HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN PCHSW 2025/10/21 (2024-2026)Policy Committee on Health,
Safety, and Well-being
5" Session
West Hawaii Civic Center
74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Highway, Building A
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
October 21, 2025
CALL TO The regular meeting of the Policy Committee on Planning, Safety, and
ORDER: Well-being was called to order at 9:00 a.m., in the Council Chambers,
Kailua-Kona, by Dennis "Fresh" Onishi, Chair.
ROLL CALL:
Present: Mr. Dennis "Fresh" Onishi, Chair
Ms. Heather L. Kimball, Vice Chair
Ms. Michelle M. Galimba, Member
Mr. James E. Hustace, Member
Mr. Holeka Goro Inaba, Member
Ms. Jenn Kagiwada, Member
Ms. Rebecca Villegas, Member
Absent & Excused: Mr. Matt Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Member
Ms. Ashley L. Kierkiewicz, Member
STATEMENTS The Chair directed the Committee 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:
Colonel Deb Lewis: Bill 96 (Comm. 548), in support.
(representing Veterans
Advisory Committee)
Micah Alameda: Bill 96 (Comm. 548), in support.
BILLS FOR The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business,
ORDINANCES: Bills for Ordinances.
PCHSW-5
October 21, 2025
Bill 96: AMENDS CHAPTER 15, ARTICLE 7, SECTION 15-62, OF THE HAWAI`I
COUNTY CODE 1983 (2016 EDITION, AS AMENDED), RELATING TO
THE VETERANS ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Amends the Veterans Advisory Committee to no longer require one
representative each from the American Legion, Big Island National Guard
Retirees Association, Big Island Retired Military Association, and Veterans of
Foreign Wars, as well as eight at -large members.
Reference: Comm.548
Intr. by: Council Member Hustace
Motion to Approve: Mr. Hustace moved to recommend passage of Bill 96
on first reading. Seconded by Mr. Inaba.
CHR. ONISHI: Go ahead, Mr. Hustace.
MR. HUSTACE: Thank you, Chair. As you heard from one of our Veterans
Advisory Committee members, Colonel Lewis, as well as the Administration, I
received a request to propose an amendment for our County Code regarding the
Veterans Advisory Committee opening up the requirements and lessening those
requirements for membership.
As it states in Section 15-61, this measure doesn't change the number of members,
but it lessens the requirements in the specificity of the groups being required to be
members of the Veterans Advisory Committee. So, opening up more possibilities
for the Mayor and ourselves to approve members from our wide communities on
this board. Thank you, Chair.
CHR. ONISHI: Okay, any other members? No? Hearing or seeing none, all those
in favor of approving Bill 96 and moving it to the full Council on first reading, say
"aye." Those opposed?
Vote on Bill 96: The motion to recommend passage of Bill 96 on first reading
(Approved) was carried by the following voice vote:
Ayes: Committee Members Galimba, Hustace,
Inaba, Kagiwada, Kimball, Villegas,
and Chair Onishi — 7.
Noes: None.
Absent: Committee Members Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder
and Kierkiewicz — 2.
Excused: None.
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PCHSW-5 October 21, 2025
CHR. ONISHI: Okay. So, this concludes this meeting, it is now, 9:08 a.m.
Thank you.
ADJOURN- There being no further business, Chair Onishi adjourned the meeting
MENT: at 9:08 a.m.
Mr. Dennis "Fresh" Onishi, Chair
Policy Committee on Health,
Safety, and Well-being
DO/dt
(Date)
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