CHR. INABA: Any other discussion? Council Member Kagiwada.
MS. KAGIWADA: Thank you, Chair. I guess I feel like this particular
resolution at this time did not direct anything towards the State and the
Legislature. So passing this makes a lot of sense to me. And then doing another
resolution that is specifically about asks of the State and the Legislature might
seem a cleaner way to do it. And I'd be happy to work on that with anybody if
you're interested in doing it, or do it myself if nobody else wants to do that. So I
volunteer to participate if that is something that anybody would want to work on.
I yield.
CHR. INABA: All right, let's proceed. Thank you again, Council Member
Galimba, for bringing this forward. All those in favor of approving
Resolution 320-25, as amended, please say "aye."
Vote on Res. 320-25: The motion to adopt Res. 320-25, as amended to Draft 2,
Draft 2 and Governmental Operations and External Affairs
(Adopted) Committee Report No. 75 was carried by the following
voice vote:
Ayes: Council Members Galimba, Hustace, Kagiwada,
Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz, Kimball,
Onishi, Villegas, and Chair Inaba—9.
Noes: None.
Absent: None.
Excused: None.
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Hawaii County Council-25 October 22,2025
Res. 342-25: AUTHORIZES THE PAYMENT OF FUNDS OF LATER FISCAL YEARS TO
ENTER INTO A LEASE AGREEMENT FOR ONE MULTIFUNCTION COPY
MACHINE TO BE USED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF RESEARCH AND
DEVELOPMENT
Authorizes the Mayor to enter into a five-year lease agreement with an approximate
monthly cost of$120.
Reference: Comm. 542
Intr. by: Council Member Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder (B/R)
Approve: FC-91
Vote on Res. 342-25: Mr. Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder moved to adopt Res. 342-25 and
(Adopted) Finance Committee Report No. 91. Seconded by
Mr. Hustace and carried by the following voice vote:
Ayes: Council Members Galimba, Hustace, Kagiwada,
Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz, Kimball,
Onishi, Villegas, and Chair Inaba—9.
Noes: None.
Absent: None.
Excused: None.
Res. 346-25: TRANSFERS/APPROPRIATES AN APPROPRIATION OUT AND FROM A
DESIGNATED FUND ACCOUNT AND CREDITS SAME TO A DESIGNATED
FUND ACCOUNT TO PROVIDE A GRANT TO THE BIG ISLAND
RESOURCE CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL FOR THE
2025 HAWAI`I ISLAND VETERANS DAY PARADE
Transfers $1,000 from the Clerk-Council Services —Contingency Relief account
(Council District 4); and credits to the Department of Liquor Control, Public
Programs account.
Reference: Comm. 551
Intr. by: Council Member Kierkiewicz
Motion to Approve: Ms. Kierkiewicz moved to adopt Res. 346-25. Seconded
by Mr. Hustace.
CHR. INABA: Council Member Kierkiewicz.
MS. KIERKIEWICZ: I just want to send a mahalo out to Colonel Deb Lewis for
her many years of service to our community in organizing this parade, so that we
can honor the brave men and women who have served and continue to serve our
country. Thank you.
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Hawaii County Council-25 October 22,2025
CHR. INABA: Mahalo. All those in favor of approving Resolution 346-25,
please say "aye."
Vote on Res. 346-25: The motion to adopt Res. 346-25 was carried by the
(Adopted) following voice vote:
Ayes: Council Members Galimba, Hustace, Kagiwada,
Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz, Kimball,
Onishi, Villegas, and Chair Inaba—9.
Noes: None.
Absent: None.
Excused: None.
Res. 347-25: TRANSFERS/APPROPRIATES AN APPROPRIATION OUT AND FROM A
DESIGNATED FUND ACCOUNT AND CREDITS SAME TO A DESIGNATED
FUND ACCOUNT TO PROVIDE A GRANT TO THE LO`I COLLECTIVE
FOUNDATION FOR THE 2026 SMASH FEST
Transfers $5,000 from the Clerk-Council Services —Contingency Relief account
(Council District 4); and credits to the Department of Parks and Recreation,
Administration Other Current Expenses account.
Reference: Comm. 552
Intr. by: Council Member Kierkiewicz
Motion to Approve: Ms. Kierkiewicz moved to adopt Res. 347-25. Seconded
by Mr. Hustace.
CHR. INABA: Council Member Kierkiewicz.
MS. KIERKIEWICZ: Thank you. Just looking for everyone's support for a
variety of competitions and clinics that are going to be happening in Pahoa next
summer. Thank you, Chair.
CHR. INABA: Mahalo. All those in favor of approving Resolution 347-25,
please say "aye."
Vote on Res. 347-25: The motion to adopt Res. 347-25 was carried by the
(Adopted) following voice vote:
Ayes: Council Members Galimba, Hustace, Kagiwada,
Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz, Kimball,
Onishi, Villegas, and Chair Inaba—9.
Noes: None.
Absent: None.
Excused: None.
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Hawaii County Council-25 October 22,2025
Res. 348-25: TRANSFERS/APPROPRIATES AN APPROPRIATION OUT AND FROM A
DESIGNATED FUND ACCOUNT AND CREDITS SAME TO A DESIGNATED
FUND ACCOUNT TO PROVIDE A GRANT TO THE KEA`AU MIDDLE
PARENT TEACHER STUDENT ASSOCIATION FOR ITS YOUTH
ENGAGEMENT EVENTS
Transfers $1,123 from the Clerk-Council Services —Contingency Relief account
(Council District 3); and credits to the Department of Liquor Control, Public
Programs account.
Reference: Comm. 553
Intr. by: Council Member Onishi
Motion to Approve: Mr. Onishi moved to adopt Res. 348-25. Seconded by
Mr. Hustace.
MR. ONISHL Just asking for support in helping our students at Kea`au Middle
School. Thank you.
CHR. INABA: All those in favor of approving Resolution 348-25, please say
Ic aye.
Vote on Res. 348-25: The motion to adopt Res. 348-25 was carried by the
(Adopted) following voice vote:
Ayes: Council Members Galimba, Hustace, Kagiwada,
Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz, Kimball,
Onishi, Villegas, and Chair Inaba—9.
Noes: None.
Absent: None.
Excused: None.
Res. 349-25: TRANSFERS/APPROPRIATES AN APPROPRIATION OUT AND FROM A
DESIGNATED FUND ACCOUNT AND CREDITS SAME TO A DESIGNATED
FUND ACCOUNT TO PROVIDE A GRANT TO LOKAHI TREATMENT
CENTERS FOR SERVICES IN SUBSTANCE ABUSE, MENTAL HEALTH,
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, AND ANGER MANAGEMENT IN KONA
Transfers $5,000 from the Clerk-Council Services —Contingency Relief account
(Council District 7); and credits to the Department of Liquor Control, Public
Programs account.
Reference: Comm. 554
Intr. by: Council Member Villegas
Motion to Approve: Ms. Villegas moved to adopt Res. 349-25. Seconded by
Mr. Hustace.
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Hawaii County Council-25 October 22,2025
CHR. INABA: Council Member Villegas.
MS. VILLEGAS: Just ask for my colleagues' support and send a big mahalo out
to Lokahi Treatment Centers for their work supporting the behavioral health and
well-being of our community.
CHR. INABA: Mahalo. All those in favor of approving Resolution 349-25,
please say "aye."
Vote on Res. 349-25: The motion to adopt Res. 349-25 was carried by the
(Adopted) following voice vote:
Ayes: Council Members Galimba, Hustace, Kagiwada,
Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz, Kimball,
Onishi, Villegas, and Chair Inaba—9.
Noes: None.
Absent: None.
Excused: None.
Res. 350-25: TRANSFERS/APPROPRIATES AN APPROPRIATION OUT AND FROM A
DESIGNATED FUND ACCOUNT AND CREDITS SAME TO A DESIGNATED
FUND ACCOUNT TO PROVIDE A GRANT TO THE 12 STEP OHANA CLUB
OF KONA, INC., FOR ITS CLEAN AND SOBER COMMUNITY SUPPORT
PROGRAM
Transfers $3,000 from the Clerk-Council Services —Contingency Relief account
(Council District 7); and credits to the Department of Liquor Control, Public
Programs account.
Reference: Comm. 555
Intr. by: Council Member Villegas
Motion to Approve: Ms. Villegas moved to adopt Res. 350-25. Seconded by
Mr. Hustace.
CHR. INABA: Council Member Villegas.
MS. VILLEGAS: Just ask for my colleagues' support. I see the synchronicity
between the young man and the wonderful woman that came in today. Learning
to live a clean, sober, drug-free life begins as a young person. And navigating it
in adulthood can be a challenge. And so, grateful to be able to support this
program. I yield.
CHR. INABA: All those in favor of approving Resolution 350-25, please say
Ic aye.
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Hawaii County Council-25 October 22,2025
Vote on Res. 350-25: The motion to adopt Res. 350-25 was carried by the
(Adopted) following voice vote:
Ayes: Council Members Galimba, Hustace, Kagiwada,
Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz, Kimball,
Onishi, Villegas, and Chair Inaba—9.
Noes: None.
Absent: None.
Excused: None.
Res. 351-25: TRANSFERS/APPROPRIATES AN APPROPRIATION OUT AND FROM A
DESIGNATED FUND ACCOUNT AND CREDITS SAME TO A DESIGNATED
FUND ACCOUNT TO PROVIDE A GRANT TO THE HOLUALOA VILLAGE
`OHANA FOR ITS 26TH ANNUAL COFFEE AND ART STROLL
Transfers $3,655 from the Clerk-Council Services —Contingency Relief account
(Council District 7); and credits to the Department of Research and Development,
Tourism Promotion account.
Reference: Comm. 556
Intr. by: Council Member Villegas
Motion to Approve: Ms. Villegas moved to adopt Res. 351-25. Seconded by
Mr. Hustace.
CHR. INABA: Council Member Villegas.
MS. VILLEGAS: Just asking for my colleagues' support. This is a fantastic
event. And congratulations to the Holualoa Village `Ohana for all of the work
that they do to support that small but vibrant, culturally-connected and diverse
community in our Kona coffee belt.
CHR. INABA: Thank you. All those in favor of approving Resolution 351-25,
please say "aye."
Vote on Res. 351-25: The motion to adopt Res. 351-25 was carried by the
(Adopted) following voice vote:
Ayes: Council Members Galimba, Hustace, Kagiwada,
Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz, Kimball,
Onishi, Villegas, and Chair Inaba—9.
Noes: None.
Absent: None.
Excused: None.
Page 15
Hawaii County Council-25 October 22,2025
Res. 352-25: TRANSFERS/APPROPRIATES AN APPROPRIATION OUT AND FROM A
DESIGNATED FUND ACCOUNT AND CREDITS SAME TO A DESIGNATED
FUND ACCOUNT TO PROVIDE A GRANT TO THE FOOD BASKET INC.
FOR ITS KOKUA HARVEST FRUIT STAND PROJECT IN COUNCIL
DISTRICT 7
Transfers $5,000 from the Clerk-Council Services —Contingency Relief account
(Council District 7); and credits to the Department of Research and Development,
Agriculture Other Current Expenses account.
Reference: Comm. 557
Intr. by: Council Member Villegas
Motion to Approve: Ms. Villegas moved to adopt Res. 352-25. Seconded by
Ms. Kagiwada.
CHR. INABA: Council Member Villegas.
MS. VILLEGAS: I just want to express my gratitude to The Food Basket for
their innovative thinking in providing this unique and new opportunity, to provide
fruit stands and food stands in order to disseminate our local produce, especially
to those who need it most. Just asking for your support.
CHR. INABA: All those in favor of approving Resolution 352-25, please say
Ic aye.
Vote on Res. 352-25: The motion to adopt Res. 352-25 was carried by the
(Adopted) following voice vote:
Ayes: Council Members Galimba, Hustace, Kagiwada,
Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz, Kimball,
Onishi, Villegas, and Chair Inaba—9.
Noes: None.
Absent: None.
Excused: None.
Page 16
Hawaii County Council-25 October 22,2025
Res. 353-25: TRANSFERS/APPROPRIATES AN APPROPRIATION OUT AND FROM A
DESIGNATED FUND ACCOUNT AND CREDITS SAME TO A DESIGNATED
FUND ACCOUNT TO PROVIDE A GRANT TO LOKAHI TREATMENT
CENTERS FOR ITS SUBSTANCE ABUSE, MENTAL HEALTH, DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE, AND ANGER MANAGEMENT TREATMENT PROGRAMS IN
PAHOA
Transfers $7,500 from the Clerk-Council Services —Contingency Relief account
(Council District 5); and credits to the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney, Other
Current Expenses account.
Reference: Comm. 558
Intr. by: Council Member Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder
Motion to Approve: Mr. Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder moved to adopt Res. 353-25.
Seconded by Mr. Hustace.
CHR. INABA: Council Member Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder.
MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Thank you, Chair. Just wanted to note, not
seeing Ms. Valerie Poindexter on our Zoom this morning and providing her
lovely face and her lovely testimony to the Council. Besides that, I look for
everyone's support. Thank you.
CHR. INABA: Thank you. All those in favor of approving Resolution 353-25,
please say "aye."
Vote on Res. 353-25: The motion to adopt Res. 353-25 was carried by the
(Adopted) following voice vote:
Ayes: Council Members Galimba, Hustace, Kagiwada,
Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz, Kimball,
Onishi, Villegas, and Chair Inaba—9.
Noes: None.
Absent: None.
Excused: None.
Page 17
Hawaii County Council-25 October 22,2025
Res. 354-25: TRANSFERS/APPROPRIATES AN APPROPRIATION OUT AND FROM A
DESIGNATED FUND ACCOUNT AND CREDITS SAME TO A DESIGNATED
FUND ACCOUNT TO PROVIDE A GRANT TO THE BIG ISLAND
RESOURCE CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL FOR THE
2025 HALA FESTIVAL
Transfers $2,000 from the Clerk-Council Services —Contingency Relief account
(Council District 5); and credits to the Department of Liquor Control, Public
Programs account.
Reference: Comm. 559
Intr. by: Council Member Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder
Vote on Res. 354-25: Mr. Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder moved to adopt Res. 354-25.
(Adopted) Seconded by Mr. Hustace and carried by the following
voice vote:
Ayes: Council Members Galimba, Hustace, Kagiwada,
Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz, Kimball,
Onishi, Villegas, and Chair Inaba—9.
Noes: None.
Absent: None.
Excused: None.
Res. 355-25: TRANSFERS/APPROPRIATES AN APPROPRIATION OUT AND FROM A
DESIGNATED FUND ACCOUNT AND CREDITS SAME TO A DESIGNATED
FUND ACCOUNT TO PROVIDE A GRANT TO THE HAWAII FARMERS
UNION FOUNDATION FOR ITS 2025 HAWAII FARMERS UNION ANNUAL
CONVENTION
Transfers $2,500 from the Clerk-Council Services —Contingency Relief account
(Council District 5); and credits to the Department of Research and Development,
Agriculture Other Current Expenses account.
Reference: Comm. 560
Intr. by: Council Member Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder
Vote on Res. 355-25: Mr. Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder moved to adopt Res. 355-25.
(Adopted) Seconded by Ms. Villegas and carried by the following
voice vote:
Ayes: Council Members Galimba, Hustace, Kagiwada,
Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz, Kimball,
Onishi, Villegas, and Chair Inaba—9.
Noes: None.
Absent: None.
Excused: None.
Page 18
Hawaii County Council-25 October 22,2025
Res. 356-25: TRANSFERS/APPROPRIATES AN APPROPRIATION OUT AND FROM A
DESIGNATED FUND ACCOUNT AND CREDITS SAME TO A DESIGNATED
FUND ACCOUNT TO PROVIDE A GRANT TO THE BIG ISLAND DANCE
COUNCIL FOR ITS HAWAI`I YOUTH ARTS FESTIVAL
Transfers $1,500 from the Clerk-Council Services —Contingency Relief account
(Council District 5); and credits to the Department of Liquor Control, Public
Programs account.
Reference: Comm. 561
Intr. by: Council Member Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder
Vote on Res. 356-25: Mr. Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder moved to adopt Res. 356-25.
(Adopted) Seconded by Ms. Kagiwada and carried by the following
voice vote:
Ayes: Council Members Galimba, Hustace, Kagiwada,
Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz, Kimball,
Onishi, Villegas, and Chair Inaba—9.
Noes: None.
Absent: None.
Excused: None.
Res. 357-25: TRANSFERS/APPROPRIATES AN APPROPRIATION OUT AND FROM A
DESIGNATED FUND ACCOUNT AND CREDITS SAME TO A DESIGNATED
FUND ACCOUNT TO PROVIDE A GRANT TO RECYCLE HAWAI`I FOR
THE VOLCANO RENAISSANCE FAIRE
Transfers $3,000 from the Clerk-Council Services —Contingency Relief account
(Council District 5); and credits to the Department of Liquor Control, Public
Programs account.
Reference: Comm. 562
Intr. by: Council Member Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder
Vote on Res. 357-25: Mr. Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder moved to adopt Res. 357-25.
(Adopted) Seconded by Mr. Hustace and carried by the following
voice vote:
Ayes: Council Members Galimba, Hustace, Kagiwada,
Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz, Kimball,
Onishi, Villegas, and Chair Inaba—9.
Noes: None.
Absent: None.
Excused: None.
Page 19
Hawaii County Council-25 October 22,2025
Res. 358-25: TRANSFERS/APPROPRIATES AN APPROPRIATION OUT AND FROM A
DESIGNATED FUND ACCOUNT AND CREDITS SAME TO A DESIGNATED
FUND ACCOUNT TO PROVIDE A GRANT TO THE BIG ISLAND
RESOURCE CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL TO ASSIST
WITH EXPENSES RELATING TO THE 2025 HAWAI`I ISLAND VETERANS
DAY PARADE
Transfers $1,000 from the Clerk-Council Services —Contingency Relief account
(Council District 5); and credits to the Department of Liquor Control, Public
Programs account.
Reference: Comm. 563
Intr. by: Council Member Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder
Vote on Res. 358-25: Mr. Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder moved to adopt Res. 358-25.
(Adopted) Seconded by Mr. Hustace and carried by the following
voice vote:
Ayes: Council Members Galimba, Hustace, Kagiwada,
Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz, Kimball,
Onishi, Villegas, and Chair Inaba—9.
Noes: None.
Absent: None.
Excused: None.
Res. 359-25: TRANSFERS/APPROPRIATES AN APPROPRIATION OUT AND FROM A
DESIGNATED FUND ACCOUNT AND CREDITS SAME TO A DESIGNATED
FUND ACCOUNT TO PURCHASE WREATHS FOR THE WEST HAWAI`I
VETERANS CEMETERY-PU'U HO`OMAHA O NA PO`E KOA O HAWAI`I
KOMOHANA FOR THE NATIONAL WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA DAY
Transfers $2,500 from the Clerk-Council Services —Contingency Relief account
(Council District 8); and credits to the Department of Parks and Recreation,
Administration Other Current Expenses account.
Reference: Comm. 564
Intr. by: Council Member Inaba
Motion to Approve: Mr. Onishi moved to adopt Res. 359-25. Seconded by
Mr. Hustace.
CHR. INABA: This resolution is from my office, and I ask for my colleagues'
support. I believe Council Members Villegas and Hustace will be joining me in
supporting this annual event where each of the graves and plaques at the
West Hawaii Veterans Cemetery are decorated with wreaths. So I ask for your
support. All those in favor of approving Resolution 359-25, please say "aye."
Page 20
Hawaii County Council-25 October 22,2025
Vote on Res. 359-25: The motion to adopt Res. 359-25 was carried by the
(Adopted) following voice vote:
Ayes: Council Members Galimba, Hustace, Kagiwada,
Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz, Kimball,
Onishi, Villegas, and Chair Inaba—9.
Noes: None.
Absent: None.
Excused: None.
Res. 360-25: TRANSFERS/APPROPRIATES AN APPROPRIATION OUT AND FROM A
DESIGNATED FUND ACCOUNT AND CREDITS SAME TO A DESIGNATED
FUND ACCOUNT TO PROVIDE A GRANT TO HOLUALOA VILLAGE
`OHANA TO ASSIST WITH EXPENSES FOR THE 23RD ANNUAL MUSIC
AND LIGHT FESTIVAL
Transfers $4,300 from the Clerk-Council Services —Contingency Relief account
(Council District 8); and credits to the Department of Research and Development,
Tourism Promotion account.
Reference: Comm. 565
Intr. by: Council Member Inaba
Vote on Res. 360-25: Mr. Onishi moved to adopt Res. 360-25. Seconded by
(Adopted) Mr. Hustace and carried by the following voice vote:
Ayes: Council Members Galimba, Hustace, Kagiwada,
Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz, Kimball,
Onishi, Villegas, and Chair Inaba—9.
Noes: None.
Absent: None.
Excused: None.
Res. 361-25: TRANSFERS/APPROPRIATES AN APPROPRIATION OUT AND FROM A
DESIGNATED FUND ACCOUNT AND CREDITS SAME TO A DESIGNATED
FUND ACCOUNT TO PROVIDE A GRANT TO THE 12 STEP OHANA CLUB
OF KONA, INC., TO ASSIST WITH EXPENSES FOR ITS CLEAN AND
SOBER COMMUNITY SUPPORT PROGRAM IN NORTH KONA
Transfers $3,000 from the Clerk-Council Services —Contingency Relief account
(Council District 8); and credits to the Department of Liquor Control, Public
Programs account.
Reference: Comm. 566
Intr. by: Council Member Inaba
Page 21
Hawaii County Council-25 October 22,2025
Vote on Res. 361-25: Mr. Onishi moved to adopt Res. 361-25. Seconded by
(Adopted) Mr. Hustace and carried by the following voice vote:
Ayes: Council Members Galimba, Hustace, Kagiwada,
Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz, Kimball,
Onishi, Villegas, and Chair Inaba—9.
Noes: None.
Absent: None.
Excused: None.
Res. 362-25: TRANSFERS/APPROPRIATES AN APPROPRIATION OUT AND FROM A
DESIGNATED FUND ACCOUNT AND CREDITS SAME TO A DESIGNATED
FUND ACCOUNT TO PROVIDE A GRANT TWO KA`U KAKOU FOR THE
2ND ANNUAL KALO FESTIVAL, KANIWALA KALO O KA`U
Transfers $5,253 from the Clerk-Council Services —Contingency Relief account
(Council District 6); and credits to the Department of Parks and Recreation,
Administration Other Current Expenses account.
Reference: Comm. 567
Intr. by: Council Member Galimba
Motion to Approve: Ms. Galimba moved to adopt Res. 362-25. Seconded by
Mr. Hustace.
CHR. INABA: Council Member Galimba.
MS. GALIMBA: Just asking for my colleagues' support for this kalo festival that
had its first very successful instance last year. And want to continue that effort to
bring folks together in my community.
CHR. INABA: Mahalo. All those in favor of approving Resolution 362-25,
please say "aye."
Vote on Res. 362-25: The motion to adopt Res. 362-25 was carried by the
(Adopted) following voice vote:
Ayes: Council Members Galimba, Hustace, Kagiwada,
Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz, Kimball,
Onishi, Villegas, and Chair Inaba—9.
Noes: None.
Absent: None.
Excused: None.
Page 22
Hawaii County Council-25 October 22,2025
Res. 363-25: TRANSFERS/APPROPRIATES AN APPROPRIATION OUT AND FROM A
DESIGNATED FUND ACCOUNT AND CREDITS SAME TO A DESIGNATED
FUND ACCOUNT TO PROVIDE A GRANT TO THE FRIENDS OF HAWAI`I
VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK TO SUPPORT THE VOLCANO
CYMBIDIUM ACRES ROAD MAINTENANCE COMMITTEE'S WILD PIG
CONTROL PROJECT
Transfers $7,000 from the Clerk-Council Services —Contingency Relief account
(Council District 6); and credits to the Department of Research and Development,
Agriculture Other Current Expenses account.
Reference: Comm. 568
Intr. by: Council Member Galimba
Motion to Approve: Ms. Galimba moved to adopt Res. 363-25. Seconded by
Ms. Villegas.
CHR. INABA: Council Member Galimba.
MS. GALIMBA: Thank you. This is an effort to help a particular community in
Volcano that has a particularly bad wild pig problem. And actually,part of it is
caused by some folks feeding wild pigs on their private property. I think the
whole community has a pretty severe problem. So this is a way to help them with
that and I think it will. So, asking for your support.
CHR. INABA: Council Member Kagiwada.
MS. KAGIWADA: Thank you. Happy to support this. And I hope you'll be
able to maybe share some of the results on how this works out. Because, I'm sure
that many of us have neighborhoods that are impacted by pigs, and would like to
kind of know how to watch the progress of this project. So thank you and happy
to support.
CHR. INABA: All those in favor of approving Resolution 363-25, please say
Ic aye.
Vote on Res. 363-25: The motion to adopt Res. 363-25 was carried by the
(Adopted) following voice vote:
Ayes: Council Members Galimba, Hustace, Kagiwada,
Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz, Kimball,
Onishi, Villegas, and Chair Inaba—9.
Noes: None.
Absent: None.
Excused: None.
Page 23
Hawaii County Council-25 October 22,2025
Res. 364-25: TRANSFERS/APPROPRIATES AN APPROPRIATION OUT AND FROM A
DESIGNATED FUND ACCOUNT AND CREDITS SAME TO A DESIGNATED
FUND ACCOUNT TO PROVIDE A GRANT TO ALANUI `O KA`U FOR ITS
2ND ANNUAL KA`U WELLNESS FESTIVAL
Transfers $5,000 from the Clerk-Council Services —Contingency Relief account
(Council District 6); and credits to the Department of Liquor Control, Public
Programs account.
Reference: Comm. 569
Intr. by: Council Member Galimba
Motion to Approve: Ms. Galimba moved to adopt Res. 364-25. Seconded by
Ms. Villegas.
CHR. INABA: Council Member Galimba.
MS. GALIMBA: Thank you. This is, again, the second annual festival, and this
one takes place in Hawaiian Ocean View Estates. And just having this kind of
very positive event I think is very helpful. Thanks. I ask for your support.
CHR. INABA: All those in favor of approving Resolution 364-25, please say
LC "
aye.
Vote on Res. 364-25: The motion to adopt Res. 364-25 was carried by the
(Adopted) following voice vote:
Ayes: Council Members Galimba, Hustace, Kagiwada,
Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz, Kimball,
Onishi, Villegas, and Chair Inaba—9.
Noes: None.
Absent: None.
Excused: None.
Res. 365-25: TRANSFERS/APPROPRIATES AN APPROPRIATION OUT AND FROM A
DESIGNATED FUND ACCOUNT AND CREDITS SAME TO A DESIGNATED
FUND ACCOUNT TO PROVIDE A GRANT TO THE BIG ISLAND LIONS
FOUNDATION TO ASSIST WITH EXPENSES RELATING TO THE
2025 DOWNTOWN HILO CHRISTMAS LIGHTS PARADE
Transfers $2,000 from the Clerk-Council Services —Contingency Relief account
(Council District 2); and credits to the Department of Liquor Control, Public
Programs account.
Reference: Comm. 570
Intr. by: Council Member Kagiwada
Page 24
Hawaii County Council-25 October 22,2025
Motion to Approve: Ms. Kagiwada moved to adopt Res. 365-25. Seconded by
Mr. Hustace.
CHR. INABA: Council Member Kagiwada.
MS. KAGIWADA: Just wanting everybody to know that you're invited to
participate in the Big Island Lions Foundation Downtown Hilo Christmas Lights
Parade, which will be November 29 h. That's the Saturday after Thanksgiving.
Would love to see you all there, and looking for your support. Thank you.
CHR. INABA: All those in favor of approving Resolution 365-25, please say
Ic aye.
Vote on Res. 365-25: The motion to adopt Res. 365-25 was carried by the
(Adopted) following voice vote:
Ayes: Council Members Galimba, Hustace, Kagiwada,
Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz, Kimball,
Onishi, Villegas, and Chair Inaba—9.
Noes: None.
Absent: None.
Excused: None.
Res. 366-25: TRANSFERS/APPROPRIATES AN APPROPRIATION OUT AND FROM A
DESIGNATED FUND ACCOUNT AND CREDITS SAME TO A DESIGNATED
FUND ACCOUNT TO PROVIDE A GRANT TO THE BIG ISLAND
RESOURCE CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL TO ASSIST
WITH EXPENSES RELATING TO THE 2025 HAWAI`I ISLAND VETERANS
DAY PARADE
Transfers $1,000 from the Clerk-Council Services —Contingency Relief account
(Council District 9); and credits to the Department of Liquor Control, Public
Programs account.
Reference: Comm. 571
Intr. by: Council Member Hustace
Motion to Approve: Mr. Hustace moved to adopt Res. 366-25. Seconded by
Mr. Onishi.
CHR. INABA: Council Member Hustace.
MR. HUSTACE: Thank you, Chair. Just joining my colleagues on this
resolution in support of a veterans day parade. Also want to express mahalo and
gratitude to Colonel Deb Lewis and all of our veterans in this recognition. Thank
you, Chair.
Page 25
Hawaii County Council-25 October 22,2025
CHR. INABA: All those in favor of approving Resolution 366-25, please say
Ic aye.
Vote on Res. 366-25: The motion to adopt Res. 366-25 was carried by the
(Adopted) following voice vote:
Ayes: Council Members Galimba, Hustace, Kagiwada,
Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz, Kimball,
Onishi, Villegas, and Chair Inaba—9.
Noes: None.
Absent: None.
Excused: None.
Res. 367-25: TRANSFERS/APPROPRIATES AN APPROPRIATION OUT AND FROM A
DESIGNATED FUND ACCOUNT AND CREDITS SAME TO A DESIGNATED
FUND ACCOUNT TO PROVIDE A GRANT TO KOHALA HERITAGE
CENTER TO ASSIST WITH EXPENSES FOR ITS MEDIA CENTER AND
READING CORNER
Transfers $3,500 from the Clerk-Council Services —Contingency Relief account
(Council District 9); and credits to the Department of Research and Development,
Tourism Promotion account.
Reference: Comm. 572
Intr. by: Council Member Hustace
Motion to Approve: Mr. Hustace moved to adopt Res. 367-25. Seconded by
Mr. Onishi.
CHR. INABA: Council Member Hustace.
MR. HUSTACE: Thank you, Chair. Honored to support the Kohala Heritage
Center. If you're ever up in the Kapa`au area across the street from the
Kamehameha Statue, the Kohala Heritage Center is a newly refurbished building
that was once the old Bond Memorial Library that had gone into disrepair over the
years, and neglect. But the group there and the community members and the
volunteers have really come forward to present such a beautiful space for the
community. They have cultural displays up regularly, and it's really a welcome
and open space for community to pass on through and really step into that historic
space. Just wanted to support them as they grow and as they provide more to the
community. So, grateful for all your support on this. Mahalo.
CHR. INABA: Thank you. All those in favor of approving Resolution 367-25,
please say "aye."
Page 26
Hawaii County Council-25 October 22,2025
Vote on Res. 367-25: The motion to adopt Res. 367-25 was carried by the
(Adopted) following voice vote:
Ayes: Council Members Galimba, Hustace, Kagiwada,
Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz, Kimball,
Onishi, Villegas, and Chair Inaba—9.
Noes: None.
Absent: None.
Excused: None.
Change Order As directed by the Chair and with no objection from the Council Members, the
of Business: following item was taken out of order:
STATEMENTS The Chair directed the Council to proceed to the next order of business,
FROM THE Statements from the Public.
PUBLIC ON
BILL 85 The following individual registered to speak and came forward when called by
(COMM. 502): the Chair:
Curtis Tyler: In support.
Bill 85: AMENDS CHAPTER 15, ARTICLE 8, SECTION 15-68.1, OF THE HAWAI`I
COUNTY CODE 1983 (2016 EDITION, AS AMENDED), RELATING TO
PARKS
Amends the parks and recreational facility schedule for Kipapa Park to Kipapa Park
7-7-008:020, 100.
Reference: Comm. 502
Intr. by: Council Member Onishi
Approve: PCHSW-5
(Note: The following from Council Member Dennis "Fresh" Onishi dated
October 21, 2025, were circulated:
1) Comm. 502.1, transmitting proposed amendments to Bill 85; and
2) Comm. 502.2, transmitting material regarding Bill 85.)
Motion to Approve: Mr. Onishi moved to pass Bill 85 on first reading and adopt
Policy Committee on Health, Safety, and Well-being
Committee Report No. 5. Seconded by Ms. Villegas.
MR. ONISHL Thank you, Chair. So, Mr. Tyler,you give me too much credit. A
constituent in my district is a Kipapa. She mentioned to me that for many years,
they were promised that the park would be named Kipapa Park. So when I started
moving on this, thanks to Clayton Honma, our Director of Parks and Recreation,
he kind of made it aware that there was only one parcel listed in that section of the
Page 27
Hawaii County Council-25 October 22,2025
Code of the parks. And so now, we needed to add another parcel, which was 100.
Then, when Mr. Tyler found out—and also thank you to (Assistant) Corporation
Counsel J Yoshimotohe also helped with authoring this whole thing too.
But with Mr. Tyler's knowledge, he brought up about this whole history of how
all these properties had gotten acquired by the County. And as we moved on, we
found out that's true and that someplace along the line, once the Council passed it
and purchased these properties, it was never put into the Code of the parks.
So that's why we're here today. But before I amend the bill, I wanted to just
introduce Communication 502.2. And it shows all the different properties. And
so in this area,you see going get Parcels 23, 21, 20, 100, and 31. So we didn't
know about Parcels 23 and 21, which Mr. Tyler brought to our attention. And so
we had to also include all of that. Because if you look back at the resolutions, it
gives some detail of what these properties were supposed to be used for. And so
now, what I want to do is make a motion to adopt Bill 85 with
Communication 502.1.
Motion to Amend: Mr. Onishi moved to amend Bill 85 with the contents of
Comm. 502.1. Seconded by Mr. Hustace.
MR. ONISHL With this, it includes all five properties that you folks see on the
map. Mr. Tyler, do you have anything else to add?
(Note: At this time, former Council Member Curtis Tyler came forward to
address the members of the Council.)
MR. TYLER: Thank you very much. It includes a map that your Council Aide
prepared, and she needs to be commended for putting that together. Outstanding.
MR. ONISHL Okay, thank you. So I'll yield at this time, Chair.
CHR. INABA: Thank you. All those in favor of amending Bil 85 with the
contents of Communication 502.1,please say "aye."
Vote on Motion to The motion to amend Bill 85 with the contents of
Amend: Comm. 502.1 was carried by the following voice vote:
(Approved)
Ayes: Council Members Galimba, Hustace, Kagiwada,
Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz, Kimball,
Onishi, Villegas, and Chair Inaba—9.
Noes: None.
Absent: None.
Excused: None.
CHR. INABA: Any further discussion? Vice Chair Onishi.
Page 28
Hawaii County Council-25 October 22,2025
MR. ONISHL I'm just asking for your support. And because this is only the first
reading, we don't have to suspend any rules. So we can go to the second
(reading) with Draft 2. Just asking for your support. Thank you.
CHR. INABA: Thank you. Mahalo, Mr. Tyler, for being here as well to speak on
behalf of the `ohana. All those in favor of approving Bill 85 at first reading,
please say "aye." Oh, sorry, Council Member Villegas, go ahead.
MS. VILLEGAS: Did I miss the presentation of Communication 502.2?
CHR. INABA: (Communication) 502.2 was discussed by Vice Chair Onishi, and
that's just the map that is the overlay there.
MS. VILLEGAS: Okay, great. I just want to say a word of gratitude to prior
Council Member Curtis Tyler and longtime friend, historian, lineal descendant to
this area for your continued vigilance and caring of not only the privilege but the
burden of ensuring that the iwi of your ancestors are treated with respect and are
cared for in the space in which they're lying in perpetuity. And thank you to
Council Member Onishi for bringing this forward,recognizing it. And I
appreciated hearing that those purchases happened back when you were serving.
So that makes—all the connections are there. So thank you so much as this
resides in my district and is a place I hold close to my heart as for its protection in
perpetuity. So I yield.
MR. TYLER: (Inaudible.) Mahalo.
CHR. INABA: Thank you, Council Member Villegas. All those in favor of
approving Bill 85, as amended, at first reading please say "aye."
Vote on Bill 85: The motion to pass Bill 85, as amended to Draft 2, on first
Draft 2 reading and adopt Policy Committee on Health, Safety, and
(Approved) Well-being Committee Report No. 5 was carried by the
following voice vote:
Ayes: Council Members Galimba, Hustace, Kagiwada,
Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz, Kimball,
Onishi, Villegas, and Chair Inaba—9.
Noes: None.
Absent: None.
Excused: None.
Return to Order The Chair directed the Council to return to the order of business.
of Business:
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Hawaii County Council-25 October 22,2025
BILLS FOR The Chair directed the Council to proceed to the next order of business, Bills for
ORDINANCES Ordinances (First Reading).
(FIRST READING):
(Note: Items in this category were taken up previously, out of order.)
Bill 52: AMENDS CHAPTER 25, ARTICLES 1, 4, AND 5, OF THE HAWAI`I COUNTY
(Draft 2) CODE 1983 (2016 EDITION, AS AMENDED), RELATING TO HENNERIES
Allows hens for household egg production on single-family, double-family,
multiple-family residential, residential-commercial mixed use, and residential and
agricultural zoning;provides for certain conditions and regulations.
Reference: Comm. 286.6
Intr. by: Council Member Kimball
Approve: PCPLUED-7
(Note: Comms. 286.7 and 286.8, from Council Member Heather L. Kimball
dated October 15, 2025, transmitting proposed amendments to Bill 52, Draft 2,
were circulated.)
Motion to Approve: Ms. Kimball moved to pass Bill 52, Draft 2, on first
reading and adopt Policy Committee on Planning, Land
Use, and Economic Development Committee Report No. 7.
Seconded by Ms. Villegas.
CHR. INABA: Council Member Kimball.
MS. KIMBALL: If I may, I would like to start right in with the amendments
based on the discussion in the Committee hearing.
Motion to Amend: Ms. Kimball moved to amend Bill 52, Draft 2, with the
contents of Comm. 286.7. Seconded by Ms. Kagiwada.
MS. KIMBALL: This amendment proposes to add back in specifically ducks,
guinea hens, and quails as egg-producing poultry, while still excluding geese and
turkey and the noisier variety of birds based on some of the conversation. Happy
to hear what folks think. Thank you.
CHR. INABA: Council Member Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder.
MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: You have good eyes, Chair. Thank you.
Question to the maker: The usage of the word"and"between guinea hens and
quails, does that mean that to be in accordance with this legislation then,you need
to have all of those birds in your hennery or that you can have—should it be more
appropriate as an "or"?
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Hawaii County Council-25 October 22,2025
MS. KIMBALL: That's a good question. Mr. Clerk, as the purveyor of those
who purvey the Code, should that be an "or"?
MR. HENRICKS: No. Would you like a further explanation?
MS. KIMBALL: No.
MR. HENRICKS: You're welcome.
MS. KIMBALL: Thank you.
MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Thank you, Mr. Clerk.
CHR. INABA: Council Member Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder.
MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: I yield.
CHR. INABA: All right, any other discussion? Council Member Kagiwada and
then Vice Chair Onishi.
MS. KAGIWADA: Just thanking the maker for making this amendment. I'm in
full support.
CHR. INABA: Vice Chair Onishi.
MR. ONISHL Is Planning Director Jeff Darrow in the chambers?
MS. KIERKIEWICZ: He is approaching.
MR. ONISHL Okay, thanks.
(Note: At this time, Planning Director Jeffrey Darrow came forward to
address the members of the Council.)
MR. DARROW: Aloha, Chair Inaba, Vice Chair Onishi, and members of the
Hawaii County Council. Jeff Darrow with the Planning Department.
MR. ONISHL Thank you, Director. The only concern I have is about ducks. If
someone wanted to raise ducks, would the same format for raising chickens be the
same way of how many ducks you could have on your property?
MR. DARROW: Give me one second. Sorry. In the bill itself, it doesn't look
like it addresses specifically the number of poultry outside of hens as far as
amounts. I thought it did but it does not appear that it does. It's specific to the
number of hens. Maybe the maker of the bill might be able to clarify.
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Hawaii County Council-25 October 22,2025
CHR. INABA: Council Member Kimball.
MS. KIMBALL: In the context of this bill, the terminology for hens applies to
the various species, not just chickens. So it would be the same calculation as the
terms of the permissible number. I would reflect, though, that per the last
amendment we made in Committee, there was that additional language about
requiring to meet DOA (Department of Agriculture) guidelines with respect to the
caretaking of certain types of species. So that may have an influence on the
number based on what is the recommended guidelines there.
MR. ONISHL So, Director, my concern would be about the noise. How would
you folks deal with that?
MR. DARROW: I believe that's exactly why that amendment was made at the
last hearing regarding oversight for the other different departments that actually
manage that. This would not be the Planning Department's kuleana. We would
be focused mainly on the use itself.
MR. ONISHL So someone would have to call the police.
MR. DARROW: I believe it would be the Department of Health.
MR. ONISHI: With noise only.
MR. DARROW: Correct.
MR. ONISHL Okay. I guess, with this action committee person, excuse me, can
you come forward?
CHR. INABA: Vice Chair Onishi, Mr. Pelletier was here for(inaudible)
MR. ONISHL I know but I just wanted to ask how they feel about allowing
ducks, the CDP (Community Development Plan) Action Committee.
(Note: At this time, Kona Community Development Plan Action
Committee Member John Pelletier came forward to address the members
of the Council.)
MR. PELLETIER: John Pelletier, Kona Community Development Plan Action
Committee. I am only authorized, I believe, to speak on Bill 63 today.
MR. ONISHL Oh, okay.
MR. PELLETIER: We haven't—
MR. ONISHL Have you guys looked at this?
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Hawaii County Council-25 October 22,2025
MR. PELLETIER: It has been brought up at the committee, this bill.
MR. ONISHL Don't you folks have a lot of residential?
MR. PELLETIER: Yes. The Kona CDP does cover residential, yeah. But it
hasn't been discussed at our committee.
MR. ONISHL Okay.
MR. PELLETIER: Thanks.
MR. ONISHL Thank you, I yield.
CHR. INABA: On the amendment, any further discussion? Seeing noneoh,
Council Member Hustace.
MR. HUSTACE: Just a question to the maker in terms of the numbers because
-
I just wanted to hear your thoughts on this because does the size of the birds,
you know, produce a certain number of eggs, size of eggs, but the number is still
the same regardless of the species. But quail in particular, and guinea hens, are
kind of on the smaller side. So the number still restricts only that"two hens for
the first three thousand square feet." So quails are really producing a lot fewer
eggs and a lot smaller eggs. And typically, we see quails that are at a much larger
scale that are produced. You have a large poultry farm for quails in particular.
They produce a lot of hens there. So I just wanted to share that and if you have
any other thoughts on that.
MS. KIMBALL: I invite you to come up with a formula that's based on the
production or bird size and the square footage and how many birds are
MR. HUSTACE: No thank you.
MS. KIMBALL: Let me throw it into ChatGPT and see what they suggest. But,
yes, I mean I think that there's probably room for review of this legislation as we
see it implemented. And if that numbering does present a problem for some of
the smaller birds, I think it bearsI mean, I can bring something to the next
hearing that might offer some alternatives based on productivity. But I don't
think we want to get too complicated.
MR. HUSTACE: No, I agree. Thank you, Council Member. Thank you, Chair.
CHR. INABA: Thank you. Any further discussion? Seeing none, all those in
favor of amending Bill 52, Draft 2, with the contents of Communication 286.7,
please say "aye."
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Hawaii County Council-25 October 22,2025
Vote on Motion to The motion to amend Bill 52, Draft 2, with the contents of
Amend: Comm. 286.7 was carried by the following roll call vote:
(Approved)
Ayes: Council Members Galimba, Hustace, Kagiwada,
Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz, Kimball,
Villegas, and Chair Inaba—8.
Noes: Council Member Onishi — 1.
Absent: None.
Excused: None.
Motion to Amend: Ms. Kimball moved to amend Bill 52, Draft 2, with the
contents of Comm. 286.8. Seconded by Ms. Villegas.
MS. KIMBALL: This amendment is based on the recommended guidance from
Council Member Hustace to just clarify this language, and make sure there wasn't
any ambiguity. I have no issues with this friendly suggestion from Council
Member Hustace. I encourage everybody else to support as well. Thank you.
CHR. INABA: Council Member Hustace.
MR. HUSTACE: Thank you, Chair. Thank you, Council Member, for bringing
this forward. It was kind of part of the discussion about the safety, security of the
poultry themselves, but also the conversation about the potential impact to our
native bird species and native predator bird species, especially when it comes to
Avian bird flu and those sort of vectors. So thank you for bringing this forward.
I'm going to support this. Mahalo.
CHR. INABA: Thank you. Any other discussion? All those in favor of further
amending Bill 52 with the contents of Communication 286.8, please say "aye."
Vote on Motion to The motion to amend Bill 52, Draft 2, with the contents of
Amend: Comm. 286.8 was carried by the following voice vote:
(Approved)
Ayes: Council Members Galimba, Hustace, Kagiwada,
Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz, Kimball,
Onishi, Villegas, and Chair Inaba—9.
Noes: None.
Absent: None.
Excused: None.
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Hawaii County Council-25 October 22,2025
Vote on Bill 52: The motion to pass Bill 52, Draft 2, as amended to Draft 3,
Draft 3 on first reading and adopt Policy Committee on Planning,
(Approved) Land Use, and Economic Development Committee Report
No. 7 was carried by the following roll call vote:
Ayes: Council Members Galimba, Hustace, Kagiwada,
Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz, Kimball,
Villegas, and Chair Inaba—8.
Noes: Council Member Onishi — 1.
Absent: None.
Excused: None.
Bill 63: AMENDS CHAPTER 25, ARTICLE 5, OF THE HAWAI`I COUNTY CODE
1983 (2016 EDITION, AS AMENDED), RELATING TO DWELLINGS
Permits residential dwellings within the industrial-commercial mixed use (MCX)
zoning district.
Reference: Comm. 333
Intr. by: Council Member Onishi
Approve: PCPLUED-8
(Note: Comm. 333.5, from Council Member Dennis "Fresh" Onishi dated
October 16, 2025, transmitting proposed amendments to Bill 63, was circulated.
Also, Comm. 333.6, from Kona Community Development Plan Action
Committee Chair Charles Young dated October 17, 2025, transmitting testimony
on Bill 63, was circulated.)
Motion to Approve: Mr. Onishi moved to pass Bill 63 on first reading and adopt
Policy Committee on Planning, Land Use, and Economic
Development Committee Report No. 8. Seconded by
Mr. Hustace.
Motion to Amend: Mr. Onishi moved to amend Bill 63 with the contents of
Comm. 333.5. Seconded by Ms. Villegas.
CHR. INABA: Vice Chair Onishi.
MR. ONISHL This was from when we had the first reading. I forgot to have this
communication added to the bill, which was for taking care of Civil Defense's
concerns, which is going to be now a setback of 200 feet from the property
boundary, which it's adjoining any general industrial districts. So I'm asking for
your support.
CHR. INABA: Any discussion on the amendment? Seeing none, all those in
favor please say "aye."
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Hawaii County Council-25 October 22,2025
Vote on Motion to The motion to amend Bill 63 with the contents of
Amend: Comm. 333.5 was carried by the following voice vote:
(Approved)
Ayes: Council Members Galimba, Hustace, Kagiwada,
Kierkiewicz, Kimball, Onishi, Villegas,
and Chair Inaba—8.
Noes: None.
Absent: Council Member Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder— 1.
Excused: None.
MR. ONISHL Okay, so you folks have heard testimony especially coming from
the west side, their concerns. We have Planning Director Jeff Darrow in the Hilo
chambers. And he and I talked about some of the concerns that were brought up.
And so, Director, could you help us, and we can go by each, I guess, issue from
the Kona CDP Action Committee on their concerns.
(Note: At this time, Planning Director Jeffrey Darrow came forward to
address the members of the Council.)
MR. DARROW: Sure. Thank you, Vice Chair Onishi. Jeff Darrow with the
Planning Department. So again, this is in reference to Communication 333.6
from the Kona Community Development Plan Action Committee, their comments
in regards to Bill 63. Overall, they recognize that the proposal is generally
consistent with the community development plan, although they have some
concerns regarding certain areas. I'll address those individually.
The first concern was that Chapter 25 allows neighborhood parks,playgrounds,
and so on and so forth within similar areas, such as commercial districts,
multifamily. And they were asking whether or not there was a consideration to
add neighborhood parks,playgrounds, etcetera, in the MCX District. We can do
that.
We're in the process right now of preparing the amendment to the comprehensive
Zoning Code. That will come before the Council after the General Plan is
adopted and amended. This particular matter, I can bring before our staff that are
reviewing the changes and see if that will work. It doesn't seem like it would be
out of character, given the majority of commercial land uses within the MCX
District, as well as now the addition of the proposed residential uses.
The next bullet is saying it should be viewed as an opportunity to increase urban
density; therefore, single-family residential should not be included. Our concern
with that is that if a particular business has a business owner that would like to
live in the business, in the sense of smart growth principles, typically that would
be a single-family type use. So we would request that the single-family
residential use still be considered as part of this amendment.
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Hawaii County Council-25 October 22,2025
Next bullet. "There should be conditions addressing mitigation of noise and air
pollution affecting residents in this district." This is something that is not
addressed through the Zoning Code. Again, this would be something that the
Department of Health would issue. This particular zoning district is one that
typically does not have these types of issues of noise and air pollution. I'll read
the purpose to the zoning district after we go through this so that you understand
the reasoning for why I just mentioned that.
Next bullet. "There should be a condition that would not allow multifamily
development within MCX districts to be used as short-term vacation rentals."
Currently, short-term vacation rentals are not permitted within the MCX zoning
district mainly because there are no dwellings within the MCX District. In the
proposed amendments that I see coming forward, I do not see MCX as being a
district that would allow them as well. We'll keep this in mind as we move
forward.
Next bullet. "There should be conditions that would result in the development of
affordable or workforce housing, since the stated goal of this legislation is to
provide workforce housing in close proximity to places of employment." If this
bill passes, it would obviously not be able to be applied to current existing zoning
areas, but it would apply to zoning districts that come in for a change of zone
from one district to MCX. In that zoning ordinance, there would be a condition
that would require an affordable housing agreement to be approved through the
Office of Housing, especially if you're incorporating residential uses within that
zoning district. And that's typical with our other zoning districts, commercial
districts that allow residential.
Next bullet. "To support the increased density resulting from dwellings in MCX-
zoned areas, Bill 63 should include provisions to develop necessary multi-modal
infrastructure, enabling residents to walk or use transit for commuting and helping
mitigate traffic and parking challenges." Again, typically when a change of zone
comes in, these particular types of infrastructure requirements, such as curbs,
gutters, sidewalks, mitigation for traffic and parking, are part of that particular
zoning ordinance. As far as overall existing zoning, that would be done as those
particular areas are built up through CIP (Capital Improvement Project)projects
or other types of infrastructure projects.
"Bill 63 should require MCX districts to be connected to County sewage to avoid
overloading onsite wastewater systems by residential use." Typically, when we
receive a request for, again, change of zone to a particular zoning district,
definitely need to be connected to County water. Sewage has to be complied
with, whether it's through sewer or whether it's through the possibility of a
wastewater treatment plant or a package plant or whatever that may be.
The areas that are generally in North Kona, we're looking at the areas near Costco
as well as Makalapua, they're about to come in. Right now, it's currently zoned
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Hawaii County Council-25 October 22,2025
MCX, but it's actually going to be transitioning to a project district. I believe that
area is also connected to sewer in that area. So these larger MCX areas are
currently connected. But as new areas come in, we will definitely make sure that
they comply with infrastructure requirements.
Lastly, "the County Council should consult with the Department of Water Supply
as to whether new residential developments seeking approval in the MCX districts
located in West Hawaii would be granted water for the development." Based on
concurrency within the Zoning Code, Chapter 25-2-46(m), you need to have
County water available if you're going to move forward with a rezoning to this
particular zoning district or any other zoning district. That's one of the
requirements of concurrency. There is an exception, Subsection N, but that
applies to areas in the island that have no infrastructure in place. A good example
would be Hawaiian Ocean View Estates. Hopefully, that addresses those
questions.
I did want to just reiterate real quickly the purpose of the MCX District that's
stated in 25-5-130 of the Zoning Code. The purpose of the MCX mixed use
district is to allow the "mixing of some industrial uses with commercial uses. The
intent of this district is to provide for areas of diversified businesses and
employment opportunities by permitting a broad range of uses without exposing
nonindustrial uses to unsafe and unhealthy environments. This district is
intending to promote and maintain a viable mix of light industrial and commercial
uses."
As mentioned at Committee, there are very few light industrial uses within the
MCX District. A total, I believe, that are not within any other commercial district
would be approximately three of the uses. Warehousing and wholesaling are two
of those uses. Thank you.
MR. ONISHL Thank you, Director. I just wanted to point out that in the third
bullet point from the top, there should be conditions addressing mitigation of
noise and air pollution affecting residents in this district. Earlier this year, we
approved, and I'm going to mention again, hospitals to be put in, allowed, and
also senior rest homes. And so if we're allowing our seniors to live in this area,
but they're not, to me, not even working, right. They're not part of the workforce.
Whereas, a family—like Director mentioned, if the owner of this business wanted
to live upstairs of the business or in the back of the business, then that should be
allowed.
And then the other thing I just wanted to make a note of is that, Director, on now
these self-storage companies on these properties, do they come in to your
department requesting if they can have one of those security homes or those
shelters, that they have somebody on property like 24/7?
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Hawaii County Council-25 October 22,2025
MR. DARROW: As mentioned at Committee, one of the permitted uses within
the ML and MG Districts is it allows for living quarters for watchmen or
custodians in connection with the operation of any permitted use. And so,
typically, we'll see a dwelling unit come in for certain uses within the ML and
MG, and our staff catches that. And the response is, "Oh, that's the living
quarters for our watchman or custodian." We typically allow it to happen. But
basically, it's somebody there that's going to oversee the property, as well as
probably do exactly what we're trying to do here,be able to have somebody
operate the business and live there at the same time.
MR. ONISHL Thank you. I'll yield at this time.
CHR. INABA: Council Member Hustace.
MR. HUSTACE: Thank you, Chair. Thank you, Council Member Onishi, for the
continued conversation on this. Director Darrow, the amendment that we just
added in on the setback from general industrial, wouldn't that also speak to
conditions and mitigation of noise and air pollution to a certain extent in those
transition areas?
MR. DARROW: That was the intent. That's as much as I believe we can do. It
could have been a greater setback, but all of us—Civil Defense was actually the
agency that brought this request forward. We met with them and came to an
agreement that that would be a good addition, because of the fact that more
impactful uses are located within the general industrial districts. So this provides
that good buffer between them.
MR. HUSTACE: Thank you, Director. I know we had some previous
conversations. Chair Inaba, you had the presentation from the Department of
Water Supply and their work presenting water commitments for particular
properties. I don't know all those details, but that would really highlight those
parcels that either have met their commitments or still have outstanding
commitments for their water supply side there too.
Director, could you there was some testimony on transient-oriented
development. As we improve the use and expand the use and kind of break some
of this Euclidean zoning and add more capacity and density into these areas, and
this being one of those kind of transition-zoned areas, wouldn't this also speak to
TODs (transit-oriented developments)?
MR. DARROW: Thank you for that question, Council Member Hustace. The
Kona Community Development Plan initiated these areas within the Kailua urban
area called transit-oriented developments, or TODs. They identified where we
would want to see these particular TODs set up. When an applicant comes in to
be able to do a project and it's within that particular area, the community
development plan directs them to seek a project district-type zoning. And that is a
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Hawaii County Council-25 October 22,2025
zoning that allows many different types of uses that are found within the
commercial districts, as well as the residential districts. It does not allow uses
within the industrial districts.
So that's one little difference when we're talking about establishing a TOD in
relation to the MCX zoning. Our direction is to create a project district-type
zoning for those TODs, and they have to be a particular size or greater to be able
to establish that. We're working on one right now. I had mentioned it earlier;
Makalapua, which is currently zoned MCX, but they're coming in for a project
district to establish that particular TOD in that area. As part of that, all of the
infrastructure, different types of uses through a master plan will be established.
Hopefully, that helps.
MR. HUSTACE: Thank you, Director. I'll yield, Chair.
CHR. INABA: Council Member Kagiwada.
MS. KAGIWADA: Thank you, Chair. First of all, thank you to the Kona CDP
Action Committee for kind of doing a deep dive on this and providing some really
good comments. I actually pretty much support all of your comments. And given
that Hilo is the only district lacking an action committee, I do really appreciate
doing this. Because even though Kona is discussed many times today already, I
do believe this applies to all MCX districts. And there are several around the
County that are not located in Kona.
So I have similar questions as far as not Kona. Are TODs established anywhere
else, Planning Director, in our County right now?
MR. DARROW: I believe I'm not the best person to answer this question. We
do have staff that are currently working, my understanding, with the Department
of Transportation and other agencies to look at possible TODs within the Kea`au,
Pahoa, and Hilo areas. I can't tell you exactly where they are in that process, but I
believe they've been identified. I can follow up with you on that and provide you
with additional information as far as where they're at in that process, and also
provide you with a contact of somebody that can be able to maybe invite you to
some of those meetings and stuff.
MS. KAGIWADA: Thank you. Do any of those either include or overlap with
MCX District?
MR. DARROW: Currently, in the Hilo and Kea`au areas, you'll find most of the
MCX zonings within the Waiakea Houselots area, and that's been through
transition of each of them coming in for a change of zone. So it's intermixed with
commercial zoning, residential zoning, MCX zoning. You have Target, which is
also zoned MCX. In Kea`au, you have the area by Milo Street, as well as an area
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Hawaii County Council-25 October 22,2025
that is just above the main four-way, or the main bypass area in Kea`au. It's just
mauka of it, but it has not been established. And I believe there's one in Pahoa,
the Malama Market.
So it's not that's why I believe we're focused more on the MCX in Kona,
because they have significant established MCX zoning districts in areas, whereas
in other areas around the island, it's sporadic and it's not as concrete in those
particular areas.
MS. KAGIWADA: Okay, thank you. So if this bill passes, or when this bill
passes, will people who want to do residential in the MCX District need to come
in for a change of zone?
MR. DARROW: If this particular bill passes, it would be a permitted use in the
MCX zoning district. If they're already zoned MCX, they would be able to begin
doing it.
MS. KAGIWADA: Okay. Because several of the, or a couple at least, of the
bullets that you talked about,you stated that it shouldn't be an issue because when
they come in for a change of zone, it will be addressed. But actually, if this
passes, they won't need to necessarily come in for a change of zone, correct?
MR. DARROW: I was referring to the fact that there's not much we can do to the
existing zoned areas, as far as requiring them to do any additional conditions. But
when somebody comes in and changes the zoning, at that point conditions of
zoning would be able to put in the affordable housing condition the requirements
for curbs, gutters, sidewalks, and infrastructure, as well as wastewater and water.
MS. KAGIWADA: Okay, so it's—all right. And when you spoke of the
affordable housing, workforce housing potentially being addressed in a change of
zone, you're speaking to the current or,yeah, whatever happens with the Code,
but a small portion of development being assigned to affordable or workforce
housing. Correct? Not an actual workforce housing or affordable housing full-on
project. Is that correct?
MR. DARROW: I'm not sure I understand your question.
MS. KAGIWADA: Well, it seems to me the bullet from the Kona CDP Action
Committee was talking about wanting to see development of affordable and
workforce housing projects. That's my reading of this in these MCX zones. But
my understanding, if people come in for a rezone, they're only going to be
responsible for a small portion of their overall project being either affordable or
workforce housing.
MR. DARROW: Thank you for that, Council Member Kagiwada. So it looks
like, in reading this, I believe they are asking that should there be conditions,
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Hawaii County Council-25 October 22,2025
there should be conditions that would result in the development of affordable or
workforce housing, since the stated goal of the legislation is to provide workforce
housing in close proximity to the places of employment. So I believe it would
still be consistent with this request by adding in that condition that a portion of the
project go for affordable or workforce housing, as well as the overall commercial-
or industrial-type use that would be a part of that.
MS. KAGIWADA: Can you just briefly state what the current affordable housing
requirements are for, say, a ten-unit multifamily building would be.
MR. DARROW: So currently, that would be 20 percent of that particular
number.
MS. KAGIWADA: So two units out of ten.
MR. DARROW: Correct.
MS. KAGIWADA: Okay. If you don't mind, can I request the CDP person to
come? Okay. Thank you, Chair, for the leeway.
(Note: At this time, Kona Community Development Plan Action
Committee Member John Pelletier came forward to address the members
of the Council.)
MS. KAGIWADA: Aloha.
MR. PELLETIER: John Pelletier, Kona Community Development Plan Action
Committee.
MS. KAGIWADA: Thank you so much and thank you for being here. So I just
wanted to ask, is that what the intention of this bullet around affordable and
workforce housing was from the CDP Action Committee, was to just include that
small percentage in any development? Or were you hoping that there would be
actual affordable housing projects, workforce housing projects that would be
considered or encouraged or required for these areas?
MR. PELLETIER: Thank you so much for the question and for looking so much
into our testimony. Generally, the theme of it is the Kona CDP kind of asks more
from more top-down planning. And more planned communities is really the goal
of like the TODs in the CDP. And we think this bill just allowing housing doesn't
go far enough to really accomplish a lot of the goals of the bill of creating a
walkable community, workforce housing. And so really, a lot of the testimony
isa lot of the comments are asking Planning, asking Council to really look at
this more and try to plan more for these communities, to make it work the way the
intention is.
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Hawaii County Council-25 October 22,2025
MS. KAGIWADA: Okay. I'm not sure if you fully answered my question. Is
your intention that anyone would just need to meet that 20 percent of any—so it
could be 80 percent market rate, 20 percent affordable or workforce housing.
Was that kind of the intent of your discussion, or are you hoping for higher
amounts of affordable and workforce housing? I guess that's my question.
MR. PELLETIER: Yeah. I think the intention of that comment was to hope for
more. I mean, that's the goal of this bill, right, to create workforce housing. But
there's no really conditions in the bill to do that beyond that small percentage.
And I don't know. It sounds like if there's not a zoning change, do we even get
that affordable portion in there? If we just put multifamily housing inside an
already zoned MCX District, do we even get that 20 percent portion? I'm not
sure it sounds like we do. So we would be supportive of more, and more
guaranteed workforce housing.
MS. KAGIWADA: Great. Thank you so much. Appreciate that. Yeah, I'm also
supportive of more affordable and workforce housing. So I don't know. I feel
like this, like you said, Director, this would only happen in a change of zone, and
yeah, and it would be the 20 percent. So hopefully, maybe the maker, or I'd be
happy to look at a friendly amendment if you're open to it, to include a higher
percentage or a way to encourage more affordable or workforce housing in these
zones. I yield.
CHR. INABA: Council Member Kimball and then Council Member Kaneali`i-
Kleinfelder.
MS. KIMBALL: Thank you. If I can ask either the maker or the Planning
Director, was this a department-initiated amendment? Or was this something that
you had a request from a particular property owner or constituent to proceed
with? I'm just curious what the impetus was initially.
MR. ONISHL To me, I think it was a combination because after we passed the
hospital and senior rest homes, I turned to the Director and said, "Can't we start
doing something for the workforce families to help them be closer to work?"
Director agreed and that's how we created this.
MS. KIMBALL: So, Director, do you know offhand how many acres within the
County we have in MCX zoning? It looks like, in reviewing the current planning
map, that we have some in Hilo, some in Kona, and maybe one or two parcels in
Kea`au. But I don't see much more than that.
MR. DARROW: We have 414 acres.
MS. KIMBALL: Four hundred and fourteen acres. We have how many acres in
total on this island? So it's like 1 percent of our total acreage?
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Hawaii County Council-25 October 22,2025
MR. DARROW: I would believe that's far less than 1 percent. It's not a zoning
district that is widely used. And I think that is one of the benefits of this bill,
seeing that it would offer the ability to also do residential. I would like to just real
quickly, since we're talking about the different aspects of the bill, I don't believe
that this particular amendment to the Zoning Code would be the place to make a
change regarding the amount of workforce housing or affordable housing. I
believe that would be something we'd want to focus on in the amendment to
Chapter 11 where they would ask for more in the MCX zone.
MS. KIMBALL: Although, if I may, Director, in response to that, Chapter 11
typically does not take effect unless there's a rezoning ordinance, which adds
compliance with Chapter 11 as a condition of approval. And so, kind of coming
back to what Council Member Kagiwada said, in the list of items from the Kona
CDP, those things would be part of conditions of approval for a rezoning
ordinance. But once dwellings are a permitted use within that zoning, there is no
requirement to come in for a rezoning ordinance and have those conditions added.
Given that we have such a small percentage of our land in this particular zoning
class and that—they are very different. So you have over by Costco on the Kona
side. You have over by the park in Kea`au. You have over by the airport, Target
in Hilo. And so each of those areas have different types of things next to them.
And I raise that because it seems like this is maybe not a one-size-fits-all when
you talk about some of the concerns that the Kona CDP Action Committee has.
In some locations, it may be perfectly acceptable, given the surrounding parcels,
to have dwellings in that location. In others, I think it's less suitable, and you
create a place where you have potentially some environmental discrimination in
terms of affordability with respect to the housing.
Given that we have less than 1 percent of our properties in this zoning district, I
would think that it is better if the owner wanted to come in and build residential
units on there, that they come in for a project district or they come in for a
rezoning ordinance and then these conditions that have been suggested by the
Kona CDP can be placed, including that requirement for the affordability of the
housing or for infrastructure requirementscurbs, gutters, sidewalks, whatnot.
If there were a larger portion of our property in the zoning district and there was
more uniformity about where it was located, I could see this amendment making
sense. But right now, I think the better course of action for the County and the
community is to stick with the rezoning to allow for that, the residential use in the
MCX areas. Thank you, I yield.
CHR. INABA: Council Member Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder.
MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Thank you, Chair. Director Darrow, why
wasn't this allowed already?
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Hawaii County Council-25 October 22,2025
MR. DARROW: I really can't answer that. I mean it's this was in 1996 that
this particular code was initiated. I would have to look toI believe they had
MCX in previous codes before that. I think the push now there was a previous
push, and I'm sure Vice Chair Onishi is familiar with that. That one, there was a
lot of discussion. That one, I don't know if it was shelved or if it—what
happened there, but with the direction of smart growth, live/work/play, the need
for housing opportunities to increase, we're looking at every possible opportunity
to be able to create housing options. This one makes sense. It's very similar to
the commercial zoning districts, except for these additional uses that I had
mentioned, which are not the ones that you're going to find in ML or MG that
have high impacts.
And so again, we've been seeing people come in and do these roundabout things
with this living quarters and watchmen. But this is more that these people can
build a business, have an opportunity to live there,work there, and even possibly
have some housing options within that particular zoning district.
MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Okay. I'm thinking back to something I
read in the paper. There was a chlorine spill near someone's residence. It was
basically, it's—what I'm speaking to is the interplay between industrial,
commercial, and residential. I mean, we have industrial uses and we begin to
allow housing to be developed in industrial areas.
The things that come with industrial use are not always amenable to people living
next door, having kids next door. I'm not opposed to the legislation, but I'm
wondering, maybe on behalf of Planning or on behalf of Corporation Counsel, if
the legislation were to pass and something happens where the folks living within
the housing we've allowed in the industrial area have an area—have a concern
with noxious fumes from the industrial plant or any of the uses in industrial that
are allowed, what then is their recourse and what does the County do?
MR. DARROW: Previously, I had read the purpose of the MCX zoning district.
The MCX zoning district makes a statement that the intent is to provide for areas
of diversified businesses and employment opportunities by permitting a broad
range of uses, without exposing nonindustrial uses to unsafe and unhealthy
environments. So it's indicating that this district should not be allowing unsafe-
and unhealthy-type environments.
The uses that are described that are "light industrial"would be, as mentioned,
wholesaling, warehousing, newspaper plant, something like that. It's not very
many. It's very minimal. It's not like the light industrial and the general
industrial. And I believe that having that setback, if anyone proposes any
residential uses in the MCX, they have a 200-foot setback from any general
industrial zone to be able to continue to protect those uses from affecting those
residents.
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Hawaii County Council-25 October 22,2025
MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Okay, so ultimately, we're comfortable with
the language. If there were any crossover from industrial use to the housing
allowed in the limited industrial
MR. DARROW: General industrial.
MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: General industrial, then the folks living in
that housing would be
MR. DARROW: (Inaudible.)
MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Unable to forward a lawsuit should they
want to? I know it's maybe far-reaching, but if we're allowing for the housing to
be built, then we allow for that to happen, and then when there is there may be
an issue in the future, we've allowed it to happen.
MR. DARROW: We could always be sued, right? We're sued almost—every
time anything happens, we're always sued. We're being sued for some issues
that's happening in Kona that we had nothing to do with. We have a general
commercial zoning, which has pretty heavy commercial-type uses. That
particular zoning district allows for the same types of residential uses that are
being proposed in this bill.
MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Okay. I'll look into the uses a little bit
more, but think on the long-term effects. I know you're a proponent of the bill;
that's what I'm hearing right now. And(inaudible) I don't have any major
opinions one way or the other, but I'm just thinking down the line. We allow
housing to be built. We have a family living in the house. The area is being used
for maybe—whatever it might be used for by whatever industrial-type activity is
happening. Those don't always blend well with residential housing or housing
opportunities, and we start discussing affordable housing and things like that.
Those things don't always go hand in hand, which may be why they weren't in
there in the first place. So that's my thoughts. Thank you.
CHR. INABA: Coming back to Kona, Council Member Kimball.
MS. KIMBALL: Thank you. I'll be brief. Director, could you please read that
definition one more time of MCX?
MR. DARROW: "The purpose of the MCX industrial commercial mixed use
district is to allow mixing of some industrial uses with commercial uses. The
intent of this district is to provide the areas of diversified businesses and
employment opportunities by permitting a broad range of uses without exposing
nonindustrial uses to unsafe and unhealthy environments. The district"
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Hawaii County Council-25 October 22,2025
MS. KIMBALL: So I think you are reading the last half of that in one way, and
I'm reading it in another, which is to say that MCX allows for these commercial
and industrial uses to be mixed together for this broad range of available uses.
But public health and safety is protected because there are not these residential
uses within these areas, not because of the allowance of the mixing.
And to Council Member Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder's point with respect to the liability,
people are just going to sue us no matter what. But at the end of the day, it comes
down to whomever develops that property, if they were to develop residential on
it, they're going to have to do assessments and whatnot to determine health and
safety there. And then it would also come down a little bit to buyer beware, right.
And so, the question is not so much what is our liability, but what is the potential
liability we are creating for future owners and developers on these properties.
So I would argue that the safety concerns there that are addressed in the definition
of MCX actually have to do with the fact that it does not include residential uses.
And that is why it allows for these other things but still maintains public health
and safety. Again,just reiterating that given the discussions by my colleagues
and the bullet points from the CDP, which I think should have a little bit of extra
weight here because most of the (inaudible) is in Kona, conditions of rezone
would account for these things. Once it becomes a permitted use, there is not that
opportunity to add conditions. It is going to be a permitted use and that's it.
Thank you.
CHR. INABA: Council Member Villegas.
MS. VILLEGAS: Why I like the concept of a mixed use and—what I think back
to is when you drive though, let's say, Honoka`a Town and you have the little
store downstairs, and upstairs is the apartment where the family lives that runs the
bakery or the post office or whatever that is. But being that, from what I can tell,
Kona, and specifically the Old Industrial Area, would be where this legislation
would have the most impact. I'm also aware of the sale of a large SLOSS (single
large or several small) of land in that area to foreign investors right now.
And so, my red flags are going up because I wonder if the not your intention,
Council Member Onishi. I get that you guys are trying to find solutions for this.
But I have some concerns that this could accidentally be manipulated. I also hold
the highest regard for the Kona CDP and the list of professionals and experts in
Planning that dedicate hundreds of hours for the betterment of our community.
And their expertise far surpasses mine when it comes to land use, zoning, all the
nuances of that process.
I suppose I'm not—if I can support this moving forward, I would need much
more clear and much more precise and detailed solutions to the issues being
brought up in this, in the letter from the Kona CDP. And so, my request from the
maker bringing this forward would be perhaps to put this on pause and have more
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Hawaii County Council-25 October 22,2025
specific meetings with the Kona CDP. I would also like to see if it's 1 percent of
the land on the Big Island, where that is because I have a feeling that most of it's
right in District 7.
And as Kona continues to grow, which that is—life is growth. Life is change,
growth is optional. So I want to ensure that this is conscious, planned, and it
coincides with the vision,purpose, and decades of intention that's been put behind
the Kona CDP. So I, myself, will defer to their wisdom when it comes to that,
and will be happy to work in alignment with that to try and get us, if we can, get
to a point. But I also appreciate the questions that tie it to the specifics of the why
now. So with that, I yield. I can't support this moving forward today in its
current form and without these issues being resolved. I yield.
CHR. INABA: Vice Chair Onishi.
MR. ONISHL Thank you, Chair. Director, earlier this year, this body passed the
changing—al lowing hospitals and senior rest homes in this area. Correct?
MR. DARROW: Correct.
MR. ONISHL Now, senior rest home, what does that mean? What could it be?
What could it be like? Could it be an apartment building for seniors? Or could it
be housing for seniors?
MR. DARROW: Yes.
MR. ONISHL Okay, so listening to all the discussion, one is the concerns about,
I guess, pollution, gas, and all these kinds of stuff for safety. So I look at this
body today, and we are going to let our seniorsI mean, it's allowable now. So
someone can come in to build a senior complex in this area and we allowed it.
And now, we're trying to do family dwellings to help our work—and this is
basically done because of workforce to help the workers who live in the area, or
the businesses who work in that area, to help even for them or for their workers so
that they don't have to travel so far away. But now, I'm hearing all these, I guess,
concerns, but this was never brought up earlier this year. So this body is saying,
"We don't care about hospitals. We don't care about seniors. We don't care
about homeless." Because, this all started from that homeless shelter down across
Kona brew. Right? Was it Kona brew, right, that—
MS. VILLEGAS: (Inaudible.)
MR. ONISHL Yeah. And that's when I brought it up: How can we allow a
homeless shelter to be put in that area, in a mixed commercial area, and not
allowing other—having living families working that work in these areas, these
businesses to be allowed to live there?
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Hawaii County Council-25 October 22,2025
Now, with Civil Defense's concerns, when they brought up their concerns, we
looked through the whole uses of this area for this zone. Right? Do you
remember that, Director?
MR. DARROW: Yes.
MR. ONISHL And almost half of what is allowable in that zone, MCX, would
be—supposed to be taken out. We created a list, correct? I sent you a list and
then you added on a couple more uses within the MCX.
MR. DARROW: I'm sorry, Vice Chair, I'm not understanding what you mean by
"take out."
MR. ONISHL Well, because of Civil Defense's concerns that they had, I sent an
email back to them saying, "Okay, if you folks are totally against having
residential, then we're going to have to redo all these other uses. Like, for
example, the hospitals, the senior rest homes, and so forth." Right?
MR. DARROW: Correct.
MR. ONISHL Yeah. And so, was a whole bunch. I mean, it was almost half of
all the uses. So if you folks are really concerned about all of what you folks are
saying, then we've got to reevaluate the uses in the MCX and take out a lot of
these uses. Because, what I'm hearing today and what we did in the past, it just
doesn't match up. So I'll just yield at that. I've done it before. I tried to propose
it; it didn't go. And then so, if it doesn't go, it doesn't go. Thanks. I yield.
CHR. INABA: Council Member Kagiwada.
MS. KAGIWADA: Thank you, Chair. Yes. Totally understanding the
frustration on the part of the maker, and in agreement that residential and senior
homes and hospitals, not seeing a real difference between health and safety for
those different uses. So I'd love to figure out how we can make this work, while
ensuring health and safety and everybody feeling okay about that. I guess the two
things that I would also really like to see is, I agree, even after the Planning
Director talked about his thoughts on single-family, I don't believe we should be
building single-family in the MCX zones.
And it sounds like there's always been a little bit of a way, based on what's
written in our Code already, to satisfy the issue of somebody who's a caretaker or
a store owner or something to have a dwelling next to their business or as part of
their business. So I'm less concerned about taking out single-family. And I do
want to figure out a way to ensure that new residential development in these zones
are primarily focused on either affordable or workforce housing. So yeah. But
overall, I think it's not really ready to move on at this point, but happy to consider
how we can address those issues. I yield.
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Hawaii County Council-25 October 22,2025
MR. DARROW: Chair?
CHR. INABA: Planning Director.
MR. DARROW: Thank you, Chair. Just want to mention that that allowance that
allows for the living quarters for watchmen or custodians is not included in the
MCX District. So I just wanted to let you know that.
Additionally, I would just encourage the Council to take a brief look through the
uses in the MCX District. You'll see that a majority of them, I would say over
90 percent of them, are uses that are also found in other commercial zoning
districts. I come across approximately three uses that aren't found, and I don't see
them as high industrial-type uses. They're very light industrial type. As
mentioned, one is warehousing. The other is wholesaling and distribution.
There's one that's publishing plants for newspapers, books, and magazines. But
the rest of them you'll find basically in other commercial zoning districts. Thank
you, Chair.
CHR. INABA: Thank you, Director. Council Member Hustace.
MR. HUSTACE: Thank you, Chair. Just one last thing. I'm kind of hearing the
conversation going on. In terms of cost of living and those other utilities that are
needed for single-family homes in other residential areas, we would often see
some of these utilities already within the vicinity of MCX areas, within these
commercial and centralized areas within communities. So that would reduce
some of that overhead for the expansion of projects. I think what we're asking for
for more affordable and workforce housing that are in that vicinity of the area, is
to be able to reduce some of the impact. Thank you, Chair.
CHR. INABA: Council Member Villegas.
MS. VILLEGAS: Just a quick comment. Council Member Onishi, I appreciate
your comments about the homeless shelter, a shelter for the unhoused, that is on
Pawai (Place), next to the brewery. It's widely believed by business owners there
and community that that is not the best placement for that space.
MR. ONISHL (Inaudible.)
MS. VILLEGAS: Yup. Gotcha. And I commiserate with your recognition of
six, one, half a dozen of the other, and if this—what is it, one—one thing doesn't
fit all, so as we navigate the nuances. So thank you for your patience as we
continue to journey through this process. I yield.
CHR. INABA: Council Member Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder.
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Hawaii County Council-25 October 22,2025
MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Good eyes, Chair. Mr. Darrow, did the
amendment 333.5 go through already?
CHR. INABA: Can you clarify the question, Council Member?
MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: The amendment, Communication 333.5,
was that brought in already?
CHR. INABA: Yes. We voted in favor. It's been passed and the bill has been
amended.
MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Okay, thank you. Mr. Darrow, Section B
speaks to what I was referring to. And this makes me more comfortable. Reading
through the allowed uses in general industrial, the one that's glaring is the storage
of explosive materials. That is my reasoning on why housing near—and I need to
clarify. The general industrial area is my concern when we haveI see MCX and
general industrial fitting well together just as far as what I would assume Planning
is looking to do in certain areas. When you have general industrial tucked up next
to MCX and we begin to allow housing in that area, that is a concern. So this
amendment makes me feel more comfortable.
On the other side of that, do we allow senior homes in MCX right now? Did I
hear that correctly?
MR. DARROW: There was an amendment earlier this year to allow hospitals;
sanitariums; old age, convalescent, nursing, and rest homes.
MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: In the MCX area.
MR. DARROW: Correct.
MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: I don't love the logic based on "If we voted
for that one, we should vote for this one,"Mr. Onishi, but I do see the relevance.
The amendment makes me more comfortable and more amenable to the bill.
Thank you.
CHR. INABA: Council Member Kimball.
MS. KIMBALL: I encourage my colleagues to review the Planning Department's
GIS (Geographic Information System)public interface, which actually shows
where all of the MCX-zoned parcels are. Most of them—and I would ask you to
bring this to the next hearing if there is one, Mr. Darrow, how many are actually
still undeveloped. Many of them are actually already developed. So when we
talk about permitted uses and these other the hospitals, the care homes there
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Hawaii County Council-25 October 22,2025
are only probably in my count three locations, four locations perhaps, where that
would actually even be possible, given the size of the lots and whatnot. So I don't
necessarily think there's something incongruent there.
But I would just come back to if there are these things that we want to make sure
don't happen that relate to public health and safety, a rezone process is the best
way to deal with this. And it could be initiated from us. It could be initiated from
the Director if they thought that was the appropriate thing for that place, or the
property owner. But that allows us to put those conditions in place. Thank you.
CHR. INABA: Any further discussion? All right, I'm just going to weigh in real
quick. First and foremost, I want to mahalo the Kona CDP Action Committee for
their work and their recommendations, some of which Director Darrow addressed.
And when I'm thinking about what this proposal does, I guess the only concern I
have is for those whoI mean, we've kind of all maybe expressed it in our own
way, but for those who already have this zoning, there is no trigger for an
affordable housing requirement. So, wondering if we can get a little creative. I'm
not going to ask for a solution right now, but maybe for the introducer and
Planning Department if there's language that could be included here that speaks to
folks who have that zoning already who would like to engage in the development
of this type of residential uses, that we would be able to capture them and make
sure that there's an affordable component, since we already have that in
Chapter I I for those who will rezone to MCX in the future.
I guess that's my only concern. Because if we're trying to really address housing,
and we know we need a scale, but again we can always try and maybe assume
that we're not going to get affordable housing if we just let it be as it is. And
(inaudible)just see market rates go in, and we have to ask how does that help our
community and those that need housing right now.
I do also want to just refer the Council and the public back to
Communication 333.4, which shows a map and various parcels across the island
that are zoned MCX, which was provided I believe by the Planning Department in
the earlier hearing. So that can also be used as a reference to understand where
these 400 acres are across the island. So with that, I think there's still room for
this bill.
I think for me, it's a matter of who are we helping that's the question—and how
are we going to make sure that it's those people that we're helping. So, Vice
Chair Onishi?
MR. ONISHL Thank you, Chair. Director?
MR. DARROW: Yes?
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Hawaii County Council-25 October 22,2025
MR. ONISHL Okay. Do you think that we could maybe do some adjustment or
add in things from what has been said, and make it more restrictive on the use of
workforce housing?
MR. DARROW: I think that, from what I'm hearing, is the need for existing
zoning that considers residential dwellings to somehow be connected to an
affordable housing component. Typically, that happens, as mentioned, during
rezoning when we add in that condition. We can take a look at the possibility,
just as we did this setback, at the time of plan approval for a residential dwelling.
We could possibility consider if it's a legal option to be able to place an
affordable housing review or component or requirement on any new residential
dwellings proposed in the MCX District, regardless if they're coming in for a
rezoning or existing. So that's something we can look at.
MR. ONISHL Okay. And then it was mentioned that in certain MCX areas, there
were not as many lots that are available to do a housing project. Would you know
offhand, like say, for example, Old Kona Industrial Area, what would be the
build-out for that side?
MR. DARROW: Currently, it's zoned MCX. And as mentioned, that's the
location of where Lili`uokalani Trust is moving forward to change that to a
project district to comply with the requirements of establishing a transit-oriented
development. And that's the reason for that particular request. MCX zoning
would no longer be there. But with the project district, it will include all
commercial-type uses as well as residential-type uses.
The other area is by Costco, that area that's just south of the light industrial area
where all the shops are established that isn't developed yet. All of that. You see
the infrastructure in, but you don't see any businesses that have been developed in
that area yet. That's an area that hasn't been developed, a large MCX area. There
could beI believe that's a consideration for a hospital. That could be a location
for workforce housing.
The areas in Kea`au, we have the one I had mentioned across from the bypass.
That one has not been constructed or built. It's definitely lapsed. It would have
to be considered for a time extension at some point to effectuate the zoning again.
And then the ones in Waiakea Houselots have more small lots that typically came
in for a change of zone.
MR. ONISHL Thank you. So you think that we could maybe come up with
something that could help with some of the concerns that were said?
MR. DARROW: Sure.
MR. ONISHL Okay. So, Mr. Chair, at this time, I'll postpone it to the next
meeting in Kona. I want a month of this.
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Hawaii County Council-25 October 22,2025
Vote on Motion to Mr. Onishi moved to postpone Bill 63, as amended to
Postpone: Draft 2, to November 19, 2025. Seconded by Ms. Galimba
(Approved) and carried by the following voice vote:
Ayes: Council Members Galimba, Hustace, Kagiwada,
Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz, Kimball,
Onishi, Villegas, and Chair Inaba—9.
Noes: None.
Absent: None.
Excused: None.
Bill 84: AMENDS CHAPTER 24, ARTICLE 10, DIVISION 7, SECTION 24-292,
SCHEDULE 40, OF THE HAWAI`I COUNTY CODE 1983 (2016 EDITION, AS
AMENDED), RELATING TO PARKING METER ZONES
Repeals the listing in subsection (c)relating to the eight-hour parking meter zone at
the Aupuni Center parking lot.
Reference: Comm. 501
Intr. by: Council Member Hustace (B/R)
Approve: PCPWMT-7
Motion to Approve: Mr. Hustace moved to pass Bill 84 on first reading and
adopt Policy Committee on Public Works and Mass Transit
Committee Report No. 7. Seconded by Ms. Galimba.
CHR. INABA: Council Member Hustace.
MR. HUSTACE: We had some good discussion in Committee about this bill. In
fact, you have probably already seen a lot of the covers on some of the meters
there. So Acting Director Azevedo worked quickly on that, in covering those. So
just asking for support in moving this along, if there are any questions. Thank
you very much.
CHR. INABA: Council Member Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder.
MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: I've got to say I am continuously impressed
by Acting Director Azevedo and his ability to get things done in this County. Just
saying that for the record. Thank you. And he is here in the chambers if anybody
needs him.
CHR. INABA: Thank you. Any further discussion? Seeing none, all those in
favor of approving Bill 84 at first reading, please say "aye."
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Hawaii County Council-25 October 22,2025
Vote on Bill 84: The motion to pass Bill 84 on first reading and adopt Policy
(Approved) Committee on Public Works and Mass Transit Committee
Report No. 7 was carried by the following voice vote:
Ayes: Council Members Galimba, Hustace, Kagiwada,
Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz, Kimball,
Onishi, and Chair Inaba—8.
Noes: None.
Absent: Council Member Villegas — 1.
Excused: None.
Bill 88: AMENDS ORDINANCE NO. 10-32, AS AMENDED, WHICH RECLASSIFIED
LANDS FROM SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL—7,500 SQUARE FEET
(RS-7.5) AND MULTIPLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL— 1,000 SQUARE FEET
(RM-1) TO MULTIPLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL— 1,500 SQUARE FEET
(RM-1.5) AT KUKUAU IST, SOUTH HILO, HAWAI`I, COVERED BY TAX
MAP KEYS: 2-4-025:048, 053, AND 080
(Applicant: Ikaika Ohana) (Area: 5.05 Acres)
The Windward Planning Commission forwards its favorable recommendation for
this request to amend Condition D (Complete Construction), which would allow the
applicant to start construction no later than January 2026, with an estimated
completion timeline of 18-24 months. The property is located at 350 Kapi`olani
Street.
Reference: Comm. 513
Intr. by: Council Member Kimball (B/R)
Approve: LAAC-23
Motion to Approve: Ms. Kagiwada moved to pass Bill 88 on first reading and
adopt Legislative Approvals and Acquisitions Committee
Report No. 23. Seconded by Ms. Galimba.
CHR. INABA: Council Member Kagiwada.
MS. KAGIWADA: I remain in support. Thank you.
CHR. INABA: Thank you. All those in favor, please say "aye."
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Hawaii County Council-25 October 22,2025
Vote on Bill 88: The motion to pass Bill 88 on first reading and adopt
(Approved) Legislative Approvals and Acquisitions Committee Report
No. 23 was carried by the following voice vote:
Ayes: Council Members Galimba, Hustace, Kagiwada,
Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz, Kimball,
Onishi, and Chair Inaba—8.
Noes: None.
Absent: Council Member Villegas — 1.
Excused: None.
Bill 91: AMENDS ORDINANCE NO. 25-46, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO PUBLIC
IMPROVEMENTS AND FINANCING THEREOF FOR THE FISCAL YEAR
DULY 1, 2025, TO DUNE 30, 2026
Adds the Public Works Kahakai Boulevard Safe Routes to School - Keonepoko
Project($530,000) and the Kahakai Boulevard Safe Routes to School —
Keonepoko—Federal Project($2,100,000) to the Capital Budget. Funds for these
projects shall be provided from General Obligation Bonds, Capital Projects Fund—
Fund Balance and/or other Sources ($530,000) and Federal Grants Receivable
($2,100,000).
Reference: Comm. 539
Intr. by: Council Member Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder (B/R)
Approve: FC-92
Note: Requires 2/3 vote of the entire
membership to amend,pursuant to
Section 10-6(e), Hawaii County Charter
Vote on Bill 91: Mr. Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder moved to pass Bill 91 on first
(Approved) reading and adopt Finance Committee Report No. 92.
Seconded by Ms. Galimba and carried by the following
voice vote:
Ayes: Council Members Galimba, Hustace, Kagiwada,
Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz, Kimball,
Onishi, and Chair Inaba—8.
Noes: None.
Absent: Council Member Villegas — 1.
Excused: None.
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Hawaii County Council-25 October 22,2025
Bill 92: AMENDS ORDINANCE NO. 25-46, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO PUBLIC
IMPROVEMENTS AND FINANCING THEREOF FOR THE FISCAL YEAR
JULY 1, 2025, TO JUNE 30, 2026
Increases the Public Works Mohouli Street Rehabilitation Project($635,000) and
the Mohouli Street Rehabilitation—Federal Project($2,550,000)to the Capital
Budget. Funds for these projects shall be provided from General Obligation Bonds,
Capital Projects Fund—Fund Balance and/or other Sources ($635,000) and Federal
Grants Receivable ($2,550,000).
Reference: Comm. 540
Intr. by: Council Member Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder (B/R)
Approve: FC-93
Note: Requires 2/3 vote of the entire
membership to amend,pursuant to
Section 10-6(e), Hawaii County Charter
Motion to Approve: Mr. Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder moved to pass Bill 92 on first
reading and adopt Finance Committee Report No. 93.
Seconded by Ms. Kagiwada.
CHR. INABA: Council Member Kagiwada.
MS. KAGIWADA: Thank you. Is Acting Director Neil Azevedo there?
MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: We do have Mr. Thompson here in the
chambers, and Mr. Azevedo is not in the chambers right now.
MS. KAGIWADA: Okay. Just reaching out to DPW (Department of Public
Works) to ask, once again, to make sure that we are including some safety issues
for Chiefess Kapi`olani School that's at the bottom of Mohouli Street. As we do
this project, I realize it's not specifically a Safe Routes to School Project, but we
do have a school there that has reached out to us and is asking for some safety
improvements. So,just for the record, hoping to get confirmation from DPW that
they will be attending to those issues as they complete this project. That's all. I
yield.
CHR. INABA: Thank you. All those in favor of approving Bill 92 at first
reading, please say "aye."
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Hawaii County Council-25 October 22,2025
Vote on Bill 92: The motion to pass Bill 92 on first reading and adopt
(Approved) Finance Committee Report No. 93 was carried by the
following voice vote:
Ayes: Council Members Galimba, Hustace, Kagiwada,
Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz, Kimball,
Onishi, and Chair Inaba—8.
Noes: None.
Absent: Council Member Villegas — 1.
Excused: None.
Bill 93: AMENDS ORDINANCE NO. 25-45, AS AMENDED, THE OPERATING
BUDGET FOR THE COUNTY OF HAWAI`I FOR THE FISCAL YEAR
ENDING JUNE 30, 2026
Appropriates revenues in the State Grants —State Substance Abuse Prevention
Coordination Grant account($50,000); and appropriates the same to the State
Substance Abuse Prevention Coordination Grant account.
Reference: Comm. 541
Intr. by: Council Member Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder (B/R)
Approve: FC-94
Vote on Bill 93: Mr. Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder moved to pass Bill 93 on first
(Approved) reading and adopt Finance Committee Report No. 94.
Seconded by Mr. Hustace and carried by the following
voice vote:
Ayes: Council Members Galimba, Hustace, Kagiwada,
Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz, Kimball,
Onishi, Villegas, and Chair Inaba—9.
Noes: None.
Absent: None.
Excused: None.
ORDER OF The Chair directed the Council to proceed to the next order of business, Order of
THE DAY the Day (Second or Final Reading).
(SECOND OR
FINAL READING):
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Hawaii County Council-25 October 22,2025
Bill 80: AMENDS ORDINANCE NO. 25-45, AS AMENDED, THE OPERATING
BUDGET FOR THE COUNTY OF HAWAI`I FOR THE FISCAL YEAR
ENDING JUNE 30, 2026
Increases revenues in the Federal Grants —Justice Assistance Grant-Special
Response Team Capability Enhancement Grant account($78,491); and appropriates
the same to the Justice Assistance Grant-Special Response Team Capability
Enhancement account, for a total appropriation of$129,028. Funds would be used
by the Police Department for training, travel, specialized gear, and equipment.
Reference: Comm. 479
Intr. by: Council Member Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder (B/R)
First Reading: October 8, 2025
Motion to Approve: Mr. Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder moved to pass Bill 80 on second
and final reading. Seconded by Mr. Hustace.
CHR. INABA: Council Member Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder.
MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: I look for everyone's support. Thank you.
CHR. INABA: Thank you. All those in favor, please say "aye."
Vote on Bill 80: The motion to pass Bill 80 on second and final reading was
(Adopted) carried by the following voice vote:
Ayes: Council Members Galimba, Hustace, Kagiwada,
Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz, Kimball,
Onishi, Villegas, and Chair Inaba—9.
Noes: None.
Absent: None.
Excused: None.
Bill 81: AMENDS ORDINANCE NO. 25-45, AS AMENDED, THE OPERATING
BUDGET FOR THE COUNTY OF HAWAI`I FOR THE FISCAL YEAR
ENDING JUNE 30, 2026
Increases revenues in the Federal Grants —Improve Forensic Services account
($23,640); and appropriates the same to the Improve Forensic Services account,
for a total appropriation of$120,000. Funds would be used by the Police
Department to purchase a new Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
instrument.
Reference: Comm. 480
Intr. by: Council Member Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder (B/R)
First Reading: October 8, 2025
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Hawaii County Council-25 October 22,2025
Vote on Bill 81: Mr. Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder moved to pass Bill 81 on second
(Adopted) and final reading. Seconded by Mr. Hustace and carried by
the following voice vote:
Ayes: Council Members Galimba, Hustace, Kagiwada,
Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz, Kimball,
Onishi, Villegas, and Chair Inaba—9.
Noes: None.
Absent: None.
Excused: None.
Bill 82: AMENDS CHAPTER 24, ARTICLE 9, OF THE HAWAI`I COUNTY CODE
1983 (2016 EDITION, AS AMENDED), RELATING TO PEDESTRIANS
Prohibits pedestrians from entering a roadway, obstructing traffic, or approaching
moving vehicles for business and employment purposes.
Reference: Comm. 481
Intr. by: Council Member Inaba
First Reading: October 8, 2025
Motion to Approve: Mr. Onishi moved to pass Bill 82 on second and final
reading. Seconded by Mr. Hustace.
CHR. INABA: Thank you all for your input on this bill and for getting it to the
final stage today. All those in favor of approving Bill 82 at second and final
reading, please say "aye."
Vote on Bill 82: The motion to pass Bill 82 on second and final reading was
(Adopted) carried by the following voice vote:
Ayes: Council Members Galimba, Hustace, Kagiwada,
Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz, Kimball,
Onishi, Villegas, and Chair Inaba—9.
Noes: None.
Absent: None.
Excused: None.
REFERRALS FOR The Chair directed the Council to proceed to the next order of business, Referrals
EXECUTIVE for Executive Session.
SESSION:
Comm. 550: TERI`I HOLZGROVE V. COUNTY OF HAWAI`I, EEOC NO. 486-2025-00407,
HGEA GRV-25-0166 (TERMINATION), BOE 2025-17
From Deputy Corporation Counsel Demetri G. Lametti dated October 2, 2025,
requesting an attorney-client confidential discussion to consult with the Council
regarding the above-entitled matter, including settlement discussion.
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Hawaii County Council-25 October 22,2025
Motion to Close Ms. Galimba moved to close file on Comm. 550. Seconded
File: by Mr. Onishi.
CHR. INABA: Checking with the body if anyone needs to enter into Executive
Session.
MS. VILLEGAS: No, I don't believe we need to.
CHR. INABA: All right. Is there a motion to accept the
MS. KIMBALL: Chair, if I may?
CHR. INABA: Go ahead, Council Member Kimball.
MS. KIMBALL: I would just request, on the advice of Corporation Counsel, that
I recuse myself from this matter as I had previous discussions with individuals
involved about the matter involved before it was brought to us in this format. It's
inappropriate for me to participate.
CHR. INABA: Understood. Thank you, Council Member Kimball.
Vote on Motion to Mr. Onishi moved to concur with the recommendation of
Concur: Corporation Counsel regarding Comm. 550. Seconded by
(Approved) Mr. Hustace and carried by the following voice vote:
Ayes: Council Members Galimba, Hustace, Kagiwada,
Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz, Onishi,
Villegas, and Chair Inaba—8.
Noes: None.
Absent: None.
Excused: Council Member Kimball — 1.
Vote on Comm. 550: The motion to close file on Comm. 550 was carried by the
Filed following voice vote:
Ayes: Council Members Galimba, Hustace, Kagiwada,
Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz, Onishi,
Villegas, and Chair Inaba—8.
Noes: None.
Absent: None.
Excused: Council Member Kimball — 1.
OTHER The Chair directed the Council to proceed to the next order of business, Other
BUSINESS: Business.
(There were none.)
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Hawaii County Council-25 October 22,2025
ANNOUNCE- The Chair directed the Council to proceed to the next order of business,
MENTS: Announcements.
(Note: At this time, Council Members made announcements regarding
community events, activities, and other unofficial business.)
ADJOURN- There being no further business, Chair Inaba adjourned the meeting at 12:49 p.m.
MENT:
Council Approval: JAN 2 3 2026
C012NIY RK
JH/dg
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